Dark and exotic, pineapples and monkeys

You know how much I like a good loo, and i’m sharing one today.

A couple of weekends ago we were out for Sunday lunch with MOH’s family at the Dukes Head in Crawley Down, West Sussex. We’d been there before, but it seems to have been redecorated since our last visit, and it looks great.

The food there is great too, on our last visit we all opted for Sunday lunch and it was the type of Sunday lunch that comes with no spare space on your plate so you have to eat your way through some to create space for the vegetables which are served separately. I’d definitely recommend, although it seems when it comes to eating speed I’m much slower than MOH’s family.

Isn’t it dark and moody, but elegant at the same time? Did you see the monkeys on the wallpaper, they can’t fail to amuse.

I think the golden pineapples are a first for The Loo Series, it’s not often the doors are adorned - the other one that springs to mind is the loos with the flip flops - but it’s a completely different style isn’t it? Looking at the photo now, they look like door knockers, but I’m not sure they are. Now that would be odd, and a first for The Loo Series!

I want to take a moment to admire this tiled wall, isn’t it gorgeous. The dark tiles, while grout and tiles placed vertically instead of horizontally - all of these contribute to its overall look. The fact that it’s sparkling helps too.

So another Ladies with character, what do you think?

The one with the redecorated loo

Last weekend we celebrated my MIL’s birthday with afternoon tea at Alexander House Hotel in West Sussex, and it wasn’t our first time there. Our previous visit, also for afternoon tea (they’re good) was a couple of years ago, and then I shared how my outfit seemed to match the painting in the loo.

When thinking about what to wear I remembered them matching my yellow dress before, and thought I’d wear something different this time. I’m a fan of colour, often wearing, at least one bright colour but nothing really jumped out at me as I recalled my wardrobe. So, as often is the case, I chose the shoes I wanted to wear and went from there, thinking nothing more of it.

After eating more than I had in a while, and yet still not managing to polish off all the cakes - I know, I was shocked too - and drinking a pot or two of “sparkling white” white tea, a trip to the loos brought a good excuse for a break and a wander. Remembering the loos from before, and knowing I’d already shared them here, I almost didn’t take my bag with me…

It was obvious though, that something had changed.

I noticed the wallpaper straight away, it’s similar to the bamboo wallpaper we have on one wall in our living room, but with more sparkle. Had I known I could have got some sparkle in my wallpaper then maybe I’d’ve had some, as it would bring an element of light to the wall. I was less sure though if the basins had been changed, so later I checked my earlier post and they had. In place of white traditional sinks where these countertop basins, which as you can see bring another metallic texture to the space.

The wallpaper was different too, more metallics and with a geometric pattern - the light in the photo below seems to have played havoc with the colour, but I couldn’t resist showing you this wall, isn’t it great?

In the lobby area, you can see a truer colour of the wallpaper, and it was great to see the picture still hanging in the same place. The padded bench seat though was the star and this is my favourite view of the loos - I know, how weird is that, I mean how many people have a favourite loo view?!

But you know what I mean, it almost seems wasted in the loo (but it was too large for my handbag!)

So that’s another first for the Loo Series, this is the first loo that’s been redecorated and therefore featured twice. I think I much prefer the updated version, but what about you?

Pretty blue and white tiles at Gravetye Manor

These pretty loos are at the fabulous Gravetye Manor which we visited to celebrate our big birthdays earlier in the year. We went for lunch which meant we got to walk around the fabulous kitchen garden after our meal, although moving was pretty tough. We plan to head back there at some point, and are looking to time our visit to coincide with some great winter food, but until then let's take a look at the Ladies.

These were on the first floor and I almost missed them completely walking straight past the door. I'm glad I found them though as the pretty blue and white tiles gave the light and airy space a particularly feminine feel.

With roses from the garden in the vases it really did have a spring-like feel.

Everything in the space was coordinated and the bevelled mirrors helped replicate and accentuate the patterns.

The view from the windows was pretty special too.  Although to really enjoy it you'd have to spend time in the smallest room. The views from rooms along this corridor would be equally stunning I'm sure.

But the mirrors weren't the only thing in character with the feminine and light and airy decor,  just look at these taps.  Gorgeous aren't they?

I think this has to be the most feminine entry yet in my #looseries - what do you think?