Dining with faded elegance

The good thing about spending some time over the weekend sorting and editing photos is that I got to relive quite a lot of our holiday to Barbados just before Christmas. I could feel the virtual sun, remember the spiritual-ness of our visit to Hunte’s Garden all while the March weather here did its thing. I’ve said this before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but Hunte’s Garden was an amazing place, and spending time working on the photos from our visit reminded me just how special it is.

We booked a driver to take us to the gardens, and while the island isn’t large it was about a forty minute drive from where we were staying. What we hadn’t realised when we negotiated a price was that our driver would stay there while we spent time in the gardens. He said it was a favourite place of his too, and when life was getting too much it was a favourite place to spend some time. And he wasn’t wrong.

Even at the entrance to the garden I knew we were in for something special, and I wasn’t wrong either. I’ll share more on the garden another day, but today after we walked down and around and back up and along exploring the garden we headed towards the house. Neither of us expected to find such a stunning dining room, which was full of faded elegance, with a tropical flavour that we’d come to expect even in our short time exploring the garden.

I think it looks more overrun or faded than it actually is. The roof generally looked to be functioning as a roof should but it was set as if it could almost be ready for a party, and what a party that would be. The garden sold its own rum, and that would help any party go with a swing. After we’d explored the garden, we thought it only right and proper to try the local rum and sit on the verandah and pretend the garden was ours…

From the floral tea set - more tea Vicar? - to the bird cage and other curios, everything felt as if it was in the right place.

Even the plants inviting themselves in through the gaps where the corrugated sheeting goes, and the open window.

Quite a random space, to discover set apart from the house, but still quite a special one. Hopefully once I share some more of the garden, you’ll be as awestruck as me.

A luxe dining room

When I saw this dining room at the Ideal Home Show, I was struck by how one thing - or six of one thing - can make such an impact on a room. You’ve heard about having a statement piece, but these pastel pink chairs really are the eye-catching feature of the room, aren’t they?

The rest of the room is very “together” with its black, gilt and glass, even the table top looks to have a smoke feel to it. And with more normal, or traditional chairs I’m not sure you’d give the room much of a second look.  I mean, it’s still beautiful, but those chairs... 

When you looked more closely there was much to see.  This side table, which is beautifully presented and is how, in my head I arrange things (though in reality it’s not quite the same!) is stunning. I’m a fan of the table itself too, its simple and classic design is understated and is a good reminder that not everything needs to be fancy and ornate. 

The lights too work well as accent lighting, but it’s the paint effect that too is subtle but effective. It shows how how quite simply you can add “depth” to your space, and give the illusion of alcoves, or just add some interest to a plain space.   

It’s a simple idea and with patience should be achievable with a few toning pots of paint and some masking tape. 

Looking back over these photos, I realised this roomset may have influenced me more than I first realised, and the cake is a bit of a clue for you - and for once it’s not the actual cake! 

The drinks trolley, or as it’s styled here afternoon tea trolley is quite similar to the drinks trolley we bought back in the summer, and which I’ve yet to share here.  MOH is sneaking more and more drinks paraphernalia onto our trolley, and I’m making it look a little less”plonked” there, I hope.

But its first proper use for me was for a relaxing proper tea one afternoon, strange hey -and what’s worse I didn’t even have any cake, even though I’m not sure you’ll believe that.

So, what do you think - is it for you, or not?

Formal dining at Mottisfont

While looking for a photo to accompany last Friday's link-up post I rediscovered my photos from the National Trust's Mottisfont in Hampshire, and there's many which I've not shared here yet, so I plan to put that right and today I'm starting with some formal dining.

For me, seeing these properties set out as they would have been in their heyday is what brings the place to life on a visit, an it's something the NT does well. Clearly as I wander around the place I'm imagining the house is mine, I have staff and will be entertaining again that evening, and this scenario has yet to become tiresome. 

I'd be happy to have dinner served on this jade patterned dinner service.

And the dining room is pretty special too, isn't it? 

The panelling isn't quite what it appears though. It's believable and very effective, but is a trompe l'oeil. But it was the chairs and their upholstery that caught my eye  the simple, yet elegant fabric, no doubt silk, provides enough bling, sparkle and classic detail to be quietly, but confidently, understated. 

And when you see the floor, it's clear why that simplicity is needed. Now for the life of me I can't remember if the flooring is carpet, as we'd expect it to be, or another trick for our eyes. Logic tells me it should be carpet, but then again it looks too flat, and perfect, so perhaps it isn't.  

It's a looker though isn't it? If you've been to Mottisfont and can put me out of my misery, then please post a comment and let me know: carpet, or clever trickery?