Get their look: Broken-plan living space

Broken-plan living spacecredit

We used to publish a weekly blog post entitled Tuesday Huesday and this broken-plan living space pictured above would have been a perfect candidate for that feature.

The owners have used different shades of blue on the walls. There’s hot pink on the floor, at the window, on a dining chair, cushion and painted on the radiator. There’s yellow and there’s orange… and the colours all clash perfectly!

It’s the first time that I’ve come across the term ‘broken-plan’, but I guess that it means open-plan but with large openings into each ‘zone’. There are no doors or hallways, just load-bearing vertical bits of wall between kitcken, dining room and snug.

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Pink trellis area rug
Pink trellis area rug
£81.99
Muse yellow chevron rug
Muse yellow chevron rug
from £69.99
Riva Home quartz quilted cushions
Riva Home quartz quilted cushions
from £10.00
Magenta Oaks eggshell paint
Magenta Oaks eggshell paint
Teal & mustard wall clock
Teal & mustard wall clock
Hummingbird wall paint
Hummingbird wall paint
A Day by the Sea wall paint
A Day by the Sea wall paint
Pink trellis area rug
Pink trellis area rug
£81.99
Muse yellow chevron rug
Muse yellow chevron rug
from £69.99
Riva Home quartz quilted cushions
Riva Home quartz quilted cushions
from £10.00
Magenta Oaks eggshell paint
Magenta Oaks eggshell paint
Teal & mustard wall clock
Teal & mustard wall clock
Hummingbird wall paint
Hummingbird wall paint
A Day by the Sea wall paint
A Day by the Sea wall paint

Designer Desire: Kurt Østervig

Montage of Kurt Østervig furniture designs

Furniture designer, Kurt Østervig (1912-1986) trained as a shipbuilder and naval architect in Odense, Denmark’s third largest city. He soon switched to furniture design, working in the studio of manufacturer E. Knudsen prior to founding his own studio in 1947.

Kurt Østervig worked as a freelance designer for the remainder of his long career, collaborating with a range of Scandinavian furniture companies during the mid 20th century; these included Bernh, Bramin, Brande Møbelindustri, Jason, Pedersen & Son, Rolschau, Schillers Polstermøbelfabrik, Sibast and Vamo.

Østervig’s designs were primarily manufactured using oak – sometimes with the addition of leather; however, some pieces were produced in rosewood and teak. Among Østervig’s most important and popular designs are the Model 12 Easy Chair & footstool for Schillers (1961; re-launched in 2014) and the Butterfly Dining Chair (1950s) for Brande (a set of six with turquoise upholstered seats are shown in the montage above).

Some of Østervig’s furniture designs continue to be manufactured to this day; visit the Finnish Design Shop.If you prefer vintage examples, try 1stDibs, eBay and Etsy.

Portrait of Kurt Østervig, furniture designercredit

Additional image credits:
Artnet

Price Points: Sun umbrellas

Sun umbrellas

We generally think of umbrellas being used when it’s raining outside. However, with the absolutely scorching days we’ve been having this month, have you thought about getting yourself one of these sun umbrellas?

We’re all becoming more aware of skin cancer and the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure. Some of us use sunscreen as part of our daily routine; using an umbrella outdoors on a hot day builds on your solar skincare.

Two of the three sun umbrellas that we’re highlighting claim to give anti UV and factor 50+ protection. So, during the next heatwave – whether you’re dining al fresco at a favourite restaurant or taking a walk on the beach or relaxing in the park – open your sun umbrella, safe in the knowledge that you won’t be getting burnt!

  1. Anti UV banana umbrella: £13.30, Amazon
  2. Pantone large umbrella: £33.82, Pantone
  3. Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+: £40.00, Solbari

shop sun umbrellas

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00
Pantone large umbrella
Pantone large umbrella
£33.82
Anti UV banana umbrella
Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00
Pantone large umbrella
Pantone large umbrella
£33.82
Anti UV banana umbrella
Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00
Pantone large umbrella
Pantone large umbrella
£33.82
Anti UV banana umbrella
Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00
Pantone large umbrella
Pantone large umbrella
£33.82
Anti UV banana umbrella
Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
Compact sun protective umbrella UPF50+
£40.00
Pantone large umbrella
Pantone large umbrella
£33.82
Anti UV banana umbrella
Anti UV banana umbrella
£13.30

The best ways to upgrade your home security after moving in

The best ways to upgrade your home security after moving in

When you first move into a new place, one of the first things you should consider is how secure you’ll be in the new location. You can’t be certain who has keys and spare keys from the previous owner, and you might not trust the security measures that they had in place. With that in mind, we’re going to take you through some of the home security improvements that you might want to make to your new property.

Invest in a safe

Investing in a safe or strong box is definitely a good idea if you want to make sure that you’re able to securely store your most valuable possessions without worrying about them when you’re not at home. That way, even if someone manages to break into your home, you can be confident that items such as cash, jewellery and official documents are out of the way and inaccessible to burglars.

Set up a fresh security system

If the home you’ve just moved into doesn’t have a very modern or up-to-date security system in place, that’s something that you’ll certainly want to work on and change as soon as possible. With a fresh security system installed such as CCTV and access control from Scaitec Security, you can guarantee that it offers all the features you need in order for you and your family to feel safe in the home.

Change the locks

Changing the external door and window locks in your home is probably one of the first things you’ll want to do when moving into a new property. As we mentioned previously, it’s impossible for you to know who has spare keys from the previous owner, and it makes sense to be safe. Therefore, find locksmiths in your area who can carry out the lock changes for you. You’ll then know that only you, and anyone else you give your keys to, can get into the home.

Ensure the garage is secure

The garage is often one of the easiest entry points for people looking to break into your home. It’s something that home-owners often overlook, but that shouldn’t be the case. Fitting secure locks on the doors and windows of your house is all well and good, but it won’t have much of an impact if the garage isn’t secure enough to keep out people who shouldn’t be there.

Light up the surrounding landscape

Lighting up the surroundings around your home is definitely an important way to make your home more secure. It’s a well-known fact that burglars prefer not to target homes that are well-lit or have motion-activated lights installed around the perimeter of the property. In addition to proper lighting, visibility plays a crucial role in home security. Installing a driveway mirror can help eliminate blind spots, making it easier to see approaching vehicles or individuals. If you haven’t already considered these upgrades, they could make a considerable difference in keeping your home safer.

It’s definitely a good idea to put some time and effort into thinking about ways you can upgrade your home security. The peace of mind that comes with knowing your family home is secure is priceless, so don’t overlook or delay in resolving these matters.

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