Get their Look: Modern rustic living room

Interior decoration is all about achieving balance within a space, something that this modern rustic living room has perfected.

The backdrop of brilliant white walls paired with bare wood floor, ceiling and rafters act as the foundation of the room. This light coloured wood is picked up again in the handrails, skirting boards, door frame, Ercol nest of tables and log pile.

The Welsh wool tapestry cushions, playful moose throw and Bokhara rug soften the hard surfaces and provides comfort and colour.

The rustic feel is counterbalanced with touches of modernism via the sleek wood-burning stove and orange & stainless steel angled floor lamp.

Creative Collections: Wooden spoons

Last week’s ceramic Creative Collections post featured modern design & graphics – this one is altogether more antique & rustic in nature.

We just love old wooden spoons!! All the different shapes, sizes & patinas.

There are endless gadgets that you can fill your kitchen with (and we do); but when it comes down to it, if you’ve got a couple of good knives and some wooden spoons, you can get most jobs done.

You can get very attached to certain spoons. In addition to some exquisite antique examples that we now just display, we must have about 20 spoons available for use in a pot next to the cooker – we both gravitate to our favourite 2 or 3. They just feel right in the hand!

And then there’s the spin off collection – obviously you then have to find perfect racks & containers in which to keep them!!

Pick of the Pads: Country Contemporary

We’ve chosen the wonderful Italian home of Marco & Francesca Constanzi for this month’s Pick of the Pads.

It’s featured in the October 2014 edition of Country Living magazine.

It’s a renovated lamia, a traditional stone-built building originally constructed to provide shelter for livestock. The couple have a wonderful tale to tell when it comes to finding the property. They were driving through the beautiful countryside of the Puglia region looking for the perfect retreat when they crashed (literally) into a local farmer – well, he crashed into them more accurately. They got chatting (as you do when you crash into someone) and he offered to show them properties that were for sale in the local area – all those hidden gems. Whilst they were looking, they came across the run down lamia – how about that for fate, destiny, divine intervention?

It was the perfect opportunity – a beautiful structure set in a truly idyllic location amongst the olive groves.

We think you’ll agree that they’ve done a stunning restoration – Marco being an architect helps!! They reduced the thickness of the walls which were originally a metre wide – this provided enough space for one large central room with mezzanine, a bathroom and a kitchen. Obviously, with the climate of southern Italy to enjoy, there’s also the option of lots of al fresco living too.

It’s stunning in its pared back simplicity, the beauty & integrity of the building shines through – the muted, natural colours are gorgeous – and the restraint shown by Marco & Francesco is amazing; the spaces being simply decorated with country furniture, vintage rustic finds & foraged keepsakes…

…a few cushions & textiles here and there to soften the hard edges – a simple log fire, candles or fairy lights to warm it up.

The renovation has been sensitive to the original building, yet enhanced it – creating something magical. We just love it!! And of course, we’ll be heading off to the Lake District sometime soon to see if we can crash into a local farmer!

Pick of the Pads: Past Perfect

It didn’t take much thought for our choice for Pick of the Pads this month.

We’re already quite familiar with this gorgeous Welsh cottage, Bryn Eglur, owned & renovated by Dorian Bowen – and when it appeared in this month’s Country Living Magazine we just had to share it with you.

For Justin in particular, it’s a real favourite house from years of scouring interiors magazines.

The word character was probably invented for it!

It’s cosy & comfortable with perfect retreats to eat, sleep or read.

It’s packed full of gorgeous country antiques too. An oak dresser filled with pottery & pewter, spindle back chairs, settles and spoon racks.

Spaces are softened with textiles & fresh flowers.

Perfect, photogenic corners everywhere you look!

It’s full of traditional charm, but there’s also no sense of it being in a museum with modern facilities such as this gorgeous kitchen.

And the best thing is… if you love it as much as we do, you can stay there!! Yes, it’s a holiday let! And for those fellow dog owners out there – your treasured pooches are welcome too.

It’s one of those cottages that offers a good location to explore the area, but also provides a gorgeous home to relish every hour you spend relaxing indoors. Perfect indeed!

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: rustic

Get their Look: Modern rustic living room

Creative Collections: Wooden spoons

Pick of the Pads: Country Contemporary

Pick of the Pads: Past Perfect