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When Carpet’s Right

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (1 Comments)

Much as we all love the beauty of wood, the practicality of tiles and the feel of smooth poured concrete beneath our feet, there are times when only carpet will do.

Carpet Right 1

Carpet still has the edge when it comes to comfort and luxury.  It’s no surprise that it’s still the flooring of choice for the best hotels (well, in the northern hemisphere anyway).  There’s just something about toes wriggling in the deep pile first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Carpet Right 2

It has other qualities too of course.  It’s a great insulator against cold and noise.  Wooden stairs look great, but boy, can they be noisy when the whole family decide to run up and down them.  Just think how hushed and quiet wall to wall carpet will be.

Carpet Right 3

And carpet just warms a whole room up.  Figuratively and quite literally. Nothing looks quite as cosy and inviting.  Just kick off the shoes and relax.

Designer Tips. Do your homework about the most suitable carpet for the different areas in your home.  And buying carpet online makes sense as long as you order samples so that you can check the colour and suitability at home first.

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A Fresh Look at Laminate Flooring

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (2 Comments)

I think it’s time to take a fresh look at laminate flooring.

It’s major advantages of course are that it’s quick and fairly easy to install (anyone with moderate DIY skills can do it) and it’s inexpensive.  It’s also hard-wearing and if installed correctly, it can look almost as good as the real thing.

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 1

And while you’re at it have a look at the laminate flooring at Topps Tiles.

I’m rather partial to the darker tones as seen above.  In fact I have similar flooring at home.  I think it adds a real warmth to the room and looks great with neutral and paler colour schemes.  Looks even more stunning with white!

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 4

And I love the sawn effect oak above.  Notice the deep skirting boards and remember to always lay the skirting boards on top of the flooring for a really professional look.

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 3

And don’t we all dream of white-painted boards on the floor?  How many of us have boards in good enough condition and the patience to continually re-paint.  Laminate floors could be the answer?

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 2

They don’t have to be wood effect either.  These slate effect boards are just perfect for a kitchen or bathroom.

For tips and instructions on how to lay laminate flooring visit DIY Network.

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I Spy – Next, Shoreham……….

Posted by deardesigner in I Spy | Interior Design | Shopping - (3 Comments)

Last Thursday was one of those late summer days that catch us all unawares.  Gorgeous blue skies and temperatures we would have liked to have had in mid-July.  It was also the day that I boarded the train to Brighton to have a look at the new Next store in Shoreham.

The store is the biggest in the Sussex area and it has everything that Next has to offer all under one roof.  As well as the clothes and home collection that we are all familiar with, it has for the first time, DIY and garden products. 

The store is massive!  It is also very well laid out and gorgeously styled with colour coordinated room sets at every turn.

There is a brand new Dulux paint section, with touch screen colour selectors.  A new section with tiles, carpets and flooring and a bathroom section where you can buy a bathtub to take home the same day if you so wish.  You might however, prefer to take advantage of the one-to-one design consultancy service instead!

For those of you that do take home the bathtub in the back of the campavan there is a tool section too.

But step outside and you will find everything you need for the garden.  From sheds, to furniture, to tools to plants.  And it all looks incredibly beautiful and very, very tempting.

I must say I was very impressed.  I didn’t come out exactly empty-handed either.  What do you think of my new cushions?

 

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Office Spaces – Agent Provocateur……….

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design | Interior Designers | Office - (7 Comments)

I don’t normally feature office design on this blog, but today I’m going to make an exception.

I was flicking through Interior Design Today and there was a spread dedicated to the new head office of Agent Provocateur.  Granted the space also includes their new showroom, but this is like no work environment I have had the pleasure of working in!

The chosen designers - Studiofibre - were given virtually no design restrictions.  A dream brief, ‘Be as daring and colourful as you wish’.

The result is as original and sexy as the lingerie brand itself.

The furniture is mostly Vitra, with a few Edra pieces as here in the reception area which is very informal and laid back.

The crocodile print flooring is by Forbo.

Fiona Livingston from Sudiofibre is quoted as saying ‘We were faced with the challenge of transforming quite a life-less building into something that oozes character and encapsulates the theatrical glam of the Agent Provocateur brand’  Well, they have certainly managed that.

And who needs art when you have larger than life posters of the company’s products?

When can I start?

All images from the website of Studiofibre

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Country Dining Room Revamp……….

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (0 Comments)

Regular readers will know that Dear Designer has been helping out a couple of friends with some decorating decisions.

First it was the bathroom here, and then the hall, stairs and landing here.

Mr and Mrs H are the best ever kind of ‘clients’.  Ever.  No prevarication, no last-minute changes of mind, no hesitation at all.  No sooner is it said, than it is done.  Knowing them so well helps of course, but I still want to say a huge thank you to them both for allowing DD to take a modest role in the transformation of their family home and then to broadcast it to the world via this blog. 

And for finally letting DD get her hands on the dining room at last…

and not before time…she won’t mind me saying that I’m sure…

Obviously, there is quite a lot to do but that doesn’t mean we are going to throw everything out and start again.  That’s not DD’s style and budget constraints usually lead to enhanced creativity anyway.

The colour scheme was decided first and as this room leads directly from the hall which is in shades of greyish blue and white, it was agreed that we would continue with greyish tones and white but a more silvery grey this time.  The room has quite a low ceiling and has a tendency to be quite dark, so a light colour scheme will help to brighten it. 

The old green carpet will be ripped out and the oak flooring from the hall will continue into the dining room. 

Mrs H wasn’t averse to using an all over wallpaper and a pretty grey damask from Laura Ashley was chosen.  The chimney breast which is painted brick at the moment will be plastered over and papered too.  The ceiling and the ceiling beams will be painted a bright white.

The bookcases either side of the chimney, the fire-surround, and the sideboard will be painted grey, the dining table and chairs will simply be re-polished.  The bookshelves will have some form of lighting incorporated.

Mrs H already has very attractive china and cutlery, both with accents of green, so we are going to run with green as an accent colour.  Maybe on the seat covers, the tiles on the fire surround (although, these are already green and could actually stay) and other small accessories.

The window treatment hasn’t been decided yet, but as it isn’t overlooked and privacy is not an issue, something light and lacy may be a possibility.

And finally we are going to bring in lots of sparkle with mirrors, crystal wall lights, candle holders, photo frames and new knobs for all of the cupboard doors.

 No doubt it will be finished by this time last week and they can hurry up and invite DD for dinner!

Sources: Wallpaper, Laura Ashley. Oak flooring, City Flooring. Grey paint colour – Illusion, Dulux. Green fabric – Claydon, Designers Guild. Champane bucket and fruit bowl, LSA International. Champagne flute, Dartington.  Normann grass vases, A White Room. Green tumbler, Furniture Barn. Circular mirror, and mirrored photograph frames,  Decorexi.  Wall light, John Lewis.  Crystal cupboard knobs, Graham and Green. Metal column candle/tealight holder, Artisanti.  Silver tealight holders, Nikki Jones.  Framed print, Laura Ashley.

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If you would like design advice from Dear Designer,

 email deardesigner@hotmail.co.uk sending photographs if possible, room dimensions and details of what you have, what you need to keep and what you desire.

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Saturday Share – 17.4……….

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design | Saturday Share - (0 Comments)

Dear Designer’s favourite images this week from all those lovely blogs out there……….

Click on the picture for the full post.

Emmas Design Blog

Ada and Darcy

Bright Bazaar

The Style Files

Slumber Designs

Heart Home

Emily A Clarke

 

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Teenage Bedroom – Answer……………

Posted by deardesigner in Bedrooms | Interior Design - (0 Comments)

White laminate flooring, white venetian blinds, daybed, wardrobes, desk, desk chair, desk drawers, duvet cover, red throw, heart-shaped cushion, cushions, lamps, artwork, cd boxes, box files all from ikea.

Heart shaped rug from britishsheepskins.co.uk.

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Country Bathroom – Products Answer………….

Posted by deardesigner in Bathrooms | Interior Design - (0 Comments)

Dear Sharon,

Lets start with the bath.  Free standing, traditional, claw footed, with a plain white outside.  I think you are going to love this.  I’m going to suggest colour on the walls so the bath would be best left white.

There is a version of this with white feet also which would be perfect.  From bathstore.com

Basin and WC also traditional in style.  

Both from victoriaplumb.com

Try to find a frameless corner shower, victoriaplumb.com  also have a selection of these.  The less frame, the more invisible the shower becomes and the more spacious the room will look.

Brassware of course should also be traditional in style.

To continue the chrome theme, a wall mounted mirror above the basin… and a portable chrome rack to keep those all important toiletries close to hand when you’re in the bath.  If there is one disadvantage to a freestanding bath it’s that there is nowhere to put the shampoo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both from johnlewis.com

I would choose a solid wood floor, maybe antique oak and paint the tongue and groove panelling and skirting boards in a heritage green colour.  Try Aquamarine from thelittlegreene.com   Keep the top half of the walls and ceiling white to keep the sloping ceiling from feeling oppressive and use white metro style tiles inside the shower cubicle.

Tiles from firedearthshop.com

I have found some wall lights for either side of the mirror (the best place for mirror lights, as they don’t throw so many shadows over the face) also at johnlewis.com and the low voltage ceiling lights should also be in chrome.  Make sure you get bathroom lights recommended for use above showers.

Don’t forget to keep the heated towel rail/radiator in keeping with the rest of the scheme and keep plenty of fluffy white towels to hand.

Lastly, the best bit in my mind – accessories to make the morning shower and the evening soak as pleasurable as possible.

all from brissi.co.uk           

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