Down Pipe Farrow & Ball. Dark side make over

Hi, sorry for lack of posts its been a hectic time! 

Lots of decorating done in our new home and lots more to do but below are just a few before and after shots so far....... hope you like!

Ikea Foto aluminium lamp painted with Annie Sloan English Yellow paint which finishes off the kitchen well. I will post a before and after shot of this soon as this room is the biggest transformation with just a lick of paint. I am such a big fan of Annie Sloan paint, it's just amazeballs!

This is a before and after photo of our staircase ( the kitchen was exactly the same colour before I painted it grey), I love the contrast of the white stairs against the dark grey Down pipe by Farrow & Ball. 

We still have so much to do but I'm pleased with what we have done so far.

We have just had our new shutters fitted to the front of the house and I love love love them.

Night night x 

Nopi Soho tasty design

Evening all! 

Today was a day of chilling and then starting to pack (well Jamie started.....its was my birthday after all!). Then I had a lovely birthday surprise and Jamie treated Jude and I to a late lunch at Nopi Soho http://www.nopi-restaurant.com/. It was fabulous! The food was amazeballs and the interior was so fresh and chic......love love loved it! Below are a few photos from my day which I thought I would share with you.

 Jude was trying to help Jamie pack....

Starting to pack.......eeek

Birthday ring purchased from Hong Kong, it makes me happy.

 Pre dinner drinks at Nopi......mmmmmmm

 Aubergine, goats cheese & pomegranate amazing mmmm

Sweet potato, caramelised onion & pine nuts. Gorgeous! My favorite had to be the pork belly and the most amazing dish is the beetroot cheese cake OMG I could have eaten about 3.....you have to try when you go.

The interior design and attention to details is fabulous and I must research as to who designed it. White with gold/brass accents makes for a beautiful fresh and luxurious feel. I loved the petal pendent lamp and the coat hangers in the entrance area (seen above- sorry for the slightly blurred photo) and the large brass circular food display table is beauty in itself let alone with the mouth watering food and fabulous splash of the oversized vase of flowers. A true feast for the eyes! I loved the attention to detail such as the gorgeous brass O napkin rings, oh so simple but oh so lovely! I want some!

Now I think you can always tell allot about a place by the  toilets. And the toilets in this place are to die for. Poor Jude was so confused.com! It was like falling down the warren in Alice in wonderand. The photo doesn't do it justice at all but I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise for you when you do do. As you walk in you are surrounded by four walls of beveled mirrors, floor to celing. The toilet doors are secret doors and your senses are just thrown completely off tilter, which makes for a fabulous toliet experience! If you don't go to this restaurant for the food (which is why it has such a good reputation and I would recommend it to anyone) you have to go for the toilets!!

So all in all it made for one happy Birthday Girl!

Night night 

xxx

My one and only Grey......and Gold

Evening  all, apologies for the lack of posts its been manic in my house hold......house move and a couple of other exciting things on the horizon-all will be revealed in a couple of months time.

Its safe to say I have fallen head over heals in love with grey, yes I think most of you probably know this already, however now my new obsession is with grey and gold combo! The grey is mysterious and deep, then as soon as you add a hint of gold it makes a room or product sparkle. Your eye is instantly drawn to whatever, like a magpie and it adds warmth to a space! Below are just a few images I have re-pined from pintrest. Enjoy! I did!

Gorgeous panelled walls, painted graphite grey with a rich antiqued gold table lamp/bedside lamp.

Again a lovely panelled secret door with a hit of gold on the artwork to warm the space and add intrigue.

Fab cage light- I must try and find out where this is from!

A gentleman's wrist watch, although I love it and quite fancy it for myself......

Gorgeous business card design, simple and slick. The metallic adds real luxury and quality

Ugh I want this Prada bag......only in my dreams! BEAUTIFUL!

Bling gold pendant lights are dazzling, off set against the graphite kitchen doors

I love these lights, very unusual and act as a lovely screen

xxx

French Connection vases and vessels

Evening all, I always check out the FCUK HOME website regularly as they do have some lovely items and usually reasonably priced. I have just been and love all of the below vessels. 

These are great from about £35 for the smaller one, they will add a vibrant & stylish pop of colour to any room

http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Homeware+Collection+New+Arrivals/8C5D3/Turquoise+Jug.htm

Metal coated vases with bead rim £30!

http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Homeware+Collection+New+Arrivals/8M7D8/Choco+Pot+Vase.htm

A collection of sandblasted vases from £65 each

http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Homeware+Collection+New+Arrivals/8M6D9/Sandblasted+Glass+Ridges+Vase.htm

Night x

Amazing swimming pool.......

Love this Swimming pool soooooooooooo cool! x

Wide stride

Evening, a quick post with wide legged trousers/palazzo pants, which I believe are a great summer trend.

Here is where you can get some:

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Trousers-With-Extreme-Wide-Leg/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2700765&cid=12918&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Burnt+orange

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Trousers-In-Wide-Leg/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2723393&SearchQuery=wide%20leg&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Black

Night

xxx

How to spend........mens gift guide

Evening all. Sunday the 16th June is Fathers day and I wanted to do something a little bit different for this blog and do a little 'How to spend' post. I don't know about you but personally I find my dad really hard to buy for but now I have to think of something for Jude to buy Jamie. Hope it helps at least one of you get an idea for fathers day. 

Foodie

A fabulous wine and cheese box 

£50 from Rockett St George

http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/godminster-cheese-lovers-gift-box---cheddar-brie--wine-16222-p.asp

This lovely Decanter/Wine Carafe 
£25 from House of Fraser
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Sagaform+Wine+Carafe/123282698,default,pd.html

For a luxury gift why not get one of these fab cooking courses for him- I think I would go for the Butchery class
£200 for one session from Madame Gautier
http://madamegautier.co.uk/cookery-school/course-schedule#boucherie
cooking course

Fashionable

Fabulous Tavern jars, I would love these too!

£55 each or £200 for all four from Abigail Ahern

http://abigailahern.com/collections/accessories/products/taverna-jars

For a man that has everything, you can't go wrong with a boxfresh pair of trainers

£45 from John Lewis

http://www.johnlewis.com/converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-slim-ox-trainers/p188204?colour=White

A floating book shelf for his books (thanks for the idea Helen!)
£10.50 from Red Candy
http://www.redcandy.co.uk/product-umbra-conceal-bookshelf-small.php?gclid=cn734q2us7ccfxmctaod6fqacg

Traditional

A cool old book would look great on a study book shelf or desk, but even better it's a secret storage box

£29 from Rockett St George

http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/paris-tome-1---old-book-storage-box-1885-p.asp

This cool Marine mantle clock is gorgeous

£98 from Plumo-Home

http://www.plumo.com/products/Marine-Clock.html

Great alternative to the normal trophy head and allot cheaper! Lots of other heads available.

£24.95 from Whippet Grey

http://www.whippetgrey.co.uk/show_product.php?prod_id=670

Traveler

Great cork board world map for your dad to pin places where he has and wants to visit.

£25 from Cox and Cox

http://www.coxandcox.co.uk/home-office/corkboard-world-map

How about a weekend here-it's beautiful part of Norfolk and great little villages. We loved it when we stayed here two years ago.

From £680 per long weekend and sleeps up to 8 people

http://www.thechapelthornham.co.uk/

Gardener

What about a fabulous brazier for those late summer evening out in the garden drink

£88 from Cox and Cox

 winehttp://www.coxandcox.co.uk/outdoor-living/iron-brazier

Love this idea of Kew Gardens World Spice Grow Box

£15 from John Lewis

http://www.johnlewis.com/kew-gardens-world-spices-grow-box/p231801553

Music Fan

Why not treat him to a day or a weekend at a family friendly music festival!
£60 for an adult day ticket
http://www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival/

Sentimental

Lovely little heart shaped padlock

£28 from Plumo-home

http://www.plumo.com/products/Padlock.html

I Love My Daddy Book, a firm favourite in our house
£4.49 from Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1408324385/ref=asc_df_140832438513426020?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=hydra0b-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=1408324385&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=661537394894451542&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=

Homely

For the DIY junkie these beautifully made old school tools would make the best present- others available

£36 from Whippet Grey

http://www.whippetgrey.co.uk/show_product.php?prod_id=240

Back to Basic

A moustache mug, always good for a laugh- has a different design on each side of the mug

£12.50 from Whippet Grey

http://www.whippetgrey.co.uk/show_product.php?prod_id=709

Or my favorite idea that a friend suggested (thanks Ali!), A membership to Eddie Stobarts
From £18 per year
http://www.stobartclubandshop.co.uk/members-benefits.php

Happy Wednesday evening - hope this has helped you a little
xxxx

Elle Decoration July 2013, a must read

Afternoon all, just a quick post to say that if you have a chance grab yourself a copy of Elle Decoration this month. I found it really inspirational, lots of lovely new and interesting products/furniture. Below is a  photo from one of the articles where they have used purple artichoke and I want to get myself some today! They look amazing don't you think? Great alternative to flowers.

Happy Bank Holiday Monday xxx

Secret door

Evening all, I love this secret door sticker from Merci Paris http://www.merci-merci.com/en/design/wallpapers/illusions/trompe-l-il-adhesif-2094.html?color=11151. Can't wait to get a place of our own so I can buy one!

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Good night.

xxxxx