Cocktails anyone?

A diversion from the house today to focus on this stunning interior, The Livingston Restaurant & Bar in Atlanta.

Fusing classic style with modern touches, seamlessly.

I love the continuity of soft shades from the marble-clad columns and tabletops, chrome fittings and the pearlescent upholstery, all punctuated with a burst of deep berry colour through the striking floorcovering.

Easily one of my favourite commercial interiors I've stumbled on in a long time.

Found here.

Relaxed celebrations

I put this image aside a while ago as inspiration for our wedding. Yes wedding Steve!! I have to keep reminding him of this little fact (...and I am smiling as I write this, don't worry!!)

In amongst the renovations, we're also meant to be planning our big day and believe it or not, we're hoping to say our "I do's" exactly a year today.

We've both always loved the idea of a cosy Autumnal wedding with a relaxed vibe and I think this table setting achieves this. I love the use of the simple bentwood chairs and the candles placed along the length of the table at varying heights.

Aren't the possibilities for table settings just endless?!!! x

Image via: Because It's Awesome

Olivier Gagnère

This stunning image of designer, Olivier Gagnère's Parisian apartment graces the cover of the April 2010 issue of Elle Decor and sits permanently on my desk in the office. It was also this image which encouraged me to start experimenting with colours I would not necessarily use in my own home. 

Red was one of these colours, and lilac the other. Both of which I was never very fond of with regards to decor. However, I think they both work fantastically well here alongside the orange, a really unique colour combination.

I do believe the secret to making rooms like these work, is choosing the correct shade for the walls...a solid base from which these individual colours can come into their own.

Farrow & Ball's Elephant's Breath is one of these colours in my opinion and hugely versatile.  It seems to work with a wide variety of colours and is the shade I've managed to combine with red accents in our current hallway without cringing!

It's currently at the top of the list to paint our living room in the new place as I love it that much, so all that's left is the exciting task of choosing what to pair it with. I'll keep you posted. x

All images via: Elle Decor

Creativity zapped!

Just thought I'd share with you the view from my desk today!!!

Oh and November, 

.... seriously, how did you come around so quickly!

Features

From the moment we knew we were taking on this project, we've both been keen to re-instate as many features as possible throughout the house which had been lost. We're looking to install working fireplaces in the living areas but decorative fireplaces in the bedrooms are also on my wishlist. Let's see how many I can get away with!!

I snapped the photo on the left at a local fireplace dealers a few months ago. I'm pretty certain the daisy fireplace was late Victorian and tended to be used in the bedroom so I'm really keen to use these in the house - I'm just hoping they have some on my return trip! We also snapped up the other on a visit to one of our regular shopping haunts. Whilst the detailing is definitely more Art Deco, I fell in love with this fireplace and can't wait to get it cleaned up.

Images via: Rue Nicolo, all others my own.

Little steps forward, little steps back!

'Dusty' is perhaps the best word to describe this week.

On my laptop, up my nose...we've all been sneezing, including the dog! That's pretty much most of the demolition work done though, so we're slowly but surely getting there. 

The major part of the work this week was the breaking up of the concrete slab which lay under the glass link above.  The link currently joins the house and our office outbuilding, but we decided extra outdoor space would be preferable in the long run so it's coming down early next week.

In a few ways we've had to go backward to come forward. We spent time transforming the yard from an overgrown mess (top left) to a nice area to sit during the summer months when we first acquired the office and it now looks messier than ever.

So, if you live in Newcastle and happen to be passing our office, apologies, it doesn't usually look like this!

More snaps of the rest of the house to follow tomorrow 

and nice imagery to come next week I promise. x

All images: my own

Progress

The laying of the carpet was finished today. We opted for a durable coir from Kersaint Cobb with a herringbone pattern. We had thought about simply painting the floors, but with extending our office into the basement we decided to go for the warmer option!!

With regards to the decor I'm looking to keep it simple, opting for a classic black & white combo with the addition of some natural textures. I don't think I could ever tire of this look and it's versatility. Like most people, I'm prone to phases of being drawn to particular shades and colour combinations, so for me, keeping the bones of a space fairly neutral is a must, to which I can accessorise and add colour depending on what's inspiring me at the time. 

I've had the image above in my 'workspaces' file for a long time, still not sure of the source unfortunately (so please help out if you can!) but I love how the simplicity of the room lets the decorative furniture do the talking. Simply replacing the flowers and type of vase would be an easy, yet effective update to the space.

All in all, some lovely workspaces where I'd feel right at home.

Images (clockwise from top): The New Anthology, Solid Frog, {oops!}, Sacramento Street, Mackin Ink