All posts filed under: Home Decor

[vinegar & brown paper]

Published by Karen Knox

I don’t normally write seasonal/calendar driven blog posts. Mainly because I don’t buy into “Insert random commercialised event where you’re obliged to spend money on stuff you don’t really need” days. The next one coming up is Father’s Day. I know this, as Sainsbos have been selling Father’s Day cards and stocking up on socks and Maltesers for about a month already. You may have also noticed Father’s day “gift guides” popping up left, right and centre and today’s post is kind of one of those…. but it’s also not. It’s also an introduction to [vinegar & brown paper]. [vinegar & brown paper] is the creation of fellow Yorkshire resident, Andy Poplar. In his former life, Andy was an award winning advertising creative but he decided to quit his job because in his own words, “it began to make me unwell”. In his search to do something different with his life he came up with the idea of etching glass. And what a good idea it was too. Because his work is bloody brilliant. So now you’re in the …

Upper Brook Street Project – Final Reveal of the Guest Bedroom

Published by Karen Knox

Typing typing as fast as I can…. It’s final reveal time everyone! Oh how I love a final reveal. Especially when it’s as awesomesauce as this one. Eeeee!! (If you’d like to catch up on this project, pop back a few posts to this one.) First, it’s time for before pics. A large master bedroom which was to become a guest bedroom. But not just any old guest bedroom, oh no siree. The weird recessed/built in wardrobes were going and an ensuite was coming. This is how the room looked when I started working with the homeowners: The entire house had been chopped up over time, converted into flats at some point, and then back again into a house. The walls and doors were in the strangest of places and it was time to breathe life back into this beautiful Edwardian home, and put those walls back where they were originally built over 100 years ago. This was back in January. Want to see what it looks like now? After Before It’s completely unrecognisable isn’t it? In …

My Top 10 Mid Century Planters

Published by Karen Knox

Plants plants plants!! They are everywhere. And I love it. I can’t actually get enough of them. Combine my love of plants, styling and all things mid-century, this inevitably makes mid-century planters right up there with one of my fave things to add to interiors right now. Turned, tapered wooden legs? Elevated greenery? Yes please! Let me show you my top 10 picks . Tall Concrete Planter with Wooden Legs, £55 – Next Yes, you read right, Next! Wide Concrete Planter with Wooden Legs, £55 – Next Concrete and wood, super versatile materials to fit right into industrial, Scandi, vintage, mid-century and contemporary interiors. Modern Wood Leg Planter, £89 – West Elm “With their simple ceramic bowls and solid wood legs, our Modern Wood Leg Planters create an industrial look for your greenery. Even better? Their oak-finished legs have been treated to be used either inside or out.” A good choice for those of you looking to take the concrete look into the great outdoors. Turned Leg Tabletop Planters, from £24 – Westelm “Inspired by the clean silhouettes …

Living Room Update – Pt 2 #styleitdark

Published by Karen Knox

Ok, if you didn’t read Part I, then this post might not make that much sense. So you might want to pop back a couple of posts and catch up so you know what the heck i’m going on about today. Or just keep reading… you’re in charge. I think it’s fair to say I wasted spent a week painting various sections of this room. This bit that colour, that bit this colour. There are some sections of wall that have been painted four times over the space of a fortnight, I swear the room is smaller. https://www.instagram.com/p/BTRQx3RA0GD/?taken-by=makingspacesnet As much as I loved the tone of Dulux’s Rich Praline 3, it just did not work with our oak furniture or pine door. It was also a perfect match for the carpet (which I don’t like) making the room feel a bit “blah”. Not exactly the look I was going for when I started this room update. So after, repeatedly telling my hubster how the room would’t work unless I painted the door in with the …

A living room update – Pt 1 #styleitdark

Published by Karen Knox

Ok. First off. Massive thanks for the ace feedback from my last post. It seems like I have unleashed some design demons, which makes me smile very much indeed. So pleased to hear some of you guys have been trying out my online tutorial on how to create your own mood boards, had a few PM’s and DM’s since last week letting me know how helpful it’s been, including this message: “Just thought i’d let you know, i spent the afternoon at work doing your step by step mood board! For work purposes obvs, but found it really useful!! Im defo guna become a bit addicted. Just need to get myself a Mac book for home now. Cheers!! X” And that’s what I like to hear. People sacking off work to design room sets on a work computer. My work here is done ladies and gentlemen. (**disclaimer – Making Spaces does not condone idle mood board-ery at a place of work or during work hours. Proceed with caution**) Ok, onto today’s topic. Our living room. I’m not going …

Ted Baker – Did you know they did rugs?

Published by Karen Knox

Firstly, thank you to everyone that read and commented on my last blog post. I’m so glad it’s been useful to so many of you out there. Your experiences and feedback will no doubt be a massive help to everyone else too. So thank you again! If you missed it, you can catch up here. A must read if you’re planning on decorating soon. Today’s post is a bit of fun for a Friday night. I just wanted to share with you guys one of my finds this week after searching online for a rug for a client. Not just any old rug, but a marble rug. MARBOLI How beautiful is that? It’s by Ted Baker. Did you know Ted Baker did rugs? Well, you probably did, but I hadn’t seen any of these until this week. Come see some more. They’re bloody gorgeous. FLORANI Ranging from £400 to £1000, they’re not cheap, mind (surprise). Investment pieces for sure and something you’d want to have on your floors for years to come. “Woven from a blend …

My trip to Bert & May – From Salvage Yard to Show House #designupnorth

Published by Karen Knox

About 18 months ago, I introduced the hashtag #designupnorth to head up a series of posts focusing on good design being accessible north of the Watford gap. As a blogger/designer I get invited to stuff all the time (which is lovely) but every frickin design event/launch/networking opp is always down south. In fact, brands barely even put the addresses on for these events anymore, it’s just assumed we all know they’re down in Landan and we’ll just pop down there for a canpé and a Prosecco or four. Needless to say, I have yet to frequent one of these said events, a) because I work full time, in Leeds b) they’re always at rubbish times like 8am or 6pm and c) because a return trip to Kings Cross aint cheap. https://www.instagram.com/p/98ney5soCP/?taken-by=makingspacesnet But… a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to an event…. wait for it…. in North Yorkshire! 30 mins drive away from Making Spaces HQ. Yes, yes! We have a Bert & May, UP NORTH. Not in London. Well, yes in London too, but we …

The Loft Landing – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

There’s just one space left to reveal now from the loft extension. You guys will have seen the open plan landing/office below with the staircase leading onwards and upwards to our new second floor. Open Plan Office Space But what you may not have worked out just yet is how it all connects together. Designing individual rooms can be tough, but designing rooms and spaces that connect with one another, not just physically but aesthetically, that’s a real challenge. Especially transitional spaces like hallways and landings where walls and levels connect over several floors. How do you make these work? This is the view standing at the bottom of the staircase. Remember i’m in my office here too. The element of shared space which works so well here, the office enhancing the staircase and vice versa. Here is the floor plan of the second floor. I saw the landing as another room in itself. They’re often neglected spaces, quite narrow and can be dark. I didn’t want any of these things to be the case. …

Identity Papers

Published by Karen Knox

Today’s post is all about independent wallpaper designer, Linda Hasking, also known as Identity Papers. Linda Hasking – Identity Papers Here she is, well, half of her. Linda’s story behind Identity Papers began with two hundred and twenty two photos. “Shots I took of every single object in my living room became my first wallpaper, Mi Casa Su Casa.” Mi Casa Su Casa That very first wallpaper design became the foundation for her brand. Linda views her wallpapers as a portrait, this design itself being a self-portrait. This idea of the self-portrait developed further, and now her photo-collage wallpapers can be custom made using your very own images. Mi Casa Su Casa – Monochrome Great idea no? A wallpaper you’ll see something new in every day and something that means something to you and only you. Miniature pieces of art for you to discover every day. Linda’s newest design, Woodsman 1 and 2 wallpapers are another prime example of her designing with us in mind. We all like to have something a little bit different don’t we? …

The Loft Bedroom – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

We did it! We have our new loft bedroom, all done and ready to rock. Four months after we started our build, i’m finally able to share the final reveal photos with you. I’m going to warn you right now, this post is PIC HEAVY. Initially I took about 70 photos. I know. That’s ridiculous. I’ve managed to whittle it down to about 30. Still far too many, but ya know what, just scroll along if any aren’t floating your boat. Here’s where we were back in September 2016: And here was my plan for the bedroom: Ok. So here we go. Do come in… The view from the landing into the bedroom. Gets me every time. Chooch the cat, can not get enough of this room. Mainly because she’s got a load of new rugs and blankets to paw at and ruin. We had to be clever with space here as we were limited with how much width we had with the two chimney stacks bookending each side of the bed. The Factorylux Maria Banjo wall …