All posts filed under: House Tour

Making Spaces on Airbnb – The Upper Brook St Guest Room

Published by Karen Knox

Hello everyone, how are you all doing? It’s nearing the end of the most miserable month of the year, can you believe it’s almost February? For those who are already planning holidays and mini-breaks, today’s post might be right up your cul-de-sac. Remember the Upper Brook St project from back in 2017? It was a guest bedroom in an Edwardian property i’ve been working on with the owners since 2016. This room in particular garnered a lot of positive attention, press coverage and the like and it’s still one of the most popular Making Spaces designs today. A room i’m so very proud to have in my portfolio. The great news is, that the Harrogate homeowners, Vanessa and Andy, have now listed their guest bedroom and ensuite on Airbnb so you can now book a night or three here! “A recently renovated Edwardian period stone built property 10 minutes walk into the town centre and minutes from the Stray. This award winning (Houzz bedroom of the year 2018) luxury bedroom and en-suite will make you …

The Mulberry Red Room (and other rooms) – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

Not one, but three spaces to reveal to you today, the first one being the Mulberry Red Room. Let’s go! If you remember the last time I shared the Mulberry Red Room, back in Feb, it was very nearly done. We were awaiting the arrival of the bed and some smaller, finer details to be completed. The whole concept for the room was based around the large framed Modigliani poster which the homeowner had bought especially to hang in this room. The burgundy red backdrop for this rather provocative piece was the starting point for the room with the rest of the details following suit quickly after. Let me show you the completed room: Walls, woodwork and ceiling in Abigail Ahern’s Mulberry Red Lampex Opal 3 Drum Pendant – Wayfair One thing I should tell you about this client, is that he doesn’t like faff. I wasn’t allowed to do nic nacks, no superfluous items, no unnecessary decoration or styling. I was allowed to bring a plant or two. And that was that. He likes …

Before and After – From 2012 to 2019

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve been reflecting hard over the past few weeks (new year does that to you doesn’t it!?) about just how much work we’ve done to our humble abode over the last six years. The landscaping was the last big project we did and i’ll be getting photos and writing that up when the weather takes a turn for the better. Nobody needs to see our garden right now with its dead plants and bald back lawn. One of the reasons I went into interior design in the first place was to give our house (and my hubby) a bit of a break. I’m always wanting to change things at home, but now I get my rocks off at work, with a few house projects here and there at home, a nice mix. But something that’s happening more and more, is i’m feeling a little deflated that our house isn’t quite as big, fancy or wow as some of the houses I get to work in. Theodore Roosevelt was on the money when he was quoted …

Making Spaces HQ Mini Home Updates

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve not shared any home updates for ages over on the blog and there have been a goings on at chez Making Spaces. So when the sun decided to join us for the first time in January the other day (for 47 minutes), I had to get my camera out and snap away like a lunatic. As most of you guys know, our house is small, normal, average. A 3 bed semi with no high ceilings, no gorgeous period features or lovely large windows. There are still lots of things i’d love to change and update (some of which will be happening later this year) but for now this is where we are with everything…. Let’s start in the entrance hall. At the end of the hallway now resides a chalkboard wall which is used for messing about, drawing floorplans and Charlie’s notes for his current thesis on the world economy. FINALLY we’ve updated the switches and sockets on the ground floor with more goodies from Dowsing & Reynolds. Our ground floor now matches our …

The Coach House at Middleton Lodge #designupnorth

Published by Karen Knox

The hubster and I have just got back from a mini break. I thought you guys would like to see where we stayed as it’s just a little bit special. Middleton Lodge is a Georgian Palladian mansion set within 200 acres of open countryside, on the outskirts of Middleton Tyas, a small village in North Yorkshire. Designed by the architect John Carr, it was built between 1777-1780 for George Hartley Esquire. Today, Middleton Lodge is now home to the Allison family who have lived here for nearly 40 years. Their home however, is also available for hire for private wedding receptions, functions and film location shoots. A short walk away from the main house is The Coach House. Originally built for the carriages and horses of George Hartley Esq, it’s now the ground’s hotel, restaurant and bar. The horse-shoe shaped building has that perfect Georgian symmetry and proportion, with rounded archways, feature windows, pale brick walls, and original beams. With the flowering beds in the central courtyard and the April sunshine beaming down upon us, this spot was like its …

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 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 …

At Home With… Making Spaces

Published by Karen Knox

It’s been another big week here at Making Spaces HQ. And my last one before I have a week off work. A week off! It’ll be the first one i’ve had in nearly 18 months. I so need it. In fact our little family of three does. We’re off to Centerparcs for some much needed downtime from all things digital, breath in some fresh air and take some time to make memories with the fam. I couldn’t not share this with you guys though… i’m currently featured on Houzz UK as part of their “At Home With…” series. And i’m actually pretty proud of myself right now. There’s a great interview over there with yours truly (which actually makes me sound like a nice person, who’d a thought!?) You can have a proper nosey around my home, all with a chance to win a lovely silk cushion from one of my fave places to shop. Silk cushion from The Other Duckling I’ve actually had tears in my eyes from reading some of the comments on the …

A Victorian Corker

Published by Karen Knox

I had a consultation yesterday. I’m a little giddy. The homeowner and I have very similar tastes, she loves monochrome, art, industrial, hunting furniture from skips and junk yards and mid-century touches. Her home, quite frankly, is amazing already. But she believes there is room for some creativity, some problem solving and bit of oomph. Let me at ’em. I’ll show you around…. (permission already granted if you were wondering). The living room. Currently in F&B Bone and is calm and neutral. But needs a little kick. The floorboards, picture rail, coving, windows, skirting boards… all original and all amazingly beautiful. Needless to say, they will all be staying put. As will the mid century haberdashery drawers with brass drawer pulls. Yum. Full height windows on two aspects, the second of which I forgot to take a bloomin photo of. Which is kind of a bummer as it’s where some joinery magic may just occur. More on that to follow. Just look at that door! With almost 3m high ceilings, this room can take some serious colour. …

A Living Room Update

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve been making some updates to our living room. It will be having a little cosmetic surgery this year. Aka. paint & and wallpaper. It’s taken me over a year to convince the OH to let me get on with it. Which has been pretty annoying (did you hear that, my beloved??) So to keep my creative juices from drying up, i’ve been changing all the things that he can’t really get a bee in his little bonnet about. Come see… Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette by Van Gogh. Some new art anyone? I don’t know how i’ve never seen this before. Painted in 1886, Van Gogh did “hipster” before the word hipster even existed. A purchase from Art.co.uk, my new favourite place to spend an hour ogling new art. And old art apparently. That’s enough skulls for this room now. I do have Montel, the copper skull too, remember!? Over-kill? Over-skull? No, that doesn’t work, Karen. Art that was originally hanging on the wall opposite is now sitting here. I quite like how it …