All posts filed under: lighting

The Georgian Apartment Final Reveal

The Georgian Apartment – Open Plan Living Space Final Reveal

Well it’s been a while since I posted about this one hasn’t it? A project I introduced back in June 2019; ya know, the one with those ceilings. It’s time for the final reveal of The Georgian Apartment. Whoop! Before – May 2019 All the major works for this room were completed in time for Autumn 2019 with a list of smaller, fiddly jobs left to sort before it was #instaready. Then 2020 arrived… say no more. Before Back in June 2019, it all kicked off with the wall coming down between the tiny kitchen and the main living/dining space. This really opened up the space, creating a greater sense of width whilst allowing light and views from the wrap around gardens to enter from two aspects. During As the works were already underway during my initial consultation, I had a week to come up with the design, specification and plan for first fix electrics and plumbing for the living space and kitchen. The new homeowner, let’s call him Mr B, was set to move in …

Dowsing Reynolds Leeds Store

The Dowsing & Reynolds Store is Now Open

Hello hello! I thought some of you would like to see some pics from the recent (well not that recent, that’s how behind I am) opening of the Dowsing & Reynolds store in Leeds. I collaborated with Ally & James of Dowsing & Reynolds fame on the design concept, so it’s so lovely to be able to share the fruits of our labour with you. Professional images by Matt McCormick Come on in! Set over two floors, it was created by founders James and Ally Dowsing-Reynolds with help from interiors doyenne Karen Knox from Making Spaces and from retail psychologist Kate Nightingale from Style Psychology. Gorgeous Yorkshire I had to look up what “doyenne” actually meant. Apparently I’m “a well respected or prominent woman in a particular field.” Well that’s very kind of your Gorgeous Yorkshire, I might just pop that quote on my website, thank you very much. Before – first site recce, getting a feel for the space and taking lots of photos Let me just say from the outset, that I had no …

Abigail Ahern Poppy Seed LImewash Paint

The Harrogate Kitchen Design – Pre- reveal Post

Hello hello everyone! I know, it’s a rare occurrence for me to post twice in one week, but am so excited to share the updates from my recent trip to the Harrogate kitchen design, I just couldn’t wait. If you’re not familiar with this one (it’s been a long term project)  you can catch up on everything in this previous post.  Dining Room – Before (Estate Agent Photo) There are a few tiny things left to sort, some shelving, a TV and coffee table (and a bit of faffing of course) but that’s about it. So you’re getting the very nearly final reveal post today. Nothing has been styled properly yet but I wanted to show you the completely amaaazing transformation of this open plan kitchen/dining family space. It’s not your average kitchen knock through. During Now It’s breathtaking. It really is. That full height, corner glazing the diagonal floorboards, the artwork, it’s finally all come together to create my client’s dream kitchen. Let me show you are few more before and afters, because they’re oh …

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

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 …

Heals George Nelson Bubble Light

Making Spaces with Heal’s – The George Nelson Bubble Light

Heal’s certainly needs no introduction, it’s a bit of an interiors staple isn’t it? For me, Heal’s equates to quality, modernist, cutting edge design, but it was actually founded in 1810, the year that George III was declared insane and Jane Austin wrote Sense and Sensibility. Over 200 years ago! John Harris Heal opened the first store at 33 Rathbone Place, London. Introducing feather filled mattresses to the UK market was at the time revolutionary, it also meant it was farewell and “so long” to the straw equivalents of the period. Since then Heal’s has continued to push design boundaries, help shape the UK design landscape, with John’s great great grandson, Ambrose Heal championing Arts and Crafts design in the 1900’s (referred to as prison furniture at the time).     Ambrose Heal continued to shake up the interior market completely by introducing Bauhaus design influences during a time when UK homes were stuck in the period of heavy, brown Edwardian furniture The ‘Owl Cabinet’ designed by Ambrose Heal in 1904 “Never afraid of ruffling a …

Lumie SAD Light

Not feeling SAD with Lumie

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all settling into Monday slowly but surely. If you find it hard to motivate yourself during this time of year (it’s January if you’ve just randomly found this article) then this blog post is one you need to read. Most of you guys may know already that I live with anxiety and depression, cropping up a few times on the blog before. It’s something I (and millions of others) live with and manage as best as I can. No big surprise that my mood can suffer in the depths of winter. I’m not 100% sure if I suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but there’s a marked difference in my overall wellbeing when we have lighter, brighter days. As someone who is a pale skinnned, indoor kinda gal (and permanently vitamin D deficient) the little light I do get is massively missed during those long, dark drawn out winter days. So I contacted UK based company, Lumie to ask if I could try out and review some of their products and …

H&M Home

H&M Home – doing more Home

Hello!! Yes, I know i’ve been away for a week and left you without so much as a word to read, but we’ve had friends stay with us this week. So i’ve taken some time out, away from the screen to bloody well enjoy myself. And as punishment for said fun, i’ve been struck down with a virus and been like this since Thursday… … just in time for the school holidays. Oh life, you’re a cruel beast! Anyway, less moaning and more writing. Today’s post is about H&M Home. I know most of you will already know about their homeware dept, i’ve written about them before and used their stuff in sooo many projects… .. but there are actually still some peeps that haven’t twigged yet. And for those that don’t pop on there weekly (like I do), then today’s post is just for you. We already know H&M sell cushions, accessories, ceramics and textiles… everything in this pic above (apart from the sofa, books and twig) is from H&M. Standard. But did you know H&M’s …

Markslojd Lighting

When is a light not just a light?

I’ve not done a lighting round up for ages, which is kind of odd as i’ve been researching lighting for several big projects recently. During my recent searches i’ve found some proper gems too, and you know me, when I see designs that excite me as much as these do, I just have to share. Behold! My six favourite designs from Swedish design brand, Markslojd, all available at Wayfair. And the best thing about these six lights, is that they’re doing more than light up. These designs are hard working offering genius solutions for small but perfectly formed spaces. When one of Markslöjd’s designers comes up with a new idea, it takes one year before they have a finished product. The reason for this is because of their high demands for safety and quality. Products should not just look good, they should also have a good length of life. With a combination of investment in design and quality, many of Markslöjd’s products have become classics. Number 1.   Tray 3-Light LED Kitchen Island Pendant Upon first glance …

Debenhams Lighting Pixie

Debenhams Lighting – My Top 10

Yes, it’s another round up post and today i’m showing you my top 10 lighting picks from Debenhams. It’s not somewhere I really look for…. well, anything, but their lighting department has been evolving over the past year or so (see this post) and i’d go as far as to say they’re giving BHS a run for their money in the affordable high-street lighting stakes. Yes siree! So in no particular order (but split into styles -ish), here are some corkers all for less than £150. Yippee!! Home Collection – Pixie Pendant – £96.00 This pendant light from The Collection will add a contemporary update to your living space. Sculpted from metal, it features a slick black frame and is ideal for creating a modern ambience. Dimensions (HWD): 69 x 72 x 72cm Absolute bargain 70cm diameter pendant light for less than a hundred squid. It would easily sit in a paired back Scandi scheme as well as a maximalist’s dream digs. The simple, opal glass shades keep glare to a minimum. Home Collection – Carla …

The Red Room Project Interior Design

The Red Room – Pre-reveal – Pt 2

Because sometimes things take a little longer than planned… here’s Pt 2 of the pre-reveal. I wasn’t planning a Pt 2, but I also wasn’t planning for one of the light fittings to be broken, for the curtains to be such a pain (why are curtains always such a pain?) or for the electrician to be quite as elusive (why are electricians always elusive?) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karen Knox – Making Spaces (@makingspacesnet) But we’re about a week away from being done. After a four hour picture framing, gallery wall hanging, plant moving, nik nak fiddling session yesterday, I couldn’t possibly wait to share some pics I snapped before I left. Mantel piece styling with pieces from Ikea, Wayfair, H&M Home and….. … this super cool, not freaky at all black and gold hand from the very talented Muck N Brass. The cinema style wall light from Rockett St George looking tip top above the home bar (still to be stocked). Still a bit more work to do here (small shelf… vinyl… more …