All posts tagged: copper

The Copper Bedroom – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

Just like buses, you wait for ages, in the rain, getting puddle mud on the back of your skinny jeans, standing with damp denim stuck to your leg… then three of the double-decker blighters come all at once. My third final reveal post in as many weeks. That’s got to be some kind of record. The Monochrome Family Bathroom, then the Aquamarine Guest Bedroom and now the Copper Bedroom. That’s how it goes sometimes. Co-ordinating several projects at the same time can be a bit of a nightmare. But then you get a triple whammy of interior eye candy to gorge on. Before Today’s it’s the Copper Bedroom. The bedroom on the 2nd floor of the Edwardian property i’ve been working in for nearly the last two years now. Blimey! You can catch up with all the befores for this latest project, here and here. Drawing Room | Upper Brook St These are the two rooms that sit directly beneath the Copper Bedroom. On the ground floor it’s the Drawing Room and the floor above …

Bedroom 4 – Pre-reveal (aka The Copper Bedroom)

Published by Karen Knox

Remember this room? The Bedroom 4 Project. Yes, that’s right. This one. Well you may (or may not) remember it’s been going through a long and winding renovation. Mainly because period properties treat you mean to keep you keen. Whatever looks like a simple job of, “just a lick of paint” becomes a whole heap of pain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karen Knox – Making Spaces (@makingspacesnet) Good pain though, the pain that’s totally worth it when the transformation is as good as this. Once all of the re-wiring, plumbing, new wall was built, old fireplace ripped out, original tiles around the hearth uncovered and a reclaimed cast iron one fitted, the room was put back together and all re-plastered. A blank canvas. This is what we were aiming for: And do you know what, it’s almost flipping there. I drove over last Friday to unload just a few bits. I just about fit in myself! So are you ready for some pre-reveal pics? For those not familiar with how …

An Introduction to Project: Bedroom 4

Published by Karen Knox

I’m back with a new project to share with you guys this week, at a property you will have probably seen before a fair few times. The Drawing Room – December 2016 Directly above this room is this room: Upper Brook Street Project – May 2017 And directly above this room is this room: Yes, we’re now onto the top floor of this Edwardian home. The homeowners are tackling bedroom four and five, plus what will become the main family bathroom, with a bit of help from me again. Be rude not to eh? Bedroom five, as shown on the floorplan below is kind of done, except for lighting, window dressing and the final faff. So i’ve been asked to help with the finishing touches for that space. More on that room coming in another blog post soon. For today i’m focusing on bedroom four as that space has proved to be slightly more tricky to sort. It’s pretty large but there are plenty of angles in this space with the ceiling being pitched on …

The Million Dollar Floor Lamp – Pt 2

Published by Karen Knox

Just a quickie today as i’m winding down for Chrimbles, as i’m sure you all are too. Do you remember this? A few months ago I wrote about the Million Dollar Floor Lamp. Another little project for Sherwood Forest where some spray copper spray paint and a bespoke light shade were going to turn this plain, slightly battered white floor lamp into something rather spectacular. All for less than £60. My client wanted to wait until the walls were painted and rugs were in situ before we made a final decision on the shade. Our original choice from Detola & Geek had sold out, so after a lot of hunting around I finally decided upon this rather special little number from Bespoke Binny, aka Natalie Yaa Obenewa Thompson. African wax print lampshade – Bespoke Binny “Born in North London of Ghanaian descent, inspired by her West African roots, Natalie has designed a line of home furnishings that are reminiscent of a colourful African marketplace using a mixture of vibrant wax prints and cotton twills tailoring cushions, kitchen …

The Million Dollar Floor Lamp

Published by Karen Knox

A couple of posts ago, I introduced you to my latest project, Sherwood Forest. Today is just a quickie to show you how something from that project has gone from “meh” to “sshwing!” In less than an hour might I add. See that lamp? Well, it needed some love. And what better way to love it than to take off that old shade and make it all warm, shiny and coppery. Luckily my clients love copper nearly as much as I do. Whoop! So with some sandpaper and can of Valspar’s Metallic Copper spray paint I got to work. Pic from B&Q After one coat. After two coats. And so with our new rather glamorous lamp base which in total had three coats for good measure, it needed a new shade. Initally I opted for the Grande shade from Habitat. A simple tapered drum in matt black with a copper interior to reflect the light beautifully. But the shape and dimensions were all wrong. The client also felt it needed a little pattern, so off I went searching …

Original Design with a Story

Published by Karen Knox

There are not many businesses out there that spend as much time and care sourcing unique and ethical design as these guys. Such & Such was founded by a brother and sister originally from the Peak District. Meet Ali, who in a previous life was a lawyer and Nikki who was a creative professional. In 2011 they both began to get itchy feet, feeling the need for a serious career and life change. Ali and Nikki with her daughter, Bessie After almost too many ideas, lots of research and a serious period of reflection, Such & Such was born in 2013. Nikki and Ali are clearly passionate about design, quality and craftsmanship. They offer a meticulously curated selection of homeware and lifestyle goods, whilst telling the stories of the designers and makers behind them. This is not a shop selling you “stuff” or a place providing a quick design hit. It’s a place to find those “cherished belongings that you will keep for a lifetime.” The collectables of the future. “Such & Such goals are to search for well-designed, cool …

Oh my!

Published by Karen Knox

I’m a nightmare to buy gifts for. I have very specific tastes when it comes to most things (everything). Most people buy me vouchers, give me the receipt and my parents have just resorted to cold hard cash for birthdays and the like. This is normally put towards something interiors-y, but practical stuff like a new laundry basket or bedding. My other half thinks I take the fun out of him buying me presents. Apparently I request boring “non-gift like” items. The most contentious being new door handles for our front and back door. I managed to swing that one, and they made me so much happier than a fancy new dress or an expensive smelly candle. I smiled for weeks when they were finally changed. To me that’s a super, smashing, great gift! So anyway, this week i’ve caught up with one of my besties. I don’t get to see or even speak to her very often as she lives in flippin Singapore now. She is one of those peeps that likes to spoil the …

Marble & Metallics – H&M Home does affordable luxe

Published by Karen Knox

Copper Plant Pot – Also in gold and silver – £7.99 Hi everyone, here I am banging on about copper again. It’s not going anywhere, so you will have to succumb at some point. It’s easy to add some to your home through downright affordable accessories and H&M have knocked it out of the park this season. In fact, within about three minutes of perusing H&M Home, I made my “Oooh that’s nice” sound about eight times. Black and bronze ceramic pot – £12.99 This has reminded me to paint the rest of my DIY Copper Plant Pot black. Must do that tomorrow. I adore the colour combo, so bold but classic and this simple shape is super contemporary. Add a plant for a splash of green and you’ve got yourself a winner. Yes indeedy. Also in white and gold. Gold Pineapple Glass Jar – £4 £4! Pineapples are all over the place, along with palm prints and flamingos. Very Copacabana. This is currently in the sale and the silver ones have already gone, so get your …

Copper Top

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve had this can of Rust-oleum copper spray enamel for weeks now and have been meaning to attack my Arenite table lamp from Made.com which was purchased for the living room. I bought it knowing full well that I didn’t want a white base. It had a white base. But i’ve been building up the courage to do something about it, ie. spray paint it copper. Also known as “potentially ruining it.” I’d also seen these lovely copper dipped plant pots on Not On The Highstreet which I loved, but wanted to experiment to see if I could create something similar before splashing the cash. So a little trip to the Motherland (Ikea) for some supplies. One Ingefara terracotta pot and saucer. £2 for both bits or something ridiculous. And this lovely Dracaena Marginata which must have been priced up wrong as that was only £1 too. So a total spend of £3. Not much to lose should I be crap at this spray painting lark. The saucer was going all out copper and the top …