All posts tagged: design up north

Making Spaces on Airbnb – The Upper Brook St Guest Room

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 …

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 …

[vinegar & brown paper]

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 …

Vintage Home Show #designupnorth

I’ve just got back from the Vintage Home Show at Pudsey Civic Hall, in Leeds. And i’m still buzzing. A design lover’s dream event. This was my smile BEFORE I got there… imagine how big it was after i’d got back!! The Vintage Home Show is a Discover Vintage event, which was founded by fellow Leeds-ite Keeley Harris in 2009. Since then she’s been organising vintage events across the UK. The Vintage Home Show was launched in 2012 in Manchester and the Leeds show is the first time the event has been held in Yorkshire. Keeley herself has been dealing in the world of vintage since the age of 15 and is now well-known  in the field, having shared her expertise on TV and in the National Press. Her current book “Style Me Vintage Home” was launched in March this year. “This event is all about the 1950’s-1970’s with bright colours and bold patterns as well as teak furniture and funky chairs and if you love bright orange, you’ll be right at home” And I totally was at home. Hyperventilating in …