All posts tagged: #designupnorth

Mad About the House comes to Leeds – #designupnorth with No House Rules

Published by Karen Knox

I went out one night last week. Didn’t get to sleep until well after midnight… and i’m still paying for it now (god, i’m so old). I don’t get out much, mainly because i’m a natural introvert, i’m normally in bed for 8.30pm and I find pyjamas just oh so comfortable. But for this recent No House Rules event, I made an exception. The No House Rules ladies, Katie and Amy (aka. @comedowntothewoods and @thisstyle_rocks) in partnership with Rose & Grey had arranged for Kate Watson-Smyth of Mad About the House fame to come to that there Leeds. I’ve been a huge fan of Kate and her work for several years now. It was one of the first blogs I latched on to. Her words, insight and general take on design certainly resonated with me. And a lot of other people too…. I remember when she followed me back on Twitter a few years ago, I was mega excited. Proper fan-girl style. Spring forward a few and our paths have crossed virtually a fair few …

Interior Design Collective - Design Surgery Workshop

IDC Design Surgery #designupnorth

Published by Karen Knox

It’s just a quickie today peeps! I’ve been writing up another (third on the bounce) final reveal post, for the Copper Bedroom (like busses they are), but i’ve had to interrupt that public service broadcast with some very exciting news: The very first IDC Design Surgery has now been confirmed!! We’re sooo excited. And true to my word, I have fought hard to host the very first of these IDC workshops up north, here in my beloved Yorkshire. These consultation style workshops are the first of their kind, as the content is planned around you and your own home projects. You tell us what you want to learn and we deliver. And when I say we, I mean me and my partner in crime and other half of the IDC dream team, Fiona Duke. There are only 10 places per workshop, we capped it at 10 as we want to be able to talk to each and every one of you and work through your home design dilemmas, so you leave feeling armed to deal …

The MADE Supperclub #designupnorth

Published by Karen Knox

Something design and events related happened up north last week! I know! And not just up north, but in Yorkshire. And not just in any ole venue with any ole brand, it was hosted by MADE at Redbrick. The very first #MADESupperclub, Yorkshire style. And I was on the invite list…. which is just as well as I would have been kicking off big time if I didn’t get one of the 14 golden tickets. And what a lovely do it was too. Very chilled and intimate which meant I got to chat to nearly everyone. People meeting people Claudia from MADE and Katie from Come Down to the Woods Kerry Lockwood and Lisa Dawson Ellenor from Dowsing & Reynolds on the left Canapes Amy from This Style Rocks and Claire from My House Candy Victoria from Apartment Number 4 Nicola Broughton from The Girl with the Green Sofa and me **waves** in my sheepskin because it was frickin baltic outside. There was a lot of camera phone action going on that night which is …

#designupnorth – 1

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve been waiting to launch this new hashtag for about two years… but in between setting up and running Making Spaces, writing a blog, then setting up the Interior Design Collective (and trying my best at being an average wife, running a house and keeping a four year old alive), I never really had the time to set this up properly. I’ve written several blog posts already highlighting all things #designupnorth, which you can check out here: #designupnorth View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karen Knox – Making Spaces (@makingspacesnet) In true me style, I just popped it on my Instagram feed one evening last week, with literally no planning or forethought (highly overrated that stuff) and waited to see if anyone else was on board with the concept of shining a light on all the wonderful creatives up North. Well it seems a lot of you were as notifications kept pinging in… absolutely brilliant! So here’s what i’m hoping: If you’re somewhere up north, love, live or work in the creative/interior design …

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 …

My trip to Dowsing & Reynolds #designupnorth

Published by Karen Knox

I took a little trip yesterday to pick up some fabric lighting cable for a project i’m doing. It involves this: An emergency exit light box. I picked it up for £2.50 from a charity shop last month. Had no idea if it worked, or if I could even “remodel” it, but I love a challenge. Aka. Giving my OH something else to re-wire. Light boxes are springing up everywhere at the moment, typography is HUGE right now and interchangeable letters in said light boxes are even HUGER. (Is that a word?). Especially when they nail that nostalgic vibe of old light up cinema signs. Lightbox UK Not like this one obviously. I don’t even drink beer. It makes me pull a really awful face. More like this one from Goodwin & Goodwin. This pulls a lot of my loves together in one big light up box: Lighting Typography Vintage Industrial Iconic phrases, sayings, mantras I want some of this. I’m gona make my own. First things first, I need a flex to wire into the …

MADE.COM Goes Massive – #designupnorth Part II

Published by Karen Knox

So where was I? That’s right, I was at Redbrick, the North’s hot spot for all things interiors and design. I was waxing lyrical about the new mahousive MADE showroom in Part I. In Part II, I’ll be looking at MADE x Unboxed and exploring why that was such a clever move. Plus, i’ve got an exclusive interview with Rebecca Ruddle, MADE’s Head of Showrooms for a real insight into the rise of MADE.COM and its success here in Yorkshire. But first, a few more images to get you back into the swing. I took over 100 photos during my tour, so to prevent giving you RSI from scrolling in Part I, I saved some for Part II. ARCHE floor lamp. The BOURBON chest of drawers for some classic french style mixed with the very British design of the WOLSELEY sofa. In 100% wool tweed and made right here in the UK. The gorgeous DARCEY desk in Walnut and Oak where the clever design seems to defy gravity. The ESME 60’s coffee table in Ash plywood with solid ash …

MADE.COM Goes Massive – #designupnorth Part I

Published by Karen Knox

WARNING. THIS POST CONTAINS SERIOUS DESIGN EYE CANDY. MAY CAUSE FAINTING, SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR SPONTANEOUS ONLINE PURCHASING. One of my favourite, feel good places to shop, find design inspiration and generally waste a bit of time is at Made.com. Their last five year existence has changed the way I find and shop for furniture and home decor. And my expectations too. Their business model, whilst initially having some teething problems in its start up period; long lead times, problems with couriers not delivering and customers perhaps not quite understanding the process, has now found its feet. And they are standing firm and fast on those feet, in very big shoes indeed. MADE’s online presence has grown enormously and rapidly, followed by the move to open two showrooms. One in Soho, London’s West End in 2012 and one up in my beloved West Yorkshire at the end of 2013. Lucky me! MADE are now set to open a third showroom very soon in Liverpool serving the Northwest contingent. This offline presence has no doubt worked wonders …