All posts tagged: online shopping

The Knox Bracket – A piece of Making Spaces at Dowsing & Reynolds

Published by Karen Knox

You can now buy me!! I’m for sale! I’m a bracket! Do you remember this project from 2017? The Industrial Shaker Kitchen – Before Well, part of this kitchen update, I designed some rather special shelving that sat on some rather special shelving brackets. After – Remember? Well these shelves caused quite a stir, so much so, I told Mr Dowsing Reynolds they should manufacture and sell them as part of their hardware range. I’m bossy like that. And guess what? The eponymous Knox Brackets are now for sale on the Dowsing & Reynolds website. You can now add me to your basket, have me delivered and fix me to your wall. It’s very exciting! Knox Shelf Brackets Here’s what it says on the D&R website about my design baby: “Rewind to 2016 when our very own James and Ally Dowsing-Reynolds moved into their new family home. They don’t like to do things by halves, and so it came as no surprise to us to find out that they’d bought a doer-upper… To say the least. …

H&M – You’re killing me right now!

Published by Karen Knox

If any of you are looking to furnish a room at the moment and are big fans of Scandinavian design, then you’d be hard pressed not to find something at H&M Home’s department that’ll make you do this: There were so many things that gave me all the feels, I had to do a little round up for you guys, as someone out there HAS to buy these. My house is officially full and i’m not allowed an extension. Booo to that! Stool in Metal & Leather I so want this! It’ll just look better with age and use. Stools are so handy to have around the house, we’ve got one in most rooms, you’d be surprised how often it gets dragged out… …footstool, reaching stuff high up, side table, actual stool, low table for Charlie to eat his cereal from whilst he watches Power Rangers sitting on the floor in his pyjamas… etc. Wool Blend Rug Just enough detail for your floor. Velvet Cushion Cover Lovely colour combos and just very cool. Linen Pendant …

Office Chairs (you wouldn’t mind having at home)

Published by Karen Knox

As you may remember, i’ve been having some trouble with the ole home office set up. My cheap-y Eiffel inspired chair had outgrown its comfort levels for the sheer amount of time I was now finding myself sat at a desk. Thank you to everyone that left super helpful comments on where to find a decent chair that might float my boat, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me and my crook back out. Whilst I wasn’t averse to buying a decent office chair. Ya know, a really good quality one (the amount of physio i’m currently having would have paid for a set of 4 good office chairs, so one really good one would certainly be a very cost effective move), I was loathed to spend £300, £400, £500 upwards on a chair that I hated the look of. Like this guy… I know it’s shallow to choose form over function, but I can’t help it. The way something looks is as equally important to how something performs for me. And …

Debenhams Lighting – My Top 10

Published by Karen Knox

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 …

Matalan, you dark horse, you!

Published by Karen Knox

So there I was, hunting for some home decor and accessories to style a couple of bedrooms i’m working on. Budget is tight which obviously limits where I can look. Matalan isn’t somewhere that’s really on my radar, i’ve never really had that much luck there and never ordered online from there either. But I randomly ended up on their site on Friday night (rock n’ roll) and was pleasantly surprised. Matalan are upping their game, so much so I had to write a post all about ’em. Here are some pieces that I think you guys might like… Nomad Textured Cushion – £12 Could easily be by House Doctor (with the House Doctor price tag) or one of the other delicious Scandi brands, but it’s Matalan as part of their Nomad range, which you will see more of as you scroll down. Nomad Textured Cushion – £12 Great for those bohemian lovers out there and for £12 a pop you can’t go wrong. Double Sided Mongolian Cushion – various colours and sizes – £10-15 Absolutely brilliant …

The Elusive Round Mirror

Published by Karen Knox

They’re not easy to find you know, round mirrors. Well they are. But BIG, round ones are not. I’ve been working remotely with a lovely client down in London for a year now. We’ve been making small but quite significant changes to their living room and hallway. Project – During (photo by client) After some fancy bespoke joinery by the man of the house, a new dining table, dining chairs, cow hide, Robin Day sofa from eBay and a lick of paint… these guys needed a large round mirror for the chimney breast. If I had my way, i’d most likely have left the chimney breast bare for some negative space between the two alcoves, but the room is very dark and the window is directly opposite the chimney breast. A mirror was much needed to help bounce the limited light around. The mirror had to be round to echo the new Tulip dining table and soften all those vertical lines from the alcoves and shelving. And because I didn’t really want to see the …

My six picks from La Redoute

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve not done a round up post for a while, so I thought i’d pop a cheeky one together conclude this week’s blog offerings. This time it’s pieces from La Redoute (you know how I love that place). Up first is the Orbiana Table. Orbiana Table Desk With it’s tapered, mid-century line, the Orbiana sits up to eight people. But it also has a little extra up its sleeve. The Orbiana table desk. An ingenious large dining room table with contemporary lines for up to 8 guests. Its fold-down leaves provide 2 workspaces. Simply fold back one or two of the leaves held in place by antique brass hinges and you’ve got a work space you can tidy away in about 30 seconds. Worth looking at if you’re on the hunt for a living/dining/work space solution. £899 Next up are cushion covers. Busby Cushion Cover Admittedly, they’re not going to change the world, but they come in cool colours and have Pom Poms on, something i’m a bit obsessed with at the moment. In fact, I made …

My “Go-To” places to shop for interiors online

Published by Karen Knox

Today, i’m sharing with you guys the places I ALWAYS go to when looking for pieces for projects. I’m sure you will have heard of most of these websites, but for those who struggle to find new places for interior inspiration and find themselves getting stuck in the “Next, M&S, John Lewis loop”, here are my top ten online spots. Nine times out of ten, I find what just what i’m looking for from one of these ten places. Lets go. La Redoute I don’t think i’ve done a project in a long time that’s not had at least one piece from La Redoute. A really good place to take a look for pieces of furniture, soft furnishings, rugs, accessories… They ALWAYS have a sale on, so you should be able to get at least 25% off most of the time. If you can wait until a BH Weekend, then they have been known to knock off 40%. That’s when i’ve filled my basket! Maisons Du Monde These guys have only just started advertising in the …

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 …

Lighting at M&S – A/W 2016

Published by Karen Knox

A little interiors inspo for you today. All visual. No chit chat. Well not much. Whenever I say no chit chat, I normally managed to chuck a few words together and ramble on more than expected. See, i’ve already started. Let me show you my fave finds from M&S lighting department for this A/W 2016. I think you’re gonna like ’em. Madison Cluster Light Beautifully simple way of adding a touch of “boho glam” to your ethnic interior scheme. Doesn’t come with bulbs so don’t get caught out with that one. Add some to your basket. Mila Chandelier Wanting to channel your inner Abigail Ahern with an oversized beaded chandelier, but can’t quite afford the price tags? M&S are onto a “winner winner chicken dinner” with the Mila chandelier. At £299 it’s just about do-able, but obviously wait until one of their discount weekends where they offer 20% off. Don’t forget Topcashback too. If you’re savvy you might be able to own this corker of a light for about £220. Paloma Pendant Coming in three distinctive shapes …