All posts tagged: rugs

Ted Baker – Did you know they did rugs?

Published by Karen Knox

Firstly, thank you to everyone that read and commented on my last blog post. I’m so glad it’s been useful to so many of you out there. Your experiences and feedback will no doubt be a massive help to everyone else too. So thank you again! If you missed it, you can catch up here. A must read if you’re planning on decorating soon. Today’s post is a bit of fun for a Friday night. I just wanted to share with you guys one of my finds this week after searching online for a rug for a client. Not just any old rug, but a marble rug. MARBOLI How beautiful is that? It’s by Ted Baker. Did you know Ted Baker did rugs? Well, you probably did, but I hadn’t seen any of these until this week. Come see some more. They’re bloody gorgeous. FLORANI Ranging from £400 to £1000, they’re not cheap, mind (surprise). Investment pieces for sure and something you’d want to have on your floors for years to come. “Woven from a blend …

Ethical interiors

Published by Karen Knox

Sheepskins are taking over, people. I know, it’s summer. The sun is shining (for now anyway) but more and more i’m seeing delicious, curly, soft, shaggy sheepskins draped, thrown, sometimes even strewn across chairs, sofas, loungers, beds, benches and floors. I wrote a post almost a year ago about my initiation into the world of sheepskins. Since then, my love has nothing but decupled (timesed x 10). I didn’t even know that was a word until today did you? My sheepskin love did however, feel like a bit of a guilty pleasure. I was vegetarian for over a decade based on my issues with animal welfare, but did start eating meat again when it became easier to buy organic and free-range. I do buy leather shoes, jackets and bags but would never buy or wear a fur coat.  So where did I stand on sheepskins? I was unsure about how could I justify using them at home and for work. So I began searching for ethically sourced sheepskins and came across Hide Rugs, an independent, UK family business. Hide Rugs guarantee …

“Here are a few of my favourite Pins…”

Published by Karen Knox

(Did you get my Sound of Music reference?) I’ve not mentioned the Masonic Villas project for a little while, mainly because i’ve been working like a donkey, juggling four other projects dotted around the region. Eeesh. Anyhoo, the last time this project got a mention on le blog, the living room had just had the ceiling lighting updated. Since then, i’ve been busy planning the schedule of work, solving problems, booking trades and placing orders. The paint for the whole redesign is on its way. Exciting indeed. I’ve also been Pinning like a demon, pieces that I think would look fab in this project. Some of them will make it, some won’t, but I thought it would be nice to share with you, some of my finds. To be precise, 10 of my finds. Pieces for the living room, home office and hallway. Come see. Lara Armchair – Fern and Grey Leather Chair – Cox & Cox Hoxton Swing Arm Wall Light – Bluesuntree Indian Cart Coffee Table – House Junkie Beni Ourain Moroccan Berber Rug – …

“Retro Gentlemen’s Club with a Dash of Taxidermy”

Published by Karen Knox

Do come in. (And please take off your shoes… new rugs.) A reminder of before: As the project breaks for Christmas, I wanted to show you where we’re at since starting work on it in mid-October. This time next month, we should have completed this room. We are so nearly there. I convinced my clients to bring the piano from the hallway into the living room. Originally a bespoke designed study area was planned for this corner, but i’m so pleased the piano made it into the living room instead. It fits perfectly and looks stunning, but more importantly it brings someone’s great love of playing piano into the heart of the home. The morning after the piano was positioned here, I had this message from my client: “Played the piano tonight for the first time in months, probably over a year. It’s totally absorbing, like meditation. Thank you.” Best feeling ever! Good design, I believe, can change the way we live. Enhance our living and working spaces, make us feel better. These are the things I …

Sherwood Forest Gets Dressed (a bit)

Published by Karen Knox

  I’m annoyed. Annoyed with the weather. The light, to be precise. The light over the past week has officially been rubbish. 1/10. Must try harder. And this, dear readers is why I haven’t posted a blog for a week. A WHOLE WEEK. Unheard of. I do apologise. Sorry peeps. But I’ve soldiered on, taking snaps here and there as the project has developed and here are some i’ve managed to cobble together over the past week. Let me show you what’s new… All of the room has been painted now in Valspar’s Sherwood Forest, except for the skirting boards. Above are the phrenology and skull knobs from Orchard Lane Interiors, now gracing the doors of the cupboard doors either side of the fire. (**rubbish lighting photo) In the right hand fireplace recess we have a collection of gawkworthy items, most of which were already at hand. Stylist’s dream! Anything new has links below. Specimen drawers Phrenology head Lots of bizarre and lovely glassware collected from around the world, including a bottle with a snake in. A cloche …

An empty space. Full of green possibilities…

Published by Karen Knox

The Sherwood Forest project is coming along nicely and now we’ve got to the fun bit. You can catch up on its intro here. The room is empty! (ish) Curtain poles down. Skirting ripped out (where it needed to be) and doors being sent off for a good ole stripping. The old fireplace has already been removed and remodelled. You can read all about how that went here. Carpets ripped up and out. Floorboards booked to be repaired, replaced where needed, sanded and stained. Such a large space to redesign on a budget, so it’s all about the colour. Using a bold colour is the best and most cost effective way of getting a high end design look for a price that doesn’t bust the bank. Valspar’s Sherwood Forest and Storybook Sundown made the cut. And a sample of the gold velvet which is being used to make the enormous full length curtains for the bay window. My clients have already got some key pieces of furniture. Like this oak Art Deco cabinet which is …

The Blue Room – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

This time last month, I had a consult for a loft bedroom. It lacked storage, colour and personality. There was some serious problem solving and creativity needed. You’ve probably caught a couple of my posts since then about how it’s been going and what I’ve been purchasing so I won’t chat too much. I shall fill your eyes with lovely visuals instead. I finally get to share with you all the finished room. And i’m so excited I could burst! **POP!** A reminder of where we started four weeks ago. Four weeks later, here is The Blue Room. The room has seen a total transformation in four weeks. Everything was taken out, the room re-designed and updated. The only things that remain are the carpets and window blinds. You can see some of the pieces from the Ikea shopping list here. Other pieces were sourced from charity shops, second hand furniture shops and Gumtree for next to nothing. The dressing table being the most expensive at £70. Plus, a couple of treat pieces to add …

The Equation

Published by Karen Knox

This. + this + this + this – this = This. = 🙂 (Still loads to do here, a shelf, pics and mirrors, but how could I not show you that stool at home?!?) Alcove before Alcove after. I know that was a quickie. I’m honestly not neglecting you. I’m preparing ya for the enormous epic War and Peace blog post that is bubbling away right now. Which may include these bad boys if i’m lucky. Habitat Metal Storage Trunks in Blue and Grey YUM.

What made the cut?

Published by Karen Knox

Just a quickie tonight giving you a mini preview of what exactly made it up the two flights of stairs to The Blue Room. After my enormous three hour sesh at Ikea yesterday, here’s what’s staying. Along with a gorgeous Storage Basket ordered from Habitat today and the last bagged Sydney Stool from Swoon Editions last week. Enjoy The Blue Room’s “Room Edit”. All being well this Friday should be FAB FIZZ FLIPPIN FINISHED FRIDAY!!!  

The Great Haul

Published by Karen Knox

**I shall begin by saying that I wasn’t planning on writing about this trip, so didn’t take my proper camera. Which I should have, as I took LOADS of photos. Balls. Just got back from yet another trip to the motherland. I was the first one in the store. 9.30am. I meant business. Ikea and school holidays don’t mix. Sorry kids, i’m working. I’ve got lamps and sheepskin rugs to buy. No time for the shufflers and the browsers. Get me to that market place! We are about to go…. WILD IN THE AISLES! Two of the ARSTID wall lights to fit over the dressing table in The Blue Room. Boom. In the trolley. The gorgeous BENARP armchair in bright tomato red. Very tempting. But not today Benarp. I’m in a Suzuki Swift. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The long awaited and limited release SINNERLIG collection by Ilse Crawford has started arriving at Leeds Ikea. The cork stools, alas, they were not in stock. Arse. They were really well made, good quality steel legs, nice details such as the gold feet and rivets …