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Secrets to Styling Your Sofa | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/163901221714/secrets-to-styling-your-sofa#_=_ Youve spent ages choosing the right sofa but now its in your home it doesnt have quite the same feel as it did in the showroom or brochure. Why? Because it hasnt been styled by a team of experts to make it look as welcoming and stylish as possible. Dont despair though as this handy guide will talk you through how you can achieve this look whatever your style of sofa. Positioning Its very easy to place your sofa in an obvious space along a large wall for example but its worth thinking of the room as a whole to work out where it would work best. Ideally this should be done before your sofa arrives saving you a lot of backache trying it in different locations. So take the measurements of the room the sofa and any other furniture and sketch out different layouts. Placing a sofa opposite the rooms focal point such as a fire place is a good starting point. Another tip is to pull your sofa slightly away from the walls to create the illusion of greater space around it and connection to the rest of the furniture within the room. Copyright: piovesempre / 123RF Stock Photo Proportions Consider the proportions of your sofa in relation to other items nearby to create a balanced look. The style and size of the sofa will determine what you place nearby such as side tables the number or type of pictures hanging above it or the height of a lamp. Play around with pieces you already own then stand back to see what does and doesnt work. Copyright: Khongkit Wiriyachan / 123RF Stock Photo Colour Blocking Choose a colour within the room and use it in a few places to help bring the room together. Cushions lampshades and throws are all easy ways to do this and help the eye travel: a secret to good styling. Rugs Rugs are an item that deserve their own mention as they can compliment a sofa beautifully. By placing a rug in front of a sofa instead of in the middle of a room like an island it draws the eye to the rug and the sofa together. It also creates a cosy feel for those sitting on it too. Copyright: mihalis77 / 123RF Stock Photo Accessories Accessorising is the fun part of bringing other parts in to help your sofa achieve a stylish look. Cushions lighting interesting objects patterns pictures and plants are all ways to display the things you love andexpress who you are. Different ways of displaying your accessories will create a different look so try a few options and bear in mind proportions heights and balance within the space to achieve a look that works. Copyright: bialasiewicz / 123RF Stock Photo Steal From the Experts It may sound obvious but sofa guides and catalogues show how the professionals have styled the furniture and room. What other colours and accessories have they used to complement the sofa? These can give you the ideas and confidence to create a similar look with your sofa. Change With the Seasons Just as we change what we wear throughout the year we can apply the same principles to styling sofas. Adding heavier woollen blankets and chunky knit throws to sofas in the winter monthscreates a warm and cosy feel whereas lighter brighter coloured cushions in spring and summer reflect the lighter days and warmer weather. Copyright: worldwidestock / 123RF Stock Photo So in the same way you put time and thought into choosing a sofa the same applies for how your sofa will look within your home. A little consideration of the factors above will really help your sofa to look inviting and stylish all year long just as it should be with a large piece of investment furniture. You May Also Like Bring life into your home with Plants Back to nature with Beautiful Wallpaper She Wore Blue Velvet The post Secrets to Styling Your Sofa appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/secrets-styling-sofa/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/163901206213

How to Make a Rental Property Feel Like Home | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/163861681644/how-to-make-a-rental-property-feel-like-home#_=_ Rising house prices and cost of living mean that more and more people today are renting properties over buying. However this doesnt mean you have to live in someone elses style. There are numerous ways to achieve a look you love and can take with you when you leave. So heres how to turn your rental property into a home. Highlight the Good Features Work out which parts of the property you like and want to draw attention to. If the property boasts a stunning window staircase view or architectural detailing such as coving or architrave show it off! These could be highlighted through lighting or the positioning of furniture to best view these features. Conversely identify any areas you wish to cover up. Wall hangings and art are easy and temporary ways to conceal cracks unused doorways or unsightly details. Some landlords might not mind you painting walls as long as they are painted over again before you leave so check your contract to see whats permissible. Lighting Lighting plays a vital part in setting the tone of a room so bear in mind the three different types of lighting; task (for a particular activity such as reading) ambient or general (to light the room) and accent or highlighting (to draw attention to particular object). A statement ceiling light for example can help to draw the eye upwards creating an increased sense of space. Also remember that you dont have use the existing light fittings within a property these can be carefully packed away and replaced with your own. Think Temporary Not Permanent Walls are an ideal space to display photos art etc. but there are alternative options to hammering nails into walls. Specialist adhesive hooks work brilliantly as they can take a surprising weight load and be easily removed without leaving a trace. Large mirrors and artwork can be propped against the floor or a strong shelf for a relaxed more contemporary look. Removable wallpaper or a wallpapered panel is also great for injecting colour pattern and personality to a room and can be good for zoning spaces if a room has different purposes. Copyright: bialasiewicz / 123RF Stock Photo Clever Furniture and Storage Modular furniture works really well in rental properties as it can be arranged to fit in any room.Freestanding shelving is great for both storage and displaying items you love. Try creating vignettes curated pockets of a home to showcase objects and artefacts that reflect your style and personality. These double as clever storage areas which attract peoples attention look great and are moveable too. Copyright: anawat / 123RF Stock Photo Soft Furnishings Sometimes rental properties arereallyblank canvases void of any colour or personality but soft furnishings can be a great way to transform a room. A statement rug adds interest warmth and energy and are a good way to hide any marks on the floor. Bold contrasting patterns can work well in blank rooms as they add a sense of fun and personality. Shop around for interesting patterns and colours on cushions lampshades throws rugs curtains and blinds. Copyright: mihalis77 / 123RF Stock Photo Plants A touch of greenery adds a great look and feel to a space whilst cleaning the air and can help deter illnesses. Try plants in different rooms amongst books and objects and experiment with shapes sizes and colours of foliage for a well-loved home. Copyright: bialasiewicz / 123RF Stock Photo Outside Youve made the inside look great so dont forget that any outside space needs the same treatment too. Its amazing the difference a little bit of care and attention can make to a property. Whether its a window box or a lawn a few plants will add colour greenery and life into any outside space. Creating a space that reflects who you are will feel like a home and that fact you can take the look with you is perfect for both you and your landlord. You May Also Like Five Clever Ways to Make the Most of a Small Home Make Your Home a Summer Sanctuary with these Simple Steps Three Great Summer Makeovers for Kids Bedrooms The post How to Make a Rental Property Feel Like Home appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/make-rental-property-feel-like-home/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/163861667713

Not Your Average Lancashire Farmhouse | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Get a group of people to picture a country farmhouse and the images they’d conjure wouldn’t be terribly dissimilar. It’s a pretty stable image- and a somewhat romantic one too. Common thought depicts a home lost somewhere amidst fields of barley, which like its surroundings, wears a medley of rustic colours and textures- thatched roof and all. Certainly, in the way of reinventing or even modernising the concept, the heavy weight of what we expect to see when we hear the word ‘farmhouse’ presents designers with a near impossible challenge: how can one honour tradition and yet make it new all at the same time?

Nestled in the fields of the West Lancashire countryside is a home that walks this fine line with splendid grace. Situated within four acres of Ormskirk’s green belt, the Narrow Lane Farmhouse was completed in 2015, designed by the award-winning London-Based architecture practice, Studio Verve. With a focus on design, the RIBA Chartered Architecture Practice are known for their thoughtful and bold contemporary designs. Their penchant for non-conformity and lateral thinking, paired with a close dialogue with their clients’ preferences, regional styles and traditions has given rise to a striking portfolio of bespoke homes, apartments, conversions, hotels, restaurants and religious buildings across the globe.

Sporting an assortment of bold lines and clinical vertices, though still speaking the vernacular of the British farmhouse, the Narrow Lane Farmhouse aligns with Studio Verve’s brilliant design ethos. We take a tour of this stunning property, diligently observing how Studio Verve seamlessly negotiate contemporary design, sustainability, tradition and the needs of the family that call Narrow Lane ‘home’ in one, award-winning design.

The Modern Farmhouse

Though a distinctively modern home, Narrow Lane’s farmhouse identity is carried to the very core of the home. From the front, Narrow Lane still keeps the silhouette of the traditional farmhouse, with a more expansive play with form and more liberal use of glass being reserved for the south eastern, field-facing regions of the home.

The striking cartographies that have been etched into it, and the fluidity and sense of play between its interior and outdoor spaces are certainly indicative of the home’s rural philosophical focus. Studio Verve achieved this through the incorporation of a patchwork of small courtyards, with a larger central one around which the house’s structure wraps, into the plan of the home.

Whilst delineating the home’s various zones, the home’s water bodies are also instrumental in achieving a seamless sense of connectedness between home and countryside. Narrow Lane’s farmhouse identity is similarly observed in the tonal and textural palettes of the home’ exterior.

A medley of off whites, light stone and deep, musky browns courtesy of timbre slats affirm the home’s distinctly rustic and naturalistic focus, blending it in with both the local scenery as well as neighbouring buildings. However, the home’s focus on rurality, and the traditional farmhouse is not merely a visual one but a philosophical one, also.

The farmland that surrounds Narrow Lane is cultivated and harvested as per the crop cycles of the region, further developing on the narrative of Narrow Lane as an organic part and fit to the Ormskirk countryside.

Inside Narrow Lane

Spread across a ground and first floors, Narrow Lane’s interior spaces continue with the mantras of naturalistic and simple, as observed with the home’s exterior. Studio Verve’s mainly open plan design for the ground floor accentuates the space’s airiness and breathability of the space.

It is here that we also encounter the foundational colour and textural palettes that sets the tone for much of the home. The off white seen on the home’s exterior walls continue indoors, matched with dark wooden flooring. Studio Verve’s confident use of sharp contrast, the juxtaposition of light and dark on the home’s vertical and horizontal planes, develops the depth and complexity of the living space.

Nevertheless, the prominent grain of the wood, retains a dressed-down natural touch, vital to Narrow Lane’s farmhouse narrative. The neutral nature of these colours opens up the home to endless possibilities in the way of design, which Studio Verve maximise to full effect.

Nestled in around the living and dining areas are dark silhouette-like art and furniture pieces in mid-century modern, industrial, and late colonial styles. The home marries the adventurous angles and frills of these various traditions with ease, making for a unique and charmingly personal living space for the family.

An assortment of wheat, ochre, and sandy tones that compose much of the upholstery similarly injects the home with a rustic edge, gorgeously matching the tawny-gold of the cornfields, just on the other side of large windows that tie the interior space to the countryside.

For the most part, bedrooms and bathrooms retain the mode of design seen in the home’s social areas, though it does shift gears ever so slightly. Lighter fabrics and tones are replaced by heavier, more muted leather touches, evoking a mellower, more tranquil ambience in these spaces.

Texturally, the pairing of grey slate tile with darker matt grey and dark wooden tones, introduces a notably modern edge to the bathroom. Paired with the simple yet adventurous forms of the bathtub and mirrors and sinks, the cumulative effect creates a relaxed, but nonetheless robust and daring, mode of sophistication for the bathroom.

In Studio Verve’s own words, ‘the swimming pool is both the visual and physiological focus for the family’- and it’s not particularly difficult to see why.

Large, glazed panels that surround the pool allow for breathtaking views of the local countryside whilst still retaining complete privacy. Its sunken design, which features underfloor heating for year-round use, also means that when the surface is undisturbed, it captures striking views of the sky in a mirror-like vein.

A Green Home

A green, environmentally conscious home forms an integral part of Narrow Lane’s look and philosophy, and by consequence, has been a key factor from the moment of the home’s conception. Studio Verve have fitted Narrow Lane with a host of energy-saving measures, ensuring the minimisation of the home’s carbon footprint.

The home’s structurally insulated panels are particularly noteworthy. Having been fabricated offsite and assembled during the home’s construction, they greatly minimise heat loss from Narrow Lane’s main, structural frame. Similarly, a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system catches escaping heat, recycling it so that the home can run at lower temperatures. The home is also equipped with a ground source heat pump, the installation of which necessitated two-thirds of the land beneath the house to be dug out. This heats the home more efficiently, whilst also ensuring that the pool can be used regardless of either the season or shape of the weather.

As a home, Narrow Lane wears many hats. It is, most essentially, a home, and caters to the needs and requirements of the growing family that call it precisely that. Secondly, it is a farmhouse, and embodies a look reverent of that tradition, faithful to the stylings of the region’s historical properties whilst also being a distinctly modern, twenty-first century home. Narrow Lanes is also a home that is in tune with its surroundings. Environmentally self-aware, its carbon footprint and energy consumption is appreciably reduced, whilst the home also gives back through the crop that surrounds it.

The above stands in attestation to the ingenuity and robustness of Studio Verve’s design, which unanimously won the West Lancashire Design and Sustainability award in 2015, the year of the home’s completion. Narrow Lane has the functionality of the family home, whilst also functioning as a twenty-first century reimagining of the farmhouse- both home and statement, in the truest sense.

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Five Clever Ways to Make the Most of a Small Home | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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City living, especially in London, has become a fine art of juggling space, making way for essential items and at the same time keeping it as stylish as possible. When every square inch counts it’s important to make the most of your space! It’s about being clever with what you have and choosing items which will help you compact your interiors to provide as much room as possible: it’s the skill of living minimally. Practicality is an important aspect, however, the throes of city life also make it essential to ensure your home is a place where you can relax and escape.

Here are 5 ideas to lead you to a clutter-free, space-saving haven you can call home!

1. Great Storage is Crucial

A good storage solution is vital for making the most of the space you have. In a wardrobe, under the bed or even inside furniture, it is important to be smart and invest in products which will keep things organised effectively. This stacking box from Habitat is a fun and lively way of keeping products stacked together but out of sight.

Each compartment can be used for different items and it can also double up as a side table to add a hit of colour into the room. It can be bought for £35.

2. Add a Guest Bedroom with Ease!

When space is tight, having guests around can be a dreaded thought and a logistical nightmare! However, Loaf are providing a solution to your worries. This practical footstool not only acts as an extra seat, but also converts into a single bed: perfect for those sleeping over! It is available in a variety of fabrics and is sold at £595.00.

3. Space Saving Shelves Can Now Be a Design Statement Too!

String are the leaders in offering shelving systems which are not only practical but also beautiful! The String+ system is so versatile and is completely bespoke, meaning you can adapt it to fit the space you have.

Accessorise the main structure with minimalist hooks, magazine holders and pouches to showcase all your items in an eye catching way.

4. Add Furniture with More Than One Function Into Your Space

When looking at new furnishings for the home we are often governed by size, what use the piece will have and whether it is truly needed. However, when an item of furniture has more than one purpose it really adds to the functionality of the space. When you are tight for space, it is important to fill the home with pieces which earn the area they consume. This beautifully elegant brass and marble Bar Trolley is perfect, especially when entertaining. Not only can it be doubled up as a work surface or an extra table, but it also has wine glass storage and a bottom shelf for other sundries (or more wine)! Being on castors also means it can be moved to suit each use it has. It can be found at Swoon Editions for £279.00.

5. Don’t Let Recycling Add to Your Storage Issues

When living in a small flat or apartment one of the nightmares of today is recycling! There is never a space for two bins and it usually ends up in a cardboard box on the floor. This bin designed by SimpleHuman is the answer you have been looking for. It contains two colour-coded inner buckets – one for general rubbish and the other for recycling. It will assist in keeping the kitchen a clean and clutter-free space, whilst also being sleek and stylish. It is available in two sizes from Habitat for £150.00.

Don’t let a small space overwhelm you: look at the potential in it, make the most of every area and only add pieces which will help you to create the neat, calming and organised home you are looking for.

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She Wore Blue Velvet… | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Since it was first invented in China and adopted by the Italian aristocracy in the 12th century, velvet has always had ardent fans. This luxurious fabric is much loved for it’s cushy texture and capacity for holding rich jewel-tone colours like emerald green, sapphire blue and amethyst. In modern times, velvet is sporadically popular for clothing, but it is currently right on trend for use in soft furnishing and furniture pieces for elegant interiors. A little goes a long way – nothing says opulence like velvet. So be careful and use this fabric sparingly for maximum impact in interior living spaces and bedrooms. Too much can lead to claustrophobic or fussy feeling rooms.

Texturing The Living room

We love this subdued grey velvet sectional sofa from Andrew Martin. Jewel-toned it is not; but as a base for layering colour and texture it is non pareil. Imagine it glowing softly in a lounge or living area, its soft pile exuding warmth despite the low key colour.

You might pile it high with these gem-toned solid colour cushions or one of these National Gallery-inspired velvet pillows, also from Andrew Martin, and call it a day.



This velvet nest will go well with traditional or contemporary themed design schemes. Add the topaz velvet draperies to be right on point with the mustard mixed with grey colour palette that everyone is so crazy about these days. £115 Not incidentally, velvet draperies have terrific sound and light diminishing properties.

To return to the jewel tones that velvet does so well, consider the Chester series designed by Mathew Hilton for Habitat.

Italian emerald styling

Made in Italy, it features pale oak feet and removable cushion covers, here in emerald green. This gives you the option of switching up fabric for summer months if you are one of those people that feels that velvet is season-specific to winter. You can also “cool” down velvet’s warmth as needed with a smart selection of accessories such as throws and cushions is breezier patterns, colours and textiles.

Another option is to confine the use of velvet to a single plush armchair with a matching (or even better, contrasting colour) footstool. Think pink alongside amethyst, or sapphire parked against a deep emerald green.

Armchairs

Maisons du Monde carries a number of very different armchair style iterations using velvet of varied intensities. The Sao Paulo is a vintage and somewhat Scandinavian feeling armchair with mango wood legs and a choice of muted gemstone colours. £429

Add Boldness

We also love it in dusty pink for an industrial chic loft living room or bedroom. Especially with a boldly patterned footstool such as this one is burgundy velvet jacquard. £64.69

All Black

Finally, this black baroque take (£751.50) is very Game of Thrones.

Bedazzling Contrast

It would look great surrounded by jewel tone and bedazzled cushions £41.

Add an upholstered velvet teal footstool from Loaf on which to rest the royal feet. £449

Theatrical Touch

And – just to circle back from this non-jewel-toned GOT tangent – perhaps you could display your jewels atop this eccentric Antonio Cross grey velvet studded side table. £404 Dramatic and theatrical for those brooding moments in life.

Accessorising The Room

Accessories are a great way to incorporate big personality materials such as velvet into your design scheme. Even in small doses velvet items have an uncanny ability to refract light and add dimension to the visual field. Try it on a lampshade and you’ll see what we mean. This gorgeously rich cylinder lampshade incorporates thistles and dragonflies and has painterly qualities. £65

Same goes for this selection of cushions. Mix colours freely or pick up tones from other furniture pieces or textiles already in place.

Fashioning Corners

This boldly coloured Liberty print cushion is made from textured paint splashed velvet, created by Falmouth University fashion and textiles student Hannah Bayliss. The print suggests water and the sea, but the abstraction means you can use it anywhere to great effect. £135

We also love different velvet treatments for cushions. Check this distressed velvet pillow, available in gem tones ranging from claret to a dark spruce-y green from John Lewis. £45

And of course Designers Guild is all over this iconic textile with this expertly crafted two-toned velvet cushion with satin trim, available in green/yellow or shades of magenta. £60

Velvet is a statement material, right up there with marble and hardwood for having iconic properties. Soft , colourful and plush, it’s much easier to use as a luxurious punctuation point for any interior design plan.

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Insider Shopping Guide: Notting Hill | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Notting Hill has somewhat etched a special place in the modern British imagination. Today, it’s a mosaic of handsome stucco-fronted and pastel facades, which themselves are ornamented by chic cafes, boutiques and florists. And as if the place was not charming enough already, Notting Hill’s stint with Hollywood has arguably deepened the spell its seems to cast on tourists, who frequent the London district on the hunt for that elusive blue door belonging to a young, curtain-haired Hugh Grant. With that said, it’s hard to imagine that Notting Hill was in dire straits only a mere fifty years ago.

Having moved to the area in 1963, Bruce Kendrick was so shocked by the poor living conditions see in the area that he founded the Notting Hill Housing Trust, which in the years to follow would provide affordable, quality housing to residents both in the area and around the capital. Nevertheless, through both financial thick and thin, the district has always been a multicultural one. Notting Hill has prominent Afro-Caribbean, Portuguese, Spanish and Moroccan communities nestled within its leafy postcodes. The now world-famous Notting Hill Carnival gets millions flocking to the district every August, celebrating Notting Hill’s distinctly metropolitan identity.

Shopping

Whether it’s the areas photogenic cobbled streets or long and winding market lanes that bring you here, one mustn’t forget that Notting Hill can also deliver on cool interior and antique finds for your home. We’ve shortlisted a few of our favourites that you must check out when in the area.

At the end of Pembridge Villas, you’ll find Gotham. The brainchild of couple Dan Lonergan and Penney Frohling, Gotham’s showroom contains a carefully selected selection of furniture, bespoke lighting and accessories. It’s a must for deco-inspired pieces by classic French manufacturer Hughes Chevalier, for whom Gotham are the country’s sole supplier. They are similarly partnered with lines such as Knoll, Bruno Moinard, Pouenat and Kevin Reily Lighting to name only a few. Gotham is a must for those after mid-century modern, oriental, and classical European themed touches for your home.

If vintage fabrics are on the cards, you’ll be hard pressed to do better than the The Cloth Shop. Since opening in 1980, the shop is known for their fine collection of fabrics and the excellence of their service, which have made them favourites of the city’s top interior designers and antiques dealers. The Cloth Shop stock an eclectic mix of gorgeous antique linens, vintage quilts and other various, natural fibre fabrics. The staff are highly knowledgeable, and can advise you in the way of measurements, suitability of fabrics and can also recommend curtain makers, upholsterers and dressmakers if so required.

A bit further down at No. 82 Portobello Road you’ll find the boutique of Henry Gregory; it’s a must for lovers of all things antique, quirky and original. The shop boasts a collection of Victorian to vintage quality antiques, all of which has been personally sourced by Henry Gregory himself over the last 40 years. The shop’s exquisite collection changes continuously as they sell and ship to a loyal clientele from all over the world. From classically styled accent pieces to wildcard curiosities, all can be found at Henry Gregory.

Just down the road, at No. 86, you’ll find the world-famous Alice’s. Established in 1887, Alice’s of Portobello is a renowned, family-owned Antiques dealers. Stocking anything from priceless antiques, reproduction goods, furniture and original art work, it’s highly likely you’ll find that something to breathe new life into your home. The friendly and knowledgeable staff can arrange for local delivery for you, in the event you buy so much that you cannot carry it all.

For lovers of contemporary art-glass and decorative lighting, Vessel is an absolute must. Founded in 1999, the gallery features the best glasswork from Scandinavia, Italy and Britain. The gallery makes it a point to foster local talent, working with both emerging and established studio artists in the production of bespoke work in glass as well as other mediums. With numerous artworks having entered prestigious public collections, you can be assured the work on display here is amongst around.

Let’s Eat

Notting Hill’s many restaurants pack as much character as its picturesque streets, and their many culinary offerings serve to reflect the district’s vibrant community and history.

Boasting two Michelin Stars and having taken the number 27 ranking of this year’s ‘S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants’, it’s fair to say that The Ledbury has something of a reputation when it comes to culinary excellence. The brainchild of chef Brett Graham, The Ledbury provides a quintessential fine dining experience, offering some of the best contemporary British and continental cuisine to be found anywhere. So as to avoid disappointment, booking in advance is highly recommended.

Taking its inspiration from the pintxo bars of Barcelona and San Sebastian, Pix offers a masterfully orchestrated Spanish dining experience. A tantalising selection of miniature tapas are their chief attraction, inspired by the bar snacks of the Basque-country. Paired with some of the best wines, Cava, and pintxo ciders that the sun-kissed country has to offer, Pix ensures an authentically Spanish dining experience.

Brimming with cool island spirit, Cottons offers an authentic ‘Nouvelle cuisine Caribbean’ culinary experience, taking its inspiration from the islands of Jamaica, Margarita and St. Lucia. With A La Carte and Set Menus available, a taste of the Caribbean can easily be customised to your personal tastes and preferences. Cotton’s is also the proud owner of the Guinness World Record for the most amount of rums commercially available- which is 372, if you were wondering.

An institution amongst the city’s foodies, Ottolenghi offers a fun and vibrant spin on Middle Eastern cuisine. Perfect for breakfasts and lunches, the menu changes daily, and can either be found online or emailed to you by getting in touch with the manager of the Notting Hill branch. Featuring signature platters, greens and continental pastries, it won’t be difficult to find something you’ll fall in love with.

Getting Here & Places to Stay

A relatively central district of the city, Notting Hill is tremendously well connected to the rest of the city. Numerous bus services run both to and through the district, along with tube stations such as Holland Park, High Street Kensington and Notting Hill Gate, which are all in close proximity to the bustle and action.

With its roots going as far back as 1860, the Victorian Grade II listed Villa that is The Abbey Court bursts with both history and character. The boutique Townhouse hotel boasts twenty-two bedrooms spread across five floors. Ensuite bathrooms feature single size spa baths, showers and Carrera marble surfaces. Just a two minute away from Notting Hill Gate, both Notting Hill and London is pretty much at The Abbey Court’s doorstep. Start your day with their continental breakfast, and you’re good to go.

Just around the corner from Notting Hill Gate, you’ll find The Laslett. The hotel draws its inspiration from Notting Hill itself, capturing the energy and character of its locality. The Laslett seamlessly blends Notting Hill’s multicultural heritage with a playful modernity. The Laslett’s luxurious rooms feature Pinch and Race, British designed furniture, bespoke lighting, curated artworks and antiques and textiles by Eleanor Pritchard and Vanderhurd. With its lobby resembling more a local haunt for the young and trendy, you’ll be sure to get an authentically Notting Hill experience during your stay here.

Situated at twenty-two Stanley Gardens, The Portobello Hotel is only a stone’s throw away to most of Notting Hill’s many attractions. Its twenty-one, individually designed rooms reflect the energy and adorably eccentric charm of Notting Hill. Featuring a full size Green & Spring bath, body products and a continental breakfast, The Portobello Hotel exudes comfort and luxury.

Notting Hill is both a city district and celebration of modern Britain all at the same time. While, at times, it can resemble something from a postcard, Notting Hill can also be fiery, and very youthful in its outlooks and self-projection. The same can be said for what can be found here for your home. You’d be surprised just what, and perhaps how much, can be found in both the areas boutiques and lengthy market lanes.

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Back to nature with Beautiful Wallpaper | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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When you are ready to enliven your living space with a new decorative plan, you might consider thumbing through wallpaper samples before you reach for that can of paint. Wallpaper has made a decided comeback in the world of interior design, and its patterns and styles are more varied than ever, allowing you to infuse both personality and artistry into your home.

Designers like Juliet Travers are featuring wallpaper lines inspired by nature, geography, and bold colour contrasts. With today’s eclectic wallpaper designs, you can change the look of your living room with a new-coordinating colour scheme that brims with eye-catching appeal complemented by a hint of outdoorsy charm.

Safari Style

While yesteryear’s wallpaper artists relied heavily on floral motifs, today’s designers like Juliet Travers and John Lewis are opting for nature-inspired wallpapers that teem animals. Travers has created an exciting Safari collection of wallpapers that are inspired by East African wildlife. In Nakuru, Travers celebrates the renowned lake and its resident flamingo population in a print that is flamboyant without being too overpowering. Its silver, pink, and dark tones underscore its sophisticated colour palette, which is sure to elevate your living room’s style while infusing nature-inspired beauty into your decorative plan. Travers also features fabrics that coordinate with her wallpapers to help home decorators easily rebrand their spaces. Price per Roll: £120 (ex VAT)

Tropical Interest

To create a bold look for your setting, consider opting for a heavily illustrated wallpaper print like the Cole & Son Savuti Wallpaper available from John Lewis. Named for one of Africa’s most revered national parks, the Savuti wallpaper features a medley of baboons and hoopoes set within a dramatic setting of flowering trees. With its shades of orange and brown, this pattern will bring a dramatic nuance to any room as it infuses its tropical aura into your space. As the pattern is a work of art in itself, you’ll need few other props for your walls to create visual interest, but you can easily complement this wallpaper with mirrors, sconces, or even a few contrasting prints that help tie your room’s colour scheme together. Price £80.00

British Isles Woodland Charm

If you’re hoping to blend your interior with your home’s native setting, consider Travers’ signature Albion Collection that takes its design cues from landscapes of the British Isles. The Nutcracker wallpaper is a delightfully versatile print that is easy to pair with both vintage-inspired and contemporary decorative plans. It features elegantly wrought tree branches traversed by Britain’s red squirrels set atop a backdrop of dark blue. Its metallic accents fairly shimmer, which almost lends movement to this design. Its understated beauty will not overpower your décor, but it’s sure to add a hint of grandeur to your walls. Price per Roll: £130 (ex VAT)

Pop of Colour

If you want to lighten up your living space with colour, opt for Secret Garden by Juliet Travers, a design nod to the English classic novel and a gorgeous depiction of British garden flowers like daffodils, daisies, and bluebells. Butterflies and bees dart between the blooms to create a meadow scene that’s ideal for transforming nearly any room of your home. This pattern features a soft white background and bright shades of yellow, blue, and red. If you live in an urban setting, this illustrated wallpaper is a terrific way to add outdoor style to your setting. Price per Roll: £150 (ex VAT)

If you’re looking for jewel tones to complement your meadow-inspired room, be sure to consider the John Lewis Hummingbird Tree wallpaper set atop a background of champagne. £25.00

Pond Life

Water is the perfect way to introduce the idea of movement as well as serenity into your living space. To create a tranquil living room makeover, be sure to consider the Regal wallpaper design by Juliet Travers. Also featured in the Albion Collection, Regal is inspired by the Serpentine in Hyde Park and showcases elegant swans swimming between vines and pale pink lotus blooms. Its fairytale sweetness is tempered by its refined colour scheme. This wallpaper is a lovely choice for living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Price per Roll: £150 (ex VAT)

Nature-inspired wallpapers help you create a setting that is unlike any other. Today’s designers feature bold patterns that depict wildlife and botanicals in new and exciting ways. Foxy faces, dancing elephants, scruffy cows, and silhouetted monkeys will bring a zest for life to your bare walls. Complemented by dazzling blooms, broad-leaf plants, and stately trees, these scenes will take your living room to a place it’s never been before—a place you’ll be thrilled to call your home.

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Those Summer Nights | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Getting a good nightʼs sleep during the summer is often a real challenge. Daylight hours are extended, disrupting well established circadian rhythms. Windows are open and the sounds of summer activity (renovations, revelry) can linger late into the night. Heat can also disturb sleepers without universal climate control – if you live in a house, the heat may rise dramatically as you ascend to the upper levels, where bedrooms are often located.

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Nonetheless, it’s not likely that anyone is wishing for a quick return to the long, dark days of winter and cosy bedrooms equipped with duvets and blankets. All in good time. Yet a decent sleep is essential for well being and productivity, even on those hot summer nights. There are many things you can do to ensure a good nightʼs sleep – whatever the weather.

Fix the Bed

Probably one of the best ways to retrofit a bedroom for a sensitive sleeper is to purchase the best mattress possible for your budget and dress it with bedding that feels and looks great. Furniture Village carries a huge selection of premium and economically priced mattress sets in brands such as Hypnos, Tempur, Vispring and Slumberland. They guarantee the lowest prices in these brands, offering 25-30% off them in the sale.

Start with a sturdy bedstead like this Tempur® Holcot Ottoman Bed Frame. It has a striking upholstered and buttoned headboard, but no footboard to interrupt air flow in the hotter months. Built to order, alternate colours and storage features are optional £979 (30% off).

A well made mattress can actually help you maintain a comfortable body temperature for sleeping. The following brands, all available at Furniture Village, are known for their craftsmanship and quality. Hypnos is a high end brand that can be found in many luxury hotels. We love their Ortho Wool Pocket Spring Divan Set which is currently on sale for 25% off at £699 for the double size. You can really sleep like kings (and queens) in this one as Hypnos hold the Royal Warrant!

Insider Shopping Guide: Birmingham | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Historically coined the ‘city of a thousand trades’, Birmingham’s industrial past is well documented, and to a certain degree, it’s a look, a persona, that the city arguably still wears today. However, though the city’s heart is an ancient one, beloved Brum is evolving. With projects cropping around all over the city, Birmingham is in a state of flux, looking ever more, the twenty-first century metropolis role it plays in England’s cultural map. Given the city’s history and heritage, it might not shock you to know that Birmingham is a treasure trove of antiques and vintage finds.

If you feel Birmingham’s call from labyrinthine London, we’ve shortlisted a few local gems that you must visit

Shopping

Found on Moseley Road, right in the city’s heart, St. Paul’s Antiques & Reclamation are a family business that have been involved with dealing antiques since the forties. Specialising in thought-provoking and inspiring antiques, reclaimed and restored furniture and antique architectural building materials, St. Paul’s is a one-stop shop for all things vintage. The company have developed a reputation for the excellence of their service and quality of their wares, staying true to old-fashioned loyalty, trust and service.

Set across three floors of a gorgeous Victorian Villa in Moseley, the eponymously named, Moseley Emporium Antiques prides itself on sourcing the very best from auction houses, private homes and privates sales from all over the country. However, antiques are only part of what they do. Moseley Emporium antiques also offer continental originals and reproduction, whilst also offering a bespoke, made-to-measure service, made to your individual specifications.

Just outside of the city centre, in Oldbury, Birmingham is the showroom of Home by James. The shop is an Aladdin’s cave of all types of antiques to those wildcard curiosities that you simply cannot leave without. Against a striking Americana checkerboard tile, all manner of retro and vintage furniture can be found here, in traditional industrial, continental, Scandinavian and mid-century modern styles. From, mirrors, to furniture, to china, glass and jewellery, all is truly under one roof. The store’s inventory is hand selected, with items chosen for their quality and enduring style.

If there’s any place representative of Brum’s youthful, edgy and hipster edge, it’s the Apple Pie House Gallery. Famed for their extensive collection of vintage teddy bears and dolls, the gallery also stocks contemporary art form some of the area’s best and brightest. If you’re looking to administer your home with a hipster chic, that’s effortlessly cool and brimming with Brum energy, few places come better qualified.

Let’s Eat

Birmingham is a true metropolis and one of the true, great multicultural cities of the world. Naturally, contained within these cultures that meet here is outstanding food, and Brum’s bragging rights in this department is enough to make other cities green with envy.

Working under the motto of season, ingredient-led cooking and as proud owners of a Michelin Star, it’s fair to say Carters of Moseley know what they’re doing when it comes to food. Central to their cooking are fresh herbs, fruit, veg and wild food, sourced within the UK. What emerges are bold flavours that are both delicious and rejuvenating. Carter’s of Moseley are at the very cutting edge of contemporary British cuisine.

For a taste of Poland, few places come better recommended than The Karczma. Centred around modern reimagining of traditional polish cuisine, The Karczma’s menu is adorned with hearty and quintessentially Polish classics such Pierogi (stuffed dumplings), Berszcz (Beetroot soup), Pickled Herring, Zureck (Pickled Rye Flour Soup) and a whole host of grilled meats and fish.

Asha brings India’s North-West frontier to the heart of Birmingham. A fusion of classical and contemporary Indian dishes, Asha runs the gamut from Indian street food staples to haut cuisine that wouldn’t look out of place on Maharaja’s banquet table of bygone times. Featuring branches dotted all over the country and Middle East, and having won the seal of approval of critics and loyal customers alike, you can rest assured that Asha is the real deal in the way of representing India’s gorgeously diverse food cultures.

Places to Stay & Getting Here

We’ve got a sweet deal, with us Londoners being Londoners and all. The city’s excellent connections mean that much of the country is within easy reach, with Birmingham being no exception. Just a mere hour and a half from either Euston or Marylebone Station, and you’re pretty much there. However, Brum indeed has much to offer, and to really get a feel for the city, a day trip won’t cut the mustard.

The Edgbaston’s mission statement is refreshingly uncomplicated: ‘it’s simple… we care’. This is reflected in their distinctive brand of hospitality, which they liken to a welcome offered by a gracious friend at a fine private residence. The personal service is both meticulous and discreet, noting your preferences for future visits. The hotel’s six gorgeously orchestrated ensuite bedrooms are finished to the highest standards, brimming with a cool, old-world metropolitan nostalgia and swagger. Huge bed, an abundance of cushions and throws, and a strikingly modern fit and finish characterise The Edgbaston notably luxurious brand of hospitality.

At No. 15-20 St. Paul’s Square, you’ll find Saint Paul’s House. Having launched only last year, by husband and wife team Adrian and Sharon Harvey, Saint Paul’s House is a venue that encompasses a restaurant, bar and boutique hotel. Dressed down, cool and casual, it takes its design inspiration from close to home Shoreditch. With free Wi-Fi, luxury bedding, a waterfall shower ensuite and the finest finishes, St. Paul’s exudes both class and comfort, whilst also being just a stone’s throw away from the city’s central districts such as the famous Jewellery Quarter.

Perhaps you’re after that country escape, removed from the bustle of the city. For this, few places come better recommended than Hogarth’s. Situated in Solihull, Hogarth’s breath-taking gardens feature plants that bloom and arrest the senses with their colour. Inside, plush interiors and individually designed king size beds set the gold standard for both comfort and luxury. The private ensuites that pair with these rooms also feature luxury toiletries from L’Occitane. Hogarth’s brings the best of a countryside escape, whilst remaining at proximity to Birmingham’s beating heart.

Birmingham has a lot to offer, and if you’re after something that’s metropolitan and, kind of familiar, Birmingham is a great call. It has that ‘sameness’ of London, that city pace, but a character that is entirely its own. Perhaps that’s why, having upped sticks from the capital, more people seem to be moving here than any other city. However, if you’re after switching gears only for the while, Birmingham will surprise you. Leave space in your luggage though, as the city’s many antiques dealers will guarantee you won’t be leaving empty handed.

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Herringbone, living green walls and concrete in... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Sometimes it feels like all our current interiors obsessions come together in just one place. We love Amsterdam, we love herringbone parquet, we love Concrete (both the material and the design studio) and we’re crazy for the current biophilic trend for living walls, tropical planting and rich woods.

So, when we saw what Dutch design firm Concrete have done in Amsterdam’s Plantage district at the new Hyatt Regency, we couldn’t help but get excited.

Bringing green to the heart of the city

Like all right thinking cosmopolitans, we love to visit a nice boutique hotel when we’re on a city break and we’d be the first to admit that a 200+ bedroom hotel wouldn’t be our first thought, but how the Hyatt Regency is something else! One of our favourite places in A’dam is the botanical garden (Hortus Botanicus), which is just down the road and has the sweetest cafe and plant shop. The hotel takes a leaf (sorry!) from their book by decorating its rooms with botanical artworks, blooming florals and beautiful finishes (and walk-in rain showers for that tropical touch).

A taste of the East

The restaurant is likewise inspired by the spirit of natural adventures, featuring Indonesian food and exotic cocktails inspired by the plants, herbs and spices of the Far East.

Some Local Style

And we love the mix of exotic greens and golds, concrete-edge palm patterns and gold and marble finishes throughout. And we can’t get enough of those rhombille tiling floors — are they a subtle nod to Escher? He was Dutch after all!

Keeping things local, Dutch family firm Hakwood have contributed throughout to the beautiful finish with a mix of herringbone flooring in the bar and restaurant and chevron and plank flooring in the ballroom, gym and spa. Parquet and hardwood flooring are having a real renaissance at the moment. This place is about as far as you can get from those dreary maroon-carpeted corporate junior suite hotels that we used to have to stay in when on business in the US. This is boutique style on a grand scale. We love it.

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