at home with the Sun King

What's your decorating vibe? A little bit of gold, a teeny bit of marble, a few statues, a dash of glass and perhaps a tinkle of chandelier? I think you'll feel very at home in Versailles...

Well thanks so much for the guided tour Louis XIV, we love what you've done with the place! What? yes, yes, the gardens are lovely too, definitely like that pond thing you've constructed out back, and all those little garden buildings are just the ticket. What's that Louis? You hear music? Why yes, Louis, I hear music too...let me see isn't that the Beatles...dum, di dum,  you say you want a revolution...yes, catchy little number isn't it...

A woman's prerogative...

...is to change her mind. A shudder runs through even the hardiest of husbands who are well used to their wives humming and hawing and endless mind-changing. But I think it's for the best. No, really I do. We had decided to use Blue Winged Teal in the new bedroom. And in fact we did - painting quite a few walls with it until I changed my mind (ahem) and pretty much decided I hated Blue Winged Teal and really, what were we thinking using such a colour... Luckily it didn't take too much persuasion to change to Stone-Dark-Warm instead - a much nicer colour - one which will go with the floor (Felt) and the cream woodwork. So we are on the home stretch with this bedroom and bathroom addition of ours. It will be such a welcome space- giving those of us who need to play on the floor all the room they want and those of us who really just need quiet to practice piano a welcome break from interested (but noisy) audiences.

The Painted House supply paint rollers which you can use to paint patterns onto walls, fabric, wood, paper- just about anything in fact. How fabulous are they? Especially for those of us who love the look of a papered wall but don't necessarily have the budget. Have a look at their shop here

papering

We are in the process of finishing (fingers crossed!) a bedroom and bathroom extension. The bedroom will be for Mide and William allowing them more floor space for playing. Hugo's room will also get a re-vamp and become a little more grown up, more suited to an eleven year old. Nearly all the hard work is over and yesterday we had a discussion about paint colours which, quite frankly, I never thought we'd get to. Although we are painting (Dix Blue for the new room and Blue Winged Teal for Hugo's are on our chosen list) I would love to have papered. Especially papered with wallpaper from hand cut lino blocks by Marthe Armitage...







Watch a gorgeous and inspiring film of Marthe at work here


and buy her wallpaper here