Scandi chairs for my new house*

We've been almost three months in our new house and so far the only 'work' I've done is painted the walls white. All of them! There is no hurry, this is my project, and I love it for that. I saw a beautiful Hans Wegner teak chair yesteday. This could be the start point for our kitchen. Or maybe a Scandia junior chair in walnut. Both feel really contemporary and warm and so a good place to start.

What is a design classic?*

This Brown Betty teapot makes me happy. There is so much talk of 'design classics'. I think this piece of happiness for £9.99 is one of them.

Ye Olde Bell*

I have paid lots of money to stay in 'design hotels' recently, and it got me thinking - we pay hundreds of euros, and get rooms designed as 'concepts' - they look ok, cost loads, have a toilet behind a half height frosted screen in the bedroom [Hi Hotel, Nice - don't go there!] but where is the comfy quilt, the open fire, the cosiness? It almost makes me hanker after some old school chintz...kinda. That way, you feel spoiled, comfy, at home [while being away and without all the laundry...]. I have seen photos of Isle Crawford's new design for Ye Olde Bell and it's top of my wishlist of stay places. It seems like the perfect autumnal or winter place to stay. The style is British - cosy - cool - country - bolthole. You can have a bath in a rolltop and then jump into bed with grey wool and Melin Tregwynt throws. Then spend the night reading from the Penguin Classics library at an open fire. If you don't see me one weekend, it's because I've got lost in this place.

Heritage at trincket*

What do you think of when you say heritage? Here are some bedrooms just for starters.

British Isles type map*

Just bagged an original print for my new house - it's by a talented design duo called Bold and Noble. It 's gonna sit perfectly in my 'guest room' [how grown up]. The slate grey colour reminds of home in Wales.

London Design Festival*

London Design Festival this weekend - gotta go, gotta go, gotta go. If you only go to one thing go to The Tramshed on Rivington Street., yum

Interiors - revolution on the high street*

Who's a fan of chain restaurants? Not moi. Thing is, I've found myself in Zizzi's a few times and I've noticed they do actually commission lovely interiors that push the mark. Zizzi's Winchester is stunning. Some clever person has commissioned black and white graphic murals by Camille Rousseau. The home spun, hand drawn aesthestic is not just amazing to look at - it's a sign of our recessionary times. No one wants to eat their penne pasta surrounded by bling anymore? Not me.

If a storage unit looked like my collection of stripey jumpers it would be this one. If fact I could put one of my stripey jumpers in each drawer! It's by Montana storage system, by Icons of Denmark.

French trincket*

Just had my holiday in Provence. It occurred to me while looking through the lens that it's like a big old Farrow and Ball paint catalogue. Luckily I love Farrow and Ball.

trincket summer*

ok, i know it's probably because i'm just back from a two-weeks holiday in france and italy, but how good does this modernist beach house look? i'm hanging onto the summer by my fingers.

The Morumbi Residence by Drucker Arquitetura.

50's inspired chairs*

These new 50's inspired chairs for my new house please! Jens Risom chairs for Benchmark, rocketgallery.

House renovation project Cardiff - kitchen*

The first two photos of our kitchen project in Cardiff. There is still a bit to go to make it a home, but the structure and finish is there. Now for the fun furnishings and accessories bit.

House renovation project Cardiff - bathroom*

We've finished the bathroom at Cardiff whoop whoop! It's small but stunning, who says a family bathroom can't look good

Vintage meets industrial*

There is a lovely house featured in this month's Living Etc July 2010. It's a mix of original industrial features and vintage pieces in pop colours and graphic style - a quirky mix and not one that's easy to achieve. I take my interiors hat off to them.

Materials - Lovely Cork*

My friend showed me a stunning sample of some recycled cork last week and it got me thinking.
We should use more of it in our interiors. I think people just don't know about it.
But when they find out they love it's warmth, insulation [heat and sound], the fact that it's hypoallergenic [not full of nasty chemicals] and is hugely environmentally friendly.
Use it as ceiling and wall panels [giant moodboards!], flooring and in detailing. I love the Float Pendant light Benjamin Hubert SCP.

Lovely British fabrics from St Jude's*

I need some fab fabrics for my new west london house - if i ever get there. Why do solicitors take so long? I think I might find them online at St Jude's. Everyone is talking about provenance, so finding a supplier of beautiful, quirky fabrics on your doorstep made in Norfolk makes me very happy. I love Hedgerow design by Angie Lewin and Doveflight by Mark Herron, both in linen.

Facet chair* [yes please]

Hot pink chair in lovely textured finish - what's not to like?!!!!!!! Facet chair by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec.

I heart summer*

I don't know where the time goes I really don't.
In an attempt to take my brain away from imminent house purchases, and all house renovations I am loving these pop seating options.
Mostly because the shape is so fun, like an ice cream, and the colours are all cheery and June.
Pluto Bench by British designer Simon Pengelly.

Day 9: House renovation*

The kitchen is moving on. The bi-fold doors are in, giving us sight of the garden [rubble!]. The skylight is pulling in sunshine from above. The plasterboard is on, bringing smoothness to the walls and some order to the chaos. The kitchen structure is showing itself, but the rubble on the floor seems to be getting higher! Next step - the base units.

The Garden Room by bentheim*

In between dust and exposed wires I just had to write about The Garden Room, a new interior design by bentheim. This cafe uses stainless steel and timber to give a warm, industrial canteen feel, but it's the quirky use of metal buckets as light fittings that made me smile. The foliage wallpaper adds to the garden theme.

Day 8: House renovation*

Time to order the flooring. This kitchen looks contemporary so to give it the warmth it needs to stop it becoming too stark, it needs a wood floor. So which type to choose - solid hardwood flooring or engineered wood? Engineered wood is less expensive, more environmentally friendly [because the sublayers are often made from junk or scrapwood], and can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms because it can withstand moisture, buckling and rippling.

If it gets damaged you can sand it. You'll be able to get three to four resurfacings from most engineered hardwood floors. To help keep the modern look, choose wide planks. As the kitchen is 8m long, I've specified long planks aswell as wide. Solid Floors had the modern look we wanted but only as solid hardwood and not engineered. So we found a simliar grade at Timeless Floors, a White Oak Natural oil, £29M2. I will post photos once it's installed next week.