rugs in kitchens - your opinion please

I often see photos of beautiful kitchens with rugs on the floor, and think how much I'd like one here.
  

 I love the look, but each time find myself wondering how 

practical it can be, especially in a busy house with

 dogs and lots of cooking going on.

Who better to ask than you!

Are they for decoration only, or is there a practical

 reason to lay a rug?

I'm sure that among my readers there are those that love rugs,

 those that hate them and those that like me like the idea 

but don't quite dare ....

Here are some pictures that caught my eye, 

 found on Pinterest and elsewhere

are there any that you like?

tell me please, I'd love to know :)

my french country garden - your opinion please

last June's lupins

In the middle of a big re-working of the garden here, and the late arrival of spring seems to be on my side as I dither and hesitate in choosing new plants.

I have always gone, quite naturally, for a sort of cottage garden style with big mixed borders, rambling climbers and a romantic rambling style, but times are a changing ....

this is not my house! but oh! what a beautiful façade!

I find myself more easily drawn to bold statements, to blocks of flowers rather than tapestry borders.  Of course this bolder planting also makes for easier maintenance (I hope!).

I have  a little help to hand in the shape of a knowledgeable and charming gardener who stops by now and again, and it is always helpful to hear his ideas.

Right now he is trying to persuade me that two wisteria trees planted in front of the house would be a good idea. ....... I'm having a little trouble with that - it's amazing how difficult it is to visualise a new style!

You may remember that I mentioned Les Jardins Agapanthes, here in Normandy.  I'll be returning there next month, and I readily admit to being influenced by their style of planting.

Les Jardins Agapanthes, Grigneuseville, Normandy

So ... I wondered if you could help me with your good ideas? ....

We have enlarged the symmetrical beds in front of the house, and are about to move the pair of central boxwood bushes.   The beds will each measure about 6 meters or 18' wide, and approx 4 meters or 9' deep - that 's quite big spaces to fill and keep tidy!   

I'm thinking that I'll plant some big hydrangeas, allium, agapanthus, maybe groups of white foxgloves, I could put in some lavender .... I'd be happy to stick to whites, blues and greys, but I know I need some height and bulk.

I know that many of you enjoy your gardens as much as I do, and I wondered whether you have experience of changing your style?  Is it really as difficult as it feels, or will I get used to it pretty fast?

Thank you for your input, I always listen carefully when you give me your advice.

painted floor cloths - your opinion please

When I wrote about my longing for an aubusson rug last week I received emails from very kind readers (thank you Alana, Kate and Erin !) suggesting I may like to try a painted floor cloth ....... a what?!

Were it not for my clever readers I'd have known nothing about these - one of the downsides of spending too much time in the country I guess!

So I set out to investigate.... first stop pinterest - of course - where I found this beauty by Pruit Littleton

and this rather wonderful martha stewart tutorial

but things got serious  when I opened the latest copy of the UK Country Living and found these pictures of striped floor cloths painted by the british designer Victor Mutton at parchment vyse

I just love these muted colours and simple country stripes ....

Now, you know how I love to ask your opinion  ....  so tell me please - do you have any experience of floor cloths?  Have you made any or bought one?  What are they like to live with.  I gather that they require padding under the cloth, how well does that work?

Thank you for your help on this, I look forward to reading your words of wisdom  :)

Photos 1; 4;5;6 by Nick Carter for Country Living, photos 2;3  pinterest

the french garden shed .....

The good thing about buying old French country homes, is that they generally come with a boat load of outbuildings .... former stables; pig sties, green houses and even bake houses.  All redundant in today's changing lifestyles, but used instead for other purposes.

These pictures are taken in the garden of a friend of mine, in the melting snow, but you can get the idea.   A little building, dating back to 1860; an old stable perhaps, or not ... whatever.

My friend hasn't decided how to use it, so it stands empty.  Well positioned against a south facing wall,   looking out across the width of the garden.   At about 8' by 12' it is too small to be a guest room, not enough window light for a green house, but there must be other uses ...

 a potting shed ... a writing room .... a laundry room .....?

 

Of course he could rip off the door and make everything smart and presentable, but I'd favour finding a use that would allow him to keep the old dutch door.  I like the window shape too, with its low sill and original frame.

So tell me, what would you do to this little space to doll it up, and how would you use it if it were in your back yard?

The best ideas will be conveyed to my friend, I promise! 

the french upholstered bed - your opinion please

In my barn, alongside a whole ton of stuff, I have a couple of French upholstered beds that I bought to renovate

 .... you know how it goes .... 

you see this great bed in a summer fair, give it the quick once over, check the joints, check for cracks in the wood, check the size ... then you say to yourself, " yeah, I can do that, easy... I've done it before, it will be a quick project".  Home comes the bed, into the barn,  "I'll do it in the winter when things are quieter"

But winter comes, and actually the barn is freezing cold, so the last thing you want to do is to renovate a bed out there.  So then you make space in the guest bedroom, and suddenly the project becomes urgent ...

And that my friends is where I am today, except that there are two beds, not one..... hmmm

My initial plan was to go for neutral colours, as I did for the bed that is in our guest cottage; you may remember that I showed how I reupholstered that one and took photos of it in the garden!

But as I have been surfing Pinterest this week searching for inspiration, there are other subtle colours for the textile and even gold leaf on the wood that are looking increasingly appealing.

So what do I do when I can't make my mind up?  Ask you for help of course!

What do you think of these ideas:

colourful and flowery, probably not what I would normally go for 

but I have to admit that the overall effect is rather pretty ...

gold on the frame, a more formal fabric for the upholstery, 

with a contrasting curtain hanging down behind ...

wow!  the whole treatment ... not sure I have the strength for this, and certainly 

not the patience to pile up all those pillows each morning, but it's an amusing idea to toy with ...

pretty, calm, elegant and my sort of colours ...

checks are very sweet against the frame outline

here is a more unstructured look, the padding has either been removed from this bed, or fabric has been attached over a caned frame - not totally convinced, but there is a definite charm, especially in this bright white, high-ceilinged setting

I have never slept with my head to a large window like this, I think I may feel back to front all night .... whatever .... the pale grey-blue treatment of the bed is quite calming

a spin off from this theme is tempting, especially as I know a dealer locally who has an old 'ciel-de-lit' frame just like this to hang over the bed...

So what do you think, jazz it up or keep it calm?

strip the wooden frame, or paint, or gold leaf?

one things for sure:  the next time I see an upholstered bed in a fair, I'll tell myself to

 hold back and wait for the caned variety ... just as pretty, but a lot less work!

thanks to pinterest for all pictures except for my one  of the bed in the garden

christmas party invites - your opinion please

Most years we have a christmas party here; a brunch or cocktails, a moment to enjoy the house dressed up for christmas and fill it to bursting with friends and family.

This year, although guests have been told the date, I'm a little late sending out my invites.  I like to do these by hand, it is no big deal.  If I keep to a simple design and use water colours and a metallic pen, I can  produce the twenty or so that I need in just a couple of hours in front of the fire .  You can see them taking shape in the collage shots below.

I want a fun image that can slip into an envelope, with space to write the invite behind.  They may have a ribbon on the top, not sure yet.  Working around a christmas tree idea, I have come up with three designs, but can't decide which to choose.

Can you help me please?!

First up, the classic christmas tree, with pink and silver polka dot lights and 

standing in a pink bucket ....

second choice, the pink and silver tree, with pink and silver baubles and a ... pink and silver bucket ...

and lastly the third option in grey and gold ...

Opinions are divided in this house, 

 I have a favourite but I'm not sharing :)

 I'd love to know which one, if any, you would choose

Merci beaucoup!

PS.  Late this evening before I turn off the computer for the night ...
THANK YOU!!
You are quite amazing!

I still won't say which tree I prefer, but I would like to put the records straight about my drinking habits!  The little glass does not contain some mysterious French liqueur .... it is simply the glass I was using for washing out my paintbrush  :)

And for your questions about the picture of our house in the snow, it was taken last year about this time.  So far we haven't had any snow this year, but who knows? maybe for Christmas!

painted floors - your opinion please

I am thinking long and hard at the moment ... about painted floors, or rather about paintING floors, and to be more specific, about painting MY floors!

Our home is fairly traditional in and out; colouring the floors would give a more contemporary feel, but what happens when we bore of the look?

I have looked at many pictures, and sighed at the gentle sheen of a dark wooden floor, or the lift given by white boards, but it takes a certain amount of courage that I have yet to muster before I can reach for the paintbrush.

In our guest cottage I painted the kitchen floor, but have been disappointed by the low resistance to scratches.  But that could be a question of paint quality.  That will be redone in the spring  which is fine as it's not a big room to cover.

So, who better to turn to than YOU, dear readers.  I know that between you there will be many who have painted floors at home, or who know other homes where it has been done.

Would you give me an outright thumbs up or shake your head and utter stern words of warning?

Many people have painted wooden floorboards, but has anyone painted on old tiles?  Have you painted hallways or kitchen with heavy traffic, or only kept to the quieter parts of the house?

And what about stairs?  How long is it before they start looking scruffy - please remember that mine is a country house, and the stairs are climbed by dogs and feet clad in riding boots!

Is there a paint you would recommend, and is there anyone out there - please - who has been able to compare a floor painted with special floor paint, and another covered in chalk paint?  I used Annie Sloan paint on the floor of the showroom, and didn't wax or varnish, and it looks good.

And finally, if you have used chalk paint, what protection did you add once the paint is dry.

So as you can see, my head is full of questions and with my guest season over, and a month before Christmas (and no Thanksgiving to celebrate, which of course I always regret, but that's another story), with all of that I am itching to go ..... all I need is your permission !! :)  I look forward to reading your advice, and I may even promise a picture or two of the results!


PS, and if you would like to see the home of a friend of mine, who just painted her floor white, then take a look here, she is very clever and brave!!

 

a picture I love and your opinion on painting wooden floors

Shooting in and out the house today, saying goodbye to some guests, welcoming others, popping into Paris to collect one daughter + one Ghetto !!

Just wanted to share this picture that I found on Pinterest.  There is so much to love here, especially for me as I am longing to declutter and tone down a couple of rooms here.

I ADORE the tall interior shutters, their shape and patina is perfect.

LOVE the flowers, both in the vase and in the cushion fabric

Don't like the legs on the sofa

LOVE the tarnished mirror.

LOVE the painted wooden floor.  I so wish I were brave enough to do this myself, I keep thinking about it but haven't yet grabbed a brush.     I thought I needed a little market research on this one please.  Would you mind dreadfully?......

 Just raise your hands please if :

a  - you have painted wooden floors

b  -  you regretted it !  :(

c  - you love it and would do it again in an instant ! :)

d  - you have spent hours un-painting wooden floor boards - tell me, was that really awful?

Thank you for any help on the above!

Tomorrow I shall bring you some Paris shots, thank you for stopping by.