Our fantastic fireplace and the domino effect

I know i have written about our loft bedroom fireplace before, but we have just completed some work on it recently that i wanted to share - it is finally 'finished'. After over a year of umming and ahhing we finally bit the bullet and sprayed the fireplace and its wooden backing frame with a matt black stove paint.

I think it looks amazing. We were both so scared that we wouldn't like the effect, having grown so fond of the raw iron look, however it has turned out brilliantly. The sharper shade of black shows of the tiles even better than before. The whole structure looks uniform all of a sudden, i don't why it took us to long to decide to do it now - but i suppose everything is always clearer in hindsight.

What's more, we have grown tired of the 'white everywhere' look and have started splashing Farrow and Ball paint (I LOVE LOVE LOVE this paint!) on every surface we can find. Our bedroom walls are now sporting a very pretty shade of Ringwold Ground, a dusky cream, and the fireplace recess has been painted Calamine (my absolute favourite colour at the moment), a dusky pink to match. The lavender we had painted previously on the chimney breast was pretty, but it just wasn't the right colour for the room and didn't match our belongings (you can see it here). Where the lavender clashed, the new shades complement the curtains i made many moons ago for our old bedroom, but because i spent so long sewing them, there was no way i was leaving them behind when we moved upstairs (that said, i still need to hem the bottoms!). The cream wall with the pink feature echos the pink flowers on the yellowy cream background of the fabric.

Most of the fireplace tiles present this colour and pattern style too - with pink blooms in the lovely yellow glaze.

On top of this, the bedside table i painted with leftover paint matches perfectly, with James White (another Forrow and Ball paint, though this time in the eggshell finish - the rest has been painted using the estate emulsion that gives a matt finish) being used on the bed and the built in shelves. It even has the Calamine interior to match the fireplace recess.

I used the curtains and of course THE bed to inform our colour choice. In the end, they acted as the first piece in the Domino effect - something i read about in a beautiful, inspiring and thoroughly accessible interior design book by the same name - Domino (eds Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, & Dara Caponigro). They reason that you probably have a few pieces that you really love and it should be these pieces that you decorate around and in the end you should get 'your look', and it will probably end up being something quite personal and even better, it doesn't have to be expensive. I think our bedroom is a brilliant example. It wont by any means be to everyone's taste. But it is perfect to me. The assault of prints, pattern and colour on the eye make it everything i love. For a long time, i kept getting stuck, for example i painted that wall lavender just because i loved the colour without really thinking about the other items and features in the room. The book's strap line - 'a room-by-room guide to creating a home that makes you happy' says it all really.

So, yes, i think it is all, finally, coming together. I think it takes time to know how to decorate a space, i think living in the loft as a large white canvas for the last 12 months has given us the chance to imagine and dream about what our bedroom could be. I'm a bit worried that it maybe has turned out a bit feminine for my husband, but the overruling motif of flowers is one that he appreciates in the garden, so i figure he cant object too much! I think, overall, the warm glow of the colours and preloved nature of most of the furniture gives the room a sense of character as well as being comfortable and inviting. I tell myself this in order to feel better about it taking well over a year to get out room looking complete!

Now, i just need to get back to the markets and salvage another bedside table, this time for my husband, because the thing he has at the moment just isn't cutting it!

Things i am reading

I have been partaking in some 'guilty pleasure' reading lately. I can't help but love a bit of teenage fantasy fiction. But seriously, the Obernewtyn series by Isobelle Carmody is just brilliant for a bit of escapism, and to be fair, i started reading them when i was a 'young adult' and it has taken her a long ol' time to bring out the latest installments. As they aren't the easiest books to get a hold of in London (she is an Aussie author) i stocked up on the whole series while i was at home to refresh my memory and find out what happens next. No spoilers here! But so far the whole series, including the Stone Key, has been a thoroughly enjoyable read and now i am eagerly awaiting the final installation due out late this year.

In a somewhat similar vein, i recently read an obituary on the Guardian website for Diana Wynne Jones, an author i hadnt heard of before, but who, as it turns out, wrote Howl's Moving Castle. Now i haven't seen this movie yet, but it has been on my 'must watch' list for a long time, having been a huge fan of Ponyo and Spirited Away (big thanks to Miss Alecia for introducing me to these!), other animated films from Studio Ghibli. It turns out Diana Wynne Jones shared my fondness for teenage fantasy, only instead of just reading them, she wrote them, having been schooled by CS Lewis and Tolkein. She was a prolific writer. I have decided to start with Howl and hopefully move on to some more of her celebrated novels. You can read the article i found here if you are interested in finding out more about her.

Moving into non-fiction, i have been celebrating domesticity with Jane Brocket (I have written about her marvelous blog and quilting book on here before) and baking with Lorraine Pascall.

Jane Brocket briefly recounts her life to date in the Introduction of The Gentle Art of Domesticity, focusing on the somewhat uncomfortable relationship she had with work and the competing pull she felt towards the, somewhat anti-feminist, domestic arts. The book goes on to celebrate everything in the 'domestic space'. Flicking through, this book is beautiful (the edition with the pretty cover in my photo above is out of print, but i managed to get a hold of a copy through Oxfam). She takes you through colours, textures, baking, embroidery, quilting, photography, her garden and more; it is a smattering of everything 'domestic'. Its isn't a 'how to' book, although it does include a few recipes. I think it is more an item of inspiration itself. It enthuses me to get my sewing machine out, turn the oven on, and decorate my home with colour, warmth and love. Corny? Maybe, but i think she has the right idea.

Lorraine Pascall, the former supermodel turned baking goddess, recently had a show, Baking Made Easy, on BBC. I watched and loved! Now, her cookbook, of the same name,  is teaching me to bake bread. My first attempt went completely wrong when i substituted regular bread flour for gluten free flour. The whole half kilo of dough ended up in the bin. Second time around and actually using the listed ingredients, i baked a delicious rosemary focaccia! I also successfully made the Whoopee Cakes first time round. She gives actual tips, like throw ice in the bottom of the oven when you are baking bread (don't ask me why - read the book or watch the series!). Aside from the fact i nearly vomited when i read she was 39 years old (do you need me to hold your hair back for you?), she is just lovely. I love that she has tried so many professions, all in the pursuit of finding the perfect one for her. From what i have read, she has worked very hard to be successful in the culinary world and i am glad she is sharing her baking knowledge with me.

Turning to the magazines, I cant go a month without LivingEtc or Selvedge (actually, two months in Selvedge's case). LivingEtc sates my hunger to look in other people's houses, particularly people who have a good sense of design, space and seem to have a fairly large bank balance! The fact that this is my favourite magazine pretty much confirms i have turned into my mother. Every edition of Selvedge, published every two months, is a textile odyssey. Focusing on a specific aspect or theme of "textiles in fashion, fine art, interiors, travel and shopping", each issue has a very distinct feel. For example, the latest was 'The Localisation issue', two of my recent favourites were 'The Romance Issue' and 'The Quilt Issue'.  Even the advertisements in this magazine are beautiful.

Yay for magazine subscriptions!

Crochet

I have been getting back into crochet over the last couple of years.

Why?

• I blame Cath Kidston. A while ago now, I saw some lovely crocheted blankets in one of her shops. When I looked at the price tag I nearly fell over. I remember saying, slightly outraged, "I could make that!". And so I decided to try and make something akin to the granny square blankets my grandmothers made for me.
• Secondly, I am on a never ending mission to 'soften up' of my husbands very masculine flat and create a 'cosy' atmosphere in the previously Spartan and cold lounge room.
• And finally, it is nice to have something different to do on the tube to work. I love reading, but I have peaks and troughs with it as with anything, and it is lovely to be able to pick up something else. 

My crochet pedigree

My nana taught me the basics of crochet when I was young and I can vividly remember creating long crochet strings with my French Knitting doll. My nana really is amazing with her hands and creating things. I think it is where I have got my crafty bug from. The spare room in my grandparents rooms was jam packed with sewing machines, material, patterns and sewing models. My granny had a similar stash of wool and knitting needles, in fact I can remember my granny breaking a knitting needle in half and sharpening it on the concrete outside to made a pair that were suitable for my size (at the time I remember her saying to call her 'Supergran', and she was). So there was a lot of yarn in my childhood.

How I rekindled my crochet romance

Initially, I bought one book and hopped on YouTube to look at videos but kept getting myself muddled. It was around that time I discovered the Make Lounge and they were just bringing out two crochet courses (their offering has since grown). I enrolled on the Learn to Crochet: Fashion Accessories and the Crochet Amigurumi Toys courses. There were lots of 'Oh, that's right' moments, and before I knew it I was racing ahead creating my own little crochet motifs. The instructors were brilliant as always and it is such a lovely environment. Im sure I have raved on here about the Make Lounge before, but if you live in London and are looking for a crafty outlet, the Make Lounge is just brilliant.

This is my half finished Amigurumi bear. The poor thing has been waiting months for his arms. I must finish those!

But then, the crochet fever dropped off for another few months. It was upon returning to a wintry London earlier this year that I got fired up again, and this time I was determined to make a beautiful blanket.


I found the perfect book on Amazon - Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs and after reading the Patterns entry from Jane Brocket's blog  (she is amazing! And this blanket is so so so gorgeous!) I was inspired.

I still get stuck occasionally and have to unravel and start again, but I have found a simple enough hexagon motif from the Beyond the Square book that I am going to apply to a blanket plan like the one Jane Brocket made. I am going to continue with one hexagon style for a while before I venture on to some others. I will eventually crochet all my little hexagons together, although in true Phoebe style this may not happen for another 2 years.

Here are the beginnings of my blanket hexagons... well hexagon.

My girl-crush on Sophie Dahl

I have had a fair few girl crushes lately, there are so many super girls out there doing their crafty, clever, and creative things that makes me want to be their best friend and follow them around like Mary's Little Lamb. One such recent crush was on Sophie Dahl, and not for her risque modelling (which was pretty cool anyway! Love that Dior ad). It has been for her cooking and writing.

Recently the BBC presented the Delicious Miss Dahl (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rs7c9), a cooking show overflowing with prettiness. What a kitchen! I'm sure it was in a studio somewhere (my husband used to work in the office where Nigella's supposed "home" kitchen is now settled! Big illusion bubble popped!), but if that was in my house i would be in heaven! I am completely converted to the French white brick tile, it will be the only tile i ever buy in future - i wish i had listened to my mum about this years ago now! Not to mention the beautiful wall papers, and the island bench and enormous stove!

And then her clothes, so gorgeous and comfortable looking whilst still being ultra gorgeous and girly. The photography in the show and in her recipe book is lovely, it could be a coffee table book its so nice to flick through. She has little passages at the beginning of each section (broken down by the seasons, something i am quite into at the moment as i am trying to eat food that is in season) that are about her life and experiences she associates with certain dishes. She is funny and has lived quite an interesting life. Her stories might be perceived as being a bit "wow me", but i don't think so, she is charming, and her self effacing tone seems genuine to me. I think she is aware that she has had a very blessed and lucky life and is exceedingly grateful, well that's what i think anyway!

I bought her cookbook at the same time as i bought her novel Playing with the Grown-Ups (don't you just love Amazon recommends?), and i have to say i was impressed. It was a great read! I really didn't want to put it down. I was intrigued as to how much of the story she had drawn from her own experience, indeed there were some similarities between the stories in her cookbook to those in her novel. Ultimately it is a coming of age story about a girl whose mother acts like an irresponsible teenager. The descriptions of New York and London as well as her time in a boarding school had me very interested and i could see it all playing out before my eyes. It's not going to win the Booker Prize or anything like that, but its a great holiday read, a guilty pleasure if you like.

Finally i should mention her food! In a word, divine! I have tried a few recipes, most notably a Tom Kar soup - it was gorgeous. And filled the kitchen with the most amazing smells as i cooked. I am looking forward to trying more.

So there you have it, a clever, creative, talented, gorgeous girl - Sophie if you ever read this we should definitely go for coffee sometime!