Walls...

A while ago my mum went through her linen closet and gave me some lovely linen sheets as well as a few crochet doily kind of things. Not sure of their name (anyone?) They are very pretty and intricate but I wasn't sure about using them on tables etc as they might look a bit twee.

I have also been looking for some artwork for our main bathroom (it is a monochromatic scheme) so when I saw this, it gave me the answer to both of these questions. Now I just need to make a trip to Ikea for some inexpensive frames, buy some black paper and I will have some new 'art'. A creative project that is within even my limited capabilities...

Coveting....

Found on HomeShoppingSpy - where else!

The person who designed this obviously thinks very much like me! But I think coffee might come first for me. Perhaps I could place it above the aforementioned fireplace. I already have the typewriter (thanks to Aly and Jolly - how are you guys? Long time no see).

The teapot (or is it a coffee pot?) is very similar to one that my mum's Thai friend Pom used to use when we would visit her as children and she would make us delicious (and I thought very exotic) Earl Gray tea from leaves not bags. Her house always smelt delicious. And being from abroad and probably not used to the British weather she had wonderful heated, parquee floors which to a chilly individual like myself were amazing and obviously way ahead of their time compared to normal UK houses.

Coveting...

...union jacks...still. For me, they just don't get old, mainy because I haven't yet got one. But perhaps my desire would be satisfied with one of these:

Or this:


This...


Or even this...

Plus, they are all on sale! It is my birthday in a couple of weeks so if anyone out there (hello family!) who is lacking inspiration about what to buy me you know I would be delighted with the above.

Coveting...

...vintage tourism posters seen here. Although we already have a few...

Coveting....

I like the simplicity of this but also the sentiment. I think perhaps it might go well above the fireplace in the bathroom. The colours work well and the fireplace is someone else's cast off after all...

And via the power of Photoshop (please excuse the limited skills) here it is on the wall.


I also like this and want to adopt it as my mantra but calm is not my natural state so there is work to be done there...

Freebies

When I last went to Norfolk Mum and Kit gave us some really nice things for our house. This colourful blanket...

Kit gave us these rugs as we are seriously lacking in any floor covering. His father made this and I think that is lovely. Thanks Cliff...

And this carpet. Not made by Cliff, unfortunately, but I love it all the same.

Something for the yarden...not sure how many courgettes it will produce but the flowers are pretty. And tasty I believe...

This picture...

And this wasn't from my mum but it is a picture of my niece's boots. It was a Christmas gift from her mum and dad. It must be an image from a lot of children's memories and wardrobes...wellies!

Mirror, mirror...

I also saw this which reminded me that I need to collect more mirrors...and vintage fabrics...

At least I have made a start with this one..

Curtain and flag union...

We are seriously lacking in curtains at The Money Pit. We haven't managed to put any up anywhere yet apart from the living room.

Part of the problem is cash, the other is that the top of the windows are so close to the ceiling, often with coving taking up space either side, I have no clue where to attach a curtain pole so that the curtain reaches the top of the window. But this has given me food for thought. I have talked of my love of union jacks on numerous posts so I thought this was wonderful....

Images from Vintage Vacations via TeaForJoy

Coveting...

...graphic prints for the dining room walls. I like these...

And perhaps something by Paul Rand. I saw this on Dooce's Daily style and if I could I would buy everything she recommends in the Daily Style section of her website. And then if she ever came over I could freak her out by welcoming her into a complete replica of her home. Sans the heated baby wipes contraption. Then again, I am sure t'husband would love it...

And this was the original Union Jack piece of wall art I saw that made me want all of these...

It is by Lucinda Chambers via The Rug Company, costs an arm and a leg. The image is from Living etc. Oh me oh my...on my quest to find out Lucinda's name I also happened upon this....

Hubba hubba. It is by Vivienne Westwood so I daren't even dream. Oh the internet, you are bad...

Pottering and pictures...

While I was yardening, t'husband decided it was time, despite rooms being far from finished to hang a few things up to get them out of the way. Or at least on the walls. Here are the lights for the dining room...

And then some pictures. Here he is applying his DIY mantra - measure twice. Cut /drill/hammer once!

For me, with pictures, I want something on the walls that I like but that also means something. Therefore, whenever we go abroad, we usually buy some sort of picture for the walls at home. In the old place we were running out of walls but now have many to fill with holiday art. Unfortunately, we no longer have the funds to go abroad which means the pictures are now good reminders of our frivolous youth!

From New York (my 30th birthday trip)...

Brooklyn Bridge and Portabello Rd (our 1st anniversary trip)

er Morzine....

Not a picture and not from abroad but its installed, it tells the time, the temperature and the humidity...yes really!

And although again not from abroad but the one below was given to me by my mum. Way before Kirsty and her homemade home made skip diving de riguer, my mum used to come back from, what they would now call, the recycling centre with goodies she had unearthed. She found this picture there. I think it was part of an art students discarded portfolio - I am hoping they make it big and I will have an unknown work which I unassumingly hung in the lav and then sold for millions in the future. Of course, in that particular future I have also won the lottery so won't need the cash.

But I digress. In those days the recycling centre was called 'the dump' hence its current home at The Money Pit!! Aly said she thought that our downstairs loo was like a gallery (being long, white and lit with spotlights). So I am taking her at her word and turning it into one, one picture at a time.....

We also hung a few more bits a pieces and I will try and get photos of these tonight...

Liking...

Not sure I would have it in my house but I really love this wallpaper. Maybe I have a thing about buses as they featured here recently too! Love the suitcases and they would definitely be welcome at home. My mum gave me one not so long ago so just need a couple more.


Found at HomeShoppingSpy again. Must resist just completely reiterating their blog via mine but I love so many things on there. That is a hint for anyone that is looking for something to buy for my birthday in case you didn't recognise it....

Coveting...

More Union Jack loveliness from Jan Constantine which I found over at Home Shopping Spy. I think getting a Double Decker to display them might be going a bit too far but they might look good displayed on this...

Houses - real ones not magazines!

As I mentioned before my wonderful friend Abi has the most beautiful home, full of the most beautiful things. Despite the range and variety of objects their owners have somehow managed to pull all these interesting things together and make it look cohesive and lovely. I love wandering around her house as there is always somehting quite lovely and original to look at but I guess she and her nearly husband (hi Matt) both work in theatre so are visual people. Below are just some of the things I love about their home.

Lighting

Abi has slowly built up a collection of really beautiful lights. No paper globes for these people, their lights have to be beautiful too. Here are a few...








The use of colour and texture

They are much braver than I with their colour choices. The Money Pit is pretty much all white and I love how light it feels but their home feels rich and luxurious....



The painting in this picture, I think, is by Abi's very talented brother. He now has a fancy career building sets and all kinds of things for photo shoots as well as designing shop windows such as the wonderful Liberty. So I guess taste runs in the family...



Unfortunately, the bathroom, I think one of my faves was occupied at the time of photographing but it is a deep teal green with white accessories, floor and beautiful aqua shower tiles...

Coveting...

Union Jacks for their graphic quality not because I am a nationalist...

Love this wall hanging and the pillows and even the dog....

And this is pretty...