Wednesday 17 September 2008

Cath, Kate, rooms and reprieves...

I've been rubbish at blogging lately...so much for "vintage,pretty or shabby" on a Monday and general waffle on a Friday night!
Pah!!
and I wont even go into how rubbish I am at replies..especially since I've only just realised that 'no reply' at blogger means just that,but only after I've been replying ..doh! So I'm doing a bit of occasional lurking, forgive me .
Ok this is a bit of thinking out loud so indulge me!..I've had really itchy feet lately about the house, because we are not moving now, I want to have a revamp and do things to my rooms. Some of them have been the same for years, especially the lounge..even being swapped over with the dining room, its still basically the same..the little teeny lounge with the massive windows..
I'm very torn between the kitschness of Cath Kidston and the beauty of Kate Forman..I love both equally but they are really very different styles..and prices (scary prices)Ages ago my sister happened upon a huge batch of Kate Forman fabric for a ridiculously cheap price and now I have it in my head that I want to remake my curtains in the lounge in this very expensive fabric which I need to find for a tenth of the price like she did! hmmm..wish me luck

It needs some red....you know,some oomph! There's a bit of red in every room except the lounge. I wrote in a previous post how it was all very beige, ok..but beige..a sea of blandness with the odd bit of pale green.It's now making me obsessed to the point of obsessive compulsive behaviour...it all suddenly makes sense, it's like the clouds have cleared and I understand what was missing..RED! ( that's the colour not the dog..it does get mighty confusing having a black dog called 'Red' sometimes)
I can perfectly visualise the rose curtains,a loose cover for the bland weetabix-coloured footstool in a faded red ticking and a whole heap of mix and match cushions..I have some of those around anyway..no painting, just 'froufing'.I could even dig out some of my pretty floral pictures hidden away...oooh girlie stuff!
My Grannie always had a summer and winter theme in her lounge, my mum too, she was forever running up a new pair of curtains or cushions whilst we were at school,so I guess its a hereditary thing (that's my excuse anyway, and I'm sticking with it!)
As much as I love Cath,you need a certain look to your furniture and hard as I try,it just doesn't seem to work with most of mine,I dont know,maybe I'm just too fussy!

So I'm saving Cath for my kitchen and bathroom,she looks happiest in there. I would need to change too many things if she went in the lounge..it's a bit too, well 'formal' for want of a better word and Cath's a fun loving gal.I sound a bit deranged don't I?..I'm sure there are far more important things happening in the world outside my 4 walls..it's a house thing that I have,an obsession.I've loved houses since I was little, spending ages cycling around the lanes at the age of eight picking my favourite from the village I lived in, gazing longingly over the hedges wondering what they were like inside and I was always doodling houses at primary school to the point of getting a real telling off for using up far too much paper..they always had leaded windows and gingham curtains in my drawings for some reason..funny that, says she, looking out of her leaded windows with red gingham curtains! So I'm just thinking out loud at the moment ,toying with a few ideas that no doubt will be totally different next month.Maybe its because the boys are back at school, work is dire because of the weather we've had (ever tried mowing a wet sponge?) and I've got too much time to spend reading books and magazines when I should be doing other stuff. Especially this magazine..my all time favourite that teases me by only coming out every other month!I've gone off Country Living lately..gosh that seems awful.. I never thought I would say that but I really have and I don't know why. Then there's this little lot to tempt me away from my chores....only a portion! How can I resist the lure of the 'housey book' ?

We are in the process of re-mortgaging at the mo (crikey that's a long drawn out expensive process!) so it would leave me a little bit of money to do a few of these 'froufing' jobs, if and only if , I can do them on a budget.I need to sell a few bits on eBay,some furniture,some rugs, the biggest vintage mirror ever, that I love but it's just way too big for this weeny house.. and pull my finger out and finish some sewing projects..I am the most disorganised person ever. I need an empty brain to do anything and it's currently filled up with a whole heap of junk!

Anyway, Stinky H didn't have his operation last week....The surgeon fainted.... Yes, really. It sounds almost too ludicrous to be true, but things like this happen in our lives and we just accept it and move on to the next odd situation.I swear, if a red polka-dot talking pig flew into our garden it would seem quite normal...Poor surgeon, I do hope he is OK..and poor Harry..all prepped up for theatre and full of nerves and he gets a reprieve at the very last moment...well for a few more weeks anyway!' ...get riding that bike matey as you won't be soon!!!

30 comments:

  1. Your not the only one who has gone of CL...i've been enjoying counrty homes n interiors and period home and the like.....

    I love love love your firplace!!!
    Wow-tastic!!!!!!

    Also....my sister wanted cath curtains.....could not afford them and then decided that they were too much pattern wise....so we trimmed the edges of a pair of pale cream ones with some of her fabric...pink strawberry....and then added the rest to the bottoms of a pair of white ones...and i have to say...if your working on a budget but want the look....then this is a great way to do it!

    she was so pleased with the end result...I do like kates house tho...my goodness...she has taste.......saw it once in a magazine...i must have read them pgs over nad over!!! OCD!!!!!!
    xxx

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  2. ooh good thinking.. give that girl a gold star! thanks Mel, that's certainly given me food for thought!

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  3. i love the mirror over the fireplace it really sets off the whole room :-)
    I know what you mean about rooms seeming bland sometimes i posted about my rather bland kitchen and as a fellow lover of all things red i have introduced more into the kitchen and its much better so go for it!! fab idea of melmels:-)
    Lesley x

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  4. Gorgeous house already, but sounds like you have some brilliant ideas for refreshing it, can't wait to see the finished result!

    Same sort of ludicrous things happen to me too.....all the time, it's amazing how quickly you get used to it!!!

    Lovely blog. Sue xx

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  5. You really do have the most wonderful style and taste. Refresh, refresh, refresh. Keeps it all interesting and fun.

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  6. You could always try printing your own fabric - take a look at this fab tutorial on Nikki's blog : http://whimsy-girl.blogspot.com/2008/09/celery-painting-tutorial.html
    Big CK style roses out of celery!!
    Who would have thought it?!

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  7. Ooh, this is a hard one as I'm not particularly a Kate fan but am a Cath obsessive. Then I just need to remember, it's actually your house! I see what you mean that your living room furniture is quite formal but then I think Cath's looks informal because she uses things like bare floor boards and loose covers which give a casual look. That said, I think her country home is quite formal/grand with its four posters and wing chairs and it still all works.
    I love CL but, I love it most in the Summer 'cos I am a floral, rosy, village fetes kind of girl so all the Autumnal colours and pictures of berries just don't do it for me. My sister and I both agree that we just don't enjoy the xmas issues of our fave mags.
    Right, I've been no help whatsoever! However, I do think the red will look lovely and warm and brighten things up. I lust after red Cath K slip covers for my cottage sofa and chair for the Winter but know I am far too lazy to make them!
    Hen x

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  8. Hi
    I have finally found your blog - I am loving your house. I will read more of your blog when I have a lttle more time! just to let you know that I have finally set up my website!
    You can find me at www.lottiesbarn.co.uk
    I would love to know what you think - I am still working on it- there still seems a long way to go
    Andrea
    (Julias friend who sent you the spotty bowls!)

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  9. Thank God someone else has said they have gone off Country Living I thought I was the only one!!! It's the fact that it only shows people who pay to attend their fairs get a look in for features in the mag.....stupid thing is I still buy it!!! and then moan..I must be mrs grumpy !!!!..your blog just makes me laugh out loud..Thanks!!

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  10. I know what you mean about CK look - it seems to work better in 'utility' rooms in our house too. We've got lots of inherited brown furniture and it'll never be painted so we work around it!
    I've been loving CL the last few issues! Is it only me?! Maybe it's that so many of the features have been Norfolk based for once so I don't feel quite like we live on another planet to where it's all happening!
    Good luck with the revamp! If that pig flies past get him to do a circuit of your sitting room so you can check out the red polka dot look!x)

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  11. know exactly how you feel! but I think your home looks stunning as it is. I have a cream & shades of brown sitting room (doesn't that sound awful ~ I'm going to repaint in straight away!) and I need a bit of colour. I bought curtain fabric from Laura Ashley 3 months ago but I'm not sure it works now. I want something between faded elegance and fun & funky...is there such a thing? I love your leather armchairs too. How about a gorgeous fabric covered mannequin to add instant yumminess ~ I know where you can get them :) Lucy xx

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  12. Kate Foreman fabric is better in the flesh than in her overly fussy catalogue which I'm sure puts people off....I don't care for CK (made in China) as she has sold her soul and lots of her accessories are cheaply made undermining hand made crafts ( glad I've got that off my chest)

    Sorry to hear SB op was cancelled….at least the surgeon didn’t faint half way through the operation!!

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  13. Oh what a relief! I'm not the only one then who's found that Cath doesn't quite work in the lounge. I've come around to keeping things a bit more traditional in the front room and making things and more fun in the kitchen and conservatory.

    And I don't know what it is with CL, I really look forward to it but it's the interiors I think that leave me feeling a bit let down. Do love the gardening features though. English Home is my dream mag though and the English Garden is rather lovely too.

    Good luck with the remortgaging and flogging on ebay. Can't wait to see the remodelled living room.
    Poor Harry - I'm wincing for him!
    Stephx

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  14. You are so funny, glad I found you! The surgeon fainted??? Dosen't really bode well . . . maybe he dosen't like the sight of blood??? I am like that, hence I am not a surgeon! Good luck with your living room. Are you a Libran by chance? Rachaelxo

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  15. I know wat you mean about CK, it's more chintzy cottagey. How about Laura Ashley that's a little more sophisticated and not quite as expensive as Kate Forman? I absolutely love Kate Forman fabrics though, they are stunning! It's wonderful to see pics of your house, it's stunning!

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  16. Btw, i went off CL a while back. The tag line annoys me, somthing about your heart being in the country! In other words it's for posh peeps who live in the city drinking Lattes and talking about country folk! ;-) I like Period Living that's a lovely mag and Country Homes and Interiors.

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  17. Can I just stick up for the editorial in Country Living a bit?
    I sell crafts and flowers and it is the only magazine where the staff have gone out of their way to track me down and publicize what I do; the only magazine where the advertising and the features departments are completely seperate; where getting featured is not dependent on paying for advertising slots.
    I do exhibit at their Fair (in Scotland) but the truth is that I do so because they have found ways for a small business to do so without paying the high upfront stall costs.
    So it isn't really a case of only featuring the people who pay for stalls but encouraging and helping those they have featured to take stalls.
    I am sorry if this sounds grumpy - and to be honest what irritates me sometimes about CL is the fact they do excerpts from books rather than original features - but I felt I had to stand up for the staff - thay are really enthusiastic about and supportive of small rural businesses.
    J

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  18. That certainly is one thing Country Living are reknown for..helping small businesses,particulary rural ones..
    thanks Jane.
    I think I've opened a whole big can of worms there by saying I'd 'gone off' CL a bit!!!
    I would love to go to the CL fair, it must be great seeing all these small businesses and their lovely goodies all under one roof, thank goodness for mail order and the internet until I can!

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  19. I adore everything in your house. Gorgeous.

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  20. Yep, I'm a subscriber and have been disappointed with the last few issues of CL too. I think most of the properties are bland and minimalist and they keep showing horrible geometric prints ugh!I'll have to keep blogging to find lovely individual homes like yours.

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  21. oh..I like the modern 50s look! Theres a designer called Angie Lewin who does the most amazing geometric flower prints and I love her stuff..just doesnt go with what I have around at home..I need about four houses to accomadate my different likings! that's half the problem!

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  22. Your lounge looks fabulous- ours too was suffering from an overload of beige last year so we opted for dark green below the dado rail, and I feel so very brave!! I do love it though. The kitchen is red, the bathroom sage green....I am definitely a green and red girl!

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  23. I'm doing our house up and in the same dilemma as you.... I'm debating having a bit of CK wallpaper and fabric in the new front room but as you say will it look right?
    I think she looks better in some rooms rather than others .... I too like the idea of summer and winter rooms. Chintzy in summer and warm and full bloodied red velvet in winter...
    I'm also working on a tight budget so don't also like to make mistakes.

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  24. You have one of the prettiest shabby houses in blogland! I'm with you on Kate Forman, I absolutely love her style. We're doing up our living room at the moment too, and I have taken inspiration from her beautiful home and fabrics. Like you, I can't afford to buy from her. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
    Lucy x

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  25. I know what you mean about CK and kate forman CK is a bit loud but great for kitchens and bathrooms your just like me I spend forever pondering over how I'm going to decorate my house I'm obsessed with house mags too and have a huge pile to scrapbook.
    I love your room as it but it is nice to have a change though those colours in Kate Forman will look wonderful why why do we have such expensive taste!!
    Sarahx

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  26. hi,love the kate forman look..but not the price!! gosh I thought I had quite a few housey books...until I saw yours!! pity we're not near enough to swap.. love the blog, Sue

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  27. I know exactly what you mean by is it Cath or is it Kate! I have the same problem. I have gone for Kate in the sitting room and my 'family ' room as we call it will be Cath - becoming very Plain in the kitchen .....I think you have it just right with what you are doing.
    Carol x

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  28. Your house is beautiful - some thing I would aspire to have one day....

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  29. Hi I know this blog is ages old but if anyone needs help I may or may not be able to give it, being an established interior designer and supplier of most of these fabrics. Do get in touch if you need Kate Forman and I will do my best to make it affordable for you. In the meantime have a look at my website www.kb-interiors.co.uk.

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  30. Did you find a cheaper substitute for Kate Forman? Enquiring minds want to know. I know this is an old post but I am on the same journey.

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