We have moved House and gone Dutch!.
Hello Folks…I am in the middle of ‘Our Big House Move’ at the moment! Yes my lovelies it has finally happened! Yay!…so whilst we are moving in, Please excuse my absence for a little while…when I am straight I will be blogging again, as this house is our forever home…light bright and airy!
We have gone Dutch…with open plan living and design, white walls, light wooden floors, but still keeping our happy style...this house is a blank canvas for me to create a cornucopia of wonderment!
I have boxed, packed, lifted and pushed all of our belongings along with 4 burly removal men to this new one and although it has been gruelling…I can already feel that finally! my mojo has come back and I can feel a brilliant New Year coming along…with lots of old Happy style blogging…it’s amazing isn’t it…how a light and bright home affects the way you feel!
So I am leaving you with a few moving in pictures (above and below)…These are all new pictures of our new happy home and how it is shaping up!
…and I’ll be in touch again soon my lovely peeps ;)Love to you all xx
It's nearly here...Yes Black Friday Frenzy is next week and whilst many Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving...we will also be reeping the benefits with the BIG sales here in Blighty too!
Keeping Cosy this Autumn.
Autumn is the season that defines the transition from summer to winter, the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, trying to hang on to the feeling of warmth can be challenging.
As soon as I can see the sunny days descend into windy evenings, and feel the slight biting chill in the air, all I want to do is snuggle up inside the house. ‘Fall’ colours – burnt umber, dark oranges, deep reds and browns – are my favourite, I prefer darker colours as they are richer, and aren’t as cold as other paler shades. Bright colours are okay too, but I prefer the subtle tones of the warmer autumnal hues.
SOURCE
Generally the more things there are in a room, the warmer it will feel. An abundance of cushions and blankets is necessary for curling up and hiding away, just try not to hibernate… Heavier and fabrics with detailed patterns make the best cushions for keeping warm, as the texture creates friction which produces thermal energy. I once overheard someone saying ‘you can never have too many pillows!’ and I’d love to be able to agree, but unfortunately in my opinion too many cushions and pillows can make a room look cluttered not cosy.
Having a wooden or laminate floor as opposed to carpet has been popular for a while now, and although it looks sleek and tidy, it’s not the nicest thing to walk around on when the temperature drops and it becomes the cold hard ground. Rugs are objects that make a significant change to the overall feel of a room, they can instantly give a room more depth and create a more homely atmosphere. The design of a rug will depend on the room; space, theme, and atmosphere are all things that will need to be taken into account.
In the summer I like having thin drapes on the windows that let the sun through. They keep the feel of the room light and breezy, whilst also allowing the fresh warm air through into the room. However as much as I love them, as winter approaches I switch them out for much heavier curtains that keep the cold air outside.
SOURCE
My Nan lives in the Irish countryside, which means it can get very cold at night. She has these huge velvet curtains hanging over every window, which keep the house warm; they also bring this really nice atmosphere to the room, it’s like a comforting sense of security. I know that might sound weird, but it’s just what it feels like to me! The advantage to having a good set of curtains is that they’ll save money of heating the house. By stopping heat from escaping through the windows, the temperature of the room will be higher.
Blankets and throws are heaven for snuggling into and watching a film with the family. In my opinion the perfect blanket is quite heavy, with soft velvet on the bottom and soft faux fur on top. I used to take a blanket with me wherever I went, I’d move from the sofa to the dining table without unwrapping myself from my cosy cocoon of warmth. Curling up under a blanket is also more economical as you won’t have to turn up the heating.
source
A good warm bed is essential during the colder weather. Light summer sheets designed to keep you cool in the sticky summer nights just don’t do the job when it comes to keeping warm. Curling up in a thick duvet at the end of the day is always the highlight of my evening, as nothing beats a comfy place to crash after a long day and fall asleep in….Keeping stylish can also be keeping cosy, with warm autumnal shades making your interiors even more comfortable during the colder months.
Post contributed by Shanon O’Donnell.
Shanon O’Donnell is a student and aspiring writer. She loves all things artsy and is hoping to achieve a career in online journalism. She is also a keen photographer and is in the process of setting up a blog to showcase her photography.
All pictures chosen by Happy Harris.
SOURCE
Autumn is the season that defines the transition from summer to winter, the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, trying to hang on to the feeling of warmth can be challenging.
As soon as I can see the sunny days descend into windy evenings, and feel the slight biting chill in the air, all I want to do is snuggle up inside the house. ‘Fall’ colours - burnt umber, dark oranges, deep reds and browns – are my favourite, I prefer darker colours as they are richer, and aren’t as cold as other paler shades. Bright colours are okay too, but I prefer the subtle tones of the warmer autumnal hues.
Having a little perusal around the internet the other day got me thinking that I wouldn’t mind getting a wardrobe for Freddy’s bedroom…you know his bedroom has been in the Dining room since his accident last December…I think the last time I updated you all about this was that he was receiving physio therapy and that there was a chance that he would walk again! well that has not happened because his limbs are too lax due to his Ehlers Danlos Sydrome!
Well! He decided that he wanted to move into the Living Room, because it is out of the way in there and he can sleep there undisturbed…but after much thought and consideration we have both decided that it is best for him to stay in the Dining room after all…that way he is in the center of the house where all the chatting and decisions are made! afterall its nice to be center of attention isn’t it!
So being that he has not been in our bedroom for a whole year (nearly), I have been choosing what he wears everyday! Can you imagine that! you take it for granted don’t you! just being able to choose your own clothes!…so i was thinking it would be a good idea to move the 1960’s kitchen cupboard out and a brand new painted oak wardrobe in to Freddy’s space so that he can choose his own clothes every day!…to just be normal again…How wonderful would that be!
I have seen some here with drawers…perfect for Freddy being wheelchair bound, as there is a shelf at the top so the rail is a little lower, which is ideal! It’s a different kind of life that we are living now. we are gradually getting there, you have to think out side of the box and it takes a little longer getting to places, but you have to face life’s little challenges don’t you…you never know what is around the corner.
Our house right now might not be ideal, but instead of trying to fit in with the house, we are now fitting the house around us! it would help if we didnt have any stairs…but bungalows are very few and far between around our neck of the woods unless you have oodles of money…so we are making do again for now..
We did think that moving was the answer, but that just caused more stress, so we are putting that on the back burner for now until after Christmas…so we are going to unpack! arrange things how we want them and be happy with our lot until the New Year!
Are you putting anything on the back burner until the New year?
Let’s Chat!
Having a little perusal around the internet the other day got me thinking that I wouldn't mind getting a wardrobe for Freddy's bedroom...you know his bedroom has been in the Dining room since his accident last December...I think the last time I updated you all about this was that he was receiving physio therapy and that there was a chance that he would walk again! well that has not happened because his limbs are too lax due to his Ehlers Danlos Sydrome!
DuckyDora + British Design = Love.
As you know I am a big fan of British design, so when I was surfing the internet the other day and came across duckydora, I was pleasantly surprised!…they handcraft their crockery and kitchen accessories themselves here in Blighty…How cool!
They currently have four contemporary designs in their range Amalfi, Sienna, Florence and Verona…I chose the Sienna table runner and 4 dinner plates as I knew this design would look gorgeous with my vintage french enamel and my rosy side plates…
It’s a real pleasure sitting at the table with the family at the weekends catching up with each others news and now even more so what with the table all set up looking pretty as a picture! The pattern is a beautiful teardrop design in duck egg blue. Their designs kind of remind me of Orla Kiely, but these are created in more of a subtle almost pastel design.
Duckydora are a fairly new Company founded in 2012, by Sisters Judith and Sally…all their products are made using recycled or reclaimed materials making them a very ethical presence in the market today…which is something you have got to love!.
Since I have received my order, they have plenty more items to choose from in their range…which is good coz I think I would like a few more matching pieces for my Sunday Dinner table!
Have you bought anything lovely lately?
Please do share with us below…
Bye for now
UPDATE 2024
I think Ducky Dora is no longer trading! so I have linked them to wayfair.com…
they have a fabulous selection of Dinner Sets…check them out above!
As you know I am a big fan of British design, so when I was surfing the internet the other day and came across duckydora, I was pleasantly surprised!...they handcraft their crockery and kitchen accessories themselves here in Blighty...How cool!
It can also be a longing for simplicity and a more concise life.
OMG I have gone and done it again! tittering about with my blog...I have gone and messed it up somewhere around the bottom...I want a new template design you see and was having a little look around the internet...when I found a really cool one...so I uploaded it myself...forgetting that I am not very good these days with remembering what I am doing day to day! let alone trying to do this myself!
So I have gone and completely messed up!
still I am not stressing yet...No pain no gain aye!
So watch this space...hopefully I wont delete it altogether...
Oh Gawd...I think I need me some help?
So do Excuse the mess whilst I am trying out new styles on my blog
the distruptiion I am sure will be over shortly...EeK!
Any suggestions for sticking it all back together?
Or are there any of you out there that have done the same thing?
----------------------------------------------
SORTED!
I think I have got it all back to normal now - apart from a few bits and bobs!...Now do I really want to do all of that scary stuff again? Hmmm! me thinks not lol...well not for a while anyways!
Columbia Road Meets Cath Kidston.
Last Sunday we went to Columbia Road Market….we had been meaning to take our friends Sue and Kevin to Cath Kidston for ages, ever since Sue first set eyes on our decoration at home did she want us to take them there, you can’t help falling in love with all those delightful pastel mixes of boho 1950’s chic now can you!….so we decided to make a day of it and take in some other sites too, starting with Columbia Road flower market.
Below is the living room, that she loves, and above is part of our dresser….
Now if you are in the ‘know’ this flower market is the place to ‘go’….if you want cheap good quality plants, set in the East End of London, this place is a treasure trove destination that will make your heart skip a beat!….it is the perfect place to thrift, as entwined either side of the main market itself are side streets that carry an abundance of second hand nik naks, new designer goods and expensive antiques….this place is a thrifters paradise! N.B Bring Plenty of money or your sugar daddy..because you will want to Spend Spend Spend!
Columbia Road Market above and below…
The side streets were packed with people, but still you were able to amble around at your leisure…I love looking around places like this, and the fun thing is that when you take your Nikon camera with you, the general public think your a photographer but are very polite, even though they can’t think for the life of them what ‘C’ list celebrity you are with!
Check out these side stalls, look at that Fab tapestry covered chair and the eccentric Graham Nortonesque lamp shade! Geraniums….red & white stripe and duck egg blue what more can a girl ask for!
Look at this stall – the girl that owned this, has definitely got taste!…Fred wanted to buy everything – it does look rather home from home…he didn’t want me to add any pictures of him in this pic or indeed any pics as he was having a rather ‘bad belly day’ you know the sort….a result of too much wine the night before!….
All this wondering around looking at the beautiful plants and shops was making Kevin very very hungry and there was many places to get something lovely to eat, so Kevin ceased his opportunity….Here!
Here!
Look at those lovely Bagels…..would you of been able to resist! mines a salmon and cream cheese….please!
and here!
This shop was along the main street,
it sold vintage clothing with plenty of yummy new clothing, trinkets and jewellery….look at the fab metalwork on the front of the shop and the vintage blue and white dresses….fantabulous!…we also visited a shop called Treacle, which is a Tea & Cupcake-aholics paradise and sooooo Vintagely trendy…..another must visit place!
We then went back to the car,
…it was getting warmer by then and do you know what, I have come to a conclusion that whenever I wear my black and white floral tunic which I may add is made from Viscose! it turns out to be a warm day, you see I usually wear linen, through every season actually, I love the natural feel and the way it lets your skin breath, I wear it through the winter and summer and yet when I wear my ‘Viscose’ tunic (which I love! – Fred hates it!) the sun shines – sods law that, isn’t it!…..anyway moving on!
We haven’t had many warm days this year, just rain, rain, rain….perhaps I should order a lorry load of floral tunics!…I’d make a mint!
Next stop Spittlefields Market, this is an art and craft market and I was pleasantly surprised at the surrounding area, years ago this part of the East End was a bit of a dump, but the renovations that have taken place, well we were really surprised! theres bars and cafes, and Notting Hill style shops and hardly any graffiti, just a few Banksy’s here and there which is very trendy for this day and age, you feel quite privileged to see one actually.
Years ago I used to make Re-style clothing, which is taking second hand clothing and re-styling it into something else, I used to applique lace and vintage material adornments to each garment making every piece a one off…..so I couldn’t resist taking this picture (or rather making Fred take this picture!) of these wicked re-styled garments in the market….There is sooo much talent in this market – you have to visit it. Whoops I sound like I am an advocate for the British Tourist Board there, don’t I!
This guy had real talent….any designers out there….I would definitely snap him up if I were you!….Next we decided to go to Cath’s, as we could contain ourselves no longer, well Sue and I could contain ourselves no longer, Kev was a bit worried as to how much Sue was going to spend…..We sped off to the Kings Road, home of the Punks that used to live there in the 1980’s, it is rather disheartening to see that no longer, the unusual and funky shops are there anymore, they have long gone – although if you amble along further up the road heading towards Hammersmith, there are more eclectic and quirky shops like, Noah, Graham Greener and English Eccentrics (I must just say, we were in there last week (EE) and who should be in front of us but Felicity Kendall and she looks absolutely fantastic – I wish I knew what cream she is using!)
We hot footed it into cath’s and Sue kept putting things onto the counter, she decided on a red star zipped holdall, knitting bag (she is teaching me to crochet at the moment!) a red strawberry breakfast set, oven gloves, an oil cloth table cloth and a tea towel – I feel us CathKidston fans should give her a round of applause for her first time, I was really proud of her, still its not that difficult is it and off course Fred and I couldn’t resist a few bits too….(I’ll show you in another post what we bought and how we have made use of it!)…
We couldn’t resist jumping in the car and tearing round to Cath’s other shop in Clarendon Cross as we were in the area, on the way round we passed a Wine Bar and as I looked round I could of sworn that Jennifer Aniston was sitting by the window, as we sped passed I mentioned the fact, so Fred drove around the block and I braced myself with the camera to take a paparazzi shot of a lifetime….finally a chance to make my fortune!….as we drove along there was a Fire engine with hunky firemen (they are always hunky aren’t they!) so Sue asked me to take a picture of them…..well they were making me laugh so much, I hadn’t turned the camera on and by the time I did this is the pic that I took!
No firemen in sight!…..what a shambles – I usually take fab pictures…..well we were in fits of laughter…..only for Fred to stall the car outside of the Wine Bar where I had spotted Jennifer Aniston.….imagine the scene crazy people in a car in fits of laughter only for me to take the picture as husband stalls car and then only…
…for the flash to completely bounce off the window, which you can’t see at the moment, but afterwards as I peered through the lens everyone from the cafe looks in my direction, for which we are still in fits of laughter, Fred can’t start the car and it seems like an eternity before he eventually kangaroo’s the car down the road……How embarrassing!….we were crying with laughter….I must just say at this point, I am never going to take up photography as a living and sorry Jennifer if you have had double vision this week!….it was Me!
We finally arrived at our final destination, where we politely bought some material for Sue to make some cushions, here I am, I have my lovely Non linen floral warm tunic on! We had a lovely day and will be repeating it again soon….of course I’ll keep you posted…
(Post first published 25/07/2007)
Happily sharing my Archives.