Design Dilemmas

Episode 116. This week we're discussing removable sink drainers, dark wood stained worktops and kitchen pendants. Plus loos with no light and the Sunday Niche Edit.

Good morning and if all has gone to plan and nothing dramatic has happened then as you read this, I should be lying on a sun lounger in Crete reading a book with a glass of champagne beside me. Well, maybe anyway, dependent on what time you are reading this, it might be a coffee. But anyway, rest assured that I will be resting and making the very most of my week off. Honestly, I cannot WAIT.

It’s been quite a hectic and fairly stressful week, particularly after the dog ate an entire block of Manchego at my father in laws birthday party and spent two days with his bowel doing unimaginable things. Honestly, it was horrific and also entirely self inflicted which made me even more annoyed. Buddy KNOWS that he shouldn’t scoff canapes but he is very sneaky, lulling guests into a false sense of security by looking at them with a wagging tail, then the moment they turn their backs he swoops on whatever plate is in front of him. So badly trained and for that, I have only myself to blame. Sigh. He did this last year after eating three quarters of a discarded Dominos and I had to pay hundreds to take him to the vet to get him antibiotics (it gives him colitus) but luckily, I found the leftovers in my bedroom drawer and have been chucking them down him ever since at regular intervals. I am pleased to say he is now fully recovered, although still equally annoying.

Which is good because I have housesitters arriving from London tomorrow (it’s Thursday today) to look after Buddy, Flo and the house in my absence. It’s my sister in law Laila and her two children, Lars and Edde (she’s Latvian) and they are honestly the most lovely children and HUGE characters, so I’m slightly disappointed that I will only be seeing them for one evening. I have stacked the fridge with fish fingers, Twister lollies and Dairylea and bought them new pyjamas and a few books from AlexTSmith as a surprise. I’ve sent Laila a list of things that they can do over the course of the week via the Little Vikings website which is brilliant if you have kids and are visiting York.

Back to business and this week, we are talking about removable sink drainers which are easy to store. We are looking at the best dark wood stain for a kitchen worktop and different types that you can buy, plus kitchen pendant choices for a very lovely kitchen which is mid renovation. We’re finding good spotlights for a loo with no windows and finally, the Sunday Niche Edit is all about kitchen tongs (I know, I really spoil you). And paid subscribers (particularly if you’re new), remember that you can add your dilemmas or quandaries below here in the comments or you can join in the Group Chat (the speech bubble on your app or just click the link below) where there are thousands of you waiting to help with any issues that arise (I pick ones from both of these locations for my weekly post, so whack yours in).

You can READ ON by becoming a paid subscriber which means that not only do you receive four free posts a month but you’ll also get an eight EXTRA posts a month (including all my plans for our new home) plus Chat threads so you can join our blossoming community. You’ll be able to access my archive to read ALL of my past posts (including recipes and travel write ups) for the price of one coffee a month. I would thoroughly recommend!