Design Dilemmas
Episode 97. This week we are discussing living room planning, ceiling lamps and rugs or no rugs? Plus washable table mats and the Sunday Niche Edit.
Good morning and as I write this, Leo and I have just returned from the first York Racecourse Car Boot Sale of the year empty handed. This is not because there wasn’t plenty there but more that despite the sun, there were cold winds at almost hurricane strength that battered our face and cut through my trench coat. I was wearing a trench coat because this morning, I awoke to glorious blue skies so mistakenly assumed it would be vaguely warm. But no. It wasn’t. I am now waiting for windburn to appear on my face and have immediately put the fire on and stuck some bacon in the oven for a sandwich to bring myself back to temperature.
It was annoying that the weather was so inclement though, as there was some great stuff to see. I absolutely love this car boot sale. If you are local, you will already know that it’s got a mixture of vintage traders and people who have filled up their cars with all their unwanted home stuff, with items ranging from commodes and old shop signs through to dinner sets and rugs. It’s huge too. For my US readers, this is our equivalent of Yard Sales although I like your ideas better as you don’t need to leave your house to flog your wares and you can also go inside to make yourself a cup of coffee when you feel like it.
I am always, always drawn to chairs which was fine in the last house where I had two dining rooms but not in this one, where four is the limit. The last time I visited before it shut for the reason, I picked up a Arkana swivel chair for a tenner which I am currently sitting on. Chairs are without doubt my weak spot and today was no exception - it took everything in my power not to buy these two seventies lounge chairs which honestly, were perfection. Amazing condition, great colour, didn’t even need recovering. Sadly, I don’t even think they’d get through the front door here let alone have room for positioning in the living room. Anyway, they were fabulous and I hope that someone fabulous bought them.
But back to business and this week, we are discussing living room planning - how to set out an oblong space? We are looking at High Street ceiling lamps to find the best of the bunch and checking out a Dubai living room to see whether or not a rug is an essential. And finally, washable table mats that aren’t melamine topped cork and the Sunday Niche Edit is focused on the Easter table once more (I like a theme), with egg cups leading the way.
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