Have been away......

Sorry, no posts recently.  I have been away, enjoying warm weather and rain in Spain. Gathering ideas and inspiration. And making a Catalan basket.

Nothing much happening on the house front, just the landscaping.  I am hoping my friend who is a garden designer (Tatton Hall, Chelsea) will look at my plans (now sketched on a bit of paper) and give me some further ideas.  I think I know how I want the front to be, but another input is really helpful.  Especially from such a splendid designer. (Will ask her if she minds her website details going on my blog). The landscape builder has confirmed for the end of the month, so will need to get the rest of the materials together.

Am getting closer to getting chairs reupholstered.  Have asked Craig's who did the sofa to come and quote me for loose covers for the Ikea chair, and to totally refurbish a wee chair that has been lingering about in our old house for years: bottom falling out, springs shot, but it is just the right size for our sitting room/tv area.  And if you keep things long enough they come back in style.  Or as my son says "on trend".  I am finding it difficult to source reasonably priced material in a retro design, that is suitable for loose covers.  Seen some splendid Frido Khalo designed fabric, but no use for chair covers!

Whilst in Spain I noticed that they use a lot of Corten steel, on buildings, ornamental flower beds, gates and doors.  One particular idea I liked was a sliding gate (it was on a first floor balcony, so presume it was used to get things up onto the first floor as the house was extremely old.  I think a sliding gate at the side of the house would solve a lot of problems;  hanging the gate, the width of the gate, the part of the house onto which it would close, all things that are potential problems.  But a sliding gate could slide along the wall, would be secured to the wall, and would just close against the house side, without having to have uprights to close against.  All worth thinking about - don't know if Corten steel is out of the budget, but ideas and inspiration and some working drawings will come soon.

sliding gate

steel edging in public garden - it was angled back so that the top edges could be used as seating