Home is ...where there are memories ?

At 11.30am yesterday, at the end of a drive, at the bottom of a quiet cul-de-sac, a 33 year old could be seen swinging on a not particularly substantial wrought iron gate. Look more closely and behind the oversized sunglasses, tears were trickling down. For 33 years I had been told "not to swing on the gates" but this was the last time I was going to be able to disobey this rule.

My Grandma and Grandad lived about a mile away from the home in which I grew up. They were closer to school than we were. Looking back their house was simply a detached and slightly removed extension of my home...only in my memory (with the exception of swinging on the gates) we could get away with more there !

My memories of "26" as it is affectionately known are endless...playing bus on the stairs, putting rollers in Grandad's diminishing hair, dressing up in Grandma's hats, scarves, shoes ...., eating artic roll...I could go on...More than anything the lasting memory is playing "house" in their back garden on a paved area tucked behind the garage, surrounded by a make-shift low level wall made up of bits of broken paving slabs. See we had imagination - and a yellow melamine tea set !

I walked around "26" yesterday replaying all of these happy times and was struck that this really was a home. The decor may not be to my taste but even if I had gone with my work head this wouldn't matter. What is important is that for nearly 60 years this building had provided a base for my Grandma and Grandad to bring up my Dad and Uncle, welcome my Mum into the family and then continue to look after the generations with me and my Sister calling in to wreck the place every Wednesday after school.

I was reminded that although I can try my hardest to create beautifully decorated houses for people to live in, it takes memories to be created there before it can be called a home.

WEEK 12 - WALLPAPER OF THE WEEK

Grandeur by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen : 50003 : Graham & Brown

After last weeks rather 'loud' scheme I thought I would return to a more sedate offering this week. Designed by someone who probably wouldn't instantly come to mind as sedate, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has surprised me with this paper. A leafy flowing print, its calming and swirly and easy to look at (not adjectives used to describe the designer himself !)

Its your traditional wallpaper walls for this one, so hallway, living room, dining room or bedrooms. But saying that it is very flexible to a whole host of styles of houses or apartments. Its also going to be relatively straight forward to add into either an existing scheme or create a new scheme around it due to the neutral tones that it uses.

In fact I would say that if its your first trip into the wonderful world of patterned wallpaper then this is a good place to start. To put it into context its about £30 for a 10 metre roll and you won't need any other pictures / prints / accessories on the wall, just a packet of wallpaper paste and you're done ! You're going to make an impact but its not going to be possible to get it too scarily wrong.

My All Time House Wish List...

Porta Romana - Table Lamps

I know its a Tuesday and I don't usually ramble on at you all on a Tuesday but I'm attempting to clear my desk and came across an image of this table lamp to be stuck on my board that is reserved for the things that "I really really want". I personally think this lamp has everything. The shade is great proportionally and in such a timeless colour that it will go absolutely anywhere. And as for the base well it ticks all my boxes, quirky, interesting yet unobtrusive....just thought I'd do a 'Show and Tell' (I spend too much time with 3 year olds !)

WEEK 11 -WALLPAPER OF THE WEEK

Funky Floral by British Design Talent : 50015 : Graham & Brown

Yep its loud ! You're definately not going to miss this one, but its so 'happy' that I couldn't resist it ! Not for the feint-hearted or those prone to hang-overs but definately one for the young or young-at-heart. It needs to be used alongside furniture, fittings and accessories that are going to complement it not contrast with it. In that sense its not going to be the easiest of papers to use as you will need to be strict with yourself or its going to look a mess ...basically !

I'd go for the room grouping of girl's bedroom, family bathroom (make sure you Polyvine it to prevent it curling or staining) and utility room perhaps ? I like a quirky scheme in a utility room (mine is currently bright blue and I mean bright !) they tend to be easier to dress in a fun way than a kitchen and its always nice to open the door to the engine room of your house and find yourself smiling at your secret scheme than feeling glum at the amount of washing and ironing you have to wade through !

WEEK 10 - WALLPAPER OF THE WEEK

Fracto by Umbra : 60045 : Graham & Brown

This is so lovely and fresh, so much going on but done in a classy way. I love the green, it would be great in a room that gets the morning sun, preferably opening out on to a garden. Its so light and clean and works well when placed in a neutral scheme and teamed up with lots of fresh brilliant white woodwork.

Its going to make a feature without taking over and dominating and I love the addition of the sparkly cushion in the image above as it really sets the whole scheme off.

I would recommend this for a reception room as I mentioned earlier, if possible one that links to the outside world. So a feature wall of kitchen / dining room or a solid wall in a conservatory would suit it perfectly. Hmmm but thinking about it, alongside a squidgy satin quilt in ivory and a few sparkly cushions piled up on top of a bed it would look equally as lush in a bedroom - ooh decisions decisions...

WEEK 9 - WALLPAPER OF WEEK

Damask by British Design Talent : 14706 : Graham & Brown

Back to my roots this morning, a damask print, a classic ! This particular damask has such a lovely colour and scale. The lilac and charcoal colours give off a warming feeling in a colour scheme that despite being modern is not going to date easily.


I would use it wherever it will fit ! Unfortunately despite being beautiful its not that flexible. Its not going to be suitable for a low level building due to the height requirement for the rather large pattern repeat. But, give it a lovely high ceiling, preferably with a picture rail, good old pure brilliant white above the picture rail and on the skirtings and you've got yourself a stunner !


This is a definite contender for IvyH, I'm thinking behind the headboard in the master bedroom and if the living room hadn't recently been decorated it would be shortlisted for the feature wall in there....I do love a good damask !