Is the grass any greener?

Although it is Summer and we are experiencing a lot of heavy downpours right now there is still a lot to be done in the garden to keep that lawn looking green and lush and those borders blooming.

July is a month of warm, sometimes very hot weather, long dry spells followed by heavy, thunderous downpours. The garden can sometimes take a real battering from such extreme weather conditions, so here are some regular jobs to help that garden stay simply gorgeous all summer long!

Weeds just love this weather, and seem to pop up everywhere. Try to keep on top of them by using a hoe and regularly turning over the soil in the borders. Spray weed killer on paths and driveways to keep the weeds at bay. Top up the borders with mulch or decorative bark, as this will not only retain moisture but will also help to keep away those weeds. 

Continue to dead head the faded blooms, this will re-energise the plant and encourage further blooms.

Water pots and hanging baskets regularly as despite the heavy down pours many hanging baskets miss out on much of the rain often being sheltered by porches or the eaves of a house or garage, and the soil dries very quickly in the warm temperatures.

It's a good time for cuttings, especially tender plants like perennials and shrubs such as hydrangeas and pieris.

Even with us experiencing heavy downpours the lawn may still need a regular water, use a sprinkler to make light work of a large lawn and be economical with the water usage. Don't cut the lawn too short as it may scorch in hot weather. Using a water butt will help recycle the rain water for watering pots and hanging baskets.

Finally, remember to top up bird baths, there are a lot of young birds at this time of year all trying to cope with the intense hot weather and if possible fill up the bird feeders with seed too, there's something very English about seeing the different variety of birds in our gardens.

Enjoy!
GRx

Colour me beautiful this Summer!

The summer holidays are fast approaching and with the warm, long, sunny days that we are now experiencing we no longer feel that we have to go abroad for a vacation. I often holiday in Cornwall and when the sun shines, the beaches light up and the sea is a stunning, teal blue and as clear and beautiful as any Caribbean resort. It is when I walk along the north Cornwall coast line that I feel inspired to bring in to my home the stunning colours that I see out on these walks, from the gorgeous sandy beaches to the rugged coastline there are many shades of yellow, blue, green and grey. These colours can be used in harmony to bring that coastal feeling home with you creating a light, trendy and uplifting feel to any room.

Here are some tips on selecting the right colours, shades and tones for your room:

Always start with a neutral colour, this will be a great starting point to add further colours to as you grow confident in your colour schemes.

Think about the use of the room, I often speak with clients who use a room for more than one activity
and today many people have open plan living where some functions cross over in a room. For example the kitchen breakfast room is often used to host a cosy dinner party too.

Take note of the amount of light that comes into the room and at what time of day you use the room. This will affect your colour choice of light, bright, dark or warmer shades.

Size matters too! Most people believe lighter colours work better in small spaces creating a feeling of space, where as in fact darker, bolder colours are more dramatic and make a room more inviting, and purposeful. Larger rooms look great in lighter shades, increase the brightness, the layout of furniture and cleverly placed accessories will help shape the room and and create a feeling of proportion.

I am always telling my clients to bare in mind the age of the property when choosing colour schemes and furniture etc. It is great following trends but sometimes working with tradition suited to your style and age of property only but enhances the features and character of your home. Remember to include the ceiling, doors, skirting and cornices of a room within your colour scheme to ensure you create the required look.

When decorating, carefully choose some favourite pieces in the home, a fireplace, a painting, a vase, a chair or rug and use this as a starting point to draw ideas for a colour scheme.

Paint samples are expensive but I always advise you test your chosen colours on the walls in your own home. Neutralise any existing colour on the wall first and paint a large area of the colour from the tester pot. Alternatively, paint a large sheet of cardboard and place it on the wall to check the colour, ideally move the painted card around the room at different times of the day. This is to check how the light may affect the colours true hue as this will differ from day to day with the weather and also morning to evening light.

It is really important to consider who is using a room on a day to day basis; earlier I mentioned the functionality of a room and this can change according to who lives in the house. If you have children especially young children or dogs consider a more durable, harder wearing paint that will be perfect for busy areas, like hallways and kitchens.

Finally choose a colour scheme you love, regardless of what is trending right now, decorating is expensive so you must love the end result and one that is true to your personality!

Happy painting!

GRx

Summer loving!

One thing I love about Summer is the bright , glorious colours we see all around us. The ability to wear brighter coloured clothing, the blooming flowers and the gorgeous blue skies. This month I thought I would look at paint colours that remind us of warm, lazy summer days.

Here are a few of my favourite that would brighten any room!

Get outdoors, Spring has sprung!

Spring is a great time to give the house a clean and good declutter from all of those items we have hoarded over the cold, winter months. Now we have lighter days and holidays looming when the weather is good it is great to spend time outside. Give your outdoor space however big or small a clean and splash of colour this Spring.

The size of your outdoor space can vary greatly, but whether it is a balcony, small terrace or lovely stretch of lawned area bring on the gardening bug and give your outdoor space a good spruce up. Plant up pots with colourful Spring plants and perhaps even paint the pots to add vibrancy and a style to suit your mood.

Co-ordinate your interior colour scheme with the outside to help with the feeling of bringing the outdoors in.

Have your garden sheds, seating and fences painted too!

Keep any lawned areas free from weeds, cut the grass regularly and remember to trim those edges to give a smart clean finish.

Other areas of the house that will look great by adding some new colour is the front door, front porch, window sills, the garage, and if your house is rendered paint that too!

Here are some great ideas to get you started:

Add some colour this spring!

When the sun begins to shine, everywhere comes into colour, from the garden, the trees, the surrounding buildings and our homes. The sun creeps slowly through the windows and our homes appear brighter and more vibrant as if someone has waved a paint brush across each room instantly adding colour.

This month I wanted to inspire you to think about adding colour to small spaces in our homes, whether it be a cupboard, a hallway, the cloakroom or the spare room. Instantly adding colour to a small space is like switching the light on, the room becomes alive, it has an identity, a purpose making the space useful and much needed.

Many of these small spaces are painted white, a belief that white makes everything look bigger. Although this maybe true to some extent, the room can often look unloved, cold and uninviting and often becomes a dumping ground and the room is so often avoided.

Use strong greens, dense blues and dark greys hues to add drama to any small room.

Here are a few ideas to add colour and vibrancy to a small space in your home.

 

Happy painting!

GRx

As the temperature rises.

Spring begins to feel closer as soon as the temperature rises into double figures; overnight we see a sudden growth spurt of daffodils bulbs whilst the crocus and snow drops appear all along the grass verges.

It's a time to pull on the wellington boots, find the key to the shed and grab the garden rake, hoe and trough. The garden does not look it's best right now but with a little TLC and some patience the garden will be restored and full of fresh green grass and shoots in the coming weeks.

Here are a few tips to get you started and on your way to a beautiful garden this Spring!

1. Pull out the lawn mower and dust off the old dried on grass, book a service and your lawn mower will become your best friend as the grass once again begins to grow.
2. Rake off the lawn, collect any fallen tree debris, remaining leaves and moss and throw them on the compost or into your green garden bin for collection.
3. Keep the blades high for the first few cuts as the grass will have grown very little over the winter.
4. Avoid cutting the grass if ground frost is still forecast.
5. Aerate the lawn with a garden fork or spiking tool, this will help boost grass growth and improve drainage.
6. Finally, seed any areas of the lawn that has died off during the winter and add a good Spring fertiliser for your type of soil.

Happy gardening!

Illuminate your home this winter.

Now that the Christmas and New year celebrations are behind us and we have experienced quite a few chilly days and nights I thought I would turn to illuminating the home with style and character creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I have spoken before on lighting the home but it is an area that is really important to me all year round, whatever the weather.  As I write this blog the weather has turned milder yet the rain is still icy cold as it beats hard against the windows; I fear Spring is still some way off although the first sign of the daffodils bulbs appear to be peaking above ground.

The lighting you choose for your home often reflects the image of your own personality and lifestyle, without going too deep into the psychology of our minds, what we wear and often choose as furnishings for our home can sometimes illustrate how we see life and ourselves. The classic look, the industrial look, the bold and dramatic, or monochrome style. All of these styles can look beautiful whatever the age of your home or which room we choose the light to be displayed in. 

Here are some of my favourite looks right now:

Happy New Year, Happy illuminations!