Creative Uses Of Furniture

 When a client comes to us explaining they are on a budget, we don't automatically think cheaper or ready made furniture, we think of how we can use existing pieces into a more practical way without compromising on design. Budget doesn't always mean restricting yourself in design, in fact we believe we can make more of an impact by making each piece tell a story. The old armoire that was handed down to you that worked okay as a wardrobe in your first home but not longer serves you, how about considering building around it, removing the doors and using it as a library or a cocktail bar, how about storing crockery or linen and making a feature of it! The same apply's to a beautiful chest of draws or sideboard that no longer has a purpose, why not add a bevelled marble top and create a bar or guest bathroom vanity!

When I finally get to build my next kitchen I have decided I want the island bench to be a piece of furniture, of course there could be the issue with height, but by either using a furniture maker to build raise the leg or adding castor wheels - this will automatically gain height, add a marble or stone top for practicality and voila you have a beautiful talking piece in your kitchen that creates a warm cosy feeling to your home, try then to style it with timber chopping boards, potted herbs and flowers, the shelves beneath make the perfect place to store crockery and large platters and boards.

By using some of your own pieces or vintage shopping at local markets and antique stores, you can find that unique piece that can serve a purpose, creates a talking point & is fun to create!

Image sources: Pinterest

Colours We Are Trending

 At Verandah House we are in the middle of a huge showroom makeover, so what perfect timing to share our favourite colours we are using in our showroom and client projects. We have listed our top favourite colours and how we love using them today.

1. Duck Egg Blue - we are loving this colour painted on cabinetry in full gloss or low sheen depending on the look we are trying to achieve. We are loving using lots of hand-block printed fabric's in soft blues and linens; they have a unique, timeless, organic feeling and add a relaxed stylish look to our sofas and furniture pieces. We are using blues in silk wallpaper especially in bedrooms and dressing rooms to add texture and glamour.

2. Grey - Grey is the perfect neutral to layer colour and interest, we especially love using it on joinery - whether it be grey stained timbers or painted finishes, this colour works back perfectly with marble, silver or brass fixtures.

3. White - When we think white we often lean towards nougat, wintery whites rather than the stark whites used so often, its a calmer, more gentle look and instantly gives you the feeling of comfort within a home. Millwork detail to walls and joinery makes white less boring and a whole lot more interesting, we are loving some of our new lighting fixtures coming to VH especially the chandelier we have posted here today.

4. Navy Blues - For as long as I can remember blue has always been our signature colour, regardless of whether we choose a denim, powder or indigo to a rich deep navy, this timeless colour has so much appeal regardless of whether a home is modern or classic. We love all walls in a room painted a deep navy, on joinery and of course in soft furnishings, never has the colour not been in fashion, its timeless, appealing and never dates.

5. Chocolate - Yes, chocolate and its good enough to eat! At VH we call it the new black, is softer, just as dramatic as black but works back with so many colours, currently in our showroom we are mixing chocolate and aqua blue, we are seeing it painted on joinery and we are loving using chocolate seagrass wallpaper with lots of white trim and millwork for a more dramatic contrast. When the fashion industry gets hold of this colour you can be guaranteed to start seeing it in our homes too!

6. Hunter Green - We are absolutely obsessed with Hunter Green, what a perfect colour for a den, library or study, work it back with plaids and warm timber tones, we are loving it back with wall art for a striking look to a room.

Image Credits: image 3&18 Ashley Wittaker, Ralph Lauren Home, Pinterest, Verandah House

Chocolate - The New Black

If you follow us on Instagram you would have noticed some of these photo's we've been posting lately! Our showroom is forever changing yet always in keeping with our style. Since opening Verandah House, chocolate tones have been a strong influence in our showroom, its softer than black and provides the perfect backdrop for adding colours like emerald green, mustard yellow and burnt orange tones.

Buy Once Buy Well

As we begin the New Year I'm ready to start putting my business and personal goals into action. I have also started a daily gratitude journal to remind myself of all that I'm grateful for. What definitely tops my list is how truly blessed I am that I get to do what I love every single day. I thought what better way to show my gratitude - to share what I have learnt along the way. (Wow did that rhyme!? I can never get anything to rhyme)

If I could say what I have learnt most in decorating, its how much more I have to learn. We always need to keep striving to be better, more innovative and to stay true to our design aesthetic. Not everyone needs to love your style. If you copy and try to duplicate other designers work, not only does it not work, it looks obvious and can lack soul. Instead, I have learnt to look at a space I love and take elements about that space that inspires me and add my own interpretation. Another rule I have learnt to make a room look beautiful is to try and avoid making it look like a catalogue. If I do buy a generic chair, I always re-upholster or perhaps repaint with new hardware. Sometimes the budget doesn't always fit antique pieces, but where possible try to mix old with new, its keeps the space interesting, unique and beautiful.

Above all 'buy less but buy well'. A very good friend Jo who has amazing style, once told me many years ago to buy once but buy well. When she was younger and her budget was tight she would find a beautiful lamp, vase or piece of furniture that was way out of her budget, but she refused to believe it wasn't attainable, she never ruled it out. Instead she would save her pennies until she could afford it. You can guarantee today she still has the same pieces and they still look current and beautiful. I have followed her advice, better late then never and I totally agree...do it right the first time, it may take longer but you will love it for a lifetime!

Judy x

Green Fusion

As February is fast approaching we feel well and truly into the new year with a list of exciting new jobs and a few o/s trips to plan! This is our year of sourcing new products abroad and pushing the boundaries with our designs. Judy and I will be sharing the blog posts from now on, sharing with you our journey, inspiration and sneak peaks on our exciting new projects. We hope you will follow along - lets hope we all have an amazing year!

X Jess & Judy

A Touch Of Glamour

Over the last few weeks we have completed some truly stunning master bedroom schemes for our clients that I can't wait to share with you in the New Year. For now I thought I would share our bedroom makeover in our showroom here at Verandah House. We wanted to create a completely different look to our previous rooms, opting for a more neutral scheme. We started with an inspirational board and an array of textures appeared; inspiring us to create an unexpected but harmonious scheme. 

To create a more effortless look we had to add texture and interest and we wanted the room to look collected and unique. To create this look we used a combination of tortoiseshell rattan with crystal, brass rather than silver, french wallpaper with panelling, silks and trims. We tried at first not to add the drapery to the four poster bed but the room lacked softness and we wanted the space to have a more luxurious feel.

We post most days on our Instagram page http://instagram.com/verandahhouse, we would love to hear from you too x

A Collective Interior

Lately I have been reading several inspirational books which I would love to share with you over the coming weeks. One particular chapter hit a chord with me about being true to one-self and living an honest life. I had to really think about this and realised how true that is in my life as a designer. 

When I look back at all the styles that have been popular over the decades, I can sit and laugh and be guilty to have fallen victim to many of these trends and to be honest I have absolutely no regret, they have defined me to who I am today.

What I have learnt from experience is every trend has its place so long as you don't loose your own authentic sense of style in the process. Several years I questioned my style, was I playing it too safe?Was I being original enough? Lots of self doubt crept in, I was a victim to my own self doubt, I lost my way and I still shudder when I think of that time.

Over a year and a half later the doors of Verandah House opened and my talented daughter Jess joined me in our new design venture; we promised ourselves that we would be respectful of trends but not be lead by them. We would be true to our design aesthetic of classic, timeless interiors and to be respectful to follow our clients dreams and desires within their home.

One of my greatest lessons was originality: Being original is to make it your own, be true to your own style, own it! I believe originality is in the special objects we place around our home, pieces that you have collected, that have a past, that mean something to you and your family. We recently completed this entry, I love that so many of the pieces have their own story, the collected art on the wall is a mix of new and very old pieces which evokes a conversation and takes you back to another era. The dark seagrass walls add depth to the room and creates the perfect backdrop for the artwork. Greenery from the garden adds a homely touch and candles can be added for ambience at night.

We are lucky to be exposed to so many looks and styles...appreciate all of them and decide what is the look that speaks to you and live the very best life you can!