Kitchen Shelf Inspiration

On the blog this week I thought I would talk kitchens, today my favourite topic of the moment is open shelving! Okay. I am the first to admit when thinking about this concept we think dust and lots of maintenance! or you could think of it in a different way, I see it as a place to store my everyday items that I use all the time, I'm not one to keep things preciously stored in cupboards I like to use all my crockery and that way they get washed regularly reducing the dust. I love the homely look it creates within the kitchen.

Please note my husband is like a bull in the kitchen, and he is still learning the art of placing plates down gently and putting them back in the right position, slowly he is catching on!

To create this look effectively here are some our tips!

1. Blue crockery looks great with white or green but as a general rule try to keep to the same tone of crockery, be artful in placing them but keep its relaxed and informal, mix up the shapes and sizes, keep it interesting.

2. Since open shelving allows the eye to pass all the way to the wall, its a great way to play up pattern and interest. We love using handprinted tiles all the all time classic favourite the subway, think subtle colour and be creative with the subway, consider changing up the patterns.

3. If too may open shelves seems daunting try using them only in a small area of the kitchen, I particular love using open shelves in butlers pantry's its functional and look great too!

4. Play up your creative skills and use artwork, cookbooks or perhaps a collection of vases to keep it fun and interesting.

Don't forget to follow us on our Verandah House Instagram feeds for our daily inspiration, we love hearing from you x


Image Credits: 1. Luxe Magazine 2. House Beautiful 3. Pinterest 4. House Beautiful 5. Elle Decor. 6. Windsor Smith Home 7. One Kings Lane

Inspiring Me Today

Today being a public holiday I've had fun checking out all my favourite blogs, some sadly are no longer posting, no doubt like myself caught up with the instant gratification of Instagram and FB and only sporadically posting on their blogs.

When I look back, some of my best idea's actually came about from when I actually disciplined myself to blog, I took the time to source idea's and I expressed them in my writing, I enjoy sharing my thoughts and inspiration, keeping it real, honest and personable, plus the bonus of meeting so many like minded friends on the way.

I couldn't resist today posting on the latest 2016 Spring collection from Ralph Lauren, I'm loving so much of the collection, if I could sum up my fashion style its all here, effortless, stylish and wearable, I'm especially loving the shirt dresses back with the tan belt, yes please! On my blog hunting today I fell upon Habitually Chic an old favourite that never disappoints, I though I would share some of her snaps from The RL restaurant in Paris, its time I went there!

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