On one of our last holiday days in France, we both said if only each room was a bit bigger. The next day our friend/agent let us know that the apartment below is for sale and completely newly renovated! So despite me saying never again – yes, Lesley – we had a look, made an offer and it has been accepted. We must be crazy! Back in the land of mortgages and paperwork and yes it is a bit of risk and there is a caveat, we will only buy if we can build an interior staircase to link the two together. So while we wait for the architect and building approval, we are mentally decorating the lounge! We won’t know until December so have to be patient and as always, if it is meant to be, it will happen. Post post note – no floor plans so we ended up selling and buying a lovely apartment that had the rooms we needed but in Cannes!
That IKEA Sofa
We have two cats who have scratched every sofa we have, no matter what fabric. We have tried various solutions including scratching posts, deterrent sprays and trimming their claws gently but nothing has worked. This means our 3-seater Ektorp beige sofa will be put in the new apartment. Having googled various sites on how to ‘hack’ an IKEA sofa, we are going to pin up the skirt and put on new legs. I find IKEA Ektorp sofas really comfortable but the covers can feel a bit stiff and the style is a bit old fashioned. We will get the covers dry-cleaned and then start afresh and spend money on a rug, throws and custom made cushions to give a more expensive look.
How to Use Beige
Beige is a much maligned colour because it is often over used, is safe and can look drab. However; if offset with stronger colours it can set a sense of harmony and balance. After all, in Feng Shui, the colour represents the Earth element which grounds us and gives a sense of strength. Colours that resonate with shades of tan are lemon and lime, aqua, pink, red and navy and even black. Our combination will be French navy – a brighter shade of blue – and ivory. We have a Chinese pot in navy and white which will be the inspiration to give a smart but modern look and feel.
Colour with Feng Shui
The new living area will be in the Wealth corner which is where my Feng Shui mentor, Clear Englebert says, ‘you should drop some serious money’! The key element is Wood which we have in the floorboards and the colours are royal blues, greens and purples. The Earth element will be the beige, navy for the Wealth and ivory is Metal. Normally, we don’t use Metal with Wood elements as it cuts down the energy but it will be a backdrop for the other two colours. We will spend some money on a lovely rug and a couple of chairs.
Colour and Movement
We have loved combining Asian, French and New York elements as it feels as if our life experiences in these countries comes together. Providing we get that staircase approved, we will use our New York glossy white TV cabinet and our retro Art Deco glass and silver-bronze coffee table, with a French commode painted navy, a navy Louis XVI chair and voila, we have a lounge that is vaguely cat-proof. So wish us luck and crossing our fingers!
