Interiors

This is one of the two most expensive rooms to renovate, the kitchen being the other. Space, lighting and functionality need to be carefully planned and balanced. It is a room with the potential for costly mistakes. Plan where the major areas are going to be, what lighting you will use, how to ventilate the room and even heat it. There are plenty of websites on how to renovate a bathroom yourself - I advise against it if possible. Let's focus on some basics first: How do you want to use the bathroom -  is it the main or

Let's be honest from the start, it is more than likely that the timeline set aside for a key renovation is going to take longer than planned or promised by your contractor. Even if you are doing it yourself there are possibilities with delays in ordering and delivering, discovering an issue once you pull down the wall, open up a space and so on. Put it down on paper, plan the timeline with the contractor, ask questions even if they seem stupid, talk to other friends who have renovated rooms or full places and finally - search the web,

I keep saying that the last kitchen and bathroom renovation was IT! If it can't be painted, tiled or recycled, I am no longer interested. We have completely renovated a small 18th century French townhouse, two kitchens in different houses and a major bathroom renovation and all were stressful, had good moments and mistakes. But, we keep doing it! Key Tips to Start Decide on your budget and don't forget labour costs - ask yourself if it's a cosmetic makeover, a partial renovation or whether things need ripping out and stating again. Kitchens and bathrooms will always cost more

'You can disguise any set with lights and shadows' - Allan Dwan. And he is correct, it is all about setting a mood. As stated in a previous post https://interiorharmonyblog.com/2018/10/19/lights-lanterns/ lights add a real wow factor to a room. Don't be scared to go big if you can. An interior designer told me years ago that a key mistake people make for small spaces is to add small features and accessories. Strangely, a large light feature and tall, long mirrors and frames can often make a small apartment look bigger. It is all about perspective and measurement. What is the Light For?

When you are young, you focus on the presents and not the people. As you get older, you cherish the friends and the fun.

Our travelling furniture has often been bought miles and too many memories away. The constant pieces are now brought together in harmony to bring various experiences to one place. Many of us have been on the move and not all of us have a big budget, able only to take clothes. We are fortunate to have been relocated by companies in all relocations but one. That was a great learning lesson. I was going to be in France for eight months before we moved more permanently to another country before my husband finalised his move to Berlin where I

It is so difficult to pass by those demonstrators who present how to create carrot flowers in 20 different ways! My husband and I have the usual kitchen gadgets but add a mushroom brush, parsley grater, butter curler and the recent but useful spirali tool and you get the picture. So - yes we could list chef knives, boards, spatulas but I am talking about serious appliances that come in modern, vintage reproduction, different colours and all to add style to a kitchen, even if you are renting.   Key Kitchen Gadgets Here are some that won't be relegated

I wait to see a room in its final stages when reviewing ambient lighting. In our past Berlin apartment we were lucky as we faced the morning sun and it was one of the key reasons we bought the apartment. In the winter, there was enough light even on a classic grey and dower day. In the summer, we were surrounded by silver birches and the soft glittery light is wonderful! Light the Way I love lamps as they highlight an area and can offer a wow factor to a room and even a corner. There are stand-alone lamps

When buying a bed, I happily fling myself on it to see if it is too soft, has enough space, and feels right. I spend as much as I can on a decent bed and I like a firm mattress. We have had two American queen size beds and we love them; however, a Feng Shui tip for relationships - make sure they are not so big that you are separate from each other!     How to Select a Bed Dimensions - consider how big a bed you can fit in or how much space you are willing

Tables are a surface where we leave the flotsam of the day's life - keys, change, earrings and pieces of paper. They are often the centre of a room, be it a dining table, desk or a place to put a lamp and a book. Let's talk tables! The Dining Table Call me old fashioned but I love a big dining table. Don't be afraid of the size. We bought a French nineteenth century, fruit-wood farmhouse table that has had a bit of wear and tear and has one slightly wobbly leg! Check out the size of your dining