White Space

I love fresh white paint on walls, but oddly I don't like bare white walls.  It can make a room feel a bit cold and unloved.  I especially think that if you live in a small place you need to utilize the wall space and make every inch count....including the blank spaces in between, which can work as a frame for smaller pieces of art and photos.
As I mentioned previously I feel that a well rounded interior takes time to get right. After all Rome wasn't built in day, so how can you expect to furnish your whole house in a weekend?  It takes months and sometimes years.

I have been working on this particular corner of our house since we moved in 6+ years ago. I find it quite awkward and constantly look for things that I think may work.  It is still a work in progress and I am not sure what the end product will look like but hear it is.

The beginning of After

A Zebra patterned cushion in orange, a hanging plant pot holder from Ikea and a  carved wood shelf that I found on eBay add depth and interest.  Still working on the window treatment. Watch this space.....

Before

Before before...boring....

Deep Fried Curried Chicken Wings

I have cooked for many years and never fried wings. I have always either bbq'd or put them in the oven because I was afraid they would be too crispy on the outside and under cooked inside.  A  friend gave me a simple recipe including a top tip for perfectly cooked wings every time. 

Here is a recipe that is not only good for wings but can also be used for fried chicken as well. These wings are great for picnics, bbq's and pot lucks. Try this recipe for the tastiest wings you will ever have....believe me!! 

Ingredients

• 10-12 Chicken wings (remove tips and cut in 1/2)
• 1 Tsp curry powder (if you don't like curry leave it out)
• 1 Tsp cumin
• 1 Tsp salt
• 1 Tsp black pepper
• 1 Tsp garlic
• 1 Tsp paprika
• 1 Tsp fresh or dried parsley chopped finely
• Chille power (as much as you like)

Prep before frying and coating

• 3/4 Ltr of vegetable or rapeseed oil (this is for the frying only)
• 2 Tbl spoons flour
• 2 Tbl spoons bread crumbs

In a bowl, put the chicken wings and all the ingredients above.  You will need to get your hands dirty for this, mix it all together. It's best to let this marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, this will ensure that all the flavours permeate the flesh.

Once marinated take out of the fridge and let sit for about 5 mins.  Heat oil on a med to high heat in a pan with a lid preferably not a shallow pan. I have used a dutch oven but you can use a small deep pan. You should have at least 4" of oil in the bottom.

While this is getting hot...add the flour and bread crumbs to a bowl or sandwich bag Put five to six wings in at a time  and make sure that they all get coated (if you run out just add another table spoon of each).   Once coated place them gently into the pan (five to six pieces at a time, any more than this will bring the temperature of the oil down, you need the oil to stay hot) and (top tip) put the lid on the pan. This will keep some moisture in and cook the wings properly.  It only takes six or seven minutes for them to cook so keep a close watch, turning once in the process. Once golden brown remove and place them on a couple of sheets of paper towel to drain excess oil off. That's it! It really is that simple, don't over think it.

I served this with lemon and coriander cous cous and bbq'd corn. It was a perfect supper for a perfect summer evening. Enjoy!

My Favourite Shop

Since we have been having such great weather, I decided to visit my favourite shop The Good Companion in Herne Hill.  With it's mix of Brazilian, Nigerian and English finds it's always full of interesting, eclectic and affordable wares. From antique dishes, glass ware and prints (some of which are painted by one of the owners). There is something for every household, the best part is everything is one of  kind so it's unlikely that you will ever see them on the high street.  If you are ever in Herne Hill I highly recommend that you visit this shop. They even serve tea!

{Beautiful heavy glass vases}

{Period writing desk}

{Paintings in lovely frames}

{Ceramic jugs}

{Curious objects}

{Stunning china and pottery}

{Mirrors/lamps and wooden statues}

{Custom upholstered furniture & cushions}

{Taxidermy}

{And much more}

How to......

Showcase a few of your favourite things 

{Candle Sticks}

It's funny what some unwanted objects can do when your tight for space. I have had these candle sticks for years, I bought them at Ikea. I don't think I ever actually used them as candle holders, they were just decorations on my coffee table.  They ended up in a box for months but I finally found a use for them. They have come back to life to rescue my dangly earrings from my handbags, jewellery box & jacket pockets. I didn't like the idea of putting them all in a bulky box. They tend to get tangled and I forget what's in there.  This is a great way to keep them safe, I can see what I've got and it looks nice too!  Best of all I didn't spend a penny! But I couldn't stop there....

{Coat Hooks}

A few months ago my husband found six of these vintage hooks in an old building that was being demolished, he thought that I would like them (he knows me well). The only problem was finding a place for them  all.  In the end we put one on the inside of the stairwell door and the other in my office/spare room. 

I love looking at my stuff, but you can't have your whole wardrobe on display.  So I chose this rabbit fur bomber that used to belong to my mother and all my necklaces. Oh..and a couple of bags. One less bulky thing in my closet makes a big difference.

                       {A sweet trinket dish from a fete for my favourite earrings}

                   {And two mini cut glass boxes from the charity shop for some of my rings}

Fact....everything in your home is about you.  Who you are, where you've been, what you like to eat or wear.  Don't be afraid to showcase your personality & make it so that you see the things you love every day.  Oh...and Remember unconventional pieces make great  backdrops. 

How to.......

Dress a sofa

{Before}

Uninviting, Uninspiring & that bookshelf wasn't helping either

What can I say, the sofa is probably the largest piece of furniture besides the bed that anyone purchases for their home.  It has quite an impact, it can make the room feel warm or it can do the exact opposite.  Because our lounge is so small it wasn't easy finding one that would not take over the whole space.  Top Tip: before purchase a sofa make sure to take down the measurements and mask it out on the floor with tape.  This will give you a sense of how much room it will actually take up.  You'd be surprised at how large some sofas are, they always look smaller in the showroom.

{After}

Not quite finished yet, but it's much better than it was before. The texture from the cowhide is tactile and earthy while the animal print sequence cushion adds a bit of spangle. The union jack was an impulse buy..but it works!

Here are some tips on how to achieve the look

1. Add interest by adding a bright coloured or neutral throw

2. Introduce some scatter cushions & remember they don't all have to be the same shape or size

3. Animal skins work in almost any room

4. To keep it interesting change them every so often. You can swap them with the ones on your bed or simply  put them on a chair elsewhere

At the Flea Market....

When my husband told me that he was getting ready to go to Vauxhall market on Sunday morning,  I was ready before he could ask if I wanted to tag along.  I could not resist the opportunity for a good old rummage. I don't know what it is that I am so drawn to. Maybe I am hoping to find a piece of moorcroft or a stunning lalique figurine that will be worth a fortune. What ever it is, I'm never daunted by the masses of stuff or the fact that a lot of it is just brikabrack.  But true to form I always manage to find something.

                                         {Hmmm there's something about old tools}

{Brikabrack}

{And..more Brikabrack}

{I bought this beautiful little trinket box for just £1. Bargain!}

How to......

Dress A Bookshelf

This understated and underrated piece of furniture is great for small spaces.   Not only is it functional but it's a great way to showcase those things that are difficult to place.  Do it right and add personality to any room. Ours is forever changing, here are some tips.

1. Add photos or candle holders

2. Group like books together

3. Showcase covers that you like

4. Add boxes

5. Add unconventional storage (I have added a yellow beach bag from H&M, it's not practical to carry but it's great for holding all my clutch bags)

6. Put a chair or lamp in front of it to create interest

7. Add wall paper to the back

8. And finally don't be afraid to change or replace things

Design on a dime....

I love foraging through places like Cancer Research and similar shops. You know what they say....one man's junk is another man's treasure. I also love eBay and have found many a deal while looking for something completely different. I like to think that one doesn't need to spend a lot of money for that desired effect. Take a look at my latest finds and how I put them together. One of my recent and favorite purchases on eBay was this vintage pot stand made to fit on the radiator. Brilliant! I thought that I would never have a plant in our lounge, because we could not sacrifice the floor space. (Top tip: the less that's on the floor the larger the room will appear).

                                       {A pretty vintage inspired plant pot from Ikea} 

    {Porcupine Quill Lamp shade Imbali Home is sleek & adds ambient lighting without bulk}

                                   {A quirky Fenton Hobnail Egg vase from eBay}

                 {Lastly this stunning marquetry table from an antique shop in Brighton}

                  

                                                       {Right...now for some art work}

A Lick of paint......

                                                                        

                                                              {After}

Painting the house in a neutral colour along with the black door gives the facade a sense of scale. Much better!

Humble Beginnings.....

Before

We were completely unaware of exactly how much of change we were in for when we relocated to the UK in 2005 from Canada.  That same year we purchased a house in SW London; mainly because it was very affordable price. We had no credit and it was proving impossible to get a mortgage, but with a healthy down payment and a bit of luck we managed to secure a "2up2down" 600 square foot terrace house in desperate need of repair....the rest is history. The plan was to move in a year or so but as we started to make it our own we realized that we actually loved with our little house.  As tiny as it was we were determined to make it home. I never believed that you could furnish a house that reflects the true essence of who you are in a weekend.  So I've devoted and continue to devote  a lot of time to finding things that "fit" not only into the small spaces, but into our lives. A very small space must be thought out properly or you could end up with a space that is cramped and feels suffocating.