GORGEOUS unstyled Modern Country Kitchen With Honed Granite Worktops

Today I've got something a little different for you. I want to show you how, by choosing the right materials, it doesn't actually matter if the space is styled to the nines. The gorgeous quality shines right through the busyness of everyday life!

It's a completely gorgeous, totally Modern Country kitchen but it hasn't been styled for a magazine. This is it in its everyday glory!

Just look at those beautiful honed granite worktops. I've known for ages that I want honed granite for our new kitchen. It has the dulled lustre of slate but all the strength of granite. A perfect combination!

 Just feast your eyes on all the lovely details - the peg rail, the belfast sink, the cup handles, the granite....such a stunning kitchen! 

The honed granite in this home came from Abingdon Stone And Marble who were first recommended to me by our builder. Mike who owns the company sent me these images to show the look of one of the honed granite options that I was considering....

I loved the kitchen so much I asked if I could share it with you on Modern Country Style....

...and I was so happily persuaded that we've chosen the very same stone! More details to follow....

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

Images via Abingdon Stone and Marble

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Modern Country Downstairs Cloakroom: Sourcelist

So.....here's the post to answer, in one place, all your questions about how this gorgeous look was put together. So many of you have asked me questions that I thought it was worth pulling together a Sourcelist post that puts the answers in one, easy-to-access place.

Let's start at the bottom and work up, shall we? These are the stunning Indigenous Burgundy limestone flagstones. I searched high and low for the perfect pillowed, antiqued flagstones. These are a variety of gorgeous honeyed tones and are my absolute holy grail of flooring.

Let's talk loos! I am smitten with high-level toilets. They add a kind of old-fashioned glamour to an otherwise very functional space. Ours is from Lefroy Brooks.

The tiles pull this room together so perfectly. We've used a few gorgeous choices from Original Style; I've picked the Cosmpolitan Ogee Moulding Border tiles in Pumice (20 x 3, the  Cosmopolitan Field Tile in PApyrus (13 x 13) and then Cosmopolitan Half Tiles (10 x2 0) in Pumice all from their Residence range. 

See the way the light bounces off each of the hand-made tiles? It's those top three rows that pull this whole room together. And the colours work together wonderfully.

The nickel and marble loo roll holder is again from Lefroy Brooks.The diddy little basin is from Bathstore and is the best tiny period basin for small spaces like this.

The tap is a real showstopper. It's by Crosswater. I really struggled to find a single hot-cold monobloc tap in a traditional style that I liked and this one ticks all the boxes!

This beautiful light is from Garden Trading. It's the Paris Classic Pendant Light from Garden Trading. 

And last but by no means least, the beautiful bespoke paint colour is by Fenwick and Tilbrook. I'm a massive fan of their lime-based breathable Claypaints for older houses. It doesn't matter how the light changes in this room, this colour ALWAYS looks the bomb.

And there you have it! Small but perfectly formed!

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

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The Best Small (Tiny!!) Sink!

What a strange time it's been! But we're back with a bang!! Let's dive right in and immerse ourselves in loveliness, away from the news, away from the stress.....

and BREEEEEAAATTTHHHEEEE!

How GORGEOUS is this bathroom? I absolutely adore bathrooms in period homes that look as though they've been there for yonks. But what's a girl to do when she wants a champagne look in a lemonade-sized space (and does that metaphor even work?!)?

Opting for reclaimed or using classic shapes when choosing sanitary ware helps this process tremendously. However, very often the pieces that give that look are just too big for more diminutive rooms. Take a look at these luscious bathrooms and see what I mean...

Even the shallowest one I could find was 50cm deep (Burlington have a completely drool-worthy Edwardian cloakroom sink with washstand that was juuust too big for this space). I scoured and rooted around until I stumbled upon this gorgeous little basin from Bathstore. 

And when I say little, I mean little! It's sticks out just 30cm from the wall but is perfectly formed! Try to make sure the plumbing is extra-neat beneath little sinks because there is no hiding those pipes!There just wasn't room for a washstand, though I whined and pleaded with myself for days to no avail. 

My advice would be to go for a simple, SMALL classic basin and find your wow-factor elsewhere. I chose to channel the KAPOW into the tiles, the loo and the limestone tiles, not forgetting the tap.

Take care until next time when I'll be sharing a source list for everything in this room....

Sarahx

Images via morgeous, Drummonds, Mad About The House, Modern Country Style, Modern Country Style, Modern Country Style

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New Range Of Breathable Claypaint Suitable For Lime Plaster In Period Homes!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, with all the crazy and unexpected ups and downs of life at the moment, I hope these posts are able to provide you with some plans for your future and some welcome distraction. 

I'm thrilled to be able introduce you to a whole new range of paints suitable for lime plaster. Finally!! Did you know that Fenwick and Tilbrook's whole range can be produced as chalk paints? These are PERFECT for old homes. I first stumbled across Fenwick and Tilbrook on Instagram when I was searching for breathable paint suitable for lime plaster. This is the second paint I've tried from Fenwick and Tilbrook (see my review of Woodsmoke here) and it's safe to say I'm a total convert. 

If you live in a period home like ours then chances are your walls are plastered with lime plaster. And if they're not then they should be! Lime plaster has been used for many, many years because it's so fantastically long-lasting. It provides a flexible, and, importantly, highly breathable finish.

This breathable finish is absolutely ESSENTIAL in older homes to avoid damp issues. I cannot overstate this enough. If you start using modern materials (for example, gypsum plaster or anything containing cement or plastic), particularly in the basement or ground floor of your home then don't be surprised if damp patches start appearing. This includes normal, standard paints. They all contain plastics which will trap any moisture that will be in your walls, damaging the walls and causing the paint to flake away from the walls as the water forces its way out. Not pretty and not good for the house.

Claypaint is a fantastic, breathable solution to covering lime plaster. Its super-matt finish creates a beautifully authentic feel, whilst also combining durability, which many traditional lime paints and washes have lacked. And, as an added bonus, the additional gloopiness of the paint will act as a low-level filler, evening out any inconsistencies in the wall.

Until recently, colour choices in claypaint have been somewhat limited but Fenwick and Tilbrook have HUGELY increased the choice by making all their gorgeous paint colours available in their unique claypaint finish. There are plenty of soft, subtle shades to choose from, as well as bolder, brighter colours too. Huzzah!!

The colours I've used on the walls in our downstairs cloakroom is based on their gorgeous colour Tusk but they've created a bespoke colour for me (and can easily do for you too!!). I wanted the colour to draw attention to the beautiful shades (Pumice and Papyrus) of these stunning tiles from Original Style. I'm thrilled with the results!

In fact, Fenwick and Tilbrook work with you on a surprisingly personal one-to-one level, so rare these days, to create colour matches to pretty much anything you can think of!

Time to get the paintbrushes out!!?

Take LOTS Of Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

Images Modern Country Style

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5 Tips For PERFECTLY Modern Country Tiles

Choosing GORGEOUS tiles for a small space makes the most enormous difference. Here's a few pointers to help you on your way...

Go for quality...

It's absolutely worth paying that little bit extra for the wow factor, particularly so in a small space like our downstairs loo. The clay base and glossy, undulating finish make these tiles from Original Style stand apart miles and miles from high street equivalents. Each tile is different and finished by hand and its little details like these that really matter where square footage is tight.

Don't be afraid to mix and match.

If your tiles will be reaching half way up the wall like ours then consider some kind of border to make the whole space feel more considered and thought-through. Here, I've picked the Cosmpolitan Ogee Moulding Border tiles in Pumice (20 x 3), the Cosmopolitan Field Tile in PApyrus (13 x 13) and then  Cosmopolitan Half Tiles (10 x2 0) in Pumice all from the Residence range. It's those top three rows that pull this whole room together.

Steer clear of anything overly trendy

Generally speaking, trends will date and, just like any other decorating choice that you want to last and last, it pays to stick to classics. Metro-style tiles, simple squares and timeless mouldings will look good forever. Fact!

Don't be boring

Having said that, don't feel you have to be neutral and bland all the way. The Papyrus Field tiles are a cool white tone and the Pumice colourway is a warm grey-green. However, the combination of the different shapes here, combined with the amazing hand-made feel of the glazing means that, whilst the vibe is gentle, these tiles are attention-grabbingly beautiful.

Always but always choose Modern Country!

How could I miss this step out!!? The mix of muted colours alongside the beautiful rustic edge finish of these tiles creates a look that is sooooo Modern Country and, no surprise, I'm in love!

Don't be nervous of designing small spaces. They're a chance to create something really special. Every time I go in this little room, it brings a smile to my face!

Take Care Till Next Time,

Sarahx

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Beginning To Build The Downstairs Loo!

As part of our building project, we removed the weirdest, smallest, grottiest loo in the world! It was TINY!! What a joyful day it was when our amazing builders knocked the whole thing down!! A total celebration moment of the whole build! Instead, we now how have a gorgeous downstairs loo that visitors can use without fearing for their lives!

Now, I've said it many times before but when designing any small room, cloakrooms being a perfect case in point because they're often on the petite side, the details matter one hundred per cent. Much more so than when the room size speaks for itself. Here's a place (at last!) that you can really go to town because there simply isn't the wall space for costs to mount up!

In particular, I'm talking about the loo, sink and taps. And I'm most definitely talking about the tiles which, oh my goodness, can make SUCH a statement if you choose carefully.

Coming up soon tomorrow, the first reveal of our new downstairs loo!!

Take Care Till Next Time,

Sarahx

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Are Soundbars Worth It?

You may have noticed that the last post, How To Incorporate A Large Television In a Period Home, didn't mention the sound quality of the television and that's no accident! While the Sony XG95 has fantastic sound, I wanted the whole cinema experience in our new snug so I decided to bring in the pleasures of a soundbar.

It's a game changer!!

Suddenly, television viewing is taken to a whole other level. You can read all the gumpph, all the techy information, but nothing can prepare you for the moment that your tv first connects to your new soundbar (we went with the Sony HT-S350) and you're transformationally caught up in a whole other level of immersion.

Whatever it is that you're watching magically comes alive. You feel as though you're transported there in a beautifully orchestrated heartbeat! For it's lovely neat size (far less clutter and wires than a surround sound system), this Sony Soundbar packs an incredible punch, earning its place a thousand times over!

As a fantastic bonus, we can also stream music via Bluetooth, meaning that this room has become a real hub in our home for friends, for family, for parties, for quiet times...

Plus the underfloor heating doesn't hurt....the cat loves it!! ;-)

Take Care Till Next Time,

Sarah

Images: Modern Country Style

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How To Incorporate A Large Television In A Period Home

Here are my Top Tips for incorporating a large television in a period house. We live in a Georgian home and have just converted the basement into a Cinema Room, which means that I can show you in practice how I designed the space around our new Sony 75" television....

First of all, I'd strongly suggest playing up the other architectural features in your room to provide some gorgeous contrast with old and new. Make the style of the room very obvious and the television will appear part of a cohesive whole rather than a mishmash of lots of different styles.

In choosing that look, may I suggest that you look no further than Modern Country Style?! Modern Country Style is absolutely tailor-made for introducing contemporary technology, like this incredible tv. It's the Sony XG95 model and is an epically gargantuan 75".

It's worth spending near the top of your budget for new technology to make sure that it will stand the test of time; looking after our environment means choosing to move away from a disposable culture. Buy once, buy well and your room will be a place you gravitate towards. Particular features to look for are an anti-glare surface (which stops annoying reflections). Can you can see this in action below? 

Choose a television which has a very slim profile (how far it sticks out from the wall). This Sony XG95 has a profile of just 6.9cm, which makes it extremely unobtrusive and gives the impression of almost being a decorative feature rather than a massive, bulky television. In fact, the panelling sticks out further than the actual tv!

...and, my personal favourite for making sure this becomes a well-used room in your period home, prioritise fantastic visual contrast. You want the blacks to be super dark, the colours to be saturated and the range of colour variation to be rich and full. All televisions are absolutely NOT made equal.

Create a space specifically for the television within your room. The panelling used here provided the perfect opportunity to build a large panel beneath the chimney breast to place our new 75" Sony television.

Your television is likely to be predominantly black. It'll look far less intrusive if you introduce touches of black elsewhere. Here, for example, I've used black Jim Lawrence wall lights, Annie Sloan black ticking cushion plus my favourite Z monogram cushion from M&S. You can see these as soon as you open the door so that when the telelvision appears in your line of sight, the colour scheme has already been set. Clever, huh?!

Make sure your television cabinet ties in with your scheme and hides as many wires as possible. I'm completely besotted with this one from Oak Furnitureland with its beautiful chunky curves.

I can't even put into words how lovely it is to be in our new Cinema Room. We use it so much more than we'd ever imagined. It's warm and cosy and, whether our new television is on or off, it's a perfect place to snuggle down and unwind.

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

All images Modern Country Style

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