My favourite sink and washstand in the world!

You've seen my top ten reasons why basins with washstands are a Modern Country must-have, now let me give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peak into the inner workings of my brain. Fasten your seat belts!

You know what they say about difficulties sometimes bringing out the best solutions? That facing problems head on somehow squeezes out extra creativity? Well, this is one of those glorious occasions.

We needed a small basin - cloakroom size - for our shower room. I didn't want the small proportions of the room in any way to compromise the look and feel of the fittings but, rather, to be an asset.

I searched high and low for the perfect small basin with a washstand and was lucky enough to stumble across what is now one of my favourite bathroom suppliers: Burlington.

I'd not had first-hand experience of Burlington before but have been nothing short of amazed at their service - the products are well-priced, good quality and beautifully packaged.

Their Edwardian cloakroom basin comes with a washstand - you would not believe how ridiculously happy it made me to finally track one down - and one with such perfectly Modern Country Style! 

And not only is the basin small (51 cm wide by 30 cm deep) but the washstand is absolutely beautiful. Feast your eyes on those luscious legs!

The legs are long, slim and curvy. In truth, what more could you want? The chrome finish bounces the light around the whole room beautifully.

But what I love most of all, is the way that what could have been rather a dull area has been turned into something really special, whilst not taking up any floor space.

It's definitely worth doing this level of research, if you're at all like me, to get a product that you'll be thrilled with for years and years and years to come.

I adore the attention to detail that Burlington have given the design of their Edwardian sink. It adds a large shot of much-needed character into this new build space. The upstand at the back prevents water spraying on the tiles, and the sink itself is lovely and deep; both of these completely bypass the common problem of small basins: splashing!

The moral of this tale is this - and I say this as much to myself as to you: the next time you are feeling at the end of the road, don't give up! Keep searching! That perfect something is a-waiting....and this gorgeous Burlington Edwardian basin with its eye-candy washstand is a perfect example of how patience and persistence pays off.

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10 Reasons To Love Basins With Washstands

I have a bit of a thing for basins with washstands. Mmmmmm, yes. Here are my top ten reasons why they add a bit of Modern Country Style to any shower or bathroom.

1) Basins with washstands provide substance to the room, without looking cumbersome.

2) The clean lines are simple and elegant.

3) A good quality washstands will add a feeling of quality to even a cheap basin.

4) They add character to a new-build.

5) Washstands take up very little floor space.

6) They make any small space look larger by creating an illusion of an extra item in the room.

7) They can provide a space to hang a towel.

8) They can help draw attention away from ugly plumbing.

9) They are an easy way to add period charm.

10) The reflective surface bounces light around the room.

The only problem is all these are on the super-large size.

As far as I know, and after extensive research, there's only one small basin with a gorgeous washstand available.

Guess what I'll be sharing tomorrow?

{Don't forget to follow along 

so you don't miss out!}

Images via: This Old House, Restoration Hardware, unknown, unknown, unknown, Restoration Hardware, Nicety, Nicety, House To Home, Country Homes and Interiors

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Colour Study: Dulux Heritage Stone Green

Let's take a look at our brand new shower room, shall we?
First up for close inspection is our paint choice...it's time for a Modern Country Style Colour Study! The paint colour we chose is Dulux Stone Green from their Trade Heritage range.



Their Heritage range is perfect for adding character to new spaces. Dulux Trade colours are a dream to work with and are thoroughly hard-wearing so I was thrilled that Stone Green was one of those colours that grabbed me as soon as I saw it out and about. I summoned up courage to ask the colour and, behold, here it is in all its glory!



Remember that the more sunlight a room receives, the greener the paint will look and the less sunlight the room receives, the bluer the room will look. Our shower room is North-facing so brings out the bluey-greyishness of this gorgeous hue.

Dulux Heritage Stone Green is a perfect grey with green undertones. Soft and gentle throughout the day, as well as when the sun goes down.



There's a huge amount of white in our new shower-room (as you will soon see!) from our gorgeous new wall and floor tiles. I wanted a good contrast with all that paleness and Dulux Heritage Stone Green provides exactly that with its mid-tone loveliness.

Stone Green is definitely in the grey category but is beautifully warm and enveloping, because it very subtly veers towards taupey-green, which makes it just right for the soft feeling of luxury that I want for our new shower room.

Dulux Heritage Stone Green appears consistently grey even under different lighting conditions but the green undertones do vary slightly. Take a look at these next images to see what I mean...

First of all, here's our room in the morning on a fair day....



The sun's out {hurrah!}...see how Stone Green becomes much warmer...



An overcast afternoon...



Night draws in...this is where Dulux Heritage Stone Green looks greyest.



If you're a fan of muted, gently-greyed paint colours then you've struck gold here at Modern Country Style! Have a look at my other colour studies:

Farrow and Ball Blue Gray
Farrow and Ball New White
Farrow and Ball Middleton Pink

Farrow and Ball Down Pipe

Farrow and Ball Elephant's Breath

Farrow and Ball Pigeon

Farrow and Ball Hardwick White

Farrow and Ball Lamp Room Gray

Farrow and Ball French Gray (interiors)

Farrow and Ball French Gray (exteriors)

Farrow and Ball Old White

Earthborn Gregory's Den

Farrow and Ball Light Blue

Farrow and Ball Powder Blue

Farrow and Ball Hay

I think Dulux Heritage Stone Green may just be my favourite grey-green of all time.  Soft, sophisticated and full of character and warmth....I'm loving the Modern Country Style of our brand new room! 

All images: mine

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Gorgeous radiators! - Who'd have thought!!?

Hands up who loves the look of this radiator?

Don't old cast-iron radiators softly ooze out bags of comfort, warmth and style?

Sadly, that's not all they ooze out. {Boom! Boom!!} I've heard too many horror stories of reclaimed radiators leaking hideously dirty water from their dodgy plumbing to want to take the risk in our lovely new space. 

Plus, I felt that using a reclaimed radiator in our new space would look as though the room was trying too hard to look 'old', rather embracing its newness but adding my own brand of style. 

Remember, we're looking at adding charcter to new builds? That's where the new breed of radiators completely come into their own.

I think they provide the best of that old-style country charm with the best that modern technology has to offer.....that's Modern Country Style all over!

There's no denying that they are elegant in the extreme. Turning a purely functional item and turning into something beautiful.

Radiators will grace your room all year round, so why not treat them as you would a piece of furniture and choose one that looks really good.

We sought out the Acova range of radiators from B and Q, for fantastic value for money. It fits lovely and snugly under our new cupboard. 

Our plumber told us the heat output we needed and we picked the radiator size that best matched. Simples. ;-) I love it's sweet proportions. 

And because this room isn't huge, we chose the slimmer 2-column Acova radiator so that it gives an old-fashioned feel without intruding into the room.

While I was taking these shots, I spotted an Acova sticker...see it in the shot above?....and was nervous that it was a permanent feature but happily it's not!! One flick and it was gone, leaving more of its yummy off-white glossy finish.

Chunky and gorgeous, sweet and lovely...is it wrong to fall this hard for a radiator?!!

 

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Colour Study: Farrow and Ball Old White

Hello Modern Country lovelies, 

I've been longing to try Farrow and Ball's Old White for ages but wanted to wait for a north-facing room to decorate. You see, Farrow and Ball paints change beyond belief depending on the orientation of the room. 

Farrow and Ball Old White

The more sunlight a room receives, the greener the paint will look.
The less sunlight the room receives, the bluer the room will look.

{That's my rule of thumb, anyway!}

Farrow and Ball Old White

Yes, it's time for another Modern Country Paint Colour Study...this time the turn of Farrow and Ball's lovely Old White.
{these paint post are some of my favourites!}

Farrow and Ball Old White

When I put together a Colour Study, I source as many pictures as possible of the paint colour, from our house, here in the Cotswolds, and from the big wide world, in lots of different situations and lots of different lights so that you don't just have to rely on a teensy little square of colour on the tester card before you splash out on yet another sample pot.

Farrow and Ball Old White kitchen

Farrow and Ball's Old White is a very soft and gentle green.
It's a muddy-muted shade but firmly in the green category, and that's in a North-facing room, too (which brings out the cooler side of colours).

 Farrow and Ball Old White via Image Handler

It's a wonderful mid-tone hue, neither too light nor too dark, even in our newly-created study area (more on that to come!) where the internal walls intensify the colour considerably.

Farrow and Ball Old White via Blue Bonnet in Bean Town

Old White contains just the right amount of grey to firmly join the family of Modern Country paint colours but it's definitely on the Country side of the family. There's nothing steely or industrial about this baby..... but, conversely it contains a great amount of colour to really perk up a New Build room.

Farrow and Ball Old White via unknown

You see, I find if brand new rooms are painted in colours that are too grey then they become rather soulless. Farrow and Ball's Old White injects a softness, whilst still being dirty enough to appeal to my Modern side too.

Farrow and Ball Old White via Cast Rads

But, be warned! Farrow and Ball's Old White varies astonishingly throughout the day. It's a bit like having lots of different rooms in one!

Here is our room in different conditions:

First of all, in the morning on a fair day....

Farrow and Ball Old White in daylight

The sun's out {hurrah!}...see how green Farrow and Ball Old White becomes...

Farrow and Ball Old White in sun

An overcast afternoon...

Farrow and Ball Old White in overcast daylight

Night draws in...Old White takes on a much bluer cast...magic, huh!?

Farrow and Ball Old White in evening

If you're a fan of muted, gently-greyed paint colours then you've struck gold here at Modern Country Style! Have a look at my other colour studies:

Farrow and Ball New White
Farrow and Ball White Tie
Farrow and Ball Blue Gray
Farrow and Ball Middleton Pink

Farrow and Ball Down Pipe

Farrow and Ball Elephant's Breath

Farrow and Ball Pigeon

Farrow and Ball Hardwick White
Farrow and Ball Green Blue

Dulux Heritage Stone Green

Farrow and Ball Lamp Room Gray

Farrow and Ball French Gray (interiors)

Farrow and Ball French Gray (exteriors)
Farrow and Ball Mouse's Back

Earthborn Gregory's Den

Farrow and Ball Light Blue

Farrow and Ball Powder Blue

Farrow and Ball Hay

I hope these Farrow and Ball Case Study posts can do all the legwork for you so you can see at a glance whether the colour is going to work for you in *your* house with *your* lighting conditions.

Farrow and Ball Old White walls

I've only selected pictures that I think are accurate reflections of what the colour really looks like, discarding those where the image has been tweaked beyond recognition or the flash has distorted the appearance of the colours.

Farrow and Ball Old White kitchen via House To Home

Farrow and Ball's Old White is full of character and warmth and charm....perfect for an injection of Modern Country Style into our  brand new room! 

All other images: mine

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