No-Storage Guest Bedroom Magic!

 So....here we are with our squishy-squashy tan leather sofa, made even more lovely with the addition of some gorgeous Modern Country extras, which ensure that turning this room from grown-up living space to guest bedroom is an absolute breeze.

No more worrying about needing extra storage....I know! Enjoy the liberation!

Here's what you need to have for a no-need-for-storage guest space:

two warm woollen blankets,

three cushions,

one sofabed

a basket

Your first priority is to make the space look as snuggly and enticing as possible....magazines in the basket, beautiful accessories.... Choosing gorgeous quality blankets, in particular, will pay dividends in years to come. Luxurious chic knows no bobbles!!

Ours are from Solway Blankets, which has fast become one of my favourites because of its amazing range of throws, blankets and rugs in high-end wools: mohair, alpaca, merino and cashmere.

The natural colourway of both, check and houndstooth blankets, off-white and greige, is perfect for this room: Modern Country heaven!

Basically, the magic happens when you convert to guest-bedroom mode. All you need is an extra couple of sheets. One on the mattress, and the other to go underneath the blankets. 

I pop one super-warm blanket over the top sheet, and drape the other over the sofa, in any way that takes my fancy. The sofa cushions tuck behind the mattress easy-as-pie to form a makeshift headboard.

The other cushions can either adorn the pillows, or you can tuck them in the basket. 

And Bob's your uncle, ta-daaaaaa, you've done it! Living Room to Guest Bedroom with no extra storage needed! Surely a miracle!

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How To Create An Ultra-Matt Finish Using Chalk Paint

Welcome to Part 2 of my Beginner's Guide To Chalk Paint. Autentico Chalk paint can easily be used to create a super-smooth, ultra-matt finish with no need to prime. Huzzah!

I'm including lots of How-To photos so you can be confident about repeating the steps in your own home.

Here's how easy it is...

I applied the gorgeously rich Nearly Black paint using a paintbrush. No priming needed but I did make sure I sanded the bare wood extra well to give a lovely smooth surface. 

I used a large paintbrush to cover the bulk of the surface and a little 'un to cut in around the edges. It gives the best and smoothest results if you apply the paint in long sweeping strokes. The paint looked pretty patchy when drying but each coat dries very fast and magically morphs into a thick, perfect finish!...

Nearly dry...

Gorgeous!...

Once you have the paint coverage that you need (this needed two coats) then you have a choice of finishes, which I'll cover in more detail soon. For any surface that needs to be really hard wearing, such as a desk or tale top then I'd whole-heartedly recommend using sealant, rather than wax. Autentico's Sealant is water-based and gives the mattest finish that I've come across. Perfection in a tin!

However, as you apply it, don't panic if it looks a it like this...

...as long as you use thinnish coats of sealant then it will dry clear and smooth and matt, matt, matt.

And that, my sweets, was as easy as 1,2,3...

Have a go, and tell me how you get on!

Our Modern Country Style Office is starting to take shape! 

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Beginner's Guide To Chalk Paint

In our new extension, we have an alcove, which was crying out to be an office area. We designed a bespoke desk and oak shelving to fit the space perfectly......

but it definitely needed a bit of Modern Country Styling....

Enter Autentico Chalk Paints....

I've only recently discovered Autentico Paints, which come in a range of more than 130 colours. Just take a look at this palette....

Aren't those shades beautiful?

There's a grey to suit every mood...

Inspired by this view outside our window, I picked out Nearly Black, a very dark charcoal, for the desk. The Autentico Chalk Paint can be left with its lid off to thicken up, for a textured, aged feel...

 ...or can be layered for a super-smooth finish.

Coming up on Friday.....

Beginner's Guide To Chalk Paint Part 2: 

How To Get A Super-Smooth Matte Finish With Chalk Paint

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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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