Channel 4 have started running adverts on the TV programme I have been working on (Get Your House in Order) for the last 3 and bit months. There I was sat on the sofa watching Mary Portas’s new show last night when suddenly up I pop yabbering about interiors. Felt very strange and exciting all at the same time, show airs prime time next Thursday evening 8pm!
So its Friday LOVE Friday’s the thought of the weekend just around the corner, and boy it’s a jam-packed one. With the school starting in just under a month (I’m running a series of masterclasses on how to create personality laden interiors that break rules) I’ve turned into a crazy woman with the things to do around the house. The itinerary, yep there is an itinerary for tomorrow (sorry everybody) sounds like this. Swim for me then breakfast at the Tow Path its back open for the season (yay hay) then Clifton nurseries, Petersham nurseries, sand the floor in the new master bedroom, strip off old wallpaper, undercoat the walls, floors, ceilings, windows and doors (all at double speed) and plant. Exhausted? Me too.
I’ve gone back and forth on the design for the schoolroom since it’s got to be practical (a word I neither understand or like) and yet it’s got to be beautiful. A very long table, which I haven’t yet found, will take centre stage so everyone can gather around it which means there won’t be room for much else. And yet as I am teaching from here its got to be inspiring as I want you guys to take a gasp the minute you walk thru the door and I won’t be able to spout a thing unless I’m in an inspiring space. So how to make a space where there isn’t a lot of room to put my usual stuff look cool? Paint is the answer ,paint paint and more paint. It’s going black this room – floors, walls, ceilings, cupboards the whole shebang. Three reasons first of it will make me look skinnier (always a good thing) second of all it will increase all of our heart rates so phenomenal it will look, that we will all be burning calories whilst learning how to break the design rules and thirdly because painting a room dark is truly the most amazing thing you can do to a space.
Laurence Simoncini’s Parisian home is the inspiration for my new schoolroom. It’s a beautiful space than emanates an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity even though all the rooms are dark. Characterised by shades of mother earth, greys, browns, and blacks it’s modern but not sterile. I will bang on about this until I’m 90 I promise, when you paint a room dark, magic truly does start to happen just see Laurence’s pad below – Happy Friday
By the way our new website and collection goes live next week with a new dare to go dark section. You guys and of course me can post pics of our dark spaces to help inspire others to convert across to the dark side.
Abigail I think you’ve finally found the way to convert everyone to the dark side – tell them it’ll make them look skinny! Genius!
Have a lovely weekend in those lovely posh garden centres xx
That was exactly my plan, next week I’ll probably be banging on about how you’ll live longer if you go dark. Anything to help my mission! Have a lovely weekend too x
if you fit that entire list of things to do in on one day, i want what you’re on! oh, and i like the skinny angle too as, quite frankly, the gym isn’t cutting it!
A little optimistic I reckon x
saw the advert for the programme, cant wait!!! also as to finding a table for your design school have a wee look at the horace table on metroretro.com, its a lovely long table they make from reclaimed wood and metal and can be made at different lengths, have a lovely weekend xx
Thanks for the tip x
well, luck of the irish to you! it’s certainly the right day for a green thumb… i reckon i’d get the nurseries done, followed by the lure of about 5 lattes and possibly some gardening… day done!
Hi Abigail, I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now, and can I say that I absolutely love it and look forward to reading it everyday! I heard about you first when I randomly picked up your book in Urban Outfitters, was completely hooked and have been ever since. I’ve painted my room in down pipe much to my friends horror at first (they love it now) and hope that I’ve converted a few to the dark side along the way! Anyway I just saw the advert on More4 for your show on Thursday and just felt compelled to say thank you for giving up your time to sharing your knowledge and tips, it’s really appreciated!
Good luck for the show
Angela
Thank you for your very kind words x
Your energy is astounding and super inspiring for aspiring designers. Sometimes it just feels like I’m banging up against a wall and would like to take a break so it’s really inspiring to see what great things are happening for you and how hard work does pay off! Thanks!
I have days like that I promise you, but I also believe you shape your own destiny which keeps me going when things get a little tough. So I would say believe in yourself xx
Abigail, have you got any tips on how to convince people to go over to the dark side? My boss gave me the project of re-furbing our office recently and i desperately want to do black floors and black walls. All the desks are white and there is loads of light and windows everywhere and as a creative office we work with a lot of artwork so having all our artwork hung on black walls would look super chic. Anyway, everyone thinks im joking when i talk about going dark, no one really thinks im serious, and if they make me paint the walls white (which is the current favourite) I may just have to resign. I think I need to sneak into the office one weekend with a can of black paint and paint a wall myself to show them how great its going to be. Anyway, if you have any tips on how you persuade people to go dark it would be greatly appreciated.
Could you get them all drunk and they make them sign something to say you have complete creative responsibility? Its weird if its a creative office that they are all so conservative, instead they should be pushing design boundaries and wowing clients with their visionary cutting edge look.Could you try and paint one wall first off, from experience until people actually see how transformative it is the response is generally a no. Failing that I will come round, pitch to them and back you up!!