Felt like a movie star all weekend as flowers and champagne kept arriving at the door congratulating me on the new show (Get Your House in Order, which airs Thursday nights 8pm C4). There are now so many flowers all over the house that I’ve run out of vases and had to call on glasses and bottles to double duty, very exciting to say the least.
With such beautiful weather in London you would think that a stroll in one of the Royal parks would be in order, or a potter along the river with the kids (although that’s a little stressful as every duck, swan or goose gets barked at full throttle). Nope it was a painting weekend and it didn’t go quite to plan. Recently I discovered this beautiful new paint colour, bulrush by Sanderson and so enamoured was I that I’ve banged on about it ever since, dreamt about it continually and planned our whole new bedroom around it. However after about 3 hours in I started having a bit of a panic attack it wasn’t causing my heart to beat faster I wasn’t skipping around the room and singing at the top of my voice (as is usually the case). My gut said down tools move away from the paint, time out etc., but no, I knew how it looked in a clients pad I loved it so it was going to work here right? More painting ensured until I flipped, ENOUGH. I could take no more, the room now looked so bad I couldn’t stand to be in it. So on one of the most beautiful of Spring days the whole thing had to get painted again this time in London Clay, an old friend type colour that never lets you done, picks you up in second when you are feeling rough and envelopes you in warmth!
Now I’ve had time to think about it the problem is an obvious one – my clients pad had little natural light, my bedroom has two very large windows which unfortunately turned a very beautiful hue into a flat one. I’m not giving up on bulrush I plan to use it the bathroom but a lesson well learned. Paint huge swatches on walls all over the room, repeat all over the room and be patient, look at it at different times of the day even if you’ve seen it in someone’s else place. I should also add that I am extremely fussy, because I adore dark colours I can’t stand it when daylight makes them lighter they loose that intensity I ‘m after (another problem my end). Hey ho that’s life you don’t always get it right, and as always I’ve learnt by my mistakes. Will I, when it comes to painting the school room out, paint various swatches of black and pop in a different times of the day to analyse? Of course not, way to impatient, have no doubt that that room will look fine!
Below one of the inspirational images I’ve had on my desktop of a beautiful bedroom, taken by my friend Graham Atkins Hughes.
One more tip never be lazy and leave a pot of paint on top of a ladder thinking you can move the ladder without the paint spilling. It will, it did all over me, I had hair the colour of London Clay – as I said not the best weekend.
Congrats! I will want to see it!!!
And we had our own share of paint experiences last weekend as our daughter redid her room all by herself! Scraping the floor after not covering up enough!!!!
Hope you are all better now! And a wonderful creative week ahead!
Do you find that London Clay has a more of a purple tone when painted on the wall? I spec’d this in a lounge, did large swatches but it still came out different and where did that purple tone come from! Looks much better on the swatch.
Its funny because I hate the swatch of London Clay but prefer it on walls, on mine it goes more taupish pinkish than purplish guess that’s colour for you hey x
Congratulations on the show! Really enjoyed it! I think I sway from a potential hoarder one day to ‘I need to declutter and sort out’ another. Today is definitely a ‘get rid of’ day!
Thank you
Loving the great paint debate. It’s so reassuring to know I’m not alone in my paint obsession!
I’m dithering over Railings and Off-Black for my kitchen walls. Do you find Railings has an inky blue hue in the natural light? I’m after more of a grey/black hue. Think I need to put the testers to the test and live with them for a while!
P.S. Loving the new show! X
Think Railings might possibly be a little bluer I would advice test great expanses of walls after my last weekend
Have done all you have spoke about in your posting….. I empathize! Well done, I enjoyed Thursdays episode. x
Last weekend I painted the bedroom floor and quickly learned….
1) always remember to Hoover the room, yourself, family members and pets down prior to painting the room- fuzzy felt was not the look I was going for!
2) do not make phone calls whilst painting…it causes you to miss gaping big areas on the other side of the room and also the phone attaches itself to your hair curtesy of farrow and ball!
3) cats and paint to not mix…..FACT!
4) do not back out of the room, wielding your roller, grinning stupidly, thinking “job well done!” only to realise you had paint on your feet which has now left two perfect footprints on the new landing carpet!
Very funny x
Abigail I did it! My flat in Athens is now with dark colours. Nothing white any more! Railings that you proposed sometime ago I loved but since this was the first time to go dark for me I thought I should stick to a more grey-blueish-purpleish hue. Seeing your pad was a love at first sight, what to do?? And it worked! I love it! Except one room… the bedroom! what on earth did go wrong?? Cannot understand! Painted it 3 times already but the room looks dull, dead! Shit! What can I do?? Please magic woman help me! I want to give soul and atmosphere to my bedroom…it’s very small, a double bed, a chair with a lamp and a closet – that’s it. Few christmas lightning on the wall decorating two photos in light white frame and dark night’s theme. What to do? I thought of adding wallpaper to the closet, maybe some ikea selves, do not know anymore, so confused! I like nothing! Totally blocked! H E L P!!!!
Congrats so glad you love it. Regarding your bedroom sounds like you need some pattern and texture going on, pattern and texture are like the herbs and spices of the decorating world. Also more lighting as much lighting as you can add really. Could you add some wallpaper to the wall behind the bed? I use the bookcase wallpaper time and time again, its expensive but its like having the most amazing art wall, it adds pattern and texture all in one. Also how about a rug with some colour, maybe something like a kelim or a beautiful Moroccan one and then dress the bed with the odd splash of colour and texture. I think once you add some pattern things will start coming alive and also of course lighting. The more little pools of light you add the more atmospheric it will become.
Thanks Abigail! Will try them out, have seen your relevant articles on your blog and hopefully my bedroom will come alive and kicking! Be well, stay inspired! xxx Aggeliki
Hey! Abigail I was wondering if you had any tips for nice rugs to go with a palette of London Clay and Teal and, if you have any recommendations, where I could get them from. Thanks very much!
Anthropologie do fab rugs, I’ve also picked up some seriously cool tribal rugs at Kempton and Ardingly antiques fairs. In terms of hues – burnt oranges, pinks, reds, purples or just natural Moroccan inspired ones like the Anthrop ones will look fab
Thanks very much Abigail!