Today I am kicking ass. I’m in the store project managing the buildings. Progress is slower than anticipated with the revamp of the store in fact its in chaos complete and utter bedlam and we are behind schedule big time. So unlike the last few days (which I have been told have been long and full on) right, I’m in. What a lovely day everyone is about to have. No time for tea or scratching of heads, no pondering, deliberating or thinking we are on deadline and we are working to a list.
So excuse the rushed post, I have to leave any second to meet the boys. I suggested by the way a 4am start but that got laughed at for a full 5 minutes (hey ho) that’s tomorrow when Gem and I are in styling the whole thing!
Before leaving I thought I would quickly chuck in a point or two about finishing touches. Finishing touches are like a 5-minute facelift. Suddenly in no time at all you can elevate a shelf, a mantle, a table your sofa from drab to fab by accessorising it beautifully and in no time. I’ve spoken before about my hate of putting things in rows, rows of lights over a counter, rows of things on a shelf, for me (and its personal) its to boring, to easy, takes no skill. I prefer to go down the harder route and display my stuff in a more 3 dimensional way (but I’ve spoken on that subject before) today we are talking trays.
Yes trays, and the Americans do this so very well. Anything small, itty bitty or teeny-weeny plonk on a tray or platter not only will it ground it, it will make your collection feel a little more sophisticated and less cluttered. You only need to do this if you happen to have a lot of small stuff; the odd thing no worries let that hang out with everything else. So I’m talking little things paper weights, keys, candles, bottles plonk on a tray and suddenly you’ve elevated the whole thing. Talking of trays one of my decorating tricks is to go to builders yard and buy for a couple of quid roof slate which I then use as platters. Platters for plonking things on like small accessories but even more amazing food. We have the coolest caterers that make all the food for the Design School and they serve the food on the most beautiful slate platters. When I asked them where they got them from as they are the perfect size they said the builders yard! Genius no so off I went and did the exactly same thing!
Photography Graham Atkins Hughes
Right I’m off wish me luck!
I had a feeling it may take longer than you planned
. It often does with builders… Just let us know once it is really finished and off we come 
PS: no news yet from Anthropology since their last email…:(
You should get a notification really soon I know they have been overwhelmed with numbers, x
Good luck with the store overhaul I am really looking forward to seeing it, all very exciting.
I cant wait to find our new home and start to decorate, very inspired by your tiled wallpaper I love it.
My beautiful orange flowers purchased in store after the retail master class look wonderful but I need twice as many, a great excuse to go back.
Masie
Thank you love the orange faux’s there are some amazing new ones which we are unwrapping today
Ha ha, that’s funny…after attending the Design School I was telling everyone what a wonderful lunch Graham had made for us!
I can only wish!
Hi Abigail, sorry if you mentioned this but just wondered when you’ll be open for business again? Dying to buy some of your cool faux flowers. At our wedding, we purchased slate too and used them as place mats for all the kids there, and gave them a tub of chalk each. They chalked away for hours and stayed nice and quiet during the speeches. We still use them now and before any friends come over for dinner our 5 yr old “designs” all the place settings for us. Happy revamp and can’t wait to see it all.
It should be tomorrow but will post to confirme, love the sound of your place mats
The headline to this post grabbed my attention and made me laugh!
I though “My how tenacious”, you go-get-’em!
I love slate tiles for trays, I keep a few of my knick-knacks on them, my best is a huuuuge candle, when the wax melts down onto the slate you get some funky kind of advant-garde art!
Amazing!
I’m enjoying your reading your blog posts; they convey your passion for design brilliantly!!! Oh, and good luck!!
Just came back from Charleston, South Carolina. It has the most beautiful window boxes I’ve ever seen and they are everywhere. Do a google image search for “window boxes charleston”.
Thank you I most certainly will
I walked by your shop today, and builders looked busy in meeting!
I hope all is going well and look foward to seeing the revamp…
We are getting there thanks it was a pretty full on day x