Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

A quick trip to Berlin...(PICTURE HEAVY)


Berlin is a city that both Mark and I have wanted to visit for a long time and we finally managed to make the trip. The dates coincided with our anniversary and it was the perfect way to celebrate 11 years together. Both Mark and I studied modern history up to A-level so it was great to see some of the places and history we had learnt about 'in the flesh'. We arrived on Monday morning and flew back out early on Thursday so had 3 full days in the city and it was the perfect amount of time- we had plenty of time to explore but I think any longer would have been unnecessary.
Read more »
2 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Home is where the heart is...

It has been just over a year since Mark and I moved into our flat and although I promised some more photos I never got round to it! We have managed to make the flat out own in the past year or so and I thought now was a good time to share a few more photos. As we are only renting, we can't change too much so accessories are the only way we can introduce some personality into an almost entirely magnolia flat....


Since last year we have swapped our turquoise sofa for something a bit more tasteful and stuck to bright cushions to lift the grey colour slightly...


I can never resist going mad in Ikea and last time we came away with this little clock for the living room. For some reason, Mark said this one was too much?!


Mugs brought back from our trip to Italy last year. I am amazed that we managed to get them back in one piece to be honest! 


These photos were a birthday present from our friends for Mark's 18th, we clubbed together to buy the two on the left and I bought the final one in the set. We have never been to New York but it is definitely on our list of places to visit!


Pudsey and female friend (Fudsey?!) on our little cane chair. You will often find me sitting on this chair curled up with a good book or watching the cows.... Yes I am a grandma! ;)


Wine carafe from our friends, wooden duck figurine and various cards...


I'm sure you know by now that I am a massive fan of owls and my parents gave me these cuties for Christmas. They live on top of our TV guarding my selcetion of trashy TV box sets....


I love unusual glassware and the Russian doll carafe was inspired by Helen at Afeitar. I found these two bottles at a jumble sale a few years ago and I love the fact that they have a proper place to live now, rather than being shuttled back and forth in boxes to uni! You can also see the little terracotta owls which my mum bought me, they are supposed to bring good luck and are another beloved owl trinket! 


Recently, Out There Interiors offered to send me something and when I saw this amazing alphabet lamp I fell in love.  I have never been more glad that Mark and I share the same initial!

Lamp c/o Out there Interiors
The lamp itself is pretty heavy as it is made from porcelain but apparently you can mount it on a wall ( I haven;t been that brave!) The lamp has been getting a lot of love and you can see why, I couldn't be happier with it! 


COWS! The cows are still my favourite part of living here, I was so excited when we get a new herd of them recently, they are just such cheery creatures!

How do you make your house feel like home?
P.S. This post was done in collaboration with Out There Interiors....
20 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A weekend in Portishead... (PICTURE HEAVY)...

All I seem to be doing recently is travelling! This weekend, Mark, Sophie and I took a trip down to Portishead as our friends have just bought a house (!) there and they invited us down to see it. I had never been before so wasn't sure what to expect but it was lovely, very expensive looking but friendly too. Whilst we were down there, we also spent a day at the spa followed with some shopping at Street , definitely a girls' weekend cliche! The spa we went to was fab, and my neck and back massage was just what I needed to relax, after a stressful few weeks...


Portishead Marina- can I have a billionaire husband and a yacht please?! 


Lovely coloured flats at the water's edge. 


This was a some kind of animal made out of old oil and gas drums who I fell in love with, isn't he the cutest?! 


I had unfortunately dressed for sunnier climes so I had to bundle up in a scarf and gloves on top of my blazer. I found out that it gets pretty windy along the waterfront!


The rocks were a lot of fun for clambering all over, however old you get I don't think you ever grow out of this! 


Brightly coloured sculptures- Mark and I liked their weird faces....


I think this was some kind of lighthouse which looked amazing. Imagine the view you would get from up there! These stone pillars were a bit strange, we decided in the end that they were markers for lost ships. Anyone care to put me right?


After a brisk walk we popped into Chandos Deli for a quick drink where I had the world's yummiest berry smoothie. The decor was quite minimalist but these flowers added a splash of colour to each table. 


These brightly coloured oranges looked amazing in the sunshine but the smell made me all nostalgic for Italy!


More lovely apartments (can you tell I'm jealous yet?!)


We saw lots of sculptures as we were walking around the marina but this one was definitely my favourite. These 3 matchsticks were huge and I did have trouble getting them into a photo but my contortions were worth it!  I love how the metal is carved to look like wood and they looked so realistic, I almost expected smoke to come off them! 

Have you ever been to Portishead? How do you relax?
9 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A trip to the National Gallery, Scotland... (PICTURE HEAVY)...

As you know, I took far too many photos when I visited Edinburgh and here's the second lot of photos. Jules, Ian and I decided to visit the National Gallery which was a real  highlight of my trip.West Register House on Market Street looked lovely in the light. It took me forever to work out which building this was, lots of Google Street View stalking was needed ;)


Princes Street Gardens- apparently this is an ice-rink in the winter which I imagine looks beautiful. 


The highlight of the day had to be this guy who I mentioned in my last post. This guy was the most hilarious bagpiper ever. He refused to play until someone gave him some money and then stopped after about 10 seconds, I don't think he was very keen on actually bagpiping! 


I was so excited to visit the Scottish National Gallery - I love visiting art galleries but living where I do, I don't get to do it very often so this was a lovely afternoon out. 



The floor was absolutely gorgeous and I love how the pattern had faded from all the feet trampling over it...


When I walked in and saw 'The Kiss' by Rodin, it was just the icing on the cake. This is one of my favourite sculptures and it is even better in the flesh. Apologies for the gazillion photos but I was practically jumping for joy at this point!


SWOON


Can you believe that this is CARVED OUT OF MARBLE?! Insane.


I love me a good sculpture and these two were so elegant. I love the flow of the drapery!






I love the light in this painting: La Via Appia by Brasscasat. I had never heard of the artist before but I fell in love with it as soon as I set eyes on it. 


Poplars on the Epte by Monet. I love the fact that Monet bought the trees at auction so he could continue to paint them! 


Before the Peformance by Degas. I was surprised by how dark the colours in this were, I always assumed that Degas' pieces were a lot lighter. 


The colours that Gauguin uses are even more stunning in the flesh. The Three Tahitians is so vibrant but I have to say, IO prefer the softer colours of the Impressionists like Monet...


Orchard In Blossom (Plum Trees) by Vincent Van Gogh was also beautiful and very fitting for Spring as all the trees are blooming here at the moment.  


More Monet- this time it's Haystacks and a gorgeous sunrise...


I didn't realise that Degas also did sculptures, this is called The Tub  and is described as  "a personal exploration of a self-absorbed figure in a private act of mundane intimacy". I just thought it would make a cute paperweight! ;)


I wish I could stand on one leg! This Grande Arabesque was another favourite from Degas, she just looks so elegant! 

'#

Isn't Lady Agnew of Lochnaw such a babe?! I loved her dress and her pose is so challenging, I think I'm in love! 



Do you like visiting art galleries? Which artists are your favourites?
8 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Bloggers go to Chatsworth... (PICTURE HEAVY)

You know me, I love a good stately home and as Chatsworth was fairly close to Norbury Manor,  Bex, Lucy,  Sophie and I decided to pay a visit. I took over 500 photos but the house was quite dark inside so only a few hundred came out... It was ridiculously expensive to get in, but we spent a good four hours wandering around! 


 













 



 





♥ The side view of the house, the windows had just been re-gilted so they were very gold and shiny. I have to say, my flat now looks rather drab in comparison...
♥ Every surface was covered in some kind of decoration and this was the beautiful ceiling in the hallway.
♥ Only carved marble bannisters will do...
♥ I loved the colours in this carpet, they looked even brighter in the room! 
♥ The 'Green Satin Room' unsurprisingly had walls covered in green satin, much classier than wallpaper! 
♥ This was such a beautiful domed ceiling which had windows above it, as you can see there was a lot of art on the walls!
♥ BATH IN THE CUPBOARD KLAXON- is this the world's smallest en-suite?!
♥ This was a gorgeous collection of silver miniatures which included teeny tiny scissors, spoons and even a miniature candelabra, it looked like the supplies for a doll's palace!
♥ Just one of the (many) richly decorated bedrooms...
♥ The library was absolutely amazing, I literally steamed up my camera when I saw it due to my excitement. The fact that it had a hidden staircase just made it even more exciting, haha!
♥ I mean who wouldn't love shelves and shelves of beautiful old books?!
♥ I really love chandeliers and Chatsworth had so many beautiful ones, I just wish I had high enough ceilings to have one here at the flat. I love me a good light fitting...
♥ Playing around with the focus on my camera...
♥ Another beautiful light fitting...
♥ Another mini chandelier (told you I liked light fittings!)
♥ Chatsworth has an amazing art collection and there is currently an exhibition of William Turner's work in the house and gardens. I loved this painting, the colours were really vibrant. I also loved the Trompe L'Oeil violin too, it was so realistic! 
♥  Sculptures are one of my favourite forms of art and this sleeping lion was beautifully carved, I would have snuck him out in my pocket if only he didn't weigh about 6 tonnes!
♥ This 'veiled lady' was exquisitely carved but super creepy. Yes that is a heart she is holding in her hands...
♥  Super cool purple chairs at one of the restaurants
♥  I loved these massive canvases, each one showed slightly differently aspects of Chatsworth with brightly coloured backgrounds.
Cultivated clematis flowers in the expansive grounds
Typical fashion blogger poser- many thanks to my lungy photographer Bex!
Outtake of the day: me nearly falling into the water feature. My balance has always been atrocious!

Have you ever been to Chatsworth? Do you like visiting stately homes?
12 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)