Showing posts with label french. Show all posts

March #Stylewise


I'm busy with real life at the moment, lots of follow up appointments with the husband and blogging is perhaps not a regular as it should be.  

Stenvall Interiors


As well as adoring white all my adult life, I have also been totally in love with the design and style of the Nordic countries.   From discovering IKEA whilst serving in Germany in my 20's to the beautiful antique Mora clocks of Sweden,

It's finished ! The kitchen / dining room Renovation






 When we moved into this house ten years ago this month, life seemed like it couldn't possibly get any worse.  We had lost our main source of income, I was on maternity leave with six month old twins

The Rochelle French Armchair from WITHIN


I've always loved French Style furniture, particularly carved chairs with over stuffed seat cushions.  We have a few in our home and they are as comfortable as they are beautiful to look at. 

Wardrobe to Armoire




Last year hubby and I made a long trip to North Devon to collect two wardrobes I won on Ebay (that is another story in itself).  When I laid eyes on this one I knew instantly I wouldn't be selling it.  It was perfect for us to transform into the French style Armoire with chicken wire I had been coverting for some years.

I think it turned out pretty well.



I gave hubby the job of taking the door panel out and putting in the chicken wire. 







Huge drawer at the bottom for storing all sorts of useful bits and pieces.  Sorry couldn't take a pic of it open as it is full of unattractive bits and can't possibly photograph them on om blog !




Hubby put two large shelves in to give me lots of room to store my vintage china.


Unfortunately I can't find my before picture I took of the wardrobe, but here is the picture as it appeared on Ebay.  


Looking forward to filling it up with wonderful white vintage finds. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR !






Well, the first six months in my shop have flown past.  It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs, doubts and highs and I am learning everyday.  I plan to write regular posts this year on what is is to set up and run a small bricks and mortar business in an age of recession and internet shopping.

I am running a sale in my shop at the moment which, is frankly driving me insane as it looks cluttered and jumbled and totally out of line with the look I am trying to achieve, but, I am distracting myself with the plans and sourcing of stock for the Spring look which will consist of the ever popular :




Nautical style.  Living by the seaside and having my shop in a coastal holiday destination I have many customers interested in nautical  products.



White, White and more White .  I love white, no matter how I try to diversify I always come back to this wonderful , calm colour and I will be sticking very firmly to my guns with my furniture this year.  More and more people are (finally) coming around to what I have been preaching for most of my adult life that white is THE only colour to use in your home for many reasons.






French influence.  Again another style I adore, although in recent years it has become harder and harder to buy authentic French homewares at reasonable prices.  I hope to accent the shop with French inspired items and where I can find them for a good price, authentic pieces.  There are hopes that we might even fit in a trip to France !


In the meantime please pop over to my facebook page to see the daily updates or take a peak at my Pinterest page for work I have carried out for customers, images that inspire me and what I think the trends in homes will be.

Happy New Year and may 2014 bring you all that you wish for.


Karen xx



Christmas at the white approach shop

I always think you have to get Bonfire night out of the way before you can really start thinking about Christmas, but, well, I couldn't wait and have spent since Saturday night trying to transform my shop into the Scandinavian image of Christmas I have in my head.  I haven't quiet succeeded in the perfect all white with accents of red and grey but I am pleased with what I have acheived .


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I pride myself on selling unique and affordable items from local independent crafters and artists.  Its important to me to have ideas and products not supplied by other retailers.  I have a wonderful selection of those, including the wooden advent calender made for me by my husband.  It stands approx 4 ft high and is hand painted.  I commissoned a talented local lady to make the numbered bags for me and think the end result it stunning.  A favourite Christmas family piece for years to come.  For Sale in the shop or online for £65.



I really love everything about Scandanaivian style, the fresh, clean look of red and white is particularly  apealing.




Pretty, framed hand crafted picture decoration available at the white approach £27.50




Affordable, handmade table runners, placemats, bread holders, bottle bags and more. 

The front window.  I love these large candy canes.  Please ignore the reflection of the old woman in the window !  If you are in the area would love to see you, pop in for a browse and a chat.



Something to be said for a lie in

Since opening the shop I work 6 days a week.  Four in the shop and two days as a school secretary.  Leaving the only "day off" Sunday, to clean the house, catch up on the washing, spend quality time with the children and hubby and go treasure hunting of course.  Yesterday I was determined come rain or shine I would make it to the boot sale this morning but its been a particularly tiring week again and when hubby woke me at 6am I already knew there was no way I was dragging my tired bones out of bed to treasure hunt in the darkness and rain.

I turned over and went back to sleep for two hours.  I woke up feeling much better if not a little annoyed with myself that I had missed all that potential treasure at the boot sale.  Nothing for it I would have to go out searching "just in case".  The boys really didn't want to leave the house and hubby was happy pottering in his shed so off I went.  I have several places I like to visit on the Sunday and they certainly didn't disappoint today.

Here is a little taster of the goodies I found .



You might wonder what I could possibly want with this beauty, but I can tell you my heart skipped a beat when I saw it.  A genuine French Plum drying rack !  A what ? I hear you say...




A plum drying rack, a rack for drying all those delicious French plums from the sunny orchards of France.


Anything remotely French, vintage and rustic is so desirable at the moment.  I LOVE it and I have a great idea for using it in the shop (unless, of course I sell it first ).




Next up this great galvanised Herb and Flower drying rack, it has all the hooks too.  Would look fab hanging from the ceiling with herbs and flowers (obviously) or even pots, pans or cups etc .




Love the colbolt blue of these glass Salt and Pepper pots.




A large, silver painted wooden letter Y.  Just because I love collecting random large letters and thinking this could be the start of my YO, HO, HO for christmas.  Or maybe somebody called Yolander or Yvonne will buy it.



and finally for now because I have to spend some time with my family before I start all over again.



A huge ceramic bowl and platter in the most divine Mink colour.  So as it turned out, my little lie in today was worth it.

Linking up with MagpieMonday