Is it right to be reading Bride Magazines, attending wedding fayres and wondering into Bridal shops when you're happily married?
We have no wedding invitations in the pipeline; my days of being Mother-of-the-Bride are decades away and I'm not (for the time being at least!) looking for a second husband...
My other half thinks I'm behaving oddly. No surprises there. He still thinks it's strange to rinse the sauce off my baked beans.... Anyway, my excuse for embracing the wedding sector is that I'm doing market research.... My usual answer when out shopping!
Q. So, will our lavish chaise longue appeal to wedding shops, bridal suites of hotels or events?
Pure indulgence, this hand carved chaise has been totally upholstered in a rich heavy weight embossed cream fabric and finished with a delicate lace trim and stylish silver military buttons.
Is this an aisle I should pursue?
Friday, 26 April 2013
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Sunday, 17 March 2013
We're Sew excited to be featured in Sew Magazine again...
Following our upholstery project last month, we're delighted to be featured again in Sew magazine. This time, our Cath Kidston loveseat is featured in the Reader letters section of the magazine for April. Thank you lovely ladies at Sew...
Sunday, 3 March 2013
The Art of Recycling
Delighted to be featured in weekend magazine...
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/the-art-of-recycling-1-4846596
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/the-art-of-recycling-1-4846596
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Retro revamp
All sewn up. A stunning pair of statement chairs totally upcycled and ready to go...
Transformed from classic 1970s vinyl to lavish luxury in vivid orange and electric blue.
Before and after pictures below:
Transformed from classic 1970s vinyl to lavish luxury in vivid orange and electric blue.
Before and after pictures below:
Adorned with a sombrero and lilo...
We're not off on our hols until late Summer and frankly I'm fed up with doing the school run in my bobble hat, looking like the sister of Where's Wally. Okay, who I am kidding? I know I'm more like his Mother...
Anyway, in a mad moment to crank up the heat, I started to look for inspirational interiors to inject a subtle splash of tropical paradise into my own home.
And that's when the new wallpaper collection by Eijffinger caught my eye. I'm not sure I'll add a palm tree to the corner of my room or display a pair of coconuts, but these bright and innovative wallpaper designs are fresh and zingy and coupled with a calamondin give a real sense of being out in the beating sun with all the zest and fun of Summer.
I've resisted the temptation to dust down my lilo, but my Sombrero is always within grabbing distance in the depths of my wardrobe so bring on the Summer. Tequila anyone?
For more feel good wallpapers from the range check out: http://www.blendworth.co.uk/about_eijffinger.php
Anyway, in a mad moment to crank up the heat, I started to look for inspirational interiors to inject a subtle splash of tropical paradise into my own home.
And that's when the new wallpaper collection by Eijffinger caught my eye. I'm not sure I'll add a palm tree to the corner of my room or display a pair of coconuts, but these bright and innovative wallpaper designs are fresh and zingy and coupled with a calamondin give a real sense of being out in the beating sun with all the zest and fun of Summer.
I've resisted the temptation to dust down my lilo, but my Sombrero is always within grabbing distance in the depths of my wardrobe so bring on the Summer. Tequila anyone?
For more feel good wallpapers from the range check out: http://www.blendworth.co.uk/about_eijffinger.php
Friday, 15 February 2013
We're in The News today!
We're featured in The News today, talking about the value of great British products. We're proud to use natural materials whenever we can, including horse hair, but I assure you, there's no horse meat in our sofas!
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/community/made-in-britain-is-a-badge-of-prestige-that-we-are-proud-of-1-4790929
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/community/made-in-britain-is-a-badge-of-prestige-that-we-are-proud-of-1-4790929
Thursday, 7 February 2013
And on the subject of love...
Valentine's Day is looming so we've added some non edible,
sneeze-free pictures to our showroom at The Packhouse today. A whole bunch cheaper than flowers ...
Made in Britain and proud of it!
Like many new
businesses, when we initially decided to go for it, we had big dreams combined
with little time and money. We worked with a friend in Scotland to design an
effective website to showcase our collection and we highlighted some ‘before
and after’ pictures of a sofa transformation to demonstrate the traditional
methods we use. But above all, we wanted to be genuinely different. We thought
long and hard about our ethos and values and made the decision to buy British
fabrics wherever possible, only use traditional and ethical upholstery methods (such
as our use of horsehair, rather than the typical foam) and we up-cycle as much
as we can from charity furniture stores.
Here's a monster sized Union Jack collage which we created a few years ago using old denim jeans, a bedspread and some red velvet actually from my own wedding dress. It's a bit like Marmite; you either love it or hate it!
Make it British is a fabulous source of information on
British-made brands and UK manufacturing. For more information about British
craftsmanship, visit http://makeitbritish.co.uk/
We encourage
our customers to use luxury linens and indulgent velvets from British designers
and tweed weavers, a trend that is hitting the British clothing manufacture
industry too. Everyone is familiar with great British brands such as Mulberry,
Barbour, John Smedley and The Savile Row Company but there is a great British
revival on the High Street right now too. For instance, if you type
"Made in Britain" into the search bar on the Topshop site
you’ll see a new range of home-grown wardrobe essentials. The good old days
where Made In Britain is a badge of prestige and heritage are back and we’re
really excited about that. In fact, just today I bought myself a tiny little t-shirt (okay, who am I kidding?...) Anyway, can't wait to geek out in this hot-to-trot number:
What's your favourite British brand?
Sunday, 3 February 2013
NEWS - Liberty Rose Interiors featured in new HouseBeautiful book
How to start a successful interiors, housewares or furniture business from home
By Emma Jones
Due to publish March 2013
'A HouseBeautiful Home Business' is for anyone who has a passion, skill or hobby for interiors and an interest in turning this into a business. They may be creating personalised cushions for friends and family and dreaming of doing this full time or have a way with putting a room together that could be turned into a successful business.
With clear steps, useful links and expert advice, this book is an essential guide to turn a talent into a business, and share it with friends and family who are doing the same!
Table of
Contents
About the AuthorForeword by Julia Goodwin
INTRODUCTION BY EMMA JONES
Who is This Book For?
Contributors
1. MAKING THE MOVE FROM HOBBY TO BUSINESS
Coming up with an idea
Beautiful Business: Liberty Rose Interiors
Beautiful Business: Yellow Book Interiors
2. PLANNING YOUR BUSINESS
Business plan
3. THE MUST-DOS
Registering the company
Household admin
4. BUILDING AND PROTECTING YOUR BRAND
Your business's first impression
Beautiful Business: POSH
Protect the brand
5. TECH SET-UP AND THE PERFECT WORK ENVIRONMENT
Your tech set-up
Your perfect work environment
6. STARTING ON A BUDGET
Boot-strapping to begin with
Beautiful Business: Luxury Interiors & Kool Kids Rooms
Beautiful Business: The Vintage Twist Company
7. MONEY MANAGEMENT
Straightforward finance
Pricing products
Beautiful Business: Coo & Co
Sourcing supplies and equipment
Beautiful Business: Potter
Funding
8. SELL, SELL, SELL!
Offline sales
Beautiful Business: Home Restyler
Selling on platform sites
Postage and packaging
Your products in focus
9. YOUR ONLINE HOME
Building your dotcom HQ
Your web content
Making money from your site
Beautiful Business: Carola van Dyke
10. MARKETING I - PR AND TRADE SHOWS
Getting known
Beautiful Business: Kate Schuricht Ceramics
Become an expert
11. MARKETING II - ONLINE PROMOTION
SEO and online adverts
Beautiful Business: Rachael Taylor Designs
The power of social media
Measure the results
Beautiful Business: Gillies Jones Glass
12. HAPPY CUSTOMERS AND A BALANCED BUSINESS
Attract customers back
Keep the business in balance
13. GROW THE BUSINESS WITHOUT OUTGROWING THE HOME
Productising
Going global
Outsourcing
Beautiful Business: Patchwork Harmony & 91 Magazine
Help and support
About the Author
Emma Jones
is a business expert and author, and founder of small business support company
Enterprise Nation. Her books include 'Spare Room Start Up', 'Working 5 to 9 ',
'Go Global' and 'Turn Your Talent into a Business'. Following a five year
career at an international accounting firm, Emma started her first business at
27, from a spare room in her Manchester apartment. That business was sold 18
months later, and the experience led to Emma's next venture, Enterprise Nation.
Its website (www.enterprisenation.com) was launched in 2006 and became the most
popular for home business owners in the UK, attracting over 100,000 visitors
each month. In seven years, Enterprise Nation has grown into a community of
over 75,000 homegrown businesses that find help and support on its website, in
its books and at live events. In 2011, the company gave away over GBP10,000 in
funding to UK start-ups, and has recently launched a premium membership scheme,
which helps its members promote their businesses and take their venture to the
next level. Emma is also a co-founder of StartUp Britain, a national campaign
to encourage more people to start a business. In July 2012, Emma was awarded an
MBE for services to enterprise. @e_nation @emmaljones @brightwordpub
www.enterprisenation.com
Pre-order your copy today http://www.brightwordpublishing.com/products/view/870973/A-House-Beautiful-Home-Business/Emma-Jones/
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Anyone fancy sitting on my husband's love seat?
Now that's a headline to beat all headlines. And for me it was even more poignant when I read the latest issue of Sew magazine (Feb 2013, Issue 44) which features my husband in the headline below:
'Cuddle up with someone special on James Tickner's love seat'...
It's not every day that you see your husband's name and love seat in the same sentence and certainly not taking up a double page spread in a magazine. Well, not the kind of magazines I usually subscribe to!
The feature is actually a great step-by-step upholstery project. Please see the picture below:
So, if you fancy getting romantic this Valentine's day and want to create some cosy seating, why not grab a copy of the magazine and see how you can use traditional craftsmanship methods to create the perfect place to curl up.
As for sitting on my husband's loveseat... Enough said. I'm off for a quickie....
'Cuddle up with someone special on James Tickner's love seat'...
It's not every day that you see your husband's name and love seat in the same sentence and certainly not taking up a double page spread in a magazine. Well, not the kind of magazines I usually subscribe to!
The feature is actually a great step-by-step upholstery project. Please see the picture below:
So, if you fancy getting romantic this Valentine's day and want to create some cosy seating, why not grab a copy of the magazine and see how you can use traditional craftsmanship methods to create the perfect place to curl up.
As for sitting on my husband's loveseat... Enough said. I'm off for a quickie....
Monday, 28 January 2013
English Manor House Style...
I say Squire, do you think we've successfully cracked the English Manor House style with our collection below?
Read this great article from the For Dummies team and see what you think...
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-get-the-english-manor-house-look.html
Here goes:
Read this great article from the For Dummies team and see what you think...
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-get-the-english-manor-house-look.html
Here goes:
- Combine colours and patterns. Check.
- Use soft fabrics with traditional pieces. Check.
- Use floral bouquet fabrics. Check.
- Mix and match different pieces. Check.
- Large wood pieces with decorative carved details. Check.
- Choose jewel-tone colours - brilliant reds, greens, purples. Check.
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Snap, Blip, Share....
Call it what you like; we’re all at it. With so many digital devices and picture sharing services available, we’re all busy generating our own images of people and places. I tend to store my collection of memories on my tablet or Blackberry. I also create albums and share images with my friends via Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram amongst other social networks. But have you ever considered customising your finest digital pictures specifically for your own home?
Many doting
parents enjoy their kids’ exhuberance by turning their little darlings into a canvas
or a mug for Grandma at Christmas. But why not make one of your masterpieces a real
feature of a new room?
Computer-generated
art is high on the agenda of many interior designers this season, so the time
is ripe to get creative and add something personal and fabulous, that is not available
on the High Street.
You could
create wallpaper, cushions, curtains or even commission an upholsterer to
create your very own accent chair or sofa that will be the envy of your
friends..
Mr Perswall
will print any image onto wallpaper and help you to create sensational wall murals.
Here are some examples from the inspirational portolio of ready to roll wall
options:
http://www.mrperswall.co.uk/wallpaper/mr-perswall-wallpaper-writers-thinking-ink-p132301-4#id=2767
Copyright. This picture was taken from www.mrperswall.co.uk
Copyright. This picture was taken from www.mrperswall.co.uk
Copyright. This picture was taken from www.mrperswall.co.uk
Copyright. This picture was taken from www.mrperswall.co.uk
Copyright. This picture was taken from www.mrperswall.co.uk
If you’re
looking to transfer your images onto fabric, there are a number of suppliers
out there. HTS Print and Design offer digital, rotary and flat bed screen
printing on cottons, polyesters and silks. Again, you can buy something off the
peg or you can commission something totally unique. For more ideas, see here:
For a truly unique
cushion, you could either take one of your photos or perhaps consider transferring
painted artworks to printed fabric. I love these painted cushions and I
particularly like the way in which the signature of the artist is added for
that extra special personal touch. See link below:
http://www.htsprint.co.uk/blog/475/475/
Needless to
say, if you fancy a bespoke chair or sofa using your very own fabric, we’re bursting with ideas and always
happy to help. Give us a call on 02392 354235 to find out
more...
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Interior Trends for 2013: The Living Room
Interior Trends for 2013: The Living Room
Do you fancy adding some glamour and
sophistication to your home?
Create a sense of space, light and depth by
fusing a mix of dusky greys with warm amber and cream tones to create a soft,
natural glow.
I’m keen to blend my love of France and
Africa to create something dramatic yet functional with my young family. A
traditional sofa or chaise in any shade of grey, upholstered in fine French
linen will set the tone for my room and will look great against an embossed vinyl
wallcovering of shimmering silver or bronze.
I intend to add some classic brass picture
frames mixed with some jet black high gloss items of furniture. I’ll weave in some
safari or exotic flower themed accessories and scatter cushions to reflect a
tropical mood. To add a touch of elegance, I plan to add some delicate lace and
embroidery.
I’ll finish off the look with a stunning
accent chair in vivid orange, mustard or emerald green alongside a lavish
ottoman in a contrasting shade of perhaps deep orchard plum or fushia pink to
add some real indulgence.
Top 10 Living Room Ideas for the Season:
1.
A classic plain sofa in any tone of grey, preferably upholstered in a quality linen, equisite cut velvet, woven fabrics or heavy weight cotton. I like
the contemporary twist to the classic chaise longue below which we created by
using military style buttons in pewter.
2.
The must-have accent chair to add the ultimate wow factor. Eager to
leave the Winter chill behind and migrate to Spring, I’ll use warm tones such
as zingy orange, fushia pink, classic cream or fresh
emerald green in either a lavish cut velvet, fine wool or heavy weight
cotton.
3.
Add something patterned with a symmetrical or zig-zag design in either
the cushions, curtains or rugs. I’m keen to add a peppering of Aztec influence
somewhere in my room together with some tropical
birds or exotic flowers using some of my own photos. Computer-generated art
is very hot this season. I love these cushions from Zara:
4.
Use good quality paints in neutral shades mixed with elegant wallpapers. Check out the new collection by Mary McDonald
at Schumacher:
I also love the vintage collection of hand-printed wallpapers by Osborne &
Little. Eight of Osborne & Little's most sensational designs have been
re-introduced in new, contemporary colourings. See for yourself at:
http://designerwallpapers.co.uk/osborne-and-little/vintage
5.
Create simple touches to add
feminity to your room. Think
embellished and embroidered and how you may be able to throw some delicate lace into the mix. I adore lace
metal lanterns like these which we have in our showroom at The Packhouse in
Farnham.
Lighting can also add sheer elegance to a
room. To tie in the amber mood, why not try something timeless like this Evelyn
chandelier from John Lewis?
For
table lamps, take a look at some of the new floral lampshades available on the
High Street, many of which reflect the computer-generated art trend.
6.
Rummage
around your attic or visit car boot sales for a few brass accessories. Seriously, brass is back! I’ve dusted down a
beautiful pair of plain brass candle holders and a pre-loved clock which will
help to finish the look.
7.
If you’re looking to update your curtains, you’ll always have a richer choice
if you choose your own fabric and have
them made. However, if you’re looking to save money on your renovation room project,
there are some great ready-made options out there. Laura Ashley have a collection
of around 30 different prints available in three different sizes. I quite like Millwood
Eyelet Ready Made Curtains. It has a subtle leaf and flower print in camomile
pale shades that will tie in to the palette scheme for my room.
8.
Be functional. Storage is an issue in
my house so I’m going to look for a stylish ottoman in a rich texture that will enhance the overall look whilst
also provide the perfect storage solution for the kids’ toys... (here’s
hoping!)
9.
Always have fresh flowers. It’s one of my
personal vices, along with the odd glass of rioja glugged down with a slab of
chocolate! For special occasions or visits from my other designer friends I
usually treat myself to some tropical cut flowers such as Heliconia splash, but
for everyday you can’t beat a bouquet of white lilies or a simple orchid which
are always available in the supermarket and make the home feel fresh and
welcoming.
10. Remember, your home is a reflection of your
personality. I’ll definitely create a zone to
showcase some framed photos of friends and family using a mix of chunky and ornate white and lacquered black
frames. I also have a passion for reading so there will be an inevitable pile
of books on the coffee table. I might look to enhance the literary theme
further by adding a book related feature wall. Here are a couple of innovative wallpaper designs that
have caught my eye recently... I particularly like this simple wallpaper
in sepia by Mineheart: http://mydeco.com/p/bookshelf-wallpaper-sepia/GB000000E2E592BD8BC44F6F421976E3C5C4B2C5/
I also like Young & Battaglia’s
bookshelf wallpaper which is available from Rockett St George.http://www.mineheartstore.com/wallpaper/vintage-bookshelf-wallpaper.html
For more inspiration
on creating an on-trend look, please see the Liberty Rose Interiors boards on
Pinterest. Ideas for 2013 lounge looks are here:
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Unleash your entrepreneurial spirit with something pre-loved...
For
many, January is a time to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and consider
ways to turn a hobby into a business opportunity or crack the work/life
balance. I've lost count of how many friends are up-cycling or working their
magic on some tatty, second-hand piece of furniture in a quest to turn it into
something truly marvellous. In reality, people tend to buy something cheap of
poor quality, give it a half-hearted rub down, slap on some eco-paint (usually
in an earthy, heritage shade) and convince themselves that once they've worked
their magic on a few pieces they might develop some kind of portfolio and might
just be the next Sir Terence Conran.
Jim is at a distinct advantage with over 20 years’ traditional upholstery experience,
but I am still heavily involved in choosing fabrics, immersing myself in trends
and meeting new suppliers. Come on, how could I resist creating a role that
combines shopping and talking?
Yeah
right. I don’t mind having a go, but I am realistic about my DIY capability! I know
my limits and I'm happy to admit that whilst I enjoy great interior design and
beautiful furniture, my skills very much lie in the buying arena! I’m a
self-confessed shopaholic who once believed that 'Screw Fix' was a shop for
deprived housewives! The idea of rummaging around an antique centre or trying
my luck at an auction is a real turn on, but in reality, whilst I can see the
potential in a pre-loved chaise longue, I wouldn't know where to begin with any
kind of make-over project.
My other half, Jim, gets his kicks from a serious sofa transformation project. Take
the William IV mahogany scroll end sofa below which we bought at an auction recently.
It was filthy, wobbly and certainly needed some serious stripping and stuffing!
He took it back to the frame, re-upholstered it
using a lavish Designers Guild fabric (Asolo Berry) and created a pair of
contrasting bolsters in Genova Ebony fabric. This bespoke hand-finished piece
stands on turned legs and features the original brass casters.
I’m
fascinated by the various stages of a renovation project and these fabulous ‘before’
and ‘after’ images below show how much work is involved in creating something
stunning for a fine home or boutique hotel. Here's how this particular project was tranformed:
You can see more sofa transformations at: http://www.libertyroseinteriors.co.uk/transformations.html
Why
not give something old a new lease of life? But a word of warning: the term
‘second-hand’ is old hat; everything is ‘pre-loved’ or ‘up-cycled’ these days! And
there’s nothing wrong with lashings of retail research along the way!
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