Country interior design by MJ

Firstly lets start by explaining what is Steampunk.  Set in an alternative 19th-century Victorian era or American frontier, it combines historical aesthetics with fantastical, highly advanced mechanical inventions.  The visual style blends Victorian elegance with industrial grit. How can this be interpreted in our homes?  It brings an imaginative, nostalgic, and slightly moody aesthetic to your home by emphasizing raw craftsmanship, vintage textures, and mechanical elements. Key elements of Steampunk home design: 1, Raw Materials: Incorporates bare pipes, exposed brick walls, and steel beams to reveal the "bones" of the building. 2, Use of machinery: Uses functional decor like exposed clockwork, pressure gauges, gears, and vintage globes or maps. 3, Victoriana: Balances rugged industrial elements with luxurious, ornate details, such as deep button-tufted leather sofas and fringed velvet in a Victoriana interior design Style.  4, Colour palettes: Focuse...

Are you playing it safe when it comes to your home interior choices? One huge trend in using grey palettes in our homes and I'm curious as to the psychological impact of this on our life choices and our success outcomes.  What do I mean by this? Well, is it like whether you live in your comfort zone or could you achieve greatness by being bolder? This could be influencing our behaviours in our society and homes.  Perhaps now is the time to be more experimental in our interior design projects. I've delved deeper in to, whether their is research in this area and this is my findings.  Studies associate boldness with enhanced resilience, better cognitive performance under stress, stronger stress management, and a higher capacity for career persistence. So how does this transpire in our homes? Being bolder in interior design; such as using vivid colors, maximalist patterns, and strong architectural contours, offers documented psychological benefits, including heightened mood r...

In this blog I'm going to share with you, how by making small adjustments to your homes and lifestyle you could reduce your carbon footprint and improve the environment we live in.  These are based on my own experience and the various endeavours we have implemented to.  1, Shopping Habits: Taking note of packaging, to reduce plastic waste, opting for more sustainable alternatives.  Recently, I realised that by opting for a refillable glass bottle for washing up liquid.  I could prevent all those unrecycable bottles going to landfill.  2, Food Freshness: I replaced the use of clingfilm to bees wax wrappings. And moved away from plastic containers to more sustainable alternatives like Bamboo containers.   3, Checking credentials: Knowledge is power and when it comes to high ticket purchases, I make a concerted effort to research the business, manufacture or suppliers to buy fair trade where possible or at least understand more about its origins.  4,...

I have been visiting Antique fairs and markets for years.  I think my love for preloved items came out of growing up in a Council house where the decor had objects from various periods in time.  It conjures up happy times, when I use to earn my pocket money from cleaning the brass.  I thought I'd write this blog, to share with you my TOP favourite Antique fairs and markets, so you can explore further afield for yourself.   1, Station Mill Antique Centre: Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds.  This is not the biggest centre I visit but it is my favourite.  Whether it's because they seem to have a great selection of Antiques and Collectables throughout all era's and they set them out like a styled room or space.  You can really see how items would look in a home setting.   2, Dagfield Crafts Market: Heathfield, Nantwich.  Nestled in the beautiful countryside this place, is worthy of a full day out.  There is a Cafe on site, so you ca...

I recently wrote a blog about my favourite antique fairs and markets and if this is something that your open to exploring then this blog will help you get the most out of your first trip.  Here's my top tips before you set off.  1, Be sure to check what traders have been exhibiting before, if for example it's more jewellery and oddities than your not going to find a vintage sofa.  2, Be clear what your shopping for.  Write a list, it will help you be more focused especially if it's a larger fair or market, with lots of temptation.  3, Step into your creativity: you may be on the look out for a table for example, then you discover an item that you love, that could be altered in to a unique piece with the same function of a table.   4, Speak with the traders and get their details or Social Media accounts.  It maybe that they could help you source a specific item your looking for, or you could build up a relationship with them for the special items....

Upholstery is a skilled job, that said, we could all learn new skills and while there are many businesses that do this professionally, you could always give it a try & give items of furniture a new lease of life.  In a time when environmental and sustainability issues are high on people's agenda, there are many vintage and salvage quality items of furniture that can be repurposed with new contemporary fabrics. Auctions, bootsales or online marketplaces. Salvage yards, flea markets and Antique Centres are all great places to visit to obtain your first upholstery project.  If you're brave enough, then you could give it a try.  Perhaps choose an item of furniture that is simple in it's design.  What equipment do you need? *Tape measure  * Stapler  * Scissors  * Magnetic Hammer  * Tack lifter * Craft Knife  * Pliers  * Glue Gun * Fabric Chalk If you're serious about taking this up as an extension of your hobby, then there are other tools...