Decorating Tips - Filling Cracks

You are probably on our website looking at wall stickers as you have recently decorated a room or are just about to re-decorate. So I thought that maybe you would like a few tips and hints from a professional so I have enlisted the help of Jen Pashby who is my local painter and decorator. If you are a regular DIYer, no doubt you'll already be familiar with these techniques, but those of you who have never picked up a paint brush this could be the information you need to start on your own project. The first tips I asked Jen to look at was wall preparation and this post covers how to deal with cracks before you get to putting your lovely new paint on the walls.

Step 1. Remove, dirt, grease and any other loose or flacking paint from wall surface.

Sitting pretty…

Chairs in a kitchen – a design decision

Today I’ve been thinking about sitting. Eating and sitting – two things most people enjoy very much. Assuming we’re not talking about balancing a plate on our knees in front of the TV but eating at a proper table, I want you to have a think about what you’re sitting on. Chairs often become a last minute thought, or almost an accident when bought as part of a table and chairs set, but to my mind you’re missing a trick if you have dull and boring chairs.

Many people have a place to sit, eat, work, or read in the kitchen – be it at a generous table that seats a whole crowd, or a tiny area to perch on a stool and have a cuppa. Style wise there are lots to choose from and getting new chairs is a great way to give your home a lift.

All things bright and beautiful… An injection of colour into a neutral room changes its identity immediately. Chairs are now available in an array of fabulous colours and they’re cheap enough so you needn’t worry about making a decision that has to last a lifetime.

Colour: Matching chairs to your décor gives a sleek, uncluttered look. White kitchen, black worktops, white chairs is a clean and uncomplicated combination. If you go for this look, try finding a chair with an unusual shape to be the interesting element. Smooth curves, funky legs or a textured seat.

You Tube Channel

Check out our YouTube channel for more fitting instructions, help and other Wall Glamour related videos. Ok so they are not production quality videos, but I hope they help you with fitting our products and we are planning on a full range of better quality videos.

Check out below our 60 minute makeover experience.

Week Note - 20 July

Any repeat customer who has been to our website or blog recently may have noticed that we have just updated our logo, we're not shouting about it, just yet, as we have an official launch planned for the logo and new websites coming....but it would be nice to hear what people think.

Also this week we've been working on our next website, we are looking at some really cool stuff that I hope will give us an extra sales push. Our current website has taken a development approach that has been very 'incremental' and so we have never had to shell out lots of cash at one go, this has been great for the way the product and business has developed, it's been natural progress. Anyone hoping to get tips on ecommerce should take note, small steps do work.
However now that Wall Glamour is our main business we really need to push sales. So we are looking at a range of improvements and a design/usability refresh to the main site, but also to the blog and our three new sites which will be for Trade Sales, Commercial Interiors and Healthcare Interiors. On top of that we are building a really cool iPhone app....and if that wasn't enough I have been working on another product that will join the "Glamour" range very shortly. We are hoping to launch it the first week in September.

If you listen to Spotify at all your can't fail to have heard about sharemyplaylists.com well we were lucky enough to get an email from them requesting some bespoke wall stickers for their new offices near Newcastle, which we will be installing next week.

The studio and manufacturing side of the business will be having a shutdown week in two weeks. so get your order in now if you really need to get it before the first week of August. As soon as we all return from our holidays we will be introducing you to our new designer who starts that week, we are really looking forward to having Jen on board and cant wait for her to get designing.



I've also been in London fitting some more wall murals in UCH for Teenage Cancer Trust. We also in Birmingham ROH next week adding some finishing touches to installations we have done there before they get their official openings in August.

It’s summer! And the hot new colour is…..

Writing a regular blog is a new thing for me but I’m excited at the prospect of chatting away about things I love – interiors, design, inspiration, and ideas for the place you live - I may even pass on one or two good ideas along the way! We all know home is where the heart is, and everyone can add or subtract on a tiny, or huge scale to make their space the perfect place. Or you can just daydream and look at some great pictures…

Today I’m looking outside at the sunshine outside which always makes me smile. How can it not? The sun… yellow… lovely in itself but in your home? I bet you’re shaking your head - it’s a colour that evokes fear and mental images of hideous 1980s décor for many. But yellow is on it’s way back (yes really!) and it’s all in the shade of yellow you choose. I’m not talking sickly primrose shades, but richer tones with a hint of faded gold or mustard to add an instant contemporary and vibrant blast!

Teamed with charcoal grey the look is dramatic and breathtaking making a strong statement – just see how great it looks in a dining room setting in July issue of “Ideal Home” magazine. The yellow warms the stormy grey beautifully.


If you’re a bit scared of such deep colours, you could adapt the scheme by using paler shades or introduce some gentle pattern. Alternatively, use shots of yellow amid a monochrome scheme for more subtle interest and impact.

Oak furniture gives warmth and the grain adds texture and as many of us have this tone of wooden furniture you should be fine with yellow. Having said that, more contemporary gloss white or perspex will look great too. If you find the colour combination a bit stark, try adding a touch of green or grey/blue – have a look at these cushions to see how that works.

So what works if you want to try out?

One wall of patterned yellow wallpaper, wallpaperdirect.co.uk have some great options, in any room will create a focal point then pick up the colour in accessories. Think cushions and a rug in the living room, mugs and tea towels in the kitchen (looks great with green, washed out navy or a plum colour too). Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how something will look in your home so always check a store’s returns policy in case you make any purchases that just don’t work.

Try these;
Fleet Organic tea towels or these "Kitchen Tools" ones  or zesty bedlinen. Think small; Even if you don’t want loads of yellow, consider a sunny print, picture or vase to brighten up a plain scheme then you’re not committed to a totally new décor, But whetever you decide, bring a little sunshine into your home.

Other yellow things I love:
Paint: Look at The Little Greene Paint company www.thelittlegreene.com,  www.firedearthshop.com for some lovely golden shades without a hint of 80s primrose. It’s worth trying a tester pot before you buy a big tin of paint. Paint onto a piece of white A4 card and blu-tac to the wall so you can see how it looks in the room.

Fabrics/wallpaper: Harlequin’s new Amilie range has a mix of delicate patterns for a hint of colour, through to bold statement prints.

More wallpaper designs, "Wow", "Saplings" and "Elodie".

Vintage Chair: Simple, stylish, gorgeous.

Furniture: A splash of sunshine that you could do yourself by painting an old piece. Have a look in secondhand shops and rub down any wood piece, prime then paint. This is a cheap and easy way to add unique twist.

And try these Accessories: Clocks, Pictures, or this Stencil Tablemat

Some other room shots/ideas:


These images from Better Homes and Gardens show exactly what I mean, the BH&G website has a great section of inspirational images that can help when decorating, plus you can select a dozen other colours in their "Decorating with colour" section.






Images from Better Homes and Gardens.

Becky

This is the first in a series of blog posts from Becky Clarke a contributing writing on Your Home magazine. Your Home magazine have featured our wall stickers on a few occasions and we loved Becky's approach to real life projects so we commissioned her to write about her interior design influences, trends and thoughts.