How to Make Your Bi-Fold Doors Look Cosy in the Winter

Bi-fold doors are wonderful for making rooms lighter and connecting you to the outside but during the winter months they can seem a little bare and cold.  I often get asked for ways to dress them so when I was recently approached to comment on the subject I was delighted to help.

To read the full article please click here

Bi-Fold Doors

Bi-fold doors are incredibly useful and effective if you are wanting to create more light, merge a room with the garden or patio enabling you to seamlessly move between the two, have a bigger and better view of the garden or surrounding countryside, act as a divide for either a large room or between two small ones, plus they are great for large wardrobes.

Generally glass panels are used for bi-folds but if they're being used for a wardrobe then solid wood panels are better.  There are huge choice of surrounds - metal, wood, painted and natural so you should be able to find one that will blend into the surrounding space. 

I felt very honoured recently to have been asked to give my thoughts on the "do's" and "don'ts" when considering fitting bi-folds.  A good mix of experts were asked to give their opinions which makes really interesting reading. To read the article click here

Glass Panels on Staircases

Staircases using glass panels will turn what is normally accepted as a standard and necessary fixture into more of a design feature.  Glass panels help to give a feeling of space and allow the stairs to be noticed especially if you have a bespoke wooden or stone staircase.  I love them as they really do change the feel of a hallway and give it a bit more of an edge than using standard wooden balustrades.

Recently, I was one of three interior designers asked to contribute to an article dedicated to this subject.  Full of interesting tips and advice, as well as listing the pros and cons of using glass panels this feature will be especially helpful if you are considering installing a new staircase, or want to revamp an old one.   To read the full article please click here.

Fabulous Recycled Plastic Products for the Home

I love Modbury and am particularly proud that it was the first town in Europe to ban the use of plastic bags.  In fact, Modbury has just celebrated it's tenth anniversary being a plastic free town!   A great achievement but one wonders why more towns haven't done the same?  

We, at Dupere, have been trying in a small way to do our bit by stocking products made from recycled plastic, and around two years ago, we discovered a local company, Weaver Green, who make fabulous things from fabric created out of recycled plastic bottles.  Amazingly they feel just like wool and have all the useful properties that go "hand in hand" from being made with plastic - waterproof, mould resistant, hard wearing, fade resistant, easy to clean and suitable for use inside or outside.   Here is a photo of the bags and blankets.

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And, one of my favourite rugs in a diamond design.

Also, more recently, we have acquired some wonderful, brightly coloured baskets made by Mowgs from recycled plastic parcel strapping. They are painstakingly handmade and each one is completely unique. At the moment we just stock one design - petal - which comes in three sizes and lots of different colourways.

It would be nice to think that the various campaigns going on at the moment to cut down on the use of plastic are successful. The more we learn about the impact discarded plastic is having on our planet I am optimistic that more alternatives and solutions will be found.  In the meantime, we can all do our bit to help!  

Getting Creative

Since I last wrote over a year ago (!) I seem to have been so busy I haven't managed to find the time to write anything!  Therefore, I thought it appropriate to show off some of the projects that have been taking up so much of my time and attention .....

First up, one of our current commissions, a restored 17th century building. Oak wood panels being installed in what will be a music room with some close-ups showing off a few of the lovely details created by local bespoke furniture makers, Shawstephens.

More photographs to follow once the room has been completed.  There will also be a beautiful fireplace made from locally sourced stone.

Next, a kitchen window seat we had made from Arran Oatmeal fabric by Ian Mankin & fish cushions from Voyage.

A couple of photographs taken by Colin Poole of a seaside holiday home finished earlier this year.  It has since been featured in 25 Beautiful Homes Magazine!  The two photographs I have chosen show the lovely light sitting room and one of the bedrooms.  I am particularly pleased with the bedhead!

And, last a pretty antique wooden chair that we restored and upholstered on behalf of a customer in an attractive, hard wearing fabric (Oakleigh) by Colefax & Fowler.

It is always lovely to be busy and with such a mix of commissions there is never a dull moment. I have promised to take more photographs and will endeavour to share them with you at least once a month!