Alison Hutchinson

Window wonder

Alison — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:39:07 +0000

We’ve been off site this last week but progress on our design build and renovation project has been great and the windows are in! Here’s a sneak preview but for more photos and all the details follow the blog next week.

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973843020.

I work on interior design and garden design projects in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Oakham, Uppingham and Rutland as well as further afield. I will design a garden to complement the architecture of your home and choose the right landscaping materials to complement it. If you are frustrated with endless searching for the right fabric or wallpaper and paint colours and overwhelmed with the enormous choice, then allow me to make a handpicked selection for you. I will complement the style of your existing rooms and provide a few choice pieces which will bring the whole look together.

Design trends and inspiration

Alison — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:27:06 +0000

Here’s another of my updates on some of the inspiring ideas and key trends for the year ahead which I picked up at the furniture Fair at the NEC Birmingham last month. If the weather outside is making you want to hibernate, then hunker down and enjoy what the interior industry has to offer. This week, storage solutions: from clean lines and minimal display to beautifully designed dressing rooms and a quirky coffee table which may well become a personal friend.

A sleek storage unit for home or office

A beautifully designed dressing area which makes perfect use of a corner

A fun storage solution

Keeping with tradition and in celebrate of the Queen’s jubilee

“put a lid on it!”

A quirky coffee table friend

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for, then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973 843020.

First window goes in our design n build project

Alison — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:56:43 +0000

What an exciting day. All our windows arrived yesterday. They were so well wrapped it was tricky to see exactly what we had but from the small area I could get too they looked beautiful. Today we have begun to unwrap them and I’m not disappointed: they are beautiful. And the window latches and stays are just what I had intended. It’s a tricky business getting these details right but this is what I believe makes the difference in a design and build project. I want the new build to have a contemporary look but I want the fabric of the building to look aged. For me it is this meshing of two different styles which will give the new build a feeling of permanence and history.

I was so excited when the first window went it: good job the camera wasn’t on me, I was grinning like a Cheshire cat!

The felt and batons are going into place on the lower roof

The first of our windows is taken up and over the batons

Setting the first window

Fitting it into position

The first Velux in place in the lower roof

As the builder exclaimed about the first window: ‘it fits like a glove’ let’s hope the rest are as easy!

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973843020.

Furniture fair: further interior inspiration

Alison — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:08:23 +0000

Having spent a fantastic day at the Furniture Fair at the NEC, Birmingham, last week I thought I would share the second blog on my favourite things – this week sofas, bedrooms and other inspiring ideas.

A modern take on the bedroom

A restful place?

A dramatic space?

a cosy corner?

A great chesterfield sofa in a beautifully soft leather

A stunning design for a modern home

A great pairof stools

I love the masculinity of this sofa, despite its comfort

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for, then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973 843020.

Progress on our design build and renovation project

Alison — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:20:31 +0000

What a beautiful day it has been. I went out first thing to climb the scaffolding and finish putting the wood preservative on the struts which form the open eaves. This seemed almost impossible last week but now that the second story of scaffolding is down you can get at the underside of the facia.

Light catching the back of the house

The roof is looking pretty good and the new tiles should be with us by the middle of next week. Once the roof is complete and the windows are in we will be watertight and can begin to knock through from the old part of the house to the new. I’ve been putting as much as possible into boxes in readiness for this. I have also been tidying up in the garage and discovered a box with a few remnants of bulbs which had mostly gone into client gardens. I planted up a few pots of Narcissi Thalia, it has such a sweet smell, and two tulips: Spring Green, the lovely white with a green stripe and Attilla, a lovely purple blue colour. I know it’s really far too late to plant them but better to get them into pots now than just bin them, they won’t do as well as if I’d plated them last November but they’re bound to out on some form of a show.

The old and new roof meet

I have also finished the plan for the bathroom and kitchen so we really are getting ahead of ourselves! More of this, with sketches, in a later blog.

In expectation of flowering bulbs later in the year

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973843020.

Interior Inspiration from the Furniture Fair 2012

Alison — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:02:52 +0000

I have spent a fantastic day at the furniture Fair at the NEC Birmingham. It’s designed for interior designers and other professionals to get together with current suppliers and manufacturers, to meet new suppliers and it also showcases new talent. For me it’s a great way to catch up with latest trends and to see what 2012 has in store for the furniture industry.

I think that if the hard reality of a depressing economy has taught me anything it’s that customers want quality above all else. Yes they are price sensitive but what they are spending money on is beautiful hand made furniture which is made to last rather than throw away pieces which are here today and in the skip by 2015. And if our furniture can come with green credentials and is made in the UK or Europe then so much the better.

Here’s my selection of favourite chairs from the Furniture fair 2012. Later in the week I’ll do another round up of ideas and the inspiration I have gleaned from the show.

Natural and bent wood chairs were a key trend at The Furniture Fair this year

Mixing fabrics and trims and adding patchwork was in evidence on many pieces of furniture

A great selection of modern chairs

I love these individual stools

I love the mix of fabrics used here

Another great mix of farics and leather

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for, then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973 843020.

Roofing our design build and renovation project

Alison — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:49:47 +0000

This week, despite the weather, the roof is takign shape. Our roofer, Richard, is clearly used to working in all weathers but even he has taken cover inthe garage on one of two occasions!

The felt and batons started to go up early this week with the whole of the main section completely covered and tiled by last night. Today it has just been too wet to mix mortar for ridge tiles etc so this will happen next week.

The roof starts to take shape

The felt goes on

The batons are in place

The gable end and lower section are last to be completed

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973843020.

New Year on our design build and renovation project

Alison — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:20:35 +0000

We are all back on site after the long holiday and things are progressing well. The roof structure is almost complete and the tiler begins work later this week. Almost all of the stone work is now complete and is looking beautiful. This low winter sun really off sets the stone and the pointing is so lovely - I simply want to stand and stare. I’ve realised that the space I had allocated for the bin store is just too beautiful for bins – it’s such a waste!

I’m also in love with the single story on the end of the kitchen dining room. This has created such a lovely space and once the roof lights are in I think it will be quite magical.

I’m still planning the kitchen and bathroom and must get on with it: it’s just that client work (which pays!) has taken priority! It’s all in my head and I must get it onto paper, if for no other reason than to free up some thinking space. I really could do with a Harry Potter pensieve. And one of the tents at the quiditch world cup would come in useful once the existing kitchen is out of use – as Harry says I do love magic!

Stonework at the side of the house where bins could be stored

The stonework and block work fit together for our roof

The structure of the roof

The roof structure

Looking down onto my curved wall

If you have a building project, interior or garden and landscaping project which you need help with or ideas for then please give me a ring: Alison 01572 747318 or 07973843020.

New Year, New Tidy You

Alison — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:06:04 +0000

January usually brings lots of New Year’s resolutions, we’ve been making them for over 4,000 years. Many of us will have pledged to get fitter or to de-clutter. But how many of them are still intact? I can’t really help with the getting fitter part but here’s some simple solutions to get a wardrobe, a room or your entire home in order.

Office studio with fabric designs by Vanessa Arbuthnott

Start with a small area – maybe an area that really bothers you. If you start with something that is very visible or that you use often, you will feel wonderful once it’s done and be motivated to carry on.

Focus on one area at a time – don’t get distracted and pulled into other areas.

To stay motivated you need to make it a habit. So, for example, try to sort through your mail as soon as you get home. Try to touch each piece of paper just once and then make the decision right then and there: what you need to keep, bin or action later.

Set a realistic time limit – maybe you have an hour, so tackle the boots and shoes in the hall cupboard and then the next day you can do the coats.

With a large area or room – have five different boxes or bags. Label them – TO KEEP IN ROOM – STORE SOMEWHERE ELSE – CHARITY – BIN and REPAIR. Once they are filled, take care of them quickly. I load the charity items in to the car and next time I’m out I drop them off. You won’t miss them, and someone else will be thankful for your generosity.

Move items to the place where you use them the most, for example, rain mac by the front door.

Try to be ruthless with regards to your clothing. The familiar rule of “if you haven’t worn it in a year then you aren’t going to wear it”, holds true with one exception – formal wear. I make four different piles for my clothes – TO KEEP, TO REPAIR OR ALTER, TO GIVE AWAY and TO BIN. Again action the items quickly so there is no second guessing.

If you are still feeling overwhelmed maybe it’s time to ask a well organized friend for help or hire a professional to help. You won’t regret it. I believe that every space can be comfortable, relaxed and beautiful without you feeling pressured to be perfect. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful home. If I can help with a home or garden project please give me a call. Alison: 01572 747318 or 07973843020.

Mark and Lisa

Alison — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:41:32 +0000

We just wanted to say a big thank you. Your cottage is beautiful and your wife has imprecable taste. It is just gorgeous and perfectly situated. Mark and Lisa, Guests at Pimpernel Cottage, Blakeney