Keeping it Realtor

Driftwood Mirror by Justin Schamotta

When I'm at the beach I'm always on the lookout for driftwood.  I love the stuff but I never ever find a piece big enough to make anything with.  More often than not it ends up lying around the house making me feel guilty for taking it from the  beach.

However here's a piece of driftwood that I've found that''s already been fashioned into something lovely and useful. 

This unusual Slot driftwood mirror by artist  Justin Schamotta is really beautiful and I'd feel no guilt at all about having it hanging in the house.  Perfect.    

Object of Desire: Beautiful Lamps

Object of desire alert!  Look at what I found when I was searching for beach themed accessories.

These handmade lamps are made from natural shells inset into a resin body and are absolutely stunning.

Place these totally unique lamps in either a formal or casual setting and they'll  look as if they belong. 

Definitely "Object of Desire" material. 

Lovin' em!

                                                              

                                                            

                                                               

                                                                           

Cushions to make you sing about the seaside.

Lovin' beach type home accessories at the moment and thought I'd share one of my finds with you. 

Each of these fab blue and white cushions are embroidered not only with a lighthouse, fishing bouy and seagulls but with a line from the famous song -

"Oh I do like to be beside the seaside."

Funky but tasteful , wouldn't they would look nice grouped together on a sofa in a sun room or bedroom?

Are you singing yet?

Friday Feature: Clevedon, North Somerset, Oh I do like to be beside the seaside..

Oh I do love to be beside the seaside and so I've picked another seaside property for this Friday's feature.  This charming Grade II listed house dates back to 1828 and is situated in lovely Clevedon on the North Somerset coast.  Although this property with its white painted exterior looks like a smallish seaside cottage it's  a bit of a Tardis  really with three receptions, six bedrooms and three bathrooms. 

The property is on three floors and  both the drawing room and dining room have windows overlooking the garden and the sea.  This gorgeous house has many period features such as sash windows, wooden shutters and detailed cornices.  Having said that you'll be happy to know that the kitchen has all the modern appliances that you'll need and the recess which was part of the original bread oven has been retained making it a lovely feature. 

Outside you won't be disappointed either with gorgeous gardens and a paved courtyard.  I would so appreciate a house like this beside the sea.  Isn't it adorable?

                                                                                                                                                        

Daisy Cushions with Union Jack

I'm all about daisies at the moment.  I have loads of big white  daisies in my garden and they cheer me up but I'm loath to pick them and bring them inside so I've been checking out some cheerful daisy cushions.

First up is this striking red and white design by Anna Whitford.  Made from suede, faux suede and velvet these cushions are truly luxurious. 

Next is a stunning design  by Anna Kyyro this cushion is made of woven woollen cloth appliquéd with tactile raised thick wool felt strips. Funky, gorgeous and a bit futuristic looking.

You can never have enough daisies I say so how about this lime green daisy cushion by Jan Constantine which is hand made in 100% felt wool and works well with this tasteful Jan Constantine patrotic daisy Union Jack cushion.    I'm spoiled for choice.                                 

                                                                                                              

Bone Inlay Furniture - Truly Inspired.

I'm just lovin' this new range of bone inlay furniture designed by Jamie Graham at Graham and Green.

The design and workmanship is so beautiful and unusal you could pass this furniture on to be loved by the next generation of the family.

The inspiration for the design came from Japanese flowers and out of the three pieces in this range I'd be hard pressed to say which I like best. 

Okay then, it's the 3 drawer chest.  Then again I'd love the bedside tables.   Oh... and that  lovely two door cupboard would conceal the bedroom t.v.  Mmmm.........

Told you I wouldn't be able to choose.  Have a look and tell me which one you'd choose?

Solar Powered Lamp for the garden or inside.

In Scotland in summer we have daylight until quite late in the evening so we don't have much use for outdoor lighting. 

The only time we ever use outdoor lighting as such is when we light some citronella candles to keep those pesky midges away. 

This summer however has messed with my head a bit as its been sunny when I'm at work and overcast and dull when I get home!  So I've been on the hunt for some unusual outdoor lighting and I've found this fab lamp that can be left outside if it rains.  Good result. 

Have a look here at this funky solar powered lamp.   During the day it sits upside down in the garden looking a bit like a pot plant and when it gets overcast, or when I return from work, you just turn it over and it becomes a lamp.  This solar powered lamp would look good inside too so you can use it all year round.  I love it!

Squeeze Bottle - Not a tomato

Do you remember the big red plastic tomato that was the centre-piece for most cafe tables?  I always thought they were a great idea and I always wanted one but my mum thought they were a bit odd.

I wanted them most of all because I thought they looked great.  (my sense of style was obviously waiting to develop) I also wanted one because it was so easy to get the sauce out. One squeeze and you could have a sizeable amount of ketchup on your plate and that's important when you're young.  When you're older you just wouldn't fancy the plastic tomato, or for that matter the sizeable amount of ketchup, unless you've got that whole retro look going on in your kitchen. 

However I've  found a  squeezy bottle that will deliver a good amount of ketchup (or salad dressing) and will look good on the table. With its squeezy body and stainless steel cap it's sure to please both the kids and the grown ups.  Have a look at it here.  Nice eh?

Friday Feature; Brantwood, Scone, Perthshire or Is that Johnny Depp?

We're back in Scotland again this week and this time we're in Perthshire.  Just minutes from Perth and several good golf courses this modern property built over 3 floors is full of modern technology.  It's not just modern technology it's full of either, it boasts a  "play area" on the lower ground floor which consists of a full size billiard room, gymnasium, wet room and WC, swimming pool, sauna and there's  even an 8 seater cinema.  If that's not enough there's also a 3 hole golf course under construction. 

This beautiful home also has  5 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms a  large kitchen, conservatory, a roof terrace, balcony and lots of other stuff. This beautiful house can be bought as a whole or in 3 lots.  Lot 1 the house at £950,000, Lot 2 a two bedroom cottage at £200,000 and  Lot 3 is a whole lot of land for £100,000.   Have a look here because there's just too much to mention. 

Is that Johnny Depp in the lounge?

Birds Nest Stadium & Basket

You just can't keep good design down.  Can you spot the difference?  One of the pictures is a useful aluminium "birds nest" round wire basket and the other is the "Birds Nest" National Stadium in Beijing, China.  Both quite beautiful I think. 

                                                                              

Realtor wishes all athletes and countries taking part a successful and happy Olympic games.