Keeping it Realtor

Friday Feature: Fort Augustus, Scotland

So it's Halloween and there'll be spooky ghouls and scary monsters everywhere tonight.   We here in Scotland like to think we're ahead in the monster stakes though.  We've got our own really famous monster living right here.  Many people have come to Scotland and camped out for long periods hoping that they'll be the one to get a good look and a good photograph of our elusive monster.  However if you fancy your chances you'd really not want to be camping out up at Loch Ness as it can get pretty wild up there at this time of year. That's why I've found this non scary house at Fort Augustas with sweeping views over the Caledonian Canal to Loch Ness.  Because you're going to be looking for that monster practically non stop it might be a good idea if you had a wee business right on your doorstep.  So the fact that this lovely house has a thriving and established bed and breakfast business should be the icing on the cake don't you think?   Lorien House is a 3 storey detached villa with 6 bedrooms (4 en-suite), lounge, dining room and fitted kitchen.  You can have a look and download the brochure for Lorien House here.  The fact that this property has owner's quarters and a bed and breakfast business means that youll have time to enjoy all this beautiful area has to offer whilst searching for the monster. By the way the monster's called Nessie.  I'm betting that the sound of that particular name struck fear to your very core!

Halloween Spider Web Plate & Halloween Server

Target sure seem to have Halloween all sorted out.  Who wouldn't like to eat dinner from a spider web plate complete with a spider or two?  These scary melamine plates cost $17.99 for a set of six.  They can't be used in the microwave but they are top rack dishwasher safe.

Also do you fancy some Halloween treats from this ghostly hand painted earthenware lazy susan server?  This spooky Halloween server is also available from Target and the good news is it's on clearance at the moment for $33.99.  Happy Halloween. 

Black & White Candlesticks

This set of five  black candlesticks with white trim could look scarily at home at any Halloween party if they were filled with some black candles.  I love that they're all different heights and syles. 

They're also elegant enough to look good at any other time too.  Last Christmas I had a black and white theme and these candlesticks would have gone perfectly with that.  A really nice Christmas feel could be achieved by surrounding the candlesticks with some holly and red and white berries.

Having said that  as you know at the moment I like really large groups of candles so I'd probably have white candlesticks,  or these gorgeous mercury silvered candlesticks  interspersed with them.   Different coloured candles could also  add a certain quirkiness to the display too don't you think?

Does anybody have a theme sorted out for the holidays yet, or are you like me still searching for ideas?

Palace Chairs - an invite to look

I saw this and I thought of you.  No I didn't just kidding there, but I saw this and I instantly thought about the doom buggies in the Haunted Mansion ride at The Magic Kingdom, Florida.

I  love that ride and although it's for kids the bit at the end when you're invited to have a look in the mirror at your own doom buggy never fails to freak me out.  Therefore for that reason alone I think if I ever thought about buying one of these Palace Chairs it would have to be the the white vinyl one. 

Having said that the black one would be great for Halloween, but, as they cost $1,995 I won't be rushing to buy either the black or white any time soon.  I would however rush to go back to The Magic Kingdom anytime!

Glass Gourds, not just for holidays.

These lovely   hand blown glass gourds would look just great next to a clear glass bowl of treats for those scary Halloween visitors that might be passing your way soon. 

The lovely autumnal colours would also make a really nice display at Thanksgiving too.  They cost $34 for a set of two and would definitely look lovely on their own or try mixing them with some genuine seasonal fruit or vegatables for a more homely look. 

I'm lovin' them and think I'd keep them out all year not just holidays. 

Wouldn't they look great at a kitchen window with the light (or hopefully sun) shining through them? 

Friday Feature: Horningsea, Cambridge, England

This week we've been featuring lace and crochet work in various forms and I know you're all thinking that I'll probably knit a house for this Friday Feature.  No siree,  this Friday I want to show you something just as pretty as lace, just as quaint and old fashioned as crochet but with a modern twist.  Have a look at this early 19th century Grade 11 listed detached cottage.  This beautiful little cottage is in Horningsea which is two miles from Waterbeach station which runs services to Cambridge, London and Ely. The picturesque village of Horningsea is also home to fine country inns, a primary school and  St Peter's Church.   The house itself consists of an entrance porch, siting room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, two  bedrooms and a lovely enclosed rear walled garden. There is also a larger than average garage. This is such a pretty cottage and the modern interior is a delight and surprise.  Have a look, isn't it just lovely? 

 

I bet you didn't expect a kitchen quite like this.  I certainly didn't.

Love the fireplace and what appears to be a flagstone floor. 

Lovin the beams and the fireplace.

Lace for the Bedroom by Monsoon

Let's put the lace theme to bed.  Oh don't get me wrong,  I don't mean let's be done with it, I just want to show you this gorgeous English Eccentrics bed linen range from Monsoon. 

This beautiful range will fulfil any lace desires you may be secretly harbouring that we haven't covered so far.

Attention to detail is key to this look and traditional techniques like battenburg lace, hand embroidery and french knots have been used to enhance this range.                                                 

The pale natural colours you would expect with delicate lace and embroidery have all been used to good effect but I'm just lovin' the bold plum and fuschia colours that have been used too.

These bold colours look fabulous on their own but try teaming them with mixed florals or stripes and you can achieve a really luxurious look. 

Have a look at the range, mix and match.  There's cushions and throws and something to suit everybody.

Lovin' it all. 

Lace Cake Plates by Tina Tsang

I'm making these earthenware lace plates by Tina Tsang "objects of desire" and its not just because they are so on trend but because they are SO beautiful.  Earthenware and lace I hear you shout, well I don't actually hear you shout because that would mean I had some freaky kind of supersonic hearing, but I know you're thinking "how very old fashioned".  But really they're not  old fashioned at all, I think the soft fluid look that has been achieved makes them really modern looking.  I honestly don't know which one of these beautiful  plates I'd choose as I love them both.

By the way the  "how very old fashioned" statement, I totally know you don't talk like that!

     

Modern Lace Coasters - Square or Round

You know that whole  "lace for tea, and lace for me" thing that we had going on last week?  Well lookit what I've found now.  Very trendy lace coasters from Modern Dose and aren't they just fabulous?  These coasters come in a set of four and you can choose white on black or black on white, or, and this what I'd choose, you can mix them up.  They're dishwasher safe and have felt pads on the bottom to protect your furniture.                                                               

Or,  how about a set of four lace coasters made from glass?   These glass coasters  from Wallace Sacks are really pretty and they're on sale at the moment so you'd be able to pick up a set of four for £3.00.  What an amazing price.  Go on spoil yourself get two sets!

Crochet Pendant Lamps

Crochet is something I've never mastered.  I can manage a very basic crochet square but I'd never think about trying to crochet a pendant lamp.  My mother on the other hand, although she didn't crochet, had a very similar thought and actually knitted  a lampshade.  At the time I thought she was crazy but I had to admire it when it was finished and in situ beside her chair in the livingroom.  When lit, the lamp with its white knitted shade, cast interesting shadows about the room.

My mother, like me, couldn't really crochet but if she could I'm quite sure she would have come up with something as lovely  as these crochet pendant lamps. 

These fabulous pendant lamps have been crocheted by hand and dipped in a starch solution to preserve their shape. I think they're quite lovely and I really like all three of the shapes they come in.  Don't think these pretty lamps are only for a bedroom.  No siree, these lamps come with a 12foot white cord and would look just great in any room in the house.