Property Porn pls? Need to be inspired

[Starbear]

Could anybody recommend some good ideas books.
I have a great need after reading this fantasy kitchen

I already have the 1990's Terence Conran's The Essential House Book. I need some realistic ideas to read in bed.
We are about to have to 2 story extension on to our 2 up 2 down. No looking forward to the process but want the results to be fab until I die. Any great website welcomed too but in real homes not company websites
Thank you in advance

Bump

Don't know about books, only mags and online kicks for me. Hope you find something nice.

I know Starbear, it's the real homes I want to see too, not company websites! I'm in the same boat as you, in a way, in that we already have the space but it needs to be redone and made to look fab til I die too! I've been buying lots of magazines but havent' got very far. Everything I like a lot seems to be of a style that is more suited to a much older house than mine (which was built in 1960 but really is a typical 50's house).

I would also love to have some nice inspiring books to read in bed !!

What sort of age is your house?

I found out about this lady on Come Dine With Me (if you haven't seen that episode, I would watch it on More4 as it gives you a good idea of the interior of her house plus the mother of all dinner parties (i've been to a few but never one like that).

www.angeliqueinteriors.co.uk/options.html

I would swop my house with hers anyday

We have had a big renovation/extension done recently, and I couldn't find any really good books that inspired me. I wanted something very contemporary so pored over magazines. Living etc is a good staple, but for more out there ideas, some of the US interiors magazines they sell in the larger WHSmith are worth a look.

Dwell in particular held some real inspiration for me and seemed ahead of the curve.

absinthe Oh! That's not me at all. Thanks for the link. & for the suggestions you just never know. I like it more masculine. Dark wood no flowers.
Sugar 1850! Don't think it fab tho. Very small rooms & boxed in stairs & no upstairs landing just a square to go off left or right to the 2 bedrooms. Bathroom added in the 1930's over the garden path.
DH watching Rugby I have a few more chores to do then I might search the internet but's never in the format I like. Books much more to my liking.

Oh well -wasn't me either until I discovered her. The problem with the wooden floors/magnolia walls look is that even the nicely done, horrendously expensive look could have potentially come from Ikea. It is hard to find something minimalist that is also opulent and not chintzy

I like the come dine with me lady's stuff, but it just wouldn't work in our house!

Dark wood can mean dark furniture too not just floorboards. Definitely not Ikea-ish if you choose the right furniture - it's a case of shopping around for interesting pieces, but that is SO timeconsuming!!

There is so much Ligne Roset and B1B Italia that resembles upper-end Ikea though, honestly, unless you go for a vintage such as Togo if you fancy sitting on the bloody floor all the time and cleaning under it. I am not keen on dark wood which is why I never really got into Danish Modern

absinthe What is Togo?
Sugar We have a 2nd hand furniture shop that has re styled it self into 'I saw you coming' from Paul Whitehouse. I saw this piece of furniture which was lots of little cupboards (maybe a very old french, flats letter boxes) painted in a groovy colour. We chatted to the owner who noticed our interest while he was speaking I touched a door & a little hinge came away '....yes it's only £345!!! [Shock] It was worth going into for the comic value. I have no time to shop. Harry