As we AVIDly await the joys of spring and the new fashion finds that it will bring, we WISEly contemplate our winter buys and return all goods that are unkind to the eyes

[macmama]

Couldn't resist!

I think those Victorian halls and staircases, which are often quite narrow, look great painted white but then reasonably well decorated with mirrors (great for illusions of space) and framed works of art (could be your DCs' paintings, providing they are well hung).

Red - we have a house from the same period. We went for egg shell blue (think the Nigella range for the colour!) in the kitchen - which has limited wall space due to tiles and a large wall mounted cupboard. The blue works well with the off white units and is helped by the kitchen receiving lots of light. It wouldn't work in our hall area as not a lot of natural light.
I've seen a room painted with a lovely blue from Farrow & Ball and that was fine. Best to get painter to paint a couple of large sample patches in 2 different locations to get an idea. Would the blue work say on one feature wall - up the stairs maybe and the rest done in white or an off white?

Its so difficult when it comes to paint colour - DH had a heart atatck when I didnt like the green we painted our bedroom in and wanted it changed it back to cream (he refused and then he spilt a huge mug of coffee up one wall so we had to re-paint - in cream - and I got my longed for wall of wallpaper too!)

Re light fittings - we spent 3/4 years looking (!) and finally found some simple round lantern style ones on sale in BHS of all places!

Red, I'd be wary of blue too, is very cold. What about a sort of putty-ish shade, like F&B Bone or Stoney Ground? As for woodwork, I think eggshell is much nicer looking than gloss. Has a warm, matt finish rather than shiny-shiny. Do you need wall lights, or just one for the ceiling?

Red, I like some of the lights at Jim Lawrence. How about you?

Red if you want art deco, take a Eurostar to Brussels and spend the day in Rue Haute and Rue Blaise. It's a big deal here.

Charlotte Mann's murals are pretty cool too.

Aaaah yes, BHS - we found a beautiful Tiffany-esque uplighter for our old living room there. Will look again. Hear you on the natural light front - there isn't loads at the moment which is made worse by bad light fittings. Will do the samples in two areas as you suggest and then take it from there .

Mirrors you say, Bonsoir? I have a bit of a thing for old mirrors and already have a collection of them. Was toying with putting them on the opening hallway. We're not short on paintings either. The blue tone is from one of our very favourites. Am going to this in February, where we got some amazing prints last year. Would highly recommend.

You ladies are just brilliant.

F&B bone is a very good recommendation, will do a sample of that too - thanks Plum. Love the Jim Lawrence lights, but am not a fan of lighting in the home where you can see the bulb - hence the Art Deco glass shade thing. Btw, Natalie Portman looks amazing in that pic - we once saw her in the lift at the Tate Modern and, by gosh, was she beautiful. Sooooo tiny though.

Charlotte Mann print is lovely Roma and the idea of hot-footing it to Brussels for a bit of Art Deco shopping very much appeals.

Hi red- I think a bluish shade could be lovely but I guess it depends on what the hallway looks like overall.

I'm not sure exactly what you had in mind in terms of lighting so a few links:
ultra feminine I bought from this seller some while back and she was v reliable.

some lovely lighting here Lots of types- lanterns, rise and fall lamps, old school lamps.

I also like the look of quite a few of the BHS lights although haven't seen them in RL- here
Personally I like to mix up styles with something period and something modern so maybe a sputnik in a period hall but a vintage chandelier would be equally lovely and I could easily choose one of those too!

Haven't got much time now but will try to find more links later!

We used to live in a Victorian double fronted house and did the hallway in a chalk/bone type colour. Looked nice. I really don't like blue at all. In fact my new house is all magnolia, and I love it! But then I love clean lines and modern furniture, lighting, so shall leave my contribution at that!

this is what I look like today in my new jeans. I wish.

I love antique/ vintage mirrors too. I have had some excellent bargains from ebay.
DH has absolutely no idea why I put up some many mirrors, especially the ones where the glass has become speckled or the decoration worn!

I would love to have the chance to do up the house but sadly we can't at present :(

Oh Looby, the more speckled they are, the better! Finally, someone who understands. Convex mirrors are my latest obsession, having moved on from bevelled edges.

This place is 20 years out of date and getting it to where we want is going to take a very long time and a lot of money, which we don't really have. The hallways had cracks and fallen plaster - oddly painted door frames etc, so this seemed like the best thing to tackle first. Front of the house being decorated in March, so at least the DHL man will think we've smartened up our act .

I imagine this stripy jumper could be nice, without the corsage. Could be cream and black though.. Who'd have thought Monsoon would be having a moment?

Afternoon Wise Ladies!

Uber quick post from me whilst the babies are asleep (Day 4 of new routine - so far so good...).

notyummy - happy birthday for yesterday!

Loving that some of you have old period homes to renovate .

Hmm, this stirring I hear is not written on the schedule, better go and explain to Emme

I know red- not everyone has the fine taste that we share! :)

I have a lovely convex mirror in my bedroom- nothing expensive but v pretty. I have had a couple of wonderful vintage things from this seller (this beautiful mirror has sadly already sold). Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to be selling as much nowadays.

It sounds as if you really need to do some bits and bobs to your house- it can be v expensive and it's hard to wait for years to fix things that you really dislike! We were lucky when we moved in (Edwardian semi) as everything was in good condition. Of course, it means that we haven't done much other than things which were really not to our taste/ involved a quick paint job. Next time, I would love to find something that required more work but it is DH's idea of a nightmare!

Forgot to say, I saw the interior of India Knight's house in Living, etc some while back and I'm sure she has a mural in her hallway by Charlotte Mann. It was really v striking! she also had a really lovely wooden hobby horse with a gorgeous fabric head. I remember looking around at the time but not finding anything as nice.

Hope your DS is feeling better today!

That is a fine example Looby! I too have an inexpensive convex in my bedroom, a porthole-y type one that reminded me of The Arnolfini Marriage.

I'll swap houses with you! Would love to just be able to paint a few bits and have it how we want it.

Bloss, Monsoon top is very nice. Could Monsoon be the new Phase Eight?!

Roma I now have 6 prints from the V&A on the way to me, including the Charlotte Mann (am justifying this as DH's birthday present - loves books, loves graphic art). Oops.

Wasn't this a W&A thread title of sorts? I toyed with it, but decided it was a bit too of the 'Keep Calm And Carry On' variety for displaying Although still very beautiful.

I love convex mirrors - have a cheapo one bought many moons ago from antique shop which needs repainting. We painted hallway Farrow and Ball Light Stone which I think is close to a nice warm taupe so maybe a bit beige for you? But quite neutral, good for displaying prints.

Has anybody bought the high-waisted skinnys from Gap - I bought a pair on the weekend, but wonder if they will give enormously like much of GAP jeanery. Interestingly they were sized UK10, US4 which departs from usual GAP practice of branding a US6 a 10. At last, a GAP jean for us muffin tops!

florence yes the Gap skinnies stretch massively IME.

Hmm. I was eyeing up those Gap high-waisted skinnies on Saturday. My Notify jeans ripped right down the back this weekend. I urgently need another pair of jeans and I want skinnies so I can buy the Tod's ballerinas with ribbons and tie them up over them. But I hate jeans that bag and sag... Any other ideas?

Nudie are amazing, IMO. I have these, but I think the High Kai's are meant to be great (in fact, think someone here spoke highly of them).

Bonsoir I think its just any jeans that contain a lot of stretch that tend to sag and bag.

In the past I have found Lee jeans hold their shape very well. Also Uniqlo quite good.

Actually, my Notify jeans had a lot of lycra and they didn't sag and bag (the fabric was über fragile though). Maybe that was the justification for the squillions of Euros they cost...

Were the Gap ones the more expensive range? I bought some pannelled skinnies in the autumn (think they were £55-ish RRP (bought with 30% voucher of course...) and they have kept their shape well. The style I bought isn't available now so can't link, sorry.

I think the grass is always greener (regarding houses discussion) :)

V&A prints are lovely- let us know how you get on!

I have pretty much always bought Gap jeans and found them pretty good. Mine tend to develop holes in the knees before they become too baggy around the bottom!