General

Just love the way this creative couple have let their imaginations run wild – in the smallest room of the house.

If ever there was a space in your home where you can inject a bit of wow factor, the cloakroom (aka downstairs loo!) is undoubtedly a room that you can definitely get away with going a little (or a lot) OTT.

I snapped this ‘behind the scenes’ shot during a fabulous shoot at a wonderful Georgian home in Oxfordshire – more to come on that soon.

The hard-working pair have totally transformed the dowdy property into a truly elegant home. It’s full of surprise touches, such as this amazing room with mirrored metro wall tiles from Walls and Floors, geometric wallpaper from Harlequin, and funky lights from Heal’s and Next.

If you’d love your own home to be featured in one of the many national magazines I write for, drop me a line at mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call 01243 792379.

Oh, and I’m also currently looking for stylish, wow factor bathroom makeovers. If yours oozes style, something a little bit different, and you happen to have a ‘before’ shot, do get in contact – it would be great to hear from you.

Loving the rich autumnal colours of Neptune’s latest collection. This display, featuring mustard cushions from their Laura range, stopped me in my tracks during a recent visit to Neptune’s fabulous new store in Farnham. If you live nearby or are in the area, pop in – it’s certainly worth a visit.

Fantastic to catch up with lovely homeowner friend Carrie Brixey at Design Vintage – an excellent home accessories store and café, located in a stunning converted barn in the heart of rural West Sussex.

Having discovered that Design Vintage was actually right on my doorstep, my first drop-in was on two wheels while out road cycling around the gorgeous South Downs on a rather blustery day.

The store, which is in the village of West Stoke, close to the Kingley Vale Nature Reserve, is in an idyllic spot – the kind of place  you instantly unwind and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

After asking the local postie for directions, I spotted the Design Vintage sign (you need to keep your eyes peeled for it!) and, in lycra-clad manner, arrived to be greeted by the super, friendly manager, Lisa Brewster.

Well, that was just the first of many trips to Design Vintage’s rural branch – their first shop, owned by Lisa Brass, is based in Brighton, East Sussex.

With a superb range of stylish furniture and gorgeous homewares from lamps to rugs, cushions to one-off vintage finds, Design Vintage is perfect for combining a spot of retail therapy with a good ole natter.

Turns out that Carrie (I featured her charming cottage a little while ago in Country Homes & Interiors), is also a Design Vintage fan – and it’s easy to understand why. They’ve really got it right here from the thoughtfully-curated stock to the background music – not to mention the delicious chocolate cake – it definitely is a ‘go-to’ destination. If you haven’t already visited, I’d recommend a trip.

If you’d love your own home to be featured in one of the national magazines I write for, drop me a line at mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call 01243 792379.

Great to meet the very talented Vanessa Arbuthnott and her fabulous team at the colourful showroom in Cirencester during a swift trip to the Cotswolds this week. Such a warm welcome. 🙂

Little splash of colour to cheer up a dreary day. Looking out of my office window, it’s hard to believe this snap was taken on the hottest day of the year! Keeping fingers crossed that the sun will reappear for tomorrow’s shoot at a real hidden gem of a home that’s just a stone’s throw from the water’s edge.

After a five-hour trip from West Sussex to Cornwall, it was an absolute delight to step into this gorgeous coastal home and receive such a very warm welcome.

Luckily (considering the rather touch-and-go weather we’re having this year!), it was a case of sunshine all the way for the memorable, fun-filled shoot with photographer colleague, Andreas von Einsiedel.

Creative interior designer Suzy Smith and her husband David went to huge lengths, jumping through all sorts of hoops, to transform this ancient property into an incredibly stylish home. I just adore the penthouse suite with its amazing panoramic views and classic navy-and-white scheme. In fact, I couldn’t resist taking this quick behind-the-scenes snap (below).

To find out how this hardworking pair tackled their ambitious renovation to create a stylish, relaxed home with a gentle nod to its breathtaking seaside surroundings, pick up a copy of this month’s (August 2016) 25 Beautiful Homes and enjoy a leisurely read.

If you’d love your own home to be featured in one of the national magazines I write for, drop me a line at mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call 01243 792379.

Smith upholstered headboard, Loaf. Nautical-themed cushions, £56 each, Helkat Design. Roman blinds made up in Ian Mankin’s Ticking 01 fabric.

Hats off to Kenton Budd and his wife Tracey who are going from strength to strength with their stylish estate agents, right in the heart of Chichester’s bustling city centre.

When this enterprising pair took the brave step of launching their own business, they’d a clear vision of how they wanted their office to look.

Kenton, who has worked as an estate agent in Chichester for 23 years, explains: “We were determined that it should be a lovely, laid-back and very welcoming space – a real home from home.

“Deciding to buy or sell a house is a big decision, and we want our clients to be able to come and spend time mulling over their options with us, in a relaxed, unpressurised environment.”

Tracey, who has a keen eye for colour and interior design, has certainly worked her magic. As well as embracing the charming character features of this historic building, she has injected an eye-catching mid-century feel into the previously dated scheme.

She says: “When clients sit down on our comfy sofa or armchair, they often comment that it feels as though they’ve just walked into a cosy living room, rather than a stark office, which is exactly what we wanted.”

With many properties on the books and houses selling like hotcakes, there’s no doubt that this friendly, hardworking couple are more than making their mark in the area.

They definitely get my vote for the most elegant and approachable estate agents around…a breath of fresh air!

For further information browse www.kentonbudd.com

Kenton Budd client, Simon Slater, says: ‘I strongly recommend that before deciding who should sell your house, you speak to Kenton Budd. 

 Along with over 20 years of experience, he brings almost- forgotten, much-missed and old-fashioned values to the business. He is courteous, patient, reassuring and has such an enthusiasm for the job at hand that sometimes I felt it was his house, not ours, that he was selling. 

 Kenton goes that extra mile and then some, and that really does make a world of difference.’

So thrilled with the coverage of Carole and David Sweetnam’s gorgeous coastal home in this month’s Good Housekeeping magazine.

This super couple’s stunning three-storey home, located right on the beach at Bracklesham Bay in West Sussex, was once a tired little bungalow in desperate need of a total renovation.

Thankfully, with help from their enterprising next-door neighbours Clare and Murray Johnstone, who own nearby seaside café, Billy’s on the Beach, the property has been turned into a striking New England-style beach house.

Carole explains: “David and his sister Sarah enjoyed many magical family holidays here when they were growing up, so it’s a very special place which means a lot to all of us. We’re thrilled that we are continuing that tradition – only now in 21^st Century style.”

It was sun all the way for the fabulous shoot with photographer colleague Andreas von Einsiedel. We’d such a great day with Carole and interior designer Clare Lockwood.

To find out more, pick up a copy the August issue of Good Housekeeping magazine.

If you fancy staying here yourself, the great news is that you can, since Long Island is available to rent. To find out more, browse Long Island at www.sussex-holidays.co.uk

To check out Billy’s on the Beach, visit, www.billysonthebeach.co.uk. It’s an extremely popular spot, with far-reaching sea views towards the Isle of Wight, and delicious food.

If you’d love your own home to be featured in one of the national magazines I write for, drop me a line at mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call 01243 792379.

What a fantastic week! The highlight was a ‘magical mystery tour’ to the heart of rural West Sussex, where I met talented ceramicist and landscape artist Sian van Driel in this absolutely jaw-dropping location.

It’s the first time that Sian has exhibited both her atmospheric paintings and ceramics in her studio. I can honestly say, when she pulled back both doors of the ancient barn to reveal the captivating view out over the rolling South Downs, I was speechless – quite a novelty!

Sian’s time-warp studio and the beautiful, peaceful gardens right next door are open from 11am to 5pm until Sunday, July 3, and I can definitely recommend a visit.

The address is Harwards Green Farmhouse, Stopham, near Pulborough. It’s a little tricky to find but, if you need directions, Sian’s number is 07791 245673.

Apart from visiting Sian, I’ve been out taking snaps at a wonderful coastal home renovation, writing features and spreading good news to a homeowner who is thrilled that her pretty cottage will soon be appearing in a national interiors magazine.

Hope your week has been a busy one too, and that the sun shines on all of us this weekend. Have a great one.