The Narrow house is a beautiful renovation project by FORMstudio. The architects have converted a terrace building dating back to the late 19th century into a light calm oasis in the middle of the city.

London is getting extremely crowded, and the housing situation is becoming a very difficult problem to solve. Although I am not particularly in favour of converting old office/commercial properties into residential use, somehow we have to find a balance in this ever growing capital. Well, if you have the budget, projects like this are worth it. The conservation and renovation of an existing building is going to be always better than building a new one from scratch, specially in a city with such an amazing architectural heritage.

The space calls for simplicity over luxury, natural materials, neutral colours, unique art, handmade furniture and home wares…A good example would be the Folklore shop look, see below.

Wall hooks from my shop online 

Project by FORM studio | Photos by Bruce Hemming

NEW BATHROOM = HAPPY ME

I finally have a new bathroom, and it didn't take long...

I wanted to change it about 6 years ago, 

I started to look for the pieces and buy the things back in June,

7 days of hard work, strangers in my house, dust and mess,

Not much money left in the back account

After paying a huge bill I still have to paint the walls myself...

BUT I have the so much wanted NEW BATHROOM. The problem is that I don't want to use it, I keep looking at it, cleaning it, polishing the bloody slate, and simply admiring where all my money has gone...still have an issue with the water pressure (boiler will be changed when more money come my way), but of course Missi doesn't seem to have any problems testing the waters. He was the first one to jump in, well I assume it was him, because I didn't see him and because those are clearly not my footprints. 

Jokes apart, I am truly happy with it, I had my first hot bath and almost cried haha...would I choose slate again?? ummm not sure, I will tell you in a few years, you have to get a very experienced fitter to fit the stones without breaking the edges, (mine were good but still managed to crack some of it). Would I have spot lights? YES but you still need some stronger lighting near the mirror area. White tiles, yes and yes, I like the clean and fresh look, a bit dark? don't think so, feels clean and smart. Final conclusion, it is worth the money, waiting time, and hard work, now I will save to do the Kitchen, maybe in 2025?

BATHROOM MADNESS

Hello hello, December is here and I haven't done any decorations around the house yet, in fact my house looks and feels more like a building site that my dear cosy home. I am having the bathroom renovated right now. OMG I never thought that this process will bring me so much stress, but hey I guess you have to suffer before you enjoy...I have been wanted to change the bathroom from day 1 (nothing wrong with it, apart of having a cracked basin with a gold tab for cold and another for hot water, and English concept I don't particularly understand or like, ugly tiles, laminated floor, and ugly all over. I was very naive to think that I will do it in a couple of years, same with the kitchen, but the reality is that when you run your own business and you are at the starting stage of it, all the money that comes in, goes back into the company. I still work as a freelancer graphic designer for a company, that is how I can sustain my life between London and Gran Canaria, feed myself, a greedy cat, and keep growing the business.

This Summer I decided I had enough and that I was going to have a new bathroom that I really like, practical, modern, and a place to relax and enjoy, I know I have a problem, I admit it here, I can't live in a place I don't find comfortable and beautiful to my eyes, nothing to do with money but more with my style, I am equally happy with a cheap thing than I am with a £1,000 one. So after making the scary decision of spending all this money, (that suposse to be invested back in the business) I went ahead to tackle this new exciting project at times, and stressful and tiring at others...and here we are November and still going...finally after 5 work quotes, countless visits to bathroom stores, many many hours spent on Pinterest, (I have managed to gather a nice compilation of bathroom ideas), magazines, books, changes of ideas, tiles, pieces, etc...the bathroom work has finally started last Monday and is due to finish mid this week.

CURRENT BATHROOM AND WORK IN PROCESS

INSPIRATION 

My bathroom is small, and without a window, I had a small budget and limited space, so I have kept the design simple and monochrome. Initially I was going to use white metro tiles, but have decided to go for big matt white tiles for the walls and grey slate for the floor and front of the room. I will add some vintage pieces, my wooden hooks, old pictures, to give it mixed look, images below from my pinterest bathroom ideas folder.

THE NEW BATHROOM MATERIALS AND PIECES

I am so happy about the new bathroom, although right now I am not enjoying the process much, no toilet for a few days, not shower for 2 weeks, dust everywhere, mess all over, but I know that soon I will have my first hot bath in the new bathroom, and that will be my reward to this madness and hard work. If you are having renovations in your house I wish you luck, and by the way would love to see the photos, I will post the new bathroom ones as soon as it is finished!

Tiles ToppsTiles, bathroom Pieces Bathstore, work by Adema.

Amazing sunny renovation!

I am in Gran Canaria, got here yesterday after having missed my flight from London on Monday, due to a huge accident on the motor-way that leads to the airport. Had to buy a new ticket and wait till yesterday to hug my mum and kiss my boyfriend...but learned an important lesson, that sometimes things happen, that are out of your control, and you better relax, find a solution and hope for the best, they say money does not provide you with happiness, but I tell you, it does helps and makes your life easier and more comfortable...

...I dream with one day, buying an old property in the island and renovate it to my taste, that is what my friend Jorge has done with this tiny apartment by the beach. He took a huge risk in taken down the whole old internal structure and almost starting from zero, but his brave decision has paid off, as he now has created and amazing space, full of luxuries and clever solutions, such as the corridor kitchen to save space, and open up the living space to the exterior, by placing huge front and back windows . Here are some before and after pictures, and if you are planning a visit to my sunny Gran Canaria, the apartment is for rent here.

Amazing views and five minutes from the San Agustin beach.