Let's put you on the road to recovery!
August 20, 2020

Freshen your living space up with top tips for a spring makeover...


So you've spent the last five months of lockdown looking at the couch and it's time for change. Or a straightjacket. We'd recommend the former because no matter what you pair it with, a straightjacket just doesn't say "wow"!

The good news is we can help with both your couch and your sanity by restoring both... Re-upholstery is our middle name (or would be if we had a last name) and it's something we specialise in. So whether it's a grungy three-seater looking like the 80s threw up on it or gran's old wingback with its original 1940s floral, we're here for you. 
In fact, as spring is just around the corner, it's really a great time to spruce things up - and we don't mean digging out the feather duster and donning a really fetching apron - so let's look at a few easy ways you can change the look and feel of a room... 


As we've said - a spot of recovering is always a great way to start, whether it's a couch, armchair, cushions or the like... For the average two-seater couch you'll be needing around 12m of fabric. Add a couple of metres for a three-seater. Wingbacks come in at around 7m while the average armchair requires something in the region of 6m. Pop into the shop to look at our amazing fabrics or book a consult with us to chat about your ideas and brainstorm with us.



Next up... blinds and curtains. Windows are, um, the windows to your home's soul. Or something like that. So the way you accent them can change the entire aspect of a room. 




Blinds come in various different formats from roller and vertical to Venetian and Roman (seems like the Italians cornered the blind market at some point in our past). We can help you choose the best option to achieve the look you are going for. And if you have no idea what look you're going for, we can also help. 



Curtains, of course, come in all shapes and sizes. The good news is we make to measure, meaning that your curtains are yours and won't be seen anywhere else! You can go for a sheer, diaphanous, soft and floaty look or a heavier, block-out, banish-all-light approach. Or a combination of both to create a layered option that works well, especially in larger, open-plan spaces. Again, make an appointment to pop in and chat to us, check out fabrics and look at your options. 




Scatters and soft furnishings like throws, tablecloths and the like can also have a dramatic visual effect on a room. They also help you to easily change a colour scheme or theme. Combine different sizes and prints for effect and don't be afraid to add pops of vibrant colour to complement your existing furnishings. 



All of the above are custom-made in our on-site workshop at the back of our showroom, which is where our upholstery magic also takes place. And of course, our showroom is packed with wonderful "objets d'art" and lots of knick-knacks and finishing touches that are perfect for picking up a tired room. From beautiful hand-woven baskets, lamps and throws to powder glass beads, light fittings and linen - and everything in between - there's no shortage of inspiration in store!




Our range of amazing floor mats, rugs and carpets are also hot on trend at the moment, and selling like hotcakes. Indeed, fresh floor coverings are also a fabulous way to add to your spring makeover and we've got some fantastic options for you from all-weather outdoor rugs and woven mats to intricate, colourful and quirky carpets. The antique, faded overdye look is still very much a trend for 2020 and combines wonderfully well with African-inspired décor. Or opt for a woven hemp or bold tribal textile print.



There are a few rules of thumb to remember when buying a rug. Firstly, if you're adding it to a completed, furnished room your existing furnishing will guide you in making a selection that "fits" not just the space but the look and feel of the room. But if you're going for a complete makeover, it's a good idea to pick your rug and add your furnishings around it.



A rug or mat should always complement a space rather than fighting with it. It also needs to fit in with your lifestyle in terms of wear and tear and practicality. In bedrooms, we tend to recomment cotton, wool or silk rugs with a high pile that suit low traffic areas but feel wonderful under bare feet.



Flat weaves like kilims are good for high traffic rooms like living rooms and lounges, as are cut pile and wool rugs that are easy to clean. Ditto for dining rooms. And remember when buying for a dining area that your rug needs to be big enough to fit under the chairs as well as the table and provide enough room to pull the chairs out.




Of course, another rather obvious way to change things up at home is to go for a fresh coat of paint. We work with our wonderful partners (and neighbours) Paintsmiths and can recommend their amazing range of fabulous paint options for your home. Whether its giving your walls a new look or painting a piece of furniture, a change of colour is the perfect canvas on which to build your new look. 



So pop in and say "howzit" when you're in town, or pick up the phone and make an appointment for a consultation. See you soon!



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By Kyra Harper August 15, 2023
Back in March of 2020, Bianca and Jana were dusting off their Fez’s and grabbing the pashminas out of storage in preparation to Rock the Casbah! However, as we all know and vividly remember - with March, came the eventual Covid shutdown, and instead of frolicking down the Moroccan streets, we all shut ourselves inside and watched the days tick by… 3 Years later, and now we can finally say - with conviction - that they’re going to Morocco at the start of September! This blog, filled with excitement and curiosity about all the weird and wonderful curios they might find, and endless sourcing they’ll do, stays as a reminder that sometimes plans change, things go awry and there’s not much you can do about it other than persevere - and that we did! So, here’s Bianca and Jana’s innermost thoughts about the trip, 3 years before it came to fruition, enjoy :) We've got our passports out and Jana has already picked out what she's going to wear each day… Come March [September] we'll be heading north with Air France to the Kingdom of Morocco, bright eyed and bushy tailed as we make our base in the ancient city of Marrakesh (also known as Marrakech to the French, but we're not French, so we'll go with the English version until all that fuss about Brexit is sorted out) - This turned into a year long negotiations trade, and now us outsiders would pay nearly double what we used to if we visit the UK - thankfully our flight is direct!! We'll be looking for inspiration and will be investigating what's there that we could possibly bring back to The Hoed. We can't wait to experience the atmosphere and afro-arabic influences of this amazing place as we visit the celebrated souks and off-the-beaten track artists and craftsmen that make Marrakesh so special. We're desperate to see the beautifully hand-crafted furniture, textiles, fabrics, rugs, carpets, objets d'art, accessories, lighting… anything that catches our eye and could possibly be brought back south. Berber mats and rugs are definitely on our list, as are the kind of furnishings you might find in a gorgeous Bedouin tent. If you think about it, the Bedouin refined the art of "glamping" into an artform - fabulous carpets on the ground, soft, billowing fabrics hung here and there, plump cushions spread on the ground, intricate leatherwork and carved wood, patinated metal… Total Glamping vibes! We just love all of it and will be tracking as much of it down as we can. We'll also have an eye or three out for wonderful ceramics and glassware and wonderful lamps that give off soft, filtered light.  For us it's about workmanship, so we'll hopefully be finding the people who make furniture and ceramics using techniques that have been passed down over countless generations meaning that everything we look at will have its own, and its own special story. Our mission is to share those stories with you and, if it's feasible, bring some of that special workmanship home to the Rainbow Nation. We're most definitely inspired and are sure this is going to be a truly special trip! Counting the sleeps till then! Less than a month to go now - we will be keeping the updates going on our social channels as well as another few blog posts to explain in detail our wild adventures - Stay tuned!
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