Her Indoors

There are no published recipes for ‘happy homes’….is your dream home one where everything is new and immaculate…a minimalist empty shell even…something akin to the Konishi Gaffney and Adam Toleman homes below? Or a shabby chic nest, stuffed with bric a brac ‘found’ in markets in France, complete with faded, peeling flock wallpaper and threadbare Persian rugs….?

It really could not be more personal, more ‘up to you’!!

If you are one of the ‘everything new gang’ how would your home seem if it had nothing new in it? If all the furnishings were inherited or acquired or bought in junk shops?

If you are a shabby chic type, how would you feel if forced to move into a Grand Design style, minimalist, masterpiece?

Either might be quite refreshing actually….

I would say, though, whichever you feel you are, beware of being over-co-ordinated and self-conscious.

If your home is very new and in control, try not to let it become too ‘matchy-matchy’…pay a visit to somewhere like The Home Barn Shop

I so want to live near here..really annoyingly…they are in Buckinghamshire…But they do sell online! My idea of heaven.

If your home is never-endingly retro, vintage…full of second hand tea towels…do consider a trip to John Lewis…it’s really good honestly!

Of course, just clean and tidy would probably do a lot of people: shabby what?? minimalism??

Certainly not a ‘normal home’, but, undoubtedly, a happy one! This beautiful modern house was built by Edinburgh based architect, Kieran Gaffney and his wife, designer, Makiko Konishi. Makiko is Japanese and the oriental influence is obvious, but sensitively relevant to it’s Scottish context.

www.konishigaffney.com

Had the enquiry below from my cousin:

Hi Alison,
We are painting the outside of our house and I wonder if Her Indoors can give me some advice: Do you know where I would get contemporary satin finish chrome door furniture – ie knob, knocker and letter box? Any suggestions gratefully appreciated’.

Crumbs, Gaby, am I meant to be some kind of professional or something?? I only just managed to scrape a degree in fingerpainting from Glasgow Art School, way back, in the eighties, and I’ve forgotten it all by now!!

Well I did ask around a bit…. and got this most useful reply below from our friend, local architect, Jane Paterson:

Alison,

Re. your email of Friday, we would recommend FSB ironmongery which is
available from Allgood . On our own house we used Trapex . I suggest your cousin calls one or other to get recommendations for her external specification – they are always quite helpful.

Jane

Jane’s own house is certainly very ‘contemporary’…try and spot it on her website!

Paterson Architects

Big news in the Gibb Family…we have just treated ourselves to a lovely Fiat Multipla

A car we have both always loved – the old, original shape…a sort of big bubble car….the Ferrari of the family car vrrooom!

I could debate the similarities / differences between Scottish and Scandinavian style as long all night – but nothing matches Italian!

Just hope you don’t mind if I send you a wee text whenever we break down – it wouldn’t be a problem picking us up would it??

Italian style – yes – Italian engineering??

Falkirk based architect, Adam Toleman, http://www.arka-architects.co.uk/ always comes up with brilliant solutions…his clients homes are never ‘normal’…enjoy a look around his own family home…

Adam’s homes always ‘flow’ beautifully…you instinctively know your way around somehow.