Accidental Placement

Good friends of mine are wrestling with the mother of all renovations - a real toll-taker, not for the faint of heart. But they are parting this red sea with admirable fortitude. I spent some time there today discussing color options, when my train of thought was interrupted by the temporary placement of the grand pier mirror - sun-drenched and patiently leaning against the wall, awaiting its command performance on the diningroom mantel...

Chandelier detail

Images by Philippa Berrington-Blew

Our House at the end of our Street (III)

The continuing saga of our house goes as follows: After we finally managed to persuade the previous owner to part with the building, our next challenge was to 'oust' the two tenants on the first floor (hereinafter known as Weirdo #1 and Weirdo #2). Their sole possessions consisted of two mattresses, two computers, a shotgun, and a cat with elephantitis of the cajones. Over the years, it had just simply lifted its tail and sprayed. The next order of business for us - at this point un-jaded and not yet cynical - was to paint the two drawing rooms and the diningroom (the kitchen we would tackle later.) But, ridding the house of its odor (thanks to Weirdo #1, Weirdo #2 and Mr. Balls) would prove to be the most difficult. Thankfully, when the aforementioned duo went to jail for fraud, the odor finally went away. It is not known where Mr. Balls ended up...

Peep Show

The only stripping that's going on in our bedroom right now...
(Full details of renovation to follow).

Photograph by Craig Strydom