Made In Margs: The diary of a renovation #3

Things are progressing slowly but surely in the old peoples bungalow, as unfortunately in order to knock down the rather unattractive living room ‘arch’ we need to put in steels. Margate builders may turn up on time and want to chat for hours over a cup of tea, but speed doesn’t seem to be their ‘thing’ so we have been waiting for what seems like months, to get quotes.

But taking things slowly has its advantages and I have had time to clear out our clutter in London and organise all those  ‘housey’ things that have been annoying me for years.

Having had my parents 1960s furniture in storage for two years, its been great to get it out and use it. It fits perfectly into the house and I’m so glad I didn’t get rid of it. The two 1950s wing back chairs – that have been a constant in our family for many years – have been beautifully renovated by the very clever Kate Hill – who I know from years ago working at London College of Fashion. It turns out she now lives full time in Margate and has moved from fashion to upholstery and has a workshop in her lovely back garden. I can highly recommend her work and you can check out her chairs here.

I have got quite used to no carpets or kitchen and a revolting bathroom, but painting the bedrooms white, installing a new bed and rug from a lovely local company Orikka, has made all the difference. We also have new white wooden blinds – for that coastal chic look – from our local curtain shop, Whites of Kent. Mr White himself came round to measure up (wearing a tie) and the whole experience was wonderfully professional in that way that only good old fashioned family shops are.

This week we received delivery of our new bathroom tiles from Bert & May – their showroom is worth a visit for interiors inspiration alone – which look great. We also found similar styles locally at Handmade Tiles (but annoyingly has already bought in London) and surprisingly at Tops Tiles Boutique range.

Bert & May’s canal side show room in Hackney

M.A.D has also been busy building a new fence, which he is thoroughly enjoying. After much consideration we decided to go for real grass, so once the fence is finished we are excited to get the turf down. Who knew such things could be so satisfying!

We recently visited the wonderful, but slightly suspect (too many large animals with no explanation as to how they were killed) Powell Cotton Museum and Quex Park, in nearby Birchington. It’s totally bonkers, has a garden centre and a farm shop (I love a farm shop) and is well worth a visit for garden inspiration.

Quex Park and the Powell Cotton Museum

It’s a slow process but not so stressful when you don’t live in the house full time and when it all gets to much we head down to the beach at sunset and breathe……..