February 2012
3 posts
8 tags
Fifty one Bagels please
Oh, and one of those beautiful looking Pain Au Chocolat, and two of those Almond Croissants please, and… It’s funny how family traditions start, we live a good hour away from London, but regularly get up on a Sunday, decide we’d like a family jaunt, and off we go. We’ve been doing this for over 10 years now, but, without fail, there are a couple of traditions that have to be...
8 tags
Eyes wide open. Part II
Following on from Part I, I glimpsed the interior of the Cathedral through open doors, and it made me stop; my love of found type, ecclesiastical antiques and lighting made sure of that, so in I went, camera in hand. Inside as out, the wealth of inspiration was overwhelming, a thousand and one handcrafted typefaces, gilded and coloured hundreds of years ago, monastic wooden seating against dark...
7 tags
Eyes wide open. Part I
Beauty surrounds us, no matter where we are or live, all we have to do sometimes, is stop. Take a look around, soak up the history, the architecture, the decay; all beautiful in their own unique way. I walked around the Georgian quarter of Leicester recently, and soon became aware that once i’d opened my eyes, there was an overwhelming amount of beauty, right on my own doorstep. After an...
January 2012
4 posts
8 tags
Homemade bread, one of life's simplest pleasures
Weekends wouldn’t be right without some kind of event revolving around food, this weekend, Spelt turned out to the star of the show. Spelt is an exceptional grain that’s been used here in England since 500 BC or so, the Romans loved it, it’s really healthy and has the most wonderful earthy, nutty taste. We recently visited the National Trust’s Stainsby Mill, a working...
9 tags
Culinary pleasures and honesty in the Eden Project...
A couple of months ago, we visited the Eden Project and we all loved it; beautiful domes full of fragrant Mediterranean scent and the hot mysterious air of the Rainforest. We explored thousands of rare botanical specimens, and enjoyed the shear uniqueness of its sunken and protected setting, but then it was past 2pm and we were hungry. As well as botanical fragrancies we caught tantalising...
10 tags
There's something in the Cornish air
Freedom to play and to dream, freedom to be, even just for a little while. I get restless when I can’t get to the Cornish coast, no more so than this time of year, it could be that past generations of my family have both lived and loved there, it could be our name fits, or it could just be that the Cornish air is different. As a family, we try and get down at least once every year, out of...
8 tags
Decorations are for life, not just for Christmas
A few weeks ago, we donned wellies and coats and set off on our annual country expedition in search of a wind fallen branch (or small tree as this years seems to be) for our festive decoration in the Orangery.
Returning triumphantly, we lovingly attached our found timber to the roof and after a couple of hours, it seemed to be secured safely, and of no danger to friends, family or pets who dare...
December 2011
7 posts
4 tags
By invitation only
It is said that the hallway of any home gives guests a glimpse of the owners style; comfortable yet transient with the ability to stand the test of family, friends, pets and occasional purveyors. It is also said to be one of the hardest rooms in the home to decorate and furnish, so what makes a hallway work? Having been slowly restoring a Victorian townhouse for the past 7 years, we’ve had...
6 tags
The Delaunay. Double Eggs Benedict & Chocolate...
Food is important to us here at Eleven Home, and no more so than the perfect Breakfast.
A few years ago, I started to pop into the Wolseley for a secret breakfast whenever i was in the area. Beautifully fresh orange juice, double Eggs Benedict with silky smooth Hollandaise and a rich, dark Chocolate Fondant to finish off, have to be my idea of breakfast heaven. Add to that the spectacular...
8 tags
The London Calling headboard
We’ve finally got around to finishing the London Calling headboard, and we’re seriously happy with it.
A heavy cotton, printed with an 18th Century map of London, the centre of focus being the iconic River Thames running from one pillow to another.
Lay in bed and navigate your way through the historic streets of old London to your favourite places; Spitalfields, St. Paul’s or...
6 tags
We've seen the light
And we like it; a gorgeous, warming light, on both sides of the Eleven guest bed that only heritage filament bulbs could possibly offer. We carefully assembled our various electrical goodies from Urban Cottage Industries: the olive twisted fabric cabling, the antique brass bulb holders and our previously found industrial enamelled shades. We then set about fixing a series of absolutely stunning...
4 tags
A Parcel Arrives...
A few years ago, we found 2 old enamel industrial lampshades, rich deep blue on the outside, cream on the inside, but what made them really special was the gorgeous typographic code powder coated onto the surface. They’ve sat patiently waiting for just the right fittings to make them glow happily again - and their time has come. A parcel arrived from Urban Cottage Industries over the...
11 tags
Tested for Extreme Comfort. The Hallway Bench
Here at Eleven, we take comfort seriously, so when we finished the latest Hallway Bench we put it through the ultimate test - The Brampton Test. Yep, the cat’s name is Brampton, and he likes comfort even more than we do; within an hour of finishing the gorgeous linen cushion, he’d decided that this was going to be his ‘new’ place - we haven’t been able to get near...
November 2011
2 posts
5 tags
Inspired by Nature
Nature never fails to inspire me, one moment the skies are dark and featureless, the next, a visual display more powerful than any us humans can ever strive to create. The depth and beauty of colour set my mind racing; printed fabric for a room screen yet to be refurbished, a giant piece of wall art, a lampshade, the possibilities are endless. Take time to stop and notice the beauty that...
October 2011
2 posts
7 tags
How can old feel contemporary?
A question I keep asking myself as one of the latest offerings from Eleven Home goes onto the wall, but they most definitely can.
We’ve loved collecting battered and broken lanterns for a while now; add candlelight and they give off a warmth not often found, the rusted, worn interiors and cracked bevelled glass only seem to enhance their warming glow.
With careful positioning, these old...
7 tags
The squirrels got there before us
My son and I went on one of our regular Autumn jaunts to the forest, searching for fallen sticks to make Lord of the Rings style walking canes, discovering hidden mushrooms and generally getting lots of gorgeous air and more than a little muddy. We’d been searching for conkers a few weeks ago, and it got me to thinking, we needed to find some wild Sweet Chestnuts to take home and...
September 2011
2 posts
11 tags
An Autumnal English Cobnut Tasting
Back in the 16th century children used to play a game called ‘coblenut’ which, according to legend, could have been the precursor to the game of Conkers (we’ll soon be enjoying the World Conker Championships in Northamptonshire, but that’s another story). Known as the fruit of the hazel tree, Cobnuts weren’t seen as edible treats until the early 1800’s, when a...
7 tags
Sunday morning, freshly baked cinnamon rolls and...
I have to be careful not to let the love of homemade edibles take over these posts, but every time something delicious comes out of the oven, I can’t help taking a few photos. Sunday morning, the rich smell of baking cinnamon rolls reaching every corner of our home, a large pot of espresso in our much loved and rather battered old Bialetti Moka Express on the stove, and we had the makings...
August 2011
1 post
7 tags
Autumn Harvest delivers its first delights to...
We love the seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, all bring something refreshingly new to our daily lives. Slowly we see hints of Autumn creeping in; cooler mornings with slight dew on the green grass, the air smells a little different, somehow fresher, a few leaves are beginning to change colour, and we begin to see some of our favourite seasonal edible treats appear. Some of our friends...
July 2011
2 posts
6 tags
The difference between Vanity & Beauty
Is there a difference between vanity and beauty?
When it comes to mirrors for the home, we think there most definitely is. After all, a mirror is just a means of reflecting an image, either of ourselves, of roomscapes or even light elsewhere in our homes. This isn’t all there is to it though. Ever since the Romans developed a technique of creating crude mirrors by coating blown glass with...
6 tags
Can homemade marshmallows improve your quality of...
A huge yes! Recently, our friend and lovely neighbour, Frances, gave us a copy of what can only be described as a delicious cookbook; Peyton and Byrne British Baking.
Apart from a stunning lilac textured cover with a matt white foil blocked graphic doily, and a simple muted green wrap, the cookbook features a fine collection of British favourites, including homemade marshmallows.
My amazing...
June 2011
3 posts
7 tags
Under the influence of Sir John Soane
Having been introduced to the Soane Museum in London a number of years ago, we realised how utterly gorgeous ancient and worn pieces of architectural stone could look in the right settings.
If it’s a place you’ve never heard of, we’d advise making a beeline to Lincoln Inn Fields the next time you’re looking for a huge chunk of interior inspiration.
From the moment you...
8 tags
A truly epic restoration in Saint Germain by Ralph...
Just over a year ago, Ralph Lauren revealed what can only be described as an epic restoration. Close to 25,000 sq ft of sheer perfection on one of the most beautiful boulevards in Paris; Boulevard Saint Germain. Having managed a 3000 sq ft restoration here at Eleven, we can only imagine the amount of love, care and attention that went into this building, every single detail lovingly...
5 tags
WatchRestoration of the Ralph Lauren Saint Germain property. Originally from Nowness.
May 2011
3 posts
6 tags
And the rains came
We woke this morning to a relaxing sound not heard for what seems like forever; Rain. Whilst the amazing Spring weather we’ve been enjoying here at Eleven Home has been more than welcome, gracing us with warmth and sun over the Easter break and for the Royal Wedding, our gardens and countryside have been starting to look rather neglected by nature. We needed rain. Steadily falling,...
8 tags
Print & Etching Library online and almost ready to...
We’re always looking for fine examples of original prints and etchings; not expensive, unaffordable ones you’re afraid to look at, but ones that give any home warmth. Very shortly, we’ll be launching the Eleven Print & Etching Library, mostly 18th and 19th century offerings, full of uniqueness, gorgeousness and eccentricity. Some may come as sets whilst others individual....
8 tags
Very slow Sourdough Bread for Elevenses
Not another offering, more a way of life. We’d always planned to make this blog more about a way of life rather than just showcasing offerings for Eleven. Until now however, we’ve been so excited about sharing lovely things with you all, we just haven’t got around to it. We love to take time out to enjoy great food and wine with family and friends, we also love to keep things...
April 2011
4 posts
5 tags
We love coming Home at Eleven…
…especially when one twist of these beautiful door handles very definitely means we’re home, and everyone seems to agree. Occasionally we come across things we just can’t help but keep; these handles are the latest. We found them so covered in dirt and dust that it took an age to reveal their hidden beauty. Once we’d finished, we got busy installing them on to the newly painted...
6 tags
Penguin Hunting on a Rainy Day
We’ve had a particular fascination with the printed word for many years now, and as much as we love the gorgeous iPad, nothing can quite replace the beauty of books.
It could be just us, but what joy it brings to take a moment to imagine where they have been, and come from, who may have languished within those elegant typographic pages - books loved, lost and found.
Of all the many...
7 tags
The Eleven Home Workshop
People ask what Home at Eleven actually looks and feels like, so to give you all a peek, we’ve taken a photograph of our workshop filled with just a few items, all of which have the rare qualities it takes to be part of Eleven Home ::
TIMELESSNESS · ELEGANCE · BEAUTY · INDIVIDUALITY Our full website is currently being lovingly handcrafted, and will feature all of our offerings, both found...
3 tags
March 2011
3 posts
6 tags
The Big Beautiful & out and about
We had some fun taking the photographs for our Big Beautiful &; she was tucked into the back of our faithful Coupé, windows down, and driven around our local countryside, looking for places to ‘shoot’ her out and about. Of course, she looks just at home in your home too. Baskerville Italic Ampersand, & what a character she is, we say ‘she’ as the curves are just...
6 tags
The Labour & Wait, Spitalfields Frame
We’ve found this original CWS hessian grain sack from Spitalfields dated around 1920 and carefully undone the edging to reveal it’s full rustic beauty. We’ve then trapped it between 2 sheets of glass in one of the largest Curiosity Frames we’ve ever made.
We’ve already become attached to this one.
4 tags
The Curiosity Picture Frame
Hidden edges, beauty unknown, what lies beneath ordinary mounts. When is came to frame some old, fragile engravings, we wanted to put everything on show, after all, part of their beauty is the aged and fingered edges that would normally have been left unseen and unloved. Two pieces of glass trap the fragile artwork in place and a removable rear frame applies pressure to ensure it doesn’t...
February 2011
1 post
6 tags
The Spring / Summer Orchard Fruitwood Salt &...
One of our few constant offerings, these extremely tactile and beautiful Salt & Pepper pinch pots are lovingly hand-turned by our local crafts lady. She only ever uses English Orchard Fruitwood, pruned or fallen, making them completely unique and environmentally friendly. Everything from pear and apple to walnut and cherry wood is used.
Here at Eleven Home, we feel that the true beauty...