The Dandelion House Blog

Feathering Our Nests .... A tale of two Dandelions.

As May arrives on our doorsteps, we the Dandelions thought we would take this chance to introduce ourselves and let you into our homes and lives.

Their are two dandelions who live in The Dandelion House, but The Dandelion House isn't an actual place, its the home in your dreams, the beautiful things we surround ourselves with, the creative imaginings of two ladies who live very different lives.

One of the dandelions lives in the town, and when we say town, we mean right in the heart of the city.  Nichole is the town dandelion, she is the mum who lives with the most creative and imaginative children (chips off the old block) in a little oasis of bohemian charm in north London.

The other dandelion, Janice, escaped the hustle and bustle of London and lives in the countryside. When we say countryside, we mean on a hill, in a village with no shops, no public transport (except the odd bus) and only a village pub with a thatched roof to keep her sane. Four cats are her constant companions rescued from a barn down the lane.

Two very different lifestyles but one great big love of our surroundings. Two Leos, yes, Leos love their home comforts and we prove that wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, you can still have a lovely place to call home.

Nichole and Janice are like two peas in a pod, one is chalk and one is cheese. Like ying and yang, two different viewpoints with one vision for how we like things to look and feel and this week it became the tale of two birds, one a Robin and one a Swan.

While we were busy feathering our nests with new colours and textures, mainly using Annie Sloans amazing chalk paint, the actual birds of nature were doing the same but with twigs, reeds, and anything they could find. Two little Robins making a nest in the window box of Nicholes flat in London and a two magnificent Swans making their floating nest on the Grand Union Canal in Bucks near Janices home.

Meanwhile, back in the Dandelion world we were talking hallways and landings.
Janice was putting colour in and Nichole was taking it out.

Paint colours work differently in different spaces, dependent on light and type of room. Vibrant colours can be too much for a bedroom but a hallway can be just the place to add a splash of colour.

Hallway wall in Barcelona Orange Bedroom Wall in Antoinette pink
both paints made by Annie Sloan

http://www.anniesloan.com/ is where you can find more information on this paint. Mostly it is used to transform furniture but we decided we liked the texture of it on the wall. Dont try to get the perfect finish, think outside the box, its velvety texture looks good when its slightly patchy, it is more akin to the plaster walls of an old house. The extremely matt finish means the colour changes from night to day, depending on the light source. It is vibrant yet not garish, it is bright and also calm.

We like a splash of colour where we can, sometimes though it may be in furnishings and objects. Colour works well as a feature wall rather than a whole room and if you like lots of pictures and cushions and treasures in a tight area then you may want to just keep it simple and go for white and light!

So here we are, wishing you all a very beautiful, creative and happy May!

Love,
J&N xx