Moving into my new Berkeley Home

Posted by Nick Burrin, on February 18th, 2010, under Lifestyle, RSS

I have recently purchased a new three bedroom apartment from Berkeley Homes, overlooking the sea in West Sussex. I have to say that in my search for a new build apartment, I was struck by the quality and attention to detail of Berkeley Homes. For example the apartment benefits from high quality sound insulation (very important when there are two children running around!), superior double glazing, and an extremely efficient boiler with under floor heating. I have an en-suite shower room with a very well designed walk in shower, plus a separate bathroom, where again the quality of the bath, basin, toilet and taps are second to none. There is a beautifully fitted kitchen with a white stone work top and high quality stainless steel electrical appliances.

Before moving in I painted the apartment white throughout and installed wooden flooring in the living room and kitchen which I painted brilliant white. The rest of the apartment is fitted with off white pure wool carpet. Then I was ready to go, and really enjoyed picking pieces of our furniture to complement the interior.

Furnishing the Apartment

In the living room I have two Chelsea 2.5 Seater Sofas, covered in white fabric and two Newport Coffee Tables. I have chosen the beautifully hand carved Augusta Mirror to bounce the light around the room, and whilst the interior of the flat is very contemporary in design the exterior of the building is very Art Deco, and the elaborate design of the Augusta Mirror really echoes this contrast. In the dining area I have a New England Oak Dining Table with white legs, and Newport White Dining Chairs with white seat pads. I have to say that it has created a brilliant space for living and working in as I quite often do a lot of my creative processes at home.
As there are three bedrooms, my son who is only six came up with a brilliant idea. He said to me “Dad… if we both sleep in the single bedroom, and you design a set of bunk beds, then we can use the other spare room as our playroom!” “Brilliant!” I said to him, and so I designed a New England Bunk Bed for them, which they have in their bedroom along with a Manhattan Chest of Drawers and a Manhattan Bedside Table. In their playroom we have a 2.5 seater Chelsea Sofa and Armchair, and New England Coffee Table and Side Table, and their television and DVD player sits on a New England Television Cabinet.

We are all now very settled in our new home, very much enjoying apartment living by the sea.

Tags: "Berkeley Homes", apartment, hand carved mirror, new build apartment, new home, West Sussex, white furnishings, white interior, White Mirror

   No Comments

The UK Coastline

Posted by Steph, on February 16th, 2010, under Lifestyle, RSS

Is it any wonder that as a nation we have an ongoing love affair with the coast?

The United Kingdom is a very special place to live, as our amazing coastline is accessible to all of the country’s population. Nowhere in the coutry is more than a two hour journey away from the coast.  It is thought the furthest place from the sea is a village located just north of Tamworth called Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire – located about 73 miles from the coast.

The distance around the coast of mainland Britain is estimated at around 5000 miles, but when you consider the 1000+ islands that make up our country, the distance increases to around 12,500kms or 7,760 miles. The coastline of Spain – where many of us still head for beach holidays – is just 4694kms – meagre in comparison!

With such a distance of our own beautiful coastline on our doorsteps, it is therefore not hard to understand why all things coastal are special to so many of us.

For those of us who do have to make the two hour journey to reach the coast, why not bring the coast to you by choosing coastal style white furniture and accessories for you home?

For more information on the coastline near you, or to help choose your next UK Seaside holiday destination, take a look at the UK Coast Guide.

Tags: coast, coastal style furniture, The Seaside Company, uk coastline, uk holiday

   No Comments

What is on your bedside table?

Posted by Steph, on February 14th, 2010, under New England News, RSS

Bedside tables come in an array of designs, sizes and shapes. Whether you opt for a standard white bedside table with simply a drawer and open area below, or a bedside table with nothing but drawers, a bedside table can end up being a very personal piece of furniture.

What do you keep on your bedside table? Is your bedside always a place of complete organisation, clean, crisp and uncluttered, or does it transform from its orderly daytime appearance to becoming a resting place for the day’s accessories overnight?

I would like to think my bedside table is a fairly organised affair, with just a small table lamp, alarm clock and coaster on it at most times. In the shelves below there are always a couple of books, maybe a magazine or two and the odd page that has been ripped out and is still waiting to find a new home. Overnight my bracelet and glasses sit on the top, but in general it is a place I like to keep clutter free.

On the other side of the bed, my partner has a bedside cabinet which always seems to be the home for various objects that can only be described as “things”! He has a small table lamp, always a book or two and a small tin overflowing with coppers. Car keys, house keys, his mobile phone and wallett make a frequent appearance. Sometimes a pocket knife or two will be left there, along with a collection of scraps of paper with scribbled notes. The drawer is a true “man drawer” holding a vast array of things that one day will surely come in handy. In the cupboard below are, amongst other things, a collection of envelopes of seeds.

I wonder what this all says about us?!!

Go on, tell us… what do you have on your bedside table?!

Tags: bedroom furniture, bedside cabinet., bedside table

   No Comments