The one you’ve all (maybe) been waiting for – the house tour. OK, so it’s not a room-by-room reveal of the whole place, MTV Cribs style, but it’s as much of a house peek as you’re probably going to get. You can always see bits and pieces of the inside of my home on Instagram stories, but this is a bit more of a detailed update with a look at some of the furniture and accessories that I’ve bought over the past year.
Filming this house update has actually given me low-level anxiety because I’ve realised that there are loads of quite important things we’re still missing – we only have lights in a few of the rooms, for example. Everywhere else is being lit by ugly holder bulbs that have been left poking out of the ceilings and walls. It looks like we’re about to redecorate, except that we’re not. We don’t have the energy to go to the shop to buy the paint, let alone actually paint the walls!
Although I’m still not sure whether we would paint, if we redecorated. Part of me fancies a spot of wallpaper, but then on the other hand, the ceilings and architectural details in the house are so lovely and I worry that paper would detract from them. Paint keeps things nice and clean. Decisions, decisions – this is why nothing gets done. We haven’t even started the downstairs loo, and that was supposed to be the “practice room”.
Anyway, on with the show – there’s an extremely useful section at the start of the video all about finding your style and getting started with your interior decorating. The founder of Andrew Martin, Martin Waller, came all the way to Somerset to help me out with a few pressing decor dilemmas – he’s an absolute design legend, so I asked him some profound questions and caught his answers on film. He didn’t know that I was going to be filming so I am eternally grateful to him for being such a good sport, but also he’s one of the world’s most in-demand designers (he makes things for huge film sets and exhibitions and overhauls the houses of very famous people) and so for him to take a day out of his schedule to see me was very kind.
If you’d like any house details then they are listed below the video on Youtube – click here to see them. Enjoy. Ring that doorbell, ding-dong…
Photo at top of page with thanks to Brintons – they shot some images for their Timorous Beasties collection at my house. You can find the gorgeous collection here.
Paintings! Space for ‘painting of the week’ – also some framed paintings that can be rotated – and all the others absolutely recycled so that poor children can do painting too :-)
Wow your place is gorgeous!
Hi Ruth, i do also agree that carpet is indeed too pretty for any type of man cave conversion, looks more suitable for mini library, relaxation corner etc. Sorry Mr.AMR! However i can understand the importance of man’ s corner in the house so hopefully you can agree on giving up one of the other corners of your house for this one :)
He has a big corner and he needs to stay in it. HAHAHA.
Hi Ruth, i love this Dog from Andrew Martins, but unfortunately could not find it on his website.
Kind regards.
Marina
Sometimes things are limited in number – worth giving the store a call. x
It’s so refreshing to see someone with their own sense of style on YouTube, I see so many houses that are just Pinterest trends. Even if I don’t like some of the items you go for, I can see it works and fits your style. It’s so much more interesting to watch! Also Martin was lovely!
Thanks Sophie! x
I love the Samsung TV/art work! I don’t want to completely get rid of my tv, but I don’t want to look at it the whole time either.
Anne – Linda, Libra, Loca
Post upcoming!!
Oh Ruth, you cracked me up with your suggestion of the peanut packets with the naked woman behind it – for the snooker room!! That was so funny :-) Next to the kitchen is not where the man-cave belongs! Not that I’m totally on your side or anything ;-) But I hope to see that as the kids’ playroom in the next house tour!
Your house is so lovely, and that Samsung TV is a great design!! xx
: )
Your house is beautiful. And I agree, the dining room carpet is too pretty to have a pool table put on it, sorry Mr AMR! Lol
Thank you xx
Hi Ruth, loved this video. If you wanted to consider adding some interest to the dressing room wardrobe doors, you could always think about having antiqued mirror cut to size for the panels. There’s a company that does it in Bath, they do all kinds of different styles. I’ve never used them but some friends have.
OOoh, will look into that! x
Ruth, I think you have found your next vocation. You are doing an amazing job with stylish decorating and have given me an idea for my husbands Christmas present with the lenticular
It’s so cool isn’t it?!
What a lovely looking house! If you’re ever interested in investigating the art world I’d be so happy to send some ideas. My main objectives are always to match people to art by getting a sense of who you are, and making sure you are getting value for money and not paying over the odds at galleries (there are a lot of jokers and sharks out there!). I can send images of things I’ve bought recently for clients or I also have it on my Instagram page: @lucymeakinltd.