Our Dining Room Reveal!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Welcome to the full reveal of our </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Modern Country Dining Room!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizP8zIMewUScSIRtMdbiOHHURjZMmtzDAypju_O818neaME-d1mwqF3Rl9rDX4niCaN-GsIqSjNnMgVZMmRQWT-puP5VwXc0bQDWOLzd5VESuCyFOC6V0AyG5Fe7sQjWWGymDlnet12x8/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizP8zIMewUScSIRtMdbiOHHURjZMmtzDAypju_O818neaME-d1mwqF3Rl9rDX4niCaN-GsIqSjNnMgVZMmRQWT-puP5VwXc0bQDWOLzd5VESuCyFOC6V0AyG5Fe7sQjWWGymDlnet12x8/s640/230.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let's start right back at the beginning for a moment to how</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the room looked when we first were shown around our house....</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTDLVaAT0ThVSnVr2f1W3sD10fXh5dJKFMM3ZIMPt5atB-SzETwVqHj0Uut4P5jA_vnLKJiC028hM-Vp1-PCkFK-QSyisKexXoIdjWn19CKZEsrq8xiWkE2gBRpIkwaQmZJoinGtt_X0/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTDLVaAT0ThVSnVr2f1W3sD10fXh5dJKFMM3ZIMPt5atB-SzETwVqHj0Uut4P5jA_vnLKJiC028hM-Vp1-PCkFK-QSyisKexXoIdjWn19CKZEsrq8xiWkE2gBRpIkwaQmZJoinGtt_X0/s640/105.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">See that yucky fireplace in the picture below? </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>That was mine. </i></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Oh, yes, it was.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OdlytnZ6zikP5-X41zpHIB42Bc_rgdkKUY6jXy2-yuD_fuCpfDY2sPO3Kt6LFsCeB20eC6nQtq28gVMak6MpdwWyFB9ZSc69ywWnfxjBSVYZpQYiQNiwrcIpj8QKXHmBx7RM8rD9jwU/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OdlytnZ6zikP5-X41zpHIB42Bc_rgdkKUY6jXy2-yuD_fuCpfDY2sPO3Kt6LFsCeB20eC6nQtq28gVMak6MpdwWyFB9ZSc69ywWnfxjBSVYZpQYiQNiwrcIpj8QKXHmBx7RM8rD9jwU/s640/102.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The fireplace in our dining room was</span><span style="font-size: large;"> attached directly to the wall with an orange </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>varnished-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life</i> pine fire surround. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWBTMbx1bBcTGrO9jdaIHDnxI86CpH8sQdpJYfFqnc4G_OhuWL2GIl4LQL8Aqp0b_bhiuul-JsBNcnzfy2n19oJvtJMFLyPRB1m4SJ00GyF7vIoRVFIIMpP-1hNRpTW3Zr-HZ1sYxq94/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWBTMbx1bBcTGrO9jdaIHDnxI86CpH8sQdpJYfFqnc4G_OhuWL2GIl4LQL8Aqp0b_bhiuul-JsBNcnzfy2n19oJvtJMFLyPRB1m4SJ00GyF7vIoRVFIIMpP-1hNRpTW3Zr-HZ1sYxq94/s640/103.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In fact, that goes for all the wood in the room.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of which there was plenty.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">So much, so wrong!</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>What's a girl to do? </i></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvmiVn8K0UM7RInvvdm57XSzIe8hfCmR0g5aIDLz5B8WZzCfQdkaWZvlCJVopsfwYRdw1pAdDaW4mNaoqSYoAcJGMgeEtO0xsQhKlhp2jjB5UoIYgsLlpto2V8kQAkpKGPt-kjHirvOE/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvmiVn8K0UM7RInvvdm57XSzIe8hfCmR0g5aIDLz5B8WZzCfQdkaWZvlCJVopsfwYRdw1pAdDaW4mNaoqSYoAcJGMgeEtO0xsQhKlhp2jjB5UoIYgsLlpto2V8kQAkpKGPt-kjHirvOE/s640/IMG_4261.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Aaaaaah! That's better.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At some point in the future, we'll tackle the kitchen and dining room head-on by ripping out and starting again so this was very much a makeover, rather than a full renovation.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOMOvmOgMQb7R4k1byq0amLmM1nc-83DnS_tRySD9DzBfR5037DZzDz2Yrp3dsHaAl-bc5qjAJzTPa4sw6GJ_YSssqbCXvclHZVlhqqBGrliTmO2FFuZmURfy5u-KYRaTJsvnh1p4-L8/s1600/IMG_4258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOMOvmOgMQb7R4k1byq0amLmM1nc-83DnS_tRySD9DzBfR5037DZzDz2Yrp3dsHaAl-bc5qjAJzTPa4sw6GJ_YSssqbCXvclHZVlhqqBGrliTmO2FFuZmURfy5u-KYRaTJsvnh1p4-L8/s640/IMG_4258.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I liked the existing grey stone hearth </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">so we had the plinths lowered to sit on the stone. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>A smidgen of soft-industrial chic never goes amiss in my book.</i></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_P0L4LwdLQUh2Ih3K73mDzjrHOv2POej7hyphenhyphen6DuhxGyc1wLDcA1Y-d7AxMIgf1FdeS4hVicWZB9xkwh8ziRtL2_xgs8el76pTF4qo1T2Cz3LBDhZZivpWnOht4i6D8ixZNUlVuFqYwqk/s1600/IMG_1443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_P0L4LwdLQUh2Ih3K73mDzjrHOv2POej7hyphenhyphen6DuhxGyc1wLDcA1Y-d7AxMIgf1FdeS4hVicWZB9xkwh8ziRtL2_xgs8el76pTF4qo1T2Cz3LBDhZZivpWnOht4i6D8ixZNUlVuFqYwqk/s640/IMG_1443.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't want </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">any </i><span style="font-size: large;">orange pine so we painted all the woodwork </span><a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/girls-bedroom-my-favourite-white-paint.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dulux White</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> gloss. Nice and crisp against the lush new wall colour, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/colour-study-earthborn-gregorys-den.html" target="_blank">Gregory's Den by Earthborn</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">- a gorgeous Modern Country shade</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7UXMdNr9ULWUMQudjt9lzUwU_2_mCzwlUKtBOT9vgvAXCxmlJMzkN6SRvlrJOvem0Y5aSVCqE0L-Zyq9R1p8GjVBLcVmGDqifqzOBDJ-ceoKHhgi20TI0448JE-g5vsH5I1pQ9pE0gM/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7UXMdNr9ULWUMQudjt9lzUwU_2_mCzwlUKtBOT9vgvAXCxmlJMzkN6SRvlrJOvem0Y5aSVCqE0L-Zyq9R1p8GjVBLcVmGDqifqzOBDJ-ceoKHhgi20TI0448JE-g5vsH5I1pQ9pE0gM/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The wall between the wood and the fireplace caused endless discussions with, <i>errrr</i>......</span><span style="font-size: large;"> me, myself and I. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>{Yes, you read that right.}</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DqkowUF7Ghsqr9mqKjob_Br55-Su-MI8i-erTMxN00Lu8Seda6IDbhSTYYKzbsHpuVAK2baSB-dUvJkTcG9reJ3EmBJwoDed5776hp9xVr4xVViWW4EbcIgXclG1XaH9WwJIVRIchJ4/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DqkowUF7Ghsqr9mqKjob_Br55-Su-MI8i-erTMxN00Lu8Seda6IDbhSTYYKzbsHpuVAK2baSB-dUvJkTcG9reJ3EmBJwoDed5776hp9xVr4xVViWW4EbcIgXclG1XaH9WwJIVRIchJ4/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The three of us had <i>fascinating </i>debates.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Should it be the greyish colour of the walls? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Or white to match the mantelpiece? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Or...or.... </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ETuFA3fquhJm7lxYmlfsMB3DgVLTPSzxGEBqelfeR_kGhaaNuVgZ3552PtX61uYEsA2NGo_8NJFDLFrkxIH-1eZtoU1DdvBzIzc0MXjK1uvSh4GoPqf16-5hgzgUh_V6zZbQj7abBAw/s1600/IMG_1375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ETuFA3fquhJm7lxYmlfsMB3DgVLTPSzxGEBqelfeR_kGhaaNuVgZ3552PtX61uYEsA2NGo_8NJFDLFrkxIH-1eZtoU1DdvBzIzc0MXjK1uvSh4GoPqf16-5hgzgUh_V6zZbQj7abBAw/s640/IMG_1375.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>*head explodes*</i></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpm5FhKylUh9b9oElr2Pj_yhVmZ8-xb_Ix1b9uOi07PzUyuVMC6tjEZqzl9IxrD2rJX4SFZZV7p5IvzFhzcj_tWbC5yeN77AYsrFhWaQlV9mwYPb-zu4pHwM65MmEKmc352QxakkUsj6g/s1600/IMG_4240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpm5FhKylUh9b9oElr2Pj_yhVmZ8-xb_Ix1b9uOi07PzUyuVMC6tjEZqzl9IxrD2rJX4SFZZV7p5IvzFhzcj_tWbC5yeN77AYsrFhWaQlV9mwYPb-zu4pHwM65MmEKmc352QxakkUsj6g/s640/IMG_4240.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I decided on </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>matte black. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And, you know what?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>I LOVE IT!!</i></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnG3c6HyYCKJHZljhgJaMEepSJX_sWnWUgN5C9EJY1Nr9OnmqRmmBAWJ1proV_PJZsxC0JlFaZjXH3VuO7OYasJAdp96tnQQ550Aq2EfHVBL7Cawi0O-tq_h_iqmYDYBRJx4RhKm7eVo/s1600/Our+Modern+Country+Kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnG3c6HyYCKJHZljhgJaMEepSJX_sWnWUgN5C9EJY1Nr9OnmqRmmBAWJ1proV_PJZsxC0JlFaZjXH3VuO7OYasJAdp96tnQQ550Aq2EfHVBL7Cawi0O-tq_h_iqmYDYBRJx4RhKm7eVo/s640/Our+Modern+Country+Kitchen.JPG" width="430" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">When we set out with this room, we knew we wanted <a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-sneaky-peek-into-our-modern-country.html" target="_blank">a flow-through feel</a> between the kitchen and the dining room, and I'm thrilled with the way the two rooms work together now.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span> <img height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kHBv5hXIIxcRJdpMm0THn0XQf6cvP_cDGY2-AyUGUI-vynYLxkLRb8SgWyyaKSoGL-dFxH1O8MnOacbcBrmcDEyYw3zs_wAOX0ylvOtSsv0QUmnmHSefKm5Fvo_io2BJ_I2TwIPCF3o/s640/110.JPG" style="font-size: x-large;" width="640" /><br /><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As this is a room that we may structurally alter in the future </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">we were keen not to do work that we would </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">then have to undo in the long term.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkvbxMzMpUCQ2A_r4wBsZJtW7h_5x91yV1C0ohlfbHea_oHqIXVKOG5PpP8vtupEO-03Ec0mzziCwQi3SJI92CELE3kXJ-FgCtNAG8Vto_i2ub9lmiAEIsveZU9a_uryXwtUh_kR8_lE/s640/034.JPG" /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Often, that can mean ending up compromising </span><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">but in this case it was a very </span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Modern Country Style workable solution </span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and rather gorgeous too, if I may say so. </span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGpY-HRDEblM8zIPewH1wGkdi1umbOuX2tKjii85L_4cmroVdy-ogHfe67kq1il8JY1xp2IimZ5wuTl5bulmf03MOrjzSN8L6-Ki7FzkOdM_xjzXAUBozPzRvDU4NrRarzc7YZsPzXpA/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGpY-HRDEblM8zIPewH1wGkdi1umbOuX2tKjii85L_4cmroVdy-ogHfe67kq1il8JY1xp2IimZ5wuTl5bulmf03MOrjzSN8L6-Ki7FzkOdM_xjzXAUBozPzRvDU4NrRarzc7YZsPzXpA/s640/238.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hurrah for paint!!</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">So, there you have it:</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The full<i> Before and After</i> of our </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Modern Country Dining Room!</b></span><br /><br />{If you have any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them <a href="mailto:moderncountrystyle@gmail.com">by email</a>,<br />in the comments, or over on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Modern-Country-Style/190813577612552?ref=hl" target="_blank">Modern Country Style's Facebook page</a>.}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5M8EqPPN5qXDUB7SLTZou4GljfPymBXGf99L4DSdZzbujLxKfhi-WfTaRYEnC8NNrW9u2npgTnhNtqRH1dtjwpSVyXitfaqhyphenhyphenBaH4dXUPhS6r-xQ2i-3QgFlft8HQjNJsmB2ydFXazLq/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4JFrX3krRbi6guh2rlxEzQMAVqwURmP_QsTjEaHLhJCkup8I7zlujJ7eAkJUBxW821rGoYYoe3o4H1ksGNxTQdsjbCWTDtgZtAKk1zrV1VK_TBmNVAVMEbkD-Hhf7lDiq5CT-pPrhBk/s1600/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xfi351MsyndAYUmxHRkGj61sLDTTHthxjmqP_EqC0iadkaUpjrQDkUditdqsJUO44UYzJMr2L30-6QhSw3rOMyvnZOXIIuWdzCpbKvYZuRqn1fyarc_9lLE6E5bIUsmzFpoY5i9Ie40/s1600/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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Our Dining Room Reveal!

Welcome to the full reveal of our  Modern Country Dining Room! Let's start right back at the beginning for a moment to how  the room lo...

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Mirror, mirror on the wall....

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'd say we're nearly ready for a full Modern Country Dining Room reveal, don't you, sweetiepips? </span><span style="font-size: large;">But b</span><span style="font-size: large;">efore I go the full hog and bare all, I wanted to urge you, if you have a rather gloomy, North-facing space, like our dining room, to take the plunge and hang a massively, enormously, humungously large mirror.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfS-EqKeOtJSfTkJjwbnRVuW76miO9I7AA5ZmnDxeghmydn6CB2gS8onwxBFojVOWRfeY8d4QuPhHBrPExq33Mw3iWXkuwYkhzdLa3PKWVFz8MtFQsqHeoGdkRW4Bg7skGKUUh9dSvcI/s640/lombok+086.JPG" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You'll be a-maaaaazed at the magic that mirrors can spin out of their shimmery, shiny surfaces. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnCF8iH-gDy_82UPUxmRQVRqeGLF3BdM3Rtm6qg6Hdrxl-YXSkxBnlRbtEaF8e8ixANksKc2cnIL-buwYr2ei9aaINmk46xxaOHZRTvz03ycBBLcATeko7jOmBolUES8JvadFlNbYgB8/s1600/lombok+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnCF8iH-gDy_82UPUxmRQVRqeGLF3BdM3Rtm6qg6Hdrxl-YXSkxBnlRbtEaF8e8ixANksKc2cnIL-buwYr2ei9aaINmk46xxaOHZRTvz03ycBBLcATeko7jOmBolUES8JvadFlNbYgB8/s640/lombok+002.JPG" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">It took me </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size: large;">aaaages</span><span style="font-size: large;"> to find one I liked. We were somewhat limited by dimensions as I wanted the mirror to fill the blank space above our brand, spanking new, much-needed (check out the UG.LEE fella above) radiator cover. Lots of pretty but small mirrors around, I now know!! </span><span style="font-size: large;">I looked all over for the perfect specimen </span><span style="font-size: large;">and finally,</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size: large;">finally, finally found</span><span style="font-size: large;"> one I loved.</span></div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> </div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia2-FKZ-F-z9FhpaVXNflWirhSjX40F9Ww-aITSFS17mpcHIzn6C86kJFfNJeoe36T3L8DII-RF7J5g5qX-7gIXa6iAqDU1wwflSEYJZQUqN0CPsqg6u8zXMqhKT9yUG0e72w_difiYk/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia2-FKZ-F-z9FhpaVXNflWirhSjX40F9Ww-aITSFS17mpcHIzn6C86kJFfNJeoe36T3L8DII-RF7J5g5qX-7gIXa6iAqDU1wwflSEYJZQUqN0CPsqg6u8zXMqhKT9yUG0e72w_difiYk/s640/IMG_0392.JPG" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a large (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">woohoo</span>!) bevelled mirror with a wooden surround in burnt silver, and has the pretty bonus of gorgeous detailing carved into the wooden surround.</span></div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> </div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAQY0KFPJEbRjECRVsKU58BbLvbrDqgjtcWdp5OW90JJPsHejSumRtnyKfvArJtH7IPpIn_BKmNXmBA55MgRpEi73E4QZ-paMI0qhwGCdFOIap38oH3m6qrsv72A3LqqNrBqf3F7yBE4/s640/lombok+051.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, while it may sound super-poncy, burnt silver is a terrific colour - it manages to be warm and cool at the same time. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nightmare to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hang as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">it's so</span> heavy. Our very handy handyman attached brackets onto the back, gouged into our walls (our poor, lovely walls getting a battering again) attached the brackets and carefully plastered over again.</span></div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkvbxMzMpUCQ2A_r4wBsZJtW7h_5x91yV1C0ohlfbHea_oHqIXVKOG5PpP8vtupEO-03Ec0mzziCwQi3SJI92CELE3kXJ-FgCtNAG8Vto_i2ub9lmiAEIsveZU9a_uryXwtUh_kR8_lE/s640/034.JPG" width="430" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite my very vague </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" style="font-size: large;">hand movements</span><span style="font-size: large;"> specifying that I wanted the mirror hung portrait-wise, it got hung landscape at first. I thought about keeping it that way, as it looked more than passable but decided to be a total fusspot and asked </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" style="font-size: large;">him to</span><span style="font-size: large;"> rehang it (poor man, poor walls!!).</span></div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsZgO1D-Z-iQLHGMcMLVhi8YOstwii7Qn4-uLTGYh7RanojxEXIP35mN-t00jFqD4Uew1ut6GupK6WHSuEhUkeEDcjYdmHBODRlKYaykVQFlhGVh8gjQykLSsLgdcCDo43ZTK2-t40-Y/s640/lombok+097.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, was all the pain worth it? </span></div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, oh yes, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">yessity</span>-yes. Look at all that lovely sparkle bouncing around the room! It brings the whole space alive, injects lots of natural light, and looks gorgeous too, as well as filling a very blank wall! A multi-functional piece, if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ever</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">there was one, my friends</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you need a mahoosive mirror in your life?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Have I persuaded you?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>{And if you loved this, don't forget to follow along for the full reveal this Friday!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Love,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sarahxxx</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4JFrX3krRbi6guh2rlxEzQMAVqwURmP_QsTjEaHLhJCkup8I7zlujJ7eAkJUBxW821rGoYYoe3o4H1ksGNxTQdsjbCWTDtgZtAKk1zrV1VK_TBmNVAVMEbkD-Hhf7lDiq5CT-pPrhBk/s1600/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xfi351MsyndAYUmxHRkGj61sLDTTHthxjmqP_EqC0iadkaUpjrQDkUditdqsJUO44UYzJMr2L30-6QhSw3rOMyvnZOXIIuWdzCpbKvYZuRqn1fyarc_9lLE6E5bIUsmzFpoY5i9Ie40/s1600/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Mirror, mirror on the wall....

I'd say we're nearly ready for a full Modern Country Dining Room reveal, don't you, sweetiepips?  But b efore I go the full hog ...

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Could this be Paul Massey's house revamp?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have I got a goody lined up for you today: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A stunning Modern Country house tour </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">of a Victorian London home. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When I first saw these beautiful images, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought it was Style-King Paul Massey's pad that I shared <a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/back-issue-inspiration.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It certainly has his touch, doesn't it?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take a look and tell me what you think...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://blissfulbblog.com/storage/ll2.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1362522969134" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNADhHRu02VrLP-KSs4MHqBovJMpxtWfFcrgNVECJO0qXO6lUZ2mpRg4K8CWB9OaM2sIG4SRpHL2w_mhF6JNKkqAvs8v-nxuD2xrqPkh1_cJo3bqRASlCLSdvyt76PzP4Bipe7bM3PrQ/s640/simply+grey+and+white+3.PNG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="398" src="http://blissfulbblog.com/storage/ll4.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1362523040465" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FK2l9Ief4xN18_GtyBpDZVQDj9vK8HepQGCIZPP33wke77mIVLp_0KY-BAk9MicnsZ_vtEOTFLxYnZ3B747JzfHvPrQdkTjUaBLGdGZhcWDteYY-E7IhTkQOmyg778A5epUS1oMm6Bw/s640/simply+in+grey+and+white+8.PNG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgzl2NM2lNbLaNbBweoQNFfo91fng_XuZRwu2rb9d2rv8S4zcrHQ_p49OcqJBM5Oba8XUFXJJ-Rk-0wQqXnDQKW4Ud8SoPrbaLa2KSza_GaryOxSootMD3if0jpbGqQGZS_mDIEP6vT8/s640/simply+grey+and+white+6.PNG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0T01uzSPoaRMVx4goqzL0JMFgeZ4R8tz9wZK8ZwmrG2ASdVCuWSjkEXdbMANfGh9gMiUv8PIbylcxAnbv0oyQLFjSfHFzqIbxJvrtUI8cBzovvVJsepUzeLbr3NDpcDM7VWybqzsOQAE/s640/simply+grey+and+white+7.PNG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWfyp-isftPCwR4_In8Z9SHLxBmf7KB5xU2n_noipWqfcPcD6j3cKAWR0RZGRQjzJeTMKhrCoWaC9JaVl2a1XX7EmtT89fF1vyECzArFYd1Bp5YvLuDA-DJtAXAuLGpZmKv2nlZSMr5U/s640/simply+grey+and+white.PNG" width="445" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOPW7LBbRwphAQ1DLu8vd6ZsXGYDa1DGvSOcIB0QPIxBMG9tgRuByuEKit-3nfF7BD4V3lhkIBA-0rrVLH6SmpEeAX1AxhKqaAhBwzHT1hubbMgXAZ4IPRlx1yMXwmMo9hBX-uqwpHsk/s640/simply+grey+and+white+2.PNG" width="446" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://blissfulbblog.com/storage/ll13.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1362523468918" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://blissfulbblog.com/storage/ll14.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1362523517543" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="398" src="http://blissfulbblog.com/storage/ll17.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1362523649198" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Warm linen, starkly empty rooms, a bleached-out palette </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and all soaked with lashings of white paint.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Makes you wonder...is it Paul Massey's home reincarnated?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4JFrX3krRbi6guh2rlxEzQMAVqwURmP_QsTjEaHLhJCkup8I7zlujJ7eAkJUBxW821rGoYYoe3o4H1ksGNxTQdsjbCWTDtgZtAKk1zrV1VK_TBmNVAVMEbkD-Hhf7lDiq5CT-pPrhBk/s1600/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xfi351MsyndAYUmxHRkGj61sLDTTHthxjmqP_EqC0iadkaUpjrQDkUditdqsJUO44UYzJMr2L30-6QhSw3rOMyvnZOXIIuWdzCpbKvYZuRqn1fyarc_9lLE6E5bIUsmzFpoY5i9Ie40/s1600/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Images via Light Locations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Could this be Paul Massey's house revamp?

Have I got a goody lined up for you today:  A stunning Modern Country house tour  of a Victorian London home.   When I first saw these beaut...

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Kate Middleton's Maternity Fashion

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought it was about time we saw how Kate Middleton is getting on with being pregnant. Let's take a time-travel trip to see how stylish Kate has been dressing to impress.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.zimilar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Kate-Middleton-pregnant-with-Twins.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And more to the point, how she's finding maternity fashion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/article_photos/prince-william-kate-middleton-lg02.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just how does a princess dress for pregnancy these days?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1212424!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/sickness4n-3-web.jpg" width="425" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With Kate Middleton's usual flair and grace, that's how.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="kate-middleton-pregnant-side" height="640" src="http://www.glamour.com/images/entertainment/2013/02/kate-middleton-pregnant-side-w724.jpg" width="475" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not for this princess is the bare-it-all look. Kate Middleton's pregnancy style is modest and reserved....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.stylelist.com/media/2013/04/kate-middleton-pregnancy-042413-01.jpg" width="444" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">but not at the expense of looking feminine and gorgeous.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="http://cdn04.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/middleton-warnerbs/kate-middleton-pregnant-warner-bros-studios-visit-with-prince-william-05.jpg" width="427" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tailored and chic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fitted and lovely.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1100845/thumbs/o-KATE-MIDDLETON-900.jpg?15" width="377" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">From the earliest signs of a tinsy bump to full-on maternity style, Kate Middleton does Modern Country Fashion like the future Queen she is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4JFrX3krRbi6guh2rlxEzQMAVqwURmP_QsTjEaHLhJCkup8I7zlujJ7eAkJUBxW821rGoYYoe3o4H1ksGNxTQdsjbCWTDtgZtAKk1zrV1VK_TBmNVAVMEbkD-Hhf7lDiq5CT-pPrhBk/s1600/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xfi351MsyndAYUmxHRkGj61sLDTTHthxjmqP_EqC0iadkaUpjrQDkUditdqsJUO44UYzJMr2L30-6QhSw3rOMyvnZOXIIuWdzCpbKvYZuRqn1fyarc_9lLE6E5bIUsmzFpoY5i9Ie40/s1600/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Images via zimilar, US Magazine, NY Daily News, Glamour,  The Stylist, Huffington Post, Just Jared </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Kate Middleton's Maternity Fashion

I thought it was about time we saw how Kate Middleton is getting on with being pregnant. Let's take a time-travel trip to see how stylis...

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Secret Garden

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't this Secret Garden beautiful?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Garden wall | Garden design | Traditional garden | Image | Housetohome" height="640" src="http://housetohome.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/00000e712/99a1_orh550w550/Kent-garden-wall.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take a look at all the delicious traditional Country elements:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>the soft informal planting</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>the beautiful curve in the arch of that old brick wall</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>the aged stone statue and plinth</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>the cobbled path</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The juxtaposition </span><span style="font-size: large;">(what a fab word) </span><span style="font-size: large;">of these elements against the formal topiary structure underpinning it all is</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">my idea of Modern Country Gardening bliss</span><span style="font-size: large;">!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="A hedge is a simple form of topiary used to create boundaries, walls or screens." height="640" src="http://housetohome.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/00000fcbb/9078_orh550w550/Topiary.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not at all family-friendly (where would the footballs go?! I'm lucky enough to have five littlies, so this is always utmost in my mind!) but very gorgeous nevertheless!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now then, who fancies seeing a bit more of how a certain Kate Middleton is getting on looking stylish-whilst-pregnant? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be back here sharpish on Wednesday. ;-)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4JFrX3krRbi6guh2rlxEzQMAVqwURmP_QsTjEaHLhJCkup8I7zlujJ7eAkJUBxW821rGoYYoe3o4H1ksGNxTQdsjbCWTDtgZtAKk1zrV1VK_TBmNVAVMEbkD-Hhf7lDiq5CT-pPrhBk/s1600/911BDF1E66C2C8003D62774447FCC1C0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xfi351MsyndAYUmxHRkGj61sLDTTHthxjmqP_EqC0iadkaUpjrQDkUditdqsJUO44UYzJMr2L30-6QhSw3rOMyvnZOXIIuWdzCpbKvYZuRqn1fyarc_9lLE6E5bIUsmzFpoY5i9Ie40/s1600/2052BBEDE343AF4A73F6A61C3820B007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Images via Homes and Gardens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Secret Garden

Isn't this Secret Garden beautiful? Take a look at all the delicious traditional Country elements: the soft informal planting the beauti...

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