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We have lived in this home for seven years now, and I like to think the main parts of decorating and renovating are behind us (unless we win the lottery and extend the kitchen). However, whilst big makeovers grab our attention more immediately, it is the little changes which can have just as much of an impact on the way we live and feel within a space. I guess the story of every home lies in how it evolves and adapts to accommodate the changes in the daily lives of its inhabitants and ours is no different. We have done little more than a couple of simple updates but their impact really does change the purpose and ambience of the space.

I painted our living room Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball in 2017, and honestly at the tail end of 2022, I still love it! I also love the rug, the coffee table and the sofas. But there are a few things that needed to evolve with us as our lifestyle has changed. As Ted grows up (he’s now nearly 8(!)) he no longer needs baskets full of toys, or a tv cabinet to stuff his excess objects into. I felt the space could now become more minimal and grown-up. Having bought a couple of stunning investment pieces with a book advance ( shared in a home updates piece back in spring), I have spent the last few months paring back to create a more elevated and sophisticated space.

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Looking around the room I started my declutter by removing a chair which was rarely used, and it freed up a lot more visual floor space than I had anticipated. So I began to look around the room for more pockets of space which could be opened up. I decided that the space taken up by our 15 year old tv, and the media unit it sits on top of, was unnecessary. Another thing which I was surprised to be irked by was our light pendant. Though I still loved the mid-century style chandelier from West Elm, the unalterable lowness was more than a little invasive. We have had this light since I painted the room five years ago and, though I remember thinking it had more presence than I expected when it arrived, my eyes have got very used to it’s proportions. 

The first change I made was the television.  I have had my eye on the mid-century looking Serif designed by the Bouroullec brothers (designers behind iconic designs for Hay and Vitra) for Samsung for the last five years. I was waiting for the time when our very old telly started to struggle (it’s been hopeless with sound and low lit scenes for years), but after 15 years good service, my mini makeover was the catalyst for its departure. The serif is an elegant design mounted on hairpin legs, which makes a traditional media unit unnecessary. I quite enjoyed the challenge of assessing what we actually use frequently with our tv, and have pared back to those used most regularly which I have hidden behind baskets under the tv (I hate looking at ugly technology and it’s wires). Having chosen the tv design, I let my husband have the casting vote on its size, and, between you and I, ITS TOO BIG! Not just a little, a lot. Reader, I’m still not sure I’ve forgiven him! 

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.Choosing a new light was going to be trickier. I wanted something streamlined but which still had wow factor. Finding the sweet spot between minimalist and centrepiece, present but not distracting, beautiful but not ornate was not an easy brief. Everything I was drawn to felt too small for the high ceilinged space. During a press trip to the workshop of glass artisans Rothschild & Bickers back at the start of the summer I spotted the perfect piece. I have loved the work of Rothschild & Bickers for years, in fact I think their coloured glass chandeliers were amongst the first pieces I tore from magazines for mood board inspiration. It was fascinating to see how their handblown designs are created, it’s such an inspiring and complicated craft. I learned just how complicated when I given the opportunity to create a tumbler with the help of two very experienced hands. It takes 7-10 years to master this craft, and I felt it was a little like trying to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time trying to concentrate on all of the parts of the process even with the help of two professionals. I am a little in  awe of this, now rare, craft.

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Rothschild and Bickers’s create a plethora of truly incredible designs, from those shaped in their Murano moulds to textural shades with shards of glass. But, the stand-out piece for me is the Mineral Marble three drop cluster and I’m absolutely delighted that they offered to create one for our home. It is a truly stunning piece, and one which sits very well in the minimalist feel of our living room, ramping up the sophistication and elevating the space without overwhelming it.

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There are many different customisable options for the light, from the colour of the marbling to the colours and materials for the ceiling rose and flex, making each handblown piece truly bespoke. I love the contrast of the cooler tones of the glass and brushed nickel against the warmth of the wall colour in here.

Echoing the natural, uneven organic pattern of marble is achieved by Rothschild and Bickers by layering powdered colour pigment after the initial gather of glass when it is still liquid. This is then carefully manipulated to create an organic swirling effect using tweezers and wooden hand tools. I can’t tell you how beautiful the result  is, I find myself mesmerised by the patterns on it from different angles all the time.

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I’m so happy with the more streamlined feel and silhouetted shapes of our living room space after these changes, I’d love to know what you think, drop me a comment below.

** Post contains a piece gifted by Rothschild & Bickers** I only ever work with carefully selected brands I feel are a good match and that you will find interesting. 

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