This bathroom window has grown and grown – from a simple Roman Blind, the client then decided a  bit of privacy was required, so a pretty voile panel was added…then a little more warmth and je ne  sais quoi was needed, so a pair of dress curtains came next….I think this window is now finished!

For anyone who thinks interior design is all pink and fluffy, this is me after having spent three hours searching for fireplaces in Glasgow – we needed to source 6 surrounds for a large renovation project and ended up in more of a cave than a showroom…happy to say that it was a successful forage…and a lot of fun!

This was an interesting staircase to design a handrail for – a very sharp turn, which meant the rail not only had to get round the corner, but it had to go up quite a long way whilst twisting just the right amount so that your hand naturally follows its contour going up, or down. Complicated to explain, but even more of a challenge to make – the initial concept has been so beautifully interpreted and crafted by Ollie Debenham that I feel reluctant to let go when I get to the end…as much a joy to hold as it is beautiful to behold!

(The beautiful engravings  - over 60 of them – had been in a dusty portfolio for about thirty years – we had them all beautifully mounted and framed before tackling the serious challenge of hanging them – usually I do this “by eye”, but on this occasion, had to draw the whole staircase to scale to get them all perfectly placed!)

From today, Wednesday the 27th November 2013  Jane Blanchard Design is not only Designing by Nature, but now being POWERED by Nature! Over the past couple of months, we have been installing our very own teeny weeny hydro turbine, taking advantage of our burn running from a reservoir at the top of the hill.  ”We” means everyone apart from me! – Mike built the weir…

…then Kenny and Jamie built a temporary road and dug the pipe in…then covered it  all up, so soon you won’t know anything happened there…

…then Mike started building the turbine shed…

….then the turbine made its way gingerly to its new home…

..then Lucy and Rob came all the way from Wales to instal the turbine (which Rob had designed and made) and Nigel came from Herefordshire to connect it up to the electrical nerve centre…

…….then Eureka!  the valves were opened, the water came out in a beautiful spurt and the little turbine started whizzing round!  

…it’s a very beautiful and clever piece of kit…

Jane Blanchard 

Designs by Nature…

Powered by Nature!!!

Usually one imagines Italian strung curtains on tall, elegant windows – maybe even looking out over the Grand Canal in Venice…but they’ve worked extremely well here on a wide, low window looking out over Loch Creran…

If you can lay your hands on a battered copy of Swallows and Amazons, read it then book a week’s holiday at Achnacarron Boathouse in Kilchrennan.  Right on the shores of Loch Awe, you can almost cast a line from the bedroom, but more fun to go out in the boat…and nip down the loch for lunch or supper.  The views and light are so sparkling, I can’t imagine anyone will want to draw JBD’s beautiful curtains and blinds – but they look good in their readiness!  Difficult windows, as there were so many and quite close together – but these Roman blinds and covered pelmets were a neat solution.  They’re lovely wool, so won’t fade in the light – and on the odd occasion when the wind’s howling and the waves are crashing on the shore, they’ll keep you very cosy!  Link to Boathouse website on its way! 

If you find yourself having to run up and down ladders for a couple of days hanging new curtains and blinds, I can’t think of anywhere lovelier to do it!  Never has an interior designer been so well looked after… such welcome words at timely intervals from their manager, Neil: “So you’ll be wanting that cup of tea, then”…Next time I go, I hope it will be with an overnight bag (or large suitcase) and walking boots…meanwhile, if you can, do go for a thoroughly relaxing holiday in this heavenly hideaway – Hotel Eilean Iarmain http://www.eileaniarmain.co.uk/

Le deagh dhùrachdan!

Nothing at Chelsea Flower Show can beat this…just back from a walk with the dogs to re-organise the brain cells and realised the hill was bursting with beauty!  This little arrangement is wild cotton, bog myrtle, Rowan and grass – love it!

If the sun won’t come to the office, take the office to the sun!  It was just too beautiful today to stay inside, so with deadlines to meet, there was only one solution: