COUNTRY & LONDON GARDENS

It's late July and we have now enjoyed wonderful weather for what seems like weeks. The inevitable thunder storms have hit with torrential rain,  followed by more hot weather, so everything is getting overgrown and is very green.

Meanwhile back in London our small garden we have a family of sparrows and all is looking it's best 

and on the roof the roses and the strawberries are thriving....

The roses are under planted with herbs for the kitchen the only problem is that the birds usually get the strawberries before us!

DECORATION FOR KIDS

A new venture has just been launched to coincide with England's new Royal Baby, HRH Prince George of Cambridge.

Finally we have launched the new site for Julia Boston Kids. This time you can buy on line. We have a range of cards for children, a small way of encouraging them to write their first "Thank you letters" The cards can be personalised with a child's name but this will still have to be ordered directly with us by email or over the telephone.

So far we have 18 designs but there will be more on the way. We have added alphabets that can be bought on line or have them personalised with your child's name added. 

    

They come in two sizes and several colours

The name pictures are still there and we have examples of recent commissions top give an idea of what we can do. Younger brothers and sisters are now getting 'names' so that all the children in the family have their own very individual framed picture. 

Almost the best part is the fun I have inventing new characters and putting them together, it is an ongoing process. We have lunched a new blog called the Bouncing Mouse where we will be updating you on what new in the children's department so visit the mouse and follow us there. You can also follow the Bouncing Mouse on twitter. 

In case you thought that the antiques have been forgotten, they haven't, and the next post will be devoted to wonderful decorative pieces from the early 19th century.

ANTIQUES IN LONDON IN LATE JULY

We have in the window at the moment a truly wonderful piece of furniture, attributed to Jacob-Desmalter 1770-1841, the famous French maker. This Empire "Commode a Portes" has silver plated bronze mounts of the finest quality the butterfly escutcheon slides to reveal the lock, Apollo in his chariot rides across the drawer drawn by butterflies.........

We have also just hung an elegant pair of 19th century chandeliers

The last time it was this hot was in 1976.....................a very long time ago! We are very lucky in the shop as the air conditioning keeps us and the furniture at a comfortable temperature. Outside the sun shines and dinners are planned outside. As often as possible we walk in Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park on the way home at the end of the day. We usually park at the top of Queen's Gate by the bronze equestrian statue of Lord Napier by Joseph Edgar Boehm. Where there are the largest york stone paving slabs in London they are quite amazing...............

In the park everything is very green accept for the grass which is turning yellow.

Besides the antiques, 588 King's Road, is also the home of Julia Boston Kids and last week we have been putting the final touches to the new Julia Boston Kids website, once up and running, soon I hope, you will be able to buy on line. We are also launching a blog to go with the site called The Bouncing Mouse so check it out.

DECORATING WITH ANTIQUE PRINTS

What do you put on the walls.........there are so many choices, I have always been mad about prints and hang them from the ceiling to the floor at home. They are affordable and look great.

Here I have hung a collection of 18th century prints of London Churches on the landing in the country.

Hung over a French buffet are a set of 12 Stradanus prints of European horses dating form the early 17th century framed in simple water gilt frames.

This set of 16 early 19th century botanical engravings with wonderful original colour are hung in the shop over a large Empire console and the bright yellow ochre hand painted frames work wonderfully.

On the console are a near pair of early 19th century bronze and gilt bronze lamps and a contemporary white faience wild boar terrine. To the left you can just see part of our wonderful Mortlake tapestry of Apollo

Here I have hung 18th and 19th century architectural prints in a guest bedroom, on the bed is an antique heavy linen French peasant sheet hand dyed in France.

We always have a selection of framed prints in the shop either in original antique frames or in our own hand made frames. to see them click here

DECORATING WITH FRENCH EMPIRE FURNITURE

There is something chic and simple about good quality early 19th century French furniture. It looks good wherever you place it in a period setting or a very modern one.

New in the shop are these Consulat period arm chairs

Still in their old velvet upholstery they are both smart and comfortable, we have them in the shop around this empire gueridon

Continuing with the early 19th century French Empire look is this unusually wide console table with good incised bronze mounts.

All of theses and more are in the shop at the moment, please visit the website to see what we have at the moment.

More soon.....

DINING WITH ANTIQUE LINENS

London has finally warmed up, the sun is shining and everyone is eating with the windows wide open and the sun streaming in or outside.

Lunch in our London garden....antique linen table cloth, dyed pink antique linen napkins with the most delicious Rose from St Antonin du Var where our house is in France.

Lunch in Northamptonshire, not quite as warm so inside with antique table linen.

Drinks outside and I have covered the table with a French antique heavy linen sheet, while being watched by a young robin.

The gardens in London and Northampton shire are at their best the wild flowers and roses have never been so beautiful

We have wonderful new stock in the shop, including furniture and chandeliers visit the website to check it out. We are also on twitter so follow what we are saying and doing, and don't forget our Pinterest boards.......more soon