Here comes the sun (little darlin')

Well hello! We look like we're back into the swing of things here at Willowbrook after a prolonged period of sporadic blogs. If you're a returning viewer thanks for sticking with us over the past 6 months. If you're new to the blog then please enjoy the vast back catalog of posts.

This week's blog is brought to you by the letters VCP and the colour Marigold yellow!

Inspired by the advent of spring and the cheerful yellow colour which has become almost synonymous with Veuve Cliquot over the last few decades, we have decided to create a sensationally sunny summer relaxation space on the cocktail lawn. Guests will be able to relax outside, and take in the warm summer sun (and a restorative glass of champagne).

Conscious of the long term consequences of too much sun, we also wanted to provide sun umbrellas to protect those guests who didn't want to soak up too much UV. Hence these jolly yellow numbers...

We've purchased eight luxury sun loungers with cream mattresses and matching side tables...

and four large yellow umbrellas. This number of loungers happens to neatly space out between the buxus topiaries on the cocktail lawn...

They should arrived next month, which is fine as we usually experience spring showers before it truly becomes lounging weather. We have also sourced some lovely chic yellow trellis pattern cushions to pair with each lounger...

The end effect will look something like this...

We were somewhat inspired by the yellow of the veuve cliquot brand...

Fun in the sun, or fun in the snow!

Ironically, VCP is not our house champagne, but rather Pol. But I don't think they have copyrighted the colour yellow just yet (unlike Cadbury's and the colour purple).

Once we have the pool and pool house built the loungers may shift. Here are some inspirational pictures to get you in the mood for summer ...

Upholstered Walls...

Not having been able to find a suitable damask wallpaper that we liked for either the dining room or the gold drawing room, (and following some encouragement from Kirk), we looked into finding some silk with which to upholster the walls of these rooms.

And we have found some. There are some lovely silk damasks made by Italian fashion house and furniture textilier Etro.

Etro is more known for its fashion...

 It has some pretty out there looks, and is particularly known for its take on paisley.

 But they also make a range of upholstery textiles.

Here are the damasks we have chosen for three rooms. First the yellow damask for the gold drawing room...

Secondly a green damask for the Billiard Room.

Finally the red damask for the formal dining room.

The colours for the red and green damask are slightly darker than shown in these photos, but are just as vibrant. The photo of the yellow damask is pretty close to actual colour.

Now we just have research which is the best way to upholster a solid masonry wall!

Ray, a Drop of Golden Sun....

Welcome to The Yellow Post. Previously there has been a Blue Post and a Green Post. The yellow post is based around ideas and swatches for The Gold Drawing Room. Originally The Gold Drawing Room was going to be a beige-gold colour. But now that we have chosen the fabric and wall colour for the Brideshead Suite - which is a beige gold, and also for the master suite, which is a creamy beige gold, I am thinking we need something less beige, something a little bolder... I am thinking yellow.

It is quite funny really. I have never been a fan of yellow. I own only one piece of yellow clothing, I am not a fan of yellow roses, and the very first thing I did when we moved into Eden was to paint the custard yellow hallway beige. But, I have been researching Georgian colour schemes, and the I have to admit that yellow has grown on me. It is a cheerful sunny colour. I think the reason I loathed it before was that I found it unsophisticated and juvenile. I don't know why I thought that of a colour, but it did seem to be a childish colour but perhaps not anymore. So, out with the beige for this room, and in with a drop of golden sun! Here are a few ideas for the yellow drawing room...

Above: Custard gold striped curtain fabric. More yellow than beige, but not a bright as Nancy Lancaster's yellow drawing room below...

Below: Jasper Conran's yellow drawing room:

Below: Back to some muted custard yellows:

The white and yellow above reminds me of a lemon meringue pie!

Moving away from plain yellow paint on the walls,. bright gold silk upholstered walls are a very traditional and luxurious look...

Above Photo from The Devoted Classicist

Above photo of Goodwood House by Tim Imrie

Plain yellow curtains at Osbourne House...

Yellow accents in the White Drawing Room at Buck House...

Yellow wallpapers...

I would love to have a wallpaper like this swatch below, but alas I just can't find a nice bright yellow damask. This example below is actually a fabric swatch. Can anyone out there help me with this?

The closest I can find is this yellow gold Brocatello wallpaper by Zophany. It also has a matching fabric...

 Other choices include:

but they are all fairly beige. Even the metallic ones below are still too beige...

The only yellow paper I can find has white damask on it, and I would really love tone on tone yellow...

Worst case scenario I could always try papering with anaglypta and the painting it a bright yellow colour...

and the room will need some flowers...