Interior Design Feature: My lockdown Garden Bar
2020 has been a very intense year of lockdown and shielding for some due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I’ve noticed however, that for a lot of people it has sparked their creativity and imagination. It’s even encouraged people to start their own business or side hustle! People have found new ways to express themselves, and new ways to enjoy their time. Even better, is that it has given some people more time with family and new ways to find joy in life or in some cases, change their lives.
I myself have found it creative, it’s given me more time. I started a new job in February which I went back to in May thankfully, and I’ve kept busy with an exciting project: (which is the point of this rambling blog) I decided to turn our old summerhouse into a stylish new space bringing it a whole new lease of life! and now we LOVE being out there, cocktail in hand, in the warm sunshine. This old summer house will be ripped down when one day we build our extension so I thought I would fully allow my creativity to go crazy.
First starting point was a good mood-board/vision board. Wallpaper samples, paint swatches, pictures and fabrics really help your theme come to life.
Theme and Feel
The theme I was going for was a miami white trash. It’s a small space pretending to be grand. It has a feel of kitsch and the bar set’s that off nicely with its gold tilted legs matching the gold deco print on the front panel. Imagine a miami motel with a make shift bar for it’s wandering guests.
Practicality wise, what's great is the storage at the back for all your barware, towels, ice buckets and so forth.
Details
The artwork on the walls is my own framed in frames from Ikea.
The colour is Valspar “Pink Martini” I purchased this is wood paint, as I was painting over wooden panelling which was brown. (bear in mind this deepened my colour, if painting onto a primed white wall you will get more a high tone pink) You will need to rub this down with an abrasive. I would advise priming first, but on this occasion; I didn’t. This is up to you, but maybe test it out on a patch of wall first if your unsure about how the paint will dry and take to the surface.
The wallpaper front panel wall paper is from B&Q and is a rich green and gold colour. The deep green with the coral pink is perfect.
The Bar
The bar is a unit from Ikea called Kallax you can find a link to it HERE
With it’s glass top, its perfect for a bar. I purchased metal mid-century style tilted legs to give that retro feel which I love. This hoisted the bar up another 7 inches making it perfect bar hight. The deep green wall papered front panel is a perfect harmony colour combo with the Pink Martin paint. The front panel hides all the stuff you want to keep hidden. Alternatively without a front panel this would make a perfectly beautiful bar or side piece for your lounge or hallway. Super Classy!
Metal legs were purchased from Amazon.
Floral palm leaves, watering can vase and features are also from Ikea.
Flooring was from Carpet Barn in Fareham.
Gold was the accent metallic in my theme, and it really added to that grandiose vibe that I was going for in this modest space.
For custom pieces of print work or artwork please contact me or drop me a message. I’m even happy to work with you creatively for your space: Be it a bedroom, lounge, or hall. If you’re unsure of where to start I’m happy to help and put my creative hat on.