Author name: Whitemore & Thwaytes

Maureen Whitemore F Looking forward and back… Cumbria Life’s interiors expert on retro style or those who remember the Sixties, memories of orange and turquoise patterns, Hornsea-style ceramics and teak furniture are both reassuring and scary – can it really be 50 years ago? Alongside shabby chic and vintage fashions, retro is very much on […]

Maureen Whitemore A trip to an international interiors show inspires our Penrith-based interiors expert Problem solved Guest rooms are rarely large – it’s natural to keep smaller bedrooms for visitors. But, when you do have people staying, they often need a bit of hanging space. It seems a shame to have a large wardrobe or

Maureen Whitemore TPast to present….Cumbria Life’s interiors expert on how to introduce panelling to your home here’s an amazingly evocative descrip- tion of panelling and light in Hilary Mantel’s novel, Bring up the Bodies: a servant brings a candle to Thomas Cromwell’s room and ‘the light shivers, then settles against dark wood like discs pared

Maureen Whitemore A New year, new home… our interiors expert on starting from a blank canvas dding personal- ity to a new-build property is something I’m often asked about, from families moving into larger properties to couples downsizing into apartments or smaller houses. There are many advantages to a modern property – no crumbling plaster

Maureen Whitemore CMake it personal… our interiors expert on how to transform a new-build house into a home reating character in a new-build property – whether it’s a family home or a retirement apartment – is a challenge but one that can be great fun to achieve. In my last column, I focused on the

Maureen Whitemore Something old, something new… our interiors expert suggests Spring is a good time to make a few changes and refresh your home. Whether it’s a new lampshade, recovering a worn chair or a paint job on a battered piece of wooden furniture, there are lots of simple ways to update your space. Cumbria

Maureen Whitemore Our interiors expert on Cumbria’s Arts & Crafts movement ’m a great believer in the value of strong design, beautiful materials and craftsmanship – and nothing brings those values together better than The Arts & Crafts movement of the late Victorian era. For me, the timeless design of Arts & Crafts furniture, architecture

Maureen Whitemore If I can, I always try to get down to London for the big interior design events. It’s a good opportunity to have thinking time – I usually meet at least a couple of potential new suppliers and there’s always inspiration for my clients and this column. London Design Week 2018 was no

Maureen Whitemore Your entrance hall is usually the first impression of your home and one of its main features is often a staircase. More and more of my clients are transforming their hallways by replacing or altering the staircase. It might sound daunting but it’s actually surprisingly feasible. If you decide to redesign your staircase,

Maureen Whitemore W designers and stockists and access to several international manufacturers. Browsing their websites and showrooms – as well as the stands at the Cumbria Life Home & Garden Show – has given me a few ideas for my clients’ projects and for yours too. Storage is often a problem, especially in a family