posted by dilwyn1 on Black and white, Cottage renovation, Herefordshire, Holiday cottage, Uncategorized

Shopping is a bit like food – great if you can enjoy and savour occasional indulgences but one big blow out can leave you feeling a little queasy.

At the moment there’s some high-impact activity on the credit card front. It’s amazing how much there is to buy when refurbing an old place – the things that you can’t see any ‘added value’ from but are essential all the same – cabling, plasterboard, decorating materials etc. And then there are the big purchases….

We thought long and hard about what we wanted Peel Cottage to be – chocolate box on the outside and ‘contemporary eclectic’ on the inside. Now I know that sounds very Laurence Llewelyn Bowen but it’s easy to do the quaint and cosy and feel as though it’s a contrived interpretation of a rural idyll rather than the real thing.

Also, it has to be said that Peel Cottage is rather on the ‘bijou’ side and clutter would make it feel as though the interiors could close in on you. So, we have opted for clean lines and a modern feel with a few traditional pieces of furniture thrown in to add our character to the place.

Shopping is of course not without its problems. There has been much gnashing of teeth in the last couple of weeks over an online purchase which failed to turn up on day of delivery.

Towards the end of the day, a phone call – no stock left, no stock expected to arrive – alternative an inferior product, take it or leave it!

We are now in discussions (not easy) with the said retailer to get them to provide something of the same spec and quality of the item which was sooooo carefully chosen.

The name of the retailer – Curry’s. What was I saying about shopping and food? A case of indigestion and not easily stomached!

Tags: black and white, cottage, dilwyn, herefordshire, holiday cottage, peel cottage