Blog Post November 2023

November was a busy month for the events strand of the business, firstly with the re-launch of our ‘Dare to Use Colour’ workshop in collaboration with The Art Buyer of Thames Ditton AND Little Greene Paint Company who kindly donated goodie bags AND a 15% off all their products offer. Helen at The Art Buyer hosted a wonderful group of clients, who were keen to learn about how they could incorporate colour into their interior schemes. We introduced the subject of Colour Psychology, and how we can decorate with confidence once we know which colour family or palette our personalities are most suited to. We then provided paint swatches, material samples and magazines to rip and cut and stick to make a moodboard. Our group all left with much more confidence and assurance in what they do or don’t like, and how to best implement it into their homes. Plus a little bit of crafting with like minded individuals made for a fulfilling couple of hours spent. Keep you eye on the events page for our next workshop like this.

Our next event was the annual Christmas Wreath Workshop in collaboration with Sarah Bave Flowers - each year Sarah comes to my home to help me host a wreath making event like no other! We get her time, talent and experience to create the most beautiful luxury wreaths that would normally be three for four times the cost if you were to go out and buy them. This year was no exception with Sarah’s six loop bow stealing the show as the ladies all lined up for theirs! We provide a wealth of foliage, flowers and sparkle for you to design yours exactly as you want it - with a wide choice of luxury velvet ribbons to co-ordinate with your doors. All in a fun atmosphere where we all agree we feel like the Christmas season kicks off. For the first time this year we hosted school class groups for their Christmas ‘event’ so please do get in touch if you like the idea of this for a group of your own for 2024…..

Wishing you a merry and bright Christmas season 2023 x

Blog Post September 2023

Braderie de Lille - Weekend vintage shopping trip 1st-3rd Sept 2023

Contact me at jenmorton-interiors.com to enquire about our Lille trip 2024!

Vintage Shopping with Jen Morton Interiors

Having lived in France for several periods of my younger life, I decided to share the joys of the French ‘brocante’ with like minded designers and clients looking for that elusive treasure or gem that the high street just can’t provide. Particularly relevant with our heightened sensitivity to sustainability, re-use, up cycling and reducing waste - the flea or vintage market has really come into its own in 2023.

I ran a trip to Lille Brocante, an annual event happening on the first weekend of September, the whole city of Lille closes to traffic, the streets fill with stall holders - professional antique dealers and locals alike, selling everything and anything you can imagine. We arrived Friday afternoon to settle in and acclimatise with a glass of rose in the sun, followed by an early night (ish - we had left our families at home after all) to prepare ourselves for the 6.30am start.

And off we went, miles and miles of streets and stalls, art, furniture, ceramics, glassware, collectables, lighting, mirrors…the list goes on. The crowds grew, the heat ramped up, our thirst increased and just when we thought we needed a break another little delight popped up! The amount of ‘stuff’ or ‘guff’ as my Yorkshire friend names it all, is really quite overwhelming - but in a good way.

Finally we give in to a little pit stop, a bite to eat and join in with the other bon viveurs - of which there are many - enjoying the festivities: marching bands, dancing in the streets, all the bars and restaurants have set up Octoberfest style benches outside, with beer taps and Aperol taps and waiters dashing in and out with trays stacked high with moules frites (the local speciality)

As the night falls this is when the Braderie really comes into it’s own, people are ready to PARTY, the crowds heave even more, the young and the beautiful coupled with the slightly older (us) and slightly weary re-take to the streets. Dj’s hanging out of windows compete for the crowds, the drinks flow and all out merriment is the order of the day. As we ran to get to our dinner reservation one client FaceTimed her husband, who exclaimed that he thought she was going to an antiques market, not a rave. He now wants to come next year.