Late last year I worked on re-vamping a restaurant in
The Holly Bush an old drovers' inn in the Northumberland National Park, one of the very few that are left. It being over 300 years old it posed some challenges.
The theme I used was shadows and tricks of the eye. After all some very bloody battles took place in this region in the past when the Border Reivers and the Scots battled for what were called – debatable lands. To bring some humour to the table (so to speak)I used giant trompe l'oeil cutlery on the wall facing the entrance,
trompe l'oeil books on the stone fireplace
a collage of empty vintage picture frames were placed in a corner with shadows real and fake.
By dying an old lace tablecloth grey I made a statement at the huge centre table.
I stencilled numbers on the tables using vintage brass stencils I had found in Paris. Vivid green accents were added.
The walls were painted using our paints which we have specially mixed for us in France.
Little items of Ghost Furniture crept in and
all the furniture was found at flea markets and painted to match the walls and
upholstered in varying red, grey and black fabrics, some of which were reversible.
Reflective lettering was added to the walls just to remind people where exactly they are.
You can see more images from this re-vamp on our website
Ghost Furniture.
