Star light, star bright: hallway lighting

Going for gold: hallway colour scheme

Yesterday I got home to a very dusty house; the first phase of our hallway renovation has started in earnest and we now have lighting. Almost blindingly-bright lighting. It will certainly act as a catalyst for the rest of the work as we can now see the stained carpet, chipped paint and cracked ceiling (water tank leak) in all its glory.

Next step: re-plaster the ceiling, replace the skirting boards, repaint, recarpet and then the fun stuff starts….

Starry, starry nights: spotlights in the hallway

I bought a roll of Harlequin’s Radiance Gold wallpaper five years ago. No real reason, I just fell in love and knew I wanted it in my life. I don’t have enough to cover a wall, and I certainly can’t afford anymore – it’s £44 a roll. Plus, if we end up moving, it would be a bit of a waste. I think I will make long tall panels to hang along one wall. Hopefully it will glitter in the light and it make me smile every time I walk past.

The lustlist: light up my life baby

Vintage vibes at De Weldaad Noordemarkt, Amsterdam

So the husband and I have been deliberating over what to do with our hallway. We live on the first floor of a two-up-two-down Victorian terrace and our hallway and stairwell gets no natural light. In the first set of renovations, the hallway was the last of our priorities—we painted, we added storage, we hung a couple of mirrors et voilà.

Now however, thanks to a leaking water tank, the ceiling has to be replaced. Great. It’s possibly one of the least exciting jobs ever… that is, if we just replace the ceiling. Yep, I wanna pimp up that hallway baby. My reasoning: in an apartment of four rooms, the hallway has to be more than a thoroughfare. It needs to wow.

For a long time, we’ve been considering a way to get some natural light flooding into the space—I’ve been hankering after a sun tunnel light tube (a miraculous refractive tube that beams light from the roof into a room) for a while and since we’re pulling down the ceiling anyway… Unfortunately, I was not prepared for an estimate to the tune of £500 + VAT + installation. Ouch. Plan B it is.

Plan B was originally to install spots throughout the corridor, but since our little mini-break, we’ve realised that is way too mundane.

Yes, the new Plan B—Plan C, if you will—is to buy a stunning, centrepiece light fitting. And the best part is, we can take it with us when we move. All we have to do now is choose one.

In Amsterdam, we were bowled over by the abundance of incredible, eye-catching light fittings. It seemed that everywhere we went there was another impressive chandelier. Paris Schmaris—when it comes to the ‘city of light’ title, Amsterdam could take you any day.

There was industrial chic at 360volt, expertly modelled in the Bloemenmarkt (flower market)

Industrial chic in the Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam

Vintage gems and glass galore at De Weldaad—my new all-time favourite shop in the world.

Gorgeous glass at De Weldaad, Noordemarkt Amsterdam

And some incredible Turkish lanterns on Huidenstraat.

Luscious lanterns on Huidenstraat, 9 Straatjes, Amsterdam

It’s going to be tough to choose. Right now, our hallway is monochrome—white walls, black and gold mirrors and a huge copy of Leon Spilliaert’s Vertigo taking up the majority of one wall.

I’d like to embrace the gloom with a sexy, moody colour scheme. I’m thinking glamorous and atmospheric. The same black, white and gold, but super-charged.

I’d also like a gallery of photos, some coathooks, a place to put post and keys and a panel of beautiful wallpaper. We don’t have much space to work with—but I’m game for a challenge. Watch this space.