Not So Terrible Tudors

Meet the Tudors

The House of Tudor ruled England from Henry VII through to the Golden Age of Elizabeth I (1485-1603).

After years of Civil War the Tudors brought an age of prosperity even if this was at the expense of the monasteries and indeed the Spanish.

From Henry VIII and his many ill-fated wives, through Bloody Mary and on to the Virgin Queen's glorious 45 years reign, this period of British history is one of the most fascinating and one that we are still obsessed with today. There are endless films and dramas depicting the lives of our Tudor Monarchs which are brought right up to date by ITV's current series, Wolf Hall. 

2015 sees the 500 year anniversary of the building of Hampton Court Palace, home to Henry VIII,  and special events to mark this landmark year will attract thousands of tourists, (hopefully including myself!) who are still captivated by the Tudor dynasty and strive to claim just the tiniest piece of this world, see through their eyes and walk in their footsteps.   

Tudor times are more known for their architecture than their interior design, but for me they go hand in hand. The medium of wood dominates both areas as does the desire to display wealth and status. Exteriors were built from stone or black and white timber frames whereas inside walls were panelled with oak, wooden beams were exposed and floors were either inlaid wood or flagstones depending on the level of wealth of the occupier.

Even furniture was predominantly crafted from wood. In properties of greater fortune, tables, chairs, bed frames, doors and even ceilings were intricately carved.

Although the large fireplace and roaring fire were the center of the Tudor house, English winters (and springs, autumns and even summers) were cold and every effort was made to maintain the heat. Textiles in Tudor homes were thick, mainly to keep out the draughts from unheated homes and ill-fitting windows.


 
Four-poster beds were hung with luxurious damask or velvet fabrics both for privacy and for warmth while tapestries were often hung round the walls to trap the heat indoors.






Accessories that come to mind when we think of Tudor times are fabulous suits of armour however at the time these would have been kept in the armoury, it's only in later years these were displayed as a symbol of heraldic pride. Other symbols of heraldy though were displayed, swords, coats of arms etc would have been proudly on show as a proof of nobility and prowess.

Homes were lit by candles although of course this was out of necessity rather than choice. Nevertheless, in grander houses candlesticks, wall sconces and candelabras were ornate metals, even gold in some houses, to brighten the grim and gloomy rooms. 

 

 

Contemporary Tudor

Unless you've got a large, timber beamed house, the contemporary Tudor home can be hard to pull off. By nature the dark colours and dark woods are not ideal for smaller rooms but that doesn't mean you can't add one or two aspects. 

 

 

Channel your Tudor

If you would love a piece of Tudor in your life why not pick a couple of Tudor-style pieces. A large leather sofa perhaps, wooden trestle tables or even a heavy chest. And of course, candles, candles and more candles.

At Oxala we have many lovely oak and other wooden furniture. If Henry VIII floats your boat why not buy this set of wooden trunks that would not look out of place on Henry's flagship, The Mary Rose, or even one of the galleons of the Spanish Armada. To suit our modern times, these trunks can be used as coffee/side tables as well as great storage for toys or clutter.

If you adore the atmospheric lighting of Wolf Hall or the flattering glow in the wonderful The Tudors series (with lovely Jonathan Rhys Mayers) these wall sconces are the ideal accessory for you. History, romance, drama - these scones have it all!

For a cheeky nod to all things Tudor I love these fantastically fun armour helmets. They also come in different periods of history from Vikings to Romans to the Norman Conquest. Visit the Oxala website for more choice but if you still don't see the one for your favourite era, let us know and we'll endeavour to find it for you.

To view the collection on the Oxala website, please follow this link .... Oxala

Once again, thank you for reading my blog, as a lover of history as well as interiors I could rabbit on for hours about all things Tudor, but for now I will leave you to explore and dwell on this intriguing period of history.

Regards

Katherine at Oxala x

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Copper

Copper is predicted to be big news in 2015. We've seen it's rise in popularity over the last 12 months but this year it is set to rise and rise. From the pages of the glossy Interior Design magazines this trend is seeping into the high streets and will be gracing our homes in the very near future, if it's not already. It also plays a big part in the Industrial Chic trend in exposed light fittings and metallic embellishments.

Sophisticated Metallics

Warm metallics such as copper, but also brass and golds, add an a air of luxury and sophistication to a room. Although too much can appear a little gaudy so care should be taken not to over do it. Copper accessories look great against many other colours. Neutrals such as whites and creams are livened up with a splash of copper, while olive greens, dark greys and inky blues are superbly contrasted and make a real statement.

 

 

 

Copper Blush

I'm sure it's no coincidence that  this year's Dulux Colour of the Year is Copper Blush. This pretty pinky-orange colour is warm and earthy. If I'm honest I probably wouldn't paint a whole room in this colour for fear of it turning it into a terracotta nightmare from the nineties, but certainly for a cosy corner, conservatory or hallway that needs warming up it would be ideal. Alternatively, add a bit of colour to your upcycling by painting some of your junk shop finds.

Accessories

Like a jackdaw I'm drawn to all things shiny and love copper in it's metallic form. I would love to fill my house to the rafters with it (if I had rafters) and from the rafters with gorgeous copper pendant lighting. 

In my www.oxala.co.ukcopper dreams my bathroom would have a fabulously shiny copper free-standing bath and my living room would have a stylish copper side table or lamp. Ours is not to worry how to keep them clean and shiny, ours is merely to lie back and admire.

If an an abundance of copper is too much for you, there are many products hitting the market with copper trims such as storage boxes and picture frames, combining copper with other materials like glass.

 
If you design in copper or know someone who is looking for an outlet to see their designs, Oxala would love to here from you. Please contact us via this blog or email at info@oxala.co.uk For more information about Oxala and our current range of products visit our website at Oxala

 

Simply New England Style

Where exactly is New England? 

The area of New England lies at the the North East corner of the United States and includes 6 states including Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,Vermont and New Hampshire. Known to be the first area to be colonised by the English it was here that the Mayflower landed with it's band of Pilgrims from Plymouth in 1620. It was Captain John Smith (he of Pocahontas fame) who named the area New England with typical English pomposity.  

The New England states maintain their own cultural identity. New England conjures up images of large Colonial timber houses in leafy suburbs, sweeping verandas, white lighthouses down by the bay and Barry Manilow songs (don't judge me - it's a nice song!). Famous for it's maple syrup, seafood chowder and all-American blueberry pie, it is the epitome of Colonial America.

 

New England Style - Interior Design

 

As many of the towns and villages are on the coast it it unsurprising that many of the homes are beach houses or 'Shingle houses' interior design is often coastal chic with nautical elements. Both on the coast and further inland traditional New England style is a neutral colour palette of whites and creams teamed with wooden floors, painted furniture and printed linens in stripes of faded reds and blues.

 
Kitchens are in classic country style complete with 'worn' painted furniture, wicker baskets and stripy tea-towels.




 

Living rooms have painted wooden floors with large rugs, comfortable plain sofas, softened with cushions and throws and simple window dressings to allow in the fresh summer breeze.

Beds tend to be white and wooden topped with cool inviting linen in pinks, blue-grays and taupes you can't wait to get into. White wooden walls and simple floaty voiles give the room a clean, fresh air.

This timeless style is becoming more and more popular over here and it's endearing charm can be easily incorporated into many other schemes. With painted furniture similar to Shabby Chic and Country Cottage these timeless pieces are not only practical but look great. New England doesn't have to be twee, just add some splashes of colour or modern lighting to bring it right up to date.

If you fancy a bit of New England in your home, Oxala has a lovely selection of classic pieces. To view please go to our website at..... www.oxala.co.uk

Valentines 

Love it or loathe it Valentines day is just around the corner.

If you're fed up with sending the same old flowers and chocolates have a look at Oxala's gift section for some fresh ideas. We have a fabulous selection of accessories that not only look great but can be treasured forever.




Why not spell out your LOVE with this funky hand sculpture. It's black glossy finish and heart shaped curves ooze effortless style.

Or set passions alight with one of or sleek and chic crimson statuettes.







 
Fat bottomed girls really do make the world go round so celebrate her curves with one of our stylish Layla figurines you'll just love to run your hands over.








Nothing says romance like flickering candle light so why not create the perfect mood with one of our sensational candle holders, candelabras and wall sconces.

 

Single and don't give a Cupid's bum about Valentines day? Congratulations! You manged to not settle for the wrong person and avoided that wierdo in accounts. This should be celebrated so why not treat yourself to something fabulously crazy like our lime green bulldog. Not only does he look ahh-mazing, he will never let you down, take over the remote or eat your chocolate. He is the perfect companion and you don't even have to feed him, happy days.

Woof!

Lots of love to you all, Katherine at Oxala xx

To view our extensive range visit our online shop at .... www.oxala.co.uk