Make Do & Mend

As Christmas edges closer and a New Year is on the horizon I’ve been thinking about the theme of ‘Make-do & Mend’ and how it translates into our homes, along with the connected themes of care and restoration. This theme was partly inspired by a rather ravenous moth that ignored most of my wardrobe and descended on my precious year-old wool and cashmere coat (I’m told they love quality).

If you’re at all like me, I’m sure the treasured possessions in your home can cause occasional pernicketiness too. Although if you have children or pets you’ve probably learnt to let go of such inclinations for the sake of your own sanity! I know house training my puppy George was a baptism of fire (and wee!) The truth is, the passage of time, and all the activity and joy experienced, is inherently aging and this applies to the life of our homes too. Floorboards wear, paint gets chipped, worktops become stained, and fabrics become worn...or moth eaten!

Whilst there’s a certain lived in charm to a little wear and tear sooner or later pieces in our home inevitably require a spot of care and attention. I’ve noticed in recent years almost all the homeowners I work with are keen to restore, repair and renew existing features during a renovation. Whilst cost is occasionally a partial factor most often it comes down to an appreciation of resourcefulness, sustainability, and creativity.

Existing wooden floors are frequently sanded and reoiled, well made joinery spruced up with fresh paint and handles, upholstery restuffed and recovered, stone floors resurfaced and existing fixtures such as shower screens and sanitaryware kept if they’re in good nick and work well layout wise. 

Technicolour Dreamboat: Living Room

Our most recent project ‘Technicolour Dreamboat’ is a great example of the Make-do and Mend ethos. Alongside a host of new additions, several existing features were thoughtfully renewed to blend the old seamlessly with the new. The hardwood floors were sanded and reoiled, the solid wood shaker kitchen was modified, repainted, and new hardware added, the sink in the cloakroom was retained and the newish sofa from the family’s previous flat was spruced up with fresh soft furnishings. Needless to say a handful of vintage and reclaimed pieces made an appearance, including. a gorgeous mid-century Spanish sunflower mirror from Lordfords and a pair of art nouveau handles from The Old Cinema!

A few images of the completed project are sprinkled throughout this journal post but if you’re interested in seeing before shots to gauge the transformation in full head over to my Instagram (BEFORE vs AFTER stories).

Mid-century sunflower mirror (Lordfords)

Restored kitchen cabinetry 

Without further ado, here are my key recommendations:

 1.     Buy well. By this I don’t mean you should necessarily buy the most expensive or from the most prestigious retailer but rather to keep quality and longevity in mind if you’re keen to invest in pieces that will last.

For example, real stone and wood can be polished and resurfaced whereas laminate and ceramic imitations cannot. Equally whilst two items might look relatively similar the composition and quality of the materials on and beneath the surface will determine how well the item ages. I’ve learnt through trial and error in my own home that upholstery with a solid wood frame will outlast chipboard and mdf alternatives and acrylic baths tend to get scratched pretty quickly and cannot be resurfaced the same way an enamelled cast iron bath can. As a rule, good quality materials are easier to restore so before committing to a purchase it makes good sense to question how easily the item you have in mind could be cared for or repaired.

Mid-century chairs from Provence (1stDibs)

2.     Maintain. It is perhaps common sense but regular care and attention goes a long way. To preserve wood flooring’s elegance, Ian of Chauncey’s Flooring recommends “a routine of cleaning and maintenance to keep it looking at its best and to ensure the wood remains fully protected”

Here are Chauncey’s key recommended maintenance tasks:

Regular Cleaning:  Regularly dust your floors with a non-abrasive, lint-free mop to remove dust and dirt that can scratch the surface. For deeper cleaning, use a mop with a specialist cleaner specifically designed for timber floors.

Protect from Moisture: Wipe up spills promptly to prevent water from seeping into the timber and causing damage. Use doormats at entryways to reduce the amount of dirt and moisture brought in from outside.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Use cleaning products that are appropriate for timber floors. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can damage the finish.

Maintain the Finish: Depending on the finish (oil or lacquer), periodic reapplication may be needed to maintain the floor’s protective layer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for refinishing or re-coating.

Damage Prevention in Homes with Pets: A mat well or entrance mat is a great idea to minimise those dirty paws and muddy footprints. Try to keep an old towel close at hand for those particularly muddy walks. A high-quality prefinished oak flooring should withstand some scratching but keep your dog's nails clipped and ensure your floor is properly maintained to reduce the risk of scuffs and scratches. As with all pets, unfortunately accidents do happen, so if there are any puddles left by pooch, clean them up as quickly as possible.

3.     Spring and Autumn inventories. To welcome fresh energy and maintain upholstery and furnishings these times of year lend themselves to deep cleaning and decluttering rituals. Think professionally cleaning carpets and rugs, sending bedding and cushions to the dry cleaners, and cleaning curtains and blinds. As rugs, furnishings and window treatments are often some of the larger expenses in a redecoration making these things part of a change of season ritual helps to keep them looking their best and these elements can often last decades with a little TLC! Interestingly, the oldest rug in the world is roughly 2500 years old which is rather impressive even if was preserved in ice for much of that period!

Sonia of Sonia Adams Interiors who created the window treatments and custom bay window seating for our Technicolour Dreamboat project advises:

“Avoid dry cleaning and steam cleaning your window treatments as these methods can change the texture, colour and drape of the fabric. In particular, dry cleaning can lead to shrinking of interlinings thus changing the appearance of window dressings. Instead, use the smallest brush attachment on your hoover and gently vacuum fabric window treatments, paying particular attention to the headers where the pleats have a tendency to gather the most dust. Doing this after a renovation is particular important as dust has an uncanny way of reappearing for a number of months after the builders have left despite regular cleaning. Of course, stains (be they wine, coffee or…something more organic!) happen and in that scenario I’d always recommend using a specialist window treatment and upholstery cleaner such as Pilgrim Payne who have expertise in working with designer furnishing fabrics.”

It seems only appropriate to mention dastardly moths too. I’m not a huge fan of chemicals and prior to the recent incident I kept cedar balls, lavender bags and used a bergamot oil diffuser in my wardrobe. The moths only attacked 4 items so I’m not sure whether these measures were actually relatively effective and I was just a bit unlucky (or lucky depending on how you look at it) but I do know the super strength chemical stuff I bought afterwards in a panic made my nose bleed and gave me a headache…Which is my meandering way of saying I’m none the wiser on moth remedies and you should pick your own poison! I’ll willl however be trying Angela Flander’s French moth herb spray as i’d like to keep things au naturale.

*As a side note, popular sisal, jute and seagrass rugs (as shown in the accompanying images) are averse to liquids so steam cleaning or any other water-based cleaning is best avoided (bicarb of soda is a good if imperfect remedy for spills). Silk curtains and cushions are also averse to water so steam cleaning is best avoided on these too. If in doubt, call a professional and don’t risk a DIY disaster!

Custom window treatments and bay seating

Custom details on the bay seating

4. Annual Inventories. Every year it’s worth doing a top to toe review of paintwork, flooring, cabinetry and surfaces (e.g. countertops). As a general rule of thumb, paint work and wood flooring need repainting and refinishing every 4-5 years or so but in the intervening periods you may wish to do a bit of light touching up to minor nicks and scuffs and reoil your wooden floor. Wooden furniture and features such as doors and staircases, as well as, spot areas of wear on wooden floor may benefit from a professional French polish or other specialist restoration e.g. to remove water stains or to fill deep scratches.

Natural stone and other porous surfaces (e.g. terracotta) are sealed during installation to provide a protective layer against moisture and dirt. Over time the protective sealant will wear off making the tiles more susceptible to staining and deterioration. As a guide, resealing natural surfaces such as these is best done roughly every 3-4 years in lower use areas e.g. infrequently used guest bathrooms and every 18 months or so in higher use areas such as kitchen worktops, hallway floors and master bathrooms. With this in mind, it’s worth keeping an eye on these surfaces in your home as if you notice during regular use or cleaning they’re absorbing more moisture or dirt than usual you can swiftly tend to them and reseal as required.

Technicolour Dreamboat: Kitchen

5. Occasionally, as with my winter coat, you might need to invest in a new piece (or at least new to you) for your home. If so, return to point 1. :)

Reclaimed art nouveau handles (The Old Cinema)

Rustic dining table (Devols) and mid-century dining chairs (1st Dibs)