The Ufford Crown epitomises what it is to be a successful country pub. What more do you need in an interior than sumptuous blue hues, antiqued brass accessories to reflect the period building and dark wood for a cosy feel? Well, delicious food is another thing, and they’ve got that covered too. Located in nearby Ufford in Suffolk and designed by the excellent Jojo Humes Brown, we knew we had to delve a little deeper.

Max and Polly Durrant reopened the doors of the Ufford Crown in April 2011 with accomplished chefs Will Hardiman and James Wilding. With a focus on seasonal produce from local suppliers it has quickly become a go-to gem in the community. The Ufford Crown offers a spacious restaurant full to the brim with all your favourite Jim Lawrence lights, a snug bar area and a stylish lounge which is perfect for private parties.

We love the dramatic feel of the décor. Hints of a New York Industrial look are filtered throughout in the exposed brick, painted panelling and quilted leather booths. The layered pendant lighting creates intimate pools and pockets of light for diners and drinkers alike. Jojo’s designs always exude a thoughtful but understated glamour, and she’s a dab hand at cleverly lit spaces. Our most popular pendant for its versatility and handy size, the Barbican is a perfect fit for a two person setting. They enhance the space rather than impose on it – a key balance in lighting.

Homely touches like a wool carpet, bookshelves and decorative convex mirrors make the space feel warm despite its size, with the window shutters adding to the soft light for that sought after cosy modern country feel. A delightful spot to tuck into a hot pie or roast on a Sunday, or a lighter lunch of fresh sandwiches including Norfolk cheddar or Ketley steak.

Our low hanging Exeter Pendants light up each booth – celebrating the high ceiling with a longer cable but making the seating feel private with a low glow. The Glass topped Lovell’s line the bar, the outer glass shade mirroring the shape of the Exeter but allowing the antiqued brass inner to breathe without looking clunky in a row or taking over the space. Can you see the detailed tiling underneath the table? The Ufford is full of beautiful visual surprises like this. Fancy a visit to see for yourself? Make a reservation here.

Spring cleaning is not just about taking out a mop and duster. At a time of year where our outside spaces are changing and growing is also an opportunity for our interiors to blossom too. Rather fitting for the season, pink and green are two big colours that make an impact alone or paired. They can be used in their softer pastel forms, or pack a punch with darker tones.

When it comes to houses, first impressions do matter! A deep green shade like this one pops against white for a clean cut, sophisticated look that is still playful. Painting your front door for Spring will lift up the entrance to your home, and lets be honest, who doesn’t want to be proud of the space they’re stepping in and out of every day? Combining a new colour with matching quality door furniture like our Matt Black range will instantly transform the exterior of your home. Add some fresh foliage of your choosing and you’re set for the sunny season ahead.

Our Holborn’s are suspended effortlessly in this modern pastel kitchen. We love seeing what our classic designs bring to more contemporary spaces. Blush pink is a delicate update for a space that is normally reserved for black or white. House plants add a touch of green for a natural feel.

THE BLETCHLEY BATHROOM COLLECTION

After the launch of our deluxe Bletchley bathroom range, we simply had to create a post about our inspiration behind the collection. At Jim Lawrence we thrive on recreating classic designs and giving them a new lease of life with modern twists.

The warm brass detailing of our new Bletchley range is the perfect choice for an effortless and stylish bathroom update. The vintage appeal and ongoing trend is not lost on us, so we’ve treated the range with lacquered antiqued brass to make sure they stand the test of time physically as much as they do aesthetically.

Bathroom décor can sometimes be a place of untapped beauty. We believe they should exude as much comfort and style as your bedroom so that your bath soaks are spa-like and your morning routines calm and invigorating. Why shouldn’t you feel as pampered in your own home as you can in a swanky hotel? The Bletchley collection is a good place to start.

 THE FINER DETAILS: SOCKETS AND SWITCHES

Start small. You don’t want to spend time revamping your room only to be left with some unsightly sockets and light switches. Our Antiqued Brass Shaving Sockets are a practical but pretty solution to make sure every element of your bathroom is up to scratch!

ATMOSPHERE: SOFT LIGHTING

No one wants to be blinded by spotlights first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night. Soft wall lighting is essential for that lovely hotel feel. We recommend the Cheltenham Wall Light to line your mirror for a warm glow.

Alternatively, as used in Melford House with the Hinton, try placing the light lengthways above for a unique old-timely look.

We love the luxury that pendant lights naturally bring into a space. Thanks to Pinterest there are thousands of gorgeous images of free standing tubs and chandeliers to take our fancy. For a more minimal but nonetheless graceful addition to your bathroom, why not include our Holborn Pendant Light? Suspend above the bath for truly sophisticated styling.

ADDING ACESSORIES: HOLDERS AND HANDLES

Though an eclectic or maximalist feel can work with soft furnishings – we suggest matching accessories in a bathroom setting. Everyone is different, but a consistent style makes us feel a little more relaxed.

The Bletchley Towel Ring, Soap Basket and Loo Roll Holder all have one thing in common: elegance! The period styles are curved and traditional, together creating the vintage look you are after but without any rust staining on your towels and tubs.

COLOUR SCHEME: LIGHT AND DARK

You shouldn’t have to totally redecorate to update a room. With the rise in dark interiors continuing to spike, but traditional white still a popular go-to, we wanted to make sure the Bletchley range would suit any lick of paint. As you can see, it does!

Now all you need to do is light some candles and pop open the bubble bath… See more of our bathroom collections here.

Have you added some of the Bletchley collection into your home? Tag your images on Instagram or Twitter with #JimLawrenceMade or email to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk.so we won’t miss out.

If you want to learn more about the Antiqued Brass finish and how to care for it you can find out more here.

What about adding the other elements of a vintage-style bathroom? We think metro tiles in the shower, reclaimed glass bottles for display and decoration, plus some carefully selected artwork will really inject your own personality into the room. Don’t forget to take a look at our Vintage Bathroom Inspiration Pinterest board where we’ve added in some more interior ideas that we love!

A lot of brands (ourselves included) tend to put a lot of focus on the interior of a home. This is because it’s where we spend most of our time (inside, looking out) but what about when we’re on the outside looking in, realising the exterior is looking a little tired…? This is where a conduit comes in.

We have the perfect solution for transforming those drooping external wires from a nuisance into a stunning external feature. Our favourite way to light up the night is to group lights and create a glowing feature that wouldn’t look out of place indoors. There’s no reason to forsake style for function. Our Antiqued Brass Conduit is a smart way to hide ugly exterior wiring, particularly when combined with our slim Doncaster Wall Light or Bulkhead Light.

We want to make sure our conduit kits are a breeze to install, so here’s an easy “how-to” guide to assembling your own.

Firstly, decide on the style of light you want to connect the conduit to. We have two robust outdoor lighting designs that perfectly match the lightly antiqued brass of the conduit to bring an aged vintage elegance to your home:

• An RHS Garden Product of the Year finalist, the Bulkhead Light is a respectful nod to old ships lighting with a caged, modern twist. Made in solid brass and fully non corrosive, this handsome light will shine no matter what the lovely British weather throws at it!
• The Doncaster LED Light is suited to the smallest of outdoor spaces, but with no shortage of design detail. With an overall depth of just 5.4cm it would sit neatly in even the narrowest of spaces.

(View the entire outdoor lighting collection here)

A solution for even the most challenging space… simply add any of the following items to create the perfect industrial conduit solution. Our conduit kits give you the chance to be creative with your outdoor lighting.

The antiqued brass poles can be shortened on installation if necessary, but we offer a 1m or 2m kit to purchase. An IP44 rating can be achieved when fitted as a complete system with the recommended outdoor lights.If you are looking to group your lights as above, the Junction Box is a neat solution for containing even more wiring and made in our beautiful antiqued brass finish to match your kit.

Please note that we always recommend you use a qualified electrician to help you install your lighting and accessories. However, there is no harm in getting to know the tips and tricks behind the conduit so you understand exactly how wonderful this kit really is! If you want to install your new lighting in a problematic area – do not fear – this is all made possible by the conduit elbow. These joints allow your electrician to fix the poles up, down, across and around corners. This means your can achieve whichever look you are after with ease.

We all know the British weather can be temperamental, so we have ensured the conduits are completely safe. This all comes down to the olive. No, not the pitted kind, but a small ring inside the joiners which is crushed on fixture to ensure a watertight seal to protect the precious wiring.

 If you require additional couples and joiners our helpful sales team are happy to advise.

Once you and your electrician have followed the above steps, you are ready to illuminate your home: Jim Lawrence style. If you still have any questions don’t hesitate to call up our knowledgeable customer service team on 01473 826685 and they will happily walk you through the process.

We would love to see any pictures of your completed conduits! Tag your images on Instagram with #JimLawrenceMade or email to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk so we won’t miss out on seeing how you style your Jim Lawrence products. We love seeing our lights and accessories in their new homes.

Why not take a look at our full range of outdoor lighting and door furniture to add the finishing touches to your outdoor design?

We absolutely love seeing our lights in their new homes, therefore we especially loved when lots of our products were spotted in this beautiful contemporary bar in Clapham. The Bank is set in a stunning Grade II listed building and one of our lovely customers got in touch to let us know that they have many of our lights on display. We found some fantastic images online and we just had to share them with you…

Once you’ve unpacked all your decorations, re threaded all those baubles, found the Christmas tree holder and wrestled the tree into position, its time for fun to begin !

Adding simple finishing touches are a great way of enhancing your home’s seasonal style.