Our specialist wood finisher has been hard at work restoring and staining the newel posts and handrail of a project in Balham. There is a whole language associated with staircases - and this is my go to diagram to...

Clara Bee has supported Crisis for many years.  Now we are putting on our trainers and Claire, Dinah, Rachel and Alicia are going to take part in the Race to End Homelessness at Bankside on 9th September....

After being inspired by a visit to the Hampton Court Flower Show I was ready to post images of floral fabrics and wallpapers that we have used in various projects.  It quickly became apparent that we have hardly used them at all!  Usually as just a hint or accent in...

Choosing between sliding doors or bi-fold doors?  This is one of the most comprehensive articles I have come across on the subject from Real Homes:...

We are just about half way through 2021 and have been reflecting on the year so far. Some of the Home Refurbishment projects we have been working on in 2021 (photos here are taken from previously completed projects): An updated master...

Another major aspect of our Interior Design work is deciding on window treatment or window dressing. This might be shutters, blinds, curtains, or a combination of any of them.  The decision can be made for practical reasons or purely personal choices.  Some options...

If you want to give a new lease of life to a much-loved piece of furniture, or to stamp your personal style on an average-looking sofa - upholstery is the answer.     We have some very talented contacts in the upholstery field and can provide quotes for making and...

With the weather improving and lockdown allowing us to meet inside and outside achieving an amazing outdoor social space doesn’t need to break the bank. With careful planning and some imagination, entertaining at home is a breeze! Awnings, Parasols and Heating:  For...

This year's NappyValleyNet Design & Build Guide dropped through the letterbox this morning. We are delighted to be featured in and support this fabulous collection of inspirational home and garden ideas for our local area. The Design & Build Guide is being...

Opening up again! Lockdown is easing, Spring is here and at Clara Bee we are excited to be returning to full business operations again. Our thoughts turn to outside projects and front and rear gardens. Front gardens are small but important – the first impression and...

What a year 2020 has been!  We are so relieved to be at the end of it and finally celebrating Christmas. We wish you and your families and loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year and share a sincere hope for a return to more normal times. Clara...

An excellent article by HUX London about choosing bar stools for your kitchen "The HUX Report Vol.6: All About Bar Stools" https://mailchi.mp/zulufish/all-about-barstools-6102257?e=dc993bf100 https://hux-london.co.uk/ This really does cover all the points to consider...

A festive virtual Christmas Market place put together by the Friends of Rutherford House School - lots of ideas for things to buy in the run up to Christmas or services to use another time. These are all Balham or Tooting businesses, or connected to the FRHS or local...

Recent smaller project renovating a rental flat, this bathroom has been transformed From - dark and dated, gloomy, cold, and uninviting To - fresh, modern, sparkling clean, warm, ready for use..... run me a bath please! All achieved within a few weeks and totalling...

For carpeted rooms, as with any flooring choice, you need to consider the use of the room, the traffic over the top (how hardwearing and durable it needs to be), preferences and style, the practicalities of balancing softness with cleaning and maintenance, and your...

In any interior design project we put the flooring high up on the list although many people may think the floor under foot is of less importance than the colour on the walls or the finish at the windows, every element of the room adds up to complete the perfect...

With the latest coronavirus rules and lockdown changes in place life can feel very limited and quite gloomy at the moment. One small thing we can do to lift our spirits is to take advantage of and comfort in the natural world around us and appreciate the glory of an...

Summer is now officially over, so with Winter coming upon us - at Clara Bee we get ridiculously excited by a beautiful radiator. They are exquisite items, and just photograph so satisfyingly too. So please indulge our column radiator obsession here and at...

Very honoured to be invited to look round Marie's Corner new showcase on The Flagship Houseboat at Cadogan Pier.       https://www.mariescorner.com/    

It was an absolute pleasure to visit this exhibition last week at The Fashion and Textile Museum. Beautifully laid out and interesting to see the design trends and techniques developed over the years. Tricia Guild undoubtedly has a unique skill combining pattern,...

Searching for inspiration this week has been difficult. Coronavirus and its effects still rule our lives in so many ways - changes to home, work, travel, school and study lives as well as health concerns for elderly or vulnerable family and friends. Focussing on...

The demand for banquette seating is growing.  Whether in a kitchen dining space to seat you and your guests, or a useful hidden storage compartment under a window seat, we absolutely love the practicality, craftsmanship and the opportunity to have fun with fabrics and...

We are very pleased with our new Clara Bee hoarding signs which are bigger, brighter and bolder, and are now up at ongoing projects in Southfields and Fulham. Thanks to BAF Graphics in Earlsfield https://www.baf.co.uk/ and Wonderland...

Very happy to have two Clara Bee beautiful projects featured in this Houzz article: https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/how-to-create-different-zones-in-your-garden-stsetivw-vs~121584501 Let's make the most of the summer in the garden, on a balcony or a burst of colour...

We have completed some fantastic bathroom projects over the years, and these, with other inspirational ideas are featured on our Bathrooms Pinterest Board https://www.pinterest.co.uk/clarabee1/bathroom/ Bathrooms (and kitchens) are often the main reason for buying or...

At Clara Bee we help our clients to see the potential in their properties inside and out, and can do that before, during or after the purchase completes. The press and media report that the property market is surging back to life and booming, with personal viewings...

Have you wondered about using a Colour Consultant? Colour Consultancy is a service to create a colour solution; a colour palette for your specific home redecoration paint project, whether it is one room, connecting areas, or the use of a complementary scheme...

Carrying out a house renovation project? At Clara Bee we always advocate doing the garden at the same time rather than as a separate project for the future, for a number of reasons: Cost economies – contractors are on site already, waste removal costs can be...

The full text of the Design & Build Guide 2020 Bespoke Promotion article   https://nappyvalleynet.com/design-and-build-guide-2020/

Are you thinking of renting out your home?  Do you need a maintenance refresh carried out between tenancies? From a fresh lick of paint to a full top to bottom refurbishment extension to attract a new type of tenant - this is the type of project we love at Clara Bee....

Why is it that we are so set on neutral palettes or subtle shades of grey throughout our homes but we love wild and crazy in the downstairs loo? There is no other room which is visible to visitors where we put subtlety to one side and let our imaginations run riot....

Spending significantly more work, school, study and leisure time at home has made us critically consider the way various spaces work for the family living there. Whether you call it your reception room, lounge, living room or drawing room – the place where you relax,...

  In this new time dealing with the coronavirus, many of us are adapting to working and studying from home.  Some Clara Bee thoughts on helping you to set up the right space for this: Function – is this solely a work from home space, or the household admin...

The 2020 NappyValleyNet Design & Build Guide came out just as we went into lockdown, so we have not yet had the chance to sing its praises.    As with previous years it is packed full of home refurbishment ideas, advice and inspiration. Email...

As of 1st June 2020 Clara Bee is resuming its full service operations as lockdown eases and we all establish what is the new normal. We have been working throughout the coronavirus pandemic on a reduced scale; completing the essential interior fit out to allow clients...

We were happy to set up and host this event, with really interesting talks, a stunning demonstration of the difference lighting can make, and a sociable and inspiring evening all round, clearly a success judging by this lovely review on NappyValleyNet. "What an...

Ensuring the client experience is positive from start to finish during their home refurbishment project is an essential aspect of Clara Bee’s service ethos, as a recent case study in Battersea demonstrates. This project was to modernise and update the family’s 5...

Farrow & Ball has launched its latest collaboration - with the Natural History Museum named "Colour by Nature".  16 new colours inspired from animal, vegetable and mineral origins.  The colours may have a historical provenance but will be perfect in modern and...

Happy New Year!  Looking for some Interior Design ideas for 2019?  Have a look at our Pinterest Board https://www.pinterest.co.uk/clarabee1/trends-for-2019/ I hesitate to use the word "Trend".  With any project we want to create a comfortable elegant and practical...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy festive holiday time with your families, loved ones and friends.  From all of us at Clara Bee and our canine associates

A Utility Room needs to be practical, functional and useful, however there is no reason why it cannot be stylish and pleasing. Bespoke carpentry, lovely rich warm blue colours, good lighting and new sanitary ware make this small room so appealing.

A great project - the brief was to create an organised and modern dressing room for a young woman, with clean contemporary colours and style. Bespoke carpentry work created lots of hanging, shelf, shoe and seat storage under the eaves on each side of the room, and a...

Looking for some stylish and chic ideas for Halloween?  Check out Clara Bee's Halloween Pinterest Board - costumes, cocktails, decorations and cakes https://www.pinterest.co.uk/clarabee1/boards/

Maximise your small space by commissioning bespoke storage, customising storage to your needs will have such a positive impact Storage, storage and more storage to keep the space clean and tidy Don’t be afraid to mix different textures and colours, how about painting...

Cantileved window in SW18 Southfields project.  Bespoke upholstered window seat and cushions.  The perfect spot to enjoy the outside, inside.

This wonderful panelling adds character and calmness throughout the hallway.  The choice of runner adds a touch of colour which complements the traditional wooden floor and invitingly flows up and connects each additional level. It is a mistake to neglect the hallway...

The focus of this refurbishment project was to convert an under-utilised spare bedroom into a luxurious dressing room and ensuite bathroom to complement the Master Bedroom.   This sort of project is becoming increasingly more popular around London, balancing the...

Beautiful vessels and amazing perfumes. These are the best scented candles we have ever come across. After meeting Rachel and Emma from Rachel Vosper candle chandlers and home fragrance experts https://rachelvosper.com/ at Decorex we could not get the scents out of...

You actually feel like you could reach out and touch these animals and birds, with Juliet's incredibly detailed and beautiful wallpapers.  The vibrancy of the African plains and the essence of British nature are captured in stunningly detailed drawings on high quality...

We had the pleasure of meeting Chris from Maitland & Poate and to discover his beautiful reclaimed, antique and new encaustic tiles.   Maitland & Poate is a family-run and Balham business. Driven by his passion for stunning tiles and interiors, Chris...

Need some Interior Design help? An easy, fun, cost effective way to access professional Interior Design help with your home refurbishment. Claire has developed her Interior Design Consultancy Service which is a set priced package covering: Colour consultancy – a...

A wee pop of ultra violet magnificence to accommodate 2018 colour of the year. These wall coverings are vibrant and magnificent, creating great energy. Timorous Beasties - www.timorousbeasties.com !

If only you could touch these gorgeous soft waffle cushions and throws through the screen! They are exquisitely tactile, soft and warm.  Definitely on our Christmas list here at Clara Bee and would make wonderful presents to add a luxurious touch to any room. Please...

In all the media frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday we would like to take a calmer moment to mention our friends at Princes Trees again this year. £2 from the sale of every Christmas tree bought goes to the charity they support in Uganda, this year being...

Exactly and just what we hope to achieve, as summed up in our newest testimonial from our lovely client Julie: "My flat certainly feels like a real home now.  I’ve gone from not wanting to spend any time there to not wanting to leave”

Walking around London yesterday we found these wonderful closes and mews streets, giving a glimpse of life just off the main street, calm, beautifully kept with lovely plants and interesting railings and balconies.

This young man is a true Inspiration.  After suffering a horrible accident with life changing consequences, he is overcoming his physical disabilities and produces the most beautiful and very authentically real paintings, as a mouth artist. Please have a look...

This popular and enduring trend continues to work so well to create beautiful interiors. The bricks can be in their raw original state or painted, and there is something quite comforting seeing the solid structure of the property on the inside.  

Paint colour choices - there are so many factors to take into consideration; light, size and shape of room, its orientation, the other materials, textures and architectural features present, as well as personal taste and preference.This photo demonstrates how the...

Vibrance in abundance!   The colours leap out at you. What a magical place to visit.  The images shown hopefully translate what has hit us from the second we arrived in this wonderful city, Marrakech.  The colours, textures, patterns and designs are mind blowing.  An...

We are delighted to be featured in the 2017 NappyValleyNet Design and Build Guide To see online click here http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/homes/  

Inspired and motivated today to use The Stones; Nicky Haslam's paint collaboration with Paint The Town Green.  The collection is inspired by gemstones and minerals, not only are they beautiful colours, these paints, like all Paint The Town Green's colours, are...

The book that constantly inspires me.  The beautiful photos takes me through every emotion and it is such an interesting and important record of the last 100 years.

Light up your life

We are very proud to announce that Matt has had one of his photographs selected for Once Upon a Pink Exhibition  which opens tomorrow at Puderraum in Berlin https://www.facebook.com/events/1640025989630755/ For more of Matt's work please see...

At Clara Bee we will need these in Dunlop and Menzies tartans!

Happy New Year To kick off 2017 with a burst of fresh bright bold colour - here is Pantone's colour of the year Greenery

With our very warmest wishes for a Happy Christmas, with love from all of us at Clara Bee

While we are getting Inspired and excited about Christmas we are very aware that there are many people less fortunate in the world, and for whom a simple act can make a huge difference.           Speaking to Harry and William at Princes’...

I came across these beauties in Reed Harris tile shop, in Fulham. The colours are magnificent and exciting. I'm looking forward to putting them in my own home soon..... totally irresistible!!

Enjoy your garden this summer.... We have just completed the most beautiful garden, in SW17. With one exception, RAIN, we have experienced nothing but pure enjoyment start to finish. The garden was transformed quickly from a disastrous eyesore to a delightful space....

I'm finding there are lots of people out there eager, keen and inquisitive about the whole idea of 'wallpaper'. Great! Don't be scared. Wallpaper nowadays is a very different ball game to what it used to be.

Chelsea Flower Show, glorious sunshine, stonking heat, smily faces, lifted spirits! Life is good, really good. Colour being forever at the forefront of my mind and thoughts, I felt chuffed seeing the predominate colours of the planting of one of the winning garden's...