Natalie Murray-Hurst's Blog

Birmingham Hawk Eye

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:29:43 +0000

So I have just returned from the annual Interiors UK 2012 which is held every year at the Birmingham NEC. I have entitled this post ‘Birmingham Hawk Eye’ because you have to have eyes of a hawk at such exhibitions! There are always so many products to see across so many different styles from a whole host of national and international suppliers that it’s important to ensure you pick out the cream of the crop whilst you’re there!

Anyway, here are some of my favourite finds, which I would class as the cream from this years show, all of which are available to purchase through Murray Hurst Interiors http://www.murrayhurstinteriors.com

I have added some product comments on the MURRAY HURST INTERIORS facebook page – please visit to have a read.. http://www.facebook.com/pages/MURRAY-HURST-INTERIORS/181903976261

Talking Turquoise

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:19:19 +0000

With this dreadful grey weather surrounding us it’s time to talk colour and lift our spirits by admiring a touch of turquoise! At Murray Hurst Interiors we have decided to kick start the year with some appreciation for the effects bright colours can have on us and the impact they can have on an interior scheme. We’ll be looking at various colours over the coming months and selecting interior images that present these colours superbly. So let’s talk turquoise!… Like the mineral, turquoise shades range from almost sky blue to deep greenish blues. You can create feminine appeal with the lighter shades of turquoise whereas the darker teal shades have a somewhat more masculine feel.

Turquoise is a calming shade that is said to aid in concentration. It’s a clean fresh-looking shade that works as well in a living room as in a playroom, however we think it works beautifully in any room in the house if used correctly. See some of our favourite examples…

Let there be light…

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:25:25 +0000

Lighting can dramatically effect the perception of any room and therefore should be a key element in the design process. Not only can it affect the brightness of a room but can also have an effect on the wall colourings, cast shadows that will make the room appear smaller and have impact on the presentation of artwork.
I assume that the majority will know the importance of natural light when it comes to your health and the likes of work ethic and productivity and so all I will say on this matter is create as much of it as possible!

There are various categories of lighting and 1000’s to choose from within that, so here are some pointers to help you know where to begin. First of all, what effect are you trying to achieve? What is its function?

GENERAL/AMBIENT lighting

Provide overall, general lighting. When choosing the general light source for your room ensure you chose a style that fits in with the exiting decor, you want the lighting to compliment the room, not be the centre of attention. A general light should fill the room with a glow of light and soften shadows.

TASK lighting

Task lighting is all about practicality. Task lighting allows us to fulfill a specific function or activity efficiently and safely, for example reading or cooking, the latter one I find of great importance and the best way to provide task lighting for cooking is to have under cupboard lighting, this way the light source is located between your head and the object you are focusing on, ensuring there are no shadows, maintaining safety at all times, this should ideally be the case for all task lighting. Recessed, track lighting and lamps are the most common types of task lighting.

ACCENT lighting

If you are looking to highlight an item within your room, i.e. Artwork or an architectural detail, then accent lighting is what you need to look for. The focus should always be on illumination and not on the light source itself. In order to be effective, accent lighting needs to be at least 3 times brighter that the general lighting around it.

DECORATIVE lighting

Most lighting can be decorative as well as functional, however there is some lighting specifically designed to add beauty or interest to a space. Lighting such as chandeliers and light sculptures can often give the illusion of lighting a room, as they are the most dramatic feature; however, more often than not it will be the accent, task and ambient lighting providing the general illumination. If any one decorative light source were to provide the main illumination for a room it would become the centre of attention and dominate the interior scheme.

MOOD Lighting

Lighting can often have an effect on peoples moods without them realising so you need to consider what sort of mood you want to encourage within the room in question. Bright lights are upbeat and stimulating, whereas low lights have a more cosy, intimate feel. It is possible to achieve both these effects in the same room (not at the same time) with the use of both a general light source and decorative lighting such as lamps. Dimmer switches are also a good way of achieving this.

The harmony of the lighting is very important, chances are you may need lighting from each category; make sure to buy lights that compliment each other. More often than not lighting manufacturers will sell a style of lighting with pieces from each category; this is an easy way to ensure your lighting matches.

Harmony is further enhanced by lighting fixtures with designs that match the room’s mood and function and are varied enough in size, texture and intensity to add interest.

There is no right or wrong way to light your home, but ensure you plan it carefully to get the best results!

I’ve put together a selection of lighting schemes from some of my favourite lighting manufacturers to give you a feel for the sort of styles that work well together. For details on any of these designs contact Murray Hurst Interiors: www.murrayhurstinteriors.com

Hunters Comes Home!

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:39:48 +0000

After weeks of preparations, Hunters Estate Agents has moved into its new Ilkley home at 4-5 Crescent Court. To celebrate the opening, a VIP industry launch party took place on Thursday evening which gave selected guests an opportunity to take a tour of the office and view the cutting of the ribbon to mark the official opening.

Covering Ilkley, Otley, Guiseley and Menston, the new branch is a welcome newcomer to Ilkley and the up and coming lifestyle hub Crescent Court!

Owner of the new branch, my husband – Lester Hurst – said of the launch:

“We’re absolutely delighted to have opened our doors! Thanks to the hard work of my talented wife and the team at Murray Hurst Interiors and the wonderful George Smith, the interior looks fabulous and we can’t wait to start welcoming visitors. Lookout Ilkley, Hunters has arrived!”

So let’s take a closer look at the interior which I designed for this flagship office, starting with the pieces I selected for the reception area, a key feature in the design, handcrafted furniture by the international luxury brand George Smith, a proud Northern business.

The Sofa is called the ‘Somerville’ and comes buttoned or unbuttoned, can be done in any width, and be upholstered in any fabric, leather or suede. It is quite a formal/classic Sofa with the fixed seat/back, and has a comfortable seating height, and depth which gives it a really luxurious finish. Legs can be tapered or turned, and finished in a selection of stains. The fabric on this particular one is a George Smith Velvet Mohair in Black of which there are 20 alternative colours in the range. It has an extremely high thread count which makes it ideal for deep buttoned furniture.

The Two chairs are part of George Smith’s ‘Signature range’. Of these they can offer different depths to suit all height, various arm options, fixed or loose cushion back dependent on the use. (Fixed slightly more formal, loose cushion back for everyday comfort). Again they can offer a choice on leg styles, colours and castors and in any fabric/leather etc can be specified. The ones used for this project are again covered in a George Smith Tweed Linen(cranberry), this particular fabric is one of their best sellers as the slight two tone, works well in most rooms. There are a choice of five colours.

The little Baby Soho Drums can come buttoned or unbuttoned, and are a popular choice for various rooms. They have been used in bars/lounges/bedrooms etc such is their versatility. The name came about as they have been specified throughout the Soho House hotel group. These particular ones are finished in a Neisha Crossland fabric (Zig Zag Watermelon/Silver Birch).

Any of the pieces can be adapted to clients specific requests, as George Smith have their own wood mill attached to their factory in the North East.

Some background on the company:

George Smith was most well known for cabinet making and upholstery during the first quarter of the 19 th Century and was spoken of in the same breath as contemporaries Henry Holland and Thomas Hope.

He made furniture in a wide, eclectic range of tastes, based generally on the late neo-classical style, but also including neo-gothic style work and chinoiserie. He produced several pattern books the first being “A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration.”

Every item of George Smith furniture is made using only the finest natural raw materials, with many of the styles still being based on original designs. Built by hand in our workshops, our skilled craftsmen are continuing the traditions of classic craftsmanship developed in generations gone by.

Prime, seasoned beech or birchwood is used for the custom made frames, each hand-jointed and built to exact specifications.

Heavy steel coiled springs are tied by hand into wide bands of interwoven jute webbing to provide balanced weight distribution for maximum comfort.

Boar bristle is used as the primary stuffing, enveloping and cushioning the coil springs. A cotton feather mixture is layered over the whole of each frame to provide thick padding and comfort. Finally a muslin pad is hand-sewn in place to provide a smooth and seamless base of upholstery, creating the look and feel that only traditionally made upholstery can.

Channelled seat cushions are hand stuffed with a mixture of duck down and duck feathers to attain the right degree of softness and durability.

The cutting and positioning of the final cover, be it fabric, leather or kilim, takes great skill and meticulous attention to detail. The cover is hand cut to the correct pattern and hand sewn into place on the frame.

The completed George Smith furniture will provide its owner with an unparalleled degree of comfort and beauty attainable only through the finest craftsmanship available.

It is so great to be working with a proud northern company of such exquisite quality and workmanship. Thank you to Jonathan and Venassa for all their help along the way and I look forward to bringing future clients to your wonderful Harrogate showroom to show them examples of the stunning designs available. http://www.georgesmith.co.uk/ www.murrayhurstinteriors.com

Luxury look for local Estate Agent’s office

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:23:22 +0000

This Thursday there will be a real buzz around the Ilkley hotspot Crescent Court – the lifestyle-central hub of Ilkley where the new HUNTERS office launch party will take place. It is my husband, Lester, who runs the business and who I have designed the interior for. It has been a great project to run and I am so thrilled with the finished look – a luxury, high-end interior with a real homely feel. It is actually more like an elegant living room than an estate agent but surely that is exactly how an estate agent’s office should be?! not awash with hard finishes in glass and chrome, full of ‘office chairs’ like you would find in a call centre. Buying a new home is a big deal! It should be an enjoyable life experience where one should be made to feel special and should be extremely well looked after. Relaxing in a homely environment to discuss the progress of your sale or to look for your dream home should be the norm, that’s what both Lester and I really believe and we hope that future customers of Hunters Ilkley will look forward to visiting the office with it’s luxury feel and comfort. A key feature which has helped to create the desired look and feel is the beautiful handcrafted furniture in the reception area by the international luxury brand George Smith, a proud Northern business. The furniture is out of this world, exquisitely designed with the most luxurious of fabrics which have already attracted a lot of attention!

Good luck to Lester and his team on Thursday, looking forward to supporting you on the night.. just make sure no one sits on those sofas!

Photos to follow after the event..
For more information on Hunters and the Hunters Ilkley launch event visit:

http://www.huntersnet.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/IlkleyHunters

http://twitter.com/#!/HuntersIlkley

http://www.georgesmith.co.uk/

Facebook ‘Like’

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:50:52 +0000

To all you interior enthusiasts out there… please ‘like’ Murray Hurst Interiors facebook page, to view completed projects along with hints and tips on making the most of your home.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MURRAY-HURST-INTERIORS/181903976261

murrayhurstinteriors.com

Loft Apartment Refurb… DONE!

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:47:10 +0000

Project: Loft Apartment in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Client: Young Professional Couple

Brief: To redesign the open plan living space to include new kitchen, new flooring, furniture and soft furnishings. Contemporary style with clean lines and bold use of colour.

Client Testimonial:

“Many thanks for a fantastic job on our living space. We were delighted to work with someone that listened to our requirements, but also who challenged us to open our minds to new ideas. We’re delighted with the result, and have a little smile every time we walk into the room. Natalie provided one of the rare things in business; a project delivered to requirements, on time and on budget. We will never know if it was a difficult or easy project; just what we wanted as busy people.”

BEFORE and AFTER…

Phillip Jeffries Wall of Fame

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 13:15:07 +0000

Now in its third decade, Phillip Jeffries Ltd. has emerged as the industry leader in hand crafted wallcoverings, stocking more than 900 natural wallcoverings including Japanese Paper Weaves, Gold Leaf, Grasscloth, Hemps, Silks, Linens, Granite, and Raffia as well as unique hand crafted specialties.

Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, Phillip Jeffries Ltd. maintains a worldwide network of “to the trade” showrooms and sales representatives, all designs of which are available to sample and purchase from Murray Hurst Interiors Ltd. www.murrayhurstinteriors.com

Needless to say we are delighted to be included on the Phillip Jeffries ‘Wall of Fame – Designer Installations’, for our use of their stunning and intriguing ‘Granite Stone’ wallcovering featured in the Granary Wharf penthouse apartment project completed earlier this year.

See Designer Installation Gallery:http://bit.ly/ozTTPT

Phillip Jeffries 'Granite Stone' selected and installed by Murray Hurst Interiors Ltd

Mend and Make Do… tips for revamping your furniture

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:05:00 +0000

‘Upcycling’ is the eco-friendly trend that breathes new life into old and worn-out furniture.

Whether it’s a simple lick of paint, reupholstery or adding decorative trims and details, not only is it fun but it’s much more cost effective than replacing for new!

Why not glam up your existing chairs with some studding detail – be inspired by these examples in a silver elaborate design, simple border line in gold and a daring orange with matching orange legs! A local upholsterer will be able to work to your brief and would be able to source the studs for you in the best finish.

Also consider using wallpaper in panels on your wardrobes, you may have samples, unused half rolls or vintage wallpaper to achieve an authentic look. Another idea is to use a piece of safety glass cut to fit the top of a sideboard or desk to protect the wallpaper or fabric underneath.

So don’t hold back, just go for it and start getting creative!

www.murrayhurstinteriors.com

Summer Seating

Natalie Murray-Hurst — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:39:25 +0000

The recent heat wave has inspired me to research the latest in exterior furniture!

Modular seating is perfect for a relaxed, sociable feel and can help to make your garden an extension of your home, creating your own inside, outside. I would recommend investing in a quality set of terrace furniture manufactured in a synthetic resin fiber material or metal, ensuring longevity without compromising on design. These are some of my favourite current designs. Should you be interested in making an investment for your outdoor living space contact Murray Hurst Interiors who can advise and supply the most suitable design for your space. Roll on another heat wave so we can enjoy some more ‘al fresco’ living… in style!