Beer, Bunnies and Bicycles

Let's forget the fools and the showers and focus on the all the great things April has to offer, starting with Easter bunnies, there is also beer, bicycles and Hot Cross Buns.

Easter Bunnies enjoying this Figura kitchen island and breakfast bar.

Easter Bunnies enjoying this Figura kitchen island and breakfast bar.

You’ve got the hang of 'hygge', now it's time to get to grips with 'utepils'

With our Scandinavian heritage at Figura this concept recently caught our attention.  The Norwegians have a specific word for the act of having a beer (pils) outside (ute). Utepils....an outside beer!

The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold (right next door to the Figura Showroom)

The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold (right next door to the Figura Showroom)

One of the best things about warmer weather is getting together with friends to enjoy a drink outdoors and we can highly recommend The Crown Inn, right next to the Figura showroom in Chiddingfold, as the ideal place to enjoy your Utepils.

An idyllic 600 year old English pub, The Crown Inn nestles in a quiet corner of the picture-perfect village green.  You can fully appreciate this view from the Crown’s terrace with a beer in hand whilst enjoying a dish off the seasonal menu.

The Crown Inns' April’s Beer of the Month is the very popular Timothy Taylor Landlord from Yorkshire.  Family owned for over 150 years, Timothy Taylor produces the classic Landlord, which had some serious media buzz back in 2003, when Madonna said it was her favourite beer. This pale bitter is an easy-drinking favourite, and has won both CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Challenge Cup - four times. Deep golden in colour, this beer offers flavours that lean towards the crisp and citrus. It doesn’t really have any malt flavors, and comes off a little hoppy, with a very dry finish.

Figura: Spring Kitchen

A wonderful project for a large country home surrounded by picturesque views and woodland.  The kitchen was extended by a large orangery, providing light and extensive views over the Surrey Hills.

There is a lovely use of curves not only in the work surface, but the shelving and pantry too which enables the kitchen to flow.

The contrasting use of wood and stone separates the different zones, but the way it also brings them together to harmonise the space is most remarkable.

There is a subtle use of colour and natural materials to reflect the location and the outdoors, providing a sense of calm and wellbeing. An absolutely delightful project and a spectacular living space for everyone, including Bella the dog!

The Painted Hall Project

The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich is one of the most spectacular and important baroque interiors in Europe. Its ceiling and wall decorations were conceived and executed by the British artist Sir James Thornhill between 1707 and 1726 at the pivotal moment when the United Kingdom was created and became a dominant power in Europe.

The Painted Hall, dubbed ‘ the Sistine Chapel of the UK’ for its beautiful interior has amazed and delighted visitors to Greenwich for 300 years. During this long history the fragile painted surfaces have suffered - smoke and dirt has built up on the surfaces, and varnish layers have fractured under the effects of heat and humidity. A trial clean of the west wall in 2012 (Phase I of the Painted Hall Project) showed the transformational effects conservation work could achieve.

The Painted Hall

The Painted Hall

As the dirt was carefully removed, the colour and vibrancy of Thornhill’s work was restored. Spurred on by this success, the Old Royal Naval College then set its sights on conserving the remaining 40,000sq ft of painted surface.

Starting in April 2017, visitors will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the drama of this vast masterpiece up close.  You will be able to ascend 60 feet and uncover the secrets of London’s largest painted ceiling.

Take a 60 minute ceiling tour via a special observation deck and discover the painting’s mysteries as they are revealed for the first time in half a century.

Spectacular Property in Cornwall

We were recently introduced to a new estate agency promising to shake things up in the Cornish property market. Rohrs & Rowe, is an exciting, innovative new hybrid, taking the best bits from the high street – experience, local knowledge, industry clout and a personalised service – and combining these with technology and social marketing, to create a dynamic, bespoke offering, better suited to today’s buying habits.

Coverack Harbour

Coverack Harbour

It is obvious that Martyn and Matthew are not simply in the business of selling houses. Fundamentally, their entire ethos is geared towards facilitating a lifestyle; sharing their love of Cornwall with likeminded people – discerning buyers, perhaps making the move here in search of a slower pace of life and the greater opportunity for play.

While Rohrs & Rowe has some truly impressive ‘wow’ properties on its books, you’ll find stunning homes to suit a range of budgets. The key differential is individuality; it’s not so much price but the opportunity and exclusivity the home presents that matters.

What comes across most from Martyn and Matthew is a genuine love of what they do, coupled with a quiet confidence in their ethos.

Whether you are interested in a property in Cornwall, looking forward to your Cornish break or just like to revel in the sunshine and rugged Cornish coastline, Rohrs and Rowe have just the thing to tickle your tastebuds.  Their website is inspiring, filmed at Gwithian and Hayle Beach in West Cornwall it makes you want to just get up and move!

Their stunning aerial video showing many of Cornwall's amazing locations highlights some of the areas where they market properties.

HOT CROSS BUNS

These sweet, spiced buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday to mark the end of Lent.  The cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus and the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial.

These delicious, home-made buns feature in one of our recent kitchen projects.

Mary Berry has an excellent recipe if you also want to have a go at making your own.

Figura Island with homemade Hot Cross Buns

Figura Island with homemade Hot Cross Buns

Wyndymilla Custom Bikes

We really value, custom made, bespoke and skilled craftsmanship at Figura.  Our Creative Director is also a bit of a bike fanatic, so the bespoke British bike building and custom apparel provided by WyndyMilla is on our wavelength.

Wyndymilla: Foo Fighter

Wyndymilla: Foo Fighter

We chatted to Henry Wyndham Furniss who founded the company with Nasima Camilla Siddiqui in 2009.  He told us that WyndyMilla was born from a raw passion for cycling, offering tailored bike training and equipment advice to personal training clients and friends. Then came Olympic success, Team Sky, Cavendish, Wiggins, Hoy, Trott and the renaissance of British Cycling – and that trickle became a brilliantly unstoppable torrent.

Wyndymilla: Massive Attack

Wyndymilla: Massive Attack

WyndyMilla looks at every area of your time on the bike, from the build of their very own custom bikes, technical kit and casual apparel to bio-mechanics and cycle fitting. 

The WyndyMilla HQ, workshop, showroom and fitting studio is nestled in the tranquility of the Surrey Hills just south of London in the picturesque village of Seale. If you fancy a visit, you can enjoy freshly ground coffee before heading out for a ride on the lovely quiet rural roads with their thriving club.

Our favourite picks of the unique and handcrafted from the interiors magazines this month...

A refreshing and revitalising shade, Greenery is symbolic of new beginnings.

Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

Green has long been favoured by Figura clients.  It promotes a sense of calm, reflects the natural materials in the cabinetry and surfaces and harmonises with the wonderful views outside.