Pantone has unveiled its colour for 2022 and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen before!

‘Very Peri’ is a brand-new lavender-violet-blue based shade created to represent confidence as the world enters yet another era of unprecedented change. Expect to see ‘Very Peri’ everywhere over the next few months – and if you’re sceptical about introducing such a daring shade to your décor, don’t worry, we’re here to help inspire you with ideas for every taste.

According to Pantone, ‘Very Peri’ is all about hope, looking ahead, and coming out of an extended period of isolation with a new vision for the future. The last few years have been vital in raising awareness of transformative issues such as the fight against climate change. So perhaps ‘Very Peri’ also represents a fight against the status quo, and a renewed focus on how to effect change. That’s certainly something that we at Dorton can understand as we continue to promote sustainability and repurposing rather than buying new.

So, how can you bring this exciting, wildly contemporary shade into your home?

Accents and features

One of the easiest ways to introduce periwinkle is to accessorise – whether with ornaments, soft furnishings, fabrics, or a feature wall. We love this example where an electrifying periwinkle has been chosen to offset traditional features such as a period fireplace, classic chair and antique lamps.

Experiment with colour matches

The beauty of periwinkle is that it’s constructed of blues and purples, with a hint of red. So, depending on your preference you can take it in a vivid violet direction, or move towards tranquil blues and lavenders. Create a vibrant look with a contrasting pop of colour (lime, yellow or pastel pink work really well) – even a well-placed bunch of daffs will complement a wall painted in a deep periwinkle shade. For a more calming, wistful vibe, pair with whites and greys – perfect for bathrooms and bathrooms.

Revamp your front door

Add a burst of colour with a periwinkle-inspired front door. We adore this quirky stable door style, and the way the flowers and lamp base have been chosen to echo the blue colour palette. Notice also how the mirror reflects light from the windows and front door glazing, creating a feeling of space.

Vibrant kitchen inspo

Ready to go crazy with periwinkle? Create a statement with painted kitchen units. This example cleverly carries the periwinkle theme into the dining room, using lighter shades to create a completely different ambiance. The brass fittings and parquet flooring add to the sumptuous effect.

Storage solutions

This designer has used a bold periwinkle shade to transform a shelving unit in a mud room. They have created softness by picking out lavenders in the wallpaper, adding flowers and natural materials, and ensured the look is fresh rather than fussy with clean lines and subtle accessories. Recreate the look by building your own bespoke storage area using reclaimed timber.

‘Very Peri’ outdoors

Not sure about bringing periwinkle into the home just yet? Why not repurpose an old wooden chair and create a planter for your garden? Add a lick of paint (we recommend Little Greene Company’s ‘Clockwise’) for a truly unusual feature.

If you’re experimenting with vivid colour palettes, we’d love to see the results – share with us on Instagram or Twitter.

Main image – Better Homes and Gardens – photo credit Cason Downing
‘Very Peri’ reference – Pantone
Corner area with chair – Emily Dobbs Interiors via Instagram
Front Door – Maria Killam
Kitchen – At home at Arkansas
Mud Room – Digs Digs 
Chair Planter – Balcony Garden Web

As we head into December, it’s time for the Christmas prep to really step up a gear, and your home décor is no exception.

This month we’re looking at innovative ways to upgrade your spare room ready for an influx of guests – or maybe just creating some extra space for you to enjoy!

Deck the (headboard) with boughs of holly

Where else could we start in a guest room but with the bed? Style your bed frame with a quirky reclaimed headboard like this spectacular fireplace surround into which perfectly sits a velvet headboard. We stock a huge range of surrounds in different styles and designs.

Christmas-ify the guest bed with layers of blankets and pillows and drape twinkly fairy lights from the headboard for a truly festive feel. Take the theme to the next level by displaying scented candles or winter berries and pinecone arrangements on top of the fireplace surround.

It’s the most wonderful ‘time’ of the year

We absolutely love this showcase of beautiful timepieces – what a fantastic way to create a feature wall! Browse the yard for original or repro clocks to recreate this look, and add to the theme with carriage and mantle clocks – the possibilities are endless.

Box-ing Day

Store household items, kids toys, bed linen or anything else you don’t want on show while your guests are in town with a vintage industrial storage box, which has the added benefit of looking really cool at the end of the bed. Fancy something a little more traditional? Take a look at this striking original oak storage bench.

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

Have some fun displaying unusual features to show off your wild side. These repro iron stags would look equally at home in the garden, but we love them as a guest room centrepiece – particularly at this most festive time of the year!

Fa la la la la la lighting

Every room in the house deserves to be enhanced with some de-light-ful lighting. Revamp your guest room lights with a little retro twist. We love this set of industrial table lamps, or you could add a little kitchy style with vintage floral lights like these in our main image.

Trim up the tree

Finally this month, we couldn’t leave you without some Christmas decs inspo. Craft your own sustainable decorations to complete your guest room renovation this season – we absolutely love this how-to from Love My Dress on how to transform traditional baubles using pine needles, buttons, sequins or berries.

We’re open until 22nd December and then giving our team a well-earned rest. We’ll be back on 4th January 7.30am.

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and season’s greetings to all our customers. Stay safe and we’ll see you in 2022!

Image references
Headboard Better Homes and Gardens (image credit Michael Garland)
Wall of clocks Mon Deco Shop 
Storage boxes Ovadia Design Group via Instagram
Baubles images Love My Dress

As the Halloween decorations are packed away for another year, our thoughts are turning to Christmas – and the prospect of the first big seasonal get-together in two years!

So, in the spirit of bringing the whole family together for a first Christmas since the pandemic, we’re looking at ways to spruce up your dining room to get yuletide-ready for your guests.

Dining table

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and we think jollity starts with a great big table creaking under the weight of food and drink, with all your friends and family gathered around. Upcycle a traditional table with wax or a coat of paint, or take inspiration from this unusual example constructed from a trestle base and a pine stripped door.

Festive centrepiece

A beautiful table deserves a stunning centrepiece. You could buy one of course, but why not take the sustainable route and create one of your own. We love this example using old jam jars filled with candles and seasonal fruits, or this one created using a wooden deli crate and filled with winter fir sprigs and baubles.

Unusual seating

Change up your seating arrangements with a vintage church pew instead of chairs. Paint it as in this example, or strip it back to its original materials. Mix and match with some chairs (like these from Worth Abbey) for other guests. Accessorise with cushions and blankets to increase the cosy factor.

Ceiling lights

Upgrade the lighting in your dining room with a show stopping installation hung over your table. Recreate this industrial look with our repro ceiling lights, or go foraging through the yard to find something similar. We’ve also seen some amazing examples of upcycled lighting using glass bottles, vintage lampshades and even tin drums with stamped holes to let the light shine through. Let your imagination run wild!

Cabinets and dressers

A vintage dresser is a great space saver as well as looking incredibly stylish. Plus, it’s the perfect solution to display your crockery and trinkets. Create this look by keeping part of the original woodwork and adding a hit of colour to match your décor.

Fire grates and dogs

Complete your festive redesign with a roaring fire. We have a huge range of fire grates and dogs to complete the look. Then all you need to do is brew up some hot chocolate or mulled wine and toast some marshmallows to. It’s really beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

We’ll be back next month with some more seasonal ideas. Don’t forget, we have new stock arriving almost daily, so pop along to have a browse, and give us a call if you’re after something in particular.

Image references

Main image A Fireman’s Wife (via Instagram)
Dining table (Christmas) Archi Chef (via Instagram)
Dining table Better Homes and Gardens
Jam jar centrepiece Clean and Scentsible
Wooden centrepiece Country Living
Church pew  Bridgefield Cottage (via Instagram)
Lights Distinct Designs
Dresser Lorrie Cos (via Instagram)
Fireplace Adobe Stock images

This month we want to highlight some of the more unusual vintage items we often have in stock at the yard, and how to incorporate eclectic, one-off pieces as keynote features in your home décor.

Let’s start with one of our favourites from the yard – we adore these antique brass and copper fire extinguishers, which would look incredible polished up and transformed into a lamp. Add a bare bulb to create a steam-punk vibe, or complement with a vintage lampshade for an elegant look as The Frogmill have done in this lovely example.

A browse through our yard will uncover gems like this gorgeous PYE record player. Use items like this to add authentic vintage glamour to a retro-styled room as in this gorgeous example we found at Apartment Therapy. For a more modern take, display your record player alongside your state-of-the art surround sound stereo system for a guaranteed talking point. Perfect for the nostalgic music lover in you.

Your bathroom is another sure-fire way to incorporate vintage, eclectic pieces. Take a look at this industrial sink trough – and here’s inspo on how to transform it into a gorgeous bathroom showpiece.

If you’re lucky enough to have the space, it could also be upcycled into a boot-and-dog-wash spot in your utility room, or even an unusual outdoor planter.

Create bespoke artwork with a classic sign. Lean into the style by pairing with vintage furniture as in this example, or experiment with design influences and add an antique sign to an uber-modern room.

Finally, here’s an unusual twist on living room storage – upcycle a set of old lockers to create a funky set of cupboards. You could remove doors to expose shelves, add a coat of paint, mix and match the colours, affix name plates for the kids – this is a versatile space-saving trend that you can play around with to make it work for you.

You’re sure to find some unusual treasures at the yard, so why not pop along for a visit?

Stay safe.

Image references

Main image (Fire extinguisher lamp) The Frogmill

Vintage record player Apartment Therapy (Nicole Crowder)

Trough sink Michelle Lisac Interior Design

Vintage sign Simple Things Blog

Lockers Funky Junk Interiors

When you bring a reclaimed item into your home, there’s often more to the history of the piece than first meets the eye. Take these teak tongue and groove floor boards for example.

They may look like your everyday rough and ready second-hand floorboards, but these were sourced from Brunswick Training Camp accommodation block in Surrey and date all the way back to the early 20^th century.

Brunswick Training Camp is part of the Pirbright military base in Surrey Heath and has been used for military training practices since the late 19^th century. There’s a rich military history at the site, beginning in 1875 when the British army acquired the land for training and exercises. Then followed the construction of Pirbright Ranges, a military firing range that was then developed into a semi-permanent barracks. During the first world war, a railway line was constructed, connecting it to the main London to Southampton line. This railway line was used for military passengers and freight traffic throughout the war. During WW2, the site was used as accommodation barracks and continued to be used as a training centre. An Historical Environment Record (HER) noted the presence of anti-invasion defensive features and practice trenches, which are designated an Area of High Archaeological Potential (AHAP).

The accommodation block was made up of several h-shaped single-storey blocks, with separate bunk rooms connected by corridors and a central bathroom accessible from both wings. The barrack blocks were identified as heritage assets due to their architectural value as examples of 20^th century military structures including during both world wars. This means that a Historic Building Recording was made of the accommodation block in order to preserve the significance of the buildings as examples of early 20^th century barrack blocks, and provide understanding of the formation of the camp.

Now at the end of its useful life, it was time for the accommodation block to be removed to make way for a modern facility for current servicemen and women. As always, when Dorton worked on-site we took great care to preserve as many features as possible, in order that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

These floorboards are steeped in history and just waiting to be restored to their former glory. This is a wonderful opportunity to incorporate an important part of Britain’s history into your home, and literally tread the same floors as our fathers and grandfathers during the world wars.