On recent trip to the Lake District, we noticed that many small accommodation owners are extending their use of local suppliers beyond food and drink to include soft furnishings and décor.
An increasing number of B&Bs and boutique guesthouses in the Lakes and the Dales are making a virtue of using locally sourced fabrics and local interior designers to capture the essence of where they live. Using traditional fabrics and weaves in curtains, bedspreads, cushions and pelmets captures the distinctive ‘northern-ness’ and sense of place that makes guests feel welcome.
So we were delighted to be asked to help the lovely Joanne from Little Oakhurst Glamping at Stonyhurst update her first Shepherd’s Hut. A couple of months ago, before we put together our late summer display , Joanne popped into the workshop to say hello and see if we could help her update the hut by replacing the existing curtains.
We went to visit and measure up and get the feel for the glamping site, on a gloriously blue-sky day in the Ribble Valley – so blue was at the forefront of our minds. The view from the Bluebell Shepherd’s Hut is breath-taking – I’ve never seen views of Pendle Hill like it!
Jo, her daughter Lucy, who helps their family glamping site on the farm and I discussed colours over a cup of tea and looked at local design brands. In my mind it simply had to be something that felt very English and the Ian Mankin over-sized gingham checks, teamed with their Ticking Stripe fabric worked perfectly.
Sometimes, simplified designs work best – so Bluebell and the surroundings (with THAT view) can do all the talking. We worked our magic and made something special, which now adorns Bluebell’s interiors. Simple tab top curtains now adorn the beautiful little windows of the hut, as well as a gathered door curtain and complementary cushions in checks and stripes to snuggle up with on the bed.
The Ian Mankin brand is based in Burnley, less than 10 miles from Little Oakhurst. They produce high quality fabrics using 100% natural and recycled fibres. They are a British brand through and through, being passionate about British produce and preserving traditional crafts and skills. They own one of the last surviving cotton mills in Britain – long may it continue.
So it’s a good fit for Little Oakhurst – the fabric has been manufactured in Lancashire, just t’other side of the hill that glamping guests can admire from Jo’s Shepherd’s Huts. What’s not to love?
Whether you’re a B&B owner, have a holiday home, AirBNB or just want to update your own home, pop in for a cup of tea and a chat to see how we can help you.