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T A T T I N G H O U S E

@thenwebuiltahouse

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@mr.ornbo & @mrs.ornbo
Building Tatting House (our first self-build) Life & Travels with four kids.
💍04.21 🧱05.21 🏠03.22 👰🏼‍♀️🤵🏼08.22

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F I R S T & L A S T
Taking a little trip down memory lane, I found these first and last shots of the building site.

The first is the most recent shot of the back of the house, or The Oven as it should be referred to this summer. I love the shape of it, and how it sits with space all around it rather than how I’d envisaged it being shoved up to the back fence.

Next is our house on the last day of the build, followed by the first day. I vividly remember talking to Al & @ben.martin50 to double, triple check the position of the house with the biggest set square I’ve ever seen.

This is a totally ridiculous thing to say but it still seems amazing to me that there’s a house in our old garden. We’re so glad we decided to go with @tomchamlet all the team worked so hard. I don’t think I’ll ever forget @alex_cook__ chipping away at the stones in the freezing January like he was in prison 😂

Finally, there’s a shot from the same place of what was our big garden before we put our drive in down the side.

We love the laurel which we got from @hedgesdirect.co.uk but we need to put in some bigger trees for privacy on that fence and we’re thinking about Cyprus trees. Any advice about putting up six along that fence which divides the gardens? Help please @gardenersofig @gardenersworldmag @gardenersdreamuk @hedgesdirect.co.uk

We bought loads of dahlias, roses and clematis from @hartwellnurseries who were really helpful, we just need some more now.

Fingers crossed it won’t look like brown scrubland by the time it gets to the wedding. 🤞🏻
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#garden #gardeninspiration #gardenersofinstagram #gardendesign #littlegarden #cyprustrees #advice #help #gardentips #ourhouse #gardenadvice #gardenhelp #englishgarden #ourbuild #journey #beforeandafter #progress #ourjourney by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

W A L L S
We’ve been going back and forth about what to do with our living room walls and it’s driving me CRAZY.

Because we didn’t have a clue how the light would fall, or how the room would feel when we moved in, we just painted it good old Elephants Breath, added loads of plants and baskets (and a TV that’s too big for the space) and that’s it. Help us fill our empty walls before I do some sort of mad IKEA dash and lob up a load of three part canvases from 2005.

We’ve been considering full ceiling height reclaimed wood cladding, on all walls… but it doesn’t really fit with the rest of the style of the house- and may sort of clash with the wooden floor. Also, while I love going to hotels / shops / toilets with this in, I do sometimes randomly feel like I’m in a wooden coffin when i’m in a fully-clad room. Shudder.

Another option is traditional panelling (MDF, thanks B&Q) but I don’t know how that would work with all the inny-outy shapes of the wall, or going around the sofa / fireplace.

I keep going back to the safer option of just adding some sort of low level dresser / draws with some lovely shabby lamps, books or artwork on either side of the fireplace. Behind the sofa, the obvious gallery wall option. I’d like lots of different types of artwork / photographs / textures and some lovely wall sconces to break up that boring expanse of wall.

Please help get us out of this funk and get us started on making the walls less boring. Any ideas welcome! taken in Long Crendon by @thenwebuiltahouse

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3 years ago

M O T H E R S D A Y
Being a mum can mean so many different things to different people, and I know the heartache it brings too - thinking of all of you who are missing mums or longing to be one.

This is what being a mum means to me, with my little blended and extended family I feel responsible for six children.

I’ve been a mum for 14 years, the first four years with one, the next four with two. Then WHAMMY two beautiful bonus children for the last six years, they were 3,4,5 & 8 when we met and now look at them 🥹

I also love my Auntie duties with my two gorgeous little nephews living next door. These six blonde haired babies make me feel like we live as a pack when we’re all here.

None of this would be possible without @mr.ornbo ❤️ The only snag now is that he has seeded our lawn and nobody can go on it for six weeks, just before the long Easter break with all of us at home!

Hope you all had a good Mothers Day, whatever form it takes for you. by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

R E A L I T Y
I’m late to this Insta VS Reality thing, but I spotted a great opportunity this afternoon with the disgusting state of our house.

I love our utility, thank God we were persuaded to make it bigger. We love it - thank you @cgb.carpentry - But I only ever take photos of one side, so here it is, the reverse side, all exposed and nasty. As wonderful as the underfloor heating manifold and a big water tank is, it’s not pretty. Nor are six people’s sports gear, coats, hats, shoes and toys - all of which seem to spawn out of nowhere, unnoticed until trodden on with unprotected feet!

We still need a lot of bespoke carpentry in every room of the house. We’ve had a careful Christmas, effectively hibernating throughout Dry January, and now we’ve pulled our funds together, we finally have enough - to go skiing. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Carpentry VS Chamonix.

#sorrynotsorry #priorities #idratherbeskiing #letsgo #instavsreality #homeaccount #selfbuild #bespoke #carpentry #carpenter #bespokecabinets #kitchensofinstagram by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

T I M E
This is Christmas 2022, condensed into one short minute. This month-in-a-minute Timelapse and Christmas sh*t made me realise that time with those you love is the most precious thing we will have, ever. How quickly life zooms past - blink and you miss it, and ironically the only new addition to the house this month has been a clock.

It may all sound melodramatic for an Instagram reel, but we have had a really rough one. Thames Valley Air Ambulance saved the lives of not one but two of our immediate family members in the space of six days before Christmas. The John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford performed three major operations with another booked for the end of January, and one of our family is still there.

The hideous situation in Ukraine continues with my cousin still in Kyiv in this terrible war. We didn’t see two of the eight Lowndes-Ornbo kids-clan at all, and Sam & I spent another Christmas Day without our kids too.

I really wanted to shout out “Christmas 2022 SUCKS” But, as tw*tty as it sounds, we huddled together, and managed to feel really lucky to have a family who all love one another very much. We are all still alive, we are healthy, and we are happy and we had the best Christmas gift we will ever receive - the unbelievable service, expertise, dedication and genuine care from this country’s amazing NHS. They all gave up their Christmas with loved ones, so we can look forward to a Christmas with ours in ‘23. For that we will be forever grateful.

In 2022 we moved house twice, built our home, and got married, but it was also one of the most challenging years of my life. Twelfth night was welcomed this year. I could take these Christmas decorations down and make space for a happy and healthy 2023!

Here’s to a good one for us all ❤️ by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

T R E E
I’ve seen so many of these “Decorate our tree with us” posts so here’s a pinch of reality. This took HOURS, and all that time was spent restraining myself from shouting “spread them out, the baubles need to dangle” and “that one would look so lovely at the back darling”

Every year each of us picks a new bauble to represent something we’ve done, or just something they love. As a result barely any match, but every time we unpack the decorations it’s full of memories.

Of course all of this choice and “help” from the kids means that the tree ended up looking like one of us had tripped and thrown every bauble we own on to one side of the tree. Thank goodness for the magic elves who rearranged them overnight. And for Gin. And for the World Cup distracting @mr.ornbo so I can be a control freak over it all.

Now for the rest of the house and to sort Christmas food shopping. Shiiiit. I feel like I’ve left this very late. It’s my first time hosting - any tips would be much appreciated!
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#christmastree #christmasdecor #christmasdecorations #christmastime #alreadyknackered #homeaccount #ourhome #selfbuild #our #home #story #interiordesign #interior #interiors #christmasinspiration #christmasinterior #decorations #elves #kids #lifewithfourkids #blended #family #blendedfamily #december #happy #christmas #help #christmasfood #hosting by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

M R & M R S
Here’s a little peak at one of the best days of our lives, 60 seconds of joy thanks to @papertwinwed. We can’t stop watching this (and our longer version that won’t squeeze on to Insta-spam) It would be so lovely to be able to have this day with friends and family over and over and over…Maybe without the expense and diets though.

It’s been a tough run recently with family losses & the bloody cost of living has meant the only house update has been a fire poker and a comedy Christmas bauble. So here I am, reminding myself of the peaks as well as troughs. Who knew, four years after meeting Sam on my very first, and only, date on bumble we’d be getting married. As one of my friends said. I’m a lucky f*cker.

Happy Friday Everyone.
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#friday #fridayfeeling #fridayfeels #happyfriday #happyfamily #blendedfamily #blended #wedding #weddingvideo #weddingvibes #weddingvideography #throwback #love #ourjourney #summerwedding #homeaccount #our #story #ourstory #thisisus taken in Long Crendon by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

taken in Long Crendon by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

B U B B L E S

Friday evening celebrating what I hope is the end of my Annus Horribilus in bubbles, drinking bubbles.

I’m not one to usually go in full hog about personal stuff on social media, but the months and months of litigation are finally over. It would have always been a win no matter what outcome, just to have it all stop, but it couldn’t have gone better for me - and most importantly for the kids.

The stress of this year, covid, moving house, our family in Ukraine, getting a court summons out of the blue, moving again, finishing the build and planning the wedding was really hard. I’ve been withdrawn from people I love, and stopped doing things I love doing. I’ve been exhausted and over emotional with family & friends who frankly deserved better, or at least more of me. I’ve not been there for friends as much as I should have in their times of need which I will regret forever. I was trying to pour from an empty cup - or perhaps one which had a lid of stress and anxiety permanently fixed to the sodding top. I feel like that lid has finally, finally been lifted! I may have cried on the way home from court, and at the dinner table, but this time it was with relief that we can all finally put this behind us, and with gratitude to my wonderful friends and family (most of whom aren’t on here). Thank you for supporting / putting up with me being a stressed out pain in the arse @orners @katejones404 @ruthielaw @kellylouiseavery @rosetiongwasrea @r.j.parry It’s finally f*cking over!!

Swipe to see some little family bathroom bits we love, better pics another time 🤞🏻

Keep going to see my very own blended family, parents & step parents, showing us how it’s done and coming together in support. I feel very loved, and very lucky. And, it’s just over two weeks now until I become Mrs @orners and that’s the best result of all.
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#home #homeaccount #interiordesign #interior #bathroom #bathroomdesign #stonebath #bathroomsofinstagram #bathroomsofinsta #bathroomstyle #bathroomselfie #bathing #hope #happiness #winning #won #thankful #grateful #gratitude #love #thankyou by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

W E D D I N G
This morning we realised it’s just SIX WEEKS until our wedding. Yikes!! On top of finishing off the house, work and four kids, I’ve been beavering away behind the scenes to get the final pieces of our wedding to together.

One of the easiest decisions we made was choosing @rackleysbarn as our venue. It is just stunning. This photo is taken from the wildflower meadow at the back, which looks so beautiful at golden hour.

Rackleys farm was part of the ancient estate of Cadmore End, part of the Norman manor of Fingest and built in the 1700’s. The first known owner was Sir Edward Unton; a staunch Puritan and also a spy in the court of Elizabeth I - love a bit of drama.

The owners began restoration in 2019 and was finished just in time for the pandemic to hit. Swipe to see the gorgeous main area of the barn.

We looked around in early 2021, and fell in love with it instantly. I wandered around in a daydream thinking about our wedding day, while @orners took photos of their drainpipes, tiles and formation of bricks so we could look at similar things for our house.

We’ve been to two wine tastings since, and all their selection was divine - especially their selection of locally produced wine. Who knew we could do it so well in the uk. The food was delicious too, swipe for a few shots of the dinner we’ll buy for 100 people. Apart from @nicolas_bourgueil - they are making a vegan feast for you.

We have so many amazing suppliers for the whole day, but more on them another time. I’m off to speak to the florist now - one of my favourite tasks on the wedmin to-do list. You can never have too many flowers, right?

If anyone has any top tips about wedding favours, how not to cry your eyes out on the day, or how to slow time so you can really soak it up let me know.

Happy Thursday everyone. 🤍
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#wedding #weddingvenue #weddingcountdown #ukwedding #britishsummer #summerwedding #weddingtips #weddinghack #rackleys #barn #weddingbarn #our #story #love #beautifuldestinations #happy #pretty #flowerfield
#thursday #thursdayvibes taken in Rackleys Events & Wedding Barn by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago

L I T T L E L O O
Given so many people in our village ended last week with dreaded norovirus, I thought a loo post would be rather apt.

This is the first place in our home with a lock on the door, and coupled with the blue-green colors it makes a lovely hiding place from the children. And Sam.

Sourcing what we wanted for this tiny room was an enjoyable challenge. We found the pretty little Moroccan sink on @etsyuk As is was genuinely from Marrakech it arrived in a metal cage which the kids liked more than the sink itself. Then we couldn’t find ANYTHING which would fit the plug hole properly. There was a point where we nearly gave in a shoved stainless steel one in there - clash-o-rama. Eventually @orners found one. Legend.

I have also been a bit obsessed with having wood in bathrooms - I know, I know, it can be a b*tch in a wet area but I don’t care. We loved this oak for the base which our builder @tomchamlet found for us in a local timber yard. So pretty.

We then had to have a false wall built under the sink to squeeze pipes behind, which @ben.martin50 sorted for us at lightning speed.

We also wanted a quartz windowsill, which you can’t see yet as it’s the final piece of the puzzle which @totemstoneltd will be fitting soon 🤞🏻

As for the walls... The blue-green tiles are from @royalestones swipe for our tilers happy faces! The paint is @farrowandball Dimpse, and that little mirror was a total bargain from @tkmaxxuk - even if Sam did put it up with his eyes half closed as we couldn’t remember where the pipes went 😬

We just need some rugged shelving now - if anyone knows of some great live edge wooden shelves let me know.
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#handmade #interiordesign #interior #interiors #bathroom #bathroominspo #bathroomstyle #loo #bathroomsofinstagram #interiorsofinstagram #homedecor #home #homeaccount #our #house #build #story #selfbuild #selfbuilduk #humpday taken in Buckinghamshire by @thenwebuiltahouse

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4 years ago