by Helen | Oct 10, 2025 | Renovation
It’s been a while since I’ve done a post about our renovation journey, because we’ve so busy since actually moving into the house – at long last! – on 26th August. The builders finally departed a week later (but will be returning to finish the kitchen), so we’ve been able to crack on with the unpacking, sorting, building furniture, moving things, starting the painting jobs that we’re doing ourselves, and generally creating a home. But, let’s go back a few weeks and take stock, starting with the main bathroom.
In the last blog, the sanitary ware was starting to be fitted and the tiling had been started, with us waiting on the arrival of blue ceramic edging tiles, to finish of the half level tiles. We were also trying to source a cabinet for the sink to sit on, and a chandelier. Our previous bathrooms have all been tiny and so we’ve never been able to have anything on an even slightly grand scale, so a chandelier has always been on my wish-list. Fast forward to now, and this is where we are up to the main bathroom :
the cabinet
This was eventually sourced, but not after lots and lots of research online and visiting various shops. Absolutely nothing was ticking the boxes – always a problem when I have a very clear idea in my head as to what I want. I didn’t want anything over-fancy or anything too vintage. Because we have so much to do in the house, I also didn’t fancy anything which required a huge amount of work in terms of restoring and painting it. I was veering very much towards a kind of mid-century style cabinet, with glass doors – rippled glass if possible – on which would sit our brass sink and brass tap. And, as has happened quite a lot, one of favourite go-to Spanish websites delivered. Sklum is a superb online shop – think Habitat or Heals quality, just not quite as pricey – and we’ve found a lot of really lovely key pieces for the house, and this is where we found the perfect bathroom cabinet. The Massilia, made of beautiful acacia wood, with doors, with rippled glass. Oh, yes – rippled glass.
It took a bit of work by the carpenter to get it to the exact height needed and to fit the tap, which had to sit to the side of the sink. We bought the sink separate to the tap and separate to the cabinet – but somehow, they all work beautifully together. And you wouldn’t now know the additional work which had to be done to make sure everything was correct and fitted properly.
tiles
The wall tiles are lovely and we’re delighted with them. We decided that rather than tile the whole bathroom, we’d only have inside the shower cubicle and around the free-standing bath and sink, to half height. Because they stopped where you could see the top of the final line of tiles, our perfectionist project manager suggested that we perhaps look at having ceramic edging tiles to finish them off. However, because of the pattern on the tiles and the tiny ceramic tile inserts on the taps and shower, we wanted navy blue edging. Again, the hunt was on because no colour ever seemed quite right. But, because the tiling needed to be finished, we needed to make a decision and so ordered online. And, this was the first – and so far, only – mistake we’ve made. When they arrived, rather than the navy colour they had looked online, they were more of a washed out pale blue, which we really disliked. They had taken a long time arrive, so we didn’t want to send them back, so we thought we’d paint them white.
But taking a bit of time, with design decisions, however small they might be, does work – and ultimately we decided, once the walls were painted, we didn’t actually need the edging tiles. They’re now sitting in a box, somewhere in the house, possibly to be repurposed elsewhere in the future.
the window
We did originally have two windows in this bathroom – one small one where the shower cubicle now is, and a lovely French window, where we have now repositioned the toilet to – meaning a French window, however lovely, just became impractical. Although we’re not really overlooked, there are a couple of houses with balconies higher up the hill and they do face our bathroom, so we felt we needed to rethink the window situation. The smaller window was blocked up to give us a full extra wall to create the shower cubicle and we decided that the bottom half of the French door (which was a bit impractical and dangerous as it actually opened over the courtyard…) needed to be bricked up, leaving us with a smaller casement window, to the side of the toilet. This window was made by the carpenter to match the style of all of the other windows, with two frames and two shutters which opened internally, giving us the privacy we wanted. But, we pretty quickly realised, once we started actually using the bathroom, that closing the shutters, also made the room dark, and we didn’t want this during the day time. The solution was actually really easy – we had a mandala transfer, bought back back in Istria, for the princely sum of €3, and cut in half and attached to each frame, gave us the privacy we wanted, without blocking out the light.
The frames are still be painted white, but for so long we had no window, that this feels like a luxury. White, we think, will make all of the difference, and will hopefully just finish off the bathroom, when we get round to tackling all of the paintwork on the first floor.
the shower
We have waited sooo long to have working showers! All of the various parts for the two showers have been boxed up for months, so to finally see them installed has been fantastic. However, as with most jobs in a renovation, there are still things that need to be done to make them perfect. Sometimes, when you are planning things from scratch, you only see, or realise, certain things in-situ and this has been the case with both showers. The main bathroom shower sits in the corner of the room, separated by a single glass brick wall from the bath. It’s a large enclosure which is great, and because of the colour of the brass shower fittings, we pushed the boat out and chose a brass coloured non-slip shower tray. A bit of an eye-watering price, but now it’s installed, and we’ve forgotten about the pain of payment, it was worth every cent. A good design decision! However, we think we may need to have a shower door installed as water does sometimes spray out of the cubicle. We did want it to be open, and it does look great with just the glass brick wall, but we don’t want to create a wet room. Currently, we just have a white shower curtain, which works well, so we think a white bi-fold shower door will work well. A shame, but needs must. And the joy of having a working shower cannot be underestimated.
the bath
The bath is an absolute joy. Despite the fact that it’s not yet plumbed in and the wall taps have not been fitted. So goodness know what it’ll be like when this has all been done. We’re not entirely sure why, at this stage, the taps have still not been fitted, so we’ll await the return of the builders to find out why. We think it’s to do with the fact that the drain pipe, which came with the bath, didn’t fit properly, so another one is being sourced. It is definitely a tiny bit frustrating having a beautiful slipper bath which we can’t use just yet, but we have our showers and so are just being patient. Good things come to those who wait…
It’s been lovely to unearth bathroom accessories which have been packed away for well over a year. Shelving has gone up, meaning that we’ve been able to start creating the bathroom we’ve always wanted. I managed, by sheer luck, to find a mirror online, which almost identically matched the sink and so there’s a feeling of real cohesion in the room. And, as the ceiling has the exposed beams and bricks, we’ve also been able to make use of our very realistic looking vines again. The hunt for perfect chandelier has proved almost impossible – they were either too expensive (all of teh ones I liked!), too bling, too small, not bathroom-y enough, and just not right in too many ways. So, a vintage copper light pendant, which we bought in Istria and never found the right place for, is awaiting the return of the workers, so that it can be finally fitted. We’re so nearly there with this room and from how it started, we couldn’t be more delighted with how it’s turning out.
by Helen | Oct 5, 2025 | Lifestyle
We love our new lives in Andalucia and are immersing ourselves as much as we possibly can, mid-renovation. Sometimes though, especially in the cooler months – and this is why my thoughts are turning to this now, as we enter October – we crave certain things that were just kind of tap, back in the UK. Pizza Express pizzas, for one. Which we can luckily, by a sheer geographical coincidence, get out here. And, nwe did find ourselves, last winter, at times, definitely definitely craving a good old Sunday roast. We did make our own a few times, inlcuding knocking out a stand out Christmas dinner, with turkey, ham and ALL the trimmings. But DIY is a real faff, not to mention the washing up. So, imagine our delight when we saw that one of our favourite hotels – Boutique Hotel Alcaidesa – would be offering Sunday Roasts (including veggie options) throughout the winter to residents and non-residents.
Last winter we were renting an apartment in Sanlucar de Barrameda, on the Costa de la Luz, a good two hour drive away, so we decided to make a night of it, and we booked accommodation on the Sunday evening. Which, in hindsight, was a pretty good idea, as we were so full after our meal, that all we could was get to the room, and crash out, watching the wonderful Ripley series on Netflix.
We knew the food would be good, as we had previous experience of the hotel and had eaten in the evening and at breakfast, and both times, the food was outstandingly good. Owned by a Norwegian/English family, and run by a very international team, the food is interesting to say the least. Attention to detail is absolutely spot on, and the choice offered is amazing. So, we knew we were in for a Sunday afternoon treat…
The food is served buffet style, but a team of chefs keep it fresh and at the right temperature, visibly taking away food which may have sat for a little too long and replacing with obvious new platters of food. The carvery oois skillfully manned by one of the chefs, and even though it’s buffet style, you are usually served your choices. And the choices are vast – we had a variety of meats and veggie options. The two standouts when we have been visited have been the nut roast and the mushroom risotto – both perfect if you don’t want meat. There’s also a veggie gravy option, although if you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, it’s probably worth discussing your choices beforehand – I’m sure this lovely, professional set up would accommodate your wishes. The array of vegetables and sides is staggering – and the roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings were swoon-worthy. Starters are available and look gorgeous, but our advice would be to pass on these and go straight to the roast. As you can return as many times as you desire, and you will definitely go back once, you don’t want to fill up too much and miss out on the main course deliciousness.
Oh, and do try and a little room for dessert. I was fit to burst, as the little pots of Eton Mess kept on being replenished, I could not resist. But strawberries are very much OK, aren’t they? Maybe not the smashed creamy meringues and the cream itself and the coulis, but strawberries. Fitness food.
And, after fabulous food and excellent wine, the very comfy bed called and an evening of “Ripley”, before a good night’s sleep to ready ourselves for breakfast the next morning.
by Helen | Oct 5, 2025 | Spain, Travel
Located in the heart of the old town, on Plaza Santo Cristo, the first impression of this hotel is sheer, understated elegance. Everything is absolutely on point. The restoration of the building is absolutely exquisite. The exterior is very traditionally Andalucian – white washed, wrought iron balconies and grilles, heavy doors and shutters, and with lots of greenery in big pots. Obviously, a source of much inspiration for our house. Internally, it is a mix of traditional (in terms of the arches and the high ceilings and the ceramic tiled floors) but very contemporary in style and design, with a big nod to Moorish heritage.
The reception area sits snugly next to the bar/restaurant area, so it’s not the first thing you encounter when you enter the hotel. Instead, the entrance is like a home, with beautiful furnishings – big sofas, cosy chairs, coffee tables, accent lighting, lots of objects which add detail and interest. It’s a hotel which is quiet and peaceful and you feel relaxed as soon as you step inside.
Our room overlooked the courtyard garden to the rear of the hotel – again, exquisite. Full of carefully considered outdoor seating options, huge pots of greenery, different areas for relaxing, drinking, eating. And, like we had in our house in Istria, a luscious green wall.
The room itself was just perfect. A large, comfy bed with crisp, white. monogrammed linen and everything you could ask for to make your stay as relaxing as possible.
I do like a bathroom with white metro tiles, and this en-suite delivered. Our bathroom in West Didsbury was tiled in this way, with black grout – our builder really appreciated this decision – and when we stayed in the hotel, we were deliberating whether we went down this route again, so it was lovely to see them again, in situ. The shower cubicle has black crittal doors – something we had already decided upon for our en-suite, so again, really good to see in situ. Black accents worked well against the pristine white sanitary ware, and the fluffy robes, complimentary slippers and lush toiletries, just added to the feeling of luxury.
A la carte breakfast is served each morning, and as expected, it was first class. Eggs, whichever you wanted them. Hams, cheeses, breads, preserves, coffee, juices – as much as you wanted. The hotel also sells its own olive oil – which I obviously couldn’t resist, as I have a thing for olive oils, especially if bottled beautifully. Which this was. And, it tastes as good as it looks. As well as the hotel restaurant and roof top bar, La Bodega de la Fonda, is a cosy little restaurant, across the square, offering a selection of fresh, local and seasonal products, such as classic Spanish tortilla, croquettes, meatballs in their sauce and Iberian ham with fried eggs. The perfect spot for an informal meal, with fabulous views over the very pretty square.
A hotel that is truly a magical experience…
by Helen | Oct 4, 2025 | Lifestyle
*This is NOT a sponsored blog post. We paid in full for all food and drink.*
Living in Andalucia, we are certainly not short of excellent food options. Obviously tapas restaurants abound, and we’ve yet to find one that isn’t really good quality, most being pretty superb. Even the most basic offer food which is of high quality and excellent value. In the larger towns we can easily satiate our cravings for spicy – especially Indian and Thai – food, and in our town we have a fantastic restaurant which does focus on Andalucian cuisine but also offers lots of Moroccan inspired dishes. Heaven. Italian restaurants are also in abundance, but we have missed Pizza Express since leaving the UK. We know that we can get better, and much more authentic pizzas in Italian restaurants, and we do seek these out, but there’s just something that is so comforting and familiar about Pizza Express. And an idle, online search one day turned up Spain’s only two branches of Pizza Express – one in Gibraltar and one in Alcaidesa.
Gibraltar would be close enough, but until very recently, my residency was still under consideration, so I did not want to leave the EU and enter Gibraltar as this could potentially have thrown up many complications. And then, I found a branch in Alcaidesa, a beautiful town about 30 minutes from our house, right on the coast, with views across towards Malaga in one direction and the Rock of Gibraltar in the other, and out to sea, across to the mountains of Morocco. An absolute result.
We don’t go all the time, although it’s tempting, so when we do it’s a bit of a treat. We decided to pay a visit this week, on a hot, sunny early October afternoon to celebrate my residency being granted and actually finally being in the house. We haven’t moved to Spain to live the life of replicating what we had in the UK, but in the sunshine. However, the familiarity of Pizza Express is quite lovely. The same menus – both in style and what is offered. Everything is reassuringly the same. Which is good, as ordering is quick, as we always know exactly what we want. One day, we’ll veer away from our faves, but for the moment, we have a stock list that we’re still savouring. Only this time in the Andalucian sunshine, rather than the Lapwing Lane drizzle!
The very thin, stretched Romana bases are perfect – much less doughy and much less filling. Topped to perfection, too – American Hot (the jalapenos did have quite the kick!) with extra mushrooms and a Padana were just what we needed, along with a vino and a cold beer. I think we’re maybe just far away for home delivery, but I don’t think we can really complain when get to enjoy pizzas in the sunshine, like this.
by Helen | Sep 24, 2025 | Renovation
The stairs up to the roof terrace, from the first floor, were awful. Just awful. Steep, enclosed and dark. They were so awful in fact, that we gave our builders a bit of a head-scratcher and said we wanted to investigate accessing the roof terrace from the internal courtyard, with some kind of an external staircase. In our defence, we were trying to imagine better access to the roof terrace from long distance and so had forgotten how much smaller the courtyard is in reality, and how tall the house is, meaning not much space for a staircase. But, our builder did try and wrap his head around our ideas, until he had to finally get us to face the fact that what we were asking for, was going to be impossible. So, we had to come up with a Plan B and find some way of making the stairs, better.
And the answer, really, was pretty obvious. Much more obvious than our hare-brained idea of an external staircase. The answer was to do what we had done on the ground floor – remove the wall, to achieve open plan stairs, like these…
It was also decided, as work was being done on the stairs, that we’d incorporate a few more features, which now love, and although not factored into the initial renovation budget, have been more than worth the additional expenditure.
- Firstly, we decided that the actual treads would be lengthened and decreased in height, making the climb to the roof terrace, much more comfortable and much easier, meaning that new steps were built out of brick and plastered with concrete;
- On the turn of the new stairs, we decided that the low ceiling would be partially removed and then heightened, so that no-one risked banging their head, and so that the feeling of space and light was increased;
- The original heavy, green, metal door – which was a real monstrosity – leading out to the roof terrace, was removed and a bespoke, full glass door made. It had to be bespoke, because of the measurements, but didn’t actually cost a great deal more than anyone of the pretty bog-standard ones I found online. What makes this door worth its weight in gold, is that because it’s all glass, it floods the now open stairway, and down into the first floor living room, with bright sunlight. Just beautiful.
It was a pretty messy job, with lots of demolition but thankfully we were living off site, and only got stressed about it all in very short bursts, when we visited. Now that it’s all complete, we’ve totally forgotten the chaos and the destruction and the dirt and would recommend to anyone who is maybe considering it, go for it. Open up that dark stairway. And don’t go down the mad external staircase route…
We could not be more delighted with these new stairs. And, oh my, the demolished wall has totally transformed the first floor. Now that all of the internal white painting has been done, the real effect can be felt – the brilliant white walls look beautiful, and we are a bit obsessed with the grey, uneven concrete finish of the steps. We’re living with if for a while, but as we furnish and accessorise the house, the concrete is becoming a material which we don’t think we’ll be able to lose. We will be adding industrial style handrails, because for anyone not used to the open plan nature, the steps can feel a bit exposed, and grab rails add that element of safety. We also two spare light fittings from the internal courtyard which worked perfectly on the walls going up the stairs, so at no additional expense, we got white shades which exactly match those downstairs and give off the most beautiful soft light, illuminating what was a very dark part of the house. Not any more…
The original stairs were honestly so awful, that I was reluctant to use them, unless it was absolutely necessary, which obviously meant that a big part of the house – the roof terrace – was underused by me. That’s not the case now, as we’re raring to get going on its renovation!
by Helen | Sep 9, 2025 | Spain, Travel
Recently, we were lucky to be able to escape the chaos of our renovation and have a night in Estepona, where we met an old Manchester friend, who was out visiting family. We’d only drive around Estepona before, and had only really seen any of it, on programmes like “A Place in the Sun”, so I assumed it was a resort town, much like Fuengirola or Torremolinos, and so not a huge amount to set it apart. Well, how wrong was I?
I saw a post on Instagram, showing a beautiful old town, which we did know existed, but which we assumed would be up in the hills above the newer, coastal part of town – not a street back, from a lovely beach. We’d booked a night in a little hotel called The Old Town Boutique Hotel, situated as we discovered, on the very pretty Calle Caridad, right in the heart of the old town, a three minute walk from the sea. There was only one room left because it was a last minute booking, and we were allocated what was described as a Comfort Room – and very comfy it was too, with a large walk-in shower and a really good size bed, with beautiful bedding. We were situated at the rear of the hotel, but our room had French doors, with typical Andalucian grilles, overlooking a really pretty, flower filled courtyard. The hotel also benefits from a sun drenched roof terrace, where a pretty substantial, eat as much as you like, buffet breakfast is served. We whiled away a very pleasant Monday morning up there, far away from hammering and drilling and painting.
Calle Caridad is a beautiful, typical Andalucian white washed street, full of little boutiques, townhouse hotels, interesting shops, cutesy bars and a real variety of restaurants. Huge banana trees and palm trees line the streets, with pots of greenery and colourful flowers, tumbling down from wrought iron balconies. Attention to detail, from all of the businesses and townhouses, is very much in evidence and gives the place a feel of the very beautiful Marbella old town.
Eating out is not difficult, in and around Calle Caridad, as there is so much choice, and from reading reviews of the various restaurants, some really excellent choice. We opted for a restaurant called Bada, which was every bit as good as the reviews suggested. And, a bit more. The menu isn’t huge, but there is a really good choice of vegetarian and non-vegeterian, covering dishes from Andalucia, wider Spain, Morocco and Asia. We opted to go tapas style and mixed our cuisines – gazpacho, chilli halloumi and spicy flatbreads, smashed potatoes with a minty yoghurt dip, Greek salad and the most delicious Lebanese pizza, with chargrilled chicken and hummus. All washed down with a very pleasant bottle of chilled, dry white wine. Much recommended.
Another thing to recommend Estepona, if you arrive by car, is that there is a large underground car park on Avenida Espana, the main thoroughfare which runs alongside the beach, so very handy for the old town, which is obviously mostly pedestrianised. We were hugely impressed with this coastal town, and as it’s now less than an hour from our house, we think we’ll definitely be getting to know it a whole lot more.
by Helen | Aug 21, 2025 | Interiors
Yep. Another one of those things, like the butter bell, I had not heard of until recently. Fabric paint. Paint for your fabrics and furnishings. How this has passed me by, is beyond me, but here we are. Until I saw a post on Instagram, and started to investigate what I think I assumed was pretty much impossible. I mean – painting fabric! But it is a thing, and I am now a convert and my paintbrushes are ready and waiting, as soon as our furniture comes out of storage. It’s been an expensive business, renovating an old and neglected Andalucian townhouse, and we’re at the stage now where we need to keep an eye on the money pot. We’ve had to make some pretty high ticket purchases, because we sold a lot of our furniture with the house in Istria, so now we’re looking to be a bit more creative, and hopefully curb the spend, going forward.
So, Fabricoat came to my attention and I was intrigued sufficiently to order a 500ml bottle of Olive Green paint and have it sent over to Spain, so that I could experiment on a couple of small footstools, before deciding if I’d order more and transform some larger pieces of furniture.
Application is really easy. The recommendation is to brush down the fabric covering to be painted, spray lightly to dampen with water and apply your coats (it took a couple to achieve the colour of the footstools), brush lightly and let dry in between coats. The recommendation is also to use a darker colour than the original fabric, for best coverage. If the fabric has a pile, such as velvet, faux-suede, chenille, draylon or microfibre, it is advised that double the quantities of fabric paint are ordered, because there’s lots more surface area to cover on these types of fabric. And obviously, always test the fabric for water absorbency first. If it’s absorbent, Fabricoat will work.
Both stools have stood the test of time, without any kind of colour fading, so we’ve placed a bigger order for the fabric paint. We have an Eve mattress, bought a few years ago but still super comfy. It will sit proud of the new bed, which is green velvet – I know! – and the yellow edging of the deep mattress, will be seen. So, it’s going to be painted this beautiful olive green colour, which will hopefully complement the bed surround and the bedding. The next project will entail the refurbishment of a chaise longue, purchased from the storage people. It’s a bit bling at the moment, with swirls of gold velvet patterns, but we’re going chocolate brown on this, with the frame being painted a vanilla cream. And, if we like the brown, we also have a funky seventies swivel chair, currently resplendent in lime green, which will need a bit of tone down, to fit in with its new surroundings. At just short of £150 (including shipping and taxes, because it comes from the UK), for five and a half litres of paint, it’s sure less expensive than any kind of re-upholstery job. Results will be posted…
This is not a sponsored post and we get no kickback from the company. All paint is paid for by ourselves. It’s just a product we like and want to recommend.
by Helen | Jul 7, 2025 | Lifestyle
Since moving to warmer climes in Europe, we’ve become quite adept at dealing with bugs and mosquitoes. One of the first things we had installed in our house in northern Istria, were insect blinds at every window. These were much needed, as mosquitoes in particular, were pretty rampant in this part of the world. We also discovered the BEST mosquito repellent (and post-bite spray) called “The Wall”, a moisturising protective lotion, based on plant principles, that naturally repels these critters. It is a refreshing protective lotion, made from Ledum palustre (also known as marsh tea or wild rosemary), and essential oils of basil, geranium and lemongrass, which naturally repel mosquitoes. I’ve only ever found this in farmacias in Italy, but it is available to buy online. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s by far the most effective repellent (and after-bite spray) I have ever used. Smells lovely too, which is always a bonus with these things.
But, as good as this lotion is, it’s not the best summer repellent we’ve discovered. That title goes to an electric bug zapper, from a Spanish website, called Create. This anti-mosquito lamp works with an ultraviolet light wave frequency emission system. It has a 360° air intake, so insects are attracted to the lamp from any direction. Once this happens, a silent suction fan absorbs the mosquitoes and flies inside, where they get trapped. It doesn’t generate noises or smells, and, unlike other repellents, this device does not work with chemicals. It has a timer function, so you can either leave it on continuously, or programme it to automatically switch off after 8 hours or 12 hours. It’s quite a stylish little object too, white and boxy, with a light function, which is very handy – and with a pull out tray at the back, where you can look in wonder at all of the extinguished mosquitoes, flies and bugs. We’ve been really surprised by how many are actually trapped and we have noticed a considerable decline in the number of bites we have had. In fact, it is only when the zapper isn’t on, that we seem to get bitten, so I would say that’s a good sign it’s working and very effective.
This zapper is currently on sale via the website, and retailing at €24.95, the normal price being €29.95. We only have one of these currently, but as our windows in the house we are renovating won’t really accommodate insect blinds, we’re going to invest in three or four more, so that we definitely have all of the bedrooms covered, when guests stay. And because they are very portable, we can then move them around the house to where they are most needed. And, we can finally say adios to these annoyances…
This is not a sponsored blog post and we have not received any form of payment, from either company. Both the mosquito repellent and the bug zapper were purchased by ourselves – we’re just happy to let people know about them, as we’ve found both products to be very effective in hot, summer weather.
Create Image : www.create-store.com
by Helen | Jul 4, 2025 | Renovation
Our lovely Andalucian townhouse, when we bought it, was full of tiles. But unfortunately, most weren’t those beautiful Spanish tiles that we all swoon over. They were mostly patterned, but arranged in the most migraine inducing way – a really terrible mix of colours and patterns and textures. As we had a very strong vision for the renovation, and ultimately what the house would look like, we decided early on, the tiles would have to go. All were carefully removed and we now have a few good piles of ceramic tiles, all now in colour and pattern order and waiting to be cleaned up and either repurposed or sold on. In our tile journey, we have made some good contacts, as we wanted to replace the tiles with originals. The guys at Bert and May and Maitland and Poate were super helpful, in our initial research. Both have set up reclamation businesses in Andalucia and we did try, with both, to source replicas of the tiles we were keeping, so that we could replace the ones we were getting rid of. It all came down to cost in the end, because as well unique moulds having to be made, and colours matched perfectly, for the area we were considering covering, the price started to become prohibitive. So, as much as we wanted to support one of these businesses, we had to look elsewhere.
And that place was online. A bit risky, because all we had to go on, were images on a computer screen. But with ever increasing temperatures – meaning schlepping around tile stores was becoming more and more unlikely – and far too many other house things to buy/consider, we decided to be brave and trust our instincts. Orders were placed for a LOT of tiles, and the nervous wait for delivery started, and the hope that they would all arrive undamaged…
The original tiles on the first floor are largely in very good condition, and so in the places where repair was needed, this has been done, but we’ve managed to keep the ones which have always been there, in two of the bedrooms and the big open plan living space. They are super pretty and once we’ve cleaned them up and had them fully restored, I’m sure they will be as beautiful as they were, the day they were laid.
I think, looking back at the original tiling in the house, we made the right decision in replacing quite a lot of it. However, what has been removed, has been safely stored, in separate batches. Now that we can see the tiles in isolation, rather than as an onslaught of colour and pattern, we’ve realised that some of them are actually quite beautiful, and we may well have plans to repurpose at least one set. The others, who knows? Maybe we’ll find out that they are worth something and Bert & May or Maitland & Poate may want to take them off hands…
by Helen | Jul 1, 2025 | Lifestyle
Have to admit, until fairly recently, we’d never heard of the butter bell. We just did what I suppose most people do – keep the butter in fridge, where it’s always too hard and cold. Or, leave it out in a butter dish and return to a swimming pool of buttery oil in warmer weather. It never seemed too much of a problem, as I didn’t know there was a solution. I didn’t even know there was a problem, especially as I’m not a huge butter fan, so had never really questioned our storage of it. Until I chanced upon a butter bell on Instagram, and our buttery lives changed forever.
Since finding out about these ceramic pots, I now realise that probably everyone else has always known about them. But in case, like us, you haven’t, here’s the lowdown on butter bells and why you definitely need one in your life…
The butter bell, also called a French butter crock or butter keeper, dates back hundreds of years. Well before refrigeration, it is known that French cooks crafted ceramic bell-shaped crocks – known as “beurrier à eau” – to preserve butter at room temperature, by sealing it from oxygen with water, in designs especially made in Vallauris, a town famous for its pottery, or in Brittany or Normandy, regions renowned for butter production. However, the invention of refrigeration meant that the use of butter bells started to decline at the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1970s, North American craft potters apparently rediscovered, and began producing these crocks again, selling them at fairs and boutiques, bringing about a resurgence in their popularity, and in the late 20th century, interest increased in traditional methods of food preservation, and the butter bell, gained popularity once again.
L. Tremain, Inc. trademarked the name “Butter Bell” in the US in 1995 and modernized the traditional French design, creating the “Original Butter Bell® Crock”. As I now know, they are widely available these days, and some of the designs are really quite beautiful. It’s such a simple concept too. The lid, filled with butter, is inverted into a water-filled base, creating an airtight seal that keeps oxygen and bacteria out. The important thing is that it’s an airtight seal, not that the butter is touching the water. That little pocket of non‑circulating air isn’t really apparently a big deal in the world of butter bells. This seal preserves butter for up to a month when kept below about 27 °C and with regular water changes.
Today, butter bells are appreciated for their ability to keep butter soft and spreadable without refrigeration, as well as their undoubted aesthetic appeal, and their connection to traditional food preservation methods. And, do you know what? They really DO work! I ordered one – obviously – but was very sceptical. I mean, summer heat in Andalucia and you expect to keep butter out of the fridge and it doesn’t melt?
In the cooler months, this is the perfect receptacle for butter. It keeps it cold, but spreadable. No more tearing bread. The butter is smooth, but still with substance – perfect buttering conditions. We’ve had to adapt a little in summer months, as temperatures rise into the forties. Leaving the bell out on the kitchen work surface is no longer the best idea, as the butter definitely does become much, much softer. So, we keep it in a cool cupboard and problem solved. It is important to remember to change the water regularly – every two, certainly three, days – and to always hand wash the whole thing before re-filling.
It’s easy-peasy to refill, too – the bell (or at least ours) seems to take just under a normal sized pack of butter, so we use what’s left over first. It’s best to let the butter soften at room temperature first (don’t melt it), then press it firmly into the bell-shaped lid to remove air pockets. Finally, level off the top with a knife or spatula for a clean seal.
Our butter bell is a retro style, in white ceramic, with a lovely bone handled butter knife. Not at all expensive, but it definitely looks like a kitchen item with a little bit of history.
