Floral spring

 

 

This morning I woke up early to a beautiful spring day.  Blue skies, crisp air, dew on the ground and a few sneaking daffodils.  It's a lovely change from the last two months of solid rain.  And it got me thinking of spring trends.  Every year you can pretty much guarantee there will be plenty of floral prints and fabrics but this year I think we'll see a change in the way we bring floral themes into our homes, through bigger and brighter flower displays and garlands.

 

 

I have been admiring these floral arrangements online and the gorgeous displays on the spring catwalks.  I've found a good range of DIY tutorials for making your very own flower garland and right now I think spending a spring afternoon on the lawn sculpting a floral display would be the perfect day.

 

 

I can see these bright colours working wonderfully in a neutral decorated space, against a feature colour wall or even clashing against floral wallpaper.  The bigger and more vibrant the better. You can use fake flowers (wax or silk) to make an arrangement that lasts or real flowers to change up your style more often.

 

 

 

For a more cost effective and toned down approach grab a mixed bunch and try creating a simpler garland like the one pictured above.  All you'll need is flowers, string and glue to bring some of that springtime joy inside.

 

 

And don't forget the outside of your home.  I'm sure if you have a little rummage in your shed you can find some old items to spruce up with flowers.  An old bike perhaps, wellies?  There's nothing in your home that flowers can't make prettier.

Kitchen revamp ideas

Once again I have been asked to come up with a room revamp idea.  This time it's my brothers kitchen that needs an update.  Currently there's a lot of dark brown and tons of cupboards.  Its a bit dated to say the least with a very odd fake wooden beam going straight through the middle. . .I dunno.

Soooo first I thought of my brother and his style and lifestyle.  He's the kinda guy who likes a lot of plants hanging round.  There's always a lot of cuppas going down in his kitchen and I guess he's a little boho although he'd kill me for saying it.  So when I think of how his kitchen should be I instantly think of Scandinavian style interiors and it is so easy to update a kitchen (cheaply might I add) in this style.  It's perfect.

 

 

Now this kitchen is fabulous.  It is so simple and I love love love subway tiles.  The dark/light contrast will always look modern too.  For my brothers kitchen I'm thinking this colour scheme, dark cabinets on the bottom and white shelves on the top.

 

 

 

He already has cabinets on the top so all we have to do it remove the doors and paint them so he has lovely open shelving.  I'm going to make him some personalised crockery to show off in these cupboards.

 

 

 

I think the walls should be a pale grey like in the above image.  It will tie in nicely with the monotone colour scheme and it goes really well with the greenery in this image.  My brother needs lots and lots of plants his new kitchen.

 

 

Although if you were looking for a bit of warmth, a tan colour could also do nicely.

 

 

 

And with a large kitchen I think a wall of shelves is a nice feature to display books, plants, crockery etc.

 

 

But if you need a little colour in your life why not consider a dash of neon like this shelf, half hidden but so so cute.

 

Hopefully I'll able to snag some before and after shots to share!

 

 

 

Pin of the day: Copper dusk

February is here.  Spring is nigh!  And for me the colour palette in this photograph sums up this time of year perfectly.  Not quite the bright shades of summer but a subtle harmonising combination of dusky pink, grey, beige and copper.  This pin whispers romance.

 

Pin of the day: Wall murals

I have to say I am a total sucker for a wall mural.  I love that it's just there in all its huge glory.  I'd love to do one myself but I don't think I could handle the pressure of seeing it everyday and picking out the imperfections as I'm want to do with my own art work.  It truly is a curse.  

I love this interior wall mural of an exterior scene.  It totally brightens up the room and gives an impression of a bigger space.  Modern and chic, I'd have this in my house definitely.

This dark and broody mural is stealing my heart.  It is my style completely.  In fact I might have to just bite the bullet and and get my paints out.  It doesn't hurt that the green sofa and cushions are to die for.

Could an image be more dreamy?  The blue and white sky theme is a bit dated but this version using blue/grey totally hit the spot.  Can you imagine waking up to this every day?  It would certainly bring a smile to my face.

There is so much diversity when it comes to wall murals, as it is with art.  A mural in your home is a talking point, a focal point and it kicks wallpapers ass.

Pin of the day: Solitude

Do you have those days where you just want to run away to somewhere quiet where you can just be.  That's what I want today but for right now there is no such place for me so I'm doing the next best thing, going to see family.  So I won't be blogging till I get back.  And hopefully when I am back I'll have more enthusiasm than ever and a lovely big wad of homeware ides.

So heres a pin of a lonely, picturesque house in Scotland, it looks like the perfect place to escape to.

And when I come back I should be ready for this fearful walk!

The Walk Of Faith is a glass walkway built off the side of a cliff 1,430 meters in the air. This 60 meter long walk is not meant for the faint of heart.

Pin of the day: Moroccan

Moroccan tiles, patterns and colours are becoming increasingly popular and it's easy to see why on this side of the world where summer is upon us.  I totally burned my arms at a party yesterday and they are sooooore.  Summer has sprung even here in the UK and there are beautiful colours everywhere.

Check out these wonderful patterned tiles.  The beauty of patterned tiles is that they can be used as a small detail that really packs a colour punch.  I like the idea of secret small details that are hard to see, but when you do notice them they bring a smile to your face.  Thats why I'm loving these unexpected stairs.

But even if you're not so into the colour mash, the patterns themselves are so sweet.  This pale blue pattern, although busy, is a cute mellow statement.  It makes me think of a nice shady reprieve from all this sunshine.

Pin of the day: Flamingoooos

Lately I've developed quite a taste for exotic/colourful birds.  About a month ago I went on a family day out to this place with a farm and there were all these beautiful birds.  There were loads of tiny little brightly coloured ones and some huge peacocks and the most beautiful bird I've ever seen; a golden pheasant.  He was the daddy!  But my real favourite birds are flamingos.  They're so pretty.  So so pretty.

I've been looking for inspiration to design some homeware products but I was coming up blank.  Like artists block.  And then I thought flamingos!  Who doesn't love a big pink bird.  That doesn't sound rude does it?  I've seen so many owls around the past few years, I even have a little owly friend Olive (she's a cushion) and I'm thinking its time some other birds shared the limelight.  So I'm gonna see my birdy inclined friend this weekend and see if she has any birdy books for me to steal cause sometimes having the real life picture in your hands is better than endlessly browsing the internet.  So hopefully I'll be blogging about my ideas and products soon!  I feel like its taking ages getting started; testing materials and whatnot.  Slow goings make me grumpy.  Gotta keep on guzzling that coffee.

Pin of the day: keepsakes

I pinned this a while ago and just re-found it.  I love the idea because I have sooooo many empty graze boxes that I just couldn't throw away and didn't have a use for and here is the perfect solution to my hoarding problem!

I believe this is a Martha Stewart idea/image (please correct me if I'm wrong).  It is such a cute idea, especially since I tend to keep strange souvenirs in random places and these do what they say on the tin!  The boxes can be personalised with patterns and colours to suit your - ever changing - home.  If I saw these in someones house you bet I'd be raking through them in minutes!

Pin of the day: books always

I have to say, when I'm scouring pinterest my interest is instantly peaked when I see a room full of books.  I think books are a must accessory in every room, every time, every day.  Can you honestly pick a room in your home that would not be improved by a lovely book cause I really really can't.  I have books coming out of my eyeballs.  I have books I bought and never read.  I have books I never even intend to read.  I even have books I only bought so I could cut them up and turn them into new books.

So to show my commitment, love, desire for books I bring you this lovely bedroom full to bursting with books.

It doesn't hurt that it's a fantastic room anyway.  I particularly love the throw, mirror and sneaky Hundi lamp.  I must blog about my love of throws soon, another item you can't have enough of.

Pin of the day: beach

Its one of those rare days in the north east where it's sunny and hot.  Unfortunately I'm one of those people who likes to admire the sunshine from the shade cause as soon as I step out into that sun I feel like I'm walking into the burning fires of hell.  Aka I'm too pale to really handle it.  But I also have the advantage of living near a lovely, popular beach.  So once it gets a little cooler I'll be venturing down to the beach with a friend to see a band at the amphitheater   And for todays pins I have went for a beachy theme.

Those stripes are fun and summery.  I want to live in those stripes!

Doesn't this just look perfect?

I couldn't resist throwing in a bit of driftwood.  I've just been to a great local shop where they sell a variety of reclaimed and upcycled furniture, and in amongst all the goodies were some truly lovely driftwood bowls and the nicest driftwood table and chairs I've ever seen.  Unfortunately I didn't have the good sense to take my camera with me but trust me when I say they're gorgeous.

I'd love to find a piece of driftwood and incorporate it into an interior like this.  As a rail to hang special clothing on or pictures.

Have you ever typed 'beach' into the search in pinterest?  Some odd pins come up and unsurprisingly a lot of bums.

Pin of the day: Decorating red

This is a pin I pinned a few months ago.  I love it because for me it is a fresh approach to decorating around red which I find a problem colour, especially keeping it warm and modern.

The pin was originally added by house of turquoise, but the image itself comes from a stylin' hotel in Nantucket.  Click the image for the link.  I just love the places pins take me, don't you?  I've found so many great blogs, sites and places that way.

All hail the mighty pinterest!

Pin of the day: pom poms

Today I was doing a lot of pinning (as usual) and this prettyness totally hooked me!

How totally cute are these pom pom bookmarks!!  I could burst!

I want one in every colour and everyone I know must have one too.

I followed the link which took me to Designmom.com (click to go to the tutorial) and now not only do I have another 'to do' on my to do list but I found a brand new blog to follow.  Don't you just love it when that happens?