Decadent Ochre

Sources & Links (clockwise from top left)
Celia Chair in Cotton Velvet Ochre - Arlo & Jacob 

Under The Wave - Paint by Fired Earth

Crane Figure - Zara Home
Maison Noir Ceramic Pillar Candle - Voluspa
Cotton Velvet Cushion Covers - H&M
Delft Flower Noir Bed Linen - Designers Guild
Hoxton Four Poster Bed - And So To Bed London
Brass Side Table with smoked glass top - Primrose & Plum
Mini Silvia Shade - LilianDaph
Teardrop Mirrors - Rockett St George 

Club Tropicana

Theres a definite hint of pineapple throughout the world of interiors at the moment, have you noticed? 

John Lewis have these stylish, on trend, metallic pineapple pots, Barneby Gates have this brilliant Pineapple wallpaper - the pink is lively and fun but they also do a dark colourway  that would look amazing in an eclectically dressed dining room. Then we have Graham & Green stocking this fabuous Golden Pineapple table and just about every other store you look at has a pineapple stashed on a shelf or two somewhere this season!

So todays inspiration board is pushing the pineapples and welcoming in a bit of tropical sunshine.... say hello to Club Tropicana! 

Bright colours & punchy patterns can be intimidating - but if you keep the base clean and crisp, like this white sideboard with colonial style doors, then you can throw colours around and have loads of fun!

Sources (Clockwise from top left)

Pina Lampshade by Rosa & Clara Designs

Tropical Floral Wallpaper from B&Q

Toucan Print from Lila + Lola

Bert storage Coffee Table from Habitat

Cactus Vase from Howkapow

Various Cotton Cushion Covers from H&M

Flamingo Tealight Holder from Home by Matthew Williamson Designer

Tropical Pineapple Garland by Postbox Party

Barbade Sideboard from Maisons Du Monde

Flamingo Hooks from Rigby & Mac

Dekale Side Table from Maisons Du Monde

As always, please leave any comments below. Feedback, questions, requests - everything always welcome!

And finally, if you've have had a certain tune in your head the entire time you've been reading this and actually landed here hoping for some 80's hotties - this one is for you..... Haha! 

You're welcome! Xx

Spring Dining

Mid March & finally the weather seems to be on the turn!
I live in the North East of England - not too far from the coast - so when the wintery wind gusts off the cold North Sea it has such a bite to it, but this weekend that edge was definitely missing and the sun was trying so hard to warm things up.

It got me thinking of fresh, clean & beautiful but low key interiors and I unearthed a whole pile of amazing pieces that I narrowed down to this one board dedicated to Spring Dining.

Its important to light your dining table well - and while a large statement fitting can be ideal in some circumstances, sometimes you can achieve an equally perfect effect by hanging several smaller pendants (I always choose an odd number) over a table. I was really taken with these wooden pendants - there's a few different shapes and combos available I chose these as they mirror the white legs/ timber top of the dining table perfectly though.

Chairs, I dont mind mixing it up with chairs - the Ercol bench is always going to be fab, but Im itching to try out these crisp John Vogel chairs!

Mouth blown glass and hand thrown teacups; embroidered runners & textured fish scale ceramics - by focusing on various natural materials and incorporating organic textures and patterns we can invite the outside in, even when its still a tad too chilly for proper al fresco meals.
Ive kept it simple, using a neutral colour palette but freshened it up with accent spots of natural greens and blues.

Are you feeling that spring in your step yet?!

Sources & Links (clockwise from top left)

Sinatra Dinnerware from Habitat

Reykjavik White & Wood Pendant from Horsefall & Wright

Carla Teapot from The Scandinavian Design Centre

John Vogel Chair from West Elm

Scales Vase from House Envy

Betty Extending Dining Table from Made.com

Spring Bird Table Runner from Marks & Spencer

Relief Patterned Glass Jug from H&M

Ercol 3 Seater Dining Bench from John Lewis

Prindl Celadon Thumb Cup from Canton Tea Co

Granada Juice Glass and Bronze Age Cutlery both from Anthropologie

Copper & Teal

Copper & Teal is such a fabulous combination.

The blue-green colour of teal naturally zings when paired with orange-red tones of copper.

If you're up on your colour theory it makes perfect sense - green and red are complimentary colours (they sit opposite each other on the colour wheel) as are orange and blue, so when place side by side they enhance each other.....but maybe this is a whole different blog post for the future!

Back to copper & teal!
Its a versatile mix - it can be dressed up in a sumptuous, decadent stately fashion or pared right down with lots of raw materials - think exposed brick for example- as a nod to industrial chic, or it can sit quite confidently anywhere between the two.

For todays inspiration board Ive aimed for a bit of an eclectic mix. 

Ive teamed distressed style paisley papers with rich, dark paint colours. Using the muted paint palette in this instance serves to anchor the scheme with an air of refinement but it could work equally well with lighter, airy paint colours too depending on the atmosphere you want to achieve.

Ive mixed it all up with beautiful velvets and button down upholstery flanked by minimalist side tables. Simple, angular light fittings (this one is copper and leather - what a twosome!) and faceted glass candle holders. However the pièce de résistance has to be the copper drinks trolley for when you're finally ready to sink into that sofa & enjoy.

Sources & Links (clockwise from top left)

Mervyn Console Table from Barker & Stonehouse

Dinner Candles from Rockett St George

Aqua Diamond Hand Cut Glass Tealight Holder from Oliver Bonas

Mahogany & Brassica paint colours from Farrow & Ball

Paisley Wallpaper in Turquoise by Barneby Gates

Wilder Pendant Light by Endon from Castlegate Lighting

Biba Feather Foil Cushion from House of Fraser

Roo Abrook Antique Page Print from Rigby & Mac

Mirrored Copper Side Tables from The French Bedroom Co.

Enya Relaxing Chair from Graham and Green

Shoreditch Drinks Trolley from Rockett St George

Mid Century Planter from West Elm

Bagsie Sofa in Belize Clever Velvet from Loaf

As always please get in touch and let me know what you think - if youve any subject requests or questions let me know!

Also, if you happen to buy anything Ive suggested Id love to hear your feedback on it and maybe even send me a pic so I can see it in situ!

Kids, Kids Kids!

Step away from the perfectly neutral, muted tones that we see touted for kids rooms and nurseries and back off from the 'girly pastel pink', the 'baby boy blue' or the 'yikes-we-still-dont-know pale yellow' and lets inject some zest into our kids rooms!

I know theres a theory that keeping the decor all serene will help induce sleep and instil a sense of calm, but to be honest, once its time to sleep and the lights are down its all the same anyway, isnt it?

Get a funky wallpaper, keep the remaining walls crisp then accessorise with all things bright & quirky. The beauty of a room like this, aside from the fact its NOT necessarily gender specific, is that it can grow with your kids with minimal effort and there's no need to completely redecorate and replace everything everytime they outgrow the current favourite character or trend.

So, todays board has been pulled together for a kids room with a bit of personality..........

Sources are as follows (clockwise from Balloon Lights top left)

Memory Balloon Ceiling Lights by John Moncrieff available from NOTHS 

Vintage 50s Style Tissue Paper Fans from Pipii

Which Came First Wallpaper from Paperboy

Bean Shaped Pouff from Fairchild Designs on Etsy

Large Storage Basket from H&M

Multi-Coloured Funk Wool Rug from Debenhams

Baa Baa Book Shelf from Rowen & Wren

Peppermint Eames Style Kids Chair from Cult Furniture

Pantone Colour Of The Year

What is the Pantone Colour of the Year all about? Well, according to Pantone, its a symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude.

2016: Rose Quartz & Serenity

Its been said that Pantone have stepped away from the norm by choosing 2 colours for this year - when in fact they've just been a bit clever and chosen the blending of 2 colours to be THE colour of the year. Nice one Pantone!

So, what do you think?
I think theyre pretty spot on. Ive noticed a big shift in society towards a more gentle and holistic way of living - people looking within for peace and happiness rather than searching for it externally.
The blend reminds me of those early morning sunrises you sometimes get in late spring - a moment of grounding at the start of a fresh new day, when everything is calm and the warmth of the sun gently fuses into the airiness of the sky.

Ive always been fascinated by the psychology of colour. I utilise it a lot in my work, especially commercial projects, but more on that another time!

Ive used Rose Quartz as the base for this latest mood board and worked in Serenity as subtle accent and grounding 'shadow' tones. What better place to start instilling peace and tranquility than in your bedroom.....

Ahhhh, Im feeling better already..........................!
As always I love to hear your thoughts, feedback, questions, requests. Please do get in touch!

Sources are as follows (clockwise starting from the Feather Pendant)

Aurora Feather Pendant from Graham & Green
Olivia Mirror from Laura Ashley

Quatrefoil Side Table from The French Bedroom Company
Vida Bedding from Star by Julien McDonald at Debenhams
Eglomise (Blush 110621) Wallpaper by Harlequin (available from many wallpaper suppliers)
Loire Bed from Feather & Black
Almeda Mirrored Chest from The French Bedroom Company

Fresh flowers - how about an informal armful of pale blue hydrangea, delicate pink ranunculus & garden roses displayed in a vintage cut glass vase - all available from your most favourite local florists