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Bathrooms, To Accessorize Or Not?

Posted by deardesigner in Uncategorized - (4 Comments)

Sometimes I’m torn between two loves.

A part of me loves a spare, minimalist look.  The kind of space where the architecture and the hard surfaces do all of the talking.

fernandosantangelo

Fernando Santangelo

What could be more beautiful than this white tiled bathroom. The uneven texture of the tiles provide the only pattern required.  The monochromatic colour scheme is warmed by the wooden ceiling but the decoration is kept to a minimum with globe lights, chrome taps and fluffy white  towels.  It’s sparseness is its attractiveness and the high window ensures privacy.  I love it.

But then my head is turned.

architectural digest

Architectural Digest

Another white tiled bathroom.  Another monochromatic colour scheme, but there the similarity ends.  The owner of this bathroom loves comfort and decoration.  The floor tiles are highly patterned, there’s a mirrored cupboard that surely holds all manner of lotions and potions.  There are fancy bottles, and flowers, and lampshades, and so many photographs one ended up on the floor!  This is a bathroom to linger in.  To indulge in a long soak in the bath, not take a shower.

Which do you prefer?

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Industrial Chic Ideasbook On Houzz

Posted by deardesigner in Shopping - (0 Comments)

I’m delighted to say that I am now curating a monthly ‘ideasbook’ over on Houzz.

The first one is now live and it’s featuring ‘industrial chic’ as if you hadn’t guessed that already.  20 products picked by moi that encapsulate exactly what this trend is all about.  So please pop over and have a quick look by clicking here.

Houzz

If you haven’t already discovered Houzz and you are interested in interiors, then you really should have a look at this website.  It is a leading platform for home renovation and design which connects homeowners with interior designers and other professionals.  But best of all for those of us who can’t get enough of inspiring images, it has a vast database of photographs and shopping ideas.

Details of all products are on the Houzz website.

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House Doctor DK at Bodie and Fou

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design | Shopping - (0 Comments)

I seem to be drawn more and more to Scandinavian design these days.  Maybe it’s this never-ending winter and a craving for light and fresh air, and the way the Scandinavians seem to have mastered both even in the darkest days.  Anyways, a good flick through the 2013 catalogue at House Doctor DK is as good as it gets at the moment.  And it is good.  Good design, fabulous styling and even more fabulous photography.

House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 1House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 5 House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 3 House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 4 House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou

All stocked at Bodie and Fou.

And I can’t fault Karine’s impeccable taste as always.

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Little Rowen and Little Wren

Posted by deardesigner in Childrens Rooms - (3 Comments)

Yes, I know I’m a little nursery/children/babies obsessed at the moment.  But even if I wasn’t I would have rushed over to the Rowen & Wren site to have a look at their new children’s collection just to find out what they had chosen.

And it doesn’t disappoint.  We have come to love and expect great taste and even greater design from the R & W guys and hell, yes, some of these things would look just as lovely outside of the nursery.  Why should children have all the fun?

Little Rowen and Wren 1

The Baa Baa bookshelf might even encourage the little ones to put their own books away and the rocking sheep is so beautiful to look at and to touch it needn’t be relegated to the nursery at all.  I’m also loving the liberty print bedding and the giant crocheted pouffs.

Little Rowen and Wren 3

Another personal favourite is the retro mini chairs.  How cute are they?

Little Rowen and Wren 2

And don’t forget the cuddly toys!

Little Rowen & Little Wren

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A Warm and Cosy Sitting Room – Top Tips

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (1 Comments)

I’m drawn today to this warm and cosy sitting room as the best antidote to the cold grey weather outside.

Skona Hem

To me, it’s just the perfect combination of colours, pattern and texture and it has a few tricks up its sleeve too.  So here are my top tips for creating your own little cosy corner to snuggle into with a good book.

  1. Keep the wall colour neutral so that the artworks and furnishings take centre stage.  This grey is perfect for a background colour.  It’s not as cold as white but it’s cool enough to handle the other hot colours.
  2. Choose a classic sofa in another, darker neutral shade.  The style will never go out of fashion and you can ring the changes simply by changing the cushions and accessories.

Black Grey Gold3. Add colour and pattern with a rug.  Sometimes the rug can be the starting point for a decorating scheme which may have been the case here.  This one is colourful but not too bright and although it’s busy, the patterns and colours work together well.

4. A coffee or side table is more than just a piece of furniture.  This pair is the ultimate in flexibility as they can be moved apart when necessary and yet work together perfectly.

5. The rule of three is always a good rule to follow.  Here the three pendant lights at different levels create just the right effect for a seating area.  Not too low and not too high.  And the three framed prints inside the bigger frame are echoing that effect.

red yellow black

6. Pick out the colours of the rug in the cushions and by using stripes again as in the rug but differently the effect is of subtle co-ordination.

7.  Use small accessories to repeat colours and effects.  The gold bowl echoes the gold inside the pendant lights and the gold frames.  The grey ‘string’ candle holders repeat the same grey as the wall and even the colours of the book covers are similar to the cushions.

The overall effect is one of perfect harmony.  Nothing shouts too loud and it all appears effortless.  My favourite kind of scheme.

Main image: Skona Hem

Ingredients: Tom Dixon Beat Lights, Conran Shop Oswald sofa, Tom Dixon bash vessels, gold frame from Antique Frames Eu, vintage patchwork rug from Bazaar Velvet, Hay Bella occasional tables from Nest, yellow cushion from H & M Home, patterned cushion by Jonathan Adler, knitted vase by Urban Cuckoo.

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Nursery Furniture for Boys and Girls

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (1 Comments)

You may remember that a while ago I mentioned the BF’s two girls were both expecting babies.  On the same day.  Well, that day is nearly here, in fact it is just less than a week away, so when I was asked to take a look at John Lewis’ range of  ‘nursery furniture‘ it couldn’t have come at a better time.

John Lewis - Lasko

I’m not a huge fan of themed furniture so I was delighted to find that the ranges feature handsome, well made collections that would look just at home in any adults room.  The cots are all designed to transform into beds that will grow with your child and the chest of drawers all have baby changing tops that can be removed when they are no longer needed.

John Lewis - Silver Cross - Devonshire

John Lewis - Silver Cross - Nostagia

Of course choosing the furniture is only half the fun.  And as the BF is going to have a new grandson and a new grandaughter soon…

We all know what little girls are made of?

John Lewis - montage 1

And little boys?

John Lewis - montage 2

This is a commissioned guest post

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More Slices to Your Loaf?

Posted by deardesigner in Shopping - (0 Comments)

Did you know that online homeware brand Loaf is getting even bigger?

_Loaf(3)

Having recently launched sofas in 2012 to add to their collection of beds and bedroom furniture (they were formally know as The Sleep Room), they are now branching out into all areas of the home including designs for the kitchen and bathroom.

_Loaf(5)

_Loaf

On 1st March 2013 they will launch over 150 gorgeous new pieces from kitchen tables and chairs, coffee tables, side tables and floor rugs, to bathroom furniture and a kids’ furniture range for the first time.

_Loaf(4)

Expect to see a load more comfy beds and sofas too.

_Loaf(1)

Loaf aims to be cheaper, faster and less hassle than the high street and the one-stop shop means that you can now ‘Loaf’ all of your home.

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Garden Planning – The Deck

Posted by deardesigner in Gardens - (4 Comments)

A brief glimpse of sun at the weekend has me itching even more to do something about my very new and very bare deck.  Spring will be here before we know it and I don’t want to be caught out.

I’ve toyed with the idea of going down the vintage chic look and scouring reclamation yards for some gems (inspired by a lovely feature we have in the Spring issue of Heart Home out next week!) but I’m not sure I can pull it off convincingly enough.  And in any case I have too many of my own ‘treasures’ lying around unused and just waiting for a new purpose.

Garden Planning - Deck

Existing Gems.

  • Two old metal gates that I plan to put against the fence and use as a frame to grow climbers.
  • A Hastens hammock that I won last year and still haven’t used.
  • Some blue and green glazed pots that are just too good to throw away.
  • A black metal fire bowl that was a present and has never been used.
  • A silver pedestal table that is slightly wonky.  BF thinks I’m mad putting it out in the garden but it’s such a nice shape that it won’t even matter if it rusts.

To buy.

  • Two black lounge chairs from Ikea.  They had them last year in white and I’m delighted they now come in black.
  • Some black metal troughs and planters to bring the whole scheme together.
  • Some blue, black and white cushions.  Also from Ikea.  The colours will co-ordinate nicely with the hammock and black touches.
  • Some tea light holders.  Part of the deck is over-hung by a tree and these will look very pretty hanging from the branches.
  • Some new plants!

I think that’s it and I feel quite thrifty and virtuous.

Sources here.

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Spring Inspiration from Ikea

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (0 Comments)

Who could resist sharing these gorgeous images from Ikea?

Bohemian spring bedroom from ikea.se

A bohemian beautiful bedroom, with bright
colours and a harmony of flowers and stripes on the soft inviting
bed. Ready for a modern-day Marie Antoinette perhaps, with a penchant
for fashion, charm and beautiful things?

Bohemian spring bedroom from ikea.se [2]

 Like a dutch still life; gorgeous spring flowers in a jewel-like purple vase that contrasts beautifully with the muted tones of the rough plaster and unadorned window.

Bohemian spring bedroom from ikea.se [3]

All photographs courtesy of ikea.se/livethemma

Photographer Idha Lindhag
Stylist Camilla Krishnaswamy

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Anthropologie is Calling

Posted by deardesigner in Shopping - (0 Comments)

Normally when you think of Anthropologie you think of bold colour and riotous patterns and all of the glorious hodgepodge of global collections and worldwide folklore.  At least I do.

But I am inexplicably drawn lately to the more neutral treasures available on their site.  The softness of flokarty, the weighty heaviness of french style pottery, the handiwork on their indian inspired cushions and the delicious combinations of metal and glass.

anthropologieThese are all of the things that I would never tire of and I’m not sure I can live without them.  A shopping trip may be on the cards!

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