Tuesday 31 January 2012

91 Magazine - Issue 2

Have you too been eagerly awaiting issue 2 of 91 magazine?


Since receiving a sneak peak of the magazine I could not wait to read it from cover to cover and the good news is, issue 2 has been launched and it is utterly fabulous.

I managed to find some time with a cup of green tea (yes, still drinking it) this morning and indulge in designer heaven.

I love this teacup!
I wish I could drink tea and eat cake in a room with hanging chandeliers, don't you?
My favourite part of this room has the be the wall display with vintage mirrors and art. Stunning.



The 78 pages are filled to the brim with inspiration, ideas for the crafty types,  tours into designers homes, 2012 trends and so much more. I cannot wait to try some of the crafty Easter ideas and the vintage tea rooms are a highlight of the magazine for me, I especially adore 'vintage heaven'.

I will be trying my hand at those hanging eggs! And the flower display reminds me of my own kitchen table.
I love this work space! Such an inspiring place to be, wouldn't you agree.
But, don't take my word for it, take a look for yourselves here. I promise, you will not be disappointed.

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Monday 30 January 2012

91 Magazine - Sneak Peek

I am very excited for 2 reasons:

1. I was privileged enough to have a sneak peek at the new Spring 91 magazine
2. It is being launched tomorrow!!

Oh, and did I mention I can share the sneak peek with you wonderful design lovelies?

The 78 page edition is packed with lovely features including a look inside four London tearooms, a beautifully styled and photographed feature about crafty ideas for creating the perfect Easter Breakfast, style expert and author Jane Cumberbatch shares her favourite vintage finds with us from her own home, and we get a tour of Tif Fussell's (AKA Dottie Angel) craftily styled abode.

If the 1st issue is anything to go by, then this is not to be missed, and if you missed the 1st issue where have you been? You can read it here. I will be awaiting the new issue tomorrow with a cuppa at the ready!
x

Mood Board Challenge - Spa

Is it really Monday? Is it really the last Monday of January 2012?

Well, in that case, here is my last mood board in the Monday mood board challenge. This week, it was a beauty spa challenge. I don't know about you but I know what I would rather be doing right now and if you are finding Monday a little tough, then escape into this calm and tranquil world.
If you would like to see all the other mood boards, then please visit Finishing Touch Interiors blog.

I hope you have enjoyed all the mood boards as much as I have loved creating them.

A Dream Weekend

Monday morning and I am reflecting on a rather wonderful weekend.

I love weekends due to there slower pace, finding time to relax and enjoying every moment rather than speeding through tasks and days. I took full advantage this weekend as we had zero plans and I spent them doing everything that makes me smile.

A lazy breakfast consisting of croissants, yogurt and green tea, time to drool over a new magazine, flower arranging and my favourite part, treasure hunting in a 4 floor antiques warehouse and hitting the jackpot. I found a beautiful 1940's etched glass plate which is currently displaying some beautiful ribbon and a trio of cups and saucers from the start of the 19th century, all for £15.00! I was so excited, I wanted to stare at there beauty all day.

Sunday my bed took me captive! A long lay in followed by a delicious ploughmans lunch and some making and baking. And now my husband is away I have a whole batch of double chocolate chip cookies - what ever shall I do with them?

























I hope you all had a wonderful weekend - it won't be long until the next. Have a great week.
x

Friday 27 January 2012

Guest Blogging!

Happy Friday everyone.


I was recently asked to blog for a lovely friend over at Finshing Touch Interiors. I was honoured and today you will find my first blog post in a monthly series regarding colour psychology and interior design. Todays colour - blue!

As it is Friday why not grab a cuppa tea, maybe a biscuit if you are not on a health kick like everyone else (including myself, green tea is becoming a daily routine!) and have a 5 minute break.
I'll be back over the weekend but until then, have a great day.


Monday 23 January 2012

Mood Board Challenge - Shabby Chic

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend. I enjoyed a 'date' night with my husband Friday evening and spent the days playing with fabric, creating cushions, photograhing my latest project, cuddling Bobby cat, eating waffles, seeing family and visiting the Interiors UK exhibition in Birmingham. I thought I had achieved zero! although that list proves I was busier than I thought, still today I am back to making lists as this is when I am my most productive.

And to mark my most productive week of 2012, I would like to share with you my 'Monday mood board challenge' Shabby chic bedroom.



To see all the other designers who participated in the mood board Monday challenge please click here.

Have a great day.

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Friday 20 January 2012

Industrial Design Inspiration

Industrial design - I want to show you that industrial does not have to mean a cold, clinical, boring design.

Teamed with rustic wood, soft furnishings, different materials and texture you can create a warm home with so much character and style. I hope that you are inspired by the softer side of industrial.



A little goes a long way! You can use key pieces such as lighting to add a little industrial into your home.





























Or how about industrial storage boxes and tables which do not over power the room?

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Thursday 19 January 2012

Preview Property Services - Interior Design

Who would like to see a sneak preview of my most recent design?

I was tasked to design Preview Property Services, an estate agents. Before any of the official photos are taken I wanted to share with you one I took earlier.

Originally these were two very small rooms, one room housed a unit with kitchen utensils and a fridge and the other a very small office, in order to make a larger office space ideal for meeting clients we knocked through the partitioned wall. We removed the ceiling with a view to fit a new one until we discovered the original vaulted ceiling, it is always a dream when you uncover hidden beauty such as this and even though keeping the vaulted ceiling on display would mean rewiring the whole room and new lighting, there was still no competition. We also discovered original floorboards once the old carpet was lifted and after some TLC, I think you'll agree that they look stunning. The room also had to incorporate the fridge, microwave and other kitchen utensils so I designed a bespoke unit to store and conceal all of this. It was such an exciting project and I am thrilled that we were able to uncover some history within this wonderful building.

Watch this space and I can show you the complete design from concept to reality.

Before
After

Monday 16 January 2012

Mood Board Challenge - Retro Hotel Room

It's that time again - Mood Board Monday!

This week my challenge was 'retro hotel room'. If I am completely honest this is not my personal style so I felt slightly out of my comfort zone, it wasn't that I couldn't do it, more that I enjoy designing a 'particular' style but it is great to design different types of spaces and try new things.  This said, I had a lot of fun designing this one - who wouldn't?

Why not hop on over and take a look at the other designers ideas at Finishing Touch Interiors blog.

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Sunday 15 January 2012

Pallet wood

And my love affair continues!

Recently my husband and I decided to embark on some new projects together and Dream Box Home was born. We have started making furniture out of old wood and I wanted to share with you our first piece of bespoke wall art.

We made this from old pallet wood, designed our own stencil and painted.























Freshly hung in our living room this morning, It suits our new rustic, recycled style perfectly.












































We also spent a Sunday designing and making a made to measure shoe box, I'll be blogging about this during the week so keep an eye out for this and other pallet wood ideas!


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Thursday 12 January 2012

Burlap Sack Inspiration

You are all aware of my current loves, pallets and crates, vintage suitcases and recycling. Well, here's a new one to my list of addictions - sacks!



Burlap sacks, coffee sacks. I love the texture. There rustic, vintage charm. 

I wanted to share there hidden beauty with you and to help give some inspiration.

My favourite ideas are to use them as cushion covers or blinds. Or how about as place mats and table runners? For those arty crafty types out there, those little bags are too cute!

Perhaps recover an old chair or foot stool. Isn't it amazing what you can do with a little inspiration, some buttons and ribbon!

Now, where can I find some old sacks?

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Monday 9 January 2012

Mood Board Challenge - Man Cave

Hello and welcome to the first mood board Monday challenge!

A design friend recently asked me if I wanted to be part of her mood board Monday challenge for her blog to help inspire others. Of course I said yes! Every Monday throughout January Sarah at Finishing Touch Interiors will be setting designers including myself a mood board challenge and will be posting the mood boards on her blog for all to take inspiration.

Mood board challenge 1 - Man Cave
 
You can take a look at the other designs here.

Sarah is also hosting a special Open challenge on 6th February to raise awareness for breast cancer. This challenge is open to everyone with all experience levels, If you would like to participate take a look here.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Recycle Old Furniture


I hope you all had a magical Christmas and New Year. I was unbelievably busy in December and sadly all my sparkly Christmas ideas for my blog took a back seat. But now I am back, Hoorah!

I don't know about you but with a new year I am finding new inspiration, I have lots that I want to share with you all and I want to kick off another fantastic year with the idea of recycling.

Old crates as shelves and forgotten china
A vintage railroad cart - now a coffee table
recycle books, vintage teacups and old door knobs
This year I want to spend more time recycling old furniture, giving old and lost items a new purpose in life. Finding the hidden beauty in forgotten treasures. Not only will you feel a sense of achievement but you can re-design rooms on a shoestring budget. I love the history that the furniture can bring into a room, all the secrets that it holds within. I am also experiencing a new addiction for the vintage sacks - watch this space!

An old chair recycled now stands proudly
Use old sacks and fabric to create new cushions 
clever crates and vintage sacks





















So, before you throw away unwanted furniture while organising your home in the New Year, ask yourself if you can find a new purpose for it. I would love to know if you are currently recycling any old furniture. Or, if you need ideas for furniture or accessories you have please post me a comment.

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