Alpine Loving

This is will be my last post for the next few weeks as I'm off to Austria for Christmas and New Year and I thought I would use my soon-to-be-surroundings as inspiration for this post.

So I'll leave you with some Alpine inspiration and a 'Merry Christmas'!

** warm and cosy ** edelweiss flowers ** ski gear indoors ** contrasting textures ** open fires ** bare wood ** knitted pillows ** hunting ** stag heads & antlers ** sheep skin throws ** cowhide rugs ** thick quilts ** chalet chic ** raw materials with modern twist ** rustic ** hand carved furniture **

1. Woodchip and Magnolia 2. Eco-Stylista 3. Je Dore Decour 4. Woodchip and Magnolia 5. Flickr 6. Eco-Stylista 7. Eco-Stylista 

Finally found!

Quite a few weeks ago I posted about my ongoing search for a set of circus lights to hang indoors or possibly outdoors. A few people helped me out with possible places to search for these (thank you to all of you) but I was still unable to find any that were quite right.

Until just now!! After a loooooong day Christmas shopping I walked past a street stall that had some beautiful and absolutely perfect string circus lights, and the lady told me I could find them at Lights4Fun. A little bit of a questionable name but they were perfect- cloudy bulb giving a softer glow, white string and they can be joined together to make a much longer chain.

So I have just placed an order with Lights4Fun for one set of '10 Globe Warm White LED Party Lights' that will be hung in our dining room and will, fingers crossed, look amazing! Will post photos when they arrive and are up and running!

Here's a little preview from the website-

Va-Va-Voom Chairs

How to make a simple chair way more exciting....

Take a/ a set of wooden chairs...

Sand it down and prime with white wood paint...

Pick a bright colour...

Paint it all over or just the legs or just the back, its up to you...

Maybe stencil on something fun...

Or...

Learn how to upholster with a Youtube video...

And cover the seat with contrasting, patterned material...

And...

To make it look a little worn and used sand down the corners and edges...

Or finish off with a thick layer of clear varnish.

Et voila!! Interesting chairs to be proud of and so simple to do on a stay-in-Sunday. Mix and match with different colours and upholstered material around the dining table, use as a bedside table or place in the bathroom or hallway.

Clockwise from top left: Brunch At Saks, Upstyled, Bright Bazaar, Etsy, Brunch At Saks, Bright Bazaar.

Study Spaces

It's down to the final days of term and all this last minute essay writing has got me daydreaming about the perfect work space to encourage some inspirational pen-to-paper action.

Clockwise from top left:

Colourful wall hanging to inspire. Design Sponge

(Definition of 'Study'- Very, very true!) Pinterest

Vibrant, colour-coded mood board to boost creativity (p.s. I have one of those little cardboard deer heads, they are so cute!) Prepfection

Quirky over head light to focus you. Design Files

Desk positioned away from the wall so you don't come up again a mental brick wall. Hanna Skoog

Greenhouse in House

I think that bringing a bit of the outdoors indoors is really important in every house, not just bunches of flowers but real, living plants. They bring vibrancy, freshness and life. Plus house plants are very easy to keep alive, which for someone like me that hasn't quite found her green fingers is a bonus. 

Larger tree plants can stretch up into taller rooms with high ceilings making them cosier and plants placed in windows can create dappled, soft light in a bright room. We have 2 quite big plants in our bathroom that sit behind the glass pane of our shower and it makes you feel like you're showering in a tropical forest, which I love! 

Why not try putting a plant in your fireplace, on a fridge or windowsill, hang one from the shelves, stand one in the corner of a room, at the end of the bath or on a stool.

(1.) SeeSaw Designs (2.) Reference Library (3.) I Love Nesting (4.) We Heart It (5.) A Pretty Life

Bathroom Tile Inspiration

Recently I have been looking around for some bathroom tile inspiration. We don't have any tiles behind our bathroom sink at the moment and I want to find some colourful, patterned tiles to go there, just a few that will bring colour and detail into the room and make it a little bit more interesting. Ideally they would be quite quirky and unique, but not too modern. 

So if anyones knows of anywhere I can get anything like any of the below, please let me know! And I hope you find some inspiration from these too.

1. UK TV 2. Bathroom Tiles Design 3. Fired Earth 4. Red Online 5. Welbeck 6. A Casa da Va 7. Home Klondike

Please Come In....

I always forget what you can do with a hallway until I see something like the below. They are often so small, and hard to do anything with. I for one always forget how useful they are and that they make the first impression when people come in, so make a statement and be bold because you can very easily

1. Classy, old world colours but detailed and interesting makes you feel like you in a country pub where you're going to find an open fire and amazing Sunday roast (the best feeling you could get when you walk into somewhere). House to Home

2. This hallway has a really lovely 'taken from the workshop' feel to it with the worn wood coat hanger, umbrella stand and utility table. Similar things could all easily be picked up at a flea market, car boot sale or charity store. Design Files

3. A hallway is a great place to display an array of oddities and randomness as the smallish space will hold them really well. The art deco double layered frames painted on the walls are amazing and would be easy to do yourself with some masking tape and patience. Design Sponge

4. Those fairy lights across an entrance wall make it inviting and warm and somehow doesn't look Christmas'y at all. ZsaZsa Bellagio

5. Farm house, checkered flooring with bare brick above high panelled walls. Yes please. Klikk

6. This victorian inspired hallway with swirly patterned wallpaper and decorative vintage umbrellas is kept modern with the simple chest of draws and bright colours.  Pinterest

7.  Aqua blue walls, barbie pink banister, bright white stairs and parquet flooring; who knew it would make for the most incredible hallway? Bright Bazaar

8. I have always been told that in a small space you dont want to clutter the walls too much or it will make it look even smaller. But this hallway completely goes against what I was told, still giving the illusion of a spacious corridor with space for coats and even somewhere to put on your wellies. I love it!  La Petite Lavande.

9. Two tone walls with the dado railing breaking it up and keeping it fresh. The contrasting bright colours between the two rooms is really nice. Unfortunately, for me, it's ruined by the tacky butterfly frames but the idea is nice. Design Files

Shopping Bag Decor

Today on this cold, wet, miserable December day this girlie dresser warmed me inside and completely inspired me. I absolutely love the idea of framing classic shopping bags (no Topshop or River Island ones allowed) to hang them above a dressing table or even around your bathroom mirror. They are all quite simple but the different colours and sizes fit together with the consistent white frames. Sadly I'm just a poor student so have absolutely no way of obtaining a Chanel shopping bag unless a kind rich person were to donate one to me... hint, hint.

But after quickly scouring Ebay, you can buy one from a lady in America for £7 + £6pp, don't know it that is tempting or not? Probably not. 

The Nest

My little bit of Tribal

Last week I posted about tribal patterns so this week I thought I would show you a bit of my tribal....This is a pillow and material we bought back from Panama earlier this year. They were both was made by Kuna Indian women, a native tribe in Central America. There are really traditional patterns and style and the Kuna people still wear embroidered material like this around their waist everyday. They're made from lots of different layers of material sewn together with colourful thread, I think they're so beautiful and having it brings back a bit of the culture from Panama and memories from an amazing trip.

Corners To Curl Up In

In the cold winter months it's nice to have a warm and cosy place to curl up with a book and a massive cup of tea. We don't really have a place like this in our house at the moment and I'm really wanting to squeeze one in, somehow.  

So in the mean time I'll sit with my tea and chocolate fingers imagining I was in any one of these reading corners....

1. A very grown up, professional corner, somewhere you could write your journal by the fire. Love the old school photos above the chair, it makes it a place to reflect and remember (possibly!). Flickr

2. More of a summery reading corner with bright colours and deep wool carpet. Simply Stoked

3. I am just in love with this reading corner- its got the colour coding going on (which I'm a massive fan of), the textured leather and wood and that great circus style pillow. Bright Bazaar

4. This is just the most amazing space with the mixture of textures, patterns and soft neutral colours and all those fluffy pillows. Convoy

5. Salmon coloured, retro chic, grandma's armchair made inviting and fresh! Design Files

6. That armchair looks like it could swallow you up and the colourful pillows and flowers makes me want to go get my book. Houzz

To Kitsch to Handle

Do you ever get that mixed up feeling when you come across something that is so disgusting and uncool but you're still drawn to it and the more you look at it you realise that for some unexplainable reason you absolutely love it! It makes you cringe slightly but you want it at the same time! That is what kitsch is. 

Kitsch is my (very) secret obsession but although I love weird and wonderful bits and pieces I'm still not brave enough to kitsch-up a whole room. Kitsch is cheap, cluttered, loud, a mix match of randomness and oddities and colourful but it radiates personality, intrigue, interest and stories (how can you not love that?).

I mean what are these and why do I want one so much!!!??

1. Absolutely Beautiful Things 2. Design Sponge 3.Better Decorating Bible 4. Abigail Ahern Poodle Lamps

No Ordinary Door Mat

I am completely and utterly in love with these colourful, cut out door mats! How amazing are they? I'm drawn to the orange one as its slightly more toned down than the others but the green would be great to come in from the garden to.

They're from Camel & Yak, cost £34.99 and can be delivered to you in time for Christmas!

Here are some other pretty/ interesting/ creative ideas for door mats to jazz up front doors and give people a warm welcome!

 1. Conversation Pieces 2. Martha Stewart 3. West Elm 4. Dutch By Design 5. Chiasso 6. Fellow Creatives 7. Urban Outfitters

Tribal Print

Tribal print has to be my current favourite pattern, it's a great way to add some bold texture and colour to the house. Designers take influence and inspiration from Africa, Latin America and Central Asia to create fluid patterns that give depth and brings a room to life. Whether the pattern is more modern or has stayed true to its cultural heritage, tribal print with its rich vibrant colours and soft details can make a punchy statement but still manages to feel delicate. On pillows, throws or head rests, the bedroom is a favourite place to use tribal patterns as they can make a bed inviting, quirky and fresh. But stepping outside the box and placing a tribal rug in the centre of the room or hanging it across a wall can make an impact in a minimalist dining room or shiny white bathroom. 

Urban Outfitters have some beautiful tribal rugs and pillows in at the moment and high street clothing stores always stock patterned scarves that could be framed, hung, sewn, thrown and used in any other way you can think of. 

So try splashing some tribal vibe around!

1. So Haute 2. The Home Look 3. Urban Outfitters 4. See Saw Designs 5. Elle Decor 6. Unknown 7. Out Came The Sun

Stuff made from things

Some people are just so creative! I get such inspiration seeing a 'thing' that has been made from salvaging one object, reusing and redesigning it to make something new and even more amazing. It really shows off that persons personality and just makes a room so unique and quirky. And so many of these sorts of ideas are easy enough to steal and replicate yourself but gives you something that is meaningful to you...

Clockwise from top right: Design Files, Pinterest , Pretty World, Cupcakes and Cashmere, Domestic Ease

Bright Bathrooms

So many of us (me included) decorate bathrooms so they end up very white and possibly a little bland which is fine but it's nice to add some personality to a room that can generally be very plain. There are some great ways to add colour to a bathroom making it less sterile and way more interesting. Patterned tiles, detailed wallpaper, interesting mats, colourful curtains and even large plants all brighten a bathroom whilst still allowing it to be a clean, relaxing space. 

1. Brunch At Saks 2. Design Sponge 3. Bright Bazaar

Funnily enough when we bought our house the bathroom was exactly the same colour as the one above. It looked hideous but this one works so well. The candy floss pink walls are balanced with the vintage cabinet, coat hangers and leather armchair and the large brilliant white bathtub and sink remind you that its still a bathroom not a child's room. I'm slightly regretting repainting our bathroom now!

Caught on Camera

Vintage and quirky looking camera's are such great things to jazz up shelves, dressing tables and desks, adding a bit of character to a space.

There are always loads of amazing vintage camera's at car boot sales and on Ebay that are generally pretty cheap. I bought a beautiful Zenit (a 1950's Russian camera) from Ebay last year, it was only £7 and I even used it for a bit but now it's retired and on our dining room shelf just looking pretty alongside a Lomo Fisheye camera. And I think the more the merrier so I'm always on the look out for other unique and interesting ones.

Clockwise from top right corner: The Design Files, DesignSponge, Lauren Conrad, Ingenuity On Display, Paper Garland, Paper Garland, DesignSponge

From Bloomsbury

My favourite shop at the moment is Bloomsbury. It always has really quirky and unique little things for the house, everything from mugs to garden tools, stationary to jewellery, a great place for presents and finding a selfish present for yourself. Here are my fav things in store now....

1. Scotty mug, £7.95 (because apparently my boyfriend looks like TinTin)

2. Wild & Wolf Tea Pot, £14.95 (purely for decorative purposes of course)

3. Marmite tin jar, £5.95 (I am a seriously lover of Marmite so really feel I need this)

4. Scrabble letter pillow, £19.95 (so I can clearly mark my side of the bed/ space on the sofa)

5. Seletti porcelain milk jugs, £9.95 (classic white or modern gold, it would be a hard decision to make)

6. City of London Transport Print, £21.95 (I just really like this illustration and its colours)

Circus Lights

I have been pining after a line of circus style, commercial string lights. Taking away the coloured bulbs and replacing them with softer white bulbs makes them really simple but an interesting way to light a room. They can delicately light up a whole wall or evenly cover a dining table, bed or entrance hall way and are obviously perfect for hanging over a patio. I know that they're fairly similar to the popular fairy lights that lots of people have but I just much prefer these. They're more grown up, modern and have a feel to them, like they are still hanging from a funky New York roof top garden party. 

The problem is I can't seem to find anywhere to buy them from, so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know!

Left picture from Apartment Therapy. Right pictures from Bright Bazaar

P.S. Note the amazing globe light on the bedside table, love it!

In Perfect Symmetry

I guess in some ways symmetry is something that we are drawn to in our everyday lives, it is ingrained in us. Apparently we are attracted to people with very symmetrical faces and basic design foundations are built on the principles of symmetry, it is supposed to be more aesthetically pleasing and beautiful.

At home, symmetry can be used (in a much less serious and philosophical way) to create order and a focal point within a room. It can give a space balance, harmony and proportion, making it more interesting and a beautiful place to spend time.

1. Regular, ordered picture frames over a sofa make a space look bigger.

2. I really like it when bedrooms are really symmetrical like this one. The mirrors, lights and circular net above the bed look lovely.

3. This is such a simple, beautiful idea. The dress adds texture and depth to a room and by being placed over the couch i lines up the room.

4. Spaces with lots of detail and different things can easily be tidied up by creating symmetry with a few bits and pieces.

5. Even side draws can be organised with a bit of symmetry using frames and books stacked underneath.

6. These similar photo frames that hang across two walls in a series create a mirror effect, almost like an open book. It also makes this dining area really cosy and its own space.

Unfinished Inspiration

I would LOVE to live here...

This bare brick, barely finished apartment is absolutely amazing. The designers have contrasted the textured, uncovered brick with delicate materials on the bed and floor, soft lighting and gold, metallic colours. And the painted wood floors, chandelier and detailed cornicing finish the bedroom really well. There's enough femininity to soften the rooms, making them cosy and warm but still maintain the brick as a feature.

The Decorista

Basically if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Home Made Flower Power

There are so many amazing ways to display flowers and different containers to put them and plants into.... use your imagination, reuse different, unexpected things and create something unique to you.

1. This is a great idea from Martha Stewart, I think it looks really modern and eye catching but all it is is recycled bottles and jars. Keep a variety of glass containers, clean them and take the labels off then swill enamel paint around inside and voila! Heres a step by step.

2. Tin tea containers for planting, and the more worn and knocked around they look the better. Remember to put holes in the base for drainage and you're ready to go. The Design Files

3. Wrap tin cans with colourful patterned material to make plant pots for the window sill or to hang outside. Poppy Talk

4. An old milk bottle carrier crate looks minimalist but with an interesting touch using clear bottles and a few long stemmed flowers.The Design Files 

5. Such an amazing idea using light bulbs as hanging flower vases. Would be beautiful inside or outside for summer evening dinner parties. StumbleUpon

6. Tea pots... well why not? I would use mine as centre pieces down the dining table with those delicate white Gypsophila. Red

7.Vintage looking paint cans would look great in the kitchen or conservatory or for planing herbs outside. Daydream Lily

8. Line lots of random jugs, glasses, bottles; coloured, clear, old, new and mix them up to make an interesting line up. Daydream Lily

9. Clear bottles of different sizes and shapes to stand single statement flowers or dried thistles, add personalised labels if your feeling particularly creative. Blue Moss Girl

Dear Santa

Dear Santa, 

This Christmas please can you bring me a set of Love Mae pantry food jar lables. They are really pretty and would make our kitchen look so organised. They cost £39 and you can buy them from Garrendenny Lane. 

Thanks in advance,

Skye x

P.S. I also really like these Love Mae wall stickers... not that I'm being greedy or anything!

5 Spaces I'm Loving Today

And here they are...

 Loving: the pastels together with the bright yellow, the country patchwork throws and pillows. Creamy Life

Loving: the photos above the bed, canopy hanging over and the nautical feel. Daydream Lily

Loving: all the different pieces that come together...oriental elements mixed with tradition English mixed with other bits and pieces. House to Home

Loving: the old crate as a table, that amazing door and how its used as a focal piece of decoration. Red

Loving: the industrial vs. retro look, peace sign and different browns against the white walls. Rue Magazine

Up a Ladder

I've seen ladders used in the house loads and I'm now on the hunt for a nice vintage one. I think they look really fun and they're great for hanging towels, clothes, shoes, jewellery, bags. But what I don't want to do is pay very much for one. I thought the car boot sale would be a good place to find one but they've stopped now it's winter so I'm going to have to keep an eye out for discarded ladders in skips and look on Trade-It and Free Cycle for a bargain. 

Here are my favourite ways ladders have been used...

 A Ladder

 Red Online

 The Nest

Thrifty Solutions for an Urban Gal

And fingers crossed I'll also find an old painting ladder for the garden too....I have the perfect spot for it already!

Daffodils & Snowdrops

Book Worms

A lesson learnt after a little research..... books are NOT just for reading!

Wallpaper:

 Shelterness

A Cafe in New York City

Lights:

Julie Anne Art

Table:

Casa Sugar

Furniture Minimalist

Cloud

Shelves: 

Julie Anne Art

Favim

Jennion

Decoration:

Come Together Cards

Books of Art