home: favourite thing [ outdoor dining ] 

home: favourite thing [ outdoor dining ]

Even with a small outdoor space or a balcony you can make the most of the space with the use of the great IKEA range APPLARO of outdoor furniture. 

It’s mix and match with varying combinations of shelving, table, storage and wall systems. 

We love the APPLARO wall panel with drop leaf table – perfect for creating a dining area and hanging planting feature even in a tiny space. 

There is so much in the APPLARO range including lidded storage, chairs, sofa combinations, extendable tables and shelving. 

£65 IKEA / wall panel + drop leaf table 

home: featured [ Shedquarters ]

home: featured [ Shedquarters ]

Shedquarters is another great online shop full of contemporary homeware and stationary.
The cohesive collection shows something different to the customer, with strong design led ceramics including their marble espresso cups, vases and gorgeous blankets and throws.
The online shop is beautifully layed out and easy to navigate, so don’t waste any time and take a look.
[ There is also an inspiring blog to keep up to date with ]

Shedquartersonline.co.uk

home: event [ market ] 

home: event [ market ] 

A London must-visit is the weekly Sunday market at The Old Truman Brewery. 

EVERY SUNDAY / 10AM – 5PM / OLD TRUMAN BREWERY, LONDON, E1

The London Artisan is a curated marketplace in the heart of East London. A collaborative project between Designers/Makers and The Old Truman Brewery.

The London Artisan offer’s a diverse, quality, shopping experience that celebrates independent producers and makers. But more than that, it’s about people and place; meeting the makers, conversation with friends and embedding the social back into shopping.hopping.’

Not only is there homewares, textiles, ceramics and glassware but also lotions, potions, gifts and jewellery. Fill your home and treat yourself at the same time. 

home: found this [ window film ]

home: found this [ window film ]

We are already fans of Mini Moderns and when we discovered a new product in their range we had to feature it.
These window films are a great idea as an alternative to blinds or plain frosting, using some of their existing wallpaper designs.

‘We are excited to be able to offer some of our most popular wallpaper designs as easy to install window films – produced in collaboration with our friends at The Window Film Company

Available in 3 sizes starting from £55 – visit minimoderns.com to see the collection.

home: trend [ tiles ] 

home: trend [ tiles ] 

The use of tiles are storming interior design this year. It’s about thinking outside the box with both designs, patterns but also where to use tiles.

Not just for the bathroom walls or a hallway floor, but bring a cool design feature to a bedroom with a tiled back drop to a bed, to a lounge with a feature wall or even for function use on hallway walls to help with the marks and wear from heavy traffic through this busy room. 

Explore high street stores like Topstiles, Habitat, Homebase and B&Q ; and online retailers including Zazous and The London Tile Co for affordable tiles. Mix patterned tiles with plain, square with oblong and play with size and shape with hexagon shaped tiles, large scale tiles and mosaics. 

We found great inspirational imagery  from House & Garden and some gorgeous ideas from Grand Designs

You can also explore the vinyl tile market with modern brands including Zazous and Amtico producing up to date designs in vinyl that is hard wearing, easy to lay and with very competitive pricing compared to porcelain or ceramic tiles.

Be bold with pattern or play safe with neutral tones and then over lay with rugs to bring pattern and interest to an interior. 

Tiles are hard wearing and functional. Use instead of carpet or wall paper as a great alternative. 

home: made [ paint drip vase ]

home: made [ paint drip vase ]

The monochrome trend is still going strong. A great idea this season is to start bringing in small injections of colour through accessories.
This subtle but effective idea of adding paint to a vase looks contemporary and is really easy to do.
You will need to find a plain vase, either white or a glass one you can spray white [ Hm.com & Ikea.com have a good choice starting from £1 ].
Choose some acrylic paint, neon tones are perfect for this season.
There are a couple of ways to create the effects, either dipping the vase and letting the paint run down, or splattering the paint and building it up.
We have found some tutorials to follow :
Homelife.com
Homedit.com

Another great idea to decorate a white vase is with a marker pen. Check out makeandtell.com

home: nice price [ mirror ] 

home: nice price [ mirror ] 

With copper being the accessory colour of the season, it’s great to have small ways to introduce it into every room. 

This small standing copper mirror, from Matalan, is the perfect addition to a bathroom shelf. It would sit perfectly in a monochrome bathroom with a few other hints of copper. Try Home Anatomy for a great copper toothbrush holder [£15], Habitat for the perfect copper tone loo brush [£25] and smart black and copper accessories from George at Asda

Bathroom Copper Effect Rectangular Stand Mirror // Matalan 

£5

home: favourite thing [ clock ]

home: favourite thing [ clock ]

We love this black and brass wall clock from Rockett St George. It’s simple design really stands out and it is a beautiful piece to look at.
It would sit perfectly against a dark blue, green or aubergine wall in a living room or office.
Perhaps hang it mixed with other wall decor like mirrors and pictures, creating impact.
Available at rockettstgeorge.co.uk [ £169 ]

home: featured [ cult furniture ] 

home: featured [ cult furniture ]

When you are picking those design classics for your home, wanting a certain look and style, and especially if you have a small budget, Cult Furniture is a must visit store. Either online or at their south London store there is a veritable feast of design classics. Choose from styles inspired by Eames, Tolix, George Nelson, Hans J Wegner and other midcentury modern designs and the range includes chairs, tables, desks, lighting and other home accessories

The prices are incomparable for the quality and choice and when furniture goes into the same department it’s even better. 

In 2015 they also have now their own designed pieces under the label Cult Living and this offers more affordable super design for the home.

”You know how it goes, you see beautiful designer chairs, designs you really appreciate and would love to have in your home, but the prices are just way too high!

Cult Furniture started in 2010 for this very reason, to make designer furniture affordable and accessible to everyone. Keeping the quality of the original design but cutting the price by dealing direct with factories and avoiding the middle man.”

http://www.cultfurniture.com

811-813 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 3JH.

Open: Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm.

home: event [ flower shows ]

home event [ flower shows ]

At this time of year the focus on interior decoration can change to the garden, and one of the best places to get inspiration is at a flower show, and there are no better shows than Chelsea and Hampton Court.

The two RHS events are here this summer during May and July.
The Chelsea flower show runs from 24th – 28th May and there are still tickets available. Alternatively wait for Hampton court [ 5th – 10th July ].

See the latest trends and looks for your garden whatever it’s size, as well as getting hints and tips on the right flowers and plants to use to get the best from your garden.

Head to rhs.org.uk to get more info and book tickets.