Author: home:blog

home: trend [ exposed bulbs ]

home: trend [ exposed bulbs ]

There has been a huge increase in popularity for having exposed bulbs in pendant lighting. Forgoing a traditional lamp shade for something a bit more industrial, creating a focal point in a room.

With the vintage Edison style bulbs with various filament designs still a favourite of most, we now see new adaptions of this look, still keeping the overall feel but with a modern edge. 

You will see a lot more smoked finishes and tinted glass along with oversized examples, so only one large bulb is needed to fill the ceiling space. The big trend at the moment is the streamlining of the filament, creating more structured patterns and lines. And this continues with the housing of the bulbs on pendant lights. Boxes surround the bulbs, creating a faux shade and again this makes for a statement.

Copper and chrome will continue to be the most popular finish of attachments, but try something a bit different with the addition of  a Plumen drop hat lamp shade –  a simple disc that sits above the bulb but looks sleek and modern. 

Guide:

Top row – pendant set from johnlewis.com [ £130 ], top hat shade from plumen.com [ £44.95 ], bulb from heals.com [ £ ] 

Middle row – pendant light from lighting-direct.co.uk [ £250 ], Muuto pendant lamp from paperrooms.co.uk [ £59 ]

Bottom row – smoked bulb from busterandpunch.com [ £25 ], bulb from habitat.co.uk [ £30 ], filament set from johnlewis.com [ £95 ]

home: made [ SWISH ]

home: made [ SWISH ]

We love sharing great makes, projects and tutorials every Thursday to result in unique DIYs for your home – from painted ceramics to hand woven rugs, no-sew pillow cases to crafting with wood.

The talented folks at London Craft Club offer a plethora of classes to attend to get crafty but what is it you need for all this creative making? Materials!

Join them for the big craft SWISH and stock up on craft materials that will inspire you as well as pass onto others craft materials you’ve not used and can spare.

They say;

When: Sunday 28th January, 10:00 am – 1:00pm

Where: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Rd, NW1 7AY

This is it! The Big Craft Swish! 

Let’s not lie about it, crafting uses up a lot of materials. And even more materials don’t get used at all! So if you have a secret stash of guilty craft purchases, this is for you….

• Swish away your ill-advised crafty purchases! 

• Take home some guilt-free stuff you’ll use! 

• Help minimise waste! 

• Add some good karma to the world of craft! 

• Share your crafty stories with other crafters

All that stuff going to waste in our cupboards, lofts and under our beds is a crying shame. It’s taking up space that us London-dwellers can ill afford, and all that clutter just isn’t good for our creative souls. So let’s do something about it.

Maybe you’re new to craft, and you bought a load of stuff that now you don’t know what to do with? Bring it along and swap it for something you can use. Or you might even meet someone who can show you what to do with it instead.

Already a Super Crafter? Come along and declutter, get inspiration, encourage the newbies and share stories with fellow crafters. 

Here’s the rules – simple but fair…

1) Everyone must bring at least one item of quality craft material or kit (drop off from 10.00am)  

2) You will have half an hour to browse before the swish opens (10.30 – 11.00am) 

3) No item may be claimed before the swish opens at 11.00am 

4) As soon as the swish is declared open, everyone may take what they want. 

5) Remember we’re here for sharing not sharp elbows! 

Our hosts Cecil Sharp House have a delicious range of  light bites, homemade cakes and main meals available throughout the day in their cafe. Why not grab a bite there then pop in at 10.30 for the browsing before the swish opens at 11.00am. Then there’s an hour and half of nabbing what you want, and of course craft chat. 

Tickets are £4 to cover costs, and any profit will be donated to Mind or Stop the Traffik

home: nice price [ scented candles ]

home: nice price [ scented candles ]

This time of year there is nothing better then getting cosy in the evenings in front of the tv with candle light flickering in the background. All the better if there is a fresh smell of Christmas to get you in the mood.

H&M has proved that good design and quality does not need to be expensive and their current range of scented candles is no exeption. Starting at just £3.99 they have a huge selection with scents including pine, bergamot, fig and cinnamon.

Head to hm.com or visit in store.

home: favourite thing [ rocking chair ]

home: favourite thing [ rocking chair ]

Our favourite Kolton chair from Made.com has got even better with this rocking chair version. Same great style, fabric and colours but with a rocking base. Perfect for getting cosy in.

Available in marl grey or mineral blue.

£549

home: featured [ The Restoration ]

home: featured [ The Restoration ]

This London based store is a treasure trove of goodies for the home. The Restoration is an online store with a showroom in Stoke Newington, full of vintage and bespoke furniture, home accessories and lighting.

The website has a well put together collection of items, old & new with emphasis on vintage and Mid Century. The Restoration also offers an upholstery service, all carried out in their London workshop.

Our favourites include their basket range, rugs and sofas.

the-restoration.com 

home: event [ Geffrye Museum ]

home: event [ Geffrye Museum ]

A reminder for the diary. Our favourite interiors haunt is closing for development to make it even better!

Say farewell to the current Geffrye Museum over the weekend of Epiphany, with a variety of entertainment and things to enjoy!

6 + 7 January

They say;

Visit us for Christmas Past and come to our Epiphany Celebration and Closing Party on the weekend of 6 and 7 January to enjoy street food, winter cocktails and live music as we say farewell to Christmas and to the museum, which will close on 7 January for almost two years for our exciting £18m development project, Unlocking the Geffrye. Although the main museum building and period gardens will be closed, there will still be plenty of reasons to come to the Geffrye. Throughout closure we will run a busy programme of events, activities and installations in our front gardens. The restored almshouse will also be open for tours on certain dates throughout the year.

home: found this [ sofa ]

home: found this [ sofa ]

West Elm always delivers with gorgeous modern takes on Mid-Century furniture and this season is no exeption. With style and quality this sofa ticks all the boxes for Mid-Century lovers.

With tall wooden legs, bolster cushions and distinctive box frame this sofa will sit beautifully in most living rooms. The grey crosshatch finish will blend into a neutral room or equally dress it up with colourful cushions in a brighter space.

Acailable to order now from westelm.co.uk [ £1299 ]

home: trend [ terrazzo ]

home: trend [ terrazzo ]

We are in agreement with the folks at Decoist blog that terrazzo is no longer just for the floor. This beautiful pattern of embedded stones is versatile for fabric, homewares and creates a modern look in the home. It’s the perfect design to sit in a minimal interior to add a delicate pattern and texture.

Across the internet and highstreet the terrazzo pattern in various colours is appearing on anything from crockery to cushions, bean bags to coffee tables.

Examples of beautiful terrazzo patterns

Clockwise (main picture)

Floor / Atrafloor £59 per sq/m

Table / EnrichtenDesign £352.46

Cushion / RedBubble £14.99

Beanbag / (FermLiving) Amara £109

home: blog [ homemade soap ]

home: blog [ homemade soap ]

If you are looking for a fun gift idea then why not try making these eucalyptus soaps. Perfect for a Christmas stocking filler or tie a few together for a lovely present.

With a small selection of ingredients you are good to go, and of course you can always try different scents.

We have found a great tutorial from burkatron.com 

home: nice price [ affordable art ]

home: nice price [ affordable art ]

So you’ll need to buy a frame but finding a cool piece of art work for just a fiver is an incredible find. Hunting through the new home products at House of Fraser we find this gorgeous wrapping paper (3 metres for £5) that is so perfect it needs to be framed. Make a statement – find a great big frame (try the largest size in Ribba frame from Ikea or head to Desenio and pick one of their skinny profile frames) and cut the paper to size.

The pattern, the colour – it’s all on trend and would be perfect as a focus piece of art in a lounge or bedroom.

To ensure the paper stays smooth and flat, hunt out your local picture framers and ask them to ‘dry mount’ the paper to a board (this can cost around £20 for a 60×80 size piece)