Alfresco movie

Short and sweet today, but a fabulous idea.......such an easy way to turn it into movie time but with a slight twist 'Alfresco' style (if we ever get some good weather!)! Hang a white sheet up and use a projector, lots of blankets and floor cushions and candles, would be such a special evening! One day I will do this for all you lovely friends! Imagine girly night of Sex in the City & Dirty Dancing...bring it on. night night my lovelies 

xxx

Black & white stripes

Thought today was going to be another rainy one but was pleasantly surprised and therefore our trip to Kew gardens was most enjoyable and sunny!

No real explanation for this blog but was very taken with the below gorgeous wedges and thought I would look into other monochrome stripy things (although technically these fabulous wedges are black and neural canvas but not going to let that spoil my fun). I'm glad I didn't have a pair of these on while walking around Kew this afternoon!

 This stunning tweed coat with black and white lining & fab collar is from jennysweetnam.com. Might add this to my ever growing birthday list......

Smart casual yet sophisticated outfit

Love this bold monochrome stripe statement in a small room, would look really cool in a study.

Would also be brilliant for a wedding theme-very sophisticated and stylish.

Evening x 

Strike a Poise

I have formed an obsession with the old anglepoise lamp, from floor to ceiling, desk to bedside. My love was boosted by a trip to The Potted Pig restaurant in Cardiff a few months ago (well worth a visit by the way as the food is lovely-I can fully recommend the Duck Hash yummie) where they have them dotted on the walls creating a calm and sophisticated mood (see below):

I have been trying to figure out why I like them so much and I have come to the conclusions is because they are so versatile. They can be used absolutely everywhere and in nearly every style of room you can think of.

Wall fixed lights can be used as bedside, desk lights or as displayed in The Potted Pig dotted around rooms to make an elegant industrial feel. In the above monochrome image there are Bestlites which are excellently designed and of the highest quality.

Vintage lamps are fab, they add character and an eclectic feel to a room.

This is a very cool Anglepoise chandelier- spider alien!

Celing pendent light and can be used over tables or as bedside lamps which is what I would love to do in our bedroom or guest bedroom...one day... 

Floor lamps used in more a formal way, but fit perfectly with a Scandinavian or classical style.

 

Adding fun splashes of colour to a room makes an eye catching statement with these beauties. Abigail Ahern also has one of the oversize floor light but in a flock blue!

This fabric I just had to add in, it's from PatTheCat Etsy

At the moment Achica are doing a sale on Anglepoise lighting-just wish I could buy one.....if I have the spare cash and room I would most certainly be purchasing the over sized floor lamp in grey or orange

http://www.achica.com/Productlist.aspx?promotionuid=17a74963-e747-48e3-93b0-af923582e03c

x

p.s Carole hope you like, this one was for you after our conversation on Saturday!

Emily Chalmers

Emily Chalmers is a talented stylist who owns caravanstyle.com (a fabulous shop!) but she also is renowned for her flea market style interiors.  

The contrast of the industrial shell of this apartment with the floral vintage feminine fabrics and objects. The unique market finds which adds tons of character to the spaces, making them feel loved and cosy.

This is such a girly thing to do: displaying shoes, clothes and jewellery on the wall....if only I had the space.....!!!

I admire everything in this shot, I have definitely formed an obsession with anglepoise lamps, whether it's table, wall or floor! Watch this space- another blog idea....

If you love Emily Chalmers style too, check out this link with more of an insight into the lady herself http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/house-home/a-minute-with-emily-chalmers-the-owner-of-caravan 

Good evening 

x

Bits and bobs

Afternoon, so today is about some of my finds over the years and how I've displayed them and a little about what they are and where they are from and why I like them so much, adding personality to each room. 

Old milking stool, door lock and padlock were picked up a few years ago from a random car bootsale the day after my other-half and I did our skydive in Oxfordshire! I just fell in love with them and cost me about £5. The white ceramic key was a valentines day pressie from notonthehighstreet.com. The butterfly print was bought back from Japan in an Ikea box frame that we had lying around the house and the dried hydrangea head was from a few years ago when I did a photo shoot for Eve magazine. All housed in an old fireplace nook.

White contemporary candelabra was a gift and from habitat, miniature old books were from a junkey antiquey place in Crystal Palace, white vase was from a very cheap homewear shop in Hull (about £3), the white ceramic bird (which my other-half hates) was from http://www.caravanstyle.com (I love this shop so much and will do a little blog about Emily's style soon). And the little metal decorative bowl is very dear to my heart,  it was a gift from my Nanna years ago-I admired it one day when I was at her house (it was cream and distressed back then) and just before she passed away she wrapped it up and gave it to me but when I opened it  found that she had repainted it in white gloss paint-bless her cotton socks she thought that it was too scruff to give it to me as it was.....little did she know that was why I like it so much! Anyway a couple of years later I decided to paint it black and it looks great and is one of the things that I would save if the flat was on fire, along with my Moooi smoke chair!

A selection of white ceramic bottles ranging from Kose to John Lewis, no. 7 wooden stamp from a brikabrack store, three black decorative wooden combs purchased for a cool little shop down Brick Lane a couple of years ago. The glass display dome was a pressie a couple of Christmases ago but the idea of displaying this cute little dog Avon bottle was inspired by a trip to Nottingham and a gorgeous shop called http://www.lechienetmoi.com/ 

My extremely heavy but fabulous vintage industrial Remington typewriter was inherited from Great Uncle Len. I love it and it's completely indestructible!

x

Morocco in the City LDN

Last night for one of my lovely friend's 40th Birthday we went to MoMo, a deliciously fabulous Moroccan restaurant and private basement bar. Despite allot of cocktails (cosmos of course!!) and wine I felt really inspired by the Moroccan feel and would love to trip there soon.......

Highlights from the evening (apart from great company!) were the delicious raspberry macaroons mmmmmmm, sipping crisp white wine form cut glass wine glasses made us feel very special & sitting out on the terrace cooling off and soaking up the relaxed (what felt like) summers evening.

So on reflection I love the mix of vivid bright contrasting colours with luxurious metallics and sparkles of coloured glass to create mouthwatering interiors:

Tantalising colours, shapes and patterns-oozing fabulousness

Unique finds amongst the markets

 Gorgeous drapes/fabrics, low poufs and large lanterns to create the mood

 Intense colour

Tranquil haven amongst the hustle and bussle of the city-and RELAX

Happy Sunday! x