Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year to you all. I hope you had a good Christmas break and are settling back well into old and new routines. At Angel and Blume we are all marveling at how clean and fresh everything looks now the Christmas decorations are coming down and with that in mind, I have been starting to think about freshening up our website.

We were very busy at the end of last year photographing a few of the projects we have been working on recently. One of the first to go up on our website is this beautiful central Cambridge home and you can see more images on the portfolio section of our website.

This spacious kitchen dining room has a wonderful view of the newly re-modeled garden and a stylish and practical table and chairs from Joined and Jointed looks great in this space.

The glorious sitting room window is not only a lovely place to sit but is also a huge sash window that pulls up to allow access to the garden – a discovery we were rather thrilled to make!

The clients had some lovely photographs taken by a member of the family and these worked beautifully in the study room along with a statement sofa and rug.

We love designing children’s rooms and this was no exception. Animals were a bit of a theme here including a rather fabulous Love Frankie Leopard Walk lampshade.

Watch this space for more projects to follow as the year unfolds!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very happy and restful festive season and a good year to follow, from everyone at Angel + Blume.

Images taken at one of the homes at King’s Row, Ely, a development by Palace Green Homes. Interior design and show home by Angel + Blume. Photography by Peter Bennett.

How big a house do you actually want?

Article by Cate Burren, of Angel + Blume, for Velvet Magazine (August 2018)

Cate looks at the thorny question of whether big is beautiful when it comes to the house you choose to live in.

Velvet Magazine (August 2018)

When choosing a house to live in, it is tempting to default to the premise that bigger is better. Those forays into the estate agents windows when on holiday or a sneaky glance at Rightmove when you have no intention of buying, tend to end up at a castle with its own fishing rights, or an extensive double fronted Georgian townhouse, imaging how idyllic life would be if one where the master or mistress of such a property. But I think it doesn’t take much of a reality check to imagine the headache of assuming responsibility for such an undertaking. Some years ago, Channel 4 followed Sarah Beeny as she wrestled with owning the crumbling 97 room stately home Rise Hall. The series started with the dream of paying £435k for an (admittedly crumbling) palatial estate where children and friends frolicked in the extensive grounds but quickly moved into revealing just some of the headaches of restoring and maintaining such a home. Beeny was brutally honest and managed to achieve an astonishing restoration, although the property is now used as a wedding venue in order to make it viable. The compulsivity of the viewing was about putting yourself in her shoes, with faint jealousy turning quickly to admiration then private horror at what was entailed, which included time away from family, legal battles, relentless hard graff and the requirement for a bottomless pit of money. This is obviously an extreme case but owning a large (even moderately large) home comes with cost consideration, and not all of them are monetary.

Christ Pieces from Cambridge Council via Pinterest

At the other end of the scale smaller homes and apartments, which make up so much of city centre housing, requires a different approach to living. You don’t have nearly so much maintenance, repairs, cleaning, general outgoings and responsibility for a property. You do however, rely on good public facilities which are vital if you are live in a compact space. A well maintained park nearby can become a fantastic alternative to a small or non-existent garden. My experience of close proximity to Christ’s Pieces is that it is better than any garden I have ever owned, or will ever own, but I had no idea of the investment required by local government to keep it that way. The Lido is a brilliant alternative to having your own outdoor swimming pool – admittedly you would never have to queue to get into your own pool but at the same time, you also don’t have to maintain it throughout the year. The same can be said for going to the cinema versus that fabulous media room you are just dying to build in the basement – and so on.

Jesus Green Lido from Pinterest

There is no right or wrong to how much space you want (I am not talking about the space we need which is an entirely different debate) but I think the ‘bigger is better’ assumption can be naïve and could lead you to a home that is too big and therefore not what you really want at all. So how do you decide how much space you do want to live in?

 

1.First of all, as with designing the functionality of any interior space, the question of what you are going to use the space for is crucial. Many of us have, for example, built wonderful extensions to our property only to find that parts of the old space become somewhat redundant as we gravitate towards the wonderful new parts of the building.

 

2. We all like to think we love the people we live with but how much time you want to spend with each other in the same room is worth considering. My experience is that we all live very differently – some people love being in close proximity at home and others much less so. It’s a personal choice but needs to be recognised.

 

3. How much space are you going to use for storage? Being honest about what ‘stuff’ you have, and want, in life is vital. The honest truth is that if you are a bit of a hoarder, you are going to need more storage and therefore more space.

 

4. I am always interested in how spaces can be used flexibly because I think we often end up with too many rooms (not necessarily too much space which is different) because we assume that rooms can’t be used for different things or by different members of the household. For example, you may well have lots of guests to stay sometimes but you don’t need to have endless guest rooms that are unused when a guest isn’t in residence. If planned well, a guest room can double up well as dressing room, a study, an additional sitting room/TV room and so on.

 

5. What public facilities are nearby and the quality of them makes a huge difference. This is not just true of urban spaces. Recently some friends of mine moved into a similarly sized house to the one they were leaving but with a much smaller garden. They are now in the middle of the countryside rather than the town which they enjoy and use regularly the surrounding rural space rather than a garden they would have to maintain.

A Guest Room/ Study Combo from Terry’s Fabrics via Pinterest

Owning any property takes some level of time, money and headspace, however small. If you are the homeowner, you can’t ring a landlord when something goes wrong. And it is a sliding scale – bigger may or may not be better, but there will certainly be more for you to do. You may well want the responsibility that comes with owning a huge house but it is worth taking the decision that it is what you want before committing to giving up the level of resource required for the ownership of a property without realising what is really involved.

Monochromatic Matters

Colour is a great asset to use in any home, whether you’re pulling in bold accents into a room, pairing two colours to make an unusual combination, or even going for a daring monochromatic look. A monochromatic scheme can create a strong, bold look in a room, really giving it some presence. Here’s a few beautiful monochrome rooms to give you some inspiration.

Blue Monochromatic Room from Domino via Pinterest

This dark blue room is a feast for the eyes; everything is soft, deep and dramatic whilst the blue makes it feel sophisticated and contemporary. The key with monochromatic rooms is to make sure you have enough texture in the space to give it depth, like the velvet sofa and of hint of purple from the plant. For a beautiful navy paint colour, Fired Earth’s Carbon Blue is a lovely true blue and would have a dramatic impact on the walls. For a sumptuous navy velvet, take a peek at Osborne & Little’s Mikado Velvet collection, they have a whole range of shades but a perfect one for this look is number 6990-08.

Pink is a great colour to use in a monochromatic look and creating the perfect sophisticated setting is all about finding the right shades of pink. Heavily playing on light and dark tones will help add a contemporary element to the space, too much of one pink and it might become a little marshmallow-y. Below they’ve used a dusky pink for the wall and a maroon-pink for the ceiling and for the furniture which really holds the space together.

Pink Monochromatic Room from Domino via Pinterst

There is a huge range of pink or pink-toned paints around at the moment, just make sure you stick to the same type of pink, for example finding a dark and light blush pink. A beautiful pink is Tuscan Pink from Zoffany, with lovely earthy tones to it. To add a spark of interest to the pink scheme, this Atlas fabric from Zimmer + Rohde has beautiful pink tones as well as an abstract landscape-style pattern that would make a stunning pair of curtains in an all pink look.

Atlas Fabric from Zimmer + Rohde

This beautiful green room creates its depth with the use of white to add structure to the space; the sharp white picture frames pop against the green wall, and the off-white rug has different green embroidery to give floor a strong sense of personality. Green makes a great monochromatic room colour choice as it can be naturally given texture and depth with the use of plants, like below different cacti have been added for points of interest and richer impact.

Green Monochromatic Room from Domino via Pinterest

I love De le Cuona and all their pieces, but they have some beautiful fabrics that would really work with a mossy green monochromatic room, take a look at Mistral in Drizzle and Primitive Linen in Fennel. For a similar green grey paint colour, Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray and Cromarty would complete the look.

Grey seems to be a never-ending popular colour, so if you love it take it one step further by using deep dark hues in a room, from the paint to the furniture and adding in interesting juxtapositions of light hues against the dark.

Dark Grey Monochromatic Room from Apartment Therapy via Pinterest

When using such a dark colour for a monochromatic space, make sure to select materials that’ll allow light to bounce of them, therefore avoiding a black hole effect. This Cascade wallpaper from Zoffany has an amazing ribbon effect, which will not only add a strong design element but pick up the light as well.

Cascade Wallpaper from Zoffany

For a really luxurious looking monochrome room, you can’t go wrong with an all Teal room. The peacock colour makes a strong statement, and if you love glamorous interiors, it’s perfect for you. Below they used gold accessories to draw out the richness of the teal; with such a strong colour like teal, just using at as feature wall in an attempt to ‘tone it down’ can sometimes have the reserve effect, and actually making the bold move and painting the entire space in the colour will create a simpler, sophisticated look. For a triumphant teal, Farrow & Ball’s Vardo has the impact you’re looking for, and for a beautiful fabric to go alongside, the teal version of Anthology’s Vivid fabric will make the perfect pair.

Teal Monochromatic Room from Apartment Therapy

A monochromatic room can be an amazing, stylish and unexpected way to decorate a room; so you want to create an impactful space, have a think about trying out a monochromatic room using your favourite shade.

 

 

Glorious Colour

Article by Cate Burren, of Angel + Blume, for Velvet Magazine (June 2018)

This article first appear in Velvet magazine in it’s June 2018 issue

What colours do you like? It should be such a simple question really, shouldn’t it? But when it comes to decorating, even the biggest brained of the population can feel some considerable distance outside of their comfort zones when faced with a paint chart. Of course I know that it is not the most vexatious of situations in the world, but there is a very certain disappointment in discovering that you hate the colour scheme of your freshly decorated room.

My firm belief with most aspects of creating a beautiful interior space is that no one element should be dominant – the overall effect should be what you and others see, with components revealing themselves as the eye examines what it is in front of it. Paint colours may or may not be noticed as part of what makes a space work, but if they shout louder than anything else, they are probably wrong, and certainly the room is out of balance. Therefore the paint selection must be made with the main elements such as flooring, furnishings, fabrics, artwork and so on, in mind.

The quantity of colour that you want is also something to be aware of. Some of us love colour and lust after layers and depths of colour that others couldn’t live with. Some of us want very little at all and there is nothing wrong with either but once you know what you want, it is important to keep an eye on the amount of colour in a scheme and therefore the combinations and contrasts of colour that you feel happy with.

So how on earth do you create the right paint scheme for you? Well, there are some easy tricks that I would strongly recommend as a basis for getting started.

1. Firstly, forget trends. It’s good design advice generally – why be dictated to by those who don’t know your personal taste? If you don’t like grey but you do like yellow right at the moment, good for you – yellow isn’t currently fashionable but it is used to perfection in some of the smartest houses I know and it is my firm belief that all colours can look current if used properly.
2. Use decent paint. There is a reason that some paints are twice the price of others and it is to do with the quality of the ingredients and the time and effort that has gone into producing a beautiful range of colours. Finding a range of paints that you like will save you time in selecting your preferred colours and will also help you to find hues that work well together. Don’t even consider having a colour of paint mixed up in a cheaper range – the cost saving that you make (which is small because most of the cost involved in decorating is labour – either paying someone or doing it yourself which is time you could have spent in other ways) is small compared to having to redecorate when you realise that the mix is just wrong enough to not work.
3. Invest in sample pots. The colour of paint on a chart is deceptively different to what the actual paint will look like in your room as colours next to each other alter what you see, so don’t ever decide on a paint colour until you have purchased a small sample pot and viewed the actual paint on the actual surface it is intended for. I would start with putting the paint on a piece of paper as lots of splodges of paint on the wall will not only be annoying to paint over but the colours will also affect each other as they do on the colour chart. Only paint on the intended surface when you are pretty sure you have got the right colour.
4. Consider the light. Both changes to the light during the day and the difference between daylight and artificial light will have an impact on the colour of the paint. If you have put your sample of paint on very sunny wall, you may find you feel differently about it when you see it on a poorly lit wall or at night. An added benefit of starting off with your sample paint on a piece of paper is that you can move it around the room to see how it alters.
5. It’s not just about the walls. A wall colour will look very different depending on what colour you put on the woodwork (skirting boards, door frame etc.) and the ceiling. So for example, if you choose a darker wall colour and you have a darker wooden floor, a white skirting board will create a strong stripe effect between the two that you may not want. Do not simply assume that ceilings and woodwork will be in white. That approach can work but often a blend of colours works better. The eye tends to go to where colours change so if you want to draw attention to say, a beautiful cornicing at the top of the wall, you may well want to put it in a contrasting colour. If a ceiling feels low in a room, painting it in an obviously contrasting colour will draw attention to this where a blend or even painting the walls and ceiling the same colour would help to disguise this. Remember also that there may be a host of other areas in the room that you might want to consider paint colours for – the outside of bath, the inside of a cupboard, a fireplace, furniture – all the colours will make an impact on each other and are best considered as a whole.

 I know that it all sounds like very hard work and it is, at the outset, but a well decorated room makes such a huge difference that I think all the initial effort pays off, and will hopefully avoid having to repaint anything, which is a depressing job at the best of times.

A strong paint colour on the wall blends with the rich furnishing fabrics and dark wood floor and provides a strong contrast with the crisp white woodwork of the door and frame. The wall colour is Teal and the woodwork is Glacier Grey. Both by Zoffany.

 

The Garden Table

Summer has finally arrived in the UK, perhaps a little too much, and it’s hot hot hot! Which means of course it’s the perfect opportunity for some al fresco dining, and to enjoy those summer evenings. You’re may already have a table and chairs, and perhaps a seating area to relax in, but as with all rooms in the house it’s those little details and additions of accessories that make all the difference. Here are some lovely accessories and ideas that you could think about adding into your outdoor areas to create a charming and comfortable space.

Cotton Seat Cushion from H&M Home

Give your garden chairs a little bit of a spruce, style and comfort with a seat cushion. It’ll allow you and any guests to stay outside into the evening without getting uncomfortable as well as making more of a feature out of the furniture. These ones from H&M Home are fun and season appropriate and will help give the seats a little extra personality.

To create the perfect outdoor space, its about making it feel like a room in the house, and adding accessories is the best way to do that; you wouldn’t buy a sofa for you living room and leave it bare without a throw or cushions, so do the same for your outdoor area too! If you’re worried about weather damage, get yourself a little trunk or chest that can live near the back door to store your soft furnishings in. Give you seating area more substance with some playful cushions; this braided cushion from H&M Home has the perfect summer vibe for your backyard, and can be blended into different colour schemes.

Braided Cushion from H&M Home

Add some more botanical glamour to the seating area with this design from Designers Guild, its sophisticated and fun, and would work nicely with the H&M cushion above for a fresh contemporary look.

Palme Botanique Emerald Outdoor Cushion from Designers Guild

As well as being comfortable, being able to stay in your garden late into the evening also requires some good light sources. Creating the right atmosphere is an important part of any dinner party or special occasion, and lighting is a main factor. I love this outdoor chandelier found on Pinterest, it adds a romantic touch to an outdoor dining area, and it’s not your usual outdoor lighting, so gives your space some uniqueness.

Garden Chandelier from Sheer Luxe via Pinterest

For a different look, a few of these lanterns dotted amongst tree that hangs over a seating area, or along a pergola would look lovely. Make a statement look with them by hanging a few at different levels, or a sleek row of them.

Batur Hanging Lantern from Oka

If you want to add some eccentric style in your garden area, why not add a few of these flamboyant candlesticks from Angel & Boho. Their ornate design will give the space a little over the top charm, giving the area a fun and whimsical feel.

Petit Oiseaux Bird Candlestick from Angel & Boho

A seating area with a coffee table can be given a party makeover with a lighting addition like this one; a metal tray with tea lights floating in water will transform your day-to-day outdoor area into a dream land.

Candles Floating in Tray from Pinterest

Making sure you add the extra pieces to your outdoor area will make the space seem extra vibrant and full of style. Dining, coffee and side tables can be filled with extra home accessories to really put your own stamp on the space. Something like this mirrored tray from Angel & Boho is not only lovely and glamorous, but great for transporting drinks and nibbles, or sporting some candles when the sun goes down.

Gilt Mirror Tray from Angel & Boho

The idea might seem a little odd considering that your garden in probably surrounded with plants, flowers and wildlife, but having a vase at your table filled with a cutting of your favourite flower form your garden or just one you love, could be a really special touch; especially if it’s in a patio or decking area. A glass design to keep the space filled with light is a good option, this asymmetrical vase from H&M Home has a pretty look for an outdoor space.

Asymmetrical Vase from H&M Home

Of course you’ll need a beautiful set of dinnerware when dining outside, if you’re thinking about upgrading yours, this Naya set from Made is a lovely, contemporary design. The muted palette is perfect for showing off a meal of colourful foods.

Naya 12 Piece Dinner Set from Made

Finally, just as a little extra touch these candle holders from Garden Trading are just a really sweet addition to any outdoor table; especially with a little bit of sand placed in the bottom.

Wells Windlight from Garden Trading

It’s easy to not associate your garden as an extra room in your home, but when the weather is as good as it is now, it becomes the most important part of the home; so make sure that your space is comfy, stylish and suits your personality perfect so that you can enjoy as much time in your garden as possible.

Vintage Creations

Creating your own individual pieces of homeware is a lovely way to get a little bit crafty and give your home something special. I love the idea of using something old, and creating a whole new function for it. I’ve been trawling through Pinterest to find some inventive ways to re-use vintage pieces and give your home that one of a kind feel.

Antique book Display from Stitch Design Co. via Pinterest

Antique books are always a pretty edition to a shelf or display; the old fashioned covers and spines can look lovely lined up together. But if you’ve got a large collection that you’re hoping to do something a bit different with, I love what someone has done above. Take your books, opening them to pages with your favourite quote, or a pretty illustration, and create an art piece of the book montage. Not only will it be an unusual artwork, it’s also a great way to display your books in a new and exciting way, and for you to be able to share favourite parts with friends and guests. It would make a wonderful piece to have in a study, stairwell or a bedroom.

If the idea of using the pages of a book intrigues you, the image below rather inspired me, using the pages as wallpaper. The idea might seem a tad gimmicky, but in the dining room below it looks rather elegant and sophisticated. The trick is to use pages from the same book so that the layout remains the same, so that when you take a step back, there’s a flowing pattern. This could be a great idea for a bathroom, or a smaller room that you want to try it out on first.

Antique Book Wallpaper from Country Living via Pinterest

Vintage prints and charts are a thing of beauty and if you love that style, they make wonderful pieces of art to have in your home. But if you want to get a little more creative than just hanging them, there other ways of making them more of a feature in your space. Fitting the prints into something like a plain room divider will not only dress up the piece of furniture but give your prints a distinct presence in a room.

Vintage Print Room Divider from Comfortably Carried Away via Pinterest

Vintage and antique doorknobs are lovely little ornate things, that sometimes you can’t resist purchasing even if you have no place for them, or that not in that good condition. But there are loads of ways to use a rusty old doorknob as a display piece, either in your home or garden. A lined up in a row, the doorknobs can become great hooks, or here they’ve used them in a garden as a display for some wild plants.

Antique Doorknpb Display from Home BNC via Pinterest

Someone has used old doorknobs to create name card holders for the dining table; this would be a perfect way to make guests feel special at a dinner party.

Door Knob Name Card Holders from Save on Crafts via Pinterest

Mounting plates and trays on the wall is a great way of displaying them, especially as antique trays are so beautifully decorated. If you stick to a particular style or era it’ll create a really beautiful and dramatic look for a kitchen or a wall that connects a kitchen and dining area. I love these different shape and sizes metal trays that really give a distinctive touch to the room. I also like the drama of the black trays placed together in a random order.

Metal Trays from Pinterest

Collection of Trays from Remodelista via Pinterest

Old postcards and photographs are something I love to collect, whether they’re of people you know or random ones you can find in vintage shops, they’re really interesting to look at and read; they can also make great display items in your home, especially if you have a large collection. Often people want to pack away big collections of things, but some pieces are meant to be shown off. I like the idea of using some old drawers of a dresser or chest of drawers that’s perhaps beyond salvage, but using the drawers as open displays for a coffee table for example.

Postcard Drawer Storage from Martha Stewart Weddings via Pinterest

Some vintage photographs of your ancestors can be made into a really special display by placing them in glass bottles to put on your window sill, mantelpiece or shelf.

Photographs in Bottles from Father Rabbit via Pinterest

I love searching for ideas and getting inspired by other people’s creations, thinking about how I can rework an idea to fit into my own space and in my style. It’s these little additions to your home that make it really special and unique to you, so go out and find your next craft project!

Wild Kingdom

Using animal motifs in your home can be a great way of giving the space a healthy portion of personality. Animals have had quite a presence in interior design in the last few years with new, playful ways of using them; from quirky ideas like salt and pepper shakers, to wallpaper to abstract interpretations, there are lots of ways to include animals in your home that suit your style. I’ve pulled some of my favourite ideas that are around at the moment to share with you.

Example of Dalmatian Wallpaper from Trend Addictions via Pinterest

When you think of animal prints in homes, you might be tempted to make a grimacing face, but nowadays there are some rather sophisticated designs around that counteract the bad rep animal prints have faced. Something I love is this Dalmatian style print that you can find floating around at the moment. It falls somewhere between polka dots and animal prints, and has the perfect zest of personality and glamour without being over the top; instead it offers a really pretty, feminine look for a room. Sanderson have something similar to this look above called the Ocelli wallpaper in three different colour ways.

Ocelli Wallpaper from Sanderson

Using animal motifs doesn’t have to apply to just one type of interior style, you can find all sorts of accessories in a whole range of designs from minimalist to extravagant. This cushion from Mineheart might appeal to the more dramatic and glamorous interiors, with a dash of humour. This best dressed giraffe would look perfect on a bold armchair or mixed into a range of scatter cushions.

Dame Griselda Cushion from Mineheart

Add some animal into your interiors with a three-dimensional aspect; this Indian Tiger money box from Rockett St George has a fun charm to it, as well as an antique look to it. It’s well suited to a bohemian style interior, but could also be integrated into different styles as an exciting pop of colour and character.

Indian Tiger Money Box from Rockett St George

This panther vase from Graham & Green hits the nail on the head. It finds the right balance between quirky and sophisticated, giving an overall design that’ll catch your eye and be an unusual addition to a smart and sleek look. Contrast the strong black look with a few stems of brightly colour flowers.

Panther Vase from Graham & Green

Cole & Son do some absolutely knockout wallpapers, they’re beautifully crafted and designed to perfection so that even with a big, brave print the wallpapers still retain their sophistication, style and grace. This Jabu wallpaper reinvents the concept of striped wallpaper; the rhinos and their patterned horns peak out of the African motif stripe and the overall effect is stunning.

Jabu Wallpaper from Cole & Son

There’s a wonderful sense of humour that’s involved with using animal motifs in the home; a simple, mundane item can be given a little twist, like this door mat. If you want to have some fun with your interior this is a great way to start as you mean to go on.

Leopard Door Mat from Amara

Add a little extra flair to your drinks with this Giraffe tray from Graham & Green. The pattern of giraffes are mirrored on the tray to create an abstract and intriguing look; a beautiful set of coffee cups or glasses will look lovely on top of this wild design.

Giraffe Birch Tray from Graham & Green

A beloved photo or memory can be given a touch more style with this lounging leopard frame. His paw dangles over the photo in a charming way, it’s the perfect finish for a fun nostalgic moment.

Leopard Picture Frame from Rockett St George

If you like the idea of animal motifs, but like you interiors to feel more contemporary and graphic, this fabric (and wallpaper) print from Osborne & Little may be right up your street. The waves of abstract foliage reveal a sleek black panther. This bold print would make an amazing statement as a sofa fabric, or an exciting set of curtains.

Fantasque Fabric from Osborne & Little

Finally, add some spice to your salt and pepper with these adorable leopard head shakers from Amara. They’ll make a super sweet addition to a table or breakfast nook, and will be sure to put a smile of guest’s faces when they come over.

Leopard Salt and Pepper Shakers from Amara

Adding in animal motifs into your interiors is a great way to utilise you style in another way. A contemporary look with clean lines is given a little more oomph with a sleek panther vase, or a bedside table is a given an extra flair with a leopard picture frame of a fond memory. There are always great ways to get creative with your home, so go out and find your favourite animal.

Get into the Groove

We’re always looking for creative ways to add interest into an interior, especially by using new and different design techniques. There are plenty of ways to add depth and texture to your interior, and one creative way to is to use carved and decorated pieces of furniture and accessories; from wood to metal. They are a popular style at the moment, with the patterns that these techniques create adding personality and texture into a room. I’ve picked some of my favourite pieces to share with you and give you an idea of how you could use the style in your home.

Starcarved Nightstand by Anthropologie

This simply shaped beside table from Anthropologie has been given a charming front design in a handcrafted star motif. If you don’t want your bedroom to be too busy; adding a smaller detailed aspect like this nightstand is a great way to insert some personality without being too distracting. The drawer and open shelf also give you lots of options for storage so that the top doesn’t get too cluttered.

Another beautiful piece of carved furniture is this sideboard from Loaf; the hexagon carved detailing at the front is an unusual style, making the piece feeling unique. If we were to think of carving details on furniture we might be tempted to think of rather traditional ornate designs, or the sometimes overdone oriental style, but these contemporary versions are a really fresh take on the technique. This piece would look elegant in a hallway or a modern dining space for storage.

Grand Orinoco from Loaf

Carved details are also fun to add to your accessories, like this wooden frame mirror from H&M Home. The white lines would really stand out on a dark painted wall; giving a contemporary look with a touch of bohemian style.

Mirror with a Wooden Frame from H&M Home

This etched detailed tray by the House Doctor, available at Amara, is a really subtle way to add in the carved style into your home. The brass tray is given an antiqued look from the etching; it would make a lovely feature on a dining of coffee table.

Carved Tray by House Doctor from Amara

A more natural interpretation of the grooved look is this driftwood headboard from Tikamoon. The uneven pieces are placed together to create a calming, relaxed design that still makes a strong statement. This piece would look lovely against a neutrally decorated room with a few extra textural details on the bed to make a soft bohemian style atmosphere.

River Driftwood Headboard from Tikamoon

This ceramic vase from H&M Home is a simple, contemporary way to include a carving detail into your interior. The asymmetrical top is an interesting element, making it a feature in a room even when empty.

Ceramic Vase from H&M Home

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, a pair of this wooden spoons would make a lovely addition to the table as salad servers. The wings have a great flair of personality and as well a playful sense.

Hand Carved Wooden Spoon from Rockett St George

Seville Sideboard from Swoon Editions

Moving back to furniture, this sideboard has a fantastic two-toned pattern, creating a really graphic, retro effect. The groove detail is the perfect design to catch your eye whilst still working harmoniously amongst the rest of your belongings.

Carved Black Resin Box from Graham & Green

This box’s pattern gives it a real sense of style, and makes it the perfect focal point at a dressing table. A great place to keep jewellery or those little bits and bobs you can never seem to find a place for.

This plant pot is a lovely balance between a simple and intricate design; the stretched diamond shapes are a lovely feature; this would make a great piece for a little bit of decking or on a balcony of an apartment.

Round Diamond Embossed Plant Pot and Tray from Graham & Green

Carvings, grooves and etchings are a great way to add in some details and textures into an interior, giving it more character and personality without being too over the top. Whether you want to go big or small, it’s a chance to get creative and play around with different techniques.

This Little Light of Mine

Lighting is of course an essential practical component of the home, however it can be a great way of giving a home a stamp of personality. Not only can interesting and stylish lighting set the tone for its surrounding space but it can be used to create a functional statement as well. There are so many choices when it comes to lighting, perhaps too many choices, and often people tend to stick to what know, avoiding designs that are out of their comfort zone, as we can’t guarantee that a new, unknown light will work in our space. But choosing a daring or just different piece of lighting can define a room, giving it a new sense of style, even if you’re not changing anything else. Here are some beautiful pendant designs to get you thinking.

A dining table is a great place to add some interesting lighting; a simple table and chairs can be transformed with a beautiful pendant. This Onn Pendant by Arturo Alvarez from Heal’s has the perfect subtle dramatic touch, the mesh material feels almost shimmery; two over a dining table would create a beautiful, elegant effect.

Onn Pendant by Arturo Alvarez at Heal’s

If you like a more industrial look, but don’t want to use the typical style of lighting, try this chevron rattan shade that’s been finished in a steel grey colour. It has a simple, rustic feel that’s perfect for an easy-going, relaxed interior.

Grey Chevron Rattan Shade from Cox & Cox

For a more traditional use of wicker, this pendant from Graham & Green would make the perfect central bedroom shade. The shade doesn’t feel too heavy because of the spacing between the weaving. Opt for a softer bulb to create a relaxing atmosphere in the evening.

Wicker Pendant Light from Graham & Green

There’s something rather intriguing about these lightbulb shaped wire pendants from Oka; they’ve got a playful edge but still feel quite elegant and not as clunky as you might suspect. They’re available in three different sizes, and would make really distinctive bedside lights, either by hanging a cluster of different sizes or just a singular one; ideal for a guest bedroom where you can show off some unexpected style.

Jordaan Hanging Lamp from Oka

The shape of this Grace Pendant from Heal’s is absolutely stunning; the shell-like curves are really delicate but confident. The curves have almost a retro effect, but the asymmetric shape gives the pendant a modern twist. This would look great in a bathroom, porch or a few over a kitchen island. They are shown here is a bronze glass stain but also come in a lovely smoky shade.

Grace Pendant Light from Heal’s

For a really contemporary design, Tom Dixon always has a few intriguing pieces. This pendant from the designer has a futuristic element to it; the shine on the chrome finish mixed together with the shape makes it feel like it’s just a floating form of liquid metal. It’s an unusual design but would add a spark of personality to a room. If you want a chic, modern looking living room a few of these pendants would make a lovely addition; or you could try contrasting the sharpness of the pendant against some softer materials like velvet.

Top Silver Pendant Light from Tom Dixon

These pendant lights designed by Lee Broom at The Conran Shop lie somewhere between contemporary and antique. Their shape and design feels unexpected and modern, but there is a classic Art Deco quality to the pendants as well that makes them feel unique.

Crescent Pendant Light Mini by Lee Broom from The Conran Shop

This pendant from Trouva has a lovely retro feel to it; it comes in black and white, but this copper finish is quite special. There is a sort of seventies charm to the light, but without it feeling over the top. It was make a great accompaniment hanging just above an armchair for a little reading corner.

Bell Pendant Light by The Forest & Co from Trouva

Finally, really give a bedroom or living room some flair with these Japanese style lanterns from Rockett St George. They look beautiful as a pair, giving a sweet personality to a room; a great additional touch to a light and airy bedroom.

Traditional Japanese Lantern Ceiling Lights from Rockett St George

Lighting is a great way to get creative in your home, adding in new ideas and styles as fun finishing touches and statement pieces; so why not head a little bit out of your comfort zone and see where it takes you.