Botanical Abode

Using a botanical element in your home, whether it’s big or small, can really make an uplifting difference to your interiors. It’ll give you a constant fresh and light feeling, so that even on a rainy day there’s a little life in your rooms. There are some great ways to get creative with botanical interiors, and something to suit everyone.

Botanical Leaves in Frames from The Lovely Drawer via Pinterest

A collection of cuttings from real plants and bushes is a beautiful way to create a botanical presence in your home and fill a wall or room with some alternative artwork. You could use a whole garden of different types, or stick to one plant, using varied sizes of frames and cuttings for an interesting look. Nkuku have a wonderful selection of glass frames in, Antique Brass, Zinc, Copper and Silver finishes, so you’ll sure to find whatever look your trying to create.

Antique Brass Kiko Frame from Nkuku

Botanical prints are also a great way to introduce the theme into your home. They’d look lovely as a feature in a bathroom or guest bedroom. I love this print found on Pinterest; a vintage find which looks like it straight from a textbook or poster showing the different types of plants. It’s also an interesting look combining the botanical print with real-life plants, giving a 3D and interactive effect.

Vintage Botanical Print from Vibeke Design via Pinterest

These days you can find beautiful vintage prints on places like Etsy, or if you have a good root around some antique shops. I found this colourful print on Etsy, and would make a lovely base to a vintage collection or situated over a writing desk or console.

Botanical Chart from Bonnie and Bell at Etsy

A botanical print doesn’t have to be vintage though; if you’d prefer a contemporary take on the style, you could use something like this eucalyptus print from Desenio. It’s simple and elegant and would look gorgeous put in a set of three on a wall.

Eucalyptus Poster from Desenio

Go one step further than prints and really make an impact with botanical wallpaper. If you want to make a statement in a room a bold botanical print may be just what you need. Little Greene has the most glorious pattern, Upper Brook Street in Minuit will really light up a room. The pink and green really grabs your attention, while the dark background makes it amenable with a larger design scheme.

Upper Brook Street in Minuit from Little Greene

If you’ve fallen in love with the succulent trend that’s been happening over the last few years; take it one step further with this playful wallpaper. It’s got a slight Western feel to it, and would back a great little print for a downstairs loo.

The Rediscovered Paradise Succulents by Mind the Gap from Rockett St George

If that’s all a little too much for you, and you want to take things slow, introducing the theme through some cushions can be a great way to start off. This Fern print cushion from Rose & Grey is cool and contemporary; the perfect companion for a mid-century leather armchair.

Fern Printed from Rose & Grey

Finally, why not create a real life (or almost) botanical display with these faux roots and stems from Angel & Boho. A lovely way to create a unique botanical display in your home.

Rooted Branch Specimen from Angel & Boho

A little bit of botanical charm is good for the soul and your home, so find something that’s perfect for you and enjoy your fun and creative interior.

Read Full Post »

An Alternative Romance

Since today is Valentine’s Day, whether you’re celebrating or not, it always gets you just thinking about romance, and if you’re an interior designer, romantic interiors. I tend to have quite a soft spot for romantic interiors, there’s just something about them that is warm and welcoming, and since there are so many ways to incorporate the theme of romance into a room, it doesn’t just have to be your typical stuff. Alternative romantic interiors can offer you a liveable style, one with underlying tones of romance, one that serenades you in a softer tone, instead of outspoken and outlandish stylings. I’ve pulled together some ideas that will enable you to get the ball rolling if you want to turn your home into a laidback, romantic dreamland.

When it comes to decorating your walls in a romantic style, as with any style theme there are different directions you can choose to take. You may want to keep your walls neutral, to make way for other eye-catching pieces in the room, but if you’re feeling the more is more vibe for your romantic interior, a wallpaper with a pattern may be the way to go. A new collection from Harlequin, Standing Ovation, has some wonderful floral and nature designs that are perfect for creating your alternative romantic interior. The painterly style of the Floreale design and its overgrown and slightly wild floral pattern that gives it a little individuality against some other floral wallpapers out there. The bold colourways and the mixture of peonies foxgloves will give your walls a lease of life.

‘Floreale wallpaper’ from Harlequin

If your room can’t quite handle a print this big, or you’re drawn to a pattern that’s more subtle, the Persico design from the same collection is a rather sweet option. The sporadic arrangement of the British birds gives the design a distinctive character that avoids repetitive nature of patterned wallpaper. This is the perfect style to choose if you want something to transition comfortably between a neutral and a pattern, it’ll look graceful on your walls and allow for other big character items in the room.

‘Persico wallpaper’ from Harlequin

There’s no piece of furniture that fits better for a romantic interior than a big, comfy loveseat, I mean it’s even in the name! Loaf have some amazing loveseats in their collection at the moment, all in different styles to suit your taste, a particular favourite of mine is the Butterbump design. Its structure is fairly traditional, with its deep buttoned back and overall style, but you can still confidently put it into a contemporary setting by choosing a modern colour to upholster it in, like this Winter Sky in a soft velvet. It’ll keep the loveseat looking fresh and allow it to complement a magnitude of accent colours.

‘Butterbump Loveseat in Winter Sky clever velvet’ from Loaf

While some people might dream of a big diamond ring on Valentine’s Day, I’d be rather satisfied with a few of these cushions from Lime Lace. The diamond print is an alternative way to add some glamour to an interior and can also be used to toughen up a feminine sofa, or bring a sense of modernity to a more traditional piece. They are also a prime example of how a romantic interior needn’t follow the bohemian or traditional guidelines and if you love a modern, contemporary interior there are all sorts of way to add a little romantic and fun to the scheme.

‘Manhattan Chase Cushions by Camine Lake’ from Lime Lace

Another charming find from Lime Lace is this rather innovative pendant light. A chandelier instinctively feels romantic, but whether you don’t have the space (or the budget) to accommodate one, or it’s not really your style there’s always an alternative option, like this fab pendant, which features a little chandelier on the inside. They will make a great addition to an interior if you’re looking for that individual boost, or fun talking point, and perfectly incorporate the old with the new. A group arranged at slightly varying heights to create a central lighting piece will look fantastic, possibly better than having an actual chandelier!

‘King Edison Chandelier Pendant by Young and Battagalia’ from Lime Lace

Hanging things from your ceiling, not only frees up some floor space, but also gives the illusion of a lofty, dreamy area with floating accessories that draw your eye to different levels in the room, creating a fuller, more bountiful interior. These birdcage plant holders from Angel & Boho are wonderful. Make it the home for a viney, flowing plant and you’ll create your own little tropical rainforest in the corner of your room as your plants become romantically overgrown and intertwined with the bars of the cage.

‘Hanging Birdcage Plant Holders’ from Angel & Boho

For some lighter, smaller touches to your room to give it a romantic atmosphere, adding some trusted home accessories will always do the trick. A romantic interior will only ever be enhanced by the addition of candles and candleholders. These ombre candle from Lime Lace in an assortment of colours will stand out against the typical white candles, they add a sense of modernity to the traditional romantic interior and can either be used to tone down or up their holders. Below they are paired with some antiqued holders, and the contrasting blend creates an interesting effect.

‘Set of 4 Dip Dyed Candles’ from Lime Lace

Using metallic materials in your interior can help to make a romantic atmosphere, light will bounce off the surfaces giving a room a warm and inviting feeling. Having an arrangement of vases and pots for flowers, real or faux, will also make for a romantic setup in your home. I really like the combination of these gold and copper vases from The Estate Yard, their coarse geometric patterns give them a modern edge, while their metallic colours lets them settle into the romantic scheme.

‘Mixture of Copper and Gold Vases’ from The Estate Yard

If you’re keen for something a little darker and moodier, these black forest vases from Abigail Ahern will bring all the romantic drama you need. Pair them with rich golds and bronzes for a glamourous, romantic effect and with a pop of green from a few plants to really finish off the look.

‘Black Forest Vases’ from Abigail Ahern

There’s something about romantic interiors, be it traditional, feminine, contemporary, bohemian or a beautiful combination, which always seems to grab my attention. A romantic interior allows you to create your very own dreamland, a place to escape the ordinary and the mundane, making it your perfect Valentine’s Day location.

Read Full Post »