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.

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Bon Appetite

If you love styling your home, there’s a good chance creating a beautifully tailored table setting is at the top of your to-do list. There’s no fixed way to create a gorgeous looking table, from simple, clean looks for more extravagant, it really boils down to your own personal taste, and your what your lifestyle requires. From day-to-day dining to those special occasions, a beautiful table setting is the key to turning even the simplest of meals into something of a celebration.

Contemporary Table Setting from Interior Decoration via Pinterest

This setting above follows a clear theme; showing that all your plates and bowls don’t need to be from the same set, as long as they co-ordinate. The simple colours tones gives off a contemporary feeling, and works as a great canvas to display your food. By having a simple foundation of tableware it can make it easier to introduce the stars of the table, like some gorgeous cutlery or a decorative serving bowl. For a simple setting like this one, I would keep to the minimal theme, but add in something to stand out from the rest, like these beautiful mugs from Arrow + Sage, a great way to add flair to your normal breakfast or a Sunday brunch.

‘Theory Mug No.21’ from Arrow + Sage

Giving your table some extra pizazz when you’re entertaining will not only make the room and table look distinctive, but make your guests feel like they’re getting the special treatment too. This setting really stood out to me as an innovative way to use your regular tableware and with just the a few small additions to make it seem like it was design especially for your event. With woven placemats, wooden handle cutlery and tan leather napkin holders, there’s a simple rustic feeling going on, and by simply placing a fern leave under a glass plate the table is given a flash of excitement. Although this might be a little over-the-top for some, keeping a table feeling fresh and lively with some plants and flowers is always a great idea.

Botanical Table Setting from The Perfect Palette via Pinterest

For a similar look, these place mats from West Elm are a great starting place if you want to create a rustic, natural styled table setting; you can choose to stick with the Natural finish, or mix up your look with either the slate or charcoal.

‘Woven Placemats in Natural, Slate and Charcoal’ from West Elm

If you like the idea of a glass dinnerware, I love this design by Catesby’s, the bobble detail on the rim is a sweet touch that can give your setting an individual feeling.

‘Glass Bobble Plate in Large’ from Catesby’s

You may want to embrace your inner theatrical side with a luxuriously dark table setting. This sleek black setup is simple yet oh so effective; the dark tones give off a sophisticated vibe, perfect for instantly switching from regular dining to a dinner party.

Dark Tones Table Setting from Vosges Paris via Pinterest

This rich bronze colour plate from The Conran Shop will add a beautiful, glamorous feeling to your table, and help to recreate this dark and mysterious look if it has you feeling inspired.

‘Organic Sand Dinner Plate’ from The Conran Shop

Tableware Selection from Suzanne Sullivan via Brown Paper Bag

Finding some stand-out pieces of crockery can really make your table look great. Whether it’s a large serving platter, or maybe a set of sweet side plates, discovering a design that really speaks to you will make your setup feel all the more distinct. This Aztec hand-crated design by Suzanne Sullivan is mix between bohemian and glam, making it the perfect unique piece to show off your style. By using an eye-catching patterned design for your stand-out piece, you can choose to have simpler, less expensive surrounding pieces, and still keep the table looking smart and stylish.

Glamorous Table Setting from Smitten Studio Online via Pinterest

This well thought out table has been given a really contemporary, luxe look. There is a perfect balance between the three main colours, black, gold and white, giving an overall crisp, sharp and glamorous look. This a small table, but its setup shows that you don’t need a banquet hall to make your dining area feel like royalty. To test the gold plate waters, a little number like this patterned plate from H&M Home, is a fun and stylish way to see if the theme is for you. And if you think you’re ready to take the leap, go all out with these devilishly glitzy plate from Amara by L’Objet.

‘Patterned Porcelain Plate’ from H&M Home

‘Alchimie Gold Plates by L’Objet’ from Amara

There are so many ways to creative with your tableware, from finding pieces to make your everyday a little more exciting, to thinking outside the box when it comes to entertaining and creating a statement. Your dining table is the perfect place to experiment or push your style and have some fun in your home.

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Living with plants

So many wonderful fabrics take their inspiration from nature but every so often I come across a design that conjures up images of hot houses full of leafy tropical plants or those detailed old botanical drawings that accurately depict the exact details of a species, which are such a lovely things to use in an interior, particularly if your garden isn’t up to Chelsea’s high standards.

I think illustrative prints work brilliantly on upholstery where you can really see the detail of the design. Woodland Ferns from Sanderson is a design taken from an old botanical illustration and shows three different species of fern.

Bananier is a wallpaper from Pierre Frey which has the most wonderful detail of banana and coconut leaves and should be used where it is possible to get really close to the paper to see the detail.

House of Hackney’s wonderful Palmeral design takes inspiration from the Loddiges Nursery in Hackney which was operating up to 1852 and which included an enormous and well stocked palm house.

This delicate and exquisitely drawn design from Sanderson has been a favourite of mine for a long time. It comes in some great colourways but I love the more neutral backgrounds to really show the detail of the pattern.  Etchings and Roses by Sanderson.

This fantastic Dandelion design from Timorous Beasties comes in three huge panels printed on a wool voile with a three metre drop – the image shows the three panels together.

This new fabric, Retiro, from Gastón Y Daniela is a wonderful mixture of plants and insects and comes in five different colours all on a soft linen background.

And finally this delightfully fresh fabric Alice from Manuel Canovas for Colefax and Fowler shows a range of white cut flowers on a natural background.

Have a great bank holiday weekend everyone!

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Storybook fabrics

We noticed a real trend in fabric designs over the past year for illustrative designs with a hand-drawn quality so we thought we would show you just a few of our favourites. Although all these fabrics would make up beautifully into curtains, the real trick with using them is to see as much of the pattern detail as possible, so think about using them for roman blinds, cushions, light-weight upholstery, lampshades or even on a canvas as a piece of (reasonably priced!) artwork.

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge News website

This Pin-Up fabric by Pierre Frey was inspired by 1950’s style promotional brochures advertising holidays at the seaside and has a wonderful nostalgic quality to it.

Lovely and fresh, this is Arboretum print also from Pierre Frey, which was inspired by the botanical sketches often found in children’s school books.

Continuing with the botanical theme, this fabric by Osborne and Little called Grand Tour Vedute features framed images of eighteenth century wooded landscapes. This is available on pure linen or in a pure cotton semi-sheer which would look beautiful with the light filtering through.

For anyone with a penchant for maps, this fabric from Zoffany is perfect – a beautifully drawn map of nineteenth century London with detail right down to street level, this could be a real timewaster (or an educational tool, whichever way you look at it!)

And finally, this classic Lewis and Wood print was designed by the 17th Century naturalist Thomas Bewick, this design was taken from the first two volumes of the History of British Birds and it has an accuracy and level of detail that is really charming in print.

Pierre Frey www.pierrefrey.com

Pin-up £166.32  per metre
Arboretum £158.40 per metre

www.zoffany.com
London fabric £85 per metre

Osborne and Little  www.osborneandlittle.com
Grand Tour Vedute £48 per metre

Lewis and Wood www.lewisandwood.co.uk
Bewick Birds £61.20 per metre

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Interiors inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show

Today I am thrilled to introduce  our new column for the brand new Cambridge Evening News Homes and Gardens website. Take a look at the lovely new site here, it’s packed with inspiration for your home and garden, from Craft to DIY to Green living. You can read our new column below and keep your eyes peeled for the next installment.

Flowers, sunshine, Pimms and Alan Titchmarsh. Ah, it can only be The Chelsea Flower Show.  Quintessentially English, this event brings out the best of British and has a fiercely loyal following (tickets to the show are like gold dust). But if you didn’t make it this year, don’t worry, we’ve put together some beautiful floral interiors for you instead. So pour yourself a Pimms and enjoy.

This scheme from Designers Guild is so fresh and vibrant, it just oozes summer style. The cheerful pink blooms are perfectly offset by the crisp whites and juicy greens and the bold florals contrast nicely with the simple stripe pattern.

Inspired by botanical sketches this Zimmer + Rhode design has a delicate, painterly quality but the relatively large scale of the print keeps the design looking modern. This paper would look lovely in a study or library for a feminine twist on traditional style.

The high street is blooming with floral prints this summer so if you’re looking for accessories you’ll be spoilt for choice.  These cushions, above, are all from Marks and Spencer and the Fashion Vintage Floral Rug is a real gem, from only £59.

If you like your florals bold and dramatic go all out with long and sweeping curtains. I love the way the green silk chair and purple cushion, above, echo the simple colour palette of the fabric without detractracting from it.

These scheme is a glorious riot of colour and print and I instantly feel happy just looking at it. Using this many patterns can be tricky but if you keep the rest of the room simple it can work without overpowering. Here the white walls and table offer a clean backdrop to the textiles and the block colour of the sofa allows the patterned cushions to shine.

Image credits: House of Fraser, Designers Guild, Zimmer + Rhode, Marks and Spencer

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