Bring love into your home

I am generally a bit of a cold shower where Valentine’s Day is concerned (sorry) but on the upside, I am massively in favour of a little bit of love for your home. There are some delightful and thankfully subtle home accessories that add a little bit of joyful romanticism into your personal space, which will still be welcome once February 14th is done and dusted, and I am a very big fan of these. Here are some of my current favourites.

Made up of lots of gold foil hearts on a midnight blue background, this fab collage from Hello Geronimo makes a big loving statement without a trace of schmaltz.

Neon is very in at the moment (we have finally got the idea Tracey) and the LOVE sign from Rockett St George looks great against a dark wall. You can also buy KISS and LUCKY – so take your pick!

Angelic and useful, these two heart stools from Cox and Cox are made from limed Mango wood and are perfect for children.

This delightful bone china tea set made from Nina Campbell was originally produced in the 70s and has recently been relaunched. You can buy the whole set or individual pieces.

Really useful and elegant as well, these lovely heart shaped bowls from Bloom and Bliss have a flavour of France about them, which is always appropriate on Valentine’s day!

Hearts seem to work so well in traditional ironmongery and I love these Tau heart hooks from Willow and Stone

And finally this delicate and delightful heart backed chair from Graham and Green makes a wonderful occasional chair or in rows around your dining table.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all, and may love be present in your homes.

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Get Crafty

I’ve just finished Kate Jacobs charmingly moving novel The Friday Night Knitting Club and whilst reading it, it occurred to me that all those simple pastimes such as knitting, crocheting, patchwork and baking, once considered old fashioned would appear to be having a bit of a revival, and homespun inspired interiors are following suit.

With this in mind, we have listed some of our favourite craft inspired interior ideas.  Probably best used in cloakrooms, children’s rooms and sewing or craft rooms, they are colourful, quirky and fun.

Set of Patchwork tiles from Welbeck Tiles

For a really unusual selection of hand painted (and craft inspired tiles), check out Ryantown.

Button and Badge Artwork from Hello Geronimo

Bobbin Table Lamp from Next

Cox & Cox Patchwork Rug made with laser etched cowhide tiles

We just love this wallpaper from Brian Yates Pip collection.  It is called Brocante and features vintage postcards of birds, flowers, butterflies and family photos made to look as if they have been randomly stuck on a wall.

From the same collection and illustrated with spools, reels and ribbons – this did make us smile and we thought it would look wonderful as the interior lining of your own craft cupboard!

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge Evening News website

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