Easter Table Hunt

I always love an occasion to have a little hunt for some tableware goodies, and what better occasion than Easter. Creating a good collection of tableware is always an enjoyable activity; adding things here and there when you find the perfect item means that over time you’ll create a beautiful looking table.

Whether it’s for everyday dining with an added touch of glamour, or making sure that your table is ready to host a special occasion or dinner party, here are some ideas to give you table an extra helping of style, and some Easter themed treats to go along side.

Every perfect table starts with the perfect plate, and for dinner parties it can be a nice idea to which up your everyday plates for something a little more fancy. These Oka plates are reminiscent of Italian Majolica designs with their playful blue patterns and green leaves. These would make a great design to use for a side plate on your table.

Aragonez Side Plate from Oka

If you’re going to for a more exciting plate design, your place mats should be more of a muted neutral, or vice versa, these place mats from Rockett St George are simple but very stylish. They have almost a rippled effect and fade into different tones. They’re a great neutral design to use as a calming foundation to an elaborate plate, or to complete a more minimal look.

Round Grey and White Wicket Place Mat from Rockett St George

These khaki rectangular place mats from Holly’s House has lovely frayed edges, giving a warm and contemporary look, and would make a great everyday place mat for your table.

Pascale Place Mat in Green from Holly’s House

To accompany your table necessities, a few little extra items are what can really give your table some personality. Give your table some Easter charm with these little ceramic eggs from Oka; use them as name tags or spread around the table as a fun, relaxed display.

Ostara Ceramic Egg Decorations from Oka

These piglet salt and pepper shakers are another find from Oka. They avoid looking garish or gimmicky by sticking to the natural ceramic colour, which is a sweet off-white hue. Whether you’re actually using them as shakers, or just for decoration, they are sure to put a smile on your face.

Piglet Salt & Pepper Shaker Set from Oka

Sticking to the spring theme, these allotment napkins from Not on the High Street are a contemporary but elegant way to use a vegetable motif. There is a happy balance between contemporary and traditional in these designs, the vegetables are drawn in a classic illustration style, but the pop of colour makes them feel modern.

Allotment Vegetables Napkin Set from Not on the High Street

Add some more farmhouse style with these glass dishes from Oka the chicken shape tops are a super sweet detail, and could make a great juxtaposition in a contemporary apartment. The butter dish and honey pot could make a stylish breakfast even sweeter.

L’Oiseau Butter Dish and Honey Pot from Oka

I didn’t think a plate of cheese could get any better, but this rabbit shaped cheese board from Anthropologie is the perfect presentation. It would make a charming addition to an Easter table, but it’s also a great design for any occasion.

Lapin Cheese Board from Anthropologie

Of course a table wouldn’t be complete without some glassware, and there are hundreds of shapes, sizes, styles and colours of glassware available, and finding a set that suits your style and your table is all part of the fun. You may want to go for a matching tumbler, wine glass combo, or have a mix and match selection, either way there is always something for everyone. The pearl design at LSA International is the perfect collection for a special occasion; they have an iridescent finish, looking like little bubbles, a great way to decorate your table.

Pearl Glassware Collection from LSA International

If you like something a touch more bohemian with a laid-back style, these assorted tumblers from Rockett St George will make a colourful mark to your table, they are also the perfect way to serve a few cocktails before dinner as well.

Assorted Design & Jewel Coloured Tumblers from Rockett St George

Lastly, I had to show this beautiful jug from Anthropologie, from its gold bottom and handle, and the gorgeous glaze means this jug will be the centre of attention on any table; water never had it so lucky.

Karuma Pitcher from Anthropologie

Your Easter table never looked so good with all these gorgeous items to choose from, whether you’re finding last minute pieces to give some personality, or you’re slowly curating the entire table, getting the right items for you means your table will be the life and soul of the party.

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Kitchen Character

Just like any other room in a house, creating the perfect kitchen is all about making sure that the final details are in place to make it feel like home and full of style. A few final kitchen accessories that are both pretty and practical, and will help give your kitchen that individuality it may be missing, giving your kitchen that all important character.

Tansui Glass Bottles from Nkuku

These beautifully shaped glass bottles from Nkuku are perfect for storing your olive oil or balsamic vinegar and they make a lovely companion for a rustic or country style kitchen.

I came across these ceramic spice spoons and instantly fell in love, what sweet little designs! Hang them in a row above you cooker, so that they’re in a handy spot but also become an interesting but simple design feature.

Ceramic Spice Spoons from The Future Kept

If you want to give your spices and herbs even more individuality, empty them from the store jars and into some fun like a vintage jar; there are loads of Etsy, both in sets and single items. I love this emerald green pot, which would like great on the counter, and could be even be used for other kinds of storage.

Vintage Poole Pottery Spice Jar from Annascupoftea on Etsy

To accompany your jars, a handy utensils pot won’t go amiss, this one from Garden Trading is made from raw marble and looks fantastic; a great option if you want a minimal look. Your utensil holder will be the perfect place to store these beautiful gold serving spoons, they’ll look good on the table and in the kitchen when not in use.

Utensil Holder from Garden Trading

Brushed Gold Serving Spoons from Not on the High Street

I love this silky looking sugar bowl from Holly’s House, the pearl-like coating and cute gold button handle make it great for everyday use and pretty enough for those special occasions. It also has a matching pot and milk jug if you want to complete the look.

Powder Sugar Bowl from Holly’s House

Who could resist this little dotted pepper grinder from Anthropologie, the gold dots give it a playful nature against the cool marble.

Gold Dotted Marble Pepper Grinder from Anthropologie

Tea towels are made for practical reasons, but sometimes you just need a very pretty one to look at, like this adorably designed Clarke dish towel from Anthropologie.

Clarke Dish Towel from Anthropologie

Finally, for when you need to keep your cool whilst trying out a new recipe, or preparing a meal with all your family surrounding you, keep your cookbook firm in place with this gold wire stand from Rockett St George.

Gold Wire Cookbook Stand from Rockett St George

From big decisions to small accessories, making your kitchen special is all about finding its personality and presenting it to the world and yourself; as well as making it a fun, stylish place to be in.

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Dress me up

A beautifully made dresser can really transform an area, be it your kitchen, dining room or hallway. It’s a piece of furniture that provides not only storage but a space to display treasured items and decorative accessories. Whether you like to have your dresser brimming with bric-a-brac, or keep it clean and crisp, there are all kinds of ways to get creative and use your dresser to show off your style. Here are some ideas to get you thinking…

from The Jungalow via Pinterest

I love how this dresser is overflowing with plants, it really draws you in, especially as the natural green of the foliage bounces off the green paint. Dressers are the perfect location to display fresh flowers and plants, as well as some interesting vases that’ll still catch the eye when empty. This Kassandra vase from Holly’s House has an interesting design with individual slots for each flowers, I can see a few wild flowers sitting in this beautifully.

‘Kassandra Vase Tall’ from Holly’s House

Something that might sit nicely on one of the shelves of your dresser is this unusually shaped vase from Nordic House, showing how you don’t need a whole bouquet of flowers to make an impact.

‘Reclining Clear Vase’ from Nordic House

from Vintage Rose Garden via Pinterest

These lanterns hanging off a dresser shows how you can get creative with both your lighting and your dresser. Although it may not be advisable to have any open flames on your dresser, it can be a nice way to display larger candlesticks when they’re not in use, ready to place on the dining room table at a moment’s notice. I like this contemporary brass candlestick piece from Holly’s House, which would sit beautifully on the surface of a dresser.

‘Move Brass Candlesticks’ from Holly’s House

These carnival tea light holders from The Estate Yard are an amazing collection of fun designs that’ll look great placed sporadically on your dresser.

‘Carnival Glass Tea Lights’ from The Estate Yard

Curating your dresser to work perfectly for you is all about finding the right pieces, and the right amount of pieces, to display. The key is to create a range of items, in all shapes and sizes to really give you something to look at. As a backdrop to your accessories I like the idea of fixing a few small mirrors onto the your dresser, this will not only give the impression of a touch more space, but will also give the dress some extra character. This collection of brass framed mirrors from The Estate Yard are the perfect assortment of shapes and sizes, and their style will work with a whole range of schemes.

‘Brass Mirrors’ from The Estate Yard

You may also want to think about what other decorative type things to add, some with a function and some just because they look pretty. This jars from Maison du Monde are a great style piece on their own, but also handy storage in a pinch.

‘Abelia Glass Resin Pots’ from Maison du Monde

 

from Mademoiselle Poirot via Pinterest

With an array of pots, bowls, plates and jar this dresser is covered head to toe; showing how a dresser can both store and display items beautifully.

One of the best things you can display on a dresser is a beautiful set of plates. From ones you’ve collected over the years, to maybe a special sentimental set, or just some really beautiful designs, on a dresser they’re safe from harm’s way and can be admired on a daily basis. Anthropologie always do some striking pieces of tableware, I love these botanical plates, they’re fresh and eye-catching and will instantly improve your mood. So will these pretty plates in a range of bohemian patterns.

‘Jardiniere Melamine Dinner Plate’ from Anthropologie

‘Adele Dinner Plates’ from Anthropologie

Finally, I had to add in this dramatic photo of a dresser displaying a collection of portraits. This is quite a bold look, but dresser are still a great way to display photos of your loved ones, especially in something as lovely as this photoframe from Plumo, which would look gorgeous on a dresser.

from Remodelista via Pinterest

‘Mustard Frame’ from Plumo

A beautiful dresser can be made even lovelier with the perfect accessories to go with it, tailoring to both your needs and your style is a great way to turn a functional piece of furniture into a thoughtful display.

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Window to my Soul

Sometimes the window sill can go a little neglected, sure we adorn the window with a lovely pair of curtains or a suitable blind, but then what? In my house, window sills are often the place where things get put because we haven’t decided a location for them yet; a passport that needs to be put in a safe place, a mirror that needs to be hung, or more often than not a plant on its last legs that we’re hoping a few more rays of sunshine might save, these are all the things that are currently on my window sills at home. Actually, a window sill is the ideal place to get a little creative, it is in itself the perfect canvas to display beautiful objects, it’s a framed area that can avoid the hustle and bustle of daily life and just be there to help create more interesting surroundings.

For starters, you may want to consider the colour of your window frames and sills. We often keep our windows a simple white, or off-white colour but you can always get a little creative. You often see a lot of exterior window frames painted in jazzy colours, particularly if you stroll through the quieter streets of Cambridge, many of the sweet terraced houses are given their own sense of individuality with a bold door and window colour. This can be taken inside as well, after all you spend more time on the inside of your home rather than the outside. Whether you want to go bright or dark, painting your frames a colour that contrasts or stands out against you walls will really make your windows feel like a conscious design factor.

‘Painted window frames’ taken from Pinterest

I love this bright yellow frame found on Pinterest, it adds a bit of life to the interior, and no matter how lousy the weather is outside, it’ll always look a little brighter when looking out this window, and if your view is less than desirable, a brightly painted frame will cheer it up in no time. I also love this electric blue number, again found on Pinterest. The blue has been perfectly match to the blue in the tiling, and given an extra boost by a few blue accessories, really completing the look.

‘Painted window frame’ taken from Pinterest

Another idea you might want to think about is an alternative to the typical curtains or blinds, using shutters as an alternative, or as an addition can give you windows are extra bit of style and character. You may want to put some up in your kitchen, perhaps café style for an extra bit of privacy, or just like below, use in a bedroom to create a diverse look. Here, the bed frame and décor are distinctly romantic and gothic in their style, but using some shutters instead of heavy drapery whole room looks dramatic without being over the top, and is given a clean cut without being too clinical. All together the look runs seamlessly, while also working with every day, modern life.

‘Tier on tier’ from The New England Shutter Company

Once you have the foundations of your windows sorted, you can start to think about how you want to embellish them. Depending on your tastes, you can really play around with the way you dress your window sills. Unlike other surfaces, which may constantly need to be arranged or moved in order to make way for other things that come up in day-to-day life, a window sill arrangement can be somewhat left in a permanent state. Other than opening a window, or some gentle dusting, window sills often get left alone, so you can make a wonderful arrangement to suit your home and your tastes.  An easy way to start the process is with a few simple decorative pieces, such as candles. If you like your contemporary interiors, these ombre candle holders from Bonnie & Bell would make a nice, simple addition to a window sill. Once lit they’ll make for good atmospheric lighting, and will continue to look the part even when they’re not in use, you could opt for a row of one colour or mix and match with a selection of the four different choices.

‘Cement Glass Ombre Candle Holder’ from Bonnie & Bell

Another interesting candle set, this time from Holly’s House, are these candle mouldings that incorporate the shape of the candle holder for a really interesting effect. The candles come in either coral, lilac or grey, which again could be combined for a colourful look, or you can use one of the colours to create an attractive accent in a room.

‘Tallow Candle Holder’ from Holly’s House

A great way to decorate your window sill is with a beautiful bouquet flowers, but first you’ll need something to put them in. Picking out some vases that have a permanent place in the home, whether they are full of flowers of not, is a good idea as it will help to create a coherent look in a room and you won’t end up buying a piece that doesn’t fit or work in your house. While clear glass vases will look elegant placed on a table, by the window sill you may find them getting a little lost in all of the surrounding window’s glass. Choosing something with a little colour to it will give your windows some life and character, and will keep the whole area looking fluid and collected. This purple glass vase from Out There Interiors will look wonderfully with the sunlight glistening through it. Equally, this Olivia vase from LSA International will do the exact same. Both are great options and can accommodate different ranges and types of flowers and plants.

‘Ring Bottle or Vase in Purple’ from Out There Interiors

‘Olivia Vase’ from LSA International

If real plants aren’t you thing, finding some faux greenery will look wonderful in your windows, and allow you to live a life where you aren’t worrying about the amount of sunlight or water your plant should be getting. They’ll especially perk up your windows if you don’t the nicest of views. I think these little trees are quite sweet, their rough stone container gives them a bit of an edge that contrasts nicely with the well pruned tree itself.

‘Angel Vine Pleached Tree’ from Oka

And if you really can’t handle plants, real or faux, these ceramic cactus and succulent pairing might just do the trick, particularly if you like to add a bit of quirk and humour to your interiors. Collect a few and dot them around your window sill in between other items, or even to bookcase real plants!

‘Bloomingville Deco Cactus and Shining Succulent’ from Out There Interiors

A window can be a great place to hang something of importance to your, or just something you think is beautiful. These glass frames from Not on the High Street are an interesting way to frame items without blocking out the light. Filled them with an interesting print, or postcards like below, or something different altogether; I bought a glass frame from my mum, who filled it with pretty feathers she’d collected on walks, which worked rather effectively. If you have window that stares out onto a blank wall, this might be a good way to give yourself something interesting to look at as you pass by, but if you want to keep the view, you may want to opt for one of the smaller versions.

‘Glass Hanging Frame’ from Not on the High Street

There are hundreds of ways to get creative with your window sill, soon you’ll be looking less at the view and more are the wonderful way you’ve decorative your frames!

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Festive Fancies

If you’re entertaining over the holidays, whether it’s a big party or an intimate dinner, hosting can be made a hundred times simpler with some wonderful tableware pieces that are ready to wow your guests. Whether you’re into the glitz and glam of Christmas or prefer a more low-key or humorous affair there’s always something for everyone. Here are just a few wonderful products that can help turn a party into an amazing evening.

‘Golden Hour Table Runner’ from Anthropologie

Working from the bottom up, an easy way to lay some foundations for a great looking table is with a runner. Gold for a special occasion, this runner from Anthropologie is a great way to give your table an extra little vamp to get into the holiday spirit.

Smoke glasses are all the rage right now, but equally have a classic, timeless look. This decanter from Holly’s House is rather elegant, its lovely shape will look just a pretty filled with water or red wine.

‘Smoke Glass Decanter’ from Holly’s House

If you want your glassware to look in sync with one another but not too matchy-matchy, using pieces that follow the same kind of style but with different characteristics will do the trick nicely. Pairing this decanter with these fabulous champagne flutes from Anthropologie will make the perfect match. You could stick to just one colour for the flutes or make your table a little more colourful by mixing it up.

‘Hearken Flutes’ from Anthropologie

Staying on the glamorous party theme, these metallic glassware serving dishes from Anthropologie are sure to be a crowd pleaser. The lace-like metallic effect goes hand-in-hand with the Christmas spirit but will also work exceptionally well on any other day of the year, they’ll give you table setting that extra added touch of magic.

‘Metallic Lace Dinnerware’ from Anthropologie

If you like to add a little humour to your table, but still want to maintain a wonderful style you can do so with a few little, fun pieces will work wonders with your guests. I love these flamingo salt and pepper shakers from Rockett St George, they are so charming and a great, playful addition to mix among your plates and glasses.

‘Flamingo Salt and Pepper Shaker’ from Rockett St George

Another equally sweet, and also animal themed, product for your table is this wonderful whale bottle opener from Graham & Green. He looks almost like an ornament, but with a secret hidden feature to help you out. Both of these little additions will looks brilliant on a table, but would also make lovely little gifts this Christmas!

‘Moby Dick Bottle Opener’ from Graham & Green

If you want to add little rustic charm to your table, these napkin holders from Neptune are a great idea. Made from rattan, they’re a great way to accessorize a table if you want keep things a little understated, and will look great paired with some linen napkins in a neutral colour.

‘Ashcroft Napkin Holders’ from Neptune

Presenting your food well is half the battle when it comes to pulling off a dinner party, therefore beautiful serving bowls and dishes are a must, and even if you’re not having a fancy dinner, they can really make something simple look like something from a photoshoot. I love this black and white dish from Rockett St George, the pattern is humble yet so effective and will give your dish an extra flair.

‘Dipped Black and White Oven Dish’ from Rockett St George

If you are having a larger amount of guests, you may need a stylish platter to serve your nibbles on, this charger from The White Company is sure to do the trick.

‘Rectangular Mirror Charger’ from The White Company

Even if you’re having more of a low-key style party, having a pretty serving dish can make all the difference. These indigo bowls from Holly’s House have a great, relaxed vibe about them, making them perfect for an informal gathering.

‘Indigo Rain Serving Set’ from Holly’s House

Finally, for a little ambience, a candle or two on the table will make the world of difference. You’re probably more than likely to already own a whole range of candle holders and have them dotted around your home, but for a dining room table you can’t go wrong with a lovely long stem holder. This King of Hearts candlestick holder from Jonathan Adler is fantastic, its reversible design shows off both a king and a queen and is both a stylish and fun piece to have at your table.

‘Utopia Reversible King of Heart Candle Holder’ from Jonathan Adler

A festive party is a great way to have some fun over the holidays, and with so many amazing ways to decorate your table, you’ll want to have a party everyday!

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Christmas is Coming!

Whether you rejoice at the news that Christmas is just around the corner, or tremble with a little disbelief at how fast the year has gone, there’s no denying that the festive season is upon us, and what better way to embrace it with with some fab decorations. I tend to pull a bit of a face at the masses of tinsel you usually find adorning every possible surface at this times of year and other conventional styles of decorating you home, so this year I wanted to make it my mission to find some decorations that not only are full of festive glamour, but could also be worked into an interior all year round. Whatever your style there’s something for everyone that’ll turn your home into an ultra-glam setting 365 days of the year.

If you’re not into your traditional red and green Christmas colours, opting for a crisp all-white theme will really add some style to your home this year. A great way to make sure that your decorations are suitable for all year round use, is to find pieces that don’t follow a seasonal motif too closely. These paper stars from Rose & Grey are contemporary way to kit out your home. Hang them from a high ceiling to make a fairy-tale style feeling, and pair with these lovely lanterns from Rockett St George to really get into the spirit. Once the Christmas season is over, the paper lanterns are the perfect decorations to create a dreamy bohemian-style room, or to dress up a child’s bedroom.

‘Nine Point Paper Stars’ from Rose & Grey.

‘Set of Three Paper Lanterns’ from Rockett St George

This carved skull from Angel & Boho is perfect for all year round use. It’s a fun and interesting way to play around with the animal head trend, the carving detail is a sweet addition, and the bright white colour means that you’re free to add some individuality to yourself, even decorating it horns with some tinsel if you really wanted!

‘Tribal Carved Skull’ from Angel & Boho

For a little rustic charm, a few rattan stars from Holly’s House are sure to do the trick, they’ll look great on a shelf or mantel, surrounded by some fairy lights at any time of the year.

‘Set of Three Natural Rattan Deco Stars’ from Holly’s House

To give your home a touch of luxury this Christmas time, why not go for some decorations that are full to the brim with glamour and exotic style. If you’re less into shepherds and sheep and more into glitzy, romantic settings something like this lanterns from Angel & Boho are perfect. Surround a dining room table for an extra special Christmas meal, or dot around various surfaces for Christmas drinks, and then for a dramatic and romantic year just simply keep them there!

‘Tall Filigree Lantern’ from Angel & Boho

‘Venezia Oversized Gilded Lantern’ from Angel & Boho

The ideal companion for some striking lanterns, are some extravagant candlesticks. You can mix and match the lanterns and candlesticks around the room to create a beautiful, romantic setting, or fill a table up with a wonderful arrangement of candlesticks to set the tone. This set from Graham & Green come in all different sizes, which is a good idea if you don’t want your arrangement to look too stiff. Their antiqued glass style can work with various existing styles from bohemian to traditional to glamourous contemporary.

‘Mercury Antiqued Glass Candleholders’ from Graham & Green

Decoration doesn’t have to always be about adding extra drama to your interiors, it’s also a great way show off your fun side and add little hints of quirk and playfulness to a room without going overboard. This Llama from Graham & Green is just the ticket if you want to have a good laugh this Christmas (and everyday afterwards!), and is a good twist on a traditional reindeer. It’s perfect for hanging decorations off of and for being a wonderful decoration itself. It’ll make a great addition to your home if you enjoy not taking life too seriously, positioned over a fireplace or perhaps a bed.

‘Pom Pom Llama Mount’ from Graham and Green

These painted hearts from Re-Found Objects will make wonderful colourful decorations this festive season, and can go on to brighten up your home afterwards. For Christmas time, place them in a more concentrated area, decorating a dresser, or staircase. For the rest of the year, a collection of them would make a lovely touch scattered around a wall, it’ll add a youthful and fresh take to your home, plus they’d go rather nicely with the llama!

‘Hand Painted Hearts’ from Re-Found Objects

If you like fun festive decorations, and want to find a quirky alternative to tinsel, you might want to take a look at finding some pom poms! They are absolutely everywhere these days, so you’re bound to find some in a style to your liking. These red and orange poms from The Conran Shop are oh so cute, but they use contemporary colours, therefore avoiding an overly twee feeling.

‘Pom Pom Garland Festival’ from The Conran Shop

At Christmas time, you can get away with going a little overboard if you fancy, and if you like going all out over the holidays, chances are you probably like doing it all year round too. If you want to add a bit of nature to your interiors, you might not want to stop at just a Christmas tree. These indoor outdoor trees from Cox & Cox are adorable and add a theatrical element to a room without being too dark or mysterious. They can be used inside to get into the holiday spirit, and then when the New Year comes by, place them outside to really enchant your garden.

‘Indoor Outdoor Birch Trees’ from Cox & Cox

The same can be said for these lights from Cox & Cox, use them to decorate your interiors over Christmas and then afterwards they can be used to light up a garden, or transform an archway.

‘Indoor Outdoor Twinkle Light Garland’ from Cox & Cox

There are all sorts of way to create a wonderful winter land this Christmas, and even more ways to get creative and make magical interiors all year round!

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A Flair for the Dramatics

Whether you have a large estate or a humble flat, adding a little drama to your interiors is never a bad thing. While some may opt for an entire dramatic look, for some it’s better to start off slow and introduce a few wonderful pieces that will really start to shape the feel of your interior. From lighting, mirrors and home accessories, here are some amazing ways to add some excitement to your home and begin to give it a dramatic flair.

A pair of theatrical candlesticks are always a good place to start if you want to just dip your toes into the dramatic pool. These cheeky dog candelabras from House Junkie are a contemporary, modern way to introduce some quirky drama. Placed on either end of a mantelpiece, or on a table, they’re sure to be an eye-catching piece.

‘Guardians Dog Candelabras’ from House Junkie

If your taste is a little more feminine, then these bird candlesticks are the perfect combination of quirky sweetness and intriguing theatrics. The hand painted porcelain pieces will make a subtle but effective addition to a sitting or dining room, adding just the right amount of pizazz.

‘Petit Oiseaux Bird Candlesticks’ from Angel & Boho

A super easy way to add some drama to a room is with lighting. Though our first thought when it comes to dramatic lighting might be a huge glass chandelier, there are some really interesting ways to give your lighting some gravitas, that can follow some unconventional style trends. This three tier recycled chandelier is full of retro, bohemian glamour. It’s perfect if you don’t want to take your interiors too seriously and want to add some fun style.

‘Moroccan Bottle Top Chandelier’ from Re-Found Objects

For another alternative way to add some glamour and some delicate drama to your lighting is with this amazing knitted rope chandelier, a completely innovative way of reinventing the classical piece into something contemporary and intriguing.

‘Knotted Rope Chandelier’ from Holly’s House

From the ceiling to the walls, give an interior some quirky glamour with something like this monkey shelf. It has all the same motifs as a typical gilded ornamentation you might find in a French chateau, but here you get a sense of humour with your drama in the form of a little cheeky monkey!

‘Golden Monkey Shelf’ from Rockett St George

 When it comes to the dramatic interior it’s all about a showstopper piece, and this cuckoo clock certainly fits the bill. The interesting metalwork creates a dramatic display and is a really eye-catching piece.

‘Metal Cut out Cuckoo Clock’ from House Junkie

This canvas print from House Junkie, designed by Angela Rossi, is definitely not for the faint-hearted. The surreal print is just the piece if you want add to an existing collection of wacky art, or begin to start a new one. The vibrant flamingo will look amazing placed in a dark, moody room.

‘Princess Flaminia Canvas’ from House Junkie

Having a dramatic interior doesn’t always means having to have the wildest, wackiest pieces you can find, you can still maintain your own style whilst embarking on your journey of drama! This huge mirror from Angel & Boho is not only beautiful but full of romantic, bohemian drama. If you’re looking for an old, faded glamour effect, this is a rather perfect piece.

‘Archtop Metal Window Mirror’ from Angel & Boho

A screen is an accessory that will always have something of a theatrical presence in a room, but often the most common style will lend themselves to the retro interior motifs. But this piece from Oka is perfect for a clean, contemporary style. The Grunewald screen is hand-painted and will bring a wonderful fresh, dramatic impact to a room.

‘Grunewald Screen’ from Oka

From moody and romantic dramatic looks, to fresh and contemporary, there are all sorts of ways to include a fiercely theatrical theme into your interiors!

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Knock on Wood

Wood can be used in all sorts of unusual and exciting ways, from furniture, to art, to lighting there is all sorts of ways to play around with wood interiors. Wood has always been a homeowner’s best friend, and in the world of interior design, we are always finding new ways of using the material to create character and intrigue. I started to fall in love with wood interiors and discovered more and more how adaptable the material was, and how much fun you could have with it.

Tom Raffield is a fantastic company, located in Cornwall that specialises in creating finely crafted wooden delights. I particularly love some of their pendant designs, using nature as both a material and inspiration each design is crafted with care and thought to create contemporary wonders. The Scots Light by Tom Raffield takes its inspiration from the woodland surrounding their design studio, taking the form of a fallen pine cone and made from individual cuttings of wood. It’s a wonderful piece to help celebrate high ceilings and make a beautiful statement in the middle of a living room or hallway.

‘Scots Light’ from Tom Raffield

Another beautiful pendant from Tom Raffield’s collection is inspired this time from a butterfly in flight, its pendant uses its own shadow to enhance its design further, making it a delicate and elegant way to introduce wood into a contemporary interior.

‘Giant Butterfly Pendant’ from Tom Raffield

From the skies to the walls, decking out your walls in a wood motif is a great way to create some drama. Take this dark wood wallpaper for example, though it’s technically not real wood, it uses all the characteristics of wood, creating a dark and moody atmosphere. It’s a contemporary take on a traditional log cabin type style of interior and the burnt, black colour really gives it something extra.

‘Burnt Wood Wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek’ from Rockett St George

To incorporate wood onto your interior walls it needn’t be just by wood effect wallpaper, wall art such as this lovely piece from seller, ArtGlamourSligo from Etsy is an exciting and unique way to use wood in the home, and turning it into art is certainly a way to turn heads.

‘Fighting River’ from ArtGlamourSligo via Etsy

Unto This Last is beautiful London company that focuses their talents on creating wonderful, eclectic pieces of plywood furniture. They take an ultra-contemporary stance on design and create some spectacular pieces. This CD storage shelf is more of a work of art, creating a three dimensional, minimalist piece of furniture.

‘CD Round Shelving in White’ from Unto This Last

Another Avant Garde design from Unto This Last is the rather special skeletal-like chair with a fluid and wavy structure. This is the perfect chair if you’re looking to make a statement, use just as an occasional chair dotted in the corner of a room, or if you think your room (and you!) can handle it, go the full whack and get a set.

‘Spline Chair’ from Unto This Last

For a less dramatic, but equally beautiful wooden chair, this safari chair from Rockett St George is rather gorgeous. Great to pop around a dining room table or in a study, it’s an elegant piece with a hint of the exotic element.

‘Wood and Safari Chair’ from Rockett St George

If you want a lighter wooden touch in your interiors, perhaps something that isn’t permanent or as big of a statement, try going for a few lovely wooden accessories to kit out your home. These mango wooden plates from Holly’s House are rather adorable and an unusual form of tableware. They’re a great idea if you want to create a more natural vibe on your dining room table.

‘Mango Wood Plates’ from Holly’s House

Another interesting find from Etsy seller ArtGlamourSligo is this bespoke reclaimed wood headboards. If you enjoy the industrial look, or are in the mood for something with a robust, rustic edge, a piece like this headboard could be perfect.

‘Reclaimed Wood Headboard’ from ArtGlamourSligo via Etsy

If you love an item that has an interesting or exciting story or method of creation, take a look at these cardboard lanterns from Houselogy. Although there is a little debate on whether cardboard is technically wood, these lanterns are so lovely we had to step around the technicality! Their intricate design is created by combining layers of cardboard, the end results being a beautiful piece reminiscent of the moon. The individual layers and nature of cardboard material means that floods of light with come bursting out of each gap in the pendant, creating a gorgeous effect.

‘Graypants Moon Pendant’ from Houseology

There are hundreds of exciting and wonderful ways to get creative when incorporating wood into your home, and the possibilities can stretch for miles. Soon you’ll be turning your home into a beautiful woodland!

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Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Updating a kitchen is quite a sizeable task, perhaps one of the biggest you can do in a home. If you don’t have the time, patience, energy or funds to redo an entire kitchen, you can easily inject a bit of freshness into a kitchen’s look with the addition of a few new kitchenware accessories. Whether you want to change the style, or just give the room a little facelift you’ll be surprised how far a few pieces can go.

While there are endless amounts of products and accessories out there, I’ve picked out just a few from all different styles you give a taste of the possibilities.

If you’re a keen baker (or even if you’re not) you’ll love this hand-painted rolling pin from Anthropologie. The beautiful decorative style means it’ll look just as wonderful when it’s not in use as well as when it is.

‘Sissinghurst Castle Rolling Pin’ from Anthropologie

Staying in the bohemian style, these petite mugs from Oka are so charming! The hand decorated cups are just the right size for an after dinner beverage, plus they’ll look divine on display, their bold colours are really eye-catching, making them the perfect way to complete or start a collection of beautiful crockery.

‘Florya Mugs’ from Oka

If you’re interested in re-doing your kitchen in a more contemporary style there are hundreds of ways to go about it. I’m not usually a fan of pink, but these Schiap plates from Oka are rather special. The clean candy-pink stripes and black rims give the classic style a glamorous twist.

‘Schiap Plate’ from Oka

Another pretty in pink addition to the kitchen are these luxurious bowls from Heal’s. Their effect is created from hand applied metallic lustre. They’re a fantastic update to a contemporary table or kitchen, and are the perfect injection of colour to neutral palette, especially if you want to create a high-end, feminine look.

‘Polka bowls set of four’ from Heal’s

Whether you’re getting good use of out if, or just mainly using it for decoration, a beautiful pestle and mortar is a must-have for any kitchen. This shallow, stone one from Holly’s House is a lovely contemporary piece that will show off whatever spices you crush up in there.

‘Stone Pestle and Mortar’ from Holly’s House

A kitchen bursting with colour can really take your breath away, but you may not always want your surfaces and cupboards to reflect this. Instead, choose your accessories to channel your inner rainbow. I absolutely love this bubble glassware collection from Graham & Green. The hand-blown pieces purposely have tiny air bubbles to create a light and airy appearance. They will look gorgeous littered around a table, tucked up on a display cabinet or dotted around a kitchen to tie a theme together.

‘Bubble Glassware’ from Graham and Green

Another special piece from Graham & Green is this antique plate holder. Perhaps you have some wedding plates you want to keep safe, or just want to jazz up your ordinary, everyday crockery you can display them in this stylish holder.

‘Antique Plate Holder’ from Graham & Green

If you enjoy a little mid-century style, take a look at this adorable storage jar from Heal’s. Taking its influence from the 1930s and 1940s, designer Cressida Bell created this little champ, perfect for keeping your biscuits in!

‘Trees Storage Jar’ from Heal’s

Another retro piece of kitchenware that will make your home that extra bit special are these Art Deco style trivets. The geometric style is super swish and elegant and will work as decorative pieces when not in use.

‘Outline Trivets’ from Holly’s House

Last but not least, if you can’t get enough of some geometric shapes, these flamboyant tea towels with an eye-catching pattern should do the trick. Swap out your old, fading tea towels for some fun, vibrant new ones.

‘Scholten & Baijings set of two tea towels’ from Heal’s

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All Things Bright and Beautiful

A couple of weeks ago I looked at the fabulous book COLOUR by Abigail Ahern for our monthly Book Club. Since then I have been intrigued by all things colourful in the world of interiors. It’s a fun and easy task to turn your home from a neutral setting to fabulously colourful! A bold paint choice, or wild decorative piece may be exactly what you need to create an enviable rainbow-esque room, but if you’re not ready to dive straight in there are small injections of colour to be made by the addition of bright home accessories.

So starting off slow, I’ve got together a collection of exciting, sophisticated and most importantly brightly coloured accessories and furnishings to show you how much fun there is to be had with the bold and beautiful.

If you feel like you might need easing into the idea of eccentric and bright interiors, it’s best to go easy and introduce colour step by step with a few gleaming home accessories. These glass candle holders from Rockett St George are a great way to spice up a window sill or bare surface. The interaction between the gold and the colourful exteriors will create a warm and inviting setting in any home.

‘Glass Globe Candle Holders’ from Rockett St George

Before you go in bright and beaming, opting for a more muted colourful tone is a good way to get acquainted with colour, something like these crackled, antiqued plant pots from Graham & Green will jazz up a patio area or conservatory without being too overbearing, plus they’ll make a strong canvas to continue to add colour to in the future.

’Turquoise Plant Pots’ from Graham & Green

I’m finding it ever increasingly harder and harder to resist a bit of trim these days, so this blanket is absolutely perfect. The lovely blue tones with make a bright impact, and will be easily adapted into all sorts of colour and style schemes.

‘Pom Pom Blanket’ from Holly’s House

 

Not all bold colour interiors need to consist of the bright primary colours, take a cooler, more relaxed journey with some sophisticated metallics, like this bronze Barabra chair from Sweetpea and Willow. It’s has a fantastic retro vibe going on, and will transform a simple front room into a plush cocktail lounge.

‘Barabra Bronze Chair’ from Sweetpea and Willow

When it comes to a large piece of furniture such as a dining room table, there is always an urge to stick to the status quo and go for something conventional. But if you’re interested in adding a little colour to your palette, there’s no need to go to extremes and end up with a tomato red shiny table. Find your middle ground with something like this stylish piece from Houseology. The traditional wood top combined with the playful painted legs makes a wonderful contemporary statement.

‘Moooi Paper Table Patchwork’ from Houseology

When you get more comfortable with the idea of bright, colourful interiors you can really start to have some fun with the concept, from small and big ideas. If you’re thinking big, you can’t get more bright, colourful and stylish than this iconic design by Missoni from Roche Bobois. Whether you want to make a big statement or have just fallen in love with the design, it’s every colour lover’s dream.

‘Mah Jong Composition Missoni Home’ from Roche Bobois

This Zulu girl cushion from Graham & Green brings a lovely regal side to the world of bright interiors, it makes the perfect scatter cushion, either in a collection of equally bold cushions or as a statement piece against a sea of neutral cushions as its backdrop.

‘Zulu Girl Cushion’ from Graham & Green

There is always something to be found from the colourful section of home accessories if you want to add a sense of humour into your interior settings. Although they might be a little too quirky for some people’s taste, this set of winking eyes is rather fun. They’re perfect for a den or bedroom and are a great way to put a smile on people’s faces.

‘Winking Eye Cushions’ from Rockett St George

To give your table a quick fix of colourful fun, these Magritte inspired plates are a must. They’re so fabulous that they’ll even distract the guests if the dinner all goes wrong!

‘Magritte Melamine Plates’ from Rockett St George

And finally if you ever need a little colourful pick me up, this pink budgie is marvellous, hide it away in some plants or up on a shelf so that it’ll catch anyone who spots it by surprise as they walk past.

‘Pink Budgie’ from Rockett St George

Whatever your budget and whatever your taste or space requirements there is always a way to add a little brightness into your interiors and a little joy into your life!

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