Storage Saviours

Kitchen storage is a problem that most homeowners face, no matter how much we may try to de-clutter, we generally always find ourselves needing more and more as the years go by. Whether you are installing a completely new kitchen or just looking for some extra space, finding innovative ways to add storage will help to tackle the problem, while also adding stylish detailing and some personality to the heart of the home.

‘Witham Oak Plate Rack’ from Rowen & Wren

Gorgeous plates were meant to be displayed, especially if there’s no more room left in the cupboard. This simple but beautiful rack from Rowen & Wren will let your crockery do all the talking.

Our dishwasher at home has recently broken, and so we’ve decided to take on the challenge of washing up everything by hand. However this means we need to pay a little more attention to the sink area, which is becoming a tad more cluttered with, mostly clean, dishes than usual. A quick solution that won’t take up too much room is this dish rack from Willow & Stone; it’s far more stylish that the generic pieces you see, whilst still holding the same amount of items.

‘Tilmo Dish Rack’ from Willow & Stone

Another way to keep your sink area tidy is with a handy, but adorable bucket to store your fairy liquid and scrubbers in. I like this little one from Willow & Stone, its sweet enough to almost make you forget that you actually have to wash up.

‘Wash up Bucket’ from Willow & Stone

Sometimes you might have the cupboard space but are in need of some extra compartments inside it. A few baskets to segregate your potatoes from your onions can make life a whole easier. If you like your traditional style baskets, these grey rattan designs from The Basket Company in different sizes will do the job nicely.

‘Rectangular Grey & Buff Rattan Deep Wicker Storage Units’ from The Basket Company

If you wanted something a touch more contemporary, these crates from Rowen & Wren are a great combination of modern and functional design.

‘Madly Wooden Storage Crate’ from Rowen & Wren

If you’ve run out of surface space, wall mounted items will be your new best friend. Just like the plate rack earlier, they are an absolute space saver, and can also become a lovely feature, even linking together a dining and kitchen area. This wall rack from Angel & Boho is great way to make a decorative feature out of your herbs, it comes with a few boxes but you can always add more as your collection grows, giving you an accessible and interesting way to grow and display them.

‘Wall Racks with Boxes’ from Angel & Boho

This wall unit from Cox & Cox is a contemporary alternative to wall cabinets. With a variety of spaces to store an array of items, this unit can house a small collection of everyday essentials. It’s a great idea if you live in a rental and can’t add more cabinets or change the layout, or if you have a very small amount of space to work with.

‘Industrial Style Iron Wall Unit’ from Cox & Cox

Storage is also about organisation, and making sure that everything has a rightful place. Jars and containers are a life-saver, especially if you have a few different types of food you need storing. LSA International do some amazing contemporary pieces that’ll add both a design element and a storage solution to your kitchen. The Lotta and Mia containers are my favourites in their collection, both simple and stylish.

‘Lotta Container’ from LSA International

 

‘Mia Container with Cork Lid’ from LSA Interational

Kitchen storage seems like a tiresome task, but with a little research there are a whole load of ways to add creativity and style to your kitchen; and with a strong lists of solutions to hand, you’ll never be unprepared again.

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New Year Improvements

As we hurtled towards Christmas and the end of the year it became clearer to me that whatever minute amount of organisation I had seemed to be dwindling fast, so between Christmas and the New Year I made a pact with myself that I would really try to be more organised this year in all aspects of my life! There is no better way to begin a journey of organisation then with the proper tools and equipment to make it that much easier. From big items to smaller pieces, getting your furniture and accessories in tune with your new organised self is a sure-fire way to start heading in the right direction, so I’ve pulled together some fabulous options to help inspire the inner neat-freak and organiser in each and every one of you.

If you live in a busy household, trying to separate everyone’s things, post, keys etc. is always a nightmare, so finding something that will help everyone keep track of their own stuff means half the battle is already won. This set of drawers from Cox & Cox is a great way to separate the post in a large household, with six individual drawers, everyone has their own place for their important letters and unopened mail.

‘Wooden Set of Drawers’ from Cox & Cox

Equally, if you needed somewhere to keep things like gloves, hats and scarfs or larger items this sweet wall unit from Garden Trading could be a great buy. With six slots and five pegs it’ll make that morning rush all the more simple with everything in its rightful place.

‘Chedworth Wall Unit with Wooden Pegs in Charcoal’ from Garden Trading

When there’s not so many of you, you may not need something with as many slots and segments, but nonetheless having a designated shelf that will kept the clutter at bay, or at least off all the other surfaces, is a great way to create an organised routine when leaving and entering the house. If you want something a little alternative, these shelves with leather straps are particularly stylish, and perfect is there is just one or two of you in the home.

‘Wooden and Leather Shelves’ from Cox & Cox

Most people who work from home generally have a little space in their home already set up, but if you don’t or you feel like something just isn’t quite working, or if you don’t work from home but are in need to somewhere to properly plan and organize your life, finding the right furniture will really help to get you in that productive mind-set.  Having a desk that works perfectly in sync with both functional and style needs is almost a god-send, and this piece from Heal’s is quite a stunner! With an abundance of shelves and drawers to keep all necessary items in, it’ll provide a great foundation to keeping you organized throughout the year, and the dark walnut colour is a dreamy addition to any interior.

‘Navarra Desk with Top 3 Drawers in Walnut’ from Heal’s

Often a desk isn’t always just from working on your laptop or writing documents, especially when it’s located in your home, so if you find yourself needing a larger flat surface for a full range of activities, opting for a spacious desk with less frills may be right for you. I particularly like this piece from Ikea, it’s a simple way to create a clean and stress-free area in your home, while the legs give the whole look a little character.

‘Klimpen/ Nipen Table’ from Ikea

Maintaining a consistent level or organisation is best kept by staying ahead of things, and the more storage space you have the better, sure you might only need 4 drawers now, but sooner or later you’ll find yourself needing more and more, therefore finding pieces of furniture that can accommodate your present and future storage needs are a must! I love these antique style chest from Maisons du Monde, which have heaps of space and won’t spoil an existing design scheme by looking like they belong in an office.

‘Voyage Solid Wood Semainier Chest’ from Maisons du Monde

For something a little more contemporary, or if you want to add some organisation into a kid’s room, this multi-coloured chest is perfect for keeping a range of items in.

‘Dekale Wooden Vintage Semainier Chest’ from Maisons du Monde

Sometimes it doesn’t take much to be organised, I was constantly having a battle with the furniture in my bedroom about where exactly I could store my socks, and once I found a solution in the form of their own special storage box, everything felt as though it was going a lot smoother than before. Buying a few storage baskets or boxes are a great solution for sorting things that you didn’t even realise you needed to organise; that stack of magazines, a collection of clothes that always find themselves on the floor because there just isn’t space in your closet, or whatever it may be, a few decorative boxes and baskets around your home will not only look pretty but help clear up some of that mess you just can’t seem to banish. I love both of these options from Habitat.

 

‘Movell Woven Plastic Storage Baskets’ from Habitat

‘Idaho Bamboo Lidded Storage Trunks’ from Habitat

Whether you don’t have an airing cupboard in your home, or just have an overflowing one like my family, finding another space to accommodate your linens and separate them from the rest of your laundry and clothing is a great way to insight a bit of organisation in your home. I think this rustic style cabinet from Ikea is a fab solution for your linen storage.

‘Hurdal Linen Cabinet’ from Ikea

If you’re like me, there is never enough space in my closet to house the excessive collection of clothes I own, so finding an extra bit of storage that is still stylish is a good way to make sure that your storage solutions don’t feel too utilitarian. This wardrobe from Ikea is super stylish and won’t break the bank either, it’ll look great in a bedroom, or if you need some communal space to store coats etc. it’ll hold its own in a hallway as well.

‘Undredal Wardrobe’ from Ikea

There are plenty of fun and stylish ways to make sure that you have an organised home this year, and finding out what you need and what best works for you is the first step in creating the perfect, organised space.

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Be Our Guest

When you start to plan how your guest bedroom should look, it’s a whole other ball game to decorating a permanent bedroom within your house. A regular bedroom must accommodate the day-to-day needs of its occupants, and there must be an equal balance between style and functionality, but since occupancy of a guest room is sporadic, there are a different set of rules to decorating the space. Here are some tips for making the most out of your guest bedroom and making it feel like a home for your visitors.

Finding a nice range of permanent decorative features for a guest bedroom will mean that it is always ready, making sure you have one less thing to panic about when a scheduled guest arrives and you’re completely covered if you get a surprise visit. Though fresh flowers are always a plus, creating a foundation of faux flowers is a great way to keep a guest bedroom looking finished at all times. There are hundreds of high quality faux flowers to choose from these days, but at Angel + Blume we adore the selection from Abigail Ahern. If you want, you can opt for seasonal colours or types of flowers, but if you’re looking for something to suit your room all year round, you can’t go wrong with some fresh looking, white or cream flowers.

‘Abigail Ahern Cream Hydrangea Stem’ from Rose Grey

To house the flowers, finding the right, beautiful vase can add a delicate and effortless sense of style to a room. Choosing something simple but with a hint of character means it’ll keep its charm for a longer period, and finding a piece with a classic style means that you won’t have to worry about replacing it for a while. Something like this LSA International polka vase design is a great piece, its contemporary style gives it an exciting edge but the design isn’t too daring or bold, meaning that the vase will appeal to most people’s tastes who stay in the room. The lightly tinted glass is also a pretty alternative to a plain glass vase.

‘Polka Vase’ from LSA International

More often than not, a guest bedroom tends to be one of the smallest bedrooms in a house, mainly because we need the larger rooms to accommodate a larger amount of needs and functions. Therefore you can often find that you might be short of storage space in your guest bedroom. Though you definitely don’t need as much closet space for you guests as you would for any permanent members of the household, there are all sorts of ways to make up a little room for their clothes and belongings. Finding something like an armoire that combines both a chest of drawers and a hanging area will save a whole load of floor space. This armoire from The White Company is gorgeous and will perfectly complement a whole range of styles. It can become an interesting feature on its own accord, plus its storage capacity will be super handy if you have guests that are staying for a week or longer, (or if they just bring a lot of stuff!)

‘Provence Armoire’ from The White Company

If you are more restricted on space, a luggage holder is a great solution. If there is no room for your guest to properly unpack, you can make the whole thing look a lot more appeasing by providing a designated place for them to put their suitcase of bag. It will bring the luggage off the floor which will give the idea of more space in the room, and give a cleaner, more thought-out look. They are a whole range of styles to pick from for your luggage holder, but if you’re looking for one that is simple and effective, Garden Trading have wonderful design.

‘Weekend Folding Luggage Rack’ from Garden Trading

You can always make use of your storage requirements and use them to help decorate the room. These copper trunks from Maisons du Monde are great for keeping extra towels or blankets in for your guests, or even if you need to use the storage to keep things in for yourself, your guests will be none the wiser if it’s disguised in a pretty, decorative trunk!

‘2 Victoire Copper Finish Trunks’ from Maisons du Monde

Providing the perfect bed, both comfort and style-wise, is a sure fire way to make sure that your guests have the best possible stay. If you want to go all out with a beautiful frame of head board you can, but if not you can always make a bed area look one hundred times more appealing with some lovely linens and accessories. Investing in some high quality linens is a good way to make sure the room looks fresh and elegant all year round. The Linen Works are always a great idea if you need some top-quality bedsheets. This Parisian blue is an absolute stunner and is the perfect combination of rustic charm and sophistication.

‘Parisian Blue Linen’ from The Linen Works

Cushions and throws are the perfect way to add a little bit of character to your guest room, without your guests being overloaded. If you’re guests have a wide range of style and tastes, you may want to create a neutral setting for your guest room, but to avoid the room looking stiff, adding some individuality in the form of soft furnishings is a great solution. This big tasseled throw from Rockett St George is completely charming and the perfect way to finish off a guest room’s look.

‘Annette Moroccan Throw with Tassels’ from Rockett St George

The same can be said for this gorgeous selection of cushions from Graham & Green. The tassel detailing is a sweet little finish that’ll put a smile of your guest’s faces.

‘Avignon Cushions’ from Graham & Green

In order to really make your guest bedroom feel like a home instead of a space that’s just been thrown together to make room for your visitors, the inclusion of some larger furniture can go a long way. If you have the room, adding a sofa or armchair can make your guest feel like they have their own little space in your home to relax in if they (or both of you) need a little moment to yourselves. This armchair from West Elm is the perfect piece to complete a guest room look. The mid-century styles means that it isn’t bulky and won’t take up any unnecessary room, but will still look stylish and be comfy.

‘Mid-century Armchair’ from West Elm

Likewise, adding a dainty writing desk to a guest room can give it extra style. There is no need for a practical, oversized desk that might be needed for an office or study, instead in a guest room you can opt for a sweet, petite desk that is full of style and grace. I love it colonial style desk from Maisons du Monde, it’s the perfect size to complete the look of an idyllic guest bedroom.

‘Explorateur Stained Solid Teak Desk’ from Maisons du Monde

Creating your perfect guest bedroom is almost like creating a little fairy-tale space in your home that needn’t adhere to the functional requirements of a permanently used space. Instead you can make a wonderful haven area that is so good you’ll guests may never want to leave.

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Pretty Useful

When it comes to de-cluttering we often think of having to bid a sad farewell to much loved items that are taking up space, or ditching that hefty stack of ‘things’ that are gathering dust that we can’t bear to throw away just yet. But actually, we can de-clutter in a way that skirts around having to make some Sophie’s choice kind of decisions, where you can keep almost everything as well as decorating your home by replacing a pile for stuff with a beautiful home accessory or storage unit. I’ve selected some gloriously nifty accessories that’ll show you can have style and substance.

‘Three Copper Trunks’ from Barker and Stonehouse

In my household, no matter how much we tidy and detox the house there is always a never-ending accumulation of things lying around and forming piles, all of which unfortunately is needed and can’t be tossed away. So instead of having unsightly clutter everywhere, purchasing something like these copper trunks is the perfect solution. On the outside they can be used as a feature or decorative piece in a room, but on the inside they can be filled with you secret stash of clutter!

A beautiful log burning fireplace can really capture the eye when entering a room, and there is no need for your log storage to be any different. This log holder from Cox & Cox acts almost as a frame, turning a pile of logs into something of an art piece.

‘Iron Log Holder’ from Cox & Cox

The same can also be said for your fruit and veg! You can add an instant pop of colour to you kitchen or pantry by using something like these wire baskets. Not only are they an easy and useful storage solution but they’re also a nice, simple attractive piece to give your kitchen a splash of character.

‘Wire Tier Basket’ from Cox & Cox

If you’re tired of seeing food packaging littering your kitchen, a few nifty jars and pots will sort that right out! For displaying teabags or whatever you fancy in a sweet way this Graham and Green jar with a pretty bear feature on top is rather lovely.

‘Glass Pot with Bear’ from Graham and Green

For more of a contemporary style, these jars from Skandium are just the ticket. These Palet storage jar were originally designed by Michael Bang in 1969 for Holmegaad, which have been relaunched this year in new colours and sizes. They’ll make a fantastic edition to a modern style kitchen.

‘Palet Storage Jars’ from Skandium

Baskets can be used for just about anything, socks, magazines, towels or even laundry, and whatever your style there’s always something to suit you. I love these two wicker baskets from Graham and Green and Rockett St George, both are super stylish and suitable for all sorts of storage needs.

‘Wicker Baskets’ from Graham and Green

‘Sequin and Wicker Baskets’ from Rockett St George

For something with a little humour, as well as a handy aspect, this adorable post holder from Anthropologie is ideal. It’s a sweet and easy way to add some character to a hallway or side table whilst still be useful.

‘Dachshund Letter Holder’ from Anthropologie

‘Wooden Crate Bathroom Cabinet’ from Not on the High Street

This crate style storage unit is ideal if you’re into the industrial style, it’ll work perfectly for storing anything you can think of! For an interesting look, buy two and use one vertically and the other horizontally to not only create an attractive feature in your home but utilise the storage space.

There’s so many amazing storage and organiser solutions out there that even the worst culprits will be able to turn their hoarder’s hell into a clutter-less haven!

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A Clutter-Free Life

Whether it’s a big or small problem, our constant need for more storage space seems to be never-ending! Unless ultra-minimalism is your thing or you’ve completely conquered the hoarder’s curse then it’s quite likely that often you find yourself with piles of things all around your house; be it books, clothes or just general clutter, it always seems to be accumulating.

Sometimes it’s a simple case of needing a few more boxes or baskets to help house your overflowing tendencies or maybe you’re in need of a storage unit or a piece of furniture that can accommodate your needs. Either way we’ve found some marvellous storage solutions that aren’t just about utility but look stunning as well, all just waiting to be your storage saviour!

For a simple design with an industrial style, a piece like this super convenient unit from Graham and Green is a great idea. Its open style makes it decorative as well as functional and would look lovely in a contemporary designed home.

‘Zoe Pigeon Hole Storage’ and ‘Mekon Baskets in Black’ from Graham and Green

The Mekon baskets are also a fantastic storage solution, they come in a set of three in various sizes and are very versatile meaning you can keep all sorts in them and they’ll look great on display as well.

Another small but handy storage idea comes from Lombok, this beautiful bone inlay box is exquisite and would look perfect used as a jewellery box or located on a coffee or occasional table.

‘Siri Small Bone Inlay Box’ from Lombok

Alternatively if you’re looking for something a little more robust these crate-style storage boxes from Loaf are a brilliant idea. Their rustic style can be adapted to multiple design schemes, plus the handy chalkboard front means you aren’t stuck with a mislabelled box when it’s function changes.

‘Pomme Wooden Storage Crates’ from Loaf

For a more permanent, larger solution to your storage troubles investing in a large, sustainable bookcase or storage unit is the way to go. For the ultimate contemporary style head straight over to Ligne Roset. Their designs are breathtakingly gorgeous as well as practical, not only will they solve your clutter problems but they’ll add heaps of style to your home.

‘Book & Look’ from Ligne Roset

‘Cuts’ from Ligne Roset

If you don’t have a lot of floor space at your disposal you needn’t compromise on style, in fact there are some fantastic shelves around that look amazing and won’t break the bank or take up an excessive amount of space. Twentytwentyone are a brilliant shop that sell some amazing contemporary pieces, and this shelving unit is just one of them. It’s the perfect place to store all your extra things and by placing a few ornaments on some of the shelves it will become a lovely feature piece in the room.

‘Royal System’ from Twentytwentyone

Another wonderful design from Twentytwentyone is this stylish valet piece. It will make a great bathroom or bedroom companion without taking up too much space and is deal for keeping everyday things on like towels.

‘Laurel Valet’ from Twentytwentyone

Storage units don’t always have to be a contemporary design, if your taste is more suited to vintage pieces there are absolutely tons of pieces on the market that will make you smile. The Old Cinema is a wonderful place that sells some stunning vintage and antique pieces, this old Zanzibar chest is a real showstopper as well a great place to store blankets, books or anything your heart desires.

‘Early 19^th Century Zanzibar Style Chest’ from The Old Cinema

I couldn’t resist putting in a mid-century piece from Alfie’s Antique Market, this ultra-sleek storage piece is Danish Teak perfection, and would look stunning located in a hallway or living room.

‘Danish Teak Shelving Unit’ from Alfie’s Antique Market

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New interior design classes

We have recently launched our new series of interior design talks for 2014 including a new course on how to accessorise your home. Starting on the 4th February 2014, the course will cover what accessories will work for your home, where to find them and how to know what to put where. There will also be hints, tips and insider secrets on all accessories including furnishings, storage, light fittings, rugs, curtains and blinds, cushions, flowers and plants, tableware, bedlinen, pictures, collections, accessories for children’s’ rooms and how to accessorise your kitchen and bathroom. Places are going fast so go to www.interiordesigntalks.com for more information or to sign-up.

All images are taken from Secrets of a Stylish Home by Cate Burren and Simon Whitmore. With thanks to Simon Whitmore photography for the use of images.

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Embrace the New Year!

I always feel that as the Christmas decorations come down, a home can look a little sorry for itself. However, there are lots of ways to inject a little New Year optimism and to start to look forward to the spring. Here are just a few ideas to get you started!

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge News website

Replace your Yuletide floral decorations with some hyacinth bulbs which come in lots of different colours, although pink, blue and white are the most common. Match your colour to your room scheme and as they flower, their familiar smell will fill your home.

Candles are great in your home all year round and give a lovely light at this time of year. You can get just about every scent your heart could desire but I love the idea of this Lemon Drizzle Cake candle from Cox and Cox – although it could be fatal for those New Year diet resolutions!

With the weather still on the parky side, make sure your stock of logs is going to make it through to Spring. I love this log basket from Graham and Green which will enhance a fireplace and keeps your winter fuel immediately to hand.

It’s never too early to get your nesting box ready to give our garden birds a safe place to procreate in the spring and this handsome trio from Sophie Conran gives you a nesting box, a feeding table and an insect hotel – fantastic!

When you get the urge to spring clean, there are some lovely products on the market to make the task less painful and more productive. This great feather duster from Baileys Home and Garden not only works well but has a touch of humour about it too.

New storage is always welcome at any time of year, but if you are thinking of a bit of a sort out before the spring cleaning commences, these lovely zinc storage units are stylish and function. Available from the Holding Company in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Product details

Cox and Cox Three hyacinth vases £18.50

Cox and Cox Lemon Drizzle Cake Candle £20

Graham and Green White log basket £95

Burgon and Ball Sophie Conran Wildlife Havens £14.95

Baileys Home and Garden Ostrich feather duster £19.50

The Holding Company  Zinc cabinet with drawer £239

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Join up for perfect storage units – as featured in Cambridge News

Thinking about storage for your home? Why not consider  having custom made units designed specifically for you. Before you rule it out as an expensive option have a look at our introduction to joinery below. Sometimes the cost of employing a joiner is equivalent to buying a piece of furniture from the high street, but the results can be even better as you end up with a piece of furniture designed to last and built specifically for your home.

This article first featured in Cambridge News

First things first, ask around to find a good local joiner.  Get recommendations from friends or ask to see examples of work a joiner has previously completed.

Next, have a think about exactly what it is that you want to store. If you measure the content that you need storage for this will give you an idea of the height and depth the shelves should be. This cabinet was designed for a client and it has glass shelves in the centre to display their collection of ornaments, bookshelves either side measured to fit their tall hardback-books and cupboards below for storing larger items and tidying away clutter.

The beauty of employing a joiner means that you can get a bespoke piece of storage perfectly designed to fit into the existing space in your home.  The shelves above for example, make maximum use of the available space.

When you commission a joiner make sure you get a full set of drawings first. A good joiner will visit your home, measure the space then draw up the plans for you to see how it will look.

And finally, consider the kind of finish you want, do you want a dark wood, a light wood or are you going to paint it? This bespoke storage cupboard was designed to display the owner’s collection of ties and has a smart dark wood finish which blends perfectly with the rest of the décor.

All images: Mark Box

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Unto This Last

I recently visited the Battersea workshop (they have two, the other is in Brick Lane) of a great little company called Unto This Last  and I was incredibly impressed with their new products, designs and colour ranges. We have recommended them in the past for schemes that have a retro feel, for children’s rooms and for quirky pieces to inject into more traditional schemes but they have so many interesting pieces on offer now that I feel we could be in touch with them more often! All their pieces are made in birch plywood which give a lovely edge detail and are made to order but with very quick lead times. They have lots of their products on display in the showroom and I would highly recommend a look when you are next passing.

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If you love a bit of glamour…

..you are going to love Graham and Green’s new summer finds.  At Angel + Blume, we have long been fans of Graham and Green and we are were not disappointed when we caught sight of their new collection this week. Here are just a few little interior delights that caught our eye but there are more on their website www.grahamandgreen.co.uk along with lots of old favourites. Enjoy!

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