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Archive for the ‘Interior ideas’ Category
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Taking inspiration from the Chelsea Flower Show, here are some colourful product ideas that can bring the power of contemporary floral designs into your home.
Bluebellgray Chelsea Flower Show mug, £8 from John Lewis
Denby set of four watercolour flower placemats, with a white background and subtle bird cage design. Was £16, now £12.80 from Debenhams.
Orla Kiely geranium and myrrh mini candle and fragrance diffuser set, £25 from Amara
Essenza spring violet floral duvet set, £50 from Idea Home Co
Harlequin Giverny indigo and pistachio cushion, £50 from Heal’s
Summer flowers large scented candle, with up to 50 hours burning time, £33 from Designers Guild
Bluebellgray Fi chair, £799 from John Lewis
Large porcelain rose design bowls by Pip Studio, £29.99 each from Rigby & Mac
Textured honesty flower design Keka iPad case, £40 from Rachael Taylor
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Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
Lounge, living room, sitting room, family room, front room – whatever you call it, it serves the same purpose. This area of the home is usually the first room that your visitors see and the one that they spend all their time in.
It’s also the room that we tend to redecorate the most in order to reflect our style and the season. Whilst heavy throws, chunky pillows and dark curtains might be ideal for those dark evenings throughout winter, they’ll probably look a bit gloomy at the height of summer.
Redecorating and swapping the furniture will certainly create a new look, but that’s not something we can do regularly. If you want to update your front room, but you’re working to a tight budget, here are some small changes that you can make to create a whole new look this summer.
Change the cushions
Your sofa and armchairs are big purchases that are designed to last for years, but they can quickly look outdated or tired. Freshen them up by changing the cushion covers – it’s not just colour that can have an impact, but you could even go from a modern look with a solid bold colour to vintage, with a floral design.
Take down the curtains
Thick and heavy curtains will make the entire room seem darker than it really is, so take them down and replace them with a lighter voile curtain or a roller blind. If you don’t have any nosy neighbours, you could even leave your window open, allowing all the natural light to flood in.
Create a feature wall
Redecorating every time we move from winter to spring would be a waste of our time and money. However, if you really want to change the look of your front room, you could add a feature wall. A bold wallpaper pattern will make a huge difference.
De-clutter
Homes up and down the country have far too much clutter, whether it’s a shelf of DVDs that are never watched, books that are no longer read, or ornaments that are never dusted. Simply putting your stuff out of sight will create a clean living space, which is perfect for summer.
Change your tableware
In the winter, you might have some candles in the centre of the coffee table. Switching them with a bowl of fresh fruit will give a fresh and summery feel – you can even match it to your colour scheme. Also, if you have dark wood, lighten up the furniture with some lightly coloured mats and coasters.
Add a house plant
By adding a splash of greenery to the front room, you will immediately fresh up the place and make it feel more summery. This tip should not go unnoticed by those that aren’t particularly green-fingered, as you could always add a fake plant for the same effect.
For more ideas on how to change the look and feel of any room, visit Betta Living, the UK’s favourite home improvement specialist.
***This is a guest post from Betta Living***
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Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
At Fresh Design Blog, we’re suckers for dream homes and grand properties with modern interiors, so we can’t help but love the look of the Roehampton Gate property currently for sale through Savills.
This huge home located close to Richmond Park in London is the ultimate detached family home, that manages to straddle that tricky tightrope between modern and classical.
This double-fronted property makes a strong first impression, with room for several cars to park. Upon entering, the spacious hallway draws the eye towards the gorgeous feature staircase, with the skylight above sending a shard of light to only accentuate it further.
Either stained oak or limestone flooring are used throughout, ensuring the whole building has that feel of luxury.
The Richard Baker kitchen has been finished to the highest specification, and the large island space ensures it is an absolute dream to cook in. This is without even mentioning the generously-proportioned walk-in pantry.
Other than the seven spacious bedrooms – including a huge, plush master suite with two separate dressing rooms and its own private balcony – the centrepiece of the property is undeniably the huge swimming pool complex, complete with large pool, leisure and gym areas, in addition to plant rooms and a temperature-controlled wine cellar.
If you considered having staff living on the grounds, this would be a definite possibility too, as the lower ground floor includes an open-plan kitchen/living room, bathroom and bedroom which combined with its own separate access means independence and privacy are secured.
The west-facing garden has been designed and landscaped by the acclaimed Lizzie Taylor, and includes some beautiful stone steps and a myriad of terraces. For those who prefer to stay indoors, the huge, high-tech media room should tick all the boxes.
The property is available through Savills. One can but dream!
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Tags: modern home, property, Savills
Posted in Interior ideas | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
Following on from taking part in the winter High Street Hunter challenge for VoucherCodes online magazine Most Wanted, I’ve recently put together some ideas for spring.
The challenge was to provide ideas for updating a home for spring, focusing on a particular trend or colour, with all products costing £80 or less.
It was the geometric trend in home interiors that jumped out at me this time, and particularly the uplifting, zingy and cheerful colours being used in spring 2013 ranges, moving away from the monochrome blacks and whites of winter.
Home interior trends are often inspired and influenced by designs seen on the fashion catwalks, and it’s no exception with the latest geometric trend.
A wide range of geometric themed products are available from stores, with designs incorporating triangles, cubes and hexagons proving particularly popular. They certainly help create some interesting products, with the geometric trend working well as a repeat pattern on products such as cushions, wallpaper and even lighting.
As far as prices go, a quick saunter along the high street reveals a brilliant selection of geometric homeware designs with many at very affordable prices, so updating your home needn’t cause your wallet too much trauma!
Here are some of my favourite spring geometric product picks:
1. Prism print, by Dig The Earth, £23 from Not On The High Street
2. Rush tomato red geometric design cushion, £12 from Habitat
3. White Hope table lamp, £40 from Bhs
4. Tress tea towel by Sian Elin, £12 from Not On The High Street (the design is also available as a cushion, for £55)
5. Karlsson DIY cubic wall clock, £36.99 from I Want One of Those
6. Green geometric jacquard cushion, £8 from Matalan
7. Green engraved candle with wooden plate, £6 from Matalan
8. Triangular meshed bowl in yellow, £48 from Bouf
9. Logan woven bread basket, £8 from Habitat
10. Pastel pop triangular print bath mat, £10 from Matalan
Geometric wall design ideas
If you want to update your decor too, there are some fab wallpaper ideas featuring geometric patterns.
I love the Trellis design wallpaper by Harlequin, which is available in a lovely choice of colours ideal for spring, but it’s top of the budget at £79 a roll…it could be okay if you’ve only got one wall to paper, but not so great otherwise.
A more affordable option is the Ling design wallpaper by Steve Leung, which also features a trellis design, and is only £26 a roll from Graham and Brown.
 Steve Leung Ling wallpaper What do you think of the spring geometrics trend, will you be using it in your home?
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Tags: geometric, High Street Hunter, trend
Posted in Interior ideas | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
Have you got snow? We don’t (yet?!), but can’t resist paying homage to the wintery weather with a few snow-themed home picks!
You can never go wrong with snugly cushions and inspiring prints, but who knew a sledge could be transformed into a coffee table?
It’s a slightly wacky idea, but maybe a good way of utilising a sledge you’ve bought, then never used due to lack of snow…This one even comes with a rather appropriate white rug to represent a crisp white layer of snow on the ground.
1. Let it snow, grey wool cushion, £45.50 from Graham and Green
2. Sled coffee table and snow white rug, £2870 from Duffy London
3. Snow tree grey organic cotton cushion, £40 from Space 1a Design
4. First snow digital print, £12 from Emily Hogarth
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Tags: Duffy London, Emily Hogarth, graham and green, sled coffee table, snow decor, snow print, snow theme, Space 1a Design, winter theme
Posted in Interior ideas | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, January 1st, 2013
January doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom!
Yes, you’re returning to work and the weather might be awful, but this shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the New Year. Time is what you make of it, so turn that frown upside down and start thinking positive.
One great way to motivate yourself and transform your life in 2013 is to make your house into the home you want it to be. Getting up in the morning in a home you love, can help put a smile on your face, plus it’s a great feeling to create the decor and space that you want to live in.
How to Improve Your Home
If you’ve not decorated or done anything much to your house, the idea of giving it a makeover can be a daunting task.
Rather than trying to do everything at once, approach it room by room. Let’s face it, you spend most of your time here (especially during the colder months) so it’s essential for you to make your mark.
Improving your home doesn’t have to involve major DIY; sometimes all it takes is simple, little changes. Think about adding colour or new soft furnishings to rooms such as your living room, dining room or bedroom to make it more lively and appealing.
Cushions are available in a great range of colours and designs, so try replacing any old, worn cushions and investing in something new. Liven up your bedroom by adding a throw or bedspread to a bed, or get yourself some new bedding.
The hall or lobby often get overlooked, but it’s the first part of the house you see when you walk in the door, so consider how you could set a more inspired scene. Could you change the carpets, paint the wall or hang some inspirational wall prints?
Living in a warm house helps lift your spirits on cold winter days. To help add warmth in a home, consider investing in a Defra approved stove for those cold days and nights still to come.
If you’re prepared to do a bit more work, or get a builder in, think about changing your kitchen cupboards, having a new kitchen or improving your bathroom.
Aspects such as these can really bring your home to life; what better way to motivate yourself for 2013?
***This is a guest post***
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Tags: guest post
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Thursday, December 13th, 2012
 Oak French doors Home improvement projects are an attractive alternative to moving house, especially when the property market is slow. With a little vision, you can give your property a modern look and make it more liveable.
A change that will have a major impact is to fit new windows and doors. One of the main reasons people do this is because modern glass and frames improve heat retention, which will help to reduce household energy bills and cut carbon emissions.
Of course, you may be more interested in how they look. Choose sliding sash or fret windows with slick white frames and you will instantly give your property’s exterior a modern appearance.
Adding matching doors will complete the look. An option well worth considering is fitting double glazed French doors by Safestyle UK in your lounge. They will let lots of light into the room and also provide easy access to the garden or patio on sunny days. The latest generation of French doors come with multipoint locking systems, so there is no need to worry about compromising security in search of an extra touch of style.
One thing to be aware of is that you may need permission from the local buildings control authority if you plan to install a new door, rather than just replace an existing one. Use a reputable builder to do the work and they will ensure the job complies with all the relevant regulations, but it is worth putting in a call to the council just to check.
The most obvious modernisation projects inside the house are to fit a new kitchen and bathroom. Sleek contemporary units and fittings, along with state-of-the-art equipment can transform the feel of the two rooms, but you will need plenty of money to do it.
If your budget is more modest, you may wish to focus on your property’s decor. A cosmetic makeover can give your home a fresh new feel, particularly if you opt for the latest styles. You will not have to worry about the look going out of fashion in a few years’ time, as redecorating is simple and relatively inexpensive, so you can just do the job again when your tastes change.
New lighting is a great way to complete a home modernisation project. Spotlights add atmosphere to any room, but if you want something that makes a real statement, try crystal effect wall lights or an LED tree light.
***This post is in association with Safe Style UK***
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Tags: French doors, guest post, modernising your home, Safestyle UK
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Friday, November 9th, 2012
Most Wanted, the lifestyle magazine from money-saving website VoucherCodes.co.uk, recently got in touch to see if I’d like to put together some ideas for a winter home update. Not one to miss an opportunity to spend hours browsing homeware (what’s not to love?), I jumped at the chance.
For my winter home update, I’ve focused on the wonderful woodland trend and all items cost under £90 (some considerably less).
Owls and birds have been a strong homeware trend for a few years, but this season the shops are awash with all things woodland inspired. From foxes and badgers, to deer, squirrels and trees, designs featuring woodland themes are all over home products and décor.
It’s a great trend for celebrating the best of British woodlands and for bringing a bit of nature into your home. What’s more, with the high street brimming with affordable pieces, it’s an easy trend to adopt and use to update your home this season.
Just a few key pieces, such as new mugs, plates or china for your kitchen, or a change of cushions, home accessories or lighting in your living room, can give a fresh new look to a room, without the need for you to do major amounts of decorating.
Here are some of my favourite woodland inspired pieces for updating a kitchen and living room.
Using the woodland trend in your kitchen
There are loads of great pieces available for bringing the woodland trend into your kitchen. I like the classic black and white designs, such as the stag head plate and mugs, or boxing hare bowl, as monotone never dates. The simplicity of the pure white ceramic pieces is lovely too, especially as these can easily blend in with whatever colours you currently have in your kitchen.
For a bit of designer luxury, I can’t resist the Jonathan Adler squirrel canister, which is as much a decorative piece as it is practical. The mugtail squirrel mug, which has all the detail in its handle, is a fun and quirky piece.
If you fancy a bit of colour, then the yellow and aqua woodland mugs are great, as the colour is inside and the designs – a silhouette of a fox or deer – are on the outside.
1. Jonathan Adler squirrel canister, £68 from John Lewis
2. Stag head plate £6.95, and mug £5.95, from Graham and Green
3. Bliss in the Woods yellow mug with white deer silhouette, £12 from Unique and Unity
4. Aqua woodland fox mug, £12.95 from Graham and Green
5. Aiga boxing hare bowl, £12 from Not On The High Street
6. Quirky squirrel mugtail mug, £14.95 from DotMaison
How to use the woodland theme in your living room
There are so many lovely woodland themed pieces that are perfect for use in a living room that it’s been hard to narrow it down to these.
You can never go wrong with cushions! The badger cushion is a great buy, not least as there’s an extra design on the back featuring some really cute hedgehogs, so you essentially get two cushions in one.
A few quirky accessories are a must and I like the look of the wooden squirrels. Although they’re being sold as Christmas decorations, these would work all year round. As you get eight in a set, they’re pretty good value for money. I’m sure the squirrel nutcracker will be much used and enjoyed too.
Changing the lighting in a room is a good way of updating the look and the stag light panel is a striking and unusual piece – a bit different from a simple table lamp.
As well as all the woodland creatures, trees are a big part of this trend, so it’s great to introduce some tree designs into your home. The Snowden Flood tree glasses are a big favourite, although I personally think they’re too nice to use and prefer to have them out on display on a shelf.
The wooden stool is a unique handcrafted product, but if you’re on a low budget, why not check out the square tree trunk stool. Amazingly it’s made of cardboard, but can hold weights of up to 200kg, and is a great piece of Danish design.
Finally, wall stickers are brilliant for livening up dull walls and the deer wall stickers are super affordable at only £9.95 each (there are 10 different designs to choose from and you can choose your colours too). If you don’t want to use them on a wall, they could be added to other surfaces, such a door or piece of furniture.
1. Badger cushion by Whinberry & Antler, £28 from Not On The High Street
2. Set of 8 wooden 3d standing squirrel decorations, £18.95 from Selfridges
3. Black tree glasses by Snowden Flood, £42 from Bouf
4. Woodland tree trunk stool, £25 from Hen and Hammock
5. Stag light panel, £35 from Next
6. Richmond deer park wall sticker, £9.95 each from Not On The High Street
7. Wooden stool or table, £85 from Pedlars
8. Squirrel nut cracker, £20 from Cox & Cox
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Tags: badger design, decorating with the woodland trend, fox design, hare design, High Street Hunter, Most Wanted, squirrel design, update your home for winter, Voucher Codes, winter home update, woodland creatures, woodland home trend, woodland trend
Posted in Interior ideas | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012
 Mirror made from recycled tyres It’s amazing what old tyres can be used to create!
This unusual mirror has been crafted from recycled tyres, with the tread pattern forming a decorative design around the frame. It looks really effective and very textual and each tread pattern is unique.
The tyre frame mirror is made by Tread (a company run by Karen Brierley and Anna Tutton), who specialise in producing a variety of home and garden accessories made from recycled tyres.
You can buy the mirror, and other products, from the Tread store on Not On The High Street.
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Tags: dress mirror, mirror, Not On The High Street, recycled tyres, rubber, Tread, tyre, tyre frame mirror
Posted in Interior ideas | 1 Comment »
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