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Create a Dream Living Room with Fabulous Fabrics

October 8, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 0 comments

A mood board is a great way to plan a room scheme, pulling swatches and colours together to work out exactly how you want a room to look and feel.  This week I’ve been inspired to create a dream living room with some fabulous fabrics.

I started creating my scheme by looking at the samples on the Natural Curtain Company website.  To decide on samples, I thought about what colours would complement the items we already own that we will be keeping, looking at fabrics that would complement and contrast nicely.  The majority of my samples were taken from the blues and greens section, but I just couldn’t help but take a look at the bright mustard tone of the Sage Bud fabric.

When placing my order for free samples I had an idea of which one I thought I would like best, but in the end, seeing the samples in real life made all the difference.  Feeling the fabrics in my hand and viewing them in my home has really added to the experience, allowing me to make decisions where all elements of a design are brought together.  This is unlike when you look at samples in shops , still one step removed from your home.

gb.naturalcurtaincompany. (1 of 1)-8gb.naturalcurtaincompany. (1 of 1)-14

Once I had selected my ideal fabric, which happens to be the Nature Bark design, I started pulling different ideas together using Pinterest to create a board full of #FabulousFabrics.  You can see all my fabric options there alongside some other inspiring options I put together.

Once I’d compiled a range of items I really liked I then put together my own online moodboard to share with you, including paint, fabulous fabrics, and artwork that all work together to transform a space into a cosy yet contemporary living room.  And of course, once you have selected your fabric you can choose your options using the made the measure curtains section of the website.

As you can see, in my living room design it really is the curtains that will steal the show, with their bold and unique pattern.  The whole room is hinged around these original beautiful made to measure curtains that will be striking as part of a contemporary room style, yet also cosy due to their thick luxurious material.

Cosy and Contemporary Living

 

 

 So, what do you think?  What curtain fabric would you choose for your living room?

Disclosure, post in collaboration with the Natural Curtain Company, all thoughts, words and photography my own unless otherwise stated.

 

 

Designing a good home office

October 3, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 0 comments

This week I have been inspired by home office workspaces and how a good space can help you get more done. I’m constantly looking for space to work and still in the process of creating my perfect work space!  With this in mind, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing  Sarah Slimm one of the stylists at Hammonds to pick her brains about designing a good home office.

Hammonds.stylistdesigning a home office 1

What are your top 5 tips for designing a good home office?

1. Light. Having natural light in a room can change your mood and make your working day a much better experience. Think about the natural light in that room and how you can maximise it.

2. Layout. Consider the space you are going to use and how best to maximise it. What storage do you need? What workspace will be required? Don’t be afraid to move away from the walls and use all of the space; why not stick you desk in the middle of the room instead of butted up against the back wall.

3. Space.
Bring the outside into your office and blend those boundaries between outside and inside. Having plants or scents in the office can help your sense of wellbeing and help you focus better.

4. Storage.
Think about whether you need cupboard storage to hide away those messy files and appease your OCD. Alternatively do you have some beautiful storage or inspirational pieces that’s would look amazing on a shelf or open bookcase.

5. Mood.
What colours bring you personal comfort? Layer these up with textures and print that spark your brains interest. What do you think the most important feature of a home office is? “The key in making it through your working day is to be comfortable. You need to have a desk with your computer at the right level to help your posture. You need to be thinking about space efficiency and creating easily accessible storage; you don’t want to be getting up and down from your desk to get the necessities. Make sure you don’t add any awkward design features that may look quirky and cool in a magazine photo but actually cause agitation in your working day. Like that really cool artwork you found at the flee market that is artfully leaning against your desk wall that you have to strategically manoeuvre. Whilst this looks amazing on your vogue hallway table it’s just not practical in your office!” How do you choose the best space for a home office? “Think about the type of work you will be doing in your office. Do you need a large space for plans, drawings or artwork? Do you need good storage for business files? Or are you mainly online based with blogging and web pages so therefore a small nook will suffice? In modern society space is becoming a premium so you need to consider the bigger picture and what percentage of space from your home you are willing to sacrifice. Get creative and re-look at those unused areas and dumping zones in the home like under the stairs, an old airing cupboard or attic space and turn them into a workable space and feature.”

creating a home office.3 ElanWA8_RGB_HiRes

Do you think there are any particularly good colours for a home office?
“Colour really depends on the type of person you are, how you intend to use that space and whether you need to portray a certain image to clients. You may require a creative environment and you take inspiration from bright colours. You may work better with cocooning dark colours and a dramatic space. You may even prefer a corporate neutral palette to greet your business partners. There is no wrong or right way its all down to what works best for you. The important thing is executing it correctly.”

How much desk space do you think a home office needs?

“Desk space requirements vary depending on the type of work you want to achieve. Do you have kids that need somewhere to layout their homework? Do you need somewhere to lay out your own creative projects and hold meetings? Or do you simply need a space to keep momentums, knick-knacks’ and inspiration? With the advances of modern technology, most people can now satisfy all their office needs with a laptop or clever tablet so the days of large endless work tops seems a little obsolete. Make a list of the ways you might use your office space; at the end of the day you don’t want to end up underestimating your needs and have an unusable space that’s just another dumping zone.”

clever storage for a home office

What do you think a home office should never be without?

“Stationary! How can you make it through the day without your pack of funky post it notes, quirky note pads and a full colour palette of fine liners! So a stationary draw to hand is an absolute must in my eyes!”

So, a massive thank you to Sarah for her really practical tips for creating a good home office.  I’ve got to admit that I think I tend to under-utilise wall space, cluttering up my desk and this has certainly given me lots to think about.  Including, which colours will create a good mood for me personally.  The style you create in your home is such a personal thing after all, our work space should reflect this too!  For more inspiration you can check out the hammonds home office furniture range.

Disclosure: Post in collaboration with Hammonds, all thoughts, words and opinions my own, unless otherwise stated.

Painting furniture with Farrow & Ball

September 25, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 0 comments

painting furniture with farrow and ball

Are you looking to create a personalised piece of furniture for your home with Farrow & Ball paint?  Then look no further, here you’ll find tips on just how to get a great look, painting furniture with Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell.

The photos above were taken by me, and the whole look took just two days to complete, including sanding and cleaning the chest of drawers.  Turning an old piece of battered furniture into a zingy, fun and function chest of drawers.

To get the look, you will need:

  • Electric sander or sand paper
  • Cloth
  • Plyers
  • Hammer
  • Primer (I used cheap white emulsion)
  • Paint
  • Paintbrush(s)
  • New door knobs (optional)

Stages of paint preparationWhat paint do you need?
First decide what you want to paint, then you can work out which paint would be best and how much you’ll need.  For this project, I selected the Estate Eggshell in Yellowcake No.279 which has a lightly glossed finish.  I used a 2.5litre tin and once I had finished my two coats I still had over half a tin left.  I lam so in love with this wonderfully retro colour and already have some plans to upcycle a play table for Nye’s beach hut playhouse too.

How to prepare your furniture?
 Next look at your piece of furniture and assess what finish it currently has. Has it been varnished, waxed, painted or do you have a plain pre sanded piece that is ready to go?  Most older furniture tends to be varnished (as mine was) and the easiest way to get rid of this is by using a good sander.  For this reason flakey pieces of furniture are the easiest to sand as you’ve already had a helping hand! Before sanding I removed all the handles, taking the bolt off the back with a pair of plyers then using a hammer to loosen the handle from its hole.  Next, is the sanding and you can either sand by hand (time consuming), or use an electric sander.  We have the  which is far superior to anything else I’ve used, to do the entire unit I think it took me about an hour and wasn’t as much hard work as you’d imagine.yellowcake farrow and ball

How to paint?
I started the process by using a white undercoat, painting the drawers and overall unit with two thin coats, then left it to dry overnight. I painted any bits of the drawers you would see day to day, so the draw fronts and edges but left the internal drawers  Most paint companies seem to suggest that you leave 4 hours between coats, I admit I did cheat a bit on the undercoat as the wood just sucked it all up.  I used a bog standard brush for both the undercoat and the top coat and for .  If you wanted a brush stroke free look you can use a small roller to great effect but you may need to do more coats.

Finishing Touches
 Adding or repainting handles is a great way to modernise a piece.  (I find Ebay and Anthropologie a great place to find unique and unusual ones.)  To finish off my chest of drawers, I managed to pick up some cute handles, in what happened to be the exact shade from TK Maxx which were £4 for 4. I mixed these in with a set of original handles and I really like the two tone look it gives.

So, dare I ask, what do you think? Do you have any furniture knocking around that you’re dying to update? What colour paint would you choose for your house?

Disclosure: This feature is in collaboration with Farrow & Ball, all thoughts words and opinions my own.

Wayfair UK giveaway

September 16, 2014 by Jenni Clutten |

wayfairWhile relaxing  over on the Isle of Wight, Wayfair UK got in touch to ask if I’d be interested it running a giveaway on the blog.  Thankfully they were happy to wait until we were back on the mainland to sort out the prize, and I’m thrilled to say that one lucky reader will be able to win a £150 voucher to spend on their site.  I did debate choosing some of my favourite bits, but I figure everyone is after something different and instead I’d love to hear about what you would get if you were to win.

Let me tell you, it’s not going to be easy to choose, Wayfair UK stock over 350,000 products across all areas of the home.  I find it so difficult to concentrate whenever I go to look for something on their site, there’s so many lovely things that I could spend hours just browsing.  Wayfair UK offers products from top manufacturers around the world and guarantees absolute satisfaction, I am a particular fan of the bed linen and garden items but love what they have on offer for the home office too.  Below you can see some ideas I have put together for what I would spend the £150 on, themed around the home office.

Wayfair UK £150 voucher

 

To be in with a chance to win, simply fill in the rafflecopter below and tell me, what you could buy with your £150 Wayfair UKVoucher?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get the industrial look

September 4, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 0 comments

gb.asdahome.industrialI just love the industrial look, the combination of textured walls of brick or concrete, bare metals and thick cut wood.  It might seem like it’s a difficult look to pull off outside of a new york apartment, but actually with some key pieces it can be pretty simple.

I took delivery of this new Chandler Bar Stool this week and oh, it is a thing of beauty.  When I chose it online, I couldn’t quite visualise how it would look, in situ, but the reality has been even better than the online photos.

Just working with this one piece as inspiration,I think it’s easy to get the industrial look.  The stool seat is very thick and sturdy and the mechanism for making the stool taller and shorter is a simple screw that allows you to move from side to side, perfect for a busy kitchen or office.  It’s even got that cool and simple functional vibe going for it.  The texture of the wood contrasting against the slick grey metal, it’s a match made in utilitarian heaven and it would look great in any kitchen or dining area.

In our house the stool was the perfect addition to my shed office, where I was desperately in need of a stool for the pre-existing worktop.  If you wanted to, you could even take the industrial look a little further by creating your own made of pipe.  Paired with a simple metal lamp you’ve got the makings of a trendy space fit for style police.

Disclosure: Post in collaboration with Asda Direct, all thoughts, words and opinions are my own.

A new look bedroom

August 21, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 0 comments

new look bedroom
Our bedroom has looked like the definition of chaos for far too long. After moving into our house last October, whilst heavily pregnant, our bedroom became the house dumping ground. Piles of clean washing waiting to be folded, unopened packing boxes, baby paraphanlia and anything else going.

When the beginning of the summer holiday rolled around, we asked whether Neil’s parents could look after Nye for the weekend.  We were then able to  crack on with choosing bedroom decor and then getting to it.

With no real plans, we headed into the shops to see what was there and headed out of TK Maxx, B&Q and Ikea, laden with bits and bobs.  We returned home, emptied our wardrobes and tried to move them to the other side of the room, only to discover that our carpet is ‘fitted’ around them. Well, with all the clothes piled high on our bed, it at least gave us a chance to have a good clear out.

In the end we went for a grey/purpley/blue, from dulux called, Pressed Thistle and matched it with a vibrant limey green.  We spotted the  colour combination when we picked up some in TK Maxx, (but these are yet to make it into the bedroom.)  We did however, use them to ‘colour match’ some eggshell paint which I have used to repaint our mirror and add a vibrant shot to a plain plant pot.

The lighting has also been a big change, finally bringing in some mood lighting with the lights from Cable & Cotton creating a tranquil and peaceful glow with their muted colour palette.

We’re not quite 100% there yet but it’s look a lot better than the previous dirty white walls and cream curtains.  I’ve still some photos to upload of the newly repainted mirror and plant pot for a start.  But *sigh* just a bit of a de-clutter and paint makes SO much difference.

Shopping List:

Wardrobe Storage Boxes – Ikea
Emulsion Paint – B&Q
Vase – C/O Habitat
FloralBed Linen – Ikea
Spotty Bed Spread – TK Maxx
Curtains – John Lewis (place holders from our old house)
String Lighting – Glow C/O Cable and Cotton

Reorganising a cluttered wardrobe

August 6, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 0 comments

 reorganising a cluttered wardrobe

Does your bedroom look like this? Oh good, maybe I’m not the only one then!

I am pleased to say we are finally decorating our bedroom and the first job was to clear out the wardrobes.  Here are my top tips for doing the same, and some great storage and shelving ideas for how to keep it tidy.

Step 1.
DE CLUTTER

Remove everything from your wardrobes and sort through it into piles. Of the stuff you don’t want, you probably don’t just want to throw it all in the bin.  Some of my stuff was too small, some I didn’t like it and some had holes in it. To sort through it efficiently I made 4 piles.

  • Sell (Ebay, Car boot etc.)
  • Give to a charity shop
  • Stuff to give to rag bag collection (i.e not good enough for charity shop, stains, holes etc.)
  • Rubbish

I suggest you have a think about this before you start so that you are not having to go through clothes multiple times.  Divide in advance and remember anything you have to sell won’t be leaving the house as quickly as you might like as it takes time to list and sell things.  Try to be as brutal as you can.  If you find things you had forgotten you even owned then you probably have too much stuff.

Step 2.
ASSESS YOUR NEEDS

Think about what you have left.
What do you need to access on a regular basis?
Are there things that regularly end up on the floor?
Are the spaces in your wardrobe well divided?
Can you always find what you are looking for?

Once you have answered these questions you can work out what extra storage you might need to help solve these problems.

My problem areas:

  • Clothes falling off shelf onto wardrobe floor
  • Can’t reach back of shelf
  • Space to organise scarves

For us, our wardrobes have 1 large shelf and a hanging rail, so it was helpful to divide the spaces up into smaller areas.  Interestingly, although my husband and I have the same wardrobe, we each did this differently to suit our own use.  I think this shows how there are lots of different options and that everyone uses space differently.

To divide up my space I used three baskets to divide up the top shelf, into an area for T-shirts, Jumpers and Cardigans, and skirts and shorts.  Then an accessory hanger for scarves and necklaces to keep them all in one place.

3 of the best storage baskets
Step 3
PUT IT AWAYPut away what’s left, thinking about what you need and use on a daily basis. For example, I like to have pajamas in the most accessible place so I can grab them as I drag myself into bed exhausted each night!

Disclosure: Post in collaboration with homebase, all thoughts, words and opinions my own.

 

Wet Room Ideas for a Small Bathroom

August 4, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 0 comments

wet room ideas

A few weeks ago I accidentally flooded our bathroom.

After a long day, I started running a bath as soon as the children were tucked into bed for the night.  Before I knew it, I heard a dripping sound in our hallway and suddenly it dawned on me.  I chased up the stairs, observing the water seeping through every available crevice in the bathroom floor.  It was totally careless, but a symptom of family life.  There is so much to get done and the last thing on my mind is some R&R.  So, if our bathroom didn’t need a rethink before, it certainly does now!

In this hot weather, thankfully it only took a few days to dry out, but we are left with a few water marks here and there and the knowledge that it could easily happen again.  This is why the idea of a wet room seems so appealing, not having to worry about the splashes from the bath and shower on a day to day basis and avoiding the drama of a big accident.

With this in mind, here are my wet room ideas for a small bathroom:

Creating Space Our bathroom is small like most bathrooms, with just enough room for a bath, a sink and a toilet.  The great thing about a wet room from My Bathrooms UK is that you are using all the space you have. No confined shower cubicles, to take up yet more space or need to worry about wonky walls and cramped corners.

A sense of luxury I’ve stayed in some lovely hotels and the best of them have had beautiful wet rooms, giving you something extra special for while you’re away.  But why should a wet room only be for a special occasion, especially as a wet room is practical too.   To top the luxury look off you’ll need some accessories, starting with some thick and fluffy towels.  I love the beautiful quality and simplicity of The White Company‘s collection.

A modern design We’ve all had such similar bathrooms for such a long time, a few tiles, the same old sanitary wear.  A wet room gives you the chance to create a striking space.  They give a truly modern streamlined look that should outlast more traditional styles and add value to your house.

p.s If you’re interested in some more home inspiration, you can take a peek at our living room feature wall.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post, all thoughts words and opinions are my own.

Capturing the Tactile Textures Trend in the Bathroom

July 3, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 2 Comments

This year, one of the big trends in interiors is Tactile Textures.  It incorporates bold design choices with a range of different textures, through the walls, floors, materials and objects used.  I especially love this look in bathrooms where it’s possible to create a luxury look with big soft towels, textured tiles and modern bathroom fittings that are set against contrasting items.

C. P Hart Tactile Textures

C.P. Hart Tactile Textures

With tactile textures you can use rustic natural objects, such as wood and stone, contrasting against matt black smooth textures and bold and industrial concrete walls. A juxtaposition if you will!

My favourite pieces are those that really give the bathroom a statement look, the kind of look you would imagine for a wonderful spa or luxury hotel.  Wouldnt it be great to create something just as special at home?  The easiest way to create a striking new look is to use Bathroom showrooms as an invaluable source of inspiration.  The best ones can give you an idea of what you like and how much space you will need to make a design work and help you choose the fixtures that will work best and work around these.

In the moodboard I have put together, I started by choosing the Greenwich Boat Bath in Copper, (available in a range of finishes), my absolute most favourite item.  The copper option works well with the tactile textures trend AND the copper trend that is so popular at the moment so it’s a winner on both counts. Win!

Tactile Textures Bathroom

For even more inspiration I’ve also put together a of some of my most favourite things, perfect for design fanatics and professional interior designers alike.  And if you have a big plan in mind you’ll probably need a professional fitter who will find the C. P. Hart trade page invaluable.  What’s your favourite bathroom style?

Disclosure: Post in collaboration with C. P Hart, all thoughts, words and opinions my own.

8 of the best children’s lampshades

June 14, 2014 by Jenni Clutten | 2 Comments

A friend of mine is about to move house and text me to ask me about the best place to buy lampshades.  After having a good browse online and suggesting my favourite places I was excited by what I saw.  Whilst I was searching, I was inspired by the lovely designs I found that would look great in a children’s room with options ranging from £6 – £49.

So here are 8 of the best children’s lampshades for you to admire.  The best thing about these options is that they should age well, nothing to cute and ‘babyish’ and loads suitable for a boy or a girl.  These are particularly good if you have two children sharing!

childrens lampshades
I would happily have any of these lampshades in my house, they are fun, quirky and bold.  Nye has a personalised balloon lampshade in his bedroom, even though the rest of his room has now changed.  Since we moved, and put up wallpaper I think that the plane lampshade above would be an impressive upgrade to his space.  Seeing it on the Laura Ashley website really surprised me, and it just goes to show that it’s worth having a good browse, even in unlikely places, for design inspiration.You can find all the lampshades above online, with sources available here.