A wee post

Can I start by saying, I'm sorry but I haven't a scooby where I got this image from!

(please let me know if you do!)

I'm just in from a long day on site but thought I'd post this image which I recently sent to my friends Ange & Ben who are buying their first house and wanted some bedroom ideas! I'm very excited for them! I can imagine waking up in this room would set you up for the day! The colours are so refreshing and cheery and I love the unique headboard idea.

What a great way of making use of an old bed base too during that transitional stage between homes, especially if you plan on buying a new one along with a headboard in the future. Plus, it would save you some pennies...always a good thing!

Image: Unknown (again, sorry!)

Aged

What I would give to be relaxing in this tub with a glass of red wine, surrounded by scented candles.

Imagine the reflections on those beautiful antiqued mirrors.

I know, antiqued mirrors have been blogged about many a time before but I've come across so many lovely images recently I just had to post them.

This is one of my particular favourites.

I love the combination of the mirrored wall and that statement piece of art.

A nice alternative to your usual mirrored vanity.

Perhaps one day...in a different house maybe.

Images (from top): via Unknown (oops!), Desire To Inspire, Decorpad, From The Right Bank, DTI (again!), Simply Natural, A Perfect Gray

Today, I dedicate this post to...

Larry. Our truly amazing hairy friend and his new collar!

Larry, otherwise known as Laz, Monkey, Larry Lord Fauntleroy and Propellorman (his tail is a bit crazy sometimes) received his Autumn/Winter collar in the post today.

Since we brought him home to live with us nearly a year ago, he's had three. Not because we're weird, fashion obsessed dog owners, but because he usually manages to chew his new collar within 24 hours or he covers it in mud within the same timescale. This time we thought we'd go for the tweed look after the nice paisley one he had for (our lousy) Summer!

For anyone who may be interested, Larry gets all his collars from a wonderful company called Silver Peacock.

Whilst many of their collars are designed for Sighthounds, they do a lovely range of house collars suitable for all breeds and their service is so reliable! If you head over there, check out the gallery and see if you can spot our little Monkey (twice!!). Oh, I'm such a proud owner!!! Is it me, or does he look decidedly Scottish in that last photo? Not sure where his gingery beard has come from!!

From a door to a dress

This image of Kate Bosworth seen over at Sweet Nothings stopped me in my tracks.

The nude shade of the dress along with punches of red (!!) shows how a simple and chic outfit can still have such an eye-catching effect with a little use of colour. Not sure it would have quite the same effect on me somehow!!!

Windlost

The Lennoxx

Country Living

Kitchen Clarity

Four Walls And A Roof

On a whim

Some days, ideas just pop into my head.

Ideas with subsequent actions that aren't important and definitely not on my list of priorities, but one's which I seem to have to act on there and then!

Today I thought it would be a great idea to paint our front door red. Yes....red! Pillar box red in fact. Red, which I have always said I wasn't a huge fan of in interiors.

I think it must have been in the back of my mind since reading this article on the amazing home of stylist, Marie-Christine Nourry in the August edition of Homes and Gardens.

I seem to have been doing a lot of glosswork in the office

recently too, perhaps enough to start kidding myself that I was even a pro! Once I started painting, I began to realise why we always leave it to the decorators, or more often than not, my dad - painter extraordinaire!!!! I have to admit I am a bit of a perfectionist but even so, red gloss is a slightly different matter to white gloss. Definitely no room for pesky mistakes..which I learnt today!

Providing it's not a huge disaster, I'll keep you posted.x

If you're not already a follower...

Head on over here.

I promise you won't ever want to leave!

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly be more inspired by the work and daily writings of Artemis, she has the most insanely beautiful wedding, all lovingly created by herself and her new husband Nao. Yay!

Image: Tales Of A Junkaholic

Stumbled

A spot of weekend browsing brought me here.

The beautiful Patina Green Home and Market.

This store is a delight...(I'm still fixated on the awning and signage outside!)

bursting with antique finds sourced locally...

...and also from European markets by it's talented owners (who obviously have a great eye for detail!)

Patina Green also trades as a daily market, with fresh local produce on offer...

...and lunches being served by one of the owners, who also happens to be a classically trained chef.

I couldn't think of a better combination - browsing vintage treasures followed by a lovely fresh lunch!

Apologies! I also can't think where I stumbled across this lovely store!

All images: Patina Green

Still on the subject...

I popped out today to buy some milk and ended up with this in my shopping basket. 

Yes, today I will admit, I did take a slight detour from the supermarket!!! However, I am actually sitting here now without this lovely duvet cover in my possession. To be honest, I don't need another duvet cover and this one probably wouldn't have sat well in my bedroom, but I'm a sucker for bedding and I couldn't resist at the time...that is, until the guilt of more spending set in! 

Now, as I sit here writing this, I'm thinking why did I not buy it at the time, seeing as (1) I was in my local TK Maxx and the item in question was at least £40 cheaper than in the store and (2) I generally don't spend that much anyway! What a fool!

I must need my zeds though that's for sure! All this talk of beds and bedding!

Have a lovely relaxing weekend folks!

Images: Jigsaw

I so love you linen

I really think I've just died and gone to Heaven!

More fabulousness here.

Jim Dickens

This image I found over at Little Green Notebook made me think of a swatch I pick up every time I'm over at my local fabric suppliers sorting out my fabrics for jobs.

The Ikat collection available from Jim Dickens.

Perhaps the more I pick it up, the more I may be able to use it in a forthcoming project?!

I love the Jazz colourway, particularly in the Bukara design seen in the top image.

However, I have to say this is my favorite. 

Love the subtle tones of this colourway and think if I were to use this in a scheme, I'd pair it with a deeper shade on the wall, such as Farrow and Ball's Mouse's Back to really make a feature of the fabric. 

Which do you prefer?

'A well designed space...

...is a juxtaposition of styles, periods and objects, resulting in a cocktail for living.'

Yes, I completely agree Pal and Smith. Oh, and I wish I was responsible for the rooms in your portfolio! Mmm mmm mmm. 

Kitchen time

Is anyone the owner of this lovely cookbook?

I was seduced by the front cover the other day and promptly ordered it from Amazon having quickly flicked through the pages inside. The beautifully styled imagery sealed the deal.

Image: via Murdoch Books

A nice change

Has anyone been on the Farrow & Ball website recently?

Seems it has a fresh new look.

Along with some great decorating advice as usual...

there's lot's more inspirational imagery too. Take a look.