QUOTE OF THE DAY 31.08.11

"Have nothing in your house

that you do not know to be useful,

or believe to be beautiful..."

                                                      

                                                                                William Morris

TAKE ME TO MOROCCO

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There's something very unique about Moroccan inspired design. It carries with it an exotic air of mystery, romance and seduction. It's rich in texture, color and culture. It's vibrant, highly decorative and requires a lot of character to pull it off. With morocco, every sense is tantalized. Everything is pleasing to the touch and to the eye. So much so that you can almost taste it. To kick start your global inspiration here are some Moroccan inspired interiors with both modern and traditional twists.

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What i love about the interior above is that you can infuse a space with so much rich and vibrant color without so much as a touch of paint. This is a modern twist to the exotic feel. The space is bright and airy and gives the sense of being on holiday but from the comfort of your own home.

  

 

Moroccan lamps

Being highly ornamental, one way to introduce decorative patterns, colors and shapes into your space is through lamps and lanterns. The key to picking accessories for the space is in looking out for the handcrafted ornaments. Detail is what gives it that little extra touch. Look out for hand painted, hand carved, hand moulded pieces.

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Hand painted vases and Moroccan tea set

Moroccan tea set

So for those that love the rich, vibrant and seductive feel of Morocco, this would be the way forward. Be bold and daring with your choice in pattern, colour and accessories. In Morocco 'more is more' so layer up on all these exciting factors, sit back and indulge in some well deserved exotic tea...

xx christina xx 

THE ULTIMATE BACHELOR PAD... living room

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Your home is a reflection of yourself. Piled up pizza boxes and empty beer cans are not a good look. Bachelor pads are meant to be suave, sophisticated and dare I say it, cool. If your home is none of these things then it might be time to upgrade the digs and rethink your decor boys. Now don't panic, for those of you who have no clue what decor means. Follow the tips below and transform your mess of a home into the ultimate bachelor pad.

Living room:

The first order of business is spending your cash on a great sofa. Invest in a comfortable piece that can host your mates for the big game or host a guest crashing over at yours. You spend most of your time here so dig deep in those pockets and get something worthwhile. Light sofas make a room feel bigger but for those who eat on the couch often, darker sofas will camouflage food/drink stains better. Go for neutral colors if you're in doubt. 

Another essential item you should have is a coffee table. Depending on the feel  of the space, go for either classic or contemporary and you are sure to have a winner. Next, invest in one or two statement chairs, something that's... "so you." Main furniture done! With lighting, the rule of thumb is having more than one light source. Have your main overhead lighting be a feature in itself and compliment it with a floor and table lamp. These additions will give your living room the perfect light conditions.  If you don't have a fireplace fear not because candles are a great alternative for heat and light. And fire is always sexy.

Mood board by yours truly

The next items on the to-do-list are accessories. here's where your creativity comes in. Introduce pops or shades of colour through accessories. Rugs, artwork, cushions, curtains, bowls ... the list is endless. Its easy to experiment with colour and texture this way and the best thing about it is that it can easily be changed. Last but not least is storage. Keep your place clean and tidy with shelving and racks.

Mood board by yours truly

Now there's no excuse for a  messy, mismatched living room. Keep things simple, express yourself and the rest will come together. And with these kind of secrets the ladies might never want to leave... You're welcome.

xx christina xx

ALL FOR WALL DECAL

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Wall Decal... Not an entirely new concept but there are so many reasons why it's fun and great for your interior. Vinyl wall decals give you the opportunity to add color and patterns to your home without lifting a single paintbrush. They are excellent for people who like to change their mind and even better for those who redecorate every five minutes. oops...same people... Anyway below is a list of reasons why vinyl wall decals are a great idea.

• They are easy to use...literally peel, transfer and peel off
• A neat alternative to stencils for those who do not enjoy working with paint
• Suited for use on painted, papered, glass and mirrored surfaces
• A way of expressing yourself (you can also post your philosophical quotes)
• Inexpensive but powerful
• Great for changing up the feel of a room
• Have a great variety in terms of color, pattern and images
• Great for kids rooms

If you haven't experimented with wall decals, now is your chance. Try them large or small, bright or pale, simple or complicated, with pictures or words. They have absolutely lots to offer.

clock wall decal and Love wall decal

I am absolutely in love with the unique clock wall decal. Very quirky. Also, the the pastel 'Love is no.1' is really lovely matched with the white chairs. I really love the park bench and tree wall decal in brown below. It really brings in a natural element to the room.

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I like this because it's quite modern, simple and  feels like someone did some freehand abstract painting. I love the quote by Rumi and I would imagine breakfast on that table would be a lovely experience each morning.

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reflective wall decal

I adore the reflective wall decals because they would bring a dynamic new feel to any room. These would be a definite must have for those willing to take great and fabulous risks.

kids room wall decal

Last but not least, wall decals for children's rooms are a great idea and inspire imagination in the youngsters. Any child's room can transform into a fun and magical destination by the transfer of wall decals. There's so much variety in this department that it would be a shame not to try. In time, when the kids are all grown up, swiftly peel off the wall decals and opt for a more age appropriate design.

There is so much variety when it comes to wall decal and one need not be an expert to create a fabulous interior. Experiment. Experiment. Experiment. Its easy, fast, affordable and  need I say more? Go out there and get it now. 

xx christina xx

RE-USE . RE-STYLE . RE-DISCOVER part two

Image created by me

There's so much you can re-use and re-style at home. Part two of the 'save the planet' series will give you the ideas and inspiration to make a change in your home for the good of our environment. I would like to explore the concept of re-use and re-styling household objects into functional and aesthetic pieces of Eco-friendly design. Anyone who likes cratfs will certainly enjoy the challenge of re-styling and anyone new to DIY could beging by re-using. I have compiled some images of inspiration for everyday items and how they could be re-purposed.

Blown out Bulbs
Cut them, empty them, wash them, paint them, glitter them, hang them... the list is endless when it comes to what you can do to style your blown out bulbs. With little bits and bobs you can transform your old bulbs into mini vases, tree ornaments, saltshakers, oil lamps and into so many more things. I stumbled upon a post about beautiful hanging vases made from recycled bulbs by Esprit Cabane and also a recycled incandescent bulb at Ready Made. Check them out.

Image from Esprit Cabane

Image from Ready Made

 Image by Wicked Stepmom

Empty Bottles
Got empty bottles waiting around to be trashed? Why not re-purpose them into unique vases and lighting fixtures. I saw this uber amazing chandelier "The Narrative Augmented Reality Chandelier" made from PET bottles by Julius Kranefuss.

Image by glassvase1.com 

 

The Narrative Augmented Reality Chandelier

Tin Cans

These are many ways to re-style tin cans. The first reflex would be to style them as pen/paintbrush holders or jewellery tins. Try using bits of tiles or foam and paint and create some colorful containers. Alternatively, try new things by cutting, bending and hanging them to create cute little lanterns or candle holders. Here are some examples by creativeman and junkwave.

Image by creativeman

Image by  the Junkwave

Being resourceful and creative shouldn't be a chore. Experiment with crafts and ideas and you will be surprised with what you can come up with. Bring new life to old things and save the planet one decorative tin can at a time.

xx christina xx

RE-USE . RE-STYLE . RE-DISCOVER part one

Image created by me

Want to save the planet and have a fabulous looking home at the same time? Three words for you... re-use, re-style and re-discover. It is becoming increasingly important in this day and age to consider the environmental impact we have and use in our daily lives. Looking after our plan it much easier than you would think. If everyone made a small difference in their homes there would be a great impact on our environment. At the risk of being labeled a 'treehugger' i'll begin with the energy tips that could help your home, the world and your wallet (part one). Then i'll get to the quirky Eco-friendly design ideas that could make reading and implementing these tips less of a chore... (part two).

Images by me (of energy in my house)

Electricity:

• Switch of the lights in a room if it's not in use and save £££ when the electric bill comes along
• Switch to low energy bulbs because they use only a quarter of the electricity and last up to 10 times longer
• Switch off all electrical appliances at the plug instead of leaving them on standby (6% of the electricity bill comes courtesy of your standby appliances)
• Let hot food cool before you put in the fridge and position the fridge/freezer as far from the cooker/heater as possible to improve efficiency

Heat:

• Reduce heating by 1 degree and by 1 hour less everyday.
• Install double glazed windows
• Make use of rugs around the house and draw the curtains closed at night to save heat
• Use the right sized pans for the food and hobs, also make use of lids to keep the heat in

Water:

• Fix leaky taps and try not to leave taps running as you wash dishes (I'm usually guilty of this) 
• Wash a full load of laundry only or use the economy settings if available. Also try washing dishes manually rather than using a dishwasher
• Use a low-flow shower head and save gallons of water and £££

Miscellaneous:

• Declutter your home by donating to charity or gifting unwanted/unnecessary objects (someone's trash, another man's treasure etc.)
• Re-use tapaware, bottles and jars for leftovers, marinades, sauces etc
• Buy potted plants instead of cut flowers. They last longer and improve the quality of air indoors

.....end of part one.....

xx christina xx

DRESSING YOUR INTERIOR... from drab to fab

Image by Kathryn Russell

Dressing your home should be much like dressing yourself. Wearing the perfect accessories makes all the difference. The most perfect of outfits could be ruined by the wrong selection of  jewellery and shoes. The same applies to the home... There are many times when I have walked into a lovely house with incredible lighting, beautiful flooring, comfortable furniture and a sense that it is incomplete or that something is off. One word; Accessories. 

Image by All Home Décor

Accessories are the tell-tale of character. Accessories could make an interior quirky, classy, homely, vibrant, serene or cultural. They dictate the mood or the vibe in the room. It is important to pick accessories that portray or express your sense of style. Below are several accessories that could transform your home from drab to fab.

• Flowers, vases, fruit bowls, china ware 
• Pictures, paintings, frames, wall art, sculptures
• Baskets, mirrors, bottles, beads, books, trophies
• Candles, lamps, chandeliers
• Cushions, stuffed animals, throws, rugs etc.

As you can see the list is endless. Have fun with trying new combinations, don't be afraid to mix and match. Begin by identifying the style you would like for the room and pick objects that identify with that style. If you don't know what style you want, try picking an object you really like or find appealing and build around that. For instance if you like a certain vase, lamp or painting identify its colours, details, prints and textures. Use that information to search for more accessories with the same feel/vibe. Introduce punches of colour or subtle hues through accessories if you are not confident in using colour. This way you can change the colour scheme of a room without having to spend a fortune in paint.

Image by Home Décor Studio

Styling your home should be expressive, fun and adventurous. (side note: isn't that teddy chair cute? I cant imagine sitting on the little teddies...) Try new things, flip through magazines for inspiration. In fact, flip through your wardrobe as well, find the outfits that you love most and use them to inspire your home décor. Let everything that you pick for your home be something that you absolutely love. Let everybody walk into your home and whisper "wow" at every item. 

Image by Interiorbiz

Image by Matteo Cibic

So on that note I leave you with the following advice. Be expressive and adventurous. The only way you can be wrong is by not trying at all. Your home is a blank canvas waiting to be filled with your character. So... what are you waiting for?

xx Christina xx