Your Books Are A Decorator's Goldmine

Pic via EyesOnSparrow

Books...there's nothing quite like losing yourself in a great one. Not only do they have that very functional purpose - but I think they moonlight as interior secret weapons! As well as reflecting our tastes and interests, telling a story about who we are, they're just damn pretty to look at. 

Line them up on shelves for some eye-candy (neat or dishevelled), stack them from the ground up to add a focal point to any room or dot them around as you like.

I've gone pretty simple on my sitting room shelves at home (above), but here's some other cool ideas to get you thinking... 

Pic via MyDeco

Pic via IHeartDesign

Pic via EyesOnSparrow

Oh and don't forget they can be used to bring a pop of colour wherever you need...

Both pics via LiveBreatheDecor

Last but not least, my personal favourite and for that day when I own the house of my dreams, the doorway bookcase...!

Pic via EyesOnSparrow

Cushion Alert: The Rug Company

If (like me) you are completely addicted to collecting cushions, check out The Rug Company for some splurge-worthy treats. 

A couple of years ago they teamed up with a load of great British designers (Alice Temperley (above) Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith are a few) and produced a range of gorgeous handmade pieces. Though they may not be the latest thing in interiors, they're so beautiful I thought they deserved a mention...(though I may be biased - I have two of Alice's)!

The range is growing slowly but surely (Alexander McQueen is the latest addition) and I can't wait to see what comes next. Though they're as pretty as they are pricey (and are a challenge to my 'interiors on a budget' ethos) at least you know that you're buying quality that will last for years to come.

My personal favourites have to be the graphic designs by Suzanne Sharp (founder of The Rug Company) and Viv's mouth design- as well as Alice's too, of course.

Pics via 1 AnneSage, 2 Home&Gardens, 3 CWD,  4 Stylefrizz

Bright Spark

Oh how I wish I had more time to be creative... My full-time job in PR keeps me quite busy (as does life!), so I don't always have enough time to dedicate to my DIY projects at home, blogging or just taking time to be inspired creatively. I am going through one of those really busy periods right now... and I'm thoroughly missing the inspiration!


When I do have the time, I have a few methods to awaken that spark in me. I love getting my camera out and going on adventures (cue photo below). These pretty pics either make it to my blog or get filed in my image library for future reference.

I also love to trawl through magazines, blogs and books (Interiors Now! (below) is my latest crush), photography (Tim Walker is amazing) and anything else that catches my eye - the best bits end up stuck in my increasingly heavier scrapbook. 

 

One of my most favourite things to do is the early morning car-boot/market mission. Even if I don't find anything to buy, I always walk away bursting with ideas. There's a great one on tomorrow in South London... but can I face the early start? Hhhmmm... 

I hope your weekend is creatively fruitful! Ax

Pic via AIOT

Tropical Delight

Sorry for the quiet period here last week - I just spent it away on holiday in Ibiza, lapping up the last of the European sun.  As us Londoners have come to expect, our first day spent back in London was met with greyness and rain..!


Instead of getting caught up in dreariness, I hunted down the beautiful home above to give me a little reminder of the pleasures of tropical living. Oh to be back on the island!


I love the use of texture throughout the house and the mix of old and new, which can be quite difficult to do well - I think they've succeeded though. The worn wood, together with the washed walls, natural and faded colours looks amazing too, everything looks so welcoming and comfortable. 


Though this entire look isn't always ideal for city living, (lots of space and light really set it off) I think it has a lot of workable ideas for decorating. I particularly love the way they've displayed glassware in the sitting room, jars in the kitchen and even made a feature with the bathroom cabinets. I could happily spend a holiday there!


Pics via Housetohome