Amsterdam Does Black & White

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My amazing friends recently bought an apartment in Amsterdam and I was lucky enough to be one of their first guests to stay (thanks guys)! A little charmer of a place, with beautiful big windows and a great feeling about it, it was a real treat to visit.  

One of my favourite things about Amsterdam are the black & white exteriors of the houses, especially when there's colourful flowers and plants dotted about... they just look amazing (and make me seriously consider moving there every time I visit). Though I haven't got any of 'said' colourful photos, you get the idea I hope... 


Ax

Oh Shutters, How I Love You

Firstly, apologies to my faithful readers (and dear blog) for the neglect of late... it's been too long between posts. I have some big things going on right now so my attention has been stretched to say the least... But!- I am back, and I've brought a little bit of sun on this grey evening in London...


I love shutters. White ones especially. They're so simple, neat and let so much light in (exactly what we need in London).  They're also perfect here for keeping the prying eyes of pavement passers-by at bay, while still being able to give you a view of the outside world.  


When we moved into our new house last year, I was completely set on getting them. I just couldn't imagine dowdy, dark curtains. Results above! Ours split across the middle (cafe style) so we can open the top fully if we're in the mood.


Whoever invented shutters... I salute you. They're awesome.

Pink Kitchens (Not For The Faint Hearted)

Pink kitchens. Nice idea in theory, but would we be able to bear them after day-in day-out viewing..? I'm game.

I love the candy version above - it's not too much with all that white and other colour thrown in. I would draw the line at getting pink cabinets though - imagine if you decided they weren't right and were stuck with them for years!

I think there's a fine line to tread when dappling with the tint of roses, but I say go for it. Bet you'll have loads of (less-adventurous) admirers. (Now for the hard part... convincing the boyfriend)! 

Pics via AbsolutelyBeautfulThings and Apartment Therapy

Riding House Cafe: Worth A Visit For The Interior Alone

via TheHappinessProject, DailyMail, ILiveToEatAndEatToLive and The Prodigal Guide


This morning I ventured off to meet a friend for brunch at The Riding House Cafe, in town. (I'm no food connoisseur, but it's yum there). What I really want to talk about is its interior though. 


There's loads of cool cafes/restaurants in London and their styling is always just as sharp. But there's something at Riding House Cafe I just can't get past - its blue leather stools. The colour is amazing. I know blues are blues and we've all seen them, and I don't know what it is about those stools in particular - but I love them to bits. 


It might be the buttery-soft leather, or that the shade is bordering on turquoise, or simply because they're set off by grey lamps... I don't know, I just know I want one. (Well, all of them really). Thankfully, I've come to terms that this dream may be quite impossible and instead shall settle on having that colour in my home. 


I've got my eye on a perfect dark-wood dining chair that needs recovering... I'll post the end result! 

Tiles That Go Pop

All pics via Lubna Chowdhary


I'm back! I do apologise...it's been a long time between posts, and I'm not proud. Oh I have missed you blog! While away, I finally managed to spend some time checking out my favourite blogs and one in particular caught my eye... 


Fine Little Day featured a kitchen from an amazing UK artist - Lubna Chowdhary. Lubna makes tiles primarily - damn pretty ones too. Since drooling over her blog and online store I have decided I want them all. Oh, and check out her jars - they're STUNNING.


We have a spot above our kitchen that's calling out for a tiled splashback of some sort. Lubna's pretties would be perfect. Though I'm actually in two minds whether I could justify seeing them splashed with water every day.  They're so beautiful they could easily be framed and hung. Hhmmmm... I'm seeing my mission for this weekend - visit to Lubna's London studio! 


Happy weekending. Ax