Archive for May, 2010
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Summer lantern
Lanterns are a lovely form of home accessory that have so many uses all year round. I love having lanterns lit by the fireside on a cold, winter night and enjoy watching the glow of the candle flicker inside. During the summer lanterns are perfect for taking outside in the garden, to provide much needed light as dusk falls. They’re the ideal accompaniment to evening barbecues or drinks in the garden.
This Moroccan-style lantern is in an appropriate summer colour – leaf, or pale green – and would make an ideal summer lantern. It’s got room inside for a tealight and has a useful loop on the top of it, so it can be hung. If you’re going to be using it outside, then it’s worth investing in an inexpensive lantern crook to use with it. You stick it in the ground, then hang the lantern from the hook at the top. It provides light at a good height and avoids it accidentally been knocked over.
The Moroccan lantern is reasonably priced, at only £7.95, and is firmly on my summer essentials list.
Tags: barbecue, John Lewis, lantern, light, Moroccan
Posted in Garden, Lighting, Outdoor | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 14th, 2010
Delicate swirl bird wallpaper
This bird design wallpaper is unusual enough to create a design statement on your wall, but still subtle enough to not be overpowering.
Designed by Louise Body, the stone coloured hand finished wallpaper features various birds in flight amidst branches of leaves and berries. The vertical style and the way in which the birds have been designed really makes them look like they’re fluttering and flying on your wall.
The stone birdies wallpaper is a bit pricey at £85 per roll from Oliver Bonas, but you wouldn’t need much of the paper to create a design statement.
Tags: birds, design, Louise Body, Oliver Bonas, Wallpaper
Posted in Wallpaper | 1 Comment »
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Fun floral fabric
Isn’t this a fun fabric design? I think it’s perfect for adding some summer colour into my home.
The design features modern colour block, striped and outlined flowers in zesty colours, such as hot pink, lime green, red and aqua.
The Ab Fab Tropicana curtain fabric is available from Terry’s Fabrics for only £8.99 a metre. As well as curtains, I’d like to make matching cushions too.
Tags: curtains, Fabric, Terry's Fabrics
Posted in Fabric | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Jewellery tree
I’ve been looking for something suitable to hang necklaces on for a while and, whilst I’ve found some possible options, they’ve either been too small or too ridiculously large.
This chrome jewellery tree is a great find. Unlike some of the stands I’ve seen, it looks stylish and it’s functional.
Made by Umbra and designed by Jason Nip, the Bijou jewellery tree is perfect for hanging longer necklaces on, but there’s also room on the lower branches to hang bracelets, earrings or watches. Plus, there’s room at the bottom of the stand to store other bits and pieces too.
All Up and On currently have 25% off the jewellery tree, making it a rather good price.
Tags: All Up and On, dressing table, jewellery, Storage, umbra
Posted in Bedroom, Home accessories, Storage | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Oriental design bowls
These oriental style jasmine dipping bowls caught our eye on the Graham and Green website. They’re available in three sizes – small, medium or large – and come in sets of four.
The ceramic dipping bowls are handpainted and would be great for all sorts of occasions. You could use them for serving soup or dessert in at a dinner party, pop nibbles in them at a party or simply use them as a decorative accent in your home.
We rather like the shelf they’re displayed on too, but sadly that doesn’t seem to be for sale.
Tags: bowl, ceramic, graham and green, oriental
Posted in Crockery, Dining | 4 Comments »
Monday, May 10th, 2010
Summer hammock
It’s sadly not quite the weather for it just yet, but one can but dream.
Why not get prepared for sunnier days, by stocking up on a hammock, so you can sit or lie out in the sun when it finally arrives.
This red, white and blue striped hammock, in the colours of the Union Jack, measures 260cm by 80cm and is finished off with a white fringe around the outside. You’ll find the Union stripe hammock available to buy from Dotcomgiftshop.
Tags: Dotcomgiftshop, garden seat, hammock, union jack
Posted in Garden, Outdoor, Seating | 1 Comment »
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Heart and Parcel jug
This elegant metal jug is adorned with a decorative heart design on the front.
The design is hand embossed onto the jug with a laurel heart motif and the jug would be perfect for filling with late spring or summer blooms.
The galvanised heart jug is available from Heart and Parcel, who also sell a range of other home items with a heart theme.
Tags: heart, Heart and Parcel, jug, vase
Posted in Home accessories | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 7th, 2010
Jazz up your drinks
Look at this beauty! It would be perfect for taking soup in to work for lunch, or to use for carting hot drinks out on picnics.
We love the jazzy, multicoloured stripe design and the name of the product – Mardi Gras – is very fitting.
The flask is available from M&S for the reasonable sum of £9.50.
Tags: flask, M&S, Mardi Gras, outdoor eating
Posted in Kitchen accessories, Outdoor | 2 Comments »
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
This amazing lantern is handmade from plant fibres and leaf skeletons.
It almost looks too delicate to use, but is fully functional – it comes supplied with a tea light ready to use and is fully fire-retardant.
It’s a very unusual piece and looks stunning when lit, as well as simply used for decorative purposes.
The natural leaf lantern is available from Coasting Along, for £15.
Tags: Coasting Along, Handmade, lantern, leaf, natural
Posted in Handmade, Home accessories | 1 Comment »
