Spring bedding, of the bedlinen sort

Yes I'm talking about bedding again, it seems it was the weekend for both refreshing an existing set and trying out a brand new one too.  Handy really as the one I dyed has now been earmarked for another bedroom, so the new set's arrival was well timed, and while I need to start thinking about bedding of the garden type, for now I'm happy to share these.  It's lovely and Spring-like don't you think?

I think you'll be surprised about where they're from.  I know I was pleasantly surprised when browsing the website when choosing and I'll admit their products challenged my memories and preconceptions of this shop. It's a retailer that's well known for its thermals, and when they got in touch to discuss working together, given my over active thyroid I was hoping it wasn't for the thermals.

No doubt by now you've worked out this pretty bedding is just one of the bedding sets available from Damart.

It's the Jardin set, in teal and I love its fresh look and how it tones with our existing decor, the headboard and coloured sheets and pillowcases.  I don't know if you were surprised as I was, but I know that this has made me realise that it's well worth keeping an open mind.

And it's not just their bedding that turned my head, there's some great looking dresses on the site too.  As I said before Damart are well known for their thermals, but with my overactive thyroid thermals are the last thing I need, whereas MOH is the 'icebox' - funny how often, couples can be at different ends of the body warmth scale isn't it?

But enough musing, back to the duvet set. I think it goes pretty well with my caravan quilt too.  I don't sign up to the school of thought that everything has to match, it's nice to have something that isn't quite what's expected, but nothing too wacky or out there. Like many things it's a balance and what you're comfortable with, isn't it?

There's nothing better than new bedding, well... apart from freshly ironed new bedding!  It's starting to be a bit of a habit as once again I found myself wielding the iron. That's twice in a month, but don't worry it's not one I'm hoping to keep up! 

In my garden: A first proper look after winter

Hasn't it been nice to have seen some sun this week? It was so nice that I ventured out into the garden one evening after work this week to retrieve the cardboard we've been accumulating as the preparations for the conservatory work continue.  But along the way I couldn't help but take a few pictures, and poke around to see what's going on. 

There was suddenly more colour than I expected, and some, like this kerria which is visible from the house.

I think it's the best I've seen this plant which has snuck through the fence from next door.  Patience it seems - as well as cutting it back hard - really does pay off.  It seems though that the forget-me-nots have much more patience, and resilience, than we do as once again they're back.

I do like them, but they arrive in droves, and so after a while we end up treating them like weeds.  But quite pretty weeds. 

Also just visible from the house is the reddy-orange flowers of the ornamental quince, and I can't work out if it too has more flowers this year, or if I've just spotted it at its peak. Who knows.

The lime green euphorbias bring a zing around the garden, but in one place in particular when teamed with the vibrant lilac of the flowering honesty it is quite psycadelic.

I was keen to see what the new(ish) camellia was up to as I couldn't quite work out what from my seat at the dining table. On closer inspection one white flower remained but one was in the process of decaying. As I've said before, no less pretty.

What surprised me though was that the cherry blossom was out. Every year though I think it provides one of my favourite photos. It's probably something to do with the freshness and that brick wall background.

As I was poking around the cherry tree I spotted a pop of yellow where I wasn't expecting to see any colour. And discovered that I'm now the proud owner of yet another primula.

In the grass we could see a dark spot from the house, up close it was as I thought it was a patch of very tiny irises. I've a feeling they won't last for long as MOH is eyeing up the lawnmower and its first outing.

Closer to the house but hidden by the barbecue the replacement forsythia is in flower too.  I need it to grow a bit more this year, not only so we can see it and enjoy it, but also so I don't have to lean over the barbecue to get a photo!

It shouldn't be a shock that many plants have suddenly grown given all the rain we've had, but even the box balls have sprouted so it won't be too long before the shears come out for those.  It's noticeable this year that the box balls that are more sheltered have already grown more rapidly than the one that's more exposed.

The sensible solution would be to swap the pots around. But as the pots come past my waist and are full of earth, that's unlikely to happen unless we need to shift them so the builders can have access.  Actually that might need to happen, but if it does there should be some extra muscles on hand to help.

I am behind where I usually am with tidying the garden and sowing seeds, but it's been an exceptional year weather-wise so far and hopefully there'll be plenty of time for us to catch up.  

A woodland guest room

Like Toblerone and Dairylea, things that come in triangles are often pretty good, and this woodland guest room at this year's Ideal Home Show, designed by Black Parrots Studio is definitely up there with those two other triangular goodies.  

It's been designed as a flexible space transitioning from office to bedroom and "capturing the spirit of an off-the-grid garden retreat in the Scandinavian forest."

For a small space it was full of colour, textures and pattern - most notably that wallpaper, which I warmed too.  Although paired with the orange I did briefly think I might have been back in the 1970s, but the whole effect felt more modern than vintage.

As you've probably spotted there's a bit of a jungle theme going on which aims to bring the outside in.  I think the space works, because although there's a lot in here, the restricted colour palette gives it a stylish, rather than cluttered finish.  Although if you do look at the wallpaper from a certain angle, it does have the look of OSB about it. 

As you can see it was busy outside, but inside because there was just a small viewing space I had the place almost to myself.

What I particularly liked was the geometric brass tables with their grouping of pots and plants.  It's simple, but striking and effective isn't it?  And even better it's something that would be easy to replicate.

What do you think, would you have a garden pod and decorate it in a similar style, or would you it be something entirely different?