Light and dark

Today's post comes from the Ideal Home Show and as you can see from a quick look at the photos, there's a lot of lights, and mostly set against dark backgrounds - hence the title "light and dark"  - and that got me thinking about how exhibitors show off their items on their stands. And of course, there's a chance to admire the lights, the setting and the pure extravagance that seeps from the photos. Or I think it does anyway.

I think the lanterns above are super stylish and a classic whatever their finish. I've a wooden lantern of the same shape, and while that's good and equally timeless, these are more lust-worthy.  I know though that it'd be the more industrial looking light that MOH would be swooning over, and if I'm honest that's ok as I'd happily find space for something like this.

The setting has a hint of sitting room, or house about it doesn't it?  But one that's decorated in most likely a more modern style that many of us no doubt have.  And they do look good, but how do you choose just one?

The one thing that wasn't dark on this stand was another of those statement armchairs, this one a gorgeous orange velvet. And it really was, and I'm not sure I ever thought I'd be admiring an orange velvet chair, but I am and I was.

Even the drinks trolley fits in with the decadence, and it could be on this stand that my "need" or perhaps acceptance might be a better word, for this opinion-dividing piece of furniture started. I do quite like the one below, and think if you're going for a drinks trolley then you might as well go bold.

Initial research also shows that you also need some kind of retaining guard to stop your bottles whizzing off the end when you stop suddenly, which at some point I'm sure you're going to need to do.  Many trolleys also have built in bottle holders - it remains to be seen if the one I will opt for has what I've already determined to be necessary features, or if I'll see one I love so much that they will just go out the window!

What I learnt about the stands, apart from the black background, is that repetition often works well.  For me it's best demonstrated with the photo above, and with the photo below.  Although I've included that, not only for the yellow chair, but also for the lightbulb shadows on the wall, they're just as good as the oversized bulbs I think.

I've no idea though whose idea it was to put that yellow chair out of my "stroking" reach!

Poolside at John Lewis with Sunnylife

Remember that hot spell, the one that some are referring to as our summer? Yes, well I hope it's not our summer, but that one - in the midst of the heat I popped along to a pool party at John Lewis at Oxford Street and the weather couldn't have been better for it. 

The Poolside I'm talking about though was indoors on the third floor - and is open to the public until 12 May - so it really doesn't matter what the weather's like outside.  Although wouldn't it be good for it to be warmer than the six degrees that's forecast for tomorrow, the last day of April, surely the zaniest of months for weather so far this year.  (By the way 2018, that's not a challenge!)

Arriving on the third floor at John Lewis' Oxford Street store I immediately spotted a riot of colour and headed in that direction. It wasn't long before I held the pretty cocktail above in my hand and entered the zone that was pretty much a one stop holiday shop, complete with plenty of inflatables by Sunnylife.

Image courtesy of John Lewis

The inflatables were great fun, and for this one I'd go as far to say it was FAB (sorry!), but you know what I mean...

By the Poolside there were plenty more inflatables: toucans, doughnuts, pineapples, flamingos and unicorns to name just a few, not forgetting the watermelon ring and the clever 'virtual' pool.  It looks real doesn't it, but it's not - it's a place where you can paddle without getting wet, but you have to mind your head on the mirrors as you leave the pool!

There's plenty more too - summer hat anyone?  I hope it won't be too long before these will be needed again.

And it seems that pom-poms and pineapples that we've seen as interiors trends aren't just for interiors - yay! - as this straw bag and sarong show.

I was quite taken with these lemon wedge pouches, and not just because they matched my shoes (but that could have been part of the reason, I'll admit).  I think they'd be useful for all kinds of things, on the beach to keep things sand-free, or to prevent your suntan lotion covering everything it shouldn't, or maybe just a fun bag as an accessory or for your lunch.  

You can see I've given this some thought can't you?

I mentioned a riot of colour at the start of this post and I stopped to take a closer look as I left the pool - it really was my kind of colourful place, complete with zingy colours and fun touches too, like the parrot on the jar with lemons and limes.

But even if colour - or so much colour - isn't your thing, there are still more subtle ways to add some zing to your summer. Whether that's the cute beaded cactus table linen, the colourful bowls, or the cushions. 

And yes, it's another of 'those' chairs - I've had to look up their name, it's an Acapulco Chair, I thought it only right as this is the third picture I've shared of this style on my blog so far this year.  Had you noticed I might be slightly smitten?!

* This is a collaborative post, but all views and opinions are my own.  Thanks to John Lewis for inviting me along to immerse myself in the colour and for wowing me with the Poolside mirrors and inflatables.

A family room, with a lot going on

I'm in two minds about this room set at this year's Ideal Home Show. I like stuff and things around me so it should be my thing, but I'm not sure if it is, and I'm not really sure why.  There's nothing in here that really offends me, but other than it having a real lived in feel, there's not much in here that really grabs me either.  

Perhaps it's fallen into that betwixt and between, and is neither one or the other - I'd be interested to know what you think after you've seen the photos. So, onto the room set.

Perhaps it's because too much of it is neutral in my opinion. But I do know that the standout item is the wall hung bureau or writing station - it reminds me of the bureau we had when growing up. The idea of closing the flap (writing table) and shutting away the office for the evening is almost completely alien to us now, now that we've developed the 'always on' mentality.  Somehow just the flap of that piece of furniture harks back to a time less frantic, peculiar hey?

It does make good use of the wall space though, there's the corner fireplace above and the wall mounted drawers below.  There's plenty of shelf space too.

As I've said in previous Ideal Home posts from this year, there was often a brightly coloured armchair bringing a pop of colour, and this room set was no different.  This time orange. 

And there was another pompom trimmed cushion.  I tell you, they're everywhere.

So what do you think, are you smitten or a bit take it or leave it, like me?