Stylish brights & patterned tableware at the new Homesense store in Greenwich

OWL-TASTIC, AND JUST MY COLOUR

Exciting news, this week HomeSense finally moved into my area.

Dangerous news too for my purse, and MOH is already rolling his eyes at this news. No doubt he's resigned to the fact that it's now even more likely (and let's face it it was pretty likely before) that even more interior loveliness will find its way into our home.

While I was in the new store it would have been rude not to take a few pictures of their ranges, wouldn't it?  

It seems that right now I'm attracted to cushions, as I found myself drawn to them almost at every turn.  And if it's cushions you want then HomeSense have a great range, and one of the sales assistants today told me they also have a delivery every day...

I told you it was dangerous.

Yesterday it started with the owls. I was seriously tempted, before being sidetracked by the geometrics. I'm not sure why as I know the owls would be a better fit for our home, but well indecision struck.  

And these were in the window, it wasn't going to end well was it, or was it?

I turned away only to be met by these buddhas, calm was restored and these statues were considered too. But then again taking this larger gold one back to work on the bus might cause a few looks, maybe that's for another day.

I wandered and found myself in the lighting department at the back of the store and in front of this pink flamingo light.  Then I remembered that the lamp in my bedroom, which lights the mirror where I do my make-up had less than quietly gone pop recently, so I could leave with an ultra-practical purchase. I looked at the flamingo light again and I knew that even I would be struggling to badge this as an ultra-practical purchase.

Although I think everyone should consider a pink flamingo home accessory at least once in their life.

Resisting the practical choices for now I moved on throughout the store and promptly fell in love with this sofa, its pattern is very similar to one I saw in Totnes many years ago, which started a new sofa search. Up until now I hadn't realised HomeSense sold larger items of furniture - I think on previous visits to the Tunbridge Wells store I'd been so focussed on my mission of faux flowers and garden lights that I'd missed this all together. 

I did spot many grey and yellow colour combinations though, which is a combination I love - and if you hadn't noticed, I've also snuck plenty more cushions into this post with the photos above.  The photo below is much less subtle, but definitely no worse for it either.

The other thing that struck me as I walked around the new store on opening day was how easy it'd be to get organised with HomeSense, there were office organisers, wicker baskets for use just about anywhere and an aisle end display that was not only eye catching but clearly practical too.

NO EXCUSE TO NOT BE ORGANISED!

Also upstairs I discovered the most gorgeous tableware. I knew that if I hung around for too long it would be dangerous and (on this visit) I daren't even pick the pieces up and look at the prices as I'd be in that place where resistance is futile...

The willpower was strong on this visit - and I stuck to my gameplan, remember the bedroom lamp one?  Yes, the practical side was in evidence today, as I headed back downstairs to the stylish matt grey and brass lamp that had caught my eye earlier. It's not quite the pink flamingo light, but it's every bit as stylish in its understated way, and will be a massive boon for avoiding the mascara wand in my eye!

So thank you HomeSense, it's good to have you close by and it's safe to say I'll be back!

* This is a collaborative post but all views are my own

Post Comment Love 4 - 6 August 2017

Hello there and welcome to another Post Comment Love.  If you were here last week it was great to see you and if you're new here this week welcome. A few weeks ago I said I wasn't sure what day it was and well this week after a few days away it's safe to say I'm even more confused than I was then. I was back at work yesterday and that felt like Monday. There's definite advantages to discovering what you thought was Monday is actually Thursday, but it's not so great time wise when you've already a growing to do list. So once again I'll be playing catch-up again - so please bear with me!

We did have a great few days away in the beautiful Suffolk countryside and it was much needed. We were lucky - mostly - with the weather, even managing a twenty mile cycle into the nearest town of Framlingham where I spied another contender for a future loo series, so watch out for that next week, I hope. We thought we'd take advantage of the sun that afternoon and take a bottle of wine with us for our picnic in the vineyard where we were staying. The sun was fed up of playing by then and it wasn't long before we gave up and were back in the cottage with a cup of coffee instead!

THE BEAUTIFUL SUFFOLK COUNTRYSIDE

Bloggers Showcase: Rachel from Wheelz and Wearing Heels

The aim of Rachel's blog - Wheelz and Wearing Heels - is to raise awareness of cerebral palsy and chronic illness, and she also writes about beauty, fashion and lifestyle too and admits to being a stationery addict (nothing wrong with that I say!).  She says finds it difficult attracting people to her content and so finds herself on social media 24/7, which is where she found our #BloggerShowcase questions, and the three words she uses to describe herself are independent, granny and hilarious, so it's definitely worthwhile popping over to Morgan's blog and find out more about Rachel, but first don't forget to connect with Rachel on social media:

Instagram  -  Twitter   

An InLinkz Link-up

Let's talk Edwardian house decoration

I've been thinking back to my old house a fair bit recently so when Skirtings R Us got in touch about exploring Edwardian house decoration it seemed timely and I wondered how much my house had influenced how I'd decorated it. But to do that I needed to know more about the decor of the time. In researching this post I've learnt the Edwardian era was relatively short - as was Edward VII's spell as monarch - lasting between 1901 and 1910, although "Edwardian" is often extended at both ends from as early as 1890 until just before the first world war. Which in anyone's terms, is quite an extension!

Edward VII was by all accounts someone who was a leader of the fashionable elite and often influenced by European arts and fashions. And the decor style must have been a welcome relief from the dark colours and heaviness of Victorian interiors.

The Edwardian style is lighter and brighter and must have been a breath of fresh air and includes many pastel blues, greens, pinks and creamy yellows. As I'm writing this my mind can't help but wander to The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, which I remember having a resurgence in the late 80s, just before I bought my house in 1992.

Examples of typical Edwardian decor

The National Trust property, Polesden Lacey is a typical Edwardian home and it's one I've visited, albeit a while back.  The pictures I've shared of it here before focussed on it being a party house, which it very much was, but looking at it again today it is typical of its time.

A PENDANT LIGHT AT POLESDEN LACEY IN SURREY

WING CHAIRS AT POLESDEN LACEY

Pendant lights in a smoked glass were often used as central lights in a time when electric lighting was just beginning to be introduced in grander homes. Ceiling roses were used to disguise the light fittings, and fabric lampshades with frills and tassels were popular too.

The furniture was reproduction and included a range of styles from baroque to rococo, with wing chairs being a typical shape, often upholstered in chintz and damasks. 

Fireplaces were smaller than Victorian ones often with decorative tiles, with even smaller versions installed in bedrooms.

Polesden Lacey is clearly a grander house than my old mid-terraced house, but the Edwardian room set at the Geffrye museum is more likely the style we'll still see in domestic houses even today, and much closer to mine too. 

The picture rail is typical, as is the style of front door - both of which were retained in my house as original features. I've said in a recent post how I was fortunate to discover original fireplaces which had been boarded up by previous owners. And that wasn't all. The original panelled doors had been covered in hardboard and many years and layers of paint, the picture rail remained in the front room and the high and moulded skirting boards were also mostly in place. Replicating the Edwardian look is relatively easy to achieve by installing a picture rail and skirting board similar to those in the pictures below:

THE EDWARDIAN LIVING HALLWAY AT THE GEFFRYE MUSEUM IN LONDON

THE EDWARDIAN LIVING ROOM AT THE GEFFRYE MUSEUM DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS (IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY, RIGHT?!)

 

Looking through my pictures I realised that Mottisfont in Hampshire, another National Trust property also fits into the Edwardian decor style even though it was reconfigured and redecorated by Maud Russell in the 1930s, so right at the end of the extended Edwardian era. As you can see the flowers, which are loosely arranged, as per the style of day, also have a natural and pastel feel to them.  

FLOWERS IN THE EDWARDIAN HOUSEHOLD WERE OFTEN LOOSELY ARRANGED AND ECHOED THE WALLPAPER

While the wallpaper is still quite formal, its colour is lighter than it would have been and the addition of fresh flowers in the fireplace add a further feminine touch. As does the reading material on the nearby desk.

Even in the maids room, the Edwardian style is apparent - stripes were another favourite for wallpaper, and the pretty hand painted coat hanger is one I'd happily have in my house today.

STRIPED WALLPAPER AND A PRETTY FLORAL HANGER IN THE MAIDS ROOM AT MOTTISFONT

So that's a glimpse into decorating in the Edwardian style, fascinating isn't it? And I'm sure that like me you'll see elements of the style maybe in your home, and definitely on the high street. It's a style that's calming and relaxing, but is it a style you'd choose to decorate in, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

* This is a collaborative post, but all views and opinions are my own.