The bedroom and bathroom room sets at this year's Ideal Home Show

Unbelievably I visited the Ideal Home Show almost five months ago - I'm not sure where the time has gone. Equally as unbelievable is I've shared very little from there, and from the Grand Designs show a month later, here until now.  Over the next few weeks I'll share the room sets, the houses and the garden sets from both shows, because, well because it's a great way to see the interior trends, and there's nothing better than having a look at how someone else decorates is there?

This week I'm starting with the bedroom and bathroom room sets and the rest of the rooms will follow.  I talk a lot about texture here on the blog so you can imagine my delight when I saw this bedroom stuffed full of textures, and with a yellow back wall to boot. The faux wall was an interesting idea that could work well in the right sized room.  It provides a great focal feature which you can frame, as they've done here, with a bold colour.  I'll not tell you what's behind there until later.

The bedroom room set at the Ideal Home Show
 
Textures galore in the bathroom room set at the Ideal Home show

Yes, this bedroom was all about snuggly texture. The throw on the bed is just insane isn't it?

I also liked the simplicity of the seedhead wallpaper and how the muted colours and patterns all worked together, but I think that string of pom poms on the headboard would be a real dust collector.  The bedside tables are also a design hit with me, the A frame works well doesn't it?

A side table by the bed at the Ideal Home Show

Every bedroom needs a mirror and somewhere to put stuff and this bedroom managed that stylishly too. Although not copper, the mirror perfectly complements the copper hairbrush and eyelash curlers. I never knew copper had become some entrenched, and it looks like it'll be around a while longer doesn't it, but... copper eyelash curlers?  I don't possess any (curlers not eyelashes) but I've a feeling I might need these...

A mirror above a chest of drawers at the Ideal Home Show

And behind the wall?

The cutest office space. With room for a desk and chair, and a brightly coloured rug it looks a completely different space doesn't it? And a very clever way of keeping a workspace out of sight. Although this one is pretty enough to actually be on display...

A false wall conceals an office space at the Ideal Home Show

The rug fits well with the seed head wallpaper too and I think brings the space together.  I'd happily find room for this in my house too. Along with that tower of white drawers, although I'd resist adding labels and then never remember which drawer I put anything in.

A closer look at that patterned rug at the Ideal Home Show

Even now looking back over these pictures I love that bedroom. MOH didn't like the big chunky throw, but he wouldn't need to have any of it would he?  So moving on...

To the bathroom

A completely different look here, and a dramatic one too. I've seen lots of black and white in bathrooms, and there's a good reason for that, and that's because it works. This one has touches of grey, wood and metallics as well as plants. Of course it's completely unrealistic size-wise but there's some great ideas here too.

Classic black and white in the bathroom room set at the Ideal Home show

I like the inbuilt tiled shelf for pots and jars - but only stylish ones obviously, and the black ladder towel rail against the black wall. You'd think it wouldn't stand out, but it does.

double black sinks in the bathroom room set at the Ideal Home show

With the bath in the centre of the room there's another faux panel to frame it and add decorative touches. We'd never be able to have such prettiness in our bathroom as I'm sure it wouldn't last too long before being knocked to the floor. I'm not usually a fan of standalone baths, but I like this one with its own wall close by.

the shower cubicle in the corner of the bathroom room set at the Ideal Home show

So there's the first two room sets, both inspiring, but both very different. What did you think? Would you - or do you - go for either of these styles?

Home Etc

Our abandoned vineyard picnic

Remember that cottage we stayed in in Suffolk at the start of August? Well one of the attractions might well have been that it was attached to a vineyard.  Maybe.  Well, it definitely made it stand out on the bookings website, that and part of the welcome bundle was a bottle of wine from the vineyard. Sadly that didn't work out for us as our hosts upgraded us to a bottle of champagne as the dishwasher was out of action, which was a bit of a shame, but then again... champagne!

In the house information the owners expressly invited guests to look around the vineyard and to picnic there. And when we bumped into them one morning - they lived next door - they repeated the invitation, and so, as it's not everyday you get the opportunity to picnic in a vineyard we did. 

Not only did the owners encourage this, they provided some fold-up chairs, picnic-ware - including plastic glasses - and a hamper. They really meant it. So after a cycle into Framlingham in the morning, we packed our picnic and headed into the vineyard.  We knew there was an old oak tree in the middle, which is where the vineyard takes its name, but little else. 

This was our view as we entered the vineyard.

A look at the Oak Hill vineyard in Suffolk

It wasn't long before we found the large old oak tree and spent time admiring its gnarly-ness before choosing the perfect picnic spot. It's funny isn't it, how we all do that. Looking for a spot that's not too slopey, no unexpected bumps and where we think we'll get the most warmth from the sun, that was now hiding.

Part of the big old oak and where the vineyard gets it's name from Oak Hill vineyard in Suffolk
 
Knobbly bark and roots of the Oak at the Oak Hill vineyard in Suffolk

Perfect spot chosen. The view approved and so the chairs were unpacked.  And out came the food.  In the distance we could see rabbits hopping through the vineyards, and their quick movements kept catching our eyes. We'd brought a bottle along from the house, but resisted opening it until the sun came out for long enough. 

Choosing our position and waiting for the sun to reappear at the Oak Hill vineyard in Suffolk

And we waited. But as you can see from the photos the clouds were thick and all promise of the sun disappeared. So cutting our losses - and having lasted it out long enough (another British thing I think?) we packed up, explored the vineyards and headed back to the cottage for a nice warm drink.  

My post yesterday reminded me of this abandoned picnic and an alarming increase in us preferring a hot drink to alcohol. I'm hoping this isn't a trend and a result of our optimism. Optimism that the sun will be out, the weather will be warmer and such like.  

Looking down a row of vines at the Oak Hill vineyard in Suffolk
 
Admiring the grapes on the vines at the Oak Hill vineyard in Suffolk

But it's not everyday you get the chance to picnic on a vineyard is it, so it was worth trying.  Hopefully you've had warmer, boozier picnics than my attempts this summer - please let me know where your best picnic was, I'm curious now...

Post Comment Love & Blogger Showcase 8-10 September 2017

Hello there and welcome to another #PoCoLo - if you were here last week, it was great to see you and if you're linking with Morgan and I for the first time this week, we're really pleased you've chosen to join us. We know you're going to find some fab posts to read and we're looking forward to catching up with all of you. 

As ever, for me, life has been busy and as crazy as normal. Not helped, I think, by deciding to learn to crochet last weekend - like you do - after seeing the most beautiful blanket, which I blogged about earlier this week.  I managed to teach myself and I am hooked (pun intended) and can't believe I thought it was so hard.  It's a portable craft too, and as I said on twitter I've mastered the carrying around bit, now I need to practice the taking it out of my handbag and doing it!  

Small steps and all that...

My photo this week is one from Greenwich Park, I spotted the cheery yellow pine cone flowers as fancying a change, I walked my winter route to work. I was so glad I did. This week I've also decided to move on in my "year in Greenwich Park" series, but not because I've fallen out of love with it, but more because I'm just enjoying it.

cheery yellow coneflowers in greenwich park

Blogger Showcase: Mrs Smith from Finally Mrs Smith

1. Who are you?

I am Mrs. Smith and I blog over at Finally Mrs Smith. A midwest girl who is making the best of marriage, motherhood, and myself. 

2. How did you discover blogging?

I discovered blogging in a course I was taking about technology in the classroom. 

3. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging as a way to share my thoughts, experiences, and knowledge. 

4. What do you find most challenging?

I go through phases of challenges. Sometimes it's posting regularly. Sometimes it's figuring out what to post about. Right now my challenge is growing my audience. 

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

My favorite topic to write about are my littles and reviews on products and services. 

6. Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

I am currently blogging for fun but would Love to make it a business. I have a topic I am working on that I think can take me in that direction. 

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging is that I control it. 

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference and if so, what did you think?

I have never attended a blogging conference. 

9. What are your 3 best posts?

  1. My husband is trying to kill me

  2. Bathroom Remodel

  3. A pad/tampon free period!

10. Describe yourself in three words!

Three words that describe me are entertaining, petty, hopeful. 

11. Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Can I choose tea and cake?  I Love cake and tea. I don't do coffee. 

12. What's your idea of a perfect night out?

For me the perfect night out would consist of nonstop laughing, food, and something physical like laser tag. 

13. Your perfect night in?

The perfect night in would consist of great food (that I don't have to prepare or clean up), board games, friends and family and good music. 

14. What would your best friend/OH/mum or kids say is your best quality?

They would say I'm sweet/nice. 

Great answers, thanks Mrs Smith - so nice to find out a bit more about you.  And definitely yes to tea and cake, cake with anything is a winning combo in my book!  Thanks for taking part, and please do grab your "I was featured in #PoCoLo" badge.

Before you link up, please do take a look and connect with Mrs Smith on her social channels: Twitter  -  Facebook  -  Instagram  -  Pinterest