Inspiration at the Ideal Home Show

One of the challenges about writing a single post about my visit to the Ideal Home Show has been exactly what to put in it.  I mean, there was so much to see, and I tried my best to see most of it, which meant so many photos.  But I think I'm there with a highlights post, though there will be many more posts to come in the coming weeks, because you know how much I like a room set.

In fact I like them so much that the first set of photos were from the Good Homes Magazine room sets.  I might very well have been swayed by this yellowy-goldy-mustard chair in the bedroom room set, but that was my room set of choice. Throughout the show though there were brightly coloured armchairs, so watch out for those becoming a thing (if they're not already).

The picture below is also from the bedroom room set and as well as the pom poms - I've already said here that I expect these to be big this year, and my visit to the Ideal Home Show only confirmed that - there's the mix of textures that just make a room work. The suede footstools, the wooly blanket and the textured rug.  All of these calming colours might not be what you'd pair the yellow chair with, but it really did work. 

I'm also partial to some clever storage and the kitchen room set had this built in on one of the ends of the kitchen cabinets. When storage is functional and stylish then that's a winner in my book.  I'll share more soon, but the kitchen was dark and moody so the copper and metallic accessories really did shine.

The room sets were just inside the main entrance so really were one of the first things you saw as you got into the show, and it was quite a welcome. The bathrooms are often my least favourite spaces as because they're often the most unrealistic space wise - there's a reason that bathrooms are often referred to as the smallest room, isn't there?

This year though I was blown away by the bathroom and it's feature wall -  I later discovered there were extra kitchen and bathroom room sets as a bonus, and I may be changing my mind about them being my least favourite room set.  The patterned feature wall was stunning and would work equally well in a less generous and more usual sized domestic space too, and really give some character to what can often be a functional and formulaic space. 

A SHOWER WALL WITH A DIFFERENCE

Before heading over to the houses to check out the length of the queues there, I found myself at the Furnish Your Home stand, which was full of ideas and items to live up to its name.  I thought I'd choose an item or two from their stand to share with you too, but as ever that was easier said than done.  There were items like these geometric lights which would make a great statement either in a hallway or over a dining area and bring a modern touch to any space. 

Or maybe this sleek and stylish desk which would easily fit into and enhance a corner of most rooms, and double up as a console table when the laptop was put away.  I think it's the type of piece that I'll be trying to accommodate at a future date, as having somewhere so stylish to work could only improve my outputs, right?

I mentioned earlier that feature armchairs were very much a thing, and this bold patterned brass chair, brass unit and wallpaper really made a statement. It really does show that if you go bold, you should go really bold and reap the benefits.  This evokes a vision of a warm, snug and cosy room for me, perhaps a masculine room, but definitely one that would be great for cocktails - make mine a Manhattan!

The other thing I noticed at this year's show was mixed metallics.  There was the copper jars and gold patterned mugs in the kitchen photo above, but also on the Furnish Your Home stand there was a silver mirrored chair adorned with a gold fabric cushion right alongside a rose gold console table.  If you'd described that to me I might have scrunched my nose up, but it looks a whole lot better than I could have imagined.

Leaving the Furnish Your Home stand behind me I finally made it to the houses. The queues were short - phew - and I couldn't help but be reminded of the bubble hedge at Houghton Hall with this one outside the Innovation House with its interior designed by Sophie Robinson.  While it looks real, it's actually faux box and I think is a great way to add interest and kerb-appeal. 

Inside there was a riot of colour,  and I'm saving that for another day. My favourite shot though was this one from the nursery, not quite what you'd call traditional either is it?

Elsewhere around the show there were many things that caught my eye, I've narrowed those down to just four:

1. Fun garden signs, but which would would you choose?

2. An upcycled bench incorporating a milk churn and recycled wood

3. Handcrafted and responsibly sourced Oyster shell lights

4. The stunning designs of the Garden Fireballs

So quite a visit, and that's only part of it - there's much more to come!

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

Colours of London

You'll know that I'm a fan of colour, but even I was surprised by just how much colour there was in the shops when we were up in town on Saturday.  After some functional shopping - a new duvet cover and some makeup from John Lewis - it was time for something I don't do much of, or as much of as I'd like at times.  A mooch around London's streets, I had a rough route planned to get us from Oxford Street to Piccadilly, and plans for some window browsing along the way.

While I love London sometimes and in places the crowds are too much. One of the junctions I avoid wherever possible is Oxford Street and Regent Street, much preferring to nip through the side streets and Hanover Square.  In fact there are plenty of squares in this part of town and many are worth exploring, but not on this trip, this trip was as it turned out, all about colour.

I mean, when a window display is as colourful and pattern-clashingly-fantastic as this one at Tory Burch, you start to get what I mean. 

All of the prints, patterns and colours were great and my eyes didn't know quite where to look first. I'm not sure I would have put them all together in one piece, and I'm not sure many people could pull it off, but it was a feast for the senses.  In some ways it's no different to a patchwork quilt, just a bold and dramatic one. 

What do you think?

But colour in the shop windows of Regent Street wasn't just limited to clothes, further along these garlands of marigolds were just as impactful.

And the shoes too. There's nothing - other than tradition - that says men's shoes need to be dull is there?  I suspect though, that like the outfit above, only the most flamboyant and/or fashion conscious would feel truly comfortable wearing the pair in the centre, although on the plus side they would go with everything wouldn't they?

To highlight that colour was the order of the day, I turned around at one point and spotted this multi-coloured bike against a post. Perhaps the rider had it to match the shoes above?

Arriving at one of our planned route stops, it no longer surprised me to see one of the windows full of colour. This time in the shape of a tea pot, and with a party in every cup there was plenty for dad's reflection to admire!

It also looks as if I've loaned my legs to the teapot, which gave me a smile when I looked back over the photos.  Inside Fortnum & Mason, the colour continued and these simple but colourful chocolate bars were very tempting.

We found ourselves in the stationery department - and I escaped from there without a purchase, although there were many tempting items. In truth, it's a department we'll be going back to and I've a feeling that it's unlikely to wield the same result.  On this visit though I found myself snapping the colour, from this little bird garland to confetti and a first for me, confetti crackers which do sound an awful lot of fun, as long as they're pulled somewhere out of the confines of my house!

IMAGINE THE FUN - AND MESS - THESE WOULD BRING!

There was the more traditional confetti in boxes but also contraptions to "release the sparkle" which again would be designated not in my space.  The glittered letter garland also looked promising but also fell into the the if-you-pick-it-up-you're-making-a-potential-commitment kind of purchase, and I've long since learnt that these are served best with a photo only. 

At the end of this section there was a display of colourful (what else?) paper plates and partyware of all designs, but of all of them it was these small square ballroom scene ones that took my fancy.  I very nearly left with these, of course I didn't need them and had no idea what I'd use them for, but they were like nothing, and certainly not like any paper plates, I'd seen before.

The other item that seriously tempted me, and got past the do-I-pick-it-up-test was these tiny, tiny cards.  Complete with envelopes I was trying to work out if with these I could become the best correspondent ever, sharing little and often or look like the biggest cheapskate ever?  The other thing that struck me was you could only send these to people with a short address, and the fancier, larger stamps would be out too.

But then again, if these were sent in the post that would actually involve using them. I decided they were far too pretty for that and returned them to the shelf.  I didn't leave completely empty handed though, you may have already seen my Spring decorated fairy cakes from yesterday's post, and I've a feeling that we'll be looking for seasonal cakes every time we visit now!

Chock full of interior delights

Today I'm sharing another Norfolk gem, and one that's just down the road from my parents so it's always nice to find time to pop in and have a look around if I can. And last weekend, I could.  This interiors haven is Unique and is based at Norfolk Lavender in Heacham, one day I'll need to do a post about the lavender - but I'll need to time that right.

It's the type of place that is stuffed full of interiors goodness, from material books, pictures, lights, sofas, furniture and as you'll see even a bath. It's impossible to see everything, but somehow it just works - although on this visit I was sure it looked smaller, but mum was probably right when she said there was even more in the shop than normal. 

There's a single file trail which leads you around the shop, luckily we had the place to ourselves although a lady did time her welcome so as not to startle us.  It's that kind of place.

I was drawn to the chartreuse of this, what I thought was a picture, but as I got closer realised it was a harlequin sample book. I liked it nonetheless, and so it's in this post, and even now I think it would make a great picture.  I didn't look any closer as I knew that pausing, exploring and touching would make an emotional connection I couldn't commit to carry through.

And no sooner had I escaped the clutches of the Harlequin hummingbirds I was faced, head on, with a slipper bath.  It was gorgeous but not (well not for me anyway) an impulse purchase.

Leaving the bath behind my next magpie stop was this brightly striped and what I can only describe as funky bow-shaped chest. Isn't it gorgeous?  The top looked like lacquered teak and I couldn't help but have a stroke of this. I knew that while I loved this, I'd struggle to sell it to MOH, especially as when I got close up I could see the cream border to the top had a bit of shabby chic about it. We often joke that MOH thinks this style needs a good rub down and a proper paint...

It's not for this house (not that I have another house, or even one on the horizon) but it's definitely thought provoking and no less gorgeous for it.  As we carried on around the shop, single file as the displays permitted, I realised that pictures weren't just on the walls or leant on dressers, they were also on the floor.  This stag was taking refuge behind a modern white table, and he almost got away unnoticed.

As you can see, it's a sight for interior eyes - where to look first, and then where next. Now you understand why you can't possibly see everything on a single visit.

It is a place where your senses are overwhelmed (in a good way) but even amongst this there are moments of calm and serenity.  This visit, like so many before it didn't dissapoint - I mean, with this much interiors goodness, how could it?

You have to look up, look down, and look everywhere to see what's on offer - and just as we were leaving, looking down this pom-pom cushion caught my eye. I'd already walked past it on the way in, but had only spotted it on second viewing, so my tip for exploring places like this is to go regularly, and do at least two circuits of the shop.

They might think you mad, but I can guarantee you'll see more each walk round you do. 

...However to save my purse I was quickly ushered out of the door after the first round of viewings, this time - but who knows what may happen on another visit?!