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!

A peek at some of Habitat's Spring-Summer 18 range

I've had the Indoor and Garden Spring and Summer lookbook from Habitat since the start of the year, and it's something I keep coming back to, so today I'm sharing some of the items that have caught my eye. I think you'll work out why without me telling you, but in case you don't colour plays a big part.

I am seriously tempted by this Jambi occasional chair, although I daren't mention it to MOH yet - the key word there is yet!  I think if I did I'd be permanently banned from looking, as I said earlier in the week we've agreed a date for our conservatory work and are still working out how and where to store the furniture we already have, let alone finding space for more. And yes, I know it's a garden chair so could go outside, but it's way too nice to get rained on, isn't it?

WEAVE: JAMBI OCCASIONAL CHAIR

We've already got a grey two-seater outdoor sofa (yes that's indoors too) earmarked for the space and our dresser will go back into the space, but once I've got rid of the freezer then I'm sure there'll be space for something new.  And if I'm having colour, then I might as well have some colour...

BOLD AND BRIGHT: LEON WINDOW BOX

These planters will be just the thing, and I'd need them both. Not because I actually need them both, but because I don't think I could choose between them - I love the colour combinations. I told you about my orange and red outfit from the weekend, so orange and bright pink isn't too far away is it, I'm not sure though about wearing green and yellow (but never say never!) 

I'm also keen on this dinner service. We need new plates. We should buy plates that match our Denby set, because that's sensible. But I love these plates. I think I'm quite keen on not being sensible. I think we'll be having a visit to Habitat to check them out for ourselves. I think it's important to actually feel your crockery before deciding, don't you?

SWEET LA GLAMOUR : DENNIS DINNER SERVICE

The final shot I've chosen to share from the look book is this gorgeous table shot. The table is gorgeous, you'll know how much I love a wooden table, but for me it's the mix-and-match-but-still-together vases and eucalyptus.  It's a look I'd love to emulate, but I've a feeling that my attempts wouldn't look anywhere near as classy. 

NATURAL: FELIZ TABLE

There's also a high chance that my clumsy self would be knocking some of these over too, but I'll gloss over that and pretend that my life - and table - is as together as this. It isn't - or rarely is - but a girl can dream can't she?

You can find more of what's new at Habitat on their website - this isn't a sponsored post - I'm sharing these because they really are things I love and would happily have - and buy - for my home.

Photo-credit: All images courtesy of Habitat

A little light and colour crazy

Last week I shared some of the HomeSense summer ranges, and you weren't surprised I was drawn by the more colourful ones were you? Me neither. Today I'm sharing some more of their items and ones that I plan to enjoy all summer long, so let's hope this current warm spell hangs around as I've a serious amount of lights I want to enjoy both in our conservatory and in the garden.

Because nothing says summer garden more than jewel coloured ice lolly lights, now does it?

They are just one of the fun battery operated lights (#) in my local HomeSense store, which is a little bit further away than I'd ideally like. Although, to be fair, that's probably a good thing - but I hear there's likely to be a new store much closer to home in Greenwich by the end of the year. I already know that MOH will be rolling his eyes with dismay when I share that little gem with him, so sshh, let's not tell him yet!

I also picked up these white textured heart lights and while I'm showing them draped around my laburnum tree here, I plan to use them to decorate the gazebo we've bought for our 110th party next month. They're the kind of light that can be used almost anywhere around the house and I've a feeling our conservatory may turn into a bit of a fairy grotto at some point.

And they'll be easy to move outside for the days we have people over, or when we spend the evenings relaxing in the garden, they'll add a lovely glow and help me find my glass of rose more easily!

I'm hoping too that our local bird population are pleased with what I have planned for them. I think if I were a bird I'd be queueing up to move into one of these, we'll see how they go. I loved the colours of these, and three is perhaps excessive, but I'm hoping to hang them on a particularly stark bit of fence to add some colour and interest where it'll be harder to get plants to grow.

They're metal and there's a drawer at the bottom so, if any of the bird life do move in for a season it'll be easy to get them ready for the next residents.  And yes, you're right, it must be time for some more battery lights. 

These have a paper origami detail and complement the textured hearts lights earlier.  I'm keen to see the shadows that these throw around the patio, and you'll begin to see why over the summer I don't watch so much TV, as it's all about being outside - and trying to avoid being bitten, which so far, I'm struggling with. Usually I'm left alone and they feast on MOH, but this year, not so much and I much prefer how it used to be...

Another find from HomeSense are these four plastic bowls, ideal for use outside and light enough to take on picnics too. I'm all about having a civilised picnic if you can, as long as there's not too far to carry everything!

And the photo above just sums how colour and I get on.

My mission on my latest visit to HomeSense was all about the garden lights, and so I've another set to show you. If I'm honest I was less sure about these 'willow' lights, but MOH was keen on these, so in the spirit of harmony I acquiesced, sometimes it's the only way isn't it?  

But you know what I was pleasantly surprised. These have a more robust battery casing and can be left outside (although I still wouldn't leave them out over winter) and while I can't see the willow leaves - I see green chillies instead - I'm ok with that. I draped them around a prickly conifer bush next to the barbecue, but I've got plans to add these at the end of the garden where the pizza oven will be, but we've some work to do before that happens.

They looked great in the dark, and well I couldn't resist some arty shots.

And yes, I've gone a little light crazy, but they're fun and are an easy way to add some lighting outside if like us you don't have - or plan to have - electricity outside. I've a whole series of solar lights too, on one side of the patio, so it's fair to say I'm a bit of a fairy light queen!

(#) Of course, battery operated lights should be used sensibly outside and I'd recommend you only leave those that are designated for use outside, outside over the summer.

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