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

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

CREAMY YELLOWS ADORNED THE WALLS AT MOTTISFONT IN HAMPSHIRE

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.

READING MATERIAL ELEGANTLY ARRANGED AT THE NATIONAL TRUST'S MOTTISFONT

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.

You don't hear me talk much about kitchens here on the blog, you did a few years back though when we had a new one installed. We opted for high gloss units, with the majority of cupboards, including the inbuilt washing machine, dishwasher and fridge-freezer in a colour they called champagne. It's not what I'd call champagne and is a grey-green with some added shimmer and I fell for it as soon as I saw it. And typically it was the most expensive finish they had, but there was no talking me out of it. Well not completely anyway, our compromise was to have our wall units in a gloss soft white, which helped control the costs and also helps reflect light around our windowless kitchen.

Don't worry I'm not about to change it, I think MOH would consider that grounds for divorce as he said he's "never putting in a new kitchen again" and yes, I don't believe him either. But I do think that some houses lend themselves more to one style of kitchen over another, our current house the chic, gloss look works for the open plan space and for how we live, however another style of house would completely suit a shabby chic style kitchen, and it's the style of kitchen I'm more naturally drawn to. One day I might get one, despite MOH's protestations.

So today I'm sharing some tips on how to achieve the shabby chic look, because for now, that's as close as I'm going to get.

1. Install solid wood worktops

You'll often see solid wood worktops in rustic style cooking spaces, and it's easy to see why. Their beautiful, natural finish is guaranteed to give your kitchen that gorgeous shabby chic vibe. They look the part but more importantly they're also strong and robust, so you can trust they’ll continue to look their best for many years.

There are a wide variety of different timbers to choose from, oak tends to be a firm favourite when it comes to achieving a truly rustic look. In our previous kitchen we had wooden worktops and I agree with kitchen specialists Worktop Express that they are full of natural charm and warmth - the perfect combination for creating the ultimate cosy atmosphere in your cooking space.

2. Choose a statement ceramic sink

A ceramic sink, perhaps and old fashioned and original Butler's sink, is often a feature in a shabby chic inspired kitchen. I had one in my previous house, which was original and matched the rest of the kitchen. Back then, when it came to redoing the kitchen, keeping it and incorporating it into the design didn't fit my budget, so it was begrudgingly replaced and used in the garden as a herb planter. Thinking back I've no idea what happened to it, and why I didn't move it with me to our current house.

There's contemporary versions around too, so these might be ideal for your shabby chic inspired space. Belfast sinks are a popular choice, and are similar to a Butler's sink, but with an overflow as fresh water was readily available in Belfast in the 1700's, but not so much in London, so there was no overflow as every drop was used carefully. I can't imagine anyone installing a sink now, without an overflow.

With their crisp, clean all-white colour, this style of sink looks stunning when set within wooden worktops and helps elevate the feel of the whole room. Adding rustic-looking taps would bring an authentic and personal feel.

3. Add vintage-inspired accessories

I think that what makes shabby chic work is the accessories you choose, and it's the perfect excuse to find crockery that mixes and matches. And showcasing your knickknacks is a must, having them on show whether it's in piles on open shelves or arranged in glass fronted units.

Or maybe it's something simple like positioning a pair of classically curved salt and pepper pots on your kitchen table or displaying a selection of Mason style jars on the worktops. You may even want to go for old fashioned-looking appliances, such as a retro style kettle and toaster combination or a set of vintage-esque weighing scales.

4. Decorate with pretty pastels

I'm more of a bold colour kind of girl than pastels, but I think shabby chic needs pastel shades to bring it to life. They don't have to be twee and sugary, unless you want them to be. Adding a touch of mint green, duck egg blue, dusky pink, a pale yellow or creamy vanilla to a neutral colour could be a stylish and modern take on the shabby chic look and set the mood for your room. I think being guided by the style of the property, the light in the space and the rest of your decor is always good advice. I like rooms that look harmonious together, so decorating within a style or colour palette will always work best for me.

Is there anything else you'd add to this list?

* This is a collaborative post