two of my favorite things...

Source: livethemma.ikea.se Photo: Nina Brobergvia 

Two of my favorite things for the home, candles and flowers, create a relaxed display by using just three or four large blooms together, draped  in a bowl for effortless chic.  So pretty.

♥

Hello lamp shade...

Photographer Roland Persson, image provided by Ikea.se/livethemma

Currently I don't have a lamp shade hanging from the main light in our living room, and this one kinda  stopped me in my tracks this morning when it popped up in my in box, its from the new series of lamps in a country style coming soon to IKEA, which flirts with tradition, but is right on trend!  I'm loving the sheerness of the  fabric  that will let the light  shine through,  and  the nice detail in the pleats  and  small buttons sewn onto  the fabric.  This lampshade reminds me  ever so slightly to shades by Tine K, similar  in a feel and style that I love, but sad to say I don't have the budget for, so this offering from Ikea would do very nicely, and with an up coming trip to France soon, I think I might just have to pay a visit and check the new range out.

By the way, did  you spot the April fool post over at Ikea livet Hemma over the weekend, I nearly fell for it...it least I think its an April fool....

A little Calm from IKEA

Hello how are you doing?  I've been feeling a little washed out of late, what with the winter grey skies and general feeling of being under the weather, plus everything at home is a bit topsy turvy, some times things just seem to happen all at once don't they, towards the end of last year my washing  machine packed up, quickly followed by my cooker dying on me, and now there is work going on in the down stairs flat which affects our home up stairs,(our bathroom has been slowly leaking into the kitchen below us) so everything seems to be in a constant mess at the moment, and yesterday work men showed up to put in new telephone connections so I'm feeling less then relaxed this week.

So it was kind of nice to find these lovely relaxing photos in my in box this morning, from the Ikea Livet Hemma blog. Just staring at the photo above has already reduced  my stress levels, with its  calming colour palette and use of natural textures and materials -so relaxing.
Our environment has a huge effect on our well-being, (which I'm currently discovering firsthand) but  the use of   light colours give this look a feeling of calm and quite, and I always find that wood and wicker baskets with their  unique grains and distinct natural element are always comforting and relaxing.

One of the trends for 2012 is Pure and Simple and taking inspiration from Japan, Ikea Livet Hemma take a look at raw materials such as untreated wood and and natural fibers to help create this calming and natural look for the home. Although I can't quite picture me sitting on these lovely banana rush foot stools drinking Japanese tea anytime soon, (I'll never get off the floor) I can appreciate  the uncluttered calm feel of this space, with the mix of  the natural textures and the clean lines of the units and tables., and I also love  plain white table ware to serve good food on, so simple.

 

All photos Nina Broberg/IKEA Livet Hemma

Black, white and purple.

Generally speaking purple isn't one of my favourite colours, I prefer it to be more on the berry side with more pink in, but when I spotted these pictures recently over one Stylizimo blog, well they stopped me in my tracks,  and actually I really like the purple teamed with black and white with the natural warming touches from wood.  With just a few purple accessories it really warms the space up, although to be honest its pretty much a fab space anyway. 

Images from Fermina.dk

Yes this space is really inspiring me, and I'm already thinking of maybe adding some curtains in purple to my own living room, to help make it feel snugger for the winter. 

Lovely displays to inspire.

The Winter Lodge room, Photography,  Ransoms Garden centre team

Silver and black room

Elegant , sophisticated and calm dresser

Winter Lodge

Mint greens combine with silver, white and natural

 This time of year the shops are busting with decorative ideas, and whether you totally embrace the Holiday festivities and have every inch of your home covered  in tinsel and glitter,  or would rather be catching a plane to a far away place and relaxing with warm sunshine and a glass of something tropical, one thing is for certain,  even if you just like to ring in the changes with some seasonal  decoration,  you will be sure to find some great inspiration out there for the home.
Ransoms Garden Centre is a favourite place of mine to visit locally,  they certainly have a very talented bunch of stylist up there, from the room displays to the painted furniture, the displays all year round never cease to amaze and inspire me.  I just love a stroll around at the weekends, taking it all in, then we  pop on over to the tea rooms for something scrummy and slightly naughty for the waistline to eat.

Personally I  love the Winter Lodge Room display, all those cosy cushions and fur throws, just the perfect place to snuggle down in, and the mint green and silver display could also be inspiration for a wedding table, (we are currently thinking future weddings in our house..or rather my Daughters are, although neither of them are actually engaged)  Any of these displays inspire or give you decorating ideas?

All these photos and more can be found on the Ransoms Facebook page here

Some loveliness from Alvhem Estate and interiors

Thanks for joining me this week here on This Home Sweet Home, its been a good week this week, (started  an interior design course and did a little photo shoot for friends)  and its been nice to have you along, hope you all have a great weekend, I'll leave you with some loveliness from the Alvhem Estate and interiors site which is always a treat to look around, I just love the way all the apartments look so light and airy, I'm hoping that if I blog about them  I'll get one for free....wishful thinking?  :)

Lovely floor to ceiling doors and windows to let the sun light in. 

Styling tips, mix  vintage and modern together such as the chandelier and wall prints. 

 Maximise the feeling of space with open shelves.

 and what every girl needs, a walk in wardrobe...

All images Alvhem Estate & Interiors

 Like this simple table? check out the previous post here to see how to make something similar.

....and just in case, I'll be happy with this apartment  that I just spotted, with the lovely shop to browse around at weekends.......well, a girl can dream.....

Happy weekend all! 

xxx

Colours of Autumn from Cox & Cox

What do you like about the Autumn?  Is it the thought of snuggling up on the sofa in the evenings under a cosy blanket, or the colours and textures that come with the cooler days? 

 Cox & Cox have just released the new Autumn/Winter collection and its getting me in the mood for the arrival of the chiller days, with lovely rustic textures, colours in claret, greens, and velvet browns.

All Images Cox &Cox

Anything here catch your eye?   You can now view the  catalogue on line here which as usual is full of beautifully photographed items for the home.

A colourful Autumn with Rice.

A pretty table setting with the Italian tableware from Rice

All images Rice

Although I'm busy creating a black and white theme in my living room, I am actually rather drawn to bright colours too, so I'm loving a dose of colour in the new Autumn/winter  catalogue from Rice, which is soon to be available in October.  

My latest charity shop find.

I've been on the look out for ideas for storage space in our living room. We have very little cupboard space in the whole of the house, and though I hate to admit it, I'm a bit of a magpie for collecting and keeping things, so wanted to put some kind of shelves or cupboards in the living room to store all my magazines books and bits and pieces.
Having flicked through my pile of books and magazines for some inspiration, I came across a couple of looks and ideas that I thought might work, some units from an IKEA catalog (picture 2) and some units seen in the Book Decorate by Holly Becker. (pictures 1&3) a book that I spend many a happy time flicking through for inspiration.
With these ideas in mind I headed out to our local B&Q store to check out if I could get something similar to the IKEA units, (the nearest IKEA is in France so B&Q had to do) thinking I could use slim white glossy kitchen wall units but at floor level, then having checked them out, I headed out to my favourite charity shop on the Island, the Hospice, not a week goes by where we don't pop in to either donate or buy.

Image 2 Ikea, 1&3 Decorate by Holly Becker

and there I found these units below.  As soon as I spotted them I thought of those shelves in picture 1 above,  and that was it, decision made!  I bought two of them for £35.00.  Now I need to decide if I should paint them or leave them, I'm thinking paint them white to blend into the wall a little,  but I'll live with them a while before deciding. 

In the mean time I'm enjoying filling them up with all by bits and bobs.

Oh, and if you read this post and are wondering about the red sofa's just going out of shot in the pictures, I can tell you that I had a couple of  very disappointing days where I thought I had scored two perfect white  sofa's for my new look living room, from the same charity shop,  only to have them delivered and for them NOT even to make it through the door!  I could of sworn that they where alot smaller then the current red sofas.....which just goes to show that colour can be very deceptive, and you should always carry a tape measure with you.....and know before hand if something will even make it thorough the door and round the stair well.  I'm still ever so slightly peeved about the whole sofa saga, but the shelves kind of make up for it.  Lesson learned though.

weekend inspiration.

From Here

Earlier this week I was out and about doing a bit of window shopping as you do from time to time, and I wandered into the Harbour Gallery at St. Aubins, its an arts and craft gallery/shop for local artists and crafters, and I happened to pick up a couple of jars of fabric dye, one in  the colour of black, and one in the colour  of mustard yellow, and they reminded me of this photo above that I had sitting in my interiors inspiration folder on my computer.  So I thought that I would share it with you.  The yellow adds a nice pop of colour don't your think?

From Here

In this photo I am drawn to the high ceilings and those skinny pendent  lights, hanging from long lengths of lighting wire.  I love hight ceilings and the whole feeling of space, but creating an intimate space at the same time, you can imagine entertaining  around that table with just those over head lights on making it feel cosy, can't you...

Simply because its pretty.

House Doctor via  bodieandfou.blogspot.com 

Pretty things from Pinterest and House Doctor,  funny really as I don't actually like balloons in real life, that whole popping thing just freaks me out,  but they look lovely in this photo don't you think? 

Summer entertaining

Photo: Nina Broberg Livet Hemma blog

Happy Monday all, did you do anything nice of special over the weekend?    It was a busy one for us, we had Friends visiting who stopped by  for a meal, then a family get together on Saturday. Don't you find the summer months are usually filled with family gatherings,  weddings,  graduations, BBQ's summer parties, the birth of babies etc. 

I found this  fun table setting over at Livet Hemma blog today, I really need to get some ideas for creating table settings, when we entertain its always a scramble to make sure we have enough matching knives and forks and plates etc. and I'm embarrassed to say that this weekend I  had to use kitchen roll as serviettes.... oh the shame.... I thought I had some nice paper napkins in a draw but I couldn't find them, so I folded up a piece of kitchen roll and placed the knife and folk on top, then placed that on top of the plate, and in a lame attempt to add some decoration to the table, added some sprig's of rosemary.....

Needless to say I'm now on the look out for some nice items to help create  pretty table settings for future entertaining...

If you too are looking for some inspiration then may I suggest A Beach Cottage here  for some lovely ideas, and also if you have your own fab table setting ideas, there is a competition currently  running over at Livet Hemma blog   but hurry it ends soon.

P.S watch out for some new Advertisers coming  to This Home Sweet Home, I will be introducing you to some Etsy stores sellers and other sites very soon! :)

  

H&M summer.

Images H&M

Living on an Island surrounded be sea, it would be criminal not to get a few friends together and head down to the beach for a few barbie's and picnics, throughout the summer, and I'm loving the look and feel of these seaside scenes from H&M home.  There is something about old rustic creates that I just find so appealing, great too in the home filled with warm blankets for evening when you return from a lazy day spent at the beach to snuggle under once the sun sets........ahhhh perfect picnics from H&M Home.

P.S are you a winner?  click here  to find out.

Bright whites with blue and pops of pink

  On Livet Hemma this week, the team  create peace and quiet in the bedroom., Using crisp white walls and floors create a sense of tranquillity,  and a delicate rose or two keeps it sweet smelling and feminine without being too girly.  

I love the blue and white duvet set on the bed designed by Charlotte Skak, not what I would have chosen for this room myself, but seeing it here, it really works to keep the room fresh but  modern.  A touch of hot pink in the form of the floor rug helps to add a bit of warmth.

I'm counting down the days until I'm let loose on IKEA  when we go to France for the day, I think I'll be needing a truck for all the things I want to get, but knowing me, I'll get there and not know where to start! 

All images IKEA LIVET HEMMA

Table scape, bring the outside in.

Nothing feels more  like spring then bringing the outside in at this time of year. I love collecting flowers and branches of blooms and displaying them around the house,  and even if the weather is not as sunny as we would like all the time, you can't help but feel happy with a bunch or two of  lovely  yellow flowers around the place.  Why not use flowers and brightly coloured vases and bottles, with crisp white porcelain (all  from IKEA) to create a welcoming spring table setting for family or friends as in these photos.  Don't you just love the slightly rustic wonky table,  standing on the pile of rugs?

I'll be heading off to IKEA very soon, taking a trip to France for the day just to visit, its the highlight of my  year,  to be let loose around all those room settings.....ahhh bliss, I'm really quite excited about it!   so I'll be checking  out a few things while I'm there, my list is getting ever longer...

 IKEA LIVET HEMMA /Photo credits  Nina Broberg

Scandinavian style with influences from North Africa.

I think the team from Livet Hemma blog have been reading my mind this week, I'm thinking of painting my living room walls white and as we have a red sofa similar colour to the one in  these photos,  for my next  trip to IKEA that I have planned very soon, I think I may have to add a few cushions and mats to my growing  wish list that I have going aground in my mind!

A Scandinavian style with influences from North Africa, a bright red sofa, pouff and cabinet combined with beautiful rugs and pillows in playful colours,  all contribute to this exotic feeling.  Kelim mats and pottery reminiscent of a market in Marrakes  and the stylish stoneware IKEA PS JONSBERG vase, all perfectly fits the theme.

Do you like adding  holiday souvenirs  to your styling at home?  I tend to bring back small locally painted water colours from places that we visit, I have a few from France and some from Venice, IKEA picture frames   always very handy....

IKEA Livet Hemma (Life at Home)

Are you a  fan of all things IKEA?  If I had the chance I would visit IKEA more often, but for me, it means a trip to France in Rennes as this is  the closest one to where I live.  So getting my hands on a catalogue and visiting IKEA Family Live, and the IKEA website is the next best thing.  And now....... there is another way to stay up to date, Yeah! a new Swedish  interior inspirational blog, Livet Hemma or in English Life at Home.

You've heard of IKEA hackers right? people who buy products and personalise them, well the styling team over at Livet Hemma are encouraging this by  styling Ikea pieces in interesting ways and in exciting environments, and positively embracing the hacker within, rather then  just showing how the furniture is seen in the catalogue, the team show how to use the furniture in interesting ways,  which I think is great as although I love the styling  in Ikea catalogues, I think for the most part nobody wants to live in what looks like an IKEA stage set, and we usually buy things that fit into our homes, right?

 The team also upload stories, tips and trend spotting ideas in video and film, but these are in Swedish as is the blog, but you can at least use google translate to read the blog, If you are an IKEA lover its well worth a visit for some styling ideas, you can also create a personal profile on the site and share your own styling ideas too!

                    

Dresser paint colour ideas.

Images 1|2|3|4

The dresser that I have been given is still in a naked state, and in two halves, as I haven't got around to doing anything with it at the moment, apart from a quick test sand down, it looks like I may have to get some varnish remover to get rid of the old varnish on the surface, but I'm pretty sure that I will paint it, black grey or white are all in the running at the moment (ideas above)  Any tips on how to go about it? or products to use?

Currently loving Black & White.

There is  a slight possibility that in 2011 we may move house as we currently only have 2 bedrooms, but we could do with a third one for our eldest daughter, the box, room as we call it, is getting a bit cramped  for two fully grown girls.  So with this in mind my head is currently  filled with new decorating ideas and possibilities, I'm currently loving  black and white so here are just a few looks that have caught my eye, though have totally lost track of where I have got them from, but No. 2, 6 and 9 are from the blog Helt Enlkelt where you will find more black and white inspiration, just love it!  If you recognise any of the other pics do let me know so that I can credit them.

On a totally different subject, I had my hand bag stolen today, which as you can imagine has been really rather annoying,  I feel slightly lost and undressed without it, I practically have my  entire  life in that  bag, not to mention my favourite lip gloss, still on the bright side it does mean I will just have to go shopping for a new bag, wallet, and lip gloss..... when I get my bank details and other bits of plastic sorted out.  but on a serious note, ladies take care you never know who's about!! Have a safe day.