Pied A Terre Home Collection.

Updated this post, because of a miss type, (slightly blushing blogger) it should read House Of Fraser, and not Frazer as previously typed (I think that's a US sit com isn't it?) Apologises to the House of Fraser.

Picture by Samantha Stansbridge (Me)

I love these red shoes, and every once in a while I get them out of their box, slip them on to my feet, stand in front of the mirror and admire how absolutely fabulous my legs look in them. Sadly that's about all I can do in them.....stand....they have killer heels on them and while I love them, trying to walk in heels is a skill that I have never really mastered, I just feel that I am going to fall flat on my face. So what are they doing on today's post I hear you ask? Well I'll give you a clue, these are a pair of Pied A Terre shoes, a name well known for stylish foot wear, and now Pied A Terre is turning its attention to interiors, creating a home collection exclusive for the House of Fraser

Pictures House of Fraser blog

The look is chic and glamorous, using a palette of grey blacks and charcoal, off set with lovely plum pink and fuchsia. For more info check out the House of Fraser blog

Readers Comments.

Earlier on this week I did a post about finding your own style, actually it was an older post that I have updated, because since first writing the post I have been giving it much more thought, and its a subject that is getting its very own blog, but more about that latter, anyway, struggler left me a comment that got my rummaging through my collection of clippings, here's way:

Struggler Commented;
Great pointers, thank you. I do need to give more formal thought to this; I am drawn to bright colors and fun patterns, then wonder why my home lacks the grown-up calm that I seek.
Our house is also by the water, and I want to acknowledge that while refraining from turning it into a beachy theme park.

So...

Dear Struggler

I recalled having saved a selection of seaside/beach inspired pages from magazines, and this lovely home came to mind when you said that you would like a grown up calm, but beachy inspired home.

This one, featured in the Country Homes and Interiors Magazine of April 2009 has a lovely calm feel to it, yet takes its inspiration form the ocean outside. I love the use of the drift wood accessories used throughout the rooms, and the use of textures such as the sheep skin rugs and cushions and the rustic drift Wood furniture.

After doing a bit of googling I discovered that this home is in fact a Holiday home in Ireland and you can see more stunning photos here and here.

Finding your own style: part one, updated.

This post has been updated because I'm discovering new ways of Finding my own style, so I thought I would share them with you.

Do you struggle to find a style for your home that you are happy with? Have you bought something for the home, only to live with it for 6 months or so, then realise that you hate it, and it does not go with anything else in the room, or may be you are one of those people who are drawn to the pretty shinny, brightly coloured this or that at every corner, and end up with a whole host of missed matched things that no matter how many times you tell your self it falls into the eclectic bracket of interior style, you just cant make it work and look like the magazines shoots do.

Did you answer yes to any of the above? then join me in Finding your own style, over the the next few weeks/months we will do some simple exercise that I hope will help us, together find a style that we like, and are happy with, a style that works with our home and family. This is as much an exercise for me as I hope it will be for you. Do feel free to share any tips and comments along the way that you have found useful.

Start by looking at:

1. Magazines

There are dozens of Homes magazines on the market so there is bound to be one with a style that you feel comfortable with. As you read through them you can book mark pages that you like, (this works well for people who find it hard to tear up magazines, me being one of them) try colour coding them, pink for bedroom, blue for bathroom, red for kitchen, that way when you are looking for inspiration for a certain room, you know which colour to turn to.

2. Books

Buying books can be costly, so try out your local library especially if you are not sure what your style is as yet. Check out local book shops and brows through various homes books. Search through Amazon, if you open up an account they will also give you recommendations based on your search results.

3. Blogs

There are a huge amount of Homes bloggers out there, all eager to share their homes, ideas and inspiration with you, start following a few and also see who they follow too! Check out the books that they love, you will get a feel for the ones that are the sure favourites once you start following a few blogs. We bloggers know a good book when we see it. Afew that I like are;

http://www.decor8.com/

http://www.younghouselove.com/

http://www.theletteredcottage.net/

http://www.brightbazaar.blogspot.com/

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

4. Flickr

Have you got your own flickr account? its a great way of saving images you come across and also collect your own pictures you take of your own home. Join a few groups there are so many of them you will be spoilt for choice!

5. Homes shows.

There are usually plenty of shows about Homes and interiors going on around the globe, a great place to source new ideas and products for the home, whether it be just a simple decor update, or plans of a new home extension. Do a google search for shows going on in your area.

6. On the High Street.

check out the Home furnishing stores, and take a note of the ones that you are drawn to, pick up a store catalogue, most of the big ones will have one. Check out their online stores as well, sometimes online you can find special offers that are not available in store.

Keeping it organised.

1. Start a filing system

If you don't mind tearing up your magazines, start a filing system, tear out pages and pop them into plastic folders and binder. I do this with older magazines before I can bring myself to throw them away, I also have them filed according to style, so I have beach style, country cottage style modern living etc etc. A good idea is to have a file for each room in the house that you want to decorate.

2. Online.

Make use of places online for storing images that catch your eye, get a Flickr account to add them to, and while your there join a few groups, ones that I like include Flea Market Style , a group inspired be the book Flea Market Style, off beat interiors, for off beat ideas, Young House love great for mood board ideas. More places to collect ideas include, http://www.houzz.com/ and http://www.decomyplace.com/.

3. Make an inspiration board

keep a pin board/notice board and collect things that inspire you. collect wall paper sample, and fabric samples, pin coloured items to the board that catch your eye, for example a sweet wrapper in a certain colour, or leaf collected on a walk. Note what colours and textures you are drawn to.

4. Get snappy

A great tool to have when out and about is a mobile phone with a camera, when you see something that inspires you whip out your phone and take a snap, it could be the colour of a flower, or a great looking building, or an item of furniture in a shop,this is great for if you spot something , but are not sure if it will match with everything else at home. When you get home, just add your photos to your flickr account, or where ever you choose to store your photos.

So armed with all this information, you are now ready to go start finding your own style, I hope this has helped you to find a system that works for you.

Happy collecting!

cowboy books and charity find lamps.

Do you Style with books and magazines? Sometimes when flicking through a Homes magazine or on a blog I come across a photo where books or magazines are used in the styling, not just on the coffee table or on a book shelf, but used in way to create a Little styled area. So i have been playing at being a stylist around the house of late, using magazines and books to create my own little styled areas here and there, I have even let some of my Husbands tastes creep into the styling of our home, normally it is me that has the last say on on decorating, but just lately I have been looking at things with more of an open mind, the map lamp shade I made for him a while back, but the other day I thought I would dig out his cowboy annuals and use them along side my newly aquired charity lamp. You see, recently I joined the group interior styling on flickr run by Holly Becker of Decor8, and each Month Holly sets us a little photographic challenge, my offering is the picture with the white chair, lamp, bag and cowboy books. Actually the cowboy books work really well with the turquoise colour of the lamp as the spines of the books are all different colours, it adds a lovely pop of colour.

Check out these other great flickr group pools:

Interior Styling

Flea Market Style

offbeat interiors

This Home Sweet Home This is my group, do feel free to join and share, all welcome.

Interior Style Files and this is also my group which goes with my other blog that I am working on, which you are free to join too!

Have a very stylish weekend ;)

Charity lamp shade chic.

Did you have a good weekend? I hope so, did the lovely weather put a spring in your step? I spent some of the weekend playing at being a stylist again. On Friday I stopped by the charity shops just on the off chance really, and picked up this lovely little table and lamp in this fab turquoise colour, I thought that I might paint the table but actually when I got home, the lamp and table just seemed to go together so well that I now think they where made for each other and am going to leave it as it is.

The Lamp didn't have a shade with it when I bought it, so just to see what style shade I should go for, I borrowed the one from our bedroom, this map lamp I made a while back for my husband as he has a thing about maps, we have a few dotted around the home, something which I am beginning to quite like, anyway, I wanted to see if this shape of shade would go with the lamp base, and as it turned out, I think I have another great match, as they just seem to go so well together, isn't it strange, you could be looking for something for ages, and then out of the blue it all just seems to fit into place.

Photos also added to my flickr groups here and here, and also to the flickr group of Decor8 with the lovely Holly, where I have been picking up some great styling tips and getting some inspiration from the group pool, well worth a visit if you haven't yet stopped by. you are also very welcome to add your self to my group pool on flickr too!

lamp shade kits available from www.duffylondon.com click here for kit.