New Home Editions

Really pleased with some of the new editions to the house that I got for my birthday last month.  I had blogged about this gorgeous John Lewis lamp before and Bean saw it, bought it, and gave it to me for my birthday! How lush!

This gorgeous Emma Bridgewater Honey and Marmelade jar was given to me my Bean's best friend, who always puts 110% into present buying.  This she bought to go with the Emma Bridgewater glass Jug and Cups that she had given us as a wedding present.

Fantastic new teapot, from Forlife that has an in-built strainer for making tea from loose tea leaves.

When Friends Come To Stay...

{Sunday 18th August}

We have friends round to stay fairly often and I like to make them feel special and it would be nice to think that they enjoy coming to stay.  There is nothing I like better than going to stay in a nice hotel, so it would be nice to think that our friends have a sense of 'going away' when then come and stay with us.  I am a home bird and don't really like staying at other peoples houses so I think it's important to make people feel comfortable in your home.

I think it's the small things that make a difference.  Here are some things that I think make the atmosphere a little bit more special when someone comes to stay.

Above and below:  Light candles in fireplaces, on mantle pieces, in storm lanterns on landings, and in bathrooms.  It's nice to light scented candles but make sure the fragrances don't clash throughout the house.  Some smells can be really over powering to some people so be sure not to over do it.

Make your guests feel special.  Always tidy and clean their bedroom as much as possible and think about what bed linen you use.  Nice crisp bed linen always make someone want to snuggle up and have a good night sleep.  Dress the room with some fresh flowers and then think about the little touches.  It's always nice to leave a towel out and put out someone hotel slippers or socks for your guest.  Also remember they might not always have the same bed time as you so they might be awake for some time.  Leave them a magazine or set up a TV/DVD player with a selection of your favourite films.

Plan something fun to do with your guests.  Give your evening some focus.  If you are having a BBQ why not think about having a fire pit, or have some cards or garden games at the ready. You don't want to end up just a dwindling conversation or just watching the TV.

Make sure that tea and coffee are always made available and that you are offering at regular occasions.  Or if it is a guest who is staying for a few days make sure you let them know where the tea, coffee, milk and mugs are so they feel comfortable helping themselves.

Life is the flower for which love is the honey

Nothing dresses a room better than freshly cut flowers, whether in a glass vase, jam jar or tea pot.  There are so many things you can do with flowers, but for me, simple is better.

I'm not overly keen on flower arrangements and prefer a vase full of the same flower.  I also find that flowers keep a lot better if you keep only one variety in each vase.

White Hydrangeas are my favourite.  I love their soft, full, heads, they just look so delicate and perfect.  I find you can get 3 stems from a florist for about £5 and they tend to last about 2 weeks.  I found the key to Hydrangeas is only giving them about an inch of room temperature water and changing this every other day.

They aren't particularly fragrant but they do look beautiful.

Frame of mind

{18th July 2013}

I have always loved the way that you can group pictures together on a wall in a collage.  I think if you get it right it just makes a wall pop.  The above image is the collage wall that I have at my parents house, I was firs inspired to do this about 5 years ago after seeing the idea in a changing room in Monsoon.  It used to look so good, and over time I have taken frames away and it has diminished.  I to get this looking beautiful again so that I am inspired when I return home.

The main plan is to also create a collage wall in our living room for our wedding items.  We have the letters 'N' '&' and 'G' and a gorgeous coordinates print that my sister bought us as our engagement present which will fit perfectly on a collage wall.

Now for some of the collage walls that I am taking as inspiration....

Collage wall in Blackbird Tea Rooms, Brighton