Nursery Inspiration

A few of my friends have recently found out they are having babies which got me thinking about nurseries. Decorating a nursery must be such an exciting and wonderful thing to do - creating a home for your new arrival is a great way to start to visualise a new chapter in your life as well as start to create a literal space for him/her for when they arrive.

Although more and more people are choosing to find out the sex of their baby in advance of the birth, I have decided to stick with some fairly gender neutral interiors for some inspiration when designing your nursery. Here are some of my favourites...

I love the grey and pastel colour scheme, with the painted white wood. Admittedly this is quite girly with the addition of  the pink but the grown up wallpaper ensures that it has a grown up edge, whilst still being super cute with the cloud cushion and the bunny wall hangings

Love the wallpaper in this room, which acts as the perfect backdrop for a wildlife themed room

This scheme is so simple, and yet pepped up with quirky accessories to add interest and warmth. I am a total sucker for an owl cushion too

This colour scheme is so calming and adorable. The painted wood and the texture of the rug and storage boxes create a relaxed yet cosy room. Extra points for the rocking eames style chair

Display gorgeous toys, books and pictures on a trio of white shelves. I'm pretty sure these are from Ikea if you fancy trying it

I love the quirky, vintage finds used to add colour an interest to this nursery. The neutral scheme also means that this room will grow with the baby with just a few small tweaks

Here are some finds on the highstreet which I love for creating the perfect nursery...

1. Eames rocking chair, £435 - John Lewis
2. Owl cushion, £24.95 - Sass & Belle 
3. Elephant mobile, £80 - Not on the Highstreet
4. Cloud lamp, £15 - Ikea
5. Knitted blanket, £33 - Mamas & Papas
6. Luxury faux fur bean bag (large), £285 - The White Company

What do you think? How did you decorate your little one's room?

There is some more inspiration on my Pintrest board here.

Hx

Review: Scented Candles

As you know, I love smelly (good smelly) things and am obsessed with scented candles. So today, I am reviewing some new products now available some some brands you may know and some you may not...

Heaven Scent
£18.55
Buy online here

Heaven is a range of beauty and spa products created by Deborah Mitchell who has over 25 years worth of experience in the industry. The candles are guaranteed to burn for 50 hours and the scent is a lovely mix of sandalwood, orange and patchouli which are designed to promote relaxation.

The candles are small, so I am a bit sceptical about the 50 hour burn time but we'll see. The smell is lovely and subtle and feels very natural which I really like. They are pretty brand heavy on the aesthetic side, but the black and white feels fresh so all in all I am more than happy to have these on my mantle-place.

9/10


Sensichic
£9.99
Buy them here

The fragrance I tried was Mimosa and Mandarin, which is a really fresh and zingy scent which works all year round and is very pleasant - it doesn't punch too heavily in the nose which is something I hate in scented candles,

The candles are hand-made and come in either a glass or tin container. I always think the glass containers are much nicer but as an affordable option this is great. Very traditional design which I like but it doesn't quite suit the style in my lounge so this one might be best in the bathroom.

7/10

Grand Illusions
£12.75
But it here

These candles are more like the sort of thing I would pick for my home looks wise. They are very simple and come in a nice solid glass container.

I was lucky enough to try two flavours: Orange and Clove and Fig. The Orange and Clove fragrance was really not pleasant at all in my opinion. Really pungent and too clove-y . I think they were thinking about Christmas for that one but its not my vibe at all. Its one of those punch in the nose smells.

The Fig flavour was much better - really subtle and delicate but if I am being super critical I would say it perhaps needs a bit more of a kick.

6/10

Yankee Candles 

£24.95

Buy them from House of Bath

I have a love hate relationship with Yankee candles. I love some of their scents, but others are too sharp and punchy to be enjoyable. This little trio is also a bit hit and miss...

The fragrances are as follows:

Fluffy towels: Love this scent a lot. It really does smell of fresh laundry, and is warm and subtle. I also love the white wax - always just feels more natural to me.

Lemon Lavender: This is a bit of a weird one. In a way I really like it - you get the lavender first and then the lemon hits at the end. They are not fragrances I have seen used together before, but actually I do think it works but it takes a bit of getting used to

Black Cherry: This makes me think of cheap cherry flavoured sweets you had when you were a kid. I is so sickly sweet, and because of that, seems to be really artificial. Not for me at all.

As a gift though, this is a nice option but if it were me, I would look for the full size version of the Fluffy Towel scent - its gorgeous.

7/10


Let me know if you have tried any of these or if you have any favourite scented candles that you can recommend!

Hx

*product samples were sent to me for review but all opinions are my own

Luxuriate in a little Luxury...

Although this Autumn is supposed to be quite balmy, the evening are getting noticeably colder. For me, that means its time to get out my snugly slippers, lounge-y socks and woolly pyjamas.

But snuggling down in your favourite get-up doesn't always have to mean holey sweats and your old university jumper (although there are definitely days when that absolutely is necessary). Sometimes you want a bit of luxury - cashmere, lambswool and sheepskin in particular. I'm thinking Gwenyth Paltrow on her day off wandering around her Chelsea townhouse... (we can dream right!?)

So here are some picks from me which will definitely bring you enormous pleasure when lounging around your lovely home, glass of red wine optional but certainly recommended...

1. Cashmere jumper, £119 - Marks & Spencer
2. Cashmere pyjama bottoms, £99 - Marks & Spencer
3. Sheepskin slippers, £59.99 - Lamb Land
4. Cashmere wrap / throw, £150 - Winser London
5. Sheepskin beanbag, £950 - The White Company
6. Cashmere socks, £35 - Brora
7. Lambswool hot water bottle, £60 - The Fine Cotton Company

What do you think? Any favourites you might indulge in? Perhaps ideas for your Christmas wish list?

Hx

M&S Fashion Show - AW14

For those who follow me on Instagram/Twitter you will know that I was fortunate enough to attend the M&S show at Somerset House for Fashion Weekend on Saturday.

I had reservations about what to expect - M&S are well known for struggling sales in the fashion department and they have had a really hard time establishing who they are and who the want to appeal to.

However, I was generally very impressed with what I saw. The range showcased was very varied and, despite some pretty questionable styling (sparkly evening dresses styled with khaki parkas in that forced eclectic way) there were genuinely some pieces which will lead me to my nearest M&S store this Autumn.

If you don't follow me on Instagram please do here and you can view the video of the whole collection. In the meantime here are my picks from the show...

I love a set of co-ords and this checked two piece is something I am definitely coveting - my favourite look of the show. Styled with black brogues, the longer-line tunic is really versatile and has that Scandi, minimalist vibe, The ankle grazing tapered trousers create an impactful look but could easily be pared down with a slouchy black jumper.

Faux fur is everywhere, particularly thanks to Shrimps who blew London Fashion Week away this year and this fur coat is pretty spectacular. The shorter sleeves are particularly flattering when wearing quite an overpowering style. The way this moved on the catwalk, under the lights meant it was a real standout.

This subtly furry coat with its delicate and unfussy cut, looked gorgeous on the runway. Styled with a simple polo neck,cropped tapered trousers and masculine brogues it ticked all of my style boxes.

We're seeing a lot of these dressing-gown style coats on the high-street at the moment and I must say I am a little torn. At 5ft 1" I think its definitely going to verge on swampy territory for me, but generally I think they look cosy, chic and relaxed, This nude colour is so versatile too.

Finally a word for the men because it was the menswear for me which really stood out. Merino wool polo necks, velvet smoking jackets and great leather accessories were really a job well done. For any men out there, I would strongly recommend investigating for your Autumn/Winter wardrobe...

What do you think? Have M&S pulled it out of the bag?

Hx

Sunday Indulgence: Roasted Figs in Cinnamon and Rum

In a bid to eat less crap, whilst still satisfying my sweet tooth, I have become totally in love with figs. Now is a great time of year to enjoy them and the purple-y skin is full of anti-oxidents.

Admittedly, this recipe isn't exactly a total health-fest but switch the vanilla ice-cream for a natural Greek yoghurt and ditch the rum, it really is a delicious pudding or even a great breakfast idea.

As its the weekend though, I went for the boozy option... here's how I made it...

• Set the oven to 180C
• Take your figs and make two slices going from the top (where the stalk is) to about half way down
• Sit them in an oven proof dish side by side
• Drop a small knob of butter inside each fig and then squidge on some honey all over the figs (don't be precious, just as much as you like depending on how sweet you want them)
• Now add a sprinkle of cinnamon and about one shot's worth of dark rum all over the figs (more if you like - it will make a lovely liquor to pour over the ice-cream once baked)
• Pop in the pre-heated oven for about 15 minutes
• Once baked, serve up with some vanilla ice-cream. Tom Aikens once told me (when I was working with him for a client) that he is obsessed with the Carte D'Or version because it has the highest vanilla content available at the supermarket, so I always go for that now
• Enjoy!

Once they come out of the oven they will be sticky, caramel-ly and absolutely moreish!

So there you have it - a delicious, incredibly easy pudding, great for a dinner party or just a mid-afternoon Sunday snack.

Let me know how you get on at home if you try it!

Hx

Harley joins the Loaf family

I love a pouffe. A could look at pouffes all day long. Seriously. They are firm, yet soft. You can sit on them, put things on them, or just rest your weary feet upon them. They also often come in lovely colours and patterns. So when Loaf.com told me about their new Harley range it was love at first sight....

Available in two sizes (how CONVENIENT) - A small squarish one (£175), and a larger oblong-y one (£225) and will be available at the end of October so start saving/making space.

I love the pattern and subtle grey and cream colourings which mean they could sit comfortably in most interior schemes. I think I might have to add them to my wish list.

Some other pouffes I have been coveting are here...

1. Large pouffe with bird print, £138 - Etsy
2. Habitat floor cushion, £95 - Habitat
3. Knitted pouffe, £44.99 - Argos
4. Miko pouffe, £160 - John Lewis
5. Sheepskin pouffe, £200 - Ikea

What do you think? Any favourites?

Hx

Look of the Week

As you know from my last post about kilim rugs, I am quite into colour at the moment (perhaps a reaction to the grey skies) and when I spotted this room  I knew it had to be a Look of the Week...

Yellow and blue are great complimentary colours in any scheme, and I just love this rich blue on the walls. The retro style of the sideboard and the 60s swivel chair adds mid-century interest whilst the quirky accessories and ceramics stop the interior looking too contrived.

A collection of mismatched pictures, clocks and wall ornaments above a key piece of furniture is a great way to create a focal point in a room especially if you don't have a fireplace or obvious central feature to draw the eye when you walk into a room (the TV doesn't count!). Great creative and try pieces in different shades, shapes and sizes for an eclectic feel.

What do you think? Here are some ideas on the high-street to help recreate this look at home...

Paint

1. Pitch Blue from Farrow & Ball
2. Breton Blue from Dulux
3. Deep Space Blue from Little Greene

Its amazing how different colours look when you sit them next to each other. Just goes to show how important it is to test colours out on your walls before you commit fully.

Retro Armchairs

1. Kush armchair,£744 - Chest of Drawers
2. Kubrick wing-back chair, £379 - Made.com
3. 'Julep' chair, £650 - The Old Cinema

Mid-Century Sideboards

1. Scandinavian Pear Wood Sideboard, £695 - The Old Cinema
2. Drake Sideboard, £349 - Swoon Editions
3. Three Door Sideboard, £399 - House by John Lewis

Any favourites? Do you like the retro look?

Hx

Latest Obsession - Kilim Rugs

Since the weather has started to get a little gloomy, I have been craving some colour in my flat. Normally I am a big advocate of the white, grey and neutral schemes featured in Scandinavian interiors but I am looking for some zing to add to my lounge in particular. As a result I have literally become obsessed with kilim rugs.

If you are not familiar with them, kilim rugs are tapestry woven, low pile rugs. They generally originate from Turkey and Eastern Europe and often feature bright coloured and intricate, geometric patterns. Because of this, they feel very modern to me despite their heritage.

What I love about them is not only are they affordable and hard-wearing but they sit really well against modern or Scandinavian interiors making them incredibly versatile and a little bit hippy.

I have created a board on Pintrest which you can view here for some inspiration, but in the meantime here are some of my favorites, along with some picks from the highstreet...

Love the vibrant colours in this rug and the fact that the room set isn't too 'matchy matchy'

A more muted palette in this rug works in this grown up scheme whilst introducing some colour

In love with the scheme for winter - can you imagine having Christmas dinner in the sheepskin adorned chairs? DREAM. The rug adds warmth to this otherwise simple scheme 

Kilim rugs are hard-wearing so are perfect to pep up a traditional bathroom

Something about orange and Farrow & Ball's Chappell Green gets me a bit excited. Remember this scheme too? The rug just pulls it all together beautifully 

Highstreet Picks:

1. Multi-colour Kilim Rug, £79 - Urban Outfitters
2. Diamond Kilim Rug, from £159 - The Rug Seller 
3. Kite Kilim Rug, from £39 - West Elm
4. Turkish Kilim Rug, £157 - Etsy UK
5. Vintage Turkish Kilim Rug, £566 - Etsy UK

Also, do check out Ebay because there are loads of vintage and new options available on there through private sellers.

What do you think? Something you fancy for your home?

Hx

REVIEW: Paula's Choice RESIST Multi-correction Treatment

I recently posted a pic on Instagram of a new skin corrector I have been using from Paula's Choice, and have since had several people ask me more about it. So here is a full review from me about this amazing product...

£33.80 from Paula's Choice website

I have always been quite lucky with my skin and only occasionally would experience breakouts. However in the past few years I have been getting persistent spots on my chin, the horrible sore, under the skin kind which take weeks to go away. This has been made worse by the fact that I can't help pick and prod these spots so I have been left with some scars.

Anyway, after a few trips to the doctor and after trying several different pills as well as a course of Benzoyl Peroxide (awful stuff - only try this as a last resort because it destroys your skin) I had started to give up. BUT the wonderful Lisa Eldridge (I am obsessed with her make-up tutorials) recommended Paula's Choice on her blog and although its a little pricey and I thought I'd give it a go...

3 weeks later and I can't tell you what a difference it has made, I have been applying it twice a day under my normal moisturiser and I can honestly say I haven't had a spot since, which is a miracle for me. It is very gentle on the skin which was surprising as anything which promises to do so much can often be quite chemically. It doesn't smell amazing but that doesn't bother me at all.

I have also started to notice a small improvement in the scars left by past spots, which is encouraging - I imagine I will take a fair while yet before I can say that it has significantly helped but with the results so far I am willing to persevere to find out how it measures up on this front.

One 'watch out' is that you have to use this product with sunscreen in the day (I wouldn't even use it on holiday) because it makes the skin weak to UV rays so could promote skin damage.

All in all I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is at the end of options when it comes to managing adult acne and urge you to give it a go.

How about you? Any other miracle products to recommend?

Hx

Top Picks from LDN Diaries

Firstly I want to apologies from my absence this past week... I have been away in Spain on a bit of a flying visit to see my boyf's mum. More info to follow on that - the cacti is amazing out there (my favourite thing at the moment!)

BUT as a way of making it up to you I have a very exciting guest post from Paula at LDN Diaries who has carefully selected some of her favourite home accessories to welcome in the new season,

If you are not familiar with LDN Diaries you have to take a look and add it to your reading list especially if you like fashion, food and fabulous face products. So over to you Paula, hope you enjoy it everyone...


Paula at LDN Diaries


"Living in a rented apartment means you can’t always go all out with home decorating, and so when it comes to making a place my own, I love my accessories. From fluffy cushions to floral garland lights, I like being able to add my own personal touch where I can.


Here are my must-have accessories for the home that I have my eye on this season..."

Neon Art Love Wall Lamp – I love neon signs and this one is simple yet effective. It also doesn't totally break the budget either; with others I've seen being in the thousands! £189 at Luisaviaroma.com

Pineapple Jewellery Box £25 – Urban Outfitters homeware is perfect for this quirky accessories you just won’t get elsewhere and this jewellery box will really brighten up my dressing table.

Kare Record Hooks £45 – Who doesn’t need records to hang their coats on? Another space saver and brilliant addition from Urban Outfitters.

M&S Faux Heart Cushion £19 – I can’t resist a fluffy cushion and this heart shaped one would be a cute addition to my sofa.

Chalkboard Wall Stickers £6 – Not only can these be a decorative feature in the kitchen, they also come in ultra handy for remembering everything from the shopping to events!

H&M Bath Mat £6.99 – When accessorizing don’t forget about the bathroom. I love this quirky bath mat from H&M homeware and it comes in all different colours, so you can be sure to match your bathroom.

What do you think? Any favourites? I love the bath mat - haven't seen anything like it before and I could definitely use the chalkboard stickers to help me get organised. Thanks for the picks Paula!

If you have spotted any great new products in the shops please share!

Hx

Lovely Linen

I think I am a pretty sensory person, when I buy clothes I have to touch them all over before I know if I like them which Peter finds hilarious. I am also a big fan of all things smelly (in a good way) and am obsessed with room sprays and scented candles.

Because of this, and my obsession with fresh sheets, I am going to share with you my favourite linen sprays. If you haven't explored the world of linen sprays, my word are you in for a treat (no irony in that sentence at all despite how sort of ridiculous it sounds). Although you can choose lovely fragrances for your washing machine, by mid week, your bed linen just doesn't have that same comforting, freshness. Or when your favorite cashmere jumper needs a bit of pep before you have to reluctantly hand wash the damn thing - you just need a little spritz!

SO here are some of my favs...

Jo Malone is my go-to place for Christmas and birthday presents and this room spray comes in my favourite scent Lime, Basil and Mandarin - spray on your pillow, clothes and towels for every day indulgence. At £38 its on of the more expensive on my list but I think its worth it 

At £7 this is a steal from The Body Shop. The Aloe & Linen scent is clean and fresh and the ingredients are 100%. For that price, just spray it everywhere

Whereas many of the sprays on this list can be used as room sprays too, The White Company have created a spray especially for linen. It is fresh and clean although for me I tend to look for something a bit more exotic scent-wise. At £15 it is very reasonably priced though

I love L'Occitane's floral, quintessentially French scents and you don't get more French than this Lavendar spray. I love to spray it onto bed linen as I iron it for the most amazing aroma which seems to last days. It is £39 for 300ml

A cheaper alternative would be this lavender spray from Naturally Thinking which is just £6. As I am sure you know, lavender is great for helping you sleep so spray a little on your pillow before bed for a deep and rejuvenating sleep...zzzz

You could also have a go at making your own linen spray if you want to. Its quite easy to do, just add the following ingredients to a seal-able container and shake vigorously before adding to a spray bottle:

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) witch hazel or vodka
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) water

Let me know if you have any other suggestions!

Hx