Blomma's Best: Christmas Decorations

Good morning all!

Did you know that it is exactly one month today until Christmas Eve? That means that it's time to start seriously thinking about gifts, food and of course decorating your home. To kick things off, I have pulled together a round-up of some of my favourite baubles in the shops this year. As you can see I am rather traditional when it comes to Christmas and like to focus mostly of reds and golds in my home - what about you? What scheme will you be going for?

Keep checking back for fresh Christmas inspiration over the next few weeks including some gift guides for interior addicts!

1. Robin in Liberty print, £59.99 - Liberty of London
2. Set of three red stars, £10 - Habitat
3. Stocking with bobbles, £6 - John Lewis
4. Hedgehog decoration, £4.20 - House of Fraser
5. Paper white and red decoration, £2 - Heal's
6. Glass Dome with star, £3 - John Lewis
7. Star decoration, £13.95 - Selfridges
8. White clay with leather ribbon, £4.90 - Nordic Bliss (these are my very favourite!)

What do you think? Any favourites?

H x

Trend Alert - Faux Fur

As I am sure you have noticed, faux fur is all over the high-street this winter. From clutch bags to coats, you can't walk into a high-street store without being surrounded by cuddly garments and accessories. It's certainly a welcome trend and adds another nail into the already doomed coffin of real fur fashion available in UK retailers.

But aside from fashion, we can see this trend trickling into home-ware and there is nothing better to add some extra cosy to your home this winter. It also feels incredibly Christmassy so I am a dedicated advocate!

With faux fur, for me the texture is the most important thing - you want that silky, well ordered feel rather than that cheapy plastic feel that some products have. After a snoop around the high-street, here are my top picks...

1. Faux fur blanket/throw, £109.99 - Zara Home (this is SO soft I absolutely love it!)
2. Faux fur stools, from £39.99 (for the small one) - Zara Home (Zara have loads of faux fur at the moment so I would recommend starting there for sure!
3. Faux fur slippers, £22 - Next
4. Faux fur hot water bottle, £25 - John Lewis
5. Shaggy faux fur ombre cushion, £14 - Tesco
6. Faux fur beanbag, £119 - Marks & Spencer

What do you think? I am definitely tempted with that throw and the stools in particular- so luxurious! And what about that beanbag!? LOVE.

Have a great weekend all xx

Look of the Week: Pink & Copper

Good morning! Hope you all had wonderful weekends. To brighten this gloomy Monday,  I thought I would kick off the week with a Look of the Week...

It's actually more of a Scheme of the Week as I have seen a few rooms which I love in this gorgeous colour combination of pale, sugary pink and copper. The warmth of copper, along with it's industrial feel perfectly compliments and toughens up this girlie shade of pink. Here are some examples which I just love...

I particularly love how this scheme works against pale woods and also marble work-surfaces which would look fabulous in a kitchen or bathroom.

Here are some high street picks I love to recreate this scheme at home:

1. Concrete copper planter, £12.31 - Urban Yards at Etsy
2. Copper Lamp, £29.95 - Cult Furniture
3. Pink Slip (220) paint, from £20 - Little Green
4. Angie (185) paint, from £20 - Little Green
5. Nancy's Blushes (278), from £36 - Farrow & Ball
6. Tom Dixon, London Crocus and Brick Scented Candle, £55 - Mr Porter
7. Kelim Rug, £76 - Scandinavian Design Centre
8. Copper candle holder, £8 - Habitat

 What do you think?

Hx

Indulge in your dark side

Have any of you been watching BBC's The Great Interior Design Show? I have to say I am pretty obsessed and am extremely pleased to see it on the TV 3 nights a week.

I find it so interesting to see how other people work when it comes to interiors and also to see the crafty ways you can achieve a luxury look on a budget (I think they have £700). It is also clear to see what trends designers are being influenced by and what is currently en vogue. One trend which has come through time and time again is the dark wall. It has almost replaced the feature wallpaper wall, but I have to say I love dark paint on in homes and here is why...

A dark navy/charcoal wall can add warmth and order to a neutral scheme. Just be sure to add texture to make the scheme inviting and cosy

Dark walls and doors make stripped wood look amazing and acts as a neutral which allows you to experiment with colour in the same way you would with white 

The dark wall makes this look feel really pulled together and helps the chipboard headboard look amazing. Yellow is a particularly great colour to use as an accent when working with dark greys and blues

I a busy space with lots of artwork will seem more ordered on a dark background. The contrast is too much on white and the eye just feels pulled in too many directions

It can be used in any room to make the best features pop. Without the dark wall, the beautiful white washed floor and gorgeous crockery would be lost

So there you have it - my top 5 reasons you need to have some darkness in your home!

What do you think? Love or loath?

Hx

Espresso Martinis - the perfect Christmas tipple

I recently visited Tramshed in East London and had the most incredible Espresso Martini ever. The following week I bought a cocktail shaker and some martini glasses and have pretty much been drinking them most days since (small measures of course!).

It is the perfect drink to serve this Christmas as it perks you up after a heavy meal whilst also having a really luxurious and satisfying creaminess which is the perfect replacement or accompaniment to dessert. Scroll down to see the perfect recipe to create one at home, along with some cocktail paraphernalia perfect for you, or as a gift for some one else this year...

Recipe (for one glass):

25ml Kahlua or Caffe Lolita liqueur (I used Kahlua as I have heard it tastes the best)
25ml Espresso
50ml Vodka

Just add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with a load of ice and shake vigorously (you get the lovely foam on top the more you shake). Serve through a strainer and add 3 coffee beans to the top to make it truly authentic.

Enjoy!

1. Kahlua, £17 - Waitrose
2. Absolut Vodka, £25 - Tesco
3. Lavazza, £3 - Ocado
4. Betty Jackson Black martini glass, £11 - Debenhams
5. Bialetti espresso maker, £28 - Selfridges
6. Cocktail making kit, £30 - John Lewis

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Hx

Christmas: Entertaining Essentials

As I am sure you are all aware, Christmas is fast approaching and the shops are already full of festive homeware, decorations and gifts. This year I will be hosting a faux Christmas after the big day (step families and divorced parents means I get about 3 Christmas days each year) so I am getting quite excited about dining paraphernalia.

Over the weekend I visited TK Maxx and Sainsbury's and was so impressed by their serve-ware and glassware that I have to urge you to go if you get a chance. Both had offerings which were great value for money including wooden and slate panel serving boards, festive cocktail glasses and delightful serving bowls for nibbles. Lots of them are not available online unfortunately but most people are fairly near a store so do go and have a peak.

In the meantime, here are some inspiration table settings and products I am coveting to make my Christmas table as gorgeous as possible...

You can't beat a red fairisle print to create that Scandi Christmas vibe

 

 

Simple red and silver touches with stars and reindeers look adorable and festive

 

If you don't want to go overboard on the red, focus on texture with sheepskins and rough slate

Some products I am loving this morning...





 

1. Red porcelain serving plate, £20 - Debenhams 
2. Owl cocktail sticks, £16 - Oliver Bonus
3. Set of 4 liquor glasses, £15.40 - Laura Ashely
4. Linea Scandi Felt table runner, £15 - House of Fraser
5. Aynsley cake stand, £34 - Debenhams
6. Reindeer tealight holder, £35 - Habitat
7. Fairisle serving board, £24 - West Elm

I am already getting quite excited about Christmas so you can expect quite a few more similar posts in the next few weeks. This is quite scandi in theme, but if you have any particular themes you would like me to cover just let me know!

Hx

Retailer Review: Urban Outfitters

Recently I have been really impressed with Urban Outfitter's range of homeware available on their website. Many people are well aware of the retailer's fashion credentials, but homeware is something which I think the brand has really upped in recent months.

The rugs in particular are great value and feature the monochrome, graphic prints that I love. From £15 you really can't argue. But its not just soft furnishings that are being featured. The brand has a range of vintage inspired furniture and lighting solutions which are prefect for small, urban homes.

Here are some of the products which caught my eye this morning:



1. New York Wall Light, £350
2. Ruben Ireland Poster Set, £20
3. Enamel lamp shade, £45
4. Woouf Lightning Bolt Cushion, £45
5. Zinc table, £60
6. Magazine rack, £60
7. Block Geo Rug, £18

It would be great to be able to see some of these things in the flesh so I am hoping that they will start to introduce some in-store soon.

What do you think? Any favourites?

Hx

Look of the Week

This week I have chosen a gorgeous living room space as my look of the week. It caught my eye because of the eclectic, laid back vibe which is just so effortless. It actually feels like a space in which someone actually lives too, which so many of the inspirational rooms I look at don't.

Some of the things I love about this room:

• I love the pale wooden floors which I think have been gently white washed. It is just such a good option when you have a selection of dark wood furniture. I just calms down the scheme and stops the brown colour of wood taking over
• The exposed brick work I just love! You don't see it enough in homes if you ask me. Just adds gorgeous character and texture to a room
• The mid century furniture mixed with ornate gilt mirrors and traditional chandeliers to create a truly unique style with bags of personality
• The addition of house plants to add a fresh green element to the scheme
• The relaxed approach to soft furnishings - simple and un-contrived 

Recreating this home exactly might not be your style completely but I certainly think there are some inspiring elements. Here are some high street finds from me:

Parker sofa, £799 - Made.com

Indian cotton quilt, £84.95 - Myakka

Gilt mirror, £49.99 - Dunelm Mill

Brick wallpaper, £6.99 - Go Wallpaper

Money plant, £3.49 - Homebase

Bluetooth retro boombox, £74.99 - Zavvi

What do you like about this scheme?

Hx