Home picks for Autumn

I am writing this as rain batters at the window and this week's heatwave seems to have finally dissipated. For that reason I think it's probably time to start thinking about Autumn and getting your home ready with some cosy accessories and warm colours.

As you know, I normally choose soft pastel colours and muted schemes, but that was before I spotted a burnt orange, velvet chaise lounge as part of Habitat's new collection. I am so in love with it. Wouldn't it just be perfect at the end of my bed!? That's what I am trying to convince Peter of anyway...

So here here are a few picks for an Autumnal scheme I am dreaming of right now... warm lighting, rich colours and gold accents. Mmm

Clockwise from top right...

Neon 'love' light - Rocket St George, £275
Gold frame - Desenio, £17.50
Gold picture bulldog clip - Desenio, £1.49
Native American scented candle - Holly's House, £39.50
Isabel velvet sofa (AKA the DREAM) - Habitat, £995
Mila chandelier - Marks and Spencer, £299

H x

Look of the week: Accents of Blush

As you know, blush pinks are having a moment in interiors right now and I have to say it is a look that I absolutely love. I do think it’s a hard colour to get right – anything too sugary and you won’t get that Scandinavian, directional look but something more like my bedroom circa 1996.

What you want (or at least what I think you want if you are pursuing the pink en vogue right now) is a pink which sits somewhere between salmon and beige. Although that description probably doesn’t sell it to its best advantage, the colour is somewhat of a neutral and yet, treated properly, can look so glorious.

This lifestyle shot from Camerich, a gorgeous furniture retailer, sums it up perfectly. The pared back, minimalist furniture, black accents and striking wall art are totally brought to life by the pink accents. That chair might literally be the perfect pink colour. Scroll down for some items on the high street to help create this look at home…

1. Faux potted money plant, £95 – Cox and Cox
2. The ‘Jane’ coffee table from Camerich, £823
3. Cactus art prints from Art.com from £9.99
4. The ‘Noble’ armchair from Camerich, £730
5. The ‘Pebble’ from Camerich, £423
6. Standing lamp in grey from John Lewis, £180 

There is currently 10% off at Camerich too so if you love this pink chair as much as I do then perhaps a little treat to yourself is in order? It ends on the 18^th September so you still have time to talk yourself into it ;-)

What do you think? Have you started to introduce a touch of Pink to your home? Check out my Pink Pinterest board from some amazing interiors too

H x

 

This post was done in collaboration with Camerich but as always, all views and opinions are very much my own.

My current skin care routine

One thing that I think all women (and some men) are interested in is what is lurking in people's bathroom cabinets and what they choose to use on their skin. Skin care is one of those things that I do end up spending quite a bit of money on. My skin is temperamental to say the least so I am always switching up products and trying new things so I thought I would share what I am using right now in case you are looking for a new solution.


Before I start, the reason I started straying from my usual routine recently was because I was having awful breakouts. Not the lovely squeezable kind, but the deep, red, sore, under-the-skin kind which make you feel miserable and they hurt. And there is nothing you can do about it. They were all on my chin so I was told that it is probably hormonal but it was all-month round. Anyway, after doing LOTS of research and using some rather questionable 'drawing out' methods, I read that dairy products might be to blame. I hate jumping on the gluten, dairy, whatever free trend but I was at the end of my tether so tried it. And quite simply, it totally worked. I genuinely haven't had a spot come up since. I have to admit, I haven't been totally dairy free (I love cheese, people) but I don't have any milk or cream and it has really worked for me. I'm sure it won't help everyone out there but I wanted to share it as an option in case you are struggling with hormonal spots, as I was.


Aside from that, I seem to have super oily skin at the moment across my t-zone. I guess its from the weather and getting the tube everyday, not to mention the pollution. So a lot of the products I have been using are for combination or oily skin. Come winter, I will most likely have to switch up again and start using products for dry skin so stay tuned come December!

 

SO here you have it: what I am using right now...

From left to right (front to back):

1. La Roche Posay, Effaclar cleansing gel for oily skin - £11 at Boots (currently on sale!)

This is quite new for me. It feels incredibly fresh, especially if you are feeling greasy from a long day at work/commute. There isn't much of a smell and it lathers up really well. It's not great at removing make-up so I would do that first and then blitz this in the shower. I use it morning and night at the moment and I definitely feel like oil levels are being kept in check more than they were

2. The Body Shop's Seaweed Toner (again for oily skin), £7 here

I am not sure that this is helping in my battle against oil if I am totally honest. But it does smell amazing and really leaves you feeling fresh and clean so I love this part of my routine because of that

3. Aesop's Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque, £30 here

I love to use this when I want to feel like I really need a good scrub into my pores. I just use it once a week and it leaves the skin feeling so soft and nourished. I bit of an indulgence but it lasts forever

4. Bioderma's Sebium Pore Refining, £15 at Boots

This has been a great find (thanks to Lisa Eldridge for the recommendation!). It is a soft cream which you apply to your t-zone and it works to refine the pores and reduce oiliness. I have to say it really does make a difference which you notice as soon as you apply it. I put it on after cleansing at night and also underneath my make-up. Can't recommend enough!

5. Paula's Choice RESIST Multi-correction treatment, £34 here

This is something I have been using for a while and I really like it. It does lots of things, but for me I use it to reduce spots and also to help treat the scars which old spots have left behind. It does make the skin vulnerable to UV rays so I only use it at night and you should follow up with a sun care product or make-up featuring an SPF the next day to protect your skin

6. Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream, £70 at John Lewis

This is a really thick cream so I think it will be better for me as my skin starts to dry out during the winter months. For now, I have been using it on my cheeks and neck and it is lovely to use. The smell is subtle but really pleasant and it has a very luxurious texture. The packaging, as with all Charlotte Tilbury products is gorgeous, and it acts as a great primer under make-up as well as a moisturiser


So that's the current skin situ here at Blomma HQ. Would love any recommendations you guys have, especially when it comes to battling oily skin as the temperatures are set to soar this week

H x

Latest Obsession... Pooky

One of the most important parts of any interior scheme is the lighting. I am quite obsessive about it to the point that I never have the main light on in any room. ever. Some people come round and think its weird (it took Peter some time to understand) but so often it's really harsh and doesn't feel relaxing and cosy. Yes, you can go for dimmer light switches, but again they just don't quite do it for me. I am all about the following...

1. Task lighting

This is great in bathrooms, kitchens and if you are reading in bed or in the living room. For me, each of these things can be covered off by either wall lights (above a mirror or next to the bed) or perfectly positioned drop or pendant lighting (above a worktop in the kitchen).

2. Ambient lighting

This is what will give you that lovely glow in a room which is cosy, warm and soothing. This is covered off by low level table lamps and hidden lighting, in kitchen cabinets for example.

Honestly, if I were brave enough, I would consider ditching the main light in at least my bedroom, lounge and dining room without question but some people think that's kinda crazy.

So essentially lighting, particularly wall and table lamps, is so important to me and yet it is really quite an expensive thing to purchase and the choice out there can be pretty limited. The Tom Dixon floor lamps are gorgeous but not everyone has upwards of £1000 to spend on one. Likewise with many other lighting fixtures available on the high-street right now (H&M Home, you NEED to get into lighting please). And also why are lamp shades always so boring looking? And why do quirky lamp bases always drive such a high price? These are the sorts of questions which of course keep me up at night. Therefore I was thrilled to discover Pooky, an independent lighting specialist which not only offers a huge range of perfect lamp shades, bases and pendants but is also totally affordable.

Here are some of my tops picks which I will be adding to my shopping list...




I LOVE This colour. It's called Antique Rose and is made in beautiful silk dupion. I will be investing in the medium straight empire version for my living room

 



Finally a lamp shade with a bit of character - this is the Empire in Black

I love this for a desk or a bedside lamp. Its the Goldie

This lamp base is AMAZING. I want it baaad. Christmas is pretty close right?? It's the Palmyra

The Stanley would look great over an industrial mirror in a bathroom - the forest green colour would be beautiful complimented by some patterned tiles

Just perfect.

H x