New products at Papermash

I had an email newsletter from Papermash showing come of their new products so I thought I would share some of my favourites with you.

1. These brilliant banners would add a chicness to any party.

Party Banners

2. I love these Japanese Masking Tapes you can literally decorate anything with them or even make bunting with them as seen below.

Blue Graph Tape

Green Checked Masking Tape

3. I love these designs by Rifle Paper Co especially the use of vintage colours. I've previously posted about a print I bought from Papermash for my husband for Valentine's day, I'm also very tempted by the Ladybug Print below

Bonjour Notecards

Ladybug Print

Merci Cards

 4. These Paper Cups ares so fun and colourful, I probably wouldn't even use them for parties, looking this good they need to be displayed somewhere!

Numbers Cups

Beautiful Day Bed from Another Country

I was flicking through Elle Decoration and started to dribble over a page that featured the 'Day Bed One' from Another Country. I've told you before I have an irrational love of furniture!

This day bed is just begging to be laid on, perfect for reading your favourite book on don't you think? It even comes in a choice of fabrics that include this 'Red Bird Garden' by Mark Hearld for St Judes.

Images from Another Country

The curved features and solid European Oak are so warm and welcoming and it is all made here in the UK. Even the organic wool and latex mattress is made in Devon and the Bute fabrics in Scotland.

If you love the clean lines of this piece, check out there other products which include everything from coffee tables to benches. I am particularly loving the console table and bench, they would look great in my new hallway.

All Images from Another Country

Decorate, it's here!

Images from Decor8 and Amazon

I have previously blogged about a fantastic book Decorate created by Holly Becker of Decor8 fame. It's an inspirational book crammed full of ideas for the home, and thankfully unlike other books it makes sense of a world that often scares people, by looking at your home creatively.

Well I have finally got my own copy and it is a truly beautiful book, with hundreds of interior images. I think I would like to use every idea somewhere in my new house. That's probably not possible but I might give it a damn good try!

The book explains about planning your space, use of colour and decorative pieces and even how to make statements of your favourite pieces of furniture or architectural features you have in your home. I can't wait to get started on using it.

So if you fancy an interiors book with a difference check it out.

New Orla Kiely EVOKE Mio Radio

Regular readers will realise I have a mild obsession with all things Orla Kiely. I am in the process of trying to stop myself buying everything I see in her prints but today I spotted her new EVOKE Mio Radio and my best laid plans were dashed to pieces. Isn't it just beautiful! I had previously posted about the Multi colourway here but since they introduced this blue version I'm smitten.

Image from decor8

Image from Orla Kiely

Let me know what you think, which version do you prefer? and if there is anyone out there who already has one maybe share a photo of it in your interior.

Retro Fridges

As we are in the process of buying our first house, I can't help but turn my attention to things I've always lusted after but never had a reason to buy. One of these items is a retro fridge. I absolutely love the Smeg fridges but they are quite pricey. The mint green one below is lovely but I think a nice clean off white version might fit better wit my vast collection of Orla Kiely kitchenware.

(Image origination unknown - if you recognise any let me know and I'll add credit)

I also found these new A+ rated retro fridges by a company called Gorenje which are much cheaper than the Smeg's but don't come in white/cream, it's more of a champagne colour. However might make a good alternative.

Graham and Green Furniture

I recently received a catalogue from Graham and Green and absolutely fell in love with this scrubbed-pine Larkin chest. The draws are actually fake so it comprises of two drawers at the top and two large cupboards in the bottom, each with a single central shelf. On the website they have it listed under kitchen furniture but personally I would use it in an office or studio, Oh if only I had a studio to fill with such lovely things!

I also love the oversized Angelpoise style lamp!

Their Portobello cabinet is also very sweet and could be used in numerous rooms, so if you ever got bored one day you could switch it round. Available in Ivory, Soft Pink and Sea Green it would fit into most interiors, the Pink would add a pinch of kitsch fun to any room. The best furniture is always multi-purpose and with landfill sites filling up with unused items what great way of extending a pieces life-span.

The smooth curves on the Odyssey writing desk are beautiful, I just want to stroke it! does that sound weird? Based on an Italian 1940's design this dark oak wood stained desk would look equally at home in traditional or modern interiors.

(All images from Graham and Green)

The Big 30!

Well it's official as of yesterday I am now officially thirty years or age. I don't feel particularly different but I am going to miss the fact that I am not a girl in my twenties but a woman in my thirties, that sounds far too grown up for me!

I had an absolutely wonderful birthday. Mum and I went to a local spa (Clarice House) for the day where we had a facial, manicure and full body massage each, it was seriously relaxing. The food was fantastic, we both had the venison. I'm hoping my manicure lasts until my party on Saturday but knowing my luck it'll chip before then.

From all the generous cheques my friends and family have sent I will now be able to order the Silhouette machine so I can get crafting A.S.A.P, which I am very excited about. I must not forget to mention my Husband's fabulous gift of a Coral party frock from French Connection, I'll add some photos soon.

But the best news is yet to come..... If you are a regular reader of this blog you have probably realised that I have a slight obsession with Ercol furniture, in particular a certain Love seat. Well to my surprise mum had managed to find one on Ebay at a very decent price and bought it as a 30th present. It was delivered by my brother yesterday and looks sooooooo beautiful, I've spent pretty much most of the time just staring at it. So a big thank you goes out to my wonderful mum for her very generous gift.

My husband has always wanted a bench as part of the seating at for the dining table so I always said it would have to be a love seat, it looks so good with the Ercol table and chairs, and the Eames DSR chair. So now I have just one space to fill, more about that next week.......

Robin Day Polo Chair

I have been lusting after one of Robin Day's polo chairs for as long as I can remember. My idea is to have six white dining chairs but each in a different design, a Harlequin set as my mum calls it. I already have a Eames DSW chair with a white base and maple legs from The Conran Shop.

(Image from The Conran Shop)

So the next purchase which my lovely school friends are getting me for my 30th is the Polo Chair with White polypropylene top and chrome sled base available from Loft International. Originally designed and 1973 Loft, based in Leeds Yorkshire, now manufacture these chairs entirely in the UK using local materials.

(Images from Loft International)

It is also available in 8 other colours including Eco which is completely made up of recycled materials. As you can see they are designed to be easily stacked. I would love one in each colour (they look so fantastic stacked) but I'm not sure I would ever need that many chairs! Shame!

The Ercol Love Seat

This is possibly my favourite piece of furniture ever made. Ercol launched this love seat in 1954 using the same steam-bent wood techniques used on their Windsor range, it was re-launched in 2009 and is available to buy from Barker & Stonehouse, The Lollipop Shop, and Twenty Twenty One. With an Elm seat and Beech legs, it comes in a range of the traditional finishes at Barker and Stonehouse whereas The Lollipop Shop and Twenty Twenty One offer it with a clear or black lacquered finish (as seen below)

(image from gdlaneinteriors)

I already own an Ercol Windsor table and my mum has kindly let me borrow two of her Quaker chairs which all have the clear lacquer which I love, but there is something about the black that is just so appealing on this shape. It would look great as a statement piece in a long wide hallway with a lone brightly retro patterned cushion as shown above.

As part of their 90th anniversary celebrations Ercol have also launched a clear lacquered version with a cobalt blue spray effect.

(Image from Ercol)

Isokon Penguin Donkey

Just a quick note to show you my new object of lust. Clearly I'm a bit mad to get so excited about a piece of furniture, but I don't care because It's gorgeous. Below are the Isokon Penguin Donkey and Penguin Donkey 2 designed by Ernest Race in 1939 and 1963 respectively. Personally I prefer the Donkey 2 which is white with solid Cherry legs. It's sooooo simple and beautiful and definitely the chicest way to display your magazines and books. Yet another thing to add to the wish list.

(Images from Isokon Plus)

Seletti Gold Ice-cream Bowl and Spoon

I have been a lover of Seletti kitchenware for a while now. I have collected the ceramic tin can storage pots, the takeaway inspired serving dishes and the quirky milk jug. Recently I was flicking through the Pedlars Christmas catalogue and noticed a new addition to the range, this lovely Ice-Cream bowl and spoon. I had noticed this on the same episode of Nigella Kitchen that I had noticed the Rockett St George candle holders, mentioned in my previous post.

Nigella had used it to hold her delicious cream that accompanies her Venetian Carrot Cake, it looked great on the edge of a large serving dish. I think the thing I enjoy the most about the Seletti products is that they are a talking point when people see them on your table, I haven't found a person yet who hasn't loved them!

(Images from Pedlars and BBC iPlayer)

Orla Kiely House

As you can probably tell from my recent blogs I have a love for all things Orla Kiely so I was very excited about her recently launched new range of kitchenware. It includes storage jars, tea pots, sugar bowls and serving dishes. The colours are very autumnal, why not mix and match them to retain that vintage look and make sure they are not hidden away in a cupboard, these pieces were designed to be displayed with pride.

This wonderful new range is available from Heals and soon Bliss home. Since I have already started collecting the mugs I might as well go the whole hog and start collecting these too, much to my husband's dismay!

Lucienne Day at Heals

While we were down in London for the Tent exhibition we also nipped into Heals.  As part of their Bicentenary celebrations, the Heal’s design team have created furniture and accessories using three of Lucienne Day’s iconic prints; Calyx, Helix and Sunrise. I loved the Dinky Armchair in Calyx inspired fabric. It's the kind of design that would never date.