Decluttering my wardrobe

I must apologise for my lack of blogging yet again! Since I last appeared we have had an engagement in the family which has caused great excitement. I have also been attending numerous end of school events for my youngest child about to sit his year 12. I can't believe they are old enough for all of this or the fact that I am old enough to have children of this age. In all of this excitement, chaos and coming and going I have decided a wardrobe decluttering is in need. Armed with some lovely photos and some good advice from Vicki Archer at French Essence, who says "everything must come out"!I am starting this morning. I know it sounds a little silly when I have house guests arriving later today but somethings just can't wait and when the urge comes I simply must go with it! Enjoy your weekend xxx

images via Turquoise tulips and bliss

Organising the bedroom

Ever dreamed of a beautifully organised wardrobe? I have, and am tackling this job right now having been inspired by the latest Lonny mag issue, full of great advice.

Step 1. select every thing I no longer wear, suits me, fits me properly or is just not me. Put it in two bags. One to go directly to charity the second is for things I am not sure about. After 12 months if I have not used them I will dispose of then.

Step 2 pull out everything that needs mending altering, special cleaning.

Step 3 put away all winter coats and bulky items in vacuum bags until I need them again.

Step 4. I have just bought some fabulous drawer dividers for all my scarves, belts and smalls to help keep things in check and ensure I can find them in a flash.

Step 5. I have also found lovely clear plastic shoe boxes from Aldi and will throw out all my old shoe boxes and replace with these so I can actually see them.

Now that should keep me busy.....

House guests

I have spent today making beds and giving our guest bedrooms a bit of attention. We have weekend house guests and I enjoy making sure they feel treated. Some of the most important elements in a guest room I feel are;

a comfortable bed,

good quality pure cotton linen,

pillows to sink into and feel pampered, ( a choice is handy)

an electric blanket for chilly nights,

fresh flowers,

and somewhere to put your luggage, and preferably hang clothes.

Enjoy your weekend, I'm off in search of some garden flowers.

images via Cote de texas, Phoebe Howard and Nathan Egan

Pretty in pink

Pink and feminine seems to be making a come back . Soft pretty pastels are appearing all around me and are such a lovely change from the neutrals we have been seeing in abundance over the past few years. Enjoy your weekend!

suzanne howard, habitually chic, emmas home, pink wallpaper

Over the border

To dress up plain curtains, braids and fabric borders can be added. These curtains by Chrissie Jeffreys for a child's bedroom have five rows of various braids added to dress what appear to be very simple cotton duck curtains. Chrissie has always been known for creating couture window furnishings.

Designer Samantha Pynn's lovely curtains appear to have navy stripes sewn onto plain curtains for a striking contrast.

Notice these lovely orange curtains have a ric rac line then a cream border across the base. Try experimenting new ways of adding detail to curtains without using patterned fabrics. Have a relaxing weekend. Sally-Annx

Nesting

Just because they are little doesn't mean they can't sleep in style. This nursery is so classic and flows beautifully from a house decorated in neutral tones. Grown up furniture and a beautifully upholstered chair means a nursery need not be outdated as your little darling grows. A lovely alternative for those who don't know the sex of their baby. Colour can be added later as your child's personality develops.

Consider the cot a piece of furniture and decorate accordingly in lovely fabrics according to girls or boys.


I have recently been discussing nurseries with some lovely pregnant clients in my shop and thought I'd show some of these nurseries in my files .

1st image via absolutely beautiful things, other sources unknown.

More bedheads

This simply padded and piped bedhead adds a tailored touch to this bedroom by David Lawrence.

Buttoned bed heads create a furniture piece of importance in the bedroom. They create structure and substance in a room often considered more soft and feminine.

Pad your head

I love everything about this bedroom The taupe and pale blue colour scheme. The toile bedhead and matching valance. The painted striped walls and the upholstered blue ottomans. Restful, pretty and with interest.

via Meg Braff

via Toby Fairlie

Similar colours are used in all three bedrooms however padded bed heads need not always give a traditional appearance. The choice of fabric and style of the bed head can create different moods. A padded bed head with a matching valance gives a beautifully finished look to any bedroom.They are are great way to add colour and pattern without swamping the whole room in it. Needless to say, I am a big fan.

And so to bed

A gorgeous simple bedroom by some of my favourite Belgian designers Flamant

Flamant

via this is glamorous

What could be more appealing after playing with colour and pattern all day in my shop, than these simple, timeless bedrooms?