Bedding Basics.

May 8, 2015 by Hayley 2 Comments

Do you change your bedding often? Weekly? Monthly? Maybe for the change of seasons? Or maybe you love your bedding and never change it.

I like to change my bedding style every time I change my sheets. I usually stick with the same coverlet / bedspread, but change up the pillows, cushions and throws. As cooler nights are finally here I find myself drawn to chunkier textures, plush fabrics and richer colours. Then as soon as we have a bright and sunny day I feel like throwing on some pretty florals and bright cushions. I really wish the weather would make up it’s mind!

Cooler nights call for chunky knits and texture.

Warm days require pretty florals and bright colours.

I am often asked about my linen and bedroom styling details. I’d love to share with you some of my tips for getting the most out of what you have, and getting several looks from one basic linen collection.

I like to start with a very plain, white coverlet or bedspread. White is perfect because it goes with everything, and works with every style.

Initially, it may be a bit more expensive than a doona cover, but buying a few quality pieces that last will be worth it in the long run. The advantages to buying a white coverlet are numerous – You can fit a coverlet in most washing machines. You can wash it 100’s of times, bleach it or Napisan it without it fading. It is a great weight to use all year round, and when winter hits you can layer it with a doona or blanket. And it always looks fresh and new.

So, where do we find the perfect white coverlet / bedspread? Mine is from the Simply Shabby Chic range at Target in the USA. I bought it many, many years ago and it still looks as good today as the day I bought it. You can find a basic white coverlet or bedspread at most bedding suppliers, opt for 100% cotton if possible. I found some beauties available in Australia for y’all.

Airlie Bedcover | Ezibuy | $179.99 — Airlie Bedcover | Ezibuy | From $169.99

Artemida Bedspread | Bed, Bath & Table | From $199.95

Next addition to your basic bedding collection should be some white pillowcases. If you can purchase the matching ones to your coverlet / bedspread, do that. Otherwise, you can pick them up anywhere bedlinen is sold, opt for high thread count, 100% cotton or linen.

Standard White Pillowcase | Country Road

White with white palm tree | Island Trading Co

And now for the fun bit! Layer your classic white bed linen with your existing (or new) printed pillowcases, cushions, blankets or throws to suit your mood and the weather. Have a look around your house at what you already have, check in the dark depths of your linen cupboard for forgotten items, mix and match those orphan pillowcases, clash those colours and create something fun and original.

Lets have a look at a couple of styles I’ve created, and how to get the look.

INDIGO

10948967_1605102773055890_676120286_n — Calming blues for cool weather and classic style.

BRIGHT FLORALS and MONOGRAMS

10731742_501646043309410_1580816808_n — Bright Florals perfect for sunny days and lifting your mood.

Mrs Darcy Throw - Peaches — Mrs Darcy Throw – Peaches

Personalised Pillowcases | Keep it Personal. — Personalised Pillowcases, choose your own font and colour | Keep it Personal.

TEXTURE AND COMFORT

10895174_973339229362305_1100622093_n — Soft and textural for inviting comfort.

Rose washed velvet quilted throw | Citta Design

PRETTY PASTEL

Pretty, fresh pastels with a light weight throw perfect for summer days.

ON MY WISHLIST!!!

Vintage inspired elephant pillowcase | Gorgi

I hope I’ve inspired you to be creative with your bedroom.

Hayley x

Tropical Styling.

May 6, 2015 by Hayley 2 Comments

A couple of weeks ago we talked about ‘Nautical Style‘, and I mentioned that it was different to Tropical, Coastal or Beach House style. Today I want to have a look at how to achieve a tropical feel in your home and some fabulous products to help you get there.

Tropical style homes are designed for the hot and humid weather of the tropics. The Tropics are the part of the world that sits between the Tropics of Cancer and the Tropics of Capricorn, it includes many different countries and cultures. Basically, Tropical Style has an emphasis on outdoors and laid-back living, It’s absolutely perfect for our Australian lifestyle.

Here’s a few elements that will help you get the look.

TEXTURE.

Think chunky weaves of rattan, cane, bamboo and jute. These are most often used for flooring, wall coverings, furniture and baskets. As the tropical style has become popular, we are often seeing these course woven fibres in many more applications. You can easily add it in your home with something as simple as a basket or floor rug, or you can go all out and wallpaper with some beautiful grass cloth paper.

Grasscloth wallpaper | Wallpaper Shop by Murrays Interiors.

PLANTS.

Fill your home with large tropical plants. Palm trees are perfect. Some of the palm trees that are suitable for indoors include – Lady Palm (Rhapis), Kentia, Majestic, Hawaiian fan palm and so many more. I am a complete black thumb and kill everything, but apparently the trick is to place them in the most light filled position in your home. Look at these amazing images and imagine them without the plants, not nearly as amazing.

Source - David Lawrence in House Beautiful. — Source – David Lawrence in House Beautiful.

LIGHT.

Open the window, get rid of heavy drapes and let the light in. Use bamboo blinds, shutters and sheer curtains on the windows. Take any opportunity in your home to open the doors and windows and let the outside in. You can buy bamboo blinds inexpensively at many places, and I think they look great. Try your local Bunnings, Spotlight or similar. Sheer curtains can also be found inexpensively at most of the larger home wares stores like Ikea, Freedom, etc .. I found these ones at Pottery Barn and love that they are 100% linen.

TROPICAL WOODS and BAMBOO.

A Tropical style calls for more exotic woods to be used, think rosewood, mahogany and teak. Use these woods for furniture, flooring and ceilings. I love the look of wood panelled ceilings that has become quite popular lately. Bamboo is also an element that instantly makes you think of the Tropics. It is very on trend right now and finding some great bamboo pieces has never been easier. I love this daybed from Naturally Cane, but you could try scouring your local classified for some great pieces from yesteryears, everything old is new again!

Calabash bowl set, crafted from acacia wood | Island Trading Co.

NATURAL FABRICS.

Avoid heavy fabrics, and opt for sheer, floaty natural fibres. Think cotton, linen and muslin. Mosquito nets over beds are a perfect, more out of necessity than aesthetics in the Tropics though. I found a great range available from Mosquito Nets. Keep you bedding light and fresh, opt for 100% cotton or linen, I really love the sheets available from Island Trading co. The embroidered pineapples or palm trees are ideal for your tropical home.

100% cotton pillowcases with stone palm | Island Trading Co.

VIBRANT COLOURS.

A tropical home usually has a splash of vibrant colour and pattern. Think some fabulous art or some patterned cushions. The palm tree prints are very on trend right now, as are flamingos, pineapples, fish and shells. I particularly love this print by Neryl Walker, it’s tropical chic at its best!

Tropical Orchid cushions | Square Fox designs.

TROPICAL SYMBOLS.

Pineapples represent a traditional expression of warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality in many regions of the Tropics, it is lovely to have a pineapple by the front door to welcome your visitors. Palm Trees also ooze tropical style. You don’t need to spend loads of money for tropical decor items, collect some shells next time your at the beach. I have an amazing shark jaw that my husband brought me home from the dump, yep the dump! It was a bit messy and needed some cleaning, but it is one of my favourite pieces.

Pineapple Candle holder | Alfresco Emporium

Plantation Hurricane | Emac and Lawton — Plantation Hurricane | Emac & Lawton

THE SCENTS OF THE TROPICS.

The aromas of the tropics make you feel like you are on holiday, you know the ones – Coconut, Pineapple and Lime. You can either slather yourself in some Reef Oil, or burn some gorgeous candles, your choice!

Reef oil - Coconut. — Reef oil – Coconut.

Island Trading Co specialise in Tropical scents, pick any, you can't go wrong! — Island Trading Co specialise in Tropical scents, pick any, you can’t go wrong! My favourite is Outrigger.

I had some fun in my own home trying out some tropical style, I have to tell you, I really like it and I think I might keep it!

Pineapples and rattan candles in the bedroom. This map is in my sons room, but I had some fun styling in there because his wallpaper has a great tropical feel to it. What do you think?

Tropical in my bedroom, a little palm tree print from Etsy, some palm leaves, some coral and of course a couple of pineapples = Tropical! (Palm tree cushion from Pottery Barn)

Greenery, rattan, my beloved shark jaw and some hibiscus floating in water make my entry feel tropical.

It's all in the details - Marble is perfect for anywhere in your home, I have put my soap on some pretty shells for a tropical vibe. — It’s all in the details – Marble is perfect for anywhere in your home, I have put my soap on some shells in this gorgeous marble bowl for a tropical vibe.

Tropical in the kitchen, I wish I had a big pineapple here too!

What do you think? Have I inspired you to go Tropical in your home? If you want to know where anything is from, please don’t hesitate to ask, I’m always happy to share.

Clearly I am loving my Island Trading Co bags as plant pouches, they will be available to buy online from next week. And if you read this blog post you would have found a special offer from Island Trading Co!

Your tropical style home will make you feel like you are on holiday all year, and who doesn’t want that!

Hayley x

Inlay my whole home!

May 4, 2015 by Hayley 2 Comments

Do you love bone inlay and mother-of-pearl inlay furniture and pieces. I do! I have a couple of pieces in my home, but of course there is always room for more and I have a few pieces on my wish list!

Inlay is traditionally from India. The art is handed down from generation to generation. It is a lengthy process, one piece of furniture takes about 3 weeks to finish. The bone (usually camel), or mother of pearl shell, is carved into small pieces, then adhered to the wooden piece of furniture, and lastly the furniture is filled in around the bone/shell with a coloured resin.

Here’s a few pictures of MOP and Bone inlay pieces in homes. I think it adds depth, character and an exotic feel to your interior.

I particularly love inlay pieces as bedside tables, Look at these beautiful bedrooms. Sigh!

Original Source unknown | Pinterest — House Beautiful Image | Pinterest

Here are a few pieces I have in my home, I’m lusting after something in pink, yum!

And here’s the fun bit, the shopping. I’ve put together some of my favourite pieces for you. I hope you find one that fits in your home.

Fuchsia Marrakesh Drawers | Zohi Interiors $2645

Green bone inlay drawers | The Wishing Trees $1999

Watercolour blue draws with cabriole legs | Ruby Star Traders $1980

Large bedside in floral pink | Fenton and Fenton $1090

Moroccan Quatrefoil Mirror | Zohi Interiors $895

Mother of Pearl inlay box $295, Ruby Star Traders.

I hope you found something!

Happy Shopping!

Hayley x

5 Way to style your dining table.

April 29, 2015 by Hayley 4 Comments

Dining tables can be tough to style, I often get asked questions about what to put on your table when your not actually dining. I have to admit, I struggle with this sometimes too, your dining table display has to be practical. It needs to be able to be left in place while you dine, or easy enough to remove every time you do. Nobody wants to spend half an hour removing an elaborate table display before dinner! An easy way to make this as painless as possible is to put your decor onto a tray that can be lifted on and off as required.

Here’s a few trays to get you started.

1. Flowers, Plants or Greenery.

Of course, nothing brings more life to your dining table than a bunch of flowers, a plant or some foraged greenery. You can go for one big display, or try a few smaller vessels scattered down the centre of the table. Remember if you want to leave it there while you are eating they need to be high enough to still see your dining companions faces, or low enough to have a conversation over the top.

Helen Bayley from Lovestar gets it perfect with this huge orchid.

Simple flowers for a burst of colour, in my home.

2. Fruit.

Fruit will bring a pop of colour and can be styled to fit any home. Choose a vessel to fit with your decor. Think tall glass cylinders with lemons, limes or apples for a modern decor. Or a timeless marble bowl / platter with pineapples for a tropical decor. If your a blue and white lover, use a beautiful blue and white bowl filled with apples.

These are from Williams Sonoma. You can find glass vases and jars in most home ware shops.

This would be a perfect tropical centrepiece. Marble bowls available from Island Tarding co. — This would be a perfect tropical centrepiece. Marble bowls available from Island Trading co.

Image from Houzz. For similar bowls try Botticelli House or Alfresco Emporium. — This one is from Kathy Kuo home. For similar bowls available in Australia, try Botticelli House or Alfresco Emporium.

A bowl of fruit, on a tray, that often sits on my dining table. — A bowl of fruit and a tray, that often sits on my dining table.

3. Lanterns and Candles and Candlesticks.

If the though of replacing dying flowers and fruit all the times makes you anxious, try some lanterns and candles. There is so many fabulous types out there to choose from. Again, select something to fit in with your decor. If you have a rectangular table, 2 or 3 lanterns works well. If you have a round or square table, 1 large lantern, or an odd number of smaller ones be your best option.

Forever Cottage Blog. Two lanterns and note the tray for easy removal at dinner time.

4. A selection of beautiful plates and table ware.

Sometimes I like to have my beautiful table ware pieces on display, I hate the thought of them hiding in cupboards where nobody can see them. I was gifted a range of Spode for my birthday last year and it spent a couple of months as the centre piece on my table. You could try displaying a beautiful tea set on a tray, or a fabulous casserole dish. Pull out your favourite pieces and show them off.

My dining table, with spode and other pretty pieces, in a tray for easy removal.

5. Recipe Books piled high.

I have done this one accidentally, looking for dinner inspiration I have pulled out piles of books and sat at the dinner table looking for ideas. And surprise, they looked great. They added some height to other bits and pieces I had on the table.

A collection of recipe books on my dining table. Jug from Nouvelle Vie.

There are so many fabulous things you could display on your table, maybe you have a large statement piece like a sculpture, or a collection of objects in different sizes and shapes. This is just a few ideas to get you started. Think of your dining table as another spot to show off your collected prized possession.

What have you got on your dining table? I’d love to see, Show me!

Hayley x

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