I am a sucker for anything personalised or monogrammed. I love the sense of ownership that comes with it, I feel like it instantly elevates an everyday item into something special. I also think personalised and monogrammed items make fabulous gifts. Since Mother’s Day is just around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to share some of my favourite personalised and monogrammed items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here’s a look at a couple of the personalised items I have in my home.

Phone case and Acrylic tray from – Keep it Personal.

Cushion from – Kate Lauren design ( no longer in business ).

Trinket dish and Cork jewellery box from – C Wonder.

 

   

   

Do you love a monogram? Do you have something special already? Show me!

Happy Shopping!

Hayley x

*Jasmine and Will Boyfriend shirt and Keep it Personal acrylic tray gifted.

I absolutely adore decorating my home with nautical pieces, anchors and oars and all things maritime related. In my opinion this look is timeless and classic, but it has had it’s moment in the spotlight lately. The unfortunate thing is – when something becomes temporarily ‘trendy’ the market gets flooded with home wares. I am finding mass produced, nautical inspired items popping up all over the place, and I’m going to say it … don’t hate me … some of it is just outright tacky! Do you agree?

Nautical style is different to Coastal, Beach House or Tropical. Although all these styles work fairly well together. Nautical style is more about bringing maritime elements into your home, treasures from the sea, think things from old ships and navigational elements.

Lets have a look at how to bring a fresh and breezy nautical inspired feel to your home without the tacky accessories and without it looking like a themed room at a cheap hotel.

 I’ve gathered a few of my favourite pieces for your nautical home, some of which I have in my home, and some of which are on my never-ending wish list.

MAPS, NAUTICAL CHARTS and NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT

These are key elements of nautical styling and by choosing the right one you can bring history and charm into your decor. I’ve found a great range of vintage nautical charts at Coastal Vintage.

As for the maps, why not introduce them as wall paper like this one from The Wall Sticker Company, or a throw cushion?

OARS

I love styling with oars, hang them on walls or stand them up tall, you can never have too many! Oars Galore have a fabulous range of authentic, maritime grade oars hand painted into works of art. Yes, I have a pair in my home, and I love them!

     

ROPE, JUTE and RATTAN

This doesn’t need to be taken literally, you can include rope motifs or finishes in your soft furnishings, like these cushions from Pottery Barn with a jute edge.

Or this gorgeous rattan trunk. I have this in my home, and have had it for years, I still love it! It is available from The Beach.

BOATS

Of course, a boat or ship! I have seen lots of these around, but nothing like these ones from Elise Cameron-Smith. They are handcrafted with a modern twist. I love them!

LANTERNS

There is so many great nautical inspired lights around these days, everything from lamps to wall sconces to pendants. I particularly love this one from Pottery Barn, and it’s currently on sale, Run, don’t walk!

You can also place found and collected objects around your home, things like vintage fishing rods, glass fishing floats, huge old clam shells,nautical flags,  rattan baskets or creels, and beautiful old oil paintings of the sea. These are things that are fun to hunt for when you are antiquing, flea market hunting or at your local thrift shop.

Home Beautiful Australia recently featured the home of Tara Dennis. Her home is beautifully curated in nautical finds. I love her ‘chandelier’!

*Pictures from Home Beautiful Australia.

Have you got a nautically inspired home? Do you have any fabulous nautical pieces or special finds? Show me, I’d love to see!

Hayley x

In my house, I am the spender and my hubby is the saver. Trust me, if the budget was in my hands we would be living on the street, but I would have a trolley full of fabulous things!

My hubby has this whole ‘want’ and ‘need’ thing. When I find something gorgeous that I simply must have, my husband asks me – “Hayley, Do you want this, or do you need it”.

This is his idea of ‘want’ and ‘need’ –

Everybody needs to keep warm … right?

I want a HERMES Avalon cashmere blanket …

This is hubby’s idea of keeping warm … a Snuggie. Not in my house Mr!

And you need to be comfortable, right?

So, One should never knowingly under cushion! I want mountains of them, in pretty prints, crisp colours and fine fabrics, all with feather filling of course. Guaranteed to make any lounge suite comfortable!

And this is hubby’s thoughts on a comfortable couch, yes, I’m serious, he would totally put a few of these in a room and think it was awesome!

I want my walls full of art, mirrors and fun pieces.

This is hubby’s idea of decorating the walls …

It’s a constant dilemma, as sometimes I really ‘need’ a certain item for things he just doesn’t understand.

Like for instance, We all know you need to change your bed linen with each season, and yes, we can use it again, but we must add a new cushion or throw to keep it fresh … Right?

Or if one of your favourite artist, crafter or creator releases a new and limited candle scent or art print or ceramic piece or {insert your weakness}, and you have serious FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) then you simply must have it!

Or when you are just browsing, honestly, just ‘browsing’ a beautiful shop and a big blue and white ginger jar calls your name, and it’s ON SALE, then everybody knows that you simply must take it home!

Or when you are styling Instagram photos, you really need a stash of pretty props and on trend trinkets … Am I right?

Do you have the want and need dilemma? What’s on your want list? I’d love to know!

Hayley x