Rough Luxe

I'm definitely a lover of the rough luxe look, It looks glamorous and yet not 'try hard'. I especially like this look in winter. it always brings to mind dark and moody but still cosy rooms. 

From one of my favorite interiors blog, Design to Inspire

Some of these rooms I'd give my right arm to relax in on a cold winters night

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Image, Richard Powers via Man Make Home

See more of this amazing home here in Sweden's Elle Interiors

From Mark English Interiors

Although this look is laid back it's not the easiest to pull off. It's a delicate balance of worn elements mixed with newer more lavish pieces as well as the odd industrial element too. It was definitely an inspiration when we created our new Metallic candle holders.... We love that as they older they'll take on there own unique patina....

In our dream kitchen there would definitely be polished concrete worktops, molded handled gloss white cupboards, maybe a worn copper tap...... and bang up to date appliances mixed with a few old apothecary jars. 

What do you think of this eclectic look? I think its possibly like Marmite, you either love it or hate it and it's love for us! 

Re-organising......

We've been having lots of family time this weekend as my Husband has been working nights for 2 weeks due to a big re-fit going on at work. He finished on friday, so we picked the children up from school headed out for dinner then came home to relax. Candles, pink fizz and pjs.... bliss! 

Saturday was spent shopping with my girl. Clothes, snow cones and new bags all featured. 

 Sunday was a lovely lazy morning and an afternoon trip to Nandos. Cheese board and wine for the evening rounded things off nicely. All in all a lovely family weekend.

But to be honest it's not often that a weekend passes without some new addition or something changing in the house and so I did find time for a bit of re-arranging of the kitchen shelf. 

It was more decorative, giving the kitchen a shot of colour with the artwork that was up there, but its a long shelf so actually I was just wasting the space and lately I've been drooling over some gorgeous and functional open shelving on Pinterest like these.

( images from my Pinterest board here )

So I decided to just go for it and change it up, after all it's hardly difficult to change back! 

So it went from this.....

to this......

I'm really liking how its turned out, feels so much more practical and kitcheny... ( a new word for Monday that, kitcheny!! )

So a quick re-do in the kitchen that cost nothing.... just the kind of house project any husband will like!

Details, details.......

As I've said before I always think that what makes a house a home is the details, be it little architectural details, of which my home has none, or the little details we introduce in our styling. 

I love nothing more than playing around with home accessories. They are the easiest way to introduce a bit of personality to a room, even minimalistic ones. I've got to say my favorite pieces tend to be glossy monochrome, that on closer inspection have something a bit different about them, usually funny or quirky. They make people take a second look, start conversations and above all else, should always reflect what you love or are inspired by.

One thing that has never bothered me is whether others share or even like my taste in some of my more unique pieces. As long as I look at them and they make me smile, then they have a place in my home, no matter what anyone says about them! You wouldn't believe some of the comments I've had about my Eames House Bird by Vitra, and thats a design classic!

My object of the moment is a piece I didn't even buy, but won on Twitter from BoConcept Manchester!

I never win anything, but to be fair I never enter comps either. This was just a weekend giveaway, where you had to retweet and follow them, which wasn't a problem, I'm happy to retweet for them, I'd never do it just to win something, I genuinely love what they do! (They do these giveaways every weekend btw, and I've not been paid, given anything apart from my prize, or got any special treatment to include them in this post!)

After winning, to my surprise, I got to choose which style of candle holder I wanted, white, surprise surprise, they packed and shipped it and I received it on the following Tuesday. It has been in use every night since. 

It's gorgeous. It reminds me of a miniature pineapple. 

And it looks even better at night lit up.... but you'll have to trust me about that as the picture does it no justice!

I'm sold on this one, I think it'll be staying around for a while.