Pep Up Your Home With NY Fashion Week!

New York fashion week has seen a plethora of silver and hues of grey fabrics which will undoubtedly influence the interior design scene this autumn and winter. Metallics have already been a large part of this year's interiors along with soft floaty fabrics and sheer voile fabrics for on-trend window dressings, bed canopies and informal room dividers.


Within interior design we are focusing on the use of different textures and how they can be used to bring depth and purposeful meaning to a room. Cushions and throws made with a variety of fabrics, mixed with knits and sequinned detailing are bang on-trend, inexpensive and easy to achieve.


Try taking fashion weeks colour schemes and embedding them into your home with pops of hot pink teamed with cool steel grey or gun metal grey coordinated with yellow accents.


As I mentioned in my last post you don't actually have to wear clothes made from the same fabric as your curtains, however, you and your home will be 'hot to trot' this autumn and winter without having to resort to black and dismal colours which make a room feel uninviting and cold. Embrace the NY fashion trends to pep up a tired and uninspiring living space!

Image: decorology

The Art Of Layering

Want to add a luxury look to your living room without breaking the bank? I've a few easy tips and interior design ideas which could turn your dreams into reality using the simple technique of layering and collecting!

You can layer with fabrics or have a collection of vases - it is just about having more than one piece. Just remember there is a fine line between layering, building up a collection and looking over-cluttered. Remember to choose similarities in you layering or collections.

Adding layers to the traditional living room will also presume a self-indulgent and stately home. It's right on-trend and can be used effectively in all styles of home.

You can layer different curtain types, a silk curtain fabric could be used with a rich velvet to create an opulent look or use both ready made curtains and ready made blinds in contrasting colours or textures to give beautiful diffused lighting effects.

A collection of fine vases on the mantelpiece should be in the same colour or colour range. A sofa with ample cushions and throws should be tied together with pattern or colour to stop it looking to chaotic.

Image: Belle Maison

Beautiful Summer Colour Combinations

Beautiful summer colours bring a room out of the doldrums and make you smile! With an eclectic mix of colours which radiate summer shades, living rooms become stylish interiors which ooze chic style.

Mixing and matching patterns is right on-trend and a great way to keep your living room bang up to date without having to spend a fortune; you can even cover the seats of your sofa and chairs in a completely different colour, pattern and type of fabric to create a fresh new look – a marvellous way to extend the life of your furniture along with embracing the trend of up-cycling effectively.

Add table lamps modern, bright and in a contrasting colour to add interest to a room and don't forget to add an abundance of fresh flowers to add the summer touch which can be picked from your garden! With the Chelsea Flower show in full swing this week it makes the quintessential flower inspiration easy to follow!

Mix stripes with floral fabrics, chevrons with blocks of contrasting plain colours within the same colour range and it's easy to achieve a beautiful room which is full of character and chic charm.

Image: VT Interiors blogspot

Simple Patterns Made Into Stunning Style

Patterns play a huge part of our lives and although you may not be a 'pattern person' and prefer plain fabrics for your home, there is something simply stunning about stripes and zigzags which is almost mesmerising.

Blue stripes on a white background give a nautical look which is very on-trend this year. Choosing lightly quilted bedspreads king size of course, provides a sleek and stylish way to give your bed and your bedroom the 'wow' factor.

These colour combinations also provide a crisp, clean look to the room, add the bed canopy with a slightly smaller stripe and the eye is automatically drawn upwards, which is a great way of making ceilings appear higher.

The all important finishing touches need to be kept with the same crisp, clean lines and yet adding a different pattern in such a subtle way is the perfect answer to having a beautifully made made bed and a stunning bedroom to-boot.

If blue is not your preferred colour the same effects can be achieved using just about any other colour teamed with white to get the clean look. Red striped adds a touch of drama and romance which is ideal for bedrooms, just remember that the darker the stripes the more of an impact they will make.

Image: Absolutely Beautiful Things

Give Yourself A Winter Home Improvement Project

Up-cycling and recycling continue to make a huge impression of the world of interior design. It's not only kinder to the planet it's also kinder to the pocket!

I love the idea of selecting random styles of chairs painting them and re-upholstering the seats with the same fabric to give a sense of cohesion and balance. With the wide choice of curtain material online you can find some fabulous patterns and designs at really low prices. Just image how much chairs like this would cost if bought pre-done?

Have some fun in your spare time and actually get round to carrying out a DIY project which doesn't involve painting walls or building cupboards from scratch. The great thing about this type of project is that you can take your time and complete it over a number of months as you find another chair in need of some TLC, just remember to but sufficient fabric if you want the chair seats to match.

Alternatively you could use completely different fabrics just as long as the shades and tone compliment each other, and still produce some simply stunning dining chairs!

If you opt for patterned fabric if you have plain walls and curtains or plain fabric if you have patterned walls and curtains otherwise the chic styling you're trying to achieve may just end up looking like a mis-match which you won't be happy with!

Image: Vintage and Chic

Invigorating Colour Combinations - Sublime Lime And Fuchsia Pink!

Just because autumn is upon us and the Indian summer has disappeared altogether you can still inject vibrancy and wonderful colour combinations within your home to cheer you up throughout the year!

Colour clashing remain in-trend within the world of interior design. Meaning even those who have what used to be perceived as lack of colour sense, can let their imaginations run wild and mix colours which clash to create stunning and inspiring interiors!

Lime and fuchsia pink are great examples of how two striking colours can look harmonious sitting side by side. The key is to use then in nearly equal proportions so that one colour doesn't grab all the attention! Ready made curtains swept open and held in place with matching tie backs are a great way of creating a frame to a picture, piece of wall art or highlight a display area.

Think theatrical! To create great focal points within your living space, remember ready made curtains don't have to be solely used as window dressings they make the ideal frame to your 'theatre' as well as being a simple way to divide rooms and even conceal untidy alcoves, let the colours scream out your personality!

Image: Belle Maison

Remember, Remember The 5th of November!

I have to openly admit that I am a pyrotechnic lover! Yes, I am one of those who 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' every-time the night sky is lit up! Of course today is bonfire night in the UK, a day dedicated to remembering the plot, treason and attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament!

Of course now-a-days fireworks are used to celebrate just about everything and every occasion across the globe. Bringing the vibrancy and magical qualities of the patterns fireworks produce into your home is a great way to inject some zing into your home. Of course you could use photographs of actual exploding fireworks or create your own wall art, alternatively you could look out for fabrics which have been inspired by pyrotechnics and use them as curtains, cushions and duvet sets. Beautifully designed lighting in vases is yet another way of adding wonderful lighting effects in your home which are reminiscent of the trails of light left behind by fireworks!

If you're not into making your own soft furnishings there are some wonderful vibrant patterns and colours on the 'ready made' shelves of many high street and online retailers. The key in creating the illusion of fireworks is to have a black, night sky, back ground with vibrant contrasting patterns. Beaded embellishments will add the glittery sparkle beautifully!

Image: MocoLoco

Opt For Chic, Yet Inexpensive Alternatives To Transform Your Home

Mix old with new with furniture as one of the most in-trend interior styles is to have antique or old pieces sitting beside something which is completely new. This trend suits many homes as there are nearly always 'treasures' which you simply can't ignore but are never really sure what to do with! The key is not to over crowd, as this just becomes a jumbled mess rather than a striking interior which shows that it has been carefully and tastefully thought out.

The choice of colours you use should also be given careful consideration. Whilst the latest design are predominately white opt for a modern cream and team with rich reds to bring a feeling of warmth to your rooms.

Rather than have curtains which can block out light in a small room opt for blinds made from neutral coloured fabrics to bring the room together effortlessly. Natural colours are ideal for small rooms without the starkness white sometimes portrays. These colours make a room feel lived in and homely which is what many people strive for. Getting the combination right is a matter or re-adjusting your mind set to a completely new way of looking at interior designs.

Rather than wishing your home could look like it has come straight out of the page of a design magazine stamping your own individualism is what great interiors are all about! We can all wish that we had more space, more ideas and perhaps more money to buy all the wonderful things we long for, take a reality check and opt for chic, yet inexpensive alternatives to make transform your house into a warm and inviting home.

Image: Small Space Style

Vintage Revivals In Kitchens

Fitted kitchens are in many ways becoming a thing of the past as interior designers or those who stamp their own unique identity on their home as realising that to be unique you have to inject your own personality into your rooms!

Country cottage inspired kitchens are in-trend with the return of large white enamel sinks and units and wall cupboards which are not all identical, each brings it's own touch of flair to the design. Shelving to display treasures and 'finds' are also back in-vogue, along with shelving and storage spaces having fabric curtain style coverings rather than doors.

Bring a room together by using identical fabric for the window dressing is a great way to keep individualism and yet bring a room's style together quite effortlessly. The colour and pattern of the fabric use use is a matter of personal taste and that's why this style of interior will create a completely unique look irrespective if every house in a street had the same layout.

Opting for vertical stripes is a great way to give the illusion of more height as it naturally draws the eye upwards. The latest roll up blinds give a window an ideal window treatment for kitchens as they fir snugly inside the window recess and don't interfere with worktop or sink areas, as well as being ideal for adjusting to different levels depending on how much strong sunlight is entering the room along with be easy to drop down at night or if you need some privacy from neighbours or passers by!

Image: Absolutely Beatutiful Things

Inexpensive Bathroom Makeovers To Beat The Winter Blues!

One of the latest design trends is 'colour clashing' or choosing colours which are not usually recognised as being compatible. An excellent example of this is lime green coordinated with plum or aubergine or burnt orange teamed with ochre. Therefore if you have an old style bathroom suite colour of sage green coordinating with white tiles along with stripped floorboards, also painted white, and replacing your current window dressing with a white blind will provide a striking style which will not appear so out of fashion!

Likewise if you have a powder blue bath opt for a contemporary look by decorating the room with a vibrant contrasting colours such as post box red for a trendy and fun look. Of course you can always opt for a vintage look by coordinating powder blue with candy floss pink, along with a floral theme which provides a country cottage style with touches of pale green or cream.

Change the blinds for styles with spotty fabric in sherbet shades and add a chair with the seat recovered in a candy coloured stripes. Include vintage pieces such as large jugs and bowls to add focal points to the room, along with subtle touches of cohesion by having towels edged with the same fabric as the chair seat or blinds.

Above all have fun mixing colours and rather than be depressed by your old bathroom suite turn it to your advantage by simply adding new aspects which will lift your morale and beat the winter blues!

Image: Belle Maison

Cost Effective Patchwork Revival

Patchwork has been around for hundreds of years and has always been used as an effective way of recycling old or left over pieces of fabric and materials. With recession affecting people's spending power, having or using patchwork to create stunning bed covers and even curtains is back in-vogue as an effective way of recycling and making things for 'free'!

Mixing different textures of fabrics brings patchwork right up to date, as in the past it was typically only cotton fabrics which were used. Today you can make patchwork out of any type of material, including lightweight voiles and organza to create sheer curtains which let an abundance of light flood into a room in a soft and somewhat dreamy fashion making this style perfect for bedrooms!

Those who don't feel inclined of have the aptitude to make patchwork, but still adore the country cottage interior design themes and styles, will be pleased to know that it is possible to buy fabric which has the appearance of patchwork! This may be defeating the object somewhat of recycling, but it is a great way to achieve this type of interior style at affordable costs without having to wait for a patchwork to be made!

Next time you have a clear out in your wardrobe why not put the fabric to good use? Or on second thoughts look for lovely cottage style ready made curtains which can simply be hung from wooden curtain poles to achieve the same look in a fraction of the time!

Image:Freshome

Blinds Are A Cost Effective Window Dressing

Interior design has not only gone 'green' by using the different colour shades of green, the use of natural materials from sustainable sources is also high on many people's design agendas.

Natural cotton fabrics, Hessian and wood are among the most popular choices, combined with colour schemes which are derived from nature. Creating stunning interiors using natural materials has never been more fashionable or more affordable!

One of the most cost effective window treatments are blinds made from bamboo or wood weave materials. These have been on the market for many years as a cheap, yet effective way of covering windows. Without sounding too philosophical bamboo is one of the oldest know methods of covering openings/windows to reduce heat and stop prying eyes from looking inside people's homes.

In the 'seventies' bamboo blinds were in-vogue and where used to create natural looking interiors at affordable prices. The return to being 'closer to nature' and being 'green' has once again seen this type of blind to regain popularity as a cost effective method of providing window dressings either on their own or used in combination with curtains as no longer are they seen as a cheap and only used by students they have become common place in traditional and modern homes.

Nowadays, wood weave or bamboo blinds are used in conservatories and summer houses as an effective way to help reduce heat build-up, along with bringing nature inside the home.

Image: A Life's Design

Roller Blinds Remain Popular Window Dressings

The humble roller blind has seen some dramatic changes in recent years. The main focus of interior design trends is to use blinds which are made from wonderful fabrics which coordinate beautifully with the colour scheme and design style of your rooms.

The kitchen has always been a popular room to fit roller blinds due to their versatility and ease of use. To ensure you have the right colour and pattern it is even possible to make your roller blinds from kit form. The suppliers provide all of the necessary equipment such as control mechanisms and pulleys all you have to do is select the fabric!

However, with the wide range of ready made roller blinds currently available there is little need to spend time making your own! Opt for colours which create the desired effect, such as light natural colours and gingham patterns for a country cottage kitchen or a bright bold colour to team with work tops and cupboards in modern and contemporary kitchens.

The humble roller blind is not only ideal for use in kitchens, they are ideal to team with swag and tails window treatments to create a stunning and professional look to a lounge or dining area. In the bedroom opt for roller blinds which also have black out properties, particularly if you live in large towns where light pollution is a problem!

As roller blinds are available in a vast number of different widths and lengths even the smallest windows can benefit from having a blind fitted. For those who want to achieve the latest looks roller blinds which have an complete image on them such as forests, flowers or under water scenes create wonderful window treatments which transform into wall style art when pulled down.

Image: Habitually Chic

You Can Never Have Enough Storage, Seating or Cheap Cushions!

I always think that you can never have enough storage space, seating or cushions as such I embrace the idea of combining these with open arms!

Window seat are always a great idea in older styled houses where there is sufficient depth on the window sill to enable you sit or lean comfortably against a cushion, if they have built in storage so much the better!

Making use of space in today's modern homes has to be on many people's agendas. With house prices still very high in most parts of the UK, finding a home to enable you get your foot on the first rung of the house buying ladder is becoming increasingly difficult. The houses or apartments you may be able to afford are going to be the smaller ones, irrespective of their age.

However, restoring an old Victorian terrace or choosing the type of design you want in a more modern house is all part and parcel of transforming you living space into a place you can call home. Putting your individualism into each room can be fun and does not have to cost a fortune or look tacky!

For first time DIYers a great project would be to make additional seating for when you have guests and incorporating much needed storage. A simple box style construction made from MDF or ply would be suitable substantial to take people's weight and the top can be simply painted and have lots of cheap cushions placed for comfort, or the more adventurous may like to add a padded bench cover. This can be achieved by buying a block of foam, most suppliers will cut it to size for you, and either making a fabric cover which can be put on and off, in much the same way as a pillow slip, or simply drape it over and tucked in underneath!

Be inspired and make the most of the space you have!

Image: Alkemie

Fabulous Ways Of Using Curtains

Removing doors and replacing them with full length curtains is not only an inspirational idea in rooms where doors are impractical, they are also make a very elegance and frame through which to look through and an easy way for the eye to be naturally drawn through into the next room and the natural light coming through the window.

The aspect I really find an easy, yet brilliant idea is to have the tie backs up high to enable the space to be fully utilised. Of course, this type of door way is a perfect for any type of interior design, be it traditional, modern or contemporary, it would purely be just a matter of choosing the right style and colour of fabric and altering the pelmet to suit.

With the curtain pelmet touching the line between the wall and the ceilng also adds height to the room. Look closely and you will see that the windows in the other room have the same curtains, also with high tie backs, creating a real sense of cohesion and harmony.

Using tie backs up high would look wonderful on sheer fabrics such as silk and voiles, particularly if you were to use the latest trends of beaded tie backs in a contrasting colour. Opt for opaque beads to allow the sun to make fascinating patterns of subtle colour to give the room a wonderful and gentle focal point.

Much nicer than traditional style of net curtains used in many homes in the UK, predominately to stop prying eyes seeing into other people's houses rather than for their somewhat bland and in my opinion boring and outdated look which do little to enhance the beauty of anyone's windows!

Image: Absolutely Beautiful Things

Malibu Barbie Dream Home

It have to admit that I’m not a lover of all things Barbie! However, I can hardly let the 50th anniversary pass by without giving this famous iconic doll a mention.

Bloomacious have some wonderful images of the latest Malibu Barbie Dream Home designed by Jonathan Alder. Whilst I agree that the living area is almost beyond believe, I actually have to admit that the bedroom has some great interior design features, not least the bed linen. I wouldn’t go as far as the B initials on the cover and pillow covers, but the white with contrasting bold lines offers a clean look which coordinated effectively with the Barbie pink shown abundantly in the rest of the room.

I’m undecided about the table lamps, the black coordinates with the trim of the bedding but the base seems out of keeping, unless of course it depicts a silhouette of Barbie and I’m missing the whole point!

What does intrigue me is the fabric covered ceiling and walls. This is a great idea for covering up walls in a rented home which you really can’t stand the sight of and are unable to redecorate due to landlord’s terms of rental. Buy yards of fabric, not necessarily Barbie pink! from discount fabric warehouses or online. Simply use a curtain track to suspend them by and hey presto! one unsightly wall transformed!

And for those for you who are wondering if I ever had a Barbie doll the answer is a most definite NO!
Happy Birthday Barbie!