Add some colour this spring!

When the sun begins to shine, everywhere comes into colour, from the garden, the trees, the surrounding buildings and our homes. The sun creeps slowly through the windows and our homes appear brighter and more vibrant as if someone has waved a paint brush across each room instantly adding colour.

This month I wanted to inspire you to think about adding colour to small spaces in our homes, whether it be a cupboard, a hallway, the cloakroom or the spare room. Instantly adding colour to a small space is like switching the light on, the room becomes alive, it has an identity, a purpose making the space useful and much needed.

Many of these small spaces are painted white, a belief that white makes everything look bigger. Although this maybe true to some extent, the room can often look unloved, cold and uninviting and often becomes a dumping ground and the room is so often avoided.

Use strong greens, dense blues and dark greys hues to add drama to any small room.

Here are a few ideas to add colour and vibrancy to a small space in your home.

 

Happy painting!

GRx

As the temperature rises.

Spring begins to feel closer as soon as the temperature rises into double figures; overnight we see a sudden growth spurt of daffodils bulbs whilst the crocus and snow drops appear all along the grass verges.

It's a time to pull on the wellington boots, find the key to the shed and grab the garden rake, hoe and trough. The garden does not look it's best right now but with a little TLC and some patience the garden will be restored and full of fresh green grass and shoots in the coming weeks.

Here are a few tips to get you started and on your way to a beautiful garden this Spring!

1. Pull out the lawn mower and dust off the old dried on grass, book a service and your lawn mower will become your best friend as the grass once again begins to grow.
2. Rake off the lawn, collect any fallen tree debris, remaining leaves and moss and throw them on the compost or into your green garden bin for collection.
3. Keep the blades high for the first few cuts as the grass will have grown very little over the winter.
4. Avoid cutting the grass if ground frost is still forecast.
5. Aerate the lawn with a garden fork or spiking tool, this will help boost grass growth and improve drainage.
6. Finally, seed any areas of the lawn that has died off during the winter and add a good Spring fertiliser for your type of soil.

Happy gardening!

Illuminate your home this winter.

Now that the Christmas and New year celebrations are behind us and we have experienced quite a few chilly days and nights I thought I would turn to illuminating the home with style and character creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I have spoken before on lighting the home but it is an area that is really important to me all year round, whatever the weather.  As I write this blog the weather has turned milder yet the rain is still icy cold as it beats hard against the windows; I fear Spring is still some way off although the first sign of the daffodils bulbs appear to be peaking above ground.

The lighting you choose for your home often reflects the image of your own personality and lifestyle, without going too deep into the psychology of our minds, what we wear and often choose as furnishings for our home can sometimes illustrate how we see life and ourselves. The classic look, the industrial look, the bold and dramatic, or monochrome style. All of these styles can look beautiful whatever the age of your home or which room we choose the light to be displayed in. 

Here are some of my favourite looks right now:

Happy New Year, Happy illuminations!

The Festive Table

Creating an unforgettable Christmas table can be tricky when you have a range of ages to cater for. Elegant tableware is a essential if you are out to impress the in-laws and fun table gifts for the children are a must. Evenly place your glassware so that it stands to attention, whilst the napkins should lay soft next to each place setting, complimenting the surrounding interiors. Candles create an ambience as the day draws in but they must be carefully placed to create a warm and christmasy feel at the table and not to become a hindrance to the host when serving food. It is a good idea to label each place setting with the guests name, people will soon then settle at the table and calmness will evolve. Crackers come in all colours and sizes, there will be one for every table design, they can be expensive so it is important to decide whether you want to have a luxury gift from the cracker or just buy cheaper ones simply to have them for tradition and buy a separate table gift for each guest baring in mind there maybe children at the table wanting something more interesting than a silver paper clip or a mini pack of cards.

If you have chosen a colour theme for your Christmas tree, it is a nice idea to follow this through to the dining table, especially if the tree is in the same room.

Here are a few ideas to create that magical, memorable look:

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Love 

GR x

The Christmas lights are on!

This month I thought I would take a look at lighting now we seem to be switching our lights on earlier and earlier each day. The Christmas lights are being switched on too in most major towns and the Christmassy feeling is creeping up all around us.

As you arrive home on a winters evening it is nice to have the outside of your house lit up, for safety reasons first but also to make it feel welcoming after a long day at work or shopping.

I feel it is important to create a harmonious feeling in a room, the relationship between the furniture and the room can often be effected by the lighting that surrounds it. To create that connection and make a room feel warm and cosy have a light on in the hallway and in the main living room too as you arrive home after dark.


Here are some of my favourite designs:

Autumn inspiration

Now we are starting to spend a little more time indoors again, I thought this month I would take a look at some quick inspirational ideas for the home.

When we arrive home in the evenings and the nights have become darker and colder the house can at first feel a little chilly, lifeless and sometimes even lonely. The first thing we often do is turn on the main lights, flick the kettle on and switch on the television, all of a sudden the house is bright and noisey.

To ensure we are welcomed into our homes feeling relaxed and warm here are a few instant tips that can make all the difference to a comfortable evening ahead.

1. Place a few light timers around the house, these are easily adjustable so as the evenings draw in further the lights will automatically switch on as needed.

2. Place soft low wattage light bulbs in table lamps and adjust the heating so it comes on low an hour or so before you arrive home. You can now even have an app on your phone called hive active heating (hivehome.com) which will allow you to adjust the house temperature whilst commuting home as the weather changes. There is also an app for adjusting the lighting in your home, you will need to replace the light bulbs with hive active bulbs, these will allow you to have similar control as the heating. They come in a range of choices so there is something for everyone.

3. Create a warm and welcoming entrance. The hallway will set the scene for the rest of the home so if it's untidy at the door, what will it be like in the other rooms that people can't necessarily see when they pop by. It is important here to create flow, welcome you in to see more; you can create flow by using complimentary colours that will lead you through to other rooms off the hallway. Choose striking tiles, or a striped carpet or if you love a wood floor create impact with a colourful rug. The entrance hall is often seen as somewhere to pass through and not a place to sit and relax, a place that will see a lot of "people traffic". Flow can be created by using complimentary colours, for example use lighter colours in rooms to create a feeling of space, light and openness, whereas the hallway can be darker, not only creating warmth but being practical as we rush through the house, it is an area that may experience regular bumps and scrapes. So, try using strong, saturated colours, like dark grey, mulberry or teal; go on be brave!

4. The lounge often leads straight from the hallway, here use warm neutrals,which will create a cosy aura in the evenings. The ambience of a room can be easily adjusted by the amount of lights that are switched on, the colour and pattern of curtains or blinds, rugs, the style of fireplace and accessories like cushions, throws and wall art.

Here are a few ideas:

The hallway - 

The lounge -