Get outdoors, Spring has sprung!

Spring is a great time to give the house a clean and good declutter from all of those items we have hoarded over the cold, winter months. Now we have lighter days and holidays looming when the weather is good it is great to spend time outside. Give your outdoor space however big or small a clean and splash of colour this Spring.

The size of your outdoor space can vary greatly, but whether it is a balcony, small terrace or lovely stretch of lawned area bring on the gardening bug and give your outdoor space a good spruce up. Plant up pots with colourful Spring plants and perhaps even paint the pots to add vibrancy and a style to suit your mood.

Co-ordinate your interior colour scheme with the outside to help with the feeling of bringing the outdoors in.

Have your garden sheds, seating and fences painted too!

Keep any lawned areas free from weeds, cut the grass regularly and remember to trim those edges to give a smart clean finish.

Other areas of the house that will look great by adding some new colour is the front door, front porch, window sills, the garage, and if your house is rendered paint that too!

Here are some great ideas to get you started:

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: