INTERIOR DESIGN CHATTER

There's Something About Sophie

I have neglected my space here for sometime, when I stepped away from my business last year I lost a bit of my mojo with interiors. Along the way, Whilst working at Jan Cavelle, I stumbled across the very talented Sophie Paterson (thanks to the lovely Lucy at Lux Deco- more about Lux Deco soon)... Well Sophie's style has really got my passion ignited again. I absolutely love the soft colour palettes she chooses with her signature look of a modern twist on classic style. Her choice of accessories are something that really catch my eye & she's not afraid to use an abundance of them either. Scrumptious choices of wallpapers, luxury fabrics & classic artwork play a key role in all her designs as well as the use of natural elements like wood & stone bowls & ornaments. I am officially stalking Sophie via Facebook & instagram, her beautiful designs are so inspiring & I have put her book on my birthday list (for anyone listening). Well let's just take a little look at some of her gorgeous work

Images via sheerluxe.com

Visit Sophie website www.soohiepaterson.com

There are often spaces that warm my heart & this is certainly one of them. It's light, open & airy & everything I long for in a kitchen/ dining room. I have always loved open kitchen dining spaces, the kitchen is the heart of the home after all & I love the idea of my dinner guests sitting comfortably sipping wine while I am busying myself in the kitchen. I don't want to be shut off from my guests I want everything open & homely. White gloss kitchen cabinets are on my list, fresh, light & more importantly easy to wipe down. The solid wood dining table & beige tile flooring bring warmth to this bright white save. Most of all I adore the light fixings, another item for the wish list.

A little inspiration

Feeling a little festive right now, the gingerbread house is made, a red velvet Christmas cake to still bake & after browsing pinterest there's sooooo many other food & drink recipes I feel I need to try out.

Inspiration

I do like my textiles from snugly throws to squidgy soft pillows. Its all about the Cosy fleeces & wools, in wintery colours or with Christmassy patterns. Comfort & style coming together

Holidays are coming......

It's been a while since I posted, life has been a little busy to say the least. But then having a little browse on Pinterest this morning & all the Christmas images got me inspired again.

This couldn't scream comfort more if it tried. What a cosy scene it is, my obsession with fireplaces really does get me dreaming at this time of year. An open fireplace, a comfy sofa with snugly blankets & cushions the perfect space for a cold winters evening. I have to say we are approaching my favourite time of year & I'm already starting to feel excited planning the works Christmas do. The holidays are coming......

Colour inspiration

Pops of bright colours mixed with eclectic styling make for fun & interesting spaces

Summer Sun

I'm not going to lie I'm in desperate need of a sunshine holiday, I've not been away since February of last year & my week off last week with only days out planned & bad weather have not helped my yearning of a beach & hot sun. The school holidays have pretty much been a washout & I'm feeling I've missed summer entirely. Don't get me wrong I love autumn but I'm just not ready for it yet. I find myself on Pinterest looking at summer themed interiors & outdoor living. I've not sat outside enjoying some relaxation in the garden, no alfresco dining, not even a BBQ. This feels tragic. Time for summer inspiration me thinks....

I need this view!!! Breakfast outside staring at the rolling waves (swoon)

And evenings chilling in the evening sunshine, reading a book & listening to the sound of the waves as they crash in the shore....

Relaxed & Refreshing space

House tour

I love a house with a bit of colour & quirky items & this home certainly fits the bill, its got a real sense of fun about it. Exactly my kind of style. I'm in love with the open kitchen breakfast room with plenty of comfortable seating. I also love the way the lounge has cleverly broken up separate seating areas

Garden Art

Love this idea of brightening a wall in the garden with artwork it certainly livens things up. It certainly has an edgy urban feel to it

Summer house

Turning a summer house into a play house certainly keeps the mess out of the house. Imagine the fun kids can have with their very own club house/hide out/ mini home...whatever their imagination wants to make it. Hours of endless fun.

But what about a space for mum?

This would certainly be my option .....

Inspirational spaces

I totally adore this girls bedroom it's so pretty. I've always loved a four poster bed & the cute floral voile works beautifully. Its a soft & dreamy room but very subtle. I love the pale neutral tones here.

Jan Cavelle Furniture Creation Journey

Well today I take you on a little trip to The Jan Cavelle Furniture Company where we take a sneaky peek around the factory to see what goes on in the process of making a piece of furniture. Jan's beautiful creations go through a process over several days of being built & spayed by dedicated craftmen, lets go see

Day one:

The raw materials turn up at the work shop.

Day 2

The wood is now being cut at an angle to create more surface area to secure the boards together.

Day 3

rebate is being cut along the edge of of backboard with a spindle moulder

Day 4

excess wood is being used in the wood burner, ensuring the make best use of

waste

Day 5

skilled craftsman are gluing boards together to create the carcass

Day 6

the doors are being screwed on and then they'll be removed for spraying

Day 7

Spraying is a delicate process, a fleck of dust could ruin the black ash finish

Day 8

it is now being denibbed using 400 grit (400 grains of sand per sq cm) sandpaper, To make the piece smooth

Day 9

complete and ready to be sent to despatch the Olivier base unit.

A passion for cheesecake

Nigella's rather devilishly yummy Nutella Cheesecake recipe

I had a cuppa around a friends the other week & served this delight up, completely amazing. So I thought I'd give it a whirl & it certainly went down well with my colleagues at work, I came home with an empty cake box. So I'm sharing the love around & pacing in this tremendous recipe as it really cannot be missed.

Ingredients

250 grams digestive biscuits
75 grams soft unsalted butter
1 x 400 grams jar nutella (at room temperature)
100 grams chopped toasted hazelnuts
500 grams cream cheese (at room temperature)
60 grams icing sugar (sifted)

Method

Break the digestives into the bowl of a processor, add the butter and a 15ml tablespoon of Nutella, and blitz until it starts to clump. Add 25g/3 tablespoons of the hazelnuts and continue to pulse until you have a damp, sandy mixture.
Tip into a 23cm/9inch round springform and press into the base either using your hands or the back of a spoon. Place in the fridge to chill.
Beat the cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth and then add the remaining Nutella to the cream cheese mixture, and continue beating until combined.
Take the springform out of the fridge and carefully smooth the Nutella mixture over the base. Scatter the remaining chopped hazelnuts on top to cover and place the tin in the fridge for at least four hours or overnight. Serve straight from the fridge for best results.

Alfresco dining

Well it's been wet & miserably & I am full of cold, yet its meant to be the end of spring, where is the sunshine as I am more than ready to get my flip flops out & indulge in some alfresco dining.

I am very much an outdoor girl & the thought of a comfortable & attractive garden would be a complete dream. I can't say I'm particularly green fingered but I'd certainly love an outdoor space that I could enjoy, to eat outside on a summers evening or relax & read a book on a sunny Sunday afternoon