Christmas Colour Inspiration

I wont get a chance to post colour inspiration tomorrow as I am spending the day in Cambridge doing a touch of Christmas shopping with my partner. So here's my post a little earlier than normal with a little bit of festive colour decore to get you inspired. Its not the most traditional of Christmas colour pallettes but I have to say I do like this pretty pink inspiration.

Bathroom Inspiration

I love to see a beautifully designed contemporary bathroom, espcially as for the most of us its just a dream to have the luxury of a big bathing space like this.
The luxurious big baths are stunning features that really have the wow factor in both of these gorgeous spaces.

kitchen inspiration

Contemprary gloss kitchens have a real apeal to them I think. Its the clean cut lines & simplicity about them & that they are also easy to wipe clean. White is the most popular gloss door but this can often feel very clinical where as black doors can be very dominating in the average kitchen space & really darkens a room too. I find myself drawn to gloss doors in beige, latte or soft dove grey. The soft muted colours are comfortable rather than stark & clinical. You can always add pops of colour into your space in appliances, splashbacks or accessories.

                  I have my heart set on this Avant Beige door from PWS

create a Magical christmas

I have been busy making  felt gingerbread men & felt robins tree decoration's with my step daughter. We both enjoyed making our own creations. I have also been working on some mini stockings for the tree too but I will share those another time. Find instructions below to make your own felt decorations.....

           To make a felt ginger bread man tree decoration you will need

• Brown felt
• gingerbreadman template or cookie cutter
• White ric rac
• ribbon for hanging tagdark brown, light brown and white embroidery cotton
• pins & an embroidery needle
•  sharp scissors
• stuffing
• buttons

1. Pin your template to the felt & cut out 2 gingerbread men (or cut round a gingerbread man cookie cutter) 

2. On one gingerbread man sew some ric rac to the arms & legs (to look like icing)

3. sew buttons on for eyes or sew a couple of crosses instead, you can do the same with the mouth.

4. you can add a bow tie with ribbon if you like.

5. pin your gingerbread man to the other cut out & sew 3/4 of the way around.

6. fill your gingerbread man with stuffing & then sew up the remaining gap.

7. tie some ribbon to the top & hes ready for the tree.

Last christmas I shared how to make gingerbread man garland click below to see the post

            http://finishingtouchinteriors.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/create-magical-christmas.html


                                  

                                       For the robin you will need

•  brown, red  & white felt
• 2 circle templates slightly different sizes
• brown, red & white cotton
• pins & embroidery needle
• shapr scissors
• stuffing
• buttons

1. cut out 2 circles from the brown felt

2. cut out one slightly smaller circle from the red felt

3. sew the red felt circle onto one of the brown felt circles at the bottom part of the circle (this is for the robins belly)

4. cut a diamond shape out the the brown felt & sew on above the red circle for the beak

5. cut 2 small circles from the white felt for the eyes & add black buttons to the middle

6. Now pin to the remaining brown corcle & sew around leaving a gap at the top for the stuffing.

7. Add stuffing & finish sewing around the circle & add some red ribbon so you can hang your decoration from the tree.

                                  Hey presto we are done....

Christmas colour Inspiration

You cant get more traditional than red at Christmas and being that its a popular colour in many homes anyway its easy to incorporate into you christmas decorations too.

bathroom inspiration

This cosy bathroom has a really modern country twist too it. Ive looked a lot at plum inspiration over the past week with tuesdays kitchen tour & last weeks Christmas colour Inspiration posts. I am loving this colour pallette & here seasonal plum mixed with subtle grey & the warm natural wood makes a delightful combination.

 

kitchen tours

This bold aubergine colour choice looks stunning teamed with white silestone worktops & the pale blue glass tiles & plentiful stainless steel appliances including the fridge drawers below a built in larder cupboard, a double door wine cooler & coffee machine blow the built in microwave & dishwasher drawers. Its a perfectly utilised & workable space that happens to be very eye catching too.

Create A Magical Christmas

Well its time for me to get all in the Christmas spirit here on the blog. I have been busy at home creating decorations for the tree & last week I made a start on the christmas cake. So I thought today I would share my mum's christmas cake recipe with you in the start of my festive series. I wont be icing my cake until the weekend before so I will share a sneak peek of this nearer the time but for today heres the recipe....

Christmas Cake

Ingrediants:-
For the pre-soaking
350g sultanas
200g raisins
150g dried apricots, chopped
100g almonds, chopped
50g glace cherries
1tbsp light muscovado sugar
grated rind of 1 lemon
1tsp each of ground nutmeg & cinnamon
Some sherry

For the cake
250g butter, softened
250g light muscovado sugar
250g self-raising flour
5 eggs, lightly beaten

Method:-
1 Put all the ingredients that need pre-soaking in to a bowl with a small cup of sherry & leave in the fridge over night.

2 Grease the tin & line with greaseproof paper

3 Preheat the oven to 150°C, 300°F, Gas 2.

4 Put the butter and sugar in to a large bowl & mix then slowly  Sift in the flour and beat in the eggs until smooth, using either a whisk or a wooden spoon. Fold in the soaked fruit and nuts.

5 Pour the cake mixture into the tin and bake for around two and a half to three hours. Fruitcakes need to be baked at a low heat because they're dense.
6 Test to see if the cake is cooked by piercing the cake with a skewer – if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.

7 To save the cake for Christmas, wait until it has cooled and wrap it in foil. Store in an airtight container for up to two months.



Here's what you need to get ready for the decorating stage:- 

            4tbsp apricot jam
            700g natural marzipan
            2tbsp sherry or rum
            700g royal icing or fondant icing
            Icing sugar to dust
            (cake decorations)

    For more christmas recipes why not pop on over to my
                  
                cookery Corner

for fabulous recipes you can make with the kids...or by youreself!

Colour Inspiration

Seasonal plum

ok so ive touched on this resently in colour inspiration but heres a little bit more inspiration to fit with some seasonal decorating ...







Next week we will take a look into Christmas colour styling, great colour pallettes & styling your Christmas dinning table.

Bathroom Inspiration

Add some luxury to your bathroom space with a free standing tin bath. Whether your going for a contemporary or classic style you can be sure that the timeless appeal of a tin bath will be a winning fixture.

kitchen Inspiration

We all love to take a nose at the homes of the rich & the famous so lets take a look around the fabulous kitchen of award winning designer Windser Smith as revealed in House Beautiful recently, it certainly wont disappoint...







To view more of Windser smiths home pop on over to House Beautiful

Christmas Inspiration

So now we have Halloween & Bonfire night out the way & with just over 6 weeks to go until Christmas its about time I jiggled things about on the blog & started getting festive with my inspiration. So from next Monday I will be starting my festive series 'Create A Magical Chrisitmas' with recipes & decorations you can make at home. I will also be going festive with my Friday colour inspiration series too.  

Dont forget my fabulous festive Give Away
See details in post below from Friday.

Sarah xx

Give Away

With the Christmas season fastly approaching & it being the time for gift giving I have decided to show my appreciation & a little holiday spirit to my wonderful readers & blog friends with a little give away. I am offering you the chance ..

 To win a £25.00 gift voucher for my online shop

www.finishingtouchinteriorsboutique.co.uk

...to spend on anything on the store. Just simply leave a post below telling me your favourite christmas carrol to be in for a chance to win.

With some great christmas goodies & gift ideas with over 100 products available on the shop there is plenty for you to choose from. So why not take a sneaky peak at whats on offer

                        www.finishingtouchinteriorsboutique.co.uk

But thats not all I am also offering all my readers a 15% discount on all items from now until 10th December 2012 just quote

'xmas15' at the checkout.

hohoho Merry Christmas

Sarah xxx

House Tour

Lets take a nose today around a beautifully designed house with a mix of modern & vintage style. Decorated in relaxed, muted shades with a light & airy feel. It is very ecclectic with vintage accessories & a mix of contemporary furniture pieces like the Ikea cabinets & the lounger in the living area.
A reclaimed dining room table & chairs adds charcater to a simple yet modern white kitchen.
Both bedrooms are inspired by vintage finds, the main bedroom features an updated fireplace find.  

Cosy Country Style

My style taste is very mixed & ecclectic as you already know, but I think the seasons make a real impact to what appeals to me. In spring & summer I am drawn to beach style interiors where as in the autumn & winter months I become drawn to the cosiness of country interiors. Snuggly sofas with pretty floral cushions & wool throws, roaring fireplaces, bare brick & exposed wood beams. Its a delightful & appealing style. With dark, frosty nights drawing in its all about snuggling down on the sofa with loved ones for me. When its cold outside I cant help but long for cosy interiors, especially if I have been out for a run on a bleak, foggy evening I just want to come home to a hearty dinner, relax my muscles in a hot bubble bath then snuggle down on my comfy sofa with the family. You have to admit what ever your personal taste these images are very cosy & appealing.