Simple ideas for a relaxing bedroom

I've been so busy these past few weeks and my bedroom is the proof.
There are two piles on the floor: one for dirty clothes and one for clean ones. My bedside table (which is an untreated wooden stool) is a dusty mess of books and bits and pieces. My beloved Elliot coat stand is barely visible under it's load of coats and bags. My chest of drawers is covered in all sorts of stuff that currently has no other place. Oh, and the sheets really need replacing.
So that's my plan for today. Clean it all up and make it a relaxing place again. Off I go.

5 Easy ideas for decorating with plants

In honour of St Patrick's day earlier this week and with spring blooming in the Northern Hemisphere I thought I'd feature something green. I love decorating with plants because it makes a house look warm and inviting. And since plants absorb CO2 they also clean the air around them. Bonus!

It is surprisingly easy to look after indoor plants so even if you're a certified plant-killer you should try giving it a go again. Most plants just need water and sun, although in varying degrees. 

My amazing grandma, who had a wonderful collection of indoor plants, used to say that not over watering your plants makes them more resilient. She also used to clean them with a bit of milk because it makes the leaves shiny. Needless to say that her plants were always in magnificent condition.

A couple of years ago one of my friends has introduced indoor greenery into her home after many years of killing innocent plants. I'm glad to report that both her and the plants are still very happy.

If you're not sure where to start I suggest succulents. They are resilient, don't need much watering, they like full or partial sun and there is a huge variety to choose from. Once your succulents have grown a bit you can also use cuttings to make new plants.

As a confident plant owner my favourite thing to do is rescue dying plants. I don't always succeed but when I do I definitely feel a bit special.

Happy growing!

The simple desk cleanse

Being a designer and a blogger means that I sit at my desk a lot. And I mean A LOT!
I'm not a particularly organised person but I do like my desk tidy and neat. I find that I just can't work efficiently when I have to spend too much time looking for things around my office.

Since it's the start of a new year I thought it would be a good idea to start afresh with a desk cleanse.
It's a pretty simple process:

1.  It's all about storage. Drawer units, shelves, desk organisers, boxes (label them so you know what's inside) and anything else that will make sorting out the clutter easier.

2.  If it doesn't work, throw it away. Old pens, staplers etc... Just get rid of things you no longer need in your workspace. De-clutter and de-stress.

3.  Give your desk a good clean and put everything in it's place. Keep only the daily necessities on your desk. For everything else there should now be a convenient storage place.

4.  Update when you need to. If you find that the new setup is not working for you just change it up to suit your needs. Practice makes perfect and there's nothing wrong with having desk version 2, 3 etc.

Here's to a clean desk!

Product references:
From top: Small bowl from Steven Alan, Another desktop series by Another Country,  Sketchbook from Need Supply, Tofu stationery set by Pana

Holiday gift guide: For him

1. conductive gloves by Steven Alan,   2. Nike Air Max 90 sneakerboot from Need Supply,   3. Fantastic Man magazine from La garçonne,   4. iPad mini case from Country Road,   5. Striped wool throw from Leif,   6. Rubber dipped dot mug from Sight Unseen

Or if he likes photography like my nerd boyfriend does I would maybe get him something like this.

Pastel lemon

I like the new Limone cushion from Country Road. It's soft yet bright at the same time and very very cute. 

Etsy finds : Paint it black

1. Mini banner from Bird and Co,   2. Pillow cover by Pencil me in Stationery,   3. Sleeveless blouse from Hanna Boutique HB,   4. Pompom hat from Bang Bang Fur,   5. Ceramic planter from RossLab

Creature goodness at H&M

It's pretty hard to not fall in love with these adorable ceramic plates by H&M. Apparently H&M are on their way to Australia but it might be too late. Until then us Aussies will just have to do with the other Swedish giant - Ikea.

Etsy Finds: Softly spoken planters

1. Moss green mid century planter from FrancFrancis,   2. Vintage wooden hanging planter from ohalbatross,   3. Brass himmeli plant hanger no. 2 from HRUSKAA,   4. Hanging recycled glass Terrarium - Small Dodecahedron from megamyers,   5. Enamel chamber pot from Etsplace.

The cosy home

These are a few of my favourite images from the A/W 2012 House & Home lookbook from UK Brand Toast. The soft, rustic colour tones and tactile materials really create a cosy and inviting look.

English pubs by Mr Wingate

Mr Wingate is a London-based hand printing studio established in 2006 by Sam Wingate.

The collection includes a range of illustrated prints and homewares such as these lovely two-colour print East End Pub Crawl cushions. 

These and other products are available online from Mr Wingate shop.

The white villa

This incredibly white and airy detached villa in Bjärehalvön Sweden was built circa 1909 and has 7 rooms. I don't know what Bjärehalvön is like but I would definitely like to buy this house and move in right away.
Via Henmet.

OYOY is not for YOYO backwards

OYOY is a newly established Danish interior design company creating high-quality products focussing on form, function, colour and exquisite materials. 
OYOY is inspired by classic Scandinavian style, adding undertones of simple, Japanese design and a passion for combining colour and materials. The result is a unique blend of simplicity and colourful design. I'm sure you'll agree with me that it looks great. Visit OYOY's website for more products and the inspiration behind the unusual name.

Country Road cushions

Country Road have a new range of decorative cushions which remind me of a Scandinavian summer. I'm especially loving the soft butter and grey colour combination, particularly on the knitted triangles cushion (which has been named 'Vernon').
Now all is left is for summer to arrive in Melbourne. Soon.

Anaca Studio photoshoot

Last week I was very fortunate to take part in a photoshoot with my gorgeous friend Anne-Claire of Anaca Studio and talented photographer Nik Epifanidis and these are some of the results of that day.
It was great fun helping out with the styling and bouncing ideas around. I even got bagels with cream cheese for breakkie!

Anne-Claire is a furniture designer and my most creative friend. She started Anaca Studio last year with the aim of producing aesthetic and practical furniture pieces that are sustainable and locally made. Despite the big challenges of sourcing materials and production locally the product range has grown from one table (Mr. Cross) to a small range which includes the beautiful Elliot coat stand and Phileas floor cushions shown above (the cushions are sooooo incredibly comfortable that you never want to get up again).

Anne-Claire isn't just a great friend, she also inspires and encourages me to follow my dreams. On top of all that I get the honour of looking after her two cats whenever she's away. I couldn't ask for better than that!

Bird prints by Sanna Annukka

These are the new bird prints by amazing Finnish artist Sanna Annukka. Aren't they just lovely?
I really love her work and have a few of her older prints on my walls. 
My favourite new product however is her collaboration with fair trade rug company Node on this rug. I'd love to get my hands on one!

Folklore in London

London is not only home to the 2012 Olympic games but to some amazing shops, one of which is Folklore, an Islington based independent store which curates mindful design for home and life. The Jelly lamp is a standout for me.

Owners Danielle and husband Rob work with brilliant designers and makers. They look for craftsmanship, quality, simplicity and durability in all of the products which creates a calm and unified look in the shop. Some of the products are handmade, antique or made from recycled or found materials. Others are easily recyclable at the end of their life. All are made in an environmentally mindful way.

Also important to mention is that Folklore will donate 15% of the profit to a different not for profit organisation every year. 

Back to the Olympic games for a minute, I must say that the coverage from Australia's Channel 9 is just woeful. Jumping from one sport to another and never actually showing an event from start to finish is massively annoying. That's all.

Black is always in fashion

I've always wanted to create a treasury in etsy and today I finally did. I tossed and turned but in the end picked some black and white items for a classic timeless look. You can view the full list here.

Interior design favourites

A chair can be just a chair but sometimes a chair can really make a difference in a room. I have a signature chair in my lounge which to me really ties the whole lounge interiors together. It's black with rounded arms and is adorned with a white fluffy cushion. I found it in the street and it was the first piece of furniture that nerd boyfriend and I owned together. One day I'd love to own an Eames rocker like the one above and a Jardan Archie chair. But until then I'm quite happy with my off-the-street black chair.
Do you have a special piece of furniture too? What would you love to own one day?
(sources for pics are on my pinterest)

Sheepish home decor ideas

Found this great little article in Remodelista on using sheep in as interior decor items and fell immediately in love with these adorable fluffy creatures.
I have a smallish super-fluffy alpaca on the mantle piece named Lady Patricia, that nerd boyfriend carried all the way from Peru. She's brown with a white mohawk and we adore her. What I really really want though is a cat. A real fluffy cat.
Are you a cat person or a sheep person? Or maybe you like llamas?

Polkka Jam

 

Polkka Jam is a lovely illustration and design studio from Turku, Finland. Production is local and as ecological as possible. The work cherishes slow living and simple things like a walk in the forest or having a nice cup of tea. I really like the colour combinations too.