Tag: fashion

Blue bedrooms and your happiness factor x 4.

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For the love of power blue, here are four inspirational bedroom interiors and a few suggestions to get your started on a good nights sleep. 

Experts from Bed Threads have recently completed a study that shows people who sleep in blue bedrooms get the most sleep and, lucky for them, wake up the happiest because, according to the study, the ‘happiness receptors’ in human eyes are very sensitive to blue. 

Not sure about happiness receptors, but scientists know that blue has a shorter wavelength which tends to make us calm, whereas colours with longer wavelengths such as yellow, orange and red make us more alert. And feng shui practitioners associate blue with peace, clarity and healing, often linked with spirituality.

Good news for us because we all love blue. A YouGov survey conducted in 10 countries across four continents found that blue is the most popular colour across the board. 

1.) Blue on white

I’m assuming you’ve binged on Dream Home Makeover featuring Studio McGee? If that’s not the case, I’m also giving you an extra tip – do. They’ve nailed the practice of peaceful neutral rooms combined with pops of rich colour and natural materials.

Can’t or don’t want to paint? Here they showcase how to add blue through your choice of furniture and accessories. I’m sure I’m not sharing anything inspirational here when I say the trick to any amazing bedroom will always ultimately come down to the bed. Don’t scrimp if you can on this key element because according to Dreams, “the average person spends about 26 years sleeping in their life, which equates to 9,490 days or 227,760 hours.”  

Get started:

This double painted oak frame from Chiltern Oak Furniture would be a great starting point to duplicate this approach with a very reasonable price point.

2.) Simplicity at its best

This second bedroom I love for its purity. What a simple design life hack. Take a chair that you can pick up for very little on Gumtree or eBay and paint to match your walls to create a lovely side table. Just make sure that you find one that has the right shape. The curves of this one soften the starkness of the overall design. 

Get started:

Linen sheets are exceptional to sleep in. And what’s even better is that you don’t have to worry about ironing them to have them look fabulous! Loaf do some beautiful linen dyed into soft colours.

3.) Panelling can never be bad

Hands up, I love panelling, and I will always try to include an example. Don’t let panelling intimidate you. It’s actually not that hard to find good suppliers or even do it yourself. I spent a week and £250 on MDF and paint to create a great panelled hallway which fundamentally changed my flat.

But back to this, what is lovely is the use of a blue-grey wall paint across everything with then a pop of peacock blue in the headboard to turn this from something safe into something quite exciting.

Get started:

Interested in a fast and straightforward solution for panelling, then check Cut/mypastic out. They cut your MDF wall panelling to size, making it so much easier to install without the hassle of having to cut all the pieces yourself. 

4.) Denim Dreams

Crown Paints are trying to showcase their wall colour in this image, and as such, the focus is on the walls, so I’d style this room differently, i.e. that picture above the bed is the first thing to go. However, overall I think the concept is excellent.

Double Denim isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s now your new blue bedroom statement. I can see this working well for people with kids or dogs who want something a little more sturdy for pillow fights or jumping games.

Get started: 

Check out Etsy for some fantastic handmade denim pillows such as these. 

Some lovely blue paints to get you started:

  1. Little Greene has a lovely paint colour called Pale Wedgwood
  2. Benjamin Moore have a super soft shade of blue called Iceberg perfect for master bedrooms.
  3. Lick has a lovely mid blue grey which as they say has a “Hamptons” sort of feel to it.
  4. Farrow & Ball have in their California Collection a soft foggy blue called Hazy
  5. Graham & Brown have a lovely navy colour called Brave for accent pieces or to repaint a bed.

Conclusion & fashion highlight

Blue bedrooms will always have a place in our hearts. Using softer pastel tones will keep the room calming and nurturing and allow you to layer more depth through the use of linens and pillows.

But don’t forget, as we always want to look our best we decided that the playsuit was the perfect accompaniment when hanging out in our new fabulously blue bedrooms.

Emilia Wickstead makes this amazing Blanche floral-print Swiss-dot cotton-blend seersucker playsuit

and SKIN makes this Mags belted cotton-blend terry playsuit in blue.

Both from Net-A-Porter.

Advice

I will often repeat a few guidelines because inspiration is only as good as the room you have to decorate! Make sure you test everything in the room you are decorating.

A.) Suppose you are doing a wallpaper and paint combo. In that case, you must take a sample of the paper and pin it up to 1.) make sure you love it in your room and 2.) test the paint colours next to it. If you are looking at dropping a lot of money on the wallpaper, then, if possible, try to get a cutting for approval (CFA) of the current dye lot, i.e. the one you’ll be putting up because wallpaper can often vary across lots. 

B.) Colour tester pots are your saviour. You need to see the colour in your room with your light and space before making your final choice and definitely before you paint the room! Please don’t skip this step. The little example on the colour card or even on screen if you’re using an app to test a colour can be significantly different at scale or natural light. Save yourself the hassle of having to repaint. 

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Image Credits: https://studio-mcgee.com/, Mikael Axelsson for Fantastic Frank, https://biid.org.uk/listed-islington-master-suite, https://www.crownpaints.co.uk/, Net-a-Porter

Mint blues and peachy pinks for an LA Art Deco vibe.

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Inspired by The Britely, the proven combination of mint blues and peachy pinks can bring a bit of glam to your life.

Livingetc.com just gave us an amazing view into the new the new LA club from the interior designer behind Annabel’s in Mayfair.

Image credit: Ye Rin Mok for The Britely and Livingetc.com

Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the esteemed Swedish architect behind the elegant candy-filled interiors of Annabel’s in Mayfair. He has spread his candy-cotton-colored wand across the Atlantic to create a fantastical tribute to the sparkling streets of West Hollywood. 

Livingetc.com

With travel restrictions on and I’m sure a a mile long waiting list for entry, sadly I won’t be getting a chance to see this in person anytime soon. But I think it’s amazing inspiration for anyone wanting to capture a bit of old school art deco 1930’s glam crossed with West Hollywood. The colour combinations of palms combined with the mint blues and peachy pinks set off by brass detailing make the right kind of statement even if you don’t have access to the LA sunshine.

Art Deco inspiration

I can imagine using this as inspiration for a garden room, patio or conservatory or even a home office to spice up the summer zoom calls. Or like the image below just slightly adjust the peachy pink to a purple tone and the blue to a more teal tone and you’ve got the same vibe perfect for a living room that moves it forward in time but no less special.

Paint combinations to start the transformation

slightly changing the tones can give you your unique take on the combination

Lets start with some great paint colours.

  • Love this peachy pink from Little Greene called Pink Slip and combine with Sky Blue (1)
  • Benjamin Moore for Peach Cloud which will give a lovely subtle radiance glow and work really well with classic colours but I love with Ocean Air to pick up on this art neveau LA vibe (2)
  • Benjamin Moore also has this Palm Beach lovely Pink Peach which will work beautifully with green ferns and punchy mint blues (3)
  • Farrow & Ball have a lovely grown up peachy pink that reminds me of old 1930’s lingerie which they describe as the softest blush of colour. (4)
  • Graham & Brown’s Dee is a super liveable shade which you can’t go wrong with and combined it with Vacation which seems appropriate! (5)

Up the volume with wallpaper

There are some really lovely wallpapers to pick from to bring in the vibe. I’m loving this one from Wayfair, Wellsville by Blue Elephant. which is a peal and stick option that you can take off and reposition without leaving marks – great for flats or for quick changes. B&Q also do a version of this called Banana Leaf Blue/Green Premium Peel and Stick Wallpaper Roll (Covers 45 sq. ft.). Graham and Brown have a more grownup option which errors more towards grey and pink than the blues but would work with existing grey furniture and pink walls along with blue accessories. Cole & Son have an option called Palm Leaves which comes both with a peach background and a blue option.

Bring in the bling

Art Deco was really all about opulent designs mixed with the use of metallic and glazed surfaces. So when approaching this look for those tiny details (or add them yourself). Chairs with bronzed legs for example help pull this concept through. Shell shaped chairs are a simple way to add in that bit of va-va-voom and come in a range of price-points if this is just a short term commitment.

Aldi is currently selling out on their Kirkton House velvet cocktail chair which comes in blue and pink! But if you have a little more cash to spend Oliver Bonas does a beautiful version in multiple colours called the Flora collection with armchairs, headboards and even loveseats. Homesdirect have a very pretty pink scallop tub chair on sale with some classic detailing and the bronzed legs. And Cultfurniture have a lovely bar-stool that brings an Art Decoesque design suitable for this look.

From top left in clockwork order: Aldi, Oliver Bonas, Homesdirect, Cultfurniture

Accessorise for success

Having fun with the accessories is really where this combo sings. Pillows and lights are a simple way to add in the floral tones and brass touches with massive impact. But don’t forget your artwork. Combining new posters with vintage finds helps bring this approach together. This poster from H&M is a great starting point. But look out for complementary items on places like The Sales Room for live COVID19 friendly auctions.

I love this pillow from Qunice and Cook because it brings in the brass accent in an unexpected place. But don’t forget about lamps and lampshades which are an excellent way of bringing in the brass detailing along with a pop of pattern. You may not be able to or want to commit to a banana leaf or fern inspired sofa print but the right set of lamps can do wonders. A set of these bad boys on a side board with some lovely stacked books in between add in the texture and detailing to get the scheme right. And I love this standing light from Lampandlight with the palm tree detailing around the top, just find a unique lampshade to bring the theme and tie it all together. This one from MintandMay depending on the tone of pink could be worth pairing.

What to wear…

For lounging in your new art deco Britely inspired lounge bar at home?:

6 ways to be inspired by sunshine yellow.

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Our inspiration is PANTONE Illuminating, one of this year’s spring collection colours and a beautiful sunshine colour to brighten your life.

According to Pantone, Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. Generally yellows like this fall into the zone of being considered friendly, joyful and optimistic. Think about how a sunny day makes you feel. And let’s face it, with April showers on the horizon and little sunshine added to our homes can’t go amiss. 

Paint choices

For my two cents, #2 is closest to PANTONE illuminating

All of these have that something extra, some are more buttery and some have a tad more orange but they will all add some lovely brightness to your rooms.

  1. Little Greene:  LEMON MIVVI
  2. Little Greene:  TRUMPET
  3. Farrow & Ball:  Yellowcake
  4. Mylands: Pilmlico No. 136
  5. Benjamin Moore:  Sunshine 2021-30
  6. Sherwin-Williams:  Cheerful

Colour matching

A strong sunshine yellow needs to be used in a considered way, especially if you choose it to be your primary or dominant colour in the room as it can be a little exhausting on the eye. So make sure you take Pantone’s advice and balance this intense colour with soothing greys or creamy whites.

PANTONE love to pair their Illuminating with their Ultimate Gray, “the colour of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time, Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience.” In other words, grey and yellow go really well together and balance each other.

Or balance it with a lovely soft purple, pale pink or pale blue or use black accents to really highlight it (be careful you don’t end up going too far with this and turning your house into a sudo wasp nest!). Are you feeling a bit frisky? Then accent with a punch by adding hot pink into the mix. Not for the faint-hearted, but it can create a wow moment.

Sunshine yellow and navy has always been a classic combination but be careful you don’t end up looking like an Ikea logo. Personally, a yellow living room would create too much anxiety for me; however, navy walls with a fabulous sunshine yellow sofa would be a relaxing but powerful combination. Or think about wallpapers. Sunshine yellow could still adorn your walls but broken up within a pattern creates a more playful space.

Wallpaper delights

A few of my fav sunshine yellow adorned wallpapers:

Clockwise from the top left Kukkai, Trio, Chrysanthemums Yellow, Hencroft Punch
  • Kukkai in Sunshine from wallpaperdirect.com – simple but effective flower pattern.
  • MADE’s wallpaper Trio, which is currently (as of when I posted this) on sale, which is always a bonus.
  • I love the pink and green of the flowers against the sunshine yellow in this print called Hencroft Punch from Little Greene.
  • This paste-less wallpaper can be put on apartments and removed easily – uniquely, it’s a beautiful image of a sunshine yellow flower – a great way to add a special touch to a space that you might not have too much control over.
  • And for something quite unique, I love this wallpaper from Mind-the-Gap (even better, this eclectic wallpaper brand is from Transylvania, which sparks all sorts of images for me!) Chrysanthemums Yellow Wallpaper.

But if committing to yellow walls as a dominant colour or even a front door is just too much, you can still add a little sunshine into your life.

Mix with accessories

Graham and Green pillow, NEXT pom edge pillow, Dunelm flower pot

DIY delights

And don’t forget the simple but incredibly effective DIY project using fabulous sunshine yellow spray paint and getting to work on an old lamp or even metal garden furniture to refresh your patio. Don’t be afraid of spray paint as a project. There are some great tips here for getting it just right.  But adding yellow will really brighten up a dull space.

What to wear?

Once done, don’t let that new garden or patio set designed to bring a little life back into the space to waste. We might not be planning our European vacation just yet, but we can still plan on doing some sunbathing on the balcony and in this little number from H&M, you won’t be able to be anything but happy! As the flight upgrade won’t necessarily be required, spending a bit of your hard-earned wages on this coverup dress from Beach Cafe to give you a perfect holiday abroad vibe. And for when the late evenings start to close in and a chill grows in the air throw on your Gucci beautiful wrap sweater.