Idha Lindhag

Another Saturday, another swedish based photographer! Idha Lindhag is an Interior and Portrait Photographer of Swedish and Italian origin, based in Stockholm.

"Idha's interest in room and space began at an early age, photographing abandoned houses. That together with her fondness for portrait photography became the starting point for her career, after completing studies at Studio Marangoni in Florens, Kulturama in Stockholm and ICP in NYC. Idha likes to treat her images a bit like paintings, well balanced and thought out compositions, finding her inspiration from simple objects in her surroundings, especially from her many travels to Italy."

I love her rustic vintage floral style and her pops of pretty pastels...











To see more of her beautiful photography check out her portfolio.

Happy Saturday, sweets!

Designing our guest room

Last month I showed you how we had renovated our guest room. Today I want to share with you my design for the room...

A few weeks before we had finished renovating the guest room, the lovely Peeps at Argos contacted me asking if I would like to receive some of their products to style in my home and share them with you. The timing was perfect! we are having guests to stay next month and I had literally no furniture and next to nothing in the way of home furnishings to go in our new guest room so I jumped at the chance to be given £500 to spend at Argos...

I started to plan out my guest room by spending hours looking at inspiration and researching guest room ideas.

Here are my favourite top tips:
Think about what you'd expect to find in a 5 star hotel.
Choose a theme that is personal to you and go from there.
Give your guests a nice calming place to relax and feel at home.
Your guest room design should not only be comfortable but also a little fun.

So I started to think about what I have loved about my favourite hotels and all the added extras that would make my guests feel super comfortable.




With all my ideas whirling around in my head I came up with this colour and theme inspiration...

I was thinking white furniture with pops of colour in soft furnishings and accessories.

Then the hard part! Working out how I was going to furnish our quirky long narrow bedroom...



One thing was for sure, the double bed would have to sit below the window at the end of the room and could not have a foot board as you would more than likely have to get in to it from the base. So I chose the Scandinavia solid pine white double bed with slatted headboard, a mattress, double duvet, pair of pillows, white fitted sheets and a white pin tucked duvet cover.
I really wanted to provide bedside tables so my guests could keep a bottle of water, alarm clock, nik naks etc close to hand. But as the space was too tight I had to come up with something a little different! After much thought I opted for a pair of L shaped shelves I could hang on the wall either side of the bed. I would need to paint them white but I just loved there unusual shape and how much storage you could get out of them. I also loved the idea of them housing a pretty glass bottle of water in the long sections. So both guests would have there own bottles!
Whilst searching for shelves on Argos I came across the lovely cube shelves, a perfect place for displaying some coloured accessories and my pretty coloured Wallpaper travel guides. After checking the measurements I decided to go with them as they would fit perfectly on my sloping wall.



Due to the shape of the room I decided that a wardrobe would be too imposing but I still wanted to provide my guests with some hanging space."Why don't I make the little foyer at the top of the stairs a little dressing area!"
I found the perfect answer in a white finished solid pine storage unit with four coat hooks and three baskets with cut out handles for easy access to contents. I could hang it from the wall placing a monks bench style laundry bin below, that also conveniently doubles up as a seat. To add colour, comfort and interest I'm going to make a comfy patterned cover cushion for the top of the bench.

I also wanted to provide my guests with a table that could be used for a laptop and some storage drawers so I chose the Scandinavia dressing table that matches the Scandinavia bed. I have bought a bright coloured Tolix chair to use at the table so my guests could use the dressing table stool as a luggage rack!



My wonderfully generous order from Argos arrives at the end of this week and I can't wait to see what it will all look like. Loads of photos coming soon...

Have a sweet day!

My guest room- before, during and now

Now: New cream carpets,windows painted white with new chrome fittings, cream wooden blinds from Ikea, walls painted in beige white from Crown

Now: New skirting painted in brilliant white eggshell, radiator painted white, new door painted white

Now: New coving painted in brilliant white eggshell, ceilings painted white, light fitting from Alders

During: New skirting, everything given a white undercoat

During: Walls re-plastered and patched

During: old cupboards removed, stairs extended across room

Before: Dark, dirty narrow entrance

Before: Purple walls with silver stencil stars, silver radiator, purple carpet, purple door

Before: old entrance with painted glass panel above door

As some of you may know, we bought our house a few years back and it was in a right state: from the ugly exterior to the old, decrepit kitchen and nondescript garden! Over the past few years we have been transforming our house and there is not a hint of what it used to look like left.
When we bought our house it had one dirty old bathroom downstairs that we transformed into a cloakroom and laundry room. Which you can read more about here and here.

Therefore we wanted to transform one of the single bedrooms upstairs into our new bathroom, we had a choice of two single bedrooms to choose from. We went for the bedroom that looked out on to the neighbours white wall as the other single room has great views of the garden and overlooks a leafy green park. But the original entrance to the single bedroom was at the end of the hallway round a dark corner that was riddled with cupboard doors which made the entrance to the other double bedroom very dark and narrow. So we knocked down the wall that had the old entrance to the bathroom in it and changed the entrance to be in the hallway near our master bedroom. At the same time we also decided to get rid of the three cupboards that made the said entrance to the guest room really narrow and dark. We then rebuilt the wall in a straight line and extended the guest bedroom to include part of the old hallway, which has made it much brighter and more welcoming. At the weekend we got the room carpeted so today I wanted to share with you what it looked like before, during and now. Later this week I will be sharing with you my designs for the furniture layout and deco for the room.

Floor plan before and now

To see all the before, during and now pictures of our house check out my Facebook albums

Have a sweet day!

Lace Tablecloths

Source 1, 2, 3, 4

Hi, I hope you all had a sweet weekend! We ordered our new carpet for upstairs, which means we are ever closer to finishing our house. I promise to share pictures soon...

Ever since I saw the H&M Autumn/Winter interior collections I have been pining over their gorgeous lace tablecloths and runners. Then I saw Hans Blomquists photography of the lace table runners for H&M all styled up for Christmas with lots of sparkly sequins and loved how decadent it looked. I might need to get one for Christmas?!?

Have a sweet day!

Homespun style

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you Homespun style. A collection of images inspired by the inspirational, gorgeous book Homespun stye by Selina Lake.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites:

• The ever so cute Selina Lake Living - label by Selina Lake Stylist
• The beautiful crochet edging in and more new pillowcases... by rose hip
• The lovely collection of florals in NEW earrings by nest decorating
• The gorgeous flowers in more woolly gardening... by rose hip

Have a sweet day!

Pink and Turq Christmas decor

Over the past few weeks I have been sharing with you my inspirational pins for a Winter Wonderland Christmas. Today, its all about pink and turquoise Christmas decor. To see more inspirational pins for a Winter Wonderland Christmas, check out my board on Pinterest.

• Christmas paper wreath by Homelife
• Christmas decorating by Fabulous Fifi
• Pretty in pink Christmas decorations, Christmas wall decor ideas, Loving letters by BHG
• Modern glamour by Southern Living

Have a sweet day!

Pretty Interiors

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you some pretty interiors with these inspiring photos. I love the white walls with colour added thru accessories like the pretty stack of books, vintage floral cushions and picture frames.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

• The pretty stack of books in Old office by From the right bank
• The bright pops of pink in IMG_3978-1 by irideeën
• The coloured ornate picture frames and vintage floral cushions in a happy corner... by Dottie angel
• The pastel cups and bird tin in In the kitchen by Ninainvorm

Have a sweet day!

Pretty faded decor

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you some pretty faded decor with these inspiring photos. I just love dottie angel's ikea stool decorated with vintage wallpaper.



Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

• The striking black and white keys in spain by wood & wool stool
• The cute linen ribbon & french pages by air kiss / lara sheleheda
• An old favourite a 'dottie angeled' stool... by dottie angel
• The feature wall in IMG_4072-1 by irideeën

Have a sweet day!

Sweet Living

Today in my series of posts "Inspirational Pins", I bring you some of my favourite inspiring living room photos I have found this week. To see more inspirational images check out my Living Room Ideas board on Pinterest.

• Upholstered floral armchair
• Nude-toned living room
• Elegant living room
• Scandi-style living room decorations

Have a sweet day!

Turquoise & Lime Interiors

Today in my series of posts "Inspirational Pins", I bring you a gorgeous Summery interior palette of lime and turquoise. For more gorgeous turquoise interiors check out my Shades of Turquoise Pinterest board!

• Amy Butler
• Stacey Willey
• Amy Butler
• Design Shrine via French by Design

If you are not already on Pinterest and would like to be, please e-mail me and I will send you an invitation.

Have a sweet day!

The Tolix Chair

Tolix chairs graphics by FaddaSantos

Vintage Retro/Reproduction metal Tolix dining chairs

Tolix table by Graham and Green

Anthropologie

Skona Hem

I love the Tolix chair! How stylish did it look in yesterday's post, Craft room ideas? I would love one for my craft room in a silver steel or duck egg blue which I think would look great with my 1930's polished steel filing cabinet.

The Tolix Chair is a French café chair designed in 1934 by Xavier Pauchard. A visionary and inventive entrepreneur, Xavier was a pioneer of galvanisation in France and manufactured sheet metal domestic items. In 1927 he registered the trademark Tolix and started to manufacture chiars, stools and metal funiture.

The Tolix chair is well renowned for being rustproof, robust and stackable. As such, in the forties it was found inside factories, offices and hospitals and outside in cafés and parks. Now an icon of industrial aesthetics, it has earned itself a spot in Vitra Design Museum, MOMA and the Pompidou Center.

Have a sweet day!

Romantic Prairie Style by Fifi O'Neil

This month I'm reviewing Romantic Prairie Style by Fifi O'Neil from illustrated lifestyle publishers, Ryland Peters & Small and CICO Books. Fifi O'Neil grew up in Paris, France before moving to Canada where she lived for fifteen years before settling in the great plains of the United States of America. She is, and has been for the past twenty years, a freelance writer and photo stylist. Her romantic style and love of quaint cottages can be seen in national publications such as Coastal Living, Creative Home, Quick & Easy Decorating, Windows & Walls, Home Companion, Style, Romantic Country, Cottage Style and Country Living.

I chose to review this book as I loved the title and was intrigued to find out more about Prairie style in the home. Romantic Prairie Style, as explained in the foreword, is not just about how your home looks; it is a mindset. In the age of turmoil and unrest this style is about building a real home that is both relaxed and comfortable yet also sophisticated. Taking a cue from the long cherished ideals of natural beauty it is about the juxtaposition of rugged and rustic versus delicate and elegant. It is an enduring, welcoming style with an aura of romance and nostalgia, inspired by traditional American country life.

Fifi has spanned thousand of miles to bring us the very best examples of Prairie style, something that she obviously has a real affinity and love for. Each example of the varying styles and nuances of Prairie Style is beautifully photographed by acclaimed Los Angeles interior photographer, Mark Lohman.

The book is split into three chapters, Traditional Prairie, Romantic Prairie and Vintage Prairie with a foreword by Christina Strutt of Cabbages and Roses. The first chapter, Traditional Prairie, showcases five homes ranging from the Pioneer Spirit of Anne Marie's Na-Da Farm, with an apple orchard at the back where candlelit suppers are taken sitting on fabric draped hay stacks, to the Illinois-based Angela Reed's Elegant Prairie home with its bright turquoise walls and glass cloche displays.

The second chapter, Romantic Prairie, features my favourite house belonging to Christian McCord and her husband, Bryan. Based in a California beach town, the cottage is full of beautiful treasures from the pretty floral cushions atop chipped and worn whitewashed chairs to the delicate chandelier and vintage jugs full of the prettiest blooms. Oh, and how I love the the vintage picnic blanket laid on the lawn in the delightful pictures from the Nebraska-based Dickerson's family home.

The last chapter focuses on Vintage Prairie from the urban Los Angeles home of Jennifer and Adam Grey to the sweet, light filled prairie home of Lisa and Richard Adkins. I love the pops of bright turquoise scattered around their home from the fabulous shiny 1954 Chevy pickup truck to the battered old stools.

At a recommended price of £19.99, I think this hardback book is one you will cherish not only for the beautiful images, tips and advice but for how it makes you feel. With lines like "The narrow road meanders for miles through lush corn fields and picturesque pastures where cattle and horses graze peacefully under a cloudless sky", you get to sit back, relax and fill your head with dreamy thoughts of a more relaxed, cherished life.

Some of my favourite interior eye candy shots:

Pretty bird cages and candles on the potting table

I am loving the bright turquoise 1954 Chevy pickup!

This kitchen reminded me of our new kitchen, with its wooden worktops, brick tiles and highlights of duck egg blue.

The gorgeous details in the house belonging to Christian McCord and her husband

To summarize, Romantic Prairie Style is a wonderful book full of inspiring homes and great tips and advice.

Please note that my opinions are my own and I am not paid for these reviews (apart from receiving a free book, of course!).

Have a sweet day!

Ideal Home Show 2011

Oriental-style dining room

Simple bird house and bunting

Country garden arbour

Decorative pot covers

Decorative tableware

I am so excited to tell you that I have been asked to be one of the official bloggers for the Ideal Home Show on their dedicated ‘interiors’ day on March 25th.

They are doing something a bit special and hosting a dedicated ‘bloggers lounge’ in which they are inviting their favourite bloggers down to the event to blog live and experience the show in a way that hasn’t be available in the past to bloggers. The lounge will be set up just for bloggers, with computers available for use, in the Show Village and totally kitted out by Harvey’s Furniture.

The Ideal Home Show, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, is Britain’s best loved home event and returns to London’s Earls Court for its 103rd year. The multi-award winning show brings together more than 600 quality exhibitors from all over the UK to offer a unique shopping experience for all areas of the home, including ideal Interiors sponsored by Dulux, ideal Home Improvements, ideal Gardens sponsored by Hydropool Hot Tubs, ideal Gadgets, ideal Food & Housewares, ideal Shopping and ideal Woman.

And if that’s not enough, the show is jam packed with celebrity guests, more features than ever before including the latest home gadgets, demonstration theatres, a live kitchen theatre, a beauty bar and catwalk, and of course take in the iconic show homes

I am looking forward to being inspired by the Ideal Home Magazine Room Sets; from creating the perfect space for entertaining and cooking to wandering around fresh, serene sanctuary-style bathrooms to relaxing boutique hotel style bedrooms.

DULUX have invited me to join them for a 1-2-1 consultation in their new "Let’s Colour It" Studio which they are launching at the event. They can match any colour and mix it into a paint for you. I will be sitting down with one of their experts to match up colours to paint my Easter crafts.

DULUX have also given me a pair of tickets to the Ideal Home Show give away to one of you, my sweet readers. To enter please leave a comment below this post letting me know what colour you would like mixed up for you by DULUX. The giveaway ends on Wednesday, March 16th 2010 at 10pm (GMT) and I will randomly select and announce a winner on Thursday, March 17th.

To increase your chances of winning this fabulous prize, you can gain one additional entry for doing each of the following:

• tweeting about this giveaway
• blogging about it

For the above, please leave a comment below with the link to your tweet or blog post.

Have a sweet day!

The Conran Shop - What's your style this Spring?

1. Seletti Daily Aesthetics Cake Stand, 2. Geodesis Candle, Aloe , 3. Cake Stand White, 4. Blue Spotty Breakfast Plate, 5. Babell Cake Stand White, 6. Blue Spotty Mug, 7. , 8. Blue Spotty Breakfast Bowl, 9. White Bird Candle, 10. Hand Smocked Cotton Wave Cushion Cover, 11. Turquoise America Chair, 12. Hand Pleated Origami Cushion.

I am loving the handmade Blue spotty casual dining range, looks so fresh and fun, perfect for Spring! You know how much I like a cake stand, so I am coveting the whimsical Daily Aesthetics cake stand and the Babell cake stand would be a wonderful place to serve all my sweet treats in the Garden. I can't resist showing you an apothecary jar to fill with candy and something Birdie, and this candle one is so cute!

To inject a pop of colour into my craft room, I would go for the Turquoise America Chair and to add some Boudoir chic to my bedroom I would go for the bang on-trend origami inspired cushion covers.

Share your new season style update with The Conran Shop and you could be one of their weekly winners of £100 to spend on accessories at The Conran Shop.

Over the past three weeks, The Conran Shop has been unveiling their new season’s accessories, together with pieces chosen by some of their favourite homes magazine editors to update their interiors, but they’d love to hear about the designs that you have earmarked for your own home this spring.

Simply grab a pic from their website of an accessory (costing £100 or less) that has caught your eye and tell them what you like about it – using the hashtag #conranstyle – via Twitter.

Alternatively, you can enter via your own blog – just tweet them a link to
your entry. See their T's & C's for full details.

The competition started on the 7th February and runs for four weeks, finishing on the 7th March. So, get your entry in for the last week and the winner will receive a £100 voucher to spend at The Conran Shop. They’ll also get a dedicated blog on The Conran Shop blog, Conran Talking shop and their choice will appear on the website’s home page.

Good Luck, x

Miss Etoile @ Top Drawer

This week for my 'shops i love' page, I bring you Miss Etoile, a Danish brand started in November 2008 by ex-Lisbeth Dahl designer, Anne Lassen, with backing from Bahne Sørensen A/S.

"Miss Étoile is a fictive person, created by Anne Lassen, who lives in a glamorous universe, surrounded by beauty and femininity in her boudoir home in Paris. She is the centre of every collection. Everything is designed to fit into her universe. Miss Étoile has everything a woman can dream of from home accessories to furniture and textiles. Her name, Étoile, means star in French and she loves all that shines and sparkles."

I discovered the brand last week at Top Drawer and am in love with the ceramic lid jars, bird paperweights and the pretty embellished China. I am also delighted to tell you that charming lifestyle boutique Bohemia, one of my sweet sponsors, will be stocking this adorable brand soon...

Have a sweet day!