Darling Buds

With the gentle sunshine warming the earth the early blooms peak through showing hints of the colours to come. A fresh new colour palette heralds the arrival of Spring. Tiny splashes of deepest raspberry set against snowy white and soft palest blossom pinks are crisp and refreshing against the new stems and branches. Here are a few ideas for bringing Spring into the home.

Above image taken from book: Simply Country - Creating Comfortable Style for cottage living Liz Bauwens Alexandra Campbell

Above images:1. Wallpaper 'Almond Blossom' by Anna Dove 2.Rose image from book 'Vintage Chic' by Cabbages and Roses 3.Fabric 'Jardin' 100% cotton by Annie Sloan 4.Flowers in bottles from Country Living magazine

Above image: the gorgeous guest bedroom of Urban Farmgirl featuring 'Podge' cerise cushions by Cabbages & Roses and headboard covered in ''Hatley' cerise linen by Cabbages & Roses

Above image: the gorgeous guest bedroom of Urban Farmgirl detail of the headboard covered in ''Hatley' cerise linen by Cabbages & Roses

Above image: Flowers & styling by Amy Merrick

Above images: 1.Vintage red sprig cushion cover from Pale & Interesting 2.Fabric 'Podge' cerise by Cabbages & Roses 3.Apothecary jars from Pale & Interesting 4.Photography - settee, quilt and grain sack by Mari Eriksson 5.Fabric 'Hatley' cerise linen by Cabbages & Roses 

Above image: locations agency jjlocations

Apothecary jars from Pale & Interesting

Above image: Book 'Junk Style' by Melanie Molesworth

Above images: 1.Divine interiors and online brocante shop by Dreamy Whites 2.Photography by Mari Eriksson 3.Tiana cotton/silk boudoir cushion from Also Home 4.Fabric 'Natural Hatley' blue 100% linen by Cabbages & Roses

Above image: Photography by Elena Kovyrzina

Above images: 1.Online Interiors magazine Emag Deco article found here 2.Fabric 'Natural Hatley' raspberry 100% linen by Cabbages & Roses 3.Old style notebooks from Cote Bastide 4.Vintage floral and paisley cushions by Velvet Ribbon 5.Lavender bundles by Peony & Sage

Above image: Vintage floral and paisley quilts & side table by Velvet Ribbon

Above image: Photography by Elena Kovyrzina

For more information on anything shown in the above images please click on the names under each photograph to go through to their web sites. The colour swatches featured are my suggestions for accent shades and do not relate to specific paints unless otherwise stated, but I'm sure your favourite paint companies would be happy to suggest matches!

With warmest wishes

 

Caravans and Cupcakes!

Retro styling for an easy, breezy summer living

PUMPS Bensimon: Reddirect FABRICS: Vanessa Arbuthnott 

1. & 2.  BAKERY & EVENT CATERING: Enjoy Cupcakes 3. Dresses SHOP: Boden   4. & 6. FABRICS: Vanessa Arbuthnott 5.PHOTOGRAPHER: Sandra Lane VINTAGE PATTERN: from my own collection

1.SHOP: Boden 2.BAKERY & EVENT CATERING: Enjoy Cupcakes 3.VINTAGE PATTERN: from my own collection  4.TILES: Welbeck Tiles

1.& 3.BAKERY & EVENT CATERING: Enjoy Cupcakes 2.PHOTOGRAPHER: Christine Bauer 4.STYLING & PHOTOGRAPHY: Heather Bullard 5.Cards and stationary from SHOP: Mulberry Muse

1.PHOTOGRAPHER: Hugh Stewart 2. & 7.FABRICS: Vanessa Arbuthnott 3.PAINT: Farrow & Ball 4.LOCATION AGENCY: Light Locations 5.SHOP:Joules 6.STYLIST & PHOTOGRAPHER: Pernilla Hed 

1.MAGAZINE: Country Homes & Interiors 2.FABRIC: Cath Kidston 3.FABRIC: Cabbages & Roses 4.STYLIST: Atlanta Bartlett 5.PUMPS Bensimon: Reddirect 

1. & 2.PHOTOGRAPHER: Tom Leighton 3.& 5. FABRICS: Vanessa Arbuthnott 4.SHOP: Boden 6.STYLIST: Jane Cumberbatch Pure Style 

Gilding the Rose

Blush tones, faded florals and gilded tints combine for a soft, romantic style.

INTERIORS: Shabby Chic

1.AGENCY:Sarah Kaye PHOTOGRAPHER: Polly Wreford  2.HOTEL:La Madone

3.PAINTING:Marie-Antoinette by Joseph Ducreux 3.PHOTOGRAPHER: Polly Wreford 

MAGAZINE: Red 

1.Cards and stationary from SHOP: Mulberry Muse  2.STYLIST: Kasha Harmer

3.EVENT PLANNER: Principal Planner

Furniture & decoratives from SHOP: Brissi

1.PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Blott  2.PHOTOGRAPHER: Nato Welton

3.PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Everard 4.PHOTOGRAPHER: Polly Wreford

Mansion: Magie des Lieux

1.Cards and stationary from SHOP: Mulberry Muse 2.INTERIORS: Shabby Chic 3.FILM: Marie Antoinette

1.PHOTOGRAPHER: Sandra Lane  2.SHOP: Jeanne d'Arc Living

3.PHOTOGRAPHER: Sandra Lane 4.PHOTOGRAPHER: Kristin Perers

1.Bedlinen from SHOP: Bella Notte Linens  2.MAGAZINE: Jeanne d'Arc Living 3.FILM: Marie Antoinette

1.Cards and stationary from SHOP: Mulberry Muse  2.Vintage bottles SHOP:Velvet Ribbon 3.Bed STYLING: Atlanta Bartlett 4.Lamp SHOP:Brissi 5.From BOOK: Family Lifestyle Home by Anita Kaushal

1.Bedlinen from SHOP: Bella Notte Linens 2.Cards and stationary from SHOP: Mulberry Muse 3.Cups & champagne Martha Stewart Weddings 4.PAINTING:Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo 'Pulcinella in Love' 5. Cards and stationary from SHOP: Mulberry Muse 

PHOTOGRAPHER: Angelika Buettner

My Liebster Blog awards go to.....!

The gorgeous Ilona from Tierlantijn awarded me the Leibster Blog award last week and it is now my great honour to in turn award it to 3 new bloggers in recognition of their blogs. In no particular order...

My first Liebster Blog award goes to:

With stylish interiors and lovely colours it is a must for interior inspiration: http://frokenolsen.blogspot.com/

My second Liebster Blog award goes to:

With plenty of pretty ideas and feminine styling this is a delightful blog not to be missed http://justwhite.blogspot.com/ 

The Liebster Blog Award is designed to bring attention new blogs that deserve the spotlight. It is a lovely tradition and I will always be proud of my Liebster Blog award!

Beautiful photo' via: http://www.sarahkaye.com/stylists/amanda-koster

Cherry blossom time

Enchanting, fleeting, beguiling & ephemeral beauty


This post is dedicated to the lovely people in Japan to all my former colleagues at Sankyo Seiko Group DAKS and my friends at Ichiroya, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your families at this sad time. 

1. Anna French flora bouquet wall paper: http://www.annafrench.co.uk/
2. Beautiful Geisha at a plum blossom festival - PHOTOGRAPHER: Melissa Rose Chasse 
3. Broad tailed hummingbird IMAGE: http://birds242.blogspot.com/
4. Amazing origami flower by SHOP: fishandlotus
5. Anna French wild flora bouquet wall paper: http://www.annafrench.co.uk/
6. Divine Maiko - PHOTOGRAPHER: Melissa Rose Chasse 
7. Stunning vintage kimono SHOP: Ichiroya http://www.ichiroya.com/
8. Anna French bird in the bush wall paper: http://www.annafrench.co.uk/
9. As no.6
10. Beautiful Geisha at a plum blossom festival - PHOTOGRAPHER: Melissa Rose Chasse 
11. Exquisite wallpaper Fromental http://www.fromental.co.uk/

1. Stunning Geisha - POTOGRAPHER: Melissa Rose Chasse
2. HISTORY of British design periods by Affordable Interiors: http://www.affordable-interiors.co.uk/
3. Pretty wallpaper Songbird by DESIGNER Anna French: http://www.annafrench.co.uk/
4. FILM: Memoirs of a Geisha
5. Pretty wallpaper Songbird by DESIGNER Anna French: http://www.annafrench.co.uk/
6. Sublime wall coverings & fabric by DESIGNER: De Gournay http://www.degournay.com/ 

1. Tea pot watering can SHOP: Plumo http://www.plumo.com/
2. Magnetic butterflies SHOP: Cox & Cox http://www.coxandcox.co.uk
3. Sublime wall coverings & fabric by DESIGNER: De Gournay http://www.degournay.com/
4. Lovely peacock scarf SHOP:Plumo http://www.plumo.com/
5. Oh so pretty paper butterflies wall art SHOP:BugsLoft
6. Exquisite embroidered vintage kimono SHOP: Ichiroya http://www.ichiroya.com/
7. Divine interior from PHOTOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Lordship Park http://lordshippark.com/ 
8. Stunning wallpaper by DESIGNER: Nina Campbell http://www.ninacampbell.com/

1. Pretty metallic leather purses SHOP: Anusha http://www.anusha.co.uk/
2. Sylvana Orchard Blossom wallpapers by DESIGNER: Nina Campbell http://www.ninacampbell.com/
3. Patchwork vintage tiles by COMPANY: Welbeck http://www.welbeck.com/
4. Paradiso wallpaper by DESIGNER: Nina Campbell http://www.ninacampbell.com/
5. FILM: Memoirs of a Geisha
6. Gorgeous ornaments & silk flowers by SHOP: An Angel at my Table http://www.anangelatmytable.com/

1. Butterfly Sallya (Crenis) pechueli male IMAGE: http://theevolutionstore.com
2. Delicate hair flower from SHOP: SilverPencils
3. Rowan KNITTING spring summer 2011 magazine: http://www.knitrowan.com/
4. Butterflies Cithaerias merolina & Charaxes eupale IMAGE: http://theevolutionstore.com
5. The beautiful vintage kimono silk I bought from SHOP: Ichiroya http://www.ichiroya.com/
6. Romantic Peonies fabric from DESIGNER: Fromental http://www.fromental.co.uk/
7. Exquisite Geisha - PHOTOGRAPHER: Melissa Rose Chasse
8. Fabulous faux flowers by SHOP: Peony Direct http://www.peonydirect.co.uk/
9. Cabbage rose corsages from Anusha http://www.anusha.co.uk/
10. Petits oiseaux mirror by SHOP: An Angel at my Table http://www.anangelatmytable.com/
11. Feminine paper pom poms from SHOP: PartyPoms
12. Sublime Geisha photography by PHOTOGRAPHER: Melissa Rose Chasse