NEXT Decor Christmas Edition

NEXT have such a lovely home collection and when visiting yesterday I realised that I wanted so much of it. As I have not got space for it all yet I thought photos would ease the fact I can't just buy it.

I love the geometric shapes with the Moroccan feel cushions and in a neutral grey/silver they add a more stylish aesthetic. These cushions would go so well with my throws and cushions I already own.

Generally I'm not big on signs with writing as so often they look tacky and lack a delicate eye for typography. On the contrary to that I found several items with beautiful type. The homely wooden plaque has a cute woodland lodge feel. I have so many woodland and lodge style decor items I think this would fit perfectly in my home.

The red candle with an intricate filigree finish is very inviting, it would likely look beautiful with light shining through as the candle burns down.

I am quite the cat lady and as naff as it may seem I do love these little hanging signs saying 'A house is not a home without a cat'.

I'm excited to have a place to put so many nice things.

Interiors | Zelkova Bonsai & Marie Kondo's Spark Joy

As part of my attempt to create a more 'Zen' environment to live and work in I've purchased a Bonsai tree, adding fresh leaves and beautiful shapes to my very neutral room. I've always been fascinated with Bonsai trees as they look remarkably like ancient trees and require care which adds a meaningful task to the day.

I also found these adorable fox bookends to keep my books tidy. I'd been looking for something very simple but these were in the garden centre for half their price. Much of my ornaments are of wildlife so these fit in perfectly and again add a splash of colour.

On another matter this little book is quite famous right now, Spark Joy by Marie Kondo (Author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying). The book gives a deep insight into Marie's tidying method which she calls the KonMari method. Inside are answers to questions about the best way to fold and store clothing, the order in which you can find best success in organising belongings and which possessions you should discard. Although there are many books on the matter Marie has a real flare for instilling passion into those that read them. I had already started clearing out objects that no longer served their purpose to me then this book came along and now I could decide what really brings me joy and make my room a cozy and calming place.

With all the buzzing about getting ready to move I've been keeping an eye out for some decor inspiration. I'm graduating this Summer and hope I'll be moving out of this new home and into one with my boyfriend. Something I love personally is to see others ideas for a beautiful house so here is my little two cents of a beautiful place. I definitely want something neutral and serene with a sharp injection of colour.

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Scandinavian design is so homely but sophisticated too. Personally I like a mixture of classic faux fur and warm browns or greys alongside mid-twentieth century furniture. Natural wood in abstract simplistic shapes, much like the chair these throws are laid on.

The 1950's in English interiors are another delight well worth delving into, with duck egg and other beautiful warm pastel shades to add femininity and a place of complete relaxation. To add a modern feel you can't go wrong with copper accents, a massive trend right now.

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The best part of these simple palettes is the variety of accessories that will fit into them, mixing geometric patterns with classic illustrations in ornate frames or some bold typographical motivation posters. My design heart is a-flutter (if that is a thing?).

LIFESTYLE// DESK SPACE

So my desk looks a little cluttered right now but it can't be helped when I have my gaming PC at the side. I'm working on making a corner screen/board to hide the unsightly monitor and speakers but for now it has some cute Paperchase paper covering the monitor. As you can see I have my Fox & Star weekly planner in pride of place and my Mac Book Pro which I use mainly for my Graphic Design degree but on occasion blogging too. My intention is to cut down on clutter (though the coffee cup is necessary for concentration of course) and to create a more dynamic pin board for ideas etc.

I recently got this gorgeous duck egg blue lamp too, ideally I wanted a floor standing lamp as I find they take up a fair bit of room but this one is great as it has a pose able stem and a tilting top for optimum lighting. I found it quite funny that it ties in with the Paperchase paper I used on my monitor.

LIFESTYLE// BLACK CHERRY FOREST

Any one following me on Twitter may have noticed my desk setup. I created the backboard with a piece of fabric that I was desperate to find a use for and a bit of stiff card. The jar was from some flavoured coffee, I kept it and made my own labels with lyrics on with filigree inspired by old medicine jars. When I bought the fabric there was a lovely matching bowl with a candle in, scented with a forest-like fragrance. There is something so calming about the soft neutral colours and the woodland scent.

As part of my 101 in 1001 challenge I am trying to use different candles on a weekly basis, this week has been my Yankee Candle Black Cherry jar, I am bewitched by this fragrance. It is a very sweet and fruity smell and it fills the room unlike many cheap candles. It feels perfect for warm Summer evenings, though I am excited to try something different next week.

Baby It's Cold Outside

The temperature here recently has been so cold it has felt like the deepest of Winter. This inspired me to do a post on interiors to warm up your rooms/studios. Also a song to put you in the mood for those days wrapped up in a warm blanket, sipping hot cocoa and doing some work on your computer.

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Above are some examples of lovely warm interiors :) I really love all the combinations of different textiles, patterns and textures.Warm neutral fabrics with wooden accents and bright colours on soft furnishings really makes a cold space a warm and cozy home.

I compiled this little montage of images below for 6 essentials to making a room that little hovel where you can stay warm and feel inspired.

 1. Candles - Adds warmth and scented candles can be very therepeutic.
2. Antique/Vintage frames filled with unique art can really set the tone for the room.
3. Wooden storage/accents add personality to a room and steers away from that ice cold IKEA white.
4. Books - Keep a pile of books on your coffee table or desk for reference or as a break from your work.
5. Fairy lights and mirrors enhance the mood in a room, giving a festive feeling and mirrors can make the room appear more spacious.
6. Blankets - One of my favourites, blankets and throws add instant warmth to a room and can co-ordinate with other accents such as your hanging art, furniture or just your mood.

Sleepy Saturday Violet

Good evening lovelies. It is another frosty night here in England, settling in for a hot drink with a blanket is the only thing to keep those nippy chills away whilst studying or relaxing, at least I think so. The little poll I made on the side said you guys would like a few more posts on general life so here you are. 

Above is a montage of pictures I found on Tumblr, generally I don't advocate reproductions of work but it is fair to say I'd gladly purchase them if I'd know where they originate from. I wanted to do something different with my pin board as it had cut outs from magazines and random things that didn't really inspire me. 

This is a lovely bracelet and necklace set from AnnaRack. I adore nature and these are just so stunning, you really can't tell much from my photo but they're very delicate and the line work is very intricate. I've made quite a jewellery collection now from Anna's shop, all her pieces make me feel like I'm carrying a little treasure with me all the time.

A Vanilla scented candle I bought recently to decorate and give aroma to my room. The scent is gorgeous, it reminds me of sweet foods and warm nights in.

One of my guilty pleasure is video games, I've been playing Guild Wars a lot more since I handed in my assignments for University. There is currently a weekend event so that has kept me busy, even whilst over my boyfriends (such an exciting couple ;) ). 

I have a new assignment to keep me a bit busy over the next three weeks running up to Christmas. I also want to spend more time in the gym, too much coffee and sitting about for my own good! 

Hope you all have a good one. 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway: Here!

x Claire x

Clear house = a clear mind?

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I am not ashamed to say that I am a fan of minimalism. I love a clean and simple look, I'm not afraid of having a lot of white or cream in my room. Alas I am not bestowed with a lot of space and since moving back to my parents house a few years back I have been slowly whittling down my flat worth of stuff. My problem is I am an art student, I study graphic design luckily so most of my work can be done on my laptop but I also accumulate many portfolio cases of work and art supplies.

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I want this post to be an inspiration to myself and maybe even to others. After watching a few programmes recently on hoarding I have established I am not one, I am ruthless and will throw almost anything out (by which I mean it tends to be given to charity stores or in the shed to be car booted at some point during the fair weather). I've not always been this way, I've had many collections in the past but I've come to realise if I spend so much time worrying about possessions I won't be living life to it's fullest.

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I'd like to transform my room into a study space rather than a glorified apartment. I'm going to utilise vacuum clothes cases to keep my jackets and coats as small to store as possible, cut down on the books I keep that I'll never read and use as many storage utilities as possible.

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So there are some images to help direct me a little, the last is a kids room, it doesn't look very kid like. I love the block colour with all the white.