all things pretty: April 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

I have read a lot of books on this subject out of pure frustration that I have no idea in what category of décor styles I fall. To this day I haven’t found a pure style that defines me and have come to the conclusion that it doesn’t exist.

Just like fashion we all have our personal style that is made up of different elements taken from different styles.

I love the romantics for the whimsical details featured, the bohemians for their bold use of color, the moderns for their use of clean lines and well placed décor elements, the naturals with their lovely surfaces and the industrials with their clever approach to space.

So I guess we are all eclectic beings … have a look at these mood boards for some inspiration.

The romantics

Nostalgic and whimsical, the romantics have impeccable attention to detail. Color schemes range from watery hues to vintage combinations of pinks, blues and grays. Duck egg blue and blushing bride pink are very popular.

credits

The bohemians

Very bold use of color and textures. The bohemians are inspired by the colors of Indian spices. Shabby chic influences have made this style very popular amongst décor divas with a love for icons like Frida Kahlo.

credits

The moderns

Contemporary and sleek with clean lines define the modernists. Dabbling on the side of Zen the interiors are organized without having to be boring or predictable. A lot of modern interiors have a graphic element to them and play on period like Deco pieces.

credits

The naturals

The love of natural surfaces steels the show like wood and rough weaves. Peaceful, calm and green with a strong focus on environmentally friendly. Still this style evokes a sense of nostalgia.

credits

The industrials

Metal and wood plays the lead roles in this décor style. Think of lofts or studio spaces with strong industrial architectural features. I personally love this style because it is so versatile and interesting.

credits

Your color personality

Take the Dulux color personality chemistry quiz to find your vibe ...
http://www.dulux.co.za/inspiration/chemistry/index.jsp

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

In the news - Dots vs Stripes debut

Sake24
Agter die nuus

Saterdag 23 April 2011

Opknapwerk wat jou huis en sak pas

'n Mens dink nie so daaroor nie, maar finansiering is die heel belangrikste deel van enige opknap-projek vir jou woonplek. Dis dikwels die laaste ding waaraan ons dink - dis mos baie lekkerder om planne vir nuwe badkamers, meubels en kombuise te maak. Hier is idees wat jou sak en jou huis kan pas, skryf Letitia Watson en Elsolet Joubert.

Kostedoeltreffende raad vir binne

Die Kaapse dekor-ghoeroe me.Margaux Smit gee die volgende raad vir wanneer jy die verfkwaste en teelsnyer vir 'n opknapsessie nader trek?

- Langblywende en duur uitgawes soos muurpapier en vloerteels moet met die oog op langtermyngebruik uitgesoek word. Hou dit liefs generies - jy sal dalk lank moet saamleef met daai pienk strepe waarvan jy nou so baie hou.

- Dis goedkoper om jou bad weer 'n lagie emalje te laat gee as om die ou bad uit te breek en 'n nuwe een te laat insit.

- Hou altyd die herverkoopwaarde van jou huis in ag - jou opknappingswerk moet waarde toevoeg en dit nie verminder nie. Dink daarom mooi voordat jy die muur uitslaan wat jou met twee slaapkamers pleks van die oorspronklike drie los.

- Ingeboude bergplek maak nie net jou lewe makliker nie, maar verhoog ook die herverkoopwaarde van jou huis.

- Kyk eers wat jy self het voordat jy nuwe meubels koop. 'n Lagie verf is die maklikste en kostedoeltreffendste manier om 'n ou meubelstuk splinternuut te laat lyk. Mooi sierkussings en 'n deken met tekstuur kan 'n ou meubelstuk nuwe lewe gee en jou geld spaar.

- Eklektiese dekor is steeds groot nuus en 'n kostedoeltreffene manier om jou eie stempel op jou huis af te druk. Jy kan byvoorbeeld 'n klomp van jou verskillende stoele wit verf en om 'n wit eetkamertafel groepeer. Dit sal hulle as 'n geheel bind hoewel daar mooi vormverskille is. Verskillende teksture en vorms kan neutrale kleure visueel baie interessant maak.
Op Smit se blog (http://dotsvsstripes.blogspot.com) is daar goeie idees.

- Neutrale kleure is ook generies en is gewild by die breer mark. Dit sal dit vir jou makliker maak as jy 'n nuwe kleurskema wil he of wil verkoop as 'n skelrooi fokusmuur wat minstens drie lae verf gaan nodig he om oor te verf.

- Stensilwerk is goedkoper as muurpapier en as dit reg gedoen word, kan dit ook mooier lyk. Kyk byvoorbeeld na Tracy Lee Lynch (http://www.leelynch.co.za/) se stensils.

- Gelamineerde vloere kan op 'n kostedoeltreffende manier die effek skep van werklike hout, wat steeds baie gewild is.

- Dis die perfekte tyd om omgewingsvriendelik te word deur byvoorbeeld energiedoeltreffende warmwatertoestelle of skottelgoedwassers en gryswater-opvangstelsels deel van jou plan te maak.

Funny 1950's ad of the week

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Winter warmers

I found a few items you might just fall in love with … have a look at the new snood (all in one scarf and hoody that can be worn three ways).

I bought one at Woolworths for around R70 and I’m planning to wear it all winter round – such a clever design. To finish off the look, this have to have brown leather hobo bag R2100.00 from LIM.

Snood pic with model www.drramiroguadalupe.com

Snood deep etch lookingfabinyourforties.blogspot.com
Brown leather hobo bag http://www.lim.co.za/

Beach wood furniture is still a firm favorite but the log coffee table R5595.00 from Weylandts completely stole my heart. Star mirror R3995.00 from Weylandts. Malmesbury dining table R12 995.00 from Coricraft. Drinking glasses R35 each from Poetry.

Weylandts star mirror http://www.weylandts.co.za
Poetry drinking glasses http://www.poetrycollection.co.za
Coricraft Malmesbury dining table http://www.coricraft.co.za
Weylandts Munggur Log coffee talbe http://www.weylandts.co.za

How gorgeous is this industrial cabinet with 6 drawers R3995.00 from Weylandts? It’s on my ‘have to have’ list. I can see myself curling up with a book on one of these day beds from Coricraft and reading by the light of this gorgeous ‘less is more’ lamp from Lim. Santorini daybed R4995.00 and Petit also R4995.00 from Coricraft. Beach wood desk lamp R509.00 from LIM.

Weylandts industrial 6 door cabinet http://www.weylandts.co.za
Coricraft Santorini daybed http://www.coricraft.co.za/
Coricraft Petit daybed http://www.coricraft.co.za/
LIM beach wood desk lamp http://www.lim.co.za/

I know the ‘ghost chair’ craze has been with us for a while but it’s still one of the most beautiful shaped chairs that works especially great if paired with an old distressed table – the marriage of old and new. Ash dining chair ‘ghost chair’ R1250.00 from @home.

Pink kitchen with ghost chairs www.roomenvy.wordpress.com

Coricraft Santorini daybed http://www.coricraft.co.za/

Storage is one of those things you can never have enough off. If it’s stylish and practical – it wins me over like this Ikonik cabinets from Casamento by PEET (available in various sizes).

The square iron nickel finish stool R599 from Weylandts has a very European café feel to it that I find adorable.

This beautiful pumpkin lamp shade R885.00 is available in grey and black from LIM.

Weylandts square nickle finish stool http://www.weylandts.co.za
Casamento Ikonik cabinets by PEET http://www.casamento.co.za/casamento/home_.html
LIM pumpkin lamp shade http://www.lim.co.za/

Monday, April 18, 2011

Funny 1950's ad - just for laughs

www.dominicantoday.com

Friday, April 15, 2011

The dreaded spare bedroom

Most of us don’t have the luxury of space in our homes. This always tends to show by the amount of junk we keep in our spare bedroom that has to double up as a quest room, study, craft and ironing room.

The key is storage and clever space planning. First of all decide on what activities needs to happen in this room and start a practical floor plan. Leave traffic space for people to move around in easily.

Then start clearing the room and sort out all the junk into piles. One called ‘keep’ one called ‘sell’ and one called ‘charity’. Selling on websites like http://www.gumtree.co.za/ have made selling your stuff online a breeze and giving your unwanted goods to charity is giving back that we can all do more off. Try donating to charities like The Salvation Army http://www.thesalvationarmy.co.za/

Most times it is not a lack of space but rather the large amount of junk we don’t need that eats up the space – a bit like the packman game.

Today I will be sharing a few great ideas of organizing the different areas of this room. Whatever you use it for. Craft, guests, laundry or home office.

Guest bedroom

Storage helps you pack away items and leave space for guessts. I found that having a clothing rail in this room helps with guessts clothing that stays a little longer than one night.

Daybed with heart shaped rug

www.architectsforlife.com

Green stripes bed and home office

www.4interior-design.com

More storage ... under the bed in boxes and I thought it very clever the way this narrow room on the left has its bedside tables as a foot and end with only fairylights next to the bed. Love the dramatic color schemes of these two.

Dark walls bedroom with two pedestals at foot end of bed

www.unplggd.com

Dark storage boxes under the bed

bedroominteriors.blogspot.com/

Craft room
The ribbons on dowells are just too clever ...

Ribbon storage

http://www.teresadoesit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Craft-Room.jpg

Laundry room
Inspiration for even the most uninspired house wife.

Red floral wall paper

http://blog.makeroom.co.za

Laundry room 2

I love the wall coverings on these two. The Cath Kidson inspired laundry on the right is very quirky and the lettering on the wall a very sweet touch.

Striped carpet laundry

2browneyedbeauties.blogspot.com/2009/09/laund...

Cath Kidson inspired

site.babybox.com/.../liven-up-you-laundry-room/

Laundry room 3

The use of these blue tones on the wall are very fresh - suitable for a laundry room I think.

Laundry & craft

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

Home office

Lovely bold wall paper (left) set against a white canvas really looks the part. I love distressed and uneven surfaces like the tressle table right.

Pink floral wall paper

loveoffamilyandhome.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-ha...

Tressle table

homewrk.tumblr.com/

More home office inspiration. How perfect is this glass box home office ... ?

Glass doors home office

www.designstudio210.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Home office
Two very pretty home offices. I still think the person who thought of the cupboard office is a genius!

Craft room with island

http://www.theprojectgirl.com/

Blue cupboard craft

http://ohmybettie.com/

Craft room
Beautiful transparent containers perfect for organizing bits and bobs. I was wonderfully surprized at Mr Price Home's units on wheels - go have a look.

Orange wall unit
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/

Polka dot ironing board

2browneyedbeauties.blogspot.com

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Quote of note

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Wonder walls

Today I will be inspiring you with a variety of feature walls. Some practical, some clever and some just too beautiful for words.

Enjoy

Xxx

Mirror, mirror ...
Same size mirrors combined with dado rails (left) creates a more formal look with beautiful rythm.

How gorgeous are these bird shaped mirrors? (right)

Geometrical paneled wall mirrors

esignmanifest.blogspot.com

Bird shaped mirrors

brennanallenwang.blogspot.com

Stencills and art

Circular stencil (left) and framed art (right) creates lovely focal points in these spaces.

Circle stencil

anothershadeofgrey.blogspot.com

Focus wall with framed pics

www.sirenmag.com

Bookshelves

Pretty and practical ...

Bookshelves with wallpaper yellows in diningroom

platohopwade.blogspot.com

Library style shelves

styleingwithchildren.blogspot.com

Wall paper
Personally I am a sucker for a neutral wall paper like the one left but also love the bold play on color we see left with the turquois damask.

Turquois damask with red sofa

http://www.krustal.com/

Striped walls

The stripes in the bedroom creates a beautiful rythm and acsentuates the hight of the ceilings. Vertical stripes in the kitchen sport a lovely color palette of blues and neutrals.

Striped bedroom wallpaper

thevividedge.com

Stripes in kitchen

www.flickr.com/photos/8230585@N06/3558131629/

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Quote of note

Less is still more

The orchid made a huge comeback while just a few years ago I remembered it as a very dated flower. Now it’s a must for any style savvy woman.

Displayed in a beautiful glass container and filled up with pebbles to hide the plastic container it steals the show.

Just a pity I can’t seem to keep one alive and oh how I’ve tried!

Picture left

www.flickr.com/photos/camillestyles/

Picture right

http://www.decorpad.com/

White dress

lavendercottageoriginals.blogspot.com/

Orchid close-up

Margaux

White orchid inspired necklace

http://www.livingwithwhite.com/

Table setting with yellow & white orchids

www.elizabethannedesigns.com/.../

Bridal bouquet

weheartit.com/tag/wedding%20ideas

Orchid close-up

Margaux

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Featured style icon - Alex Thorne

Who are you?

I am currently a décor stylist, though I also love doing food, fashion and beauty styling too. I have a wonderful husband Karl, and two girls, Stella 7 and Lola 3.

I am the authority on … new trends in décor, fashion and beauty and anything health related – I am known for going on about all things food, vitamin or supplement-related. I also make a mean roast duck … oh and also BARGAINS there is nothing that thrills me more than a good bargain (like the three 100% white linen pin tuck dresses I found in a ‘hole in the wall’ in town for R125 each – kept one crisp white, dyed one a denim blue and the other an apple green – get compliments every time I wear one!) – I am not called ‘Bargain Betty’ for nothing!!!

Photo credit: Margaux
I took these detail shots of objects Alex has on her desk

What do you love?

Color, fabrics, textures, beautiful furniture – putting them all together in to a look that really works gives me such a thrill! And striped t-shirts and ANYTHING heart shaped …

Photo credit: Margaux (converse sneakers - left)
Alex's signature grey converse sneakers inspired me so much that I ran out and bought myself a pair yesterday over lunch
What makes you happy?

Spare time to read décor and fashion magazines – with 2 children it doesn’t happen often! Also my family – I come from a huge extended family and now with my husband’s family included there is always a big gathering especially at Christmas time.

From Alex's portfolio

What inspires you?

Magazines, the internet, trawling the shops and beautiful blogs like my friend Vicky Sleet’s http://www.iwantthat.co.za/ and Margaux’s of course!!!

From Alex's portfolio

Any cute tips, tricks or secrets to share?

I love putting together mood boards – it was my favorite part of working as an interior stylist for an interior design firm – they help me ‘get my eye in’ for a shoot or installation, but they’re obviously very time consuming so I was thrilled to find a website – http://www.sampleboard.com/ that makes it quick and easy!

Favorite shop/s?

I love Blink in Sea Point for beautiful décor items and special gifts and I can’t walk past Country Road in the Waterfront without going in for a good look around – it covers all my areas of interest … fashion for me, hubby and girls plus décor for the home – I particularly love their simple photo frames – I’ve started a collection and I give them to all my family and friends as gifts!

From Alex's portfolio

Favorite websites

http://www.livingetc.com/

http://www.vogue.com/

http://www.vogue.com.au/

http://www.net-a-porter.com/

http://www.asis.com/

http://www.anthropologie.com/

Monday, April 4, 2011

Crafty trends

I am absolutely in love with the new craft trend that spilled over into packaging, shop displays, graphic design, personalized gifts and gift wrapping, fashion, décor and weddings.

Lovely whimsical touches and detail creates a whole new take on old school.

Have a look at these all inspiring pictures. xxx

Vintage buttons are reimerging it's pretty little head everywhere. Look at these beautiful broaches and buttons updated in dots and stripes (of course).