Tuesday 30 October 2012

Brighten up the kid's rooms this Autumn...

The clocks went back last weekend...a sure sign that Winter's on its way and natural light fades by mid-afternoon....oh! how depressing...

And its only a few weeks before we'll be unpacking the Christmas decorations and checking the tree lights are still working...so why not start early?

Decorating your home with strands of tiny bulbs can create a really magical feel...

 
 



 
We love these brightly coloured cotton string lights...and hope to be selling a range very soon on the Dreams and Wishes website...


 

 
 
How gorgeous would this feature look in a newborn's nursery...?

 
Vintage bird-cages can be found easily at the moment...filling the interior with lights like this makes a simple feature look very special.

 
With family get-togethers planned for Christmas, there'll be sleepovers to sort out. Decorate canopies and tents with string lights for reassurance....
 
 
Hope this has inspired you to make more use of string lights in your home...
 
 


Thursday 25 October 2012

Creepy Halloween food for kids.

Two of my favourite things in one blog...Halloween and food!
I'd be in my element if the ideas here were all presented at a kid's Halloween feast...

Biscuits and cakes seem an easy option for this theme...and seem fairly straightforward to prepare...

 


 

spoonful

rightathome


 
 

But why stop there...?
Here's another few ideas....


readit





Oooohh...yummy!

Monday 22 October 2012

Classy Halloween decorations.

I do love Halloween...I think I've said this before!
It's a great excuse to decorate the house with spooky accessories...but how to do it with style...?

Visit most shops this week and you'll find all sorts of hideous items that the kids will be drawn to... most of them will involve flashing lights and garish colours!
But work your way through the 'chuff' and you could find a few gems....take a look at these delightful Halloween deco ideas for inspiration....


 
Traditional pumpkin faces are a must...but who wants to be up half the night cutting out faces and scooping out pumpkin pulp...?
Paint or draw funny faces on groupings of little pumpkins...I can't help thinking this lot above have just heard a good joke....!
 

Experiment with colours for your overall look...these pale pumpkins look fab.
And I love the false teeth...



Spiders are a must for Halloween decorations...make a real statement with black petticoat netting for your cobweb, and huge spiders....this would look good outside or indoors.

 
What about a more stylish, low-key effect...?
The black and white Halloween accessories look very 'grown-up'.

 
Whilst I know these mice are just cardboard cut-outs, I can't help feeling a little nervous that they're about to start running around....creepy!
These little critters would be easy to make and stick around the house...I think I'd have to introduce a witches cat or two though...
 
 
Here's a similar idea using a bat shape....cut out lots and stick them to a wall in great numbers for a spooky effect...
 

 
Or paint winter twigs black and add bird shapes for a creepy mobile....
 
 
Feeling artistic...?
I so want to have a go at making this little chap....I can't find the link to see how it's done....but am thinking a wire framework covered with cotton rags coated in glue should do the trick.
I'll let you know if it works!
 
 
Don't forget a Halloween teatime...even everyday foods can be given the spooky touch....
 
Who'd have thought Halloween could introduce such a stylish impact to your home...?
Save the garish colours and bad taste for the sweets at the door...






Wednesday 17 October 2012

New Orla Keily wallpaper for a monochrome nursery.

Harlequin have launched their new range of Orla Keily wallpapers....and we just couldn't resist putting together a kid's room idea using the black and white 'small acorn' design.

New babies see through contrasts...and you can't get a better contrast than black and white!
So here's a few ideas for a new-born's nursery....based on this wonderful retro wallpaper.

 
We'd add a dado rail to the room and paper beneath...leaving the rest of the room white.
 
 
Simple venetian blinds keep the mood modern....
 

 
 
And a graphic print rug over simple white rubber flooring makes a great play area later on...
 

 
Loving the classic style of this cot.....teamed with 1960's Tomado shelving....
 
 
 
...and 'on trend' knitted storage baskets!
 
 



We love the idea of birdy cushions and soft-furnishings....
 

humst
 
And a Helene Ige mobile....
 
 
 
We'd team these basics with quirky graphic art work or delicate pen-and-ink illustrations....
 
polyvore
 
 
If this is a little stark for your little one, make a feature of brightly coloured toys in mustard yellow, aqua blue or red for a bit of a boost!
 
Take a look at the full range of wallpapers in Harlequin's new range and you'll see why we're all so excited about it....


 

Sunday 14 October 2012

Another great-looking book to join the Retro family...

I'm back folks....computer is behaving itself now... so it's all systems go.

And I just wanted to let you know about a new book due for release on 26th October...

 
...I haven't even seen inside the front cover yet...but already I'm excited...!

The book apparently offers guidance on colour schemes, furniture, soft furnishings and accessories from the 1920's to the 1970's...so plenty of scope there...!

And...has several rea-life case studies for us to see how to put it all together....

Amazon are taking pre-orders as we speak...got to go....