Duvet day in this calm monochrome bedroom?

While we're up at the summer cottage this July we've been enjoying lovely lie-ins. By that I mean waking up around 9.30 (I know, it's not the same when you have two little crazies around).  But it has actually dawned on me we're sleeping 2 hours longer than usual - and then there's that long breakfast outdoors - got to love summer?!! This is perhaps why my mind has turned to bedrooms today - and one beautiful one in particular - Belgian designer Sarah of Coco Lapine's. Berlin based Sarah recently gave her monochrome bedroom a lovely summery lift with new cream and light grey bedding and a fab reading light. I could enjoy a great nights sleep and a duvet day here - how about you?!

Coco Lapine . shared with kind permission

Soooo calm and uncluttered.

A low down on where  items are from: Cream Montrose bedding, Veiros cotton quilt, Vida floor lamp, Muuto dots, print by Coco Lapine (coming soon). Yeh wall table by MENU.

I sampled Aesop for the first time recently when my sister sent me the jetset pack as a surprise luxury for a flight a few weeks back (yes, I have a wonderful sister). I have to say, the items are heavenly - have you tried them? Love the medicinal style packaging too.

For more dream-inducing bedroom inspiration today I'm loving this and this one, and all the pretty bedrooms in this designer hotel - the many squiralled away on this board. And all of these wonderful children's bedrooms too - so unbelievably cute!

Back with a home tour tomorrow - and for those of you patiently waiting to hear if you're the lucky winner of 250 quid to spend at Nest.co.uk - the winner has now been announced here. Exciting!

Have a lovely day!

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A lovely light-filled beach home

Hello. How's life? Planning any home renovation projects over the next few months? If so, you might be inspired by this wonderful make-over by the incredibly talented LA based Amber Lewis, principle designer and owner of Amber Interiors, and architect Eric Olsen. The home has successfully be transformed from a dark and dated man-cave  into this magnificent light-filled, relaxed family beach home.  It's hard to believe it's the same space, right? Let's take a tour....
 

Photography: Tessa Neustadt. Architect: Eric Olsen. Interior design: Amber Interiors - shared with kind permission.

What a difference an open-plan living space and a lick of white paint can make (OK, and beautiful fittings, furniture, accessories, the works). But still....so inspiring, don't you think? 

My favourite rooms include the wonderful kitchen, entrance way (I love ocean shots - for similar try these by Kara Rosenlund and Max Wanger), and little boys bedroom (the arrow wallpaper is perfect, anyone know where we can find similar?) - and look - another bed nook! That's the second one this week...(more nook inspiration here). Got to love a nook!

I spy a Macrame wall hanging too...

Other light-filled LA based homes include the zen home of a fashion designer and the sunny home of a blogger / designer .

But hey, if it's more Scandinavian summer cottage inspo you're after today, you might want to put a kettle on the stove and enjoy the summer cottage archive. I could get lost there for hours, and they're my posts!! 

Have a wonderful day!

PS It's the last day today to enter to win 250 GBP at Nest.co.uk here - hurry!

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Little Nicki's happy and relaxed boho home

I thought I'd start the week with a cheerful space full of colourful pieces. Where better than the happy home of Nicole Valentine Don (or 'Little Nicki') a Canadian stylist, blogger and DIYer living in Sydney, Australia? Her home was recently photographed by Lauren Bamford with help from stylist guru Jason Grant (the duo behind this cheerful book) and i was so excited to see the results! Little Nicki's home is a wonderful mix of flea market finds, antiques, Mexican textiles - and of course there's those plants. What a great home tour to start the week with, don't you think?!

Homeowner: Nicole Valentine Don. Photographer: Lauren Bamford. Stylist: Jason Grant.

What a truly unique home? What strikes me is just how instinctive her style is, and it makes me smile. Is there anything that stands out to you?

For a similiar look try: Half moon garland,  one of these hand jewellery stands which you canthen personalise with paint. I love this Boucherouite rug and these vintage arrows. A wonderful handmade Moroccan wedding blanket.

Other lovely, vibrant homes I've seen with a similar look (hey, it's Monday, we all need to look for colour where we can!) - include this boho Mexican home, a relaxed Florida home and a cheerful Brooklyn space.

Have a wonderful start to the week!

PS If you haven't entered yet, don't miss the chance to win 250 quid to spend in Nest.co.uk here!

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The winner of the £250 to spend at Nest.co.uk is...

Thank you so much who entered the give-away to win £250 to spend at fabulous online store Nest.co.uk. After reading through all the 280+ wonderful entries I'm excited to announce the winner as....drum roll....Guter Zustand - we totally hear you with wanting something with your heart and knowing what you need with your head - let's hope this prize will give you a little of both! Please drop me a mail so we can organise your prize.

For everyone else who entered, all is not lost, Nest.co.uk  have a fabulous sale on until 3rd August 2015- hurry!

1. String Pocket Shelving (styled by Caroline Dahl) 2. Muuto dot coat hooks 3. Skagerak Georg stool

This competition is now closed. 

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nest.co.uk - Headline Retail Partner of designjunction.

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A truly unique, eclectic Paris home

The weekend - yeah! (almost).  I thought I'd mix things up a little with an oh so cool eclectic home in St Germain, Paris - courtesy of Milk Decoration (one of my favourite reads). It belongs to Carole and Stéphane Borraz and their daughters Lilly and Albertine. Carole and Stéphane are the duo behind Galerie Salon, a chic haven for collectors, decorators and anyone looking for treasures in Paris Left Bank. Although relatively small (65 m2), their beautiful apartment dates back to the 1930's and affords fantastic views of the city including Saint-Sulpice church. Carole describes her home as a 'chest of memories' with every unique object telling a story - antiques, vintage finds, and even items found in rubbish bins sit side by side to create a home bursting with personality.

Milk Decoration - shared with kind permission. Photographer: Brunet Souet.

What a fantastic home - so individual. I particularly love the peas in the pod above the desk, the vintage blackboard and the wall of mirrors.

The children's bedroom is absolutely lovely too with lovely rich colours against an earth tone.

I'll be adding Galerie Salon to my list next time I'm in Paris (while staying in this design hotel - naturellement). 

I'm also loving this incredibly elegant Parisien apartment (especially the kitchen!), and a fun, vintage inspired space in the Paris suburbs (that little pram! Oh la la!).

Now, it's time for that all important weekend. And did I mention that I'm holding an amazing give-away with a prize from one of my all time favourite online stores?  Make sure you pop in tomorrow to see what all the fuss is about (it'll be open to everyone....)!

Have a great couple of days!

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A lovely, calm white and grey Swedish island home

There's a howling gale outside and the rain is lashing against the windows of our summer cottage. It's actually very cosy (slippers at the ready!) - as long as the sun promises to come out tomorrow. Even so, my day has been totally brightened up by this home on the island of Dalarö in the Stockholm archipelago. Beautifully captured by the talented guys at Lovely Life, the home belongs to stylist  Mari Strengheilm,  Christian, a digital strategist and their children Dante (6) and Juno (3).  Looking out over the Baltic sea, the home is decorated in pretty shades of grey and white (love the half/half wall and chequered hall floor) with a slight African touch.  Let's take a tour...

Homeowner: Mari Strengheilm Photography: Amelia Widell.

Oj oj oj (as they say in Sweden) - what a wonderful home, don't you think?!

I'm intrigued by the bed nook in the children's bedroom - it looks incredibly cosy! It reminds me of the one in this pretty Swedish cottage - which has been used to create a private place to sleep on the landing. I also love this modern version of the bed nook. In fact I'm all for nooks in general, so much so that I've dedicated an entire Pinterest board to them! I'm sure if we look hard enough in our own homes we'd find a place to create one.

Is there anything you love in particular about this home?

There are images galore of this lovely space and a full write up /interview with Mari  (in Swedish) here. 

Have a lovely day!

PS More white and grey home interiors here (scroll passed this one).

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