Clip Art x

607caec94aa2d3c865bbb74296fada89

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that make the biggest impact: Take the Tiny Homes movement sweeping across America quietly proving that small can mean freedom.  They’re also icons of great design where every square inch counts.

69462387048ffa022fc502b6f3b87219

This is a Tiny Home from Portland that just sings with love and clever details.

aade7d571be0806c81d103e9d9f4fdd8

Just because it’s compact, doesn’t mean it has to be modern.

bdbf13860057d614c7b0b78f3c7132b4 f9509639ae5201b651c8ef89c9d9ba35 1a476ef94819a45cea617baa546371cb7147d74adedbb4b3f214ce8f8555137f 56cced09977d136d7b4d03c1439f259a

It puts a smile on your face.

Laters, Kate x

Winter Warmers x

Spare Room part 2

e1d9e902e840497fed7a522dc1243390

Bedside tables are a great richness in a small space.  They’re the earrings of a bedroom, framing the focal point as well providing great function…and I need to chose a pair for the spare room.

dbd8a1a599f191bd0f58e4619d516ad6

If money was no object I’d be pulled, without fail, to the antique option: Timeless, chic, classic (but they’d be a little (big) voice in my head whispering but where would you put your cup of morning tea??) (fitted glass on the top for protection?)(would it be enough??)

7feb8b8649c50c972e2e2ac8bca97549

And besides, modern designs can work:  There’s a sense of simplicity and space to them – an avoidance of clutter where less is more.

15fbc4458bd06e2c141df88a7c6b3a55

31e78a5881c4d95179d469f28a2df3cd

If your bed is your nest, as mine is, then taking a leaf out of hospital design could be the way to go.  Wouldn’t it be nice if someone made a brass version of this with hidden wheels in the base and maybe a marble top?

06b5ca5c83c3ac36423cc87c129f35ae

Love the function here, but the mdf style presentation?  Needs to be better.

476bd210ea0050e5dedeef0f5e4baebb-1

But this is a super clever idea for those with a thin, narrow bedroom. Genius.

5b6f9ed97ceafa79575d29847c222d6c

An interesting picture:  The colours, the velvet, the sheepskin all draw the eye in.  The mirrors add that touch of glamour..

b867dc944ccb72707fbdae168e51f2cd

And then you see this photo and realise how much better the proportions balance when the mirrors are smaller than the headboard:  Little things.

71b1d97710bbdb7ce0e45c130f066a4a

And as I only have a little space……I’m thinking an old fashioned wall sconce might be just the thing: Cheap, simple, effective. Maybe with a smaller mirror above them.

4053f0e66362f6f74aeabec60e4f2443

(All pics from Pinterest)

Or even use a pair of upcycled corbels…

Watch this space.

Laters, Kate x

 

 

Rejina Pyo x

d88ee0cfcbff97595c19975f631d3954

There’s a quiet freshness about Rejina Pyo’s clothes.

d464cc3f7a06400be869440b2568e4e5

She says herself ‘When it comes to clothes, I prefer a subtler approach and an element of surprise’.

a832bd2ce816a93905b5808e466ee690

With that in mind she resists the temptation for disposable, seasonal pieces.

a9c9e496cc365713729d48f035c63ee4
9588d191b157c9493e3e9855969d9412

Which makes her clothes familiar yet special.

15a0130dde233fa0567d6d1732bcf568

Less is more: It’s feeding into my subconscious.

Laters, Kate x

Doubling up..

822abb206e3f5e776bd72193849761e2

It was a long night last night – after birthday celebrations it was home late to a very sick Charlie with projectile vomiting and diarrhoea..in his sleep..you can just imagine the amount of bed linen/antiseptic spray we got through.  Finally we both went to sleep on the bathroom floor – the easiest place to keep clean. So it feels appropriate to look at clever, space saving beds – for which I have to thank the Sunday Times for coming up with these finds – but they’re just too good not to pass on. The bed above is from Noa and Nani – a really good, affordable £129 brucie bargain, chic choice.

94703552ef232780fcc604b336d7ce8c

They do other designs too, including this very cunning one at £249..451ec4e97a2976662b1911b580ecd052

There’s storage..8ca5a5f87d16ecc56b3b461b5423bb16

with a trundle bed above. Genius.

8f67ad9d84f9b90bee850c3388f00d99

Or what about a space saving bed for three?  A bunk bed with a simple trundle you can add for a mere £59.

3629fe832747f7995d10d88b89bb7c56

Or just a trundle you can keep out of sight?

848f93de6180eb9c156efccfe66273fd

I heart this bed.  Disguised as an ottoman it comes up trumps with a padded headboard. From Sofa.com. Although a little bit more expensive at £530.

57ef1b2ce3a01db71abddb81a3862acb

An Ikea classic. At £349?

0bdb08c30c9a1c85bc20134a176b2c6f

Or this one at £499 – apparently flips open to make a double. Check out Made.com for more information.

e3036f7719441898f91f0242b99f5786

I’m liking the smaller size option of a chair-bed.  This ‘ched’ (my word..) is from Willow and Hall at a currently reduced price of £393

fedc0be558e004d777309c09b13ff3b5

I like the chunkiness of this option…but I’m never sure of the design virtue of armrests shaped as wheels….but if it floats your boat it’s from Loaf at £875.

 

Maybe you will be able to squeeze that extra guest in this Christmas..ho ho!

Laters, Kate x

Why?

a2394ce6e04ea8da4caa666167c92d20

It’s dark and raining heavily today as though even the Gods are crying.

And Donald Trump will be the next leader of the free world and President of America.

ramclr-042315-hate-ibd-color-final-gif-cms

How? Why?

znewz6 trumphatpng-c9cf6d868061ed31

You’ve really chosen a fascist over…a woman?

trump-bannon-cartoon-luckovich trump-palin-cartoon-7 thanksgiving-trump-2

The man who epitomises ‘if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail..’?

political-cartoon-new-human-species flowers-trump-cartoonjpg-76cba787767871c9 ce818967-f70a-4351-81bc-83e192a45277-714x536 5d21038c-b0e4-442f-be87-0daf9dc8bf2b-medium-1 56c76f2790260-image 174345_image

(All cartoons from Google)

For all the grieving people in the States – we empathise: This is what it feels like not to recognise your country any more.

Who ever thought Isis could win via democracy?

Laters, Kate x

Head Space x

3d1161248f4a6d2a4e71b616026a1f4a

The spare room has definitely been unquestionably subservient to the rest of the house.  Not surprising as it’s the least used space.  But I’m starting to think it needs to be finished with it’s own injection of glamour.

6be71ae9cbb11d8abe6e942dd02f630e 8d65af2d5f3e7a82d4062b68257c45f7

It needs four elements to complete it – a headboard as the focal point, a rug to ground it, a wardrobe for storage and 2 bedside tables for practicality.

18d21c189a12770e73667966c8294c11 9187d33df2abce16814e53deaef674d3 37474a370b847433bf47d4cde1f81a19

Which way to go? Dramatic contrast? quiet luxury? or boho bliss?

359915b1143aaf8d65a91babefa73f94 024824056d0301b73b943198ab8eaffc a684445caf7b5b19a278a1a3a318fd36 b7682a425d75847fc1eb8e7bd31edbcf dbbf1d59276affabe44d2b005466bb6d e6b5975bed1c75f6ee5d99117bb446d6 efa2fd1d2fc4a94cd878a04ab2679df2 f0ac96f37e6ab9b54a080862be897472

Spoilt for choice..

Laters, Kate x

Vika Gazinskaya x

b1bb27a87dccc2998196e047026ef648

It started with this dress spotted in Pintrest.  So simple yet beautifully crafted – the flow on the placket, the upright collar, the slouch on the shoulder, the choice of colours, the block of colours..the clever, subtle curve on the blocks..

43e3dad8fd9b7a9ade9131e8332f6505

And so the journey starts discovering a new label and what other delights to feast on.

89ba6fd2c4db523a48cece80ef2116bb

That blue at the bottom..

88dacc7c4e20f8d851cf6dce9d629c26

You’re either a volume person, or you’re not.  I love it.  I love the sense of intrigue that’s added when a person steps inside.  Vita Gazinskaya has it down to a tee.

8cb41d22387ebcca6ce55e9076d45b1ea3437f937da399c31005b3ff47c49ad2

Not that volume is the only choice.

1bff5fe6bd2cd2ff9e03b12adac0e618

It’s clever cutting and ingenuity.

7457e937293c1e7adabd15569607a487 ef65980ec244ff3ffe8c1bc7274efe9e ff4b90a730e9a3892ba988df5063045c

A simple palette with bold designs.  Mi piace.

Laters, Kate x

Toolally ho ho ho..

c68a9b7634ff24ee8f28ffe2c68220df

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.  So says Gore Vidal.  And Mags from Toolally jewellery…

d99c133040128a8730e09807801c9ead e02b01133d8c20150f8cf24886721775

Her pieces are handcrafted in her Yorkshire studio and designed to make maximum impact.

dfe6a0a807e4f5a5fdf3128428e151fa e30bcc5c7ab4fdc18ff75556c1e1e196 b57cdd1fcb443534851e84d96a12ed16

They are the perfect partner if you want your clothes to simmer gently and your bling to take all the limelight.

a56c65e11435953688b99a38b5afcf48 521e5575d70cf8bd82f0fdbd503eb5bf 3aec8676af244fd2adcb970175bb11fc

I never thought I’d find perspex to be so attractive again, but these blaze the line between cool retro and hot modern.

 

I smell a trend.

Laters, Kate x

Raindrops on roses..