I must admit, I absolutely love a good garden. The variation spaces that can be created and plants that can be used open up a whole new exciting world and with us stepping slowly from spring into summer it's a great time to get out there and use up your outside space as much as you can. Here are my tips to keep in mind when tackling your outside space, be it a balcony, a courtyard or a whole garden. ![]() Follow the sun Keep an eye out for which parts of the garden get the most direct light and which are more shaded. It will help guide which plants you place there and what you use the spaces for. If you can head out into your space multiple times of day through the year and notice the light levels change. Some places will never get direct light where as others might be constantly sunny! Check out this blog on how to sun map your garden ![]() Consider layers Layering matters both in a front to back, but also in a low to high dimension. Think about having plants with different heights growing from front to back in your garden. Also planting a whole area in one plant can make it visually uninteresting so consider making your borders or hedges more varied with different textures, colours and variations. Also consider plants that s stars at different times of the year such as berry bushes in the autumn, hellebores for an early spring flower and acers for the summer foliage ![]() Zoning As with your home, different parts of your outside space can be used for various uses. Think about where to have your outside dining area (does it need to be in a sunny spot to keep you warm?) Consider adding other seating areas that encourage people through the garden and create different view points. Do you need a kids play-area? Do you have space for an outdoor kitchen or an outdoor lounge space? Do you want a veg patch? ![]() Entice the senses Encourage full immersion in the space with all the senses being activated. Scented lavender, tactile grasses or mosses, the sound of water over rocks or of wind through reeds, the taste of fruit straight off the branches, and the gentle sway of a swing. Using perspectives to create different viewpoints from the various areas in the garden will make it seem bigger and more interesting. ![]() The practicalities Think of where you will need your utilities (they need to be passed first). If you wanted a pond at the end of the garden, you might need a pump and therefore electricity and maybe even a water source - you don't want to be passing these after you have finally managed to get the lawn looking just right! Accent lighting of any specific trees or in other areas of the garden all need to be planned and specified so that the utilities can be passed to that area. If you wanted a barbeque at the end of the garden, consider how you are going to get coal to it and have it stored safely (might need to plan for built storage). Also, if you wanted to wash your hands, will you need a sink out there too? All things to think about and consider before you get started. Outside spaces fill me with excitement as they really come to life in the warmer months but also they increase your private living space. They create a place where you can intimately interact with nature and make the most of the good weather.
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We are totally aware of the massive revolution that is taking place these days in peoples homes with most of us having to work from home for the foreseeable. So you need that space to work from home but don't really want to fork out for a massive desk you might never use again... so here is a great idea that might save you some ££ and also give you the space you need to work without compromising on style. ![]() Make way for the humble CONSOLE! Yes you heard me! This simple table, if chosen correctly can sit in most places and function well as a desk without dominating the space or being a totally redundant piece of furniture once this is all over (yes it will!) So here are a few pointers to look out for when selecting your new console/desk space.
Option 1: For a bit of glam --> Go for Gold This incredibly stylish console can be a fabulous desk space and styled to perfection as a console. Option 2: For a mid-century vibe with a super swish tambour door (i.e. sliding door) check out this beauty. It is available in two wood tones to perfectly suit your interior. Option 3: Terrazzo fabulous This stunning green lava stone top with black legs is a dramatic one but oh so fab! Terrazzo is strong and will survive most things so get cracking! Option 4: Curved and Marble-iscous Yes fine I might have made that word up! BUT LOOK AT THIS CONSOLE! Isn't it stunning? That marble top and the curved edges gives this a really high end look without the same price tag! Option 5: Old-school-cool For a nod to them good old days, go for this vintage inspired metal console table with a curved edge, giving it a softer feel. Shop the look: These items may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using this link.
Hey everyone, hope you are all well. In these new times we need to adapt and if we are lucky enough to be able to work from home then its imperative that for us to be productive that our spaces have to have the right kind of energy too. So here are our top tips for creating the best working from home space. Tip 1: Dedicate a space. Ideally not in sight of your bedroom/rest spaces. This has to be a specific space just for work. Most people work from a computer so all you need is a small table or even a console. Its too much hassle to stay setting up your laptop every morning or moving about every few hours, so ideally this space will be solely for work. If you have a dining room that you don't use very often or a spare bedroom that can take this role then put the table in there and get connected. Tip 2: Light. It is super important that once we have a space that is well lit. Most people will be working during the day time, and thankfully the days are getting longer now and there is daylight well past 5 but always consider keeping a lamp nearby to add soft light for those gloomier days and if you are working late. Also, consider where the sources of light are to avoid glare. Tip 3: Get comfortable. Unless you already have a comfy and stylish office chair at home, the choice of seating is important. Choose upholstered or cushioned dining chairs over stools or anything with less support like a sofa or a lounge chair Tip 4: Keep a loose routine. Try to remember that you are still at work, so don't get distracted by the laundry pile or other chores. If you can squeeze a load in while waiting for that meeting why not, but remember that multitasking leads to distracted minds and after your hard day you don't want to be faced with a chore done badly that needs re-doing. Tip 5:
Be kind to yourself. After all, home is your nest and your sanctuary. Light a candle, order some fresh flowers from your local florist (and help to keep local businesses afloat). Do some stretching and remember that any change will take a few weeks to adjust to .. And this too shall pass. Lots of love Pete P.S. Head to our next blog post to check out our favourite consoles that work great as desks
4. Consider all the senses. Keep the whole experience of your space memorable and festive. Light some festively gorgeous candles. My current favourite is WYNTER by AHLT, I have received so many compliments from it. Plonk it on the mantle and even unlit - the room smells of Christmas with sweet orange, spicy cinnamon and spicy clove.
5. Keep it simple. I keep my wrapping super simple and super effective. Brown paper wrapping, silk ribbon and a sprig of holly or pine and you are done. Cheap, cheerful and recyclable - especially if you use plastic free tape!
Now I won't lie, I cannot sew! And despite watching numerous you-tube videos and hunting down my curtain makers, the numbers just didn't add up and we wanted this installed in a matter of days. So I decided to try a no-sew approach. I must say this hasn't been endorsed by IKEA but we did end up using everything from there. So if you are a no-sew kind of guy/gal and you want to create something similar, this is what you need. Materials:
This took me around an hour from start to finish. So a super quick and easy project. (After you navigated the isles of IKEA)
Step 5: Work your way down the blind. I would suggest keeping the fabric (yet to be adhered), rolled up as it prevents it from getting creased or in your way. I applied a SY strip at every baton on the blind, This made sure that the fabric was definitely attached at these points. You could also consider using upholstery spray glue on the rest of the blind, but I was concerned regarding staining, and keeping the fabric supple so I avoided this. Make sure that your fabric is flat the way through before ironing on. Step 6: At the top of the blind there are little metal loops that the blind hangs from. To get the fabric over and around these, make little cuts in the fabric at the point where it would fold over and slide the head of the loop through. Make the cut as little as possible as you do not want the fabric to start fraying. Step 7: Once you are done on the front of the blind, flip it over so the fabric is face down and the blind back is facing up. Now its time to hem the edges. I started with the sides as the fabric had a neat edge here and it was an easy win. Next move to the top and bottom. Fold the cut edge of the fabric so that the end was tucked in, then apply the SY strip and while holding the fabric in place iron it down. You will need to work on smaller sections at a time ensuring that the fabric is flat, neat and taught before ironing. Step 8: Finally at the corners, by folding in the corners of the fabric and using the same way we did at the top and bottom, make a neat hem. Step 9: Making sure that all the SY has set, you are ready to hang you blind! Some things I learned while on this no-sew roman blind project;
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