Adding greens to a yellow can turn it muddy or even brown. Finding the correct shade is so important. I learnt this when using it for a clients study space recently where we tried 3 different yellows. Despite a south facing window, the light had a green element due to the large trees outside - this changed how the colour looked in different times of the day. Also I would advise seeing it on a large sample. This is definitely not the colour you want to get wrong. Get a big paper and paint it from edge to edge in your sample, as a solitary brush stroke will only look like a stain. ​

;The great thing about yellow is that, as it is such a strong colour it can be used as an accent in any space and highlight any feature you wish. Here are a few examples;

​Go bold and colour block a reading nook or even simply creating a yellow circle around a simple bulb hanging - genius.  It is a great front door colour (I am biased I know) but its like a ray of sunshine when you come home or greet guests. Nothing is better than a bright door and a welcoming smile!!

Top Left Clockwise:
Minnen bed (IKEA), Giant basket weave merinio (MizzKnits), Dulwich sofa (Rose & Grey), Large yellow Strom jug (Trouva), Arbaaz star bright yellow rug (Latitude Vive)

I next went to Silvera, an old silver vaults that now houses incredible high end and beautiful pieces of furniture! Have a look below.

I kept on walking down to Sloane Square where I was summoned by Sandra from the Idle Hands and got to meet up with her and some other lovelies from the interiors Instagram world over at the Charlotte Street Hotel in Fitztrovia - so on a tube I hopped!

So, every time I visit a new city, rather than going about and just seeing the normal tourist sights like everyone else, I also want to go and see the interiors hotspots! So on my recent trip to London I thought I would take a day out and wander around a bit to get chomps into some juicy interior shops and have a peruse around their beautiful wares. I have created a walking tour of what I did and where I went so next time you have some time to kill in the capital, have a look at these places!

So above is the full "course" in the two maps (Google wont let me add the whole route on one map).  Its under 3 miles from Highbury & Islington towards Shoreditch. 

1. Aria
This is a gorgeous furniture and interiors store with beautiful unique furniture and a stunning place for gifts!
​
Barnsbury St, Islington, London N1 1PN

2. Twentytwentyone
This uber stylish home wares and unique furniture shop has some absolutely stunning pieces of furniture. Each piece is hand selected and there is a vintage feel bout some of the absolutely classic pieces they sell. 
​
274-275 Upper Street London N1 2UA

3. Adventures in Furniture
Now this is a stunning furniture store with beautiful white painted floorboards on the walls and a range of stunning pieces. Their collection of gold and brass accessories was a particular favourite of mine!

281 Upper St, London N1 2TZ

4. David Scotcher interiors
This store was sadly closed when I was on my little jaunt, but just a peak through the window and they have a massive array of the MOST BEAUTIFUL fabrics! Hopefully it will be open when you walk past. 
​
285 Upper St, London N1 2TZ

5. Rothschild & Bickers
This gem of a shop has the most stunning hand blown glass lights. Their latest shop window was full of tasseled multi coloured ones so I just had to pop in and have a nosy around!
​
62 Cross St, London N1 2BA

6. Tiles Etc.
This little showroom has the most phenomenal collection of tiles. I had a chat with the owner and he stocks such a vast range. We had a great chat on the beauty of a matt finish tile. I would definitely have a nosy at his beautiful collection!

4 Shillingford St, London N1 2DP

7. Abigail Ahern
If you don't know who she is, do you even interiors? She is pivotal in making dark interiors a major trend the past few years. Her showroom is full of gorgeous furniture and glimmering mirrors, stunning textures and fuaxs. Her distinctive dark colour pallet is instantly regocnisable. Head here for some truly swoon worthy inspo!

12-14 Essex Rd, London N1 8LN

8. Renaissance London - Marble Fireplace specialist

Now yes, these have some phenomenal marble fireplaces, but the thing that drew me into this gorgeous space (apart from the yummy purple shop front) was the stunning chandelier collection inside! Massive gorgeous vintage Murano pieces and Art Deco Pieces. Not cheap mind you, but a stunning space to get some fantastic inspiration.

​193 City Rd, Hoxton, London EC1V 1JT

9. W.A. Green
This bright and beautiful store on the beautifully artistic back streets of Shoreditch is a lovely little home wares and gift store. Their energetic colours immediately drew me in to their eclectic space. Check out those beautiful colours!

9-10, Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3DH

9. House of Hackney
Now, when I was wandering around, I realized that shoreditch is in Hackney (I'm not from London and have never lived there), so I though surely HOH should be based here, and true to its name, a glorious showroom full of their prints form the very first upto their very last were on show here! What an indulgent array of pattern! Head here if you need more HOH in your life!

​131 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JE

10. Monologue
This beautifully curated store has some phenomenal statement pieces. I'm totally in love with a stripy marble coffee table and their standing lamp that looks like a waving flag! GORGEOUS!
​
93 Redchurch St, London E2 7DJ

Yesterday evening I was very happy to be invited to Housing Units, the mega furniture store in the North West. A bunch of local bloggers and online influences were invited after shop opening hours to the emporium for a private tour of one of their showrooms (Did you know they had three separate buildings on the same site with goodies?) and to have a sneaky peak at their fabulous Christmas world. Initially I was thinking this was quite early for a shop to have their festive launch, but apparently Selfridges opened theirs in AUGUST!!!

We had a tour around the massive store when it was closed to the public (quite eerie and surreal) and saw some lovely pieces (pictured above) which are on sale at the moment! And if you want an extra 10% off till Monday, you can enter the coupon code "Exclusive10"  at your online check out for an extra 10% off!. This is the lowest price you will ever be able to get off at Housing Units so head to their website for a nosy! Here are some of my favourites from their website!

We then moved onto their main event! The Christmas zone! We were escorted through a secret back door into this marvellous world of sparkle and magic! A massive variety of Christmas decorations lay ahead of us. More than anyone could ever wish for when creating that special Christmas look! Trees, wreathes, garlands, a million different types of baubles and tree decorations,  light and lasers and  even a selfie booth nearby some talking Reindeer!! Words cant really do this justice so have a look below at the snaps!

As you can tell, I have a secret area of my heart that is reserved for some Christmas Sparkle! There is such an array of decorations, ranging from the classic to the modern and veering off into the odd and quite bizzare. All of which can be curated to create a fabulous look! Look at that wicked unicorn tree!!! Who would have thought! Do you think I could sneak that into the house without Sam noticing?

 So if this post has made you feel festive, head on down to Housing Units in North Manchester or have a look at their website (remember to use the coupon code), and have a jolly good time! The Christmas zone is open to the public from today and the sale is on NOW!

Is it too early for me to put up my tree? NO? didnt think so!

This is NOT an AD, all work and photos are my own unless otherwise specified.

Morning y'all. So aside from all the microblogging I've been doing on Instagram and all the house renovation that has been ongoing, I have been really fortunate to be invited to this really cool event last month. It was the launch of a new lighting range by the fabulous Medina aka Grillo Designs in collaboration with Iconic lights. Medina is a nurse by day (and night) and designer/upcycler/diy-blogger the rest of the time, along side juggling being a wife and a mother! Iconic lights are a locally based lighting store with a wide range of stylish lighting and at great prices to boot!

I met Medina on Instagram initially and we immediately bonded over our mutual love for interiors and chatting about the real life struggle of work/life/interiors balance. I was immediately impressed by her natural flair and her eye for making something fabulously stylish on a budget and in rented accommodation. She states herself that her landlord is very understanding and gives her liberty to update her pad, so before you start and interiors renovation on a rental, I would advise seeking the consent of the owner. But if you wish to embark on your own little renovation/restyling head to her page and get ready for some true inspiration.

The event happened in my local Manchester, at Menagerie Restaurant and Bar,  which was great as more of these events should happen outside of the juggernaut that is the capital. It was a great opportunity to meet some lovely bloggers and interiors people who I have never met before, and also got me  connected with some of the lovely locals who I followed online but didn't know lived just up the road.

As a fabulous giveaway we got to take a lamp from her latest collection which I've styled below on our bureau in the living room. It looks lovely against the dark green. It is called the Forton desk lamp in grey and available now on the Iconic Lights website. It has such a cool industrial but clean look. It might move up to our desk in the study once all the work has finished in the house. 

So if you haven't been aware of Medina please head to her website/instagram/facebook and have a look at her amazing makeovers and tutorials. ​Also if you are in the market for some fabulous and affordable lighting head to the Iconic Lights website for a mooch.

​This post was not endorsed by any brands or companies mentioned and is all my own work.