So you’ve done your Christmas shopping, ordered the turkey, and sent the Christmas cards. Of course you have! But have you sorted the guest bedroom for all the lovely family and friends you’ve got coming to stay over the festive season?!
As much as I love a full house, I’ve declared no room at the Inn for us this year (with the kids, the dog and the cat we already resemble a zoo)! There’ll be plenty of folk coming in and out for dinner and drinks, but we’re not hosting anyone to stay. However, if you are and your guest room needs a little refresh, then here’s a handy edit for you. All you need to create a welcoming room for those festive friends.
#1 My absolute favourite. Linen bedding does not get any better than this. And just look at this deep teal. £155 for a King Size duvet cover, from Piglet in Bed
#2 Of course you make your guests a cuppa in the morning, yeah?!! Well, if you’re feeling generous, this pot for two is just divine. Celine Tea for Two from Anthropologie
#3 Nothing beats listening to the radio in bed (although perhaps that just shows my age). Anyway, this Roberts Radio looks the part too, £100 from Urban Outfitters
#4 I first discovered Charlotte Rhys products when I was in South Africa and I use their Pillow Spray every night. Utterly gorgeous scents, now available to buy in the UK. £17 from Charlotte Rhys
#5 If you don’t have a chunky knit blanket you need to get on to it! Mizz Knits has the most fabulous range of colours to choose from and, although you may have missed the cut off for bespoke blankets, there’s time to get a couple of cushions to add a pop of colour to your guest room. Blanket prices vary but chunky knit cushions are £40 from Mizz Knits
# Nothing gives your guests the green light to relax and snooze-in like a pair of sloths. So cute! Sloth garden pot, £42 from Anthropologie
Is it really Christmas until the Bar Trolley is fully stocked?! The perfect entertaining companion, and a fabulous opportunity for a bit of festive styling, the Bar Trolley is your Christmas friend.
So, if you’re in search of the perfect bar trolley for the holiday season, then look no further. Below I share my top picks, all of which (at the time of writing) are still available for delivery before Christmas.
#1 Swoon worthy to say the least. Make a statement with this circular brass bar trolley, £375 from www.grahamandgreen.co.uk
#2 No one said bar trolleys have to be shiny. Work the industrial look with this cool trolley from www.roseandgrey.co.uk (£155)
#3 But if you want glitz, then here it is. Just look at those curves. £375 from www.oliverbonas.com
#4 Stunning art deco style, with a gorgeous green marble top, £249 from www.swooneditions.com
#5 Now isn’t this fun?! A mix of ash wood, yellow leather and rust coloured metal. Yes please! £399 from www.made.com
What’s your favourite colour? Interiors: How colour makes you feel.
I’ve been working with the very talented Garden Designer, Melissa Morton recently. Back in the summer she did some work on my garden for me and I helped her out with some interior design. A neat little skills swap! Working with another designer as a client was really interesting and it has been fascinating to discuss our respective design processes. And, not only does Melissa have super green fingers and an eye for detail, she also has a background in colour science, which means we’ve had some really interesting conversations over the past few months.
These discussions were the starting point for this collaborative series of blog posts which explore concepts of colour and design in both the home and garden. Melissa has started the series with an analysis of colour theory. Her first post “How Hue Can Influence Mood” can be read here. Her next post will explore Saturation and Value.
In this post, I explore how colour influences mood in Interiors; the basics of Colour Psychology.
What’s your favourite colour?
It’s a question asked to, and by, many a small child. From such an early age we are beginning to identify that everyone has an emotional response to colour. And that everyone’s response is different.
When I start working with a client, one of my first questions is how they want the space to FEEL. Obviously we work through the practicalities of what the space needs to do, discuss style inspiration and budget, but fundamentally, I need to understand what they want the room to feel like. Without that the design can tick all the other boxes, but it just won’t feel quite right.
Colour is powerful. It evokes feelings subconsciously. Yet there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to colour. I love midnight blue. It feels calming and reflective and has a real energy to it. But I know clients for whom the same colour is drab, draining almost. It’s very personal. So, whilst I’m about to give a run down of how colours are more generally perceived, it’s intended as a way of making you think about how you respond to colour. If you find yellow leaves you feeling anxious, then painting a room yellow is not going to be the uplifting, self-confident experience I suggest it could be!
Purple
Dark purple shades are dramatic, powerful and sophisticated. Historically the colour of royalty, it can evoke feelings of strength, quality and luxury. In softer tones, purple often suggest a calmness and serenity. To some, a mystical quality. Thoughtful, provocative and creative.
Ultra Violet was Pantone’s color of the year for 2018. And a recent love for all things velvet has paved the way for a luscious combination of colour and texture. Yet, purple initiates somewhat of a Marmite response in people. It seems, you either Love or Hate it in interiors. Used in bolder shades, it’s definitely a statement colour. This doesn’t mean you have to use it sparingly but you need to know the effect it’ll have. And if you just want to dip your toe in the purple water, then just use it as an accent (perhaps a footstool, a cushion or within some wall art).
Blue
Blues can make us feel productive, intelligent, calm and serene. Deep blues can work to give a feeling of sophistication whereas bright blues can provide a sense of clarity and vibrancy. As for lighter tones, they are often described as making a space feel calm, soothing and serene.
Personally, I love surrounding myself with rich midnight, navy and cobalt blues. I find them warming, enriching and energising. As for light blues, I find them too cool to have in my home. Yet I’ve done schemes using soft blues which my clients find soothing and calming and they love them. It’s all about personal perception and association.
Yellow
The sunshine colour. The colour of primroses and spring. But does it make you feel confident, happy and extrovert or does it leave you feeling anxious and self-conscious?
Bright yellows create bold, confident accents. One of my favourite combinations is to use it with a bold blue or strong teal. Softer lemon colours can create a feeling of spring time, of optimism and lightness. This is where colour association really strikes a chord for me though. As a child, I remember having a bedroom painted in lemony yellow. For some reason, I disliked it and now an abundance of soft yellow in a room leaves me feeling uneasy. There’s no logic to it; it’s simply my response to living with softer tones of that colour. On the other hand, vibrant tones leave me feeling energised and creative.
Green
Melissa has written about green in her latest blog post. The colour of nature, of abundance, of growth. One of the reasons I love styling with plants is the freshness and vibrancy of colour. It’s a reminder that our spaces are not static, but living-breathing spaces. It gives a sense of balance and harmony.
Rich, earthy greens will make you feel very differently from the vibrant, zesty lime greens. And, for some, green is a colour which induces feelings of stagnation. If that’s you, a green living room is probably not the way forward!
Pink
We’ve seen a lot of pink recently, showing that pink is most certainly not just for girls. Blush, nude, millennial, hot, neon. The list goes on but there’s certainly a shade for everyone and every room! Has millennial pink had it’s day? Probably, as does every trend, but pink is certainly an adaptable colour, here to stay.
It’s generally perceived as a warm, reassuringly optimistic colour. Associated with love and happiness and a colour which sits easily in many a colour scheme. Although of course to some it may have associations of childishness, evoking feelings of silliness.
Black
Technically the absence of light, rather than a colour, black is bold, powerful and glamorous. A show of sophistication and elegance at black tie events but symbolic of mourning at funerals.
For some, the intensity and contrast created by using black in an interior scheme is indulgent and dramatic. For others, the use of black in a scheme is too much. Too heavy, too intense, too draining. How you respond also depends on how it’s used. Layered with other dark colours (charcoals, indulgent earth browns) it can create a moody, dramatic scheme which you may (or may not) love. Used as a contrast colour for other softer or more vibrant colours creates a different feel altogether.
White
Clean, simple, pure to some. Clinical and stark to others. A pure, brilliant white is difficult to work with but whites with a hint of colour create a palette of soft whites which work more authentically within a space. How much white you choose to surround yourself with depends on whether white spaces leave you feeling calm and energised. Or just a little cold and empty.
So there you have it, my very quick run down of colour psychology. I know, orange, brown and red don’t get a mention and I didn’t even touch on grey (that gets a post all of its own). But the discussion of colour psychology is lengthy, and what I wanted to do is start to build on the science of Melissa’s post and show you how colour plays such a big part in what a space feels like. What it really comes down to is how you respond. Your perception. Your association. It’s yet another reminder that you need to decorate and style your home for you; to surround yourself with colours that you love.
Effortlessly cool, with an utterly stunning range of luxury, non-repeating geometric and bespoke wallpapers, Kirath Ghundoo has a design studio to watch. It’s no surprise then that she has worked on projects across the world and was nominated for an Elle Decoration British Design Award. I love the concept behind the mix ’n’ match collection; no repeat, no matching – you just start one strip where the last one finished and can mix up different patterns within the collection, allowing you to create a truly unique design. I’m certainly on the look out for the right project to use these in.
Read on to find out more about Kirath’s inspiration and work, and do follow her on Instagram to see what she’s up to.
1/ What was the main driver behind setting up your design studio?
I graduated from Leeds College of Art with a degree in printed textiles and surface pattern design and went on to become a university lecturer.This love of teaching design inspired me to set up my own brand as having my own business was always something I wanted to pursue. In 2011 I completed my MA in Textiles at Huddersfield University and spent the year setting up my brand. I launched my first wallpaper collection at 100% Design in London in 2011 and the response was overwhelming. I’ve been trading for 7 years now and what a journey it has been! I am inspired by pattern and colour everywhere and my design work allows me to represent my interpretation of the world around me.
2/ What do you love most about your work?
I love the creative freedom of my job and how I express myself as a designer without adhering to trends. I like to break the rules of conventional design, which is exactly what my wallpapers do. They allow the user to create a unique feature wall which is dictated by their own preferences.
3/ Where do you find your inspiration?
I can be inspired pretty much anywhere and especially the most bizarre and flamboyant places. My main inspirations comes from travel. I spent this summer in Miami and Puerto Rico and it is a designer’s dream! I have just designed a new wallpaper based on Miami which has just been released!
4/ Describe your work/style in 3 words?
Spontaneous, quirky, bold
5/ Where’s your favourite place to work?
I love my office space and spend most of my time working there. However, being mobile means I can work anywhere, including the beach…
6/ Do you ever suffer from a “creative block” and, if so, how do you deal with it?
Yes I do! If this happens the best way for me to deal with it is to do something else. This lets me recharge and come back to it later with a new perspective.
7/ What do you think are going to be the next trends in your field?
I don’t follow trends and certainly don’t design to them. There are always certain colour trends that come around within interiors which I am conscious of, however these rarely impact my design work.
8/ What are you the most proud of?
I was nominated for an Elle Decoration British Design Award which was pretty special but I also love seeing the positive impact my work has on my clients. It feels nice to brighten up their spaces!
9/ What’s next for your studio?
I am in the middle of designing a new range for the KG Basics 19 collection so I’m busy working on that. I have some exciting commercial projects in the pipeline for some fabulous feature walls and I’m hoping to do Decorex 2019!
Is it just me, or is Black Friday more like Black November this year?? I’ve had emails with Black Friday discounts pinging into my inbox for what seems like weeks now.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love a bargain as much as anyone but this year’s seemingly exaggerated hype around Black Friday has really got me thinking about our levels of Christmas inspired consumerism. It’s made me think more about what I buy. And where I buy it from.
Image: @nippynora
For the past two years, I have spent Christmas in South Africa enjoying the sunshine, family time and good wine! This year it’s a more traditional Christmas at home in the UK. But what struck me about Christmas in South Africa (other than the sunshine) is the focus on family, friends and food. Yes, it’s their summer holiday and yes it’s sunny. But it’s still Christmas. Yet there isn’t the surge of consumerism we experience here. The shopping malls are busier than usual, there’s Christmas in the air but it’s not crazy or hyped. There doesn’t seem to be the obsession with buying; presents, decorations, stuff.
Image: Christmas Eve in the Vineyard!
Perhaps it’s also because I’m working a lot closer with smaller independent brands and business owners this year, that I realise the impact of these Black Friday sales. With smaller margins, lower volumes, it’s hard (if not impossible) for small business owners to compete.
So why should we buy independent? For me, it’s because I know I’m getting something special, something considered and something created (more often than not!) with love. I also know that I’m supporting someone else’s business, someone’s vision and dream. It’s personal. It means something.
Buying local is also important. I love that I have those treasure-trove stores just round the corner. That I can chat to the person behind the counter when I pop in. That I can see the colours of a piece before I buy. That I can touch it. And also that I may go in for one thing and then find something completely unexpected that I love even more.
Thought and research has gone into the curation of a store which in itself tells a story. I love that anyone shopping in an independent store becomes part of that story. I also love that on a rainy Saturday I can pop in for a browse. It builds a community.
Image: @covetshops
Now I’m not suggesting that we shun all the big brands or abandon online shopping altogether. It’s neither realistic or practical. I buy online. I use big brands in my design work, and will continue to do so. It just strikes me we should be a little more considered about where we buy from. We shouldn’t take the shop down the road for granted or overlook the independent online retailed in favour of the big giants offering massive reductions.
The #justacard campaign sums it up perfectly for me. It may only be “just a card” but it makes all the difference to those small brands. Especially if everyone buys “just a card”. It’s about changing shopping habits bit by bit. Being considered.
Image: @justacard
But it’s not just about flying the flag for Indie businesses, the excess of Black Friday has also got me thinking about consumerism in general. Do we just buy too much stuff? Now I like stuff. I like things, and I like buying things for my home. I am also conscious that, as an Interior Designer, I am responsible for filling other people’s homes with things. Beautiful things, but things all the same.
I’m certainly not suggesting we all stop buying things. That would just be silly and actually not helpful to any business owner. We need to buy things; things with a function, things that should, in all cases, spark joy. Isn’t it therefore just about shopping thoughtfully with an eye to who we’re buying from? Making sure we are buying the right things, from the right people?
I may not be in the sunshine, relaxing by the pool for Christmas this year but I’m certainly keeping it family focused. Less about what I buy and more about who I’m with. But there will be presents this year, and there will decorations. And where I can, I’ll be buying local and supporting Indie businesses.
I love Advent, like really love Advent. I can’t think of a better way to spend a whole month; anticipation, excitement. A countdown. I love a countdown!
What I don’t love so much are the mass-produced, chocolate advent calendars which when you need 5 (yes, the cat and the dog seemingly need to get in on the Advent action too) take up rather a lot of room on the shelf. And I have a queue of many pretty things that deserve a place on the shelf!
I also love that Advent is a great opportunity to do something special together as a family; to start traditions. So, in an attempt to by-pass much of the hype and consumerism that goes with Christmas in the UK, I have put together my favourite picks of Advent ideas. I’m not denying you Advent chocolate, I’d never do that. There are a couple in there you can fill with little treats. But here are some thoughts for a more creative, engaging Christmas countdown. Enjoy!
#1 Bright Pom Poms with little boxes to fill. What will you put in yours? Chocolate treats or a little Christmas “to-do” activity? Kit from www.johnlewis.com currently a bargain in the sale at £4.48
#2 Colourful Christmas with this rainbow advent candle. One colour for each day of Advent and all handmade with natural ingredients by a family run business. £12 from www.foeshop.co.uk
#3 Christmas is all about memories and I love this personalised photo calendar. Fill it with memories from Christmas past, or family pics from the previous year. Available from www.notonthehighstreet.com for £29
#4 Now isn’t this a lovely idea?! Encourage a creative Christmas with this colour-in, personalised advent calendar. A little keepsake for years to come. Available from www.notonthehighstreet.com for £26.95
#5 A total antidote to Christmas mayhem and consumerism, this well-being advent calendar is a little reminder to take a moment for yourself each day. Complete with bath salts and natural candles, a gorgeous treat or gift. Again, from www.notonthehighstreet.com for £22
#6 If you’re feeling really creative and have time to whip something up, why not have a look at this beautiful felt advent calendar pattern. Create something you can use for years to come. Available from The Sugar House Shop on www.etsy.com for £17.45
