CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE: THE SCANDI-INSPIRED LOVER OF INTERIORS

What to get for the mid-century loving home maker? The laid back but uber slick hostess with the mostess? Well look no further lads, these are currently on my wishlist (read = in my handbag / car / hidden in cupboards for myself) and they are just Sooooo good. 

Everyone needs a coffee table book. It is a life essential; along with food, water and sleep. If not more important that the former. This baby (no. 3) is B.I.G. he's probably big enough to actually destroy those cheapo £5 ikea coffee tables that we all buy for our disgusting uni digs. It also look tres intellectual, even if you never open / read it (arrest me). 

The wicker dear head (no 5) is just such a bloody good buy (£49.50 from memory) and who says a reindeer is just for christmas? This is an excellent gift choice, even if it will probably be the most difficult one to wrap. The lemon tree was last year's test, I need me a new challenge. 

The seriously affordable Dan Isaac Wallin print which I came across here  is destined for a matt white frame and to be displayed on top of this bad boy midcentury sideboard - these ebay suppliers are really good - trust. 

The & Other Stories candle (no 4) is a cheap buy but looks expensive (that's what we like) for a secret santa or a stocking filler, along with these brass fellas from Zara Home (no 1). You've done well.  

Links below kids. Don't all rush at once..... 

1. Brass Insects  2. Drinks Trolley  3. Coffee table book

4. Swedish candle 5. Wicker reindeer head  6. Metallic cushion cover  

7. Industrial table lamp  8. Photography print 9. Natural Basket 

10. Leather document box 

POPS OF PASTEL AND A BRASS HARE

This is all about the pastel. Pastel can be so … meh…. but adding some more 'refined' brass accents here - like the lil’ hare (scored him at M&S for nineteen pounds and fifty pence- thank you Marks ) removed any meh-ness at all.

I love doing kids; spaces -  they are just so much more F.U.N that standard bedrooms. Colour, pattern, texture can all be really amplified when designing for the bambinos. Having said that, this particular space was for a London crash pad -that will likely be rented out on airbnb or onefinestay (which is a posho version of the former) - so we had to restrain it in some ways. No crazy neon writing (although … ahhhh one of these babies would have been the absolute dogs in this bedroom, now i’m wishing I would have thought of that a while ago. Hindsight you rascal).

If you did want one of these guys, then look no further than Neon Creations. I've used them twice now for neon artwork for client projects and they are seriously good, and pretty competitive with prices. Neon installations do cost a pretty penny (my neon writing was 2m long in a blue and set us back £800 plus the electrician who has to install it was £250 so £1050 total) but if you see them as a pice of art (rightly so) then it's sure as hell worth the investment.

   

1.  Can't find |  2 . Gemma Tickle

Moving on, the brief for this bedroom was simple. I mean the actual brief was simple, as in ’a simple space which is cosy and girly but not too pink or bright with muted tones and somewhere that can be rented the hell out’ (ie no crazy-ass indoor swings and ballpits) so here's what I came up with;

1. Vintage Paris Map | 2. Mint Green trolley | 3. Pom poms | 4. Pom pom pouffe | 

5. Ikea lamp shade and brass lamp stand | 6. Brass bunnykins | 7. Stripey kilim rug in yellow  

And here she is. 

The photos are too dark here... however it picks up all the detail I want, including these amazing quilts from The White Company which are just adorable, and not too bright and garish like some of the floral ones I was looking at.  

I can't recommend Carpet Vista enough - the service, the quality and the choice of rugs is un-bel-iveable. Don't be freaked out by the corporate website. These guys have so much incredible stuff and also stock massive rugs (some that are actually too big for the room - guilty) . Here's a little selection; 

                 

1. Vintage blue | 2. Stripe | 3. Berber