Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas break and a very Happy New Year

Image credit: The Contemporary Home

As we prepare to turn back the clocks it’s the perfect time to brighten up your home and beat the winter blues before they even start. Victoria Harrison of Angel + Blume shows you a few simple updates to make sure your home makes the most of every last bit of winter sunshine to remain bright, light and welcoming over the next few months.

Rather than bemoan the lack of natural sunlight, see it as the perfect excuse to splash out on some new lighting. A cheerful table lamp will create a warm and welcoming glow so dot them around your living room,  bedroom and hallway.

Mirrored furniture like this beautiful chest of drawers  by Graham and Green will catch every last little bit of sunshine, helping to bounce light around the room and instantly brighten up a dull corner.

Rich velvet textures are perfect for the winter months, but you don’t have to pick a dark shade. This bright pink chair combines the cosiness of velvet with a mood lifting colour pop which will beat any hint of winter gloom.

A soft, inviting rug will instantly warm up your living room, but pick a soft cream shade and you will still get a bright and airy feel. Combine it with floor cushions or a luxury beanbag like this one from The White Company for cosy winter lounging.

And finally, The White Company are the master of winter whites, so follow their example and make your bed cosy and inviting by piling it high with layers of soft white and cream throws and cushions to create a light, bright nest.

Image credits: Original BTC, Graham and Green, The White Company

(This article first appeared in Cambridge News)

If you buy one thing…

Make it this vintage storage box by Peacock Blue.

Sturdy enough to outlast any flimsy plastic container, and with a vintage charm that you won’t find in Rymans, this is storage the way it used to be. Simple, sweet and designed to last. Perfect for storing papers, craft materials, magazines…whatever you fancy. (I’ve also got my eye on those pretty spools of velvet ribbon)

Here are a few things I like about shopping in Next: Friendly staff, Good edited range of trend based accessories, Good store layout, Creative room set styling, Affordable prices.

Here are a few things I dislike about shopping in DIY and garden stores in general: Unhelpful (or non-existent) staff, Vast amount of stock, Uninspired styling, Depressing room layouts, Bewildering amount of plants / outdoor stuff.

So…whoever it was that had the inspired idea for Next to branch out into DIY and garden products should be given a medal. Well, perhaps that’s a bit extreme, but at least a celebratory pat on the back. Because it is a winning combination.

On a sunny September day last week the press team at Next whisked me off to Brighton to take a look at their new concept store in Shoreham which does just that and in this vast space Next have not only managed to make DIY and garden products look exciting, but also totally inspiring.

As well as the usual home accessories and furniture that Next is already well known for, the new store also stocks pretty much everything you could possibly need to update your home, from flooring and tiling to carpets and paint, fitted kitchens, bathroom suites and an entire garden centre. And everything is presented and styled in the eye catching but accessible way that Next do so well.

 I love the idea of growing flowers, but I love the reality less so – put me in a garden centre and I am totally lost – what plants work well together? when should I plant them? when will they flower? etc etc etc. The small, carefully edited selection of plants and garden equipment at Next makes the whole process a lot easier and the lovely friendly staff were well equipped to answer silly questions without making you feel daft.

But the best bit in my book was that mixed in with the real plants there were row upon row of artificial ones, so if it all looks like too much effort you can throw a potted silk orchid in your basket and be done with it. No shame involved.

Just like their home accessories, in the garden centre, products are grouped together into room sets, so if you are drawn to a particular look (this pastel, vintage inspired garden set for example) you don’t have to spend hours looking for all the separate parts to put the look together yourself, you can buy the lot right there, furniture, paint, birdboxes, probably even the bunting.

And finally, the humble garden shed; even this has been given a Next makeover and rather than skipping past this section of the store (after all, sheds are for boys and are usually filled with old bits of lawn mover and bike parts) I actually found myself lusting after this pretty little vintage styled shed.

 So clever was the presentation and merchandising, I was ready to buy the entire thing, complete with the furniture, accessories and potted plants.

 Because if there’s one thing that Next are good at it’s selling you a lifestyle. From paving, sheds and plants to row upon row of pretty accessories everything is beautifully presented, totally affordable and cleverly styled. I’m guessing that this first store is going to test the retail waters to see if the concept is a success, with an aim to open more branches across the country. Fingers crossed it will be and they will be rolling out more superstores very soon. I’ll be first in line.

I love Antlers. I don’t know why; it doesnt fit with my pared back aesthetic or sit happily with the fact that I was a vegetarian for 6 years, but there you go. I just love them. Obviously i’m talking about faux antlers, I don’t want an an actual deer’s head stuck to my wall following me around with its glassy eyes. But these, from the new Autumn Winter collection at Marks and Spencer I absolutely LOVE. Mainly I think because they are white, and as you all know, i’m a bit of a colour-phobe, they are made from Plaster so have a lovely chalky, matt texture and have an anatomical accuracy which makes me very happy. So there you have my trend prediction number one for Autumn Winter 2011 – Antlers are not going anywhere.

p.s. These were part of a Navajo inspired collection by Marks and Spencer which is set to be a HUGE trend this winter – more of this to follow.

Filed under: Seasonal Tagged: antlers, autumn winter 2011, christmas press shows, interiors trends 2011, marks and spencer, navajo, nteriors, trend predictions, trends, White ]]> http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/trends-for-aw-2011-part-one-navajo-style/feed/ 1 navajo style at Marks and Spencer 2011 stylemadesimple navajo style at Marks and Spencer 2011 http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/if-you-buy-one-thing-pair-of-bluebirds-pillowcases/ http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/if-you-buy-one-thing-pair-of-bluebirds-pillowcases/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:17:06 +0000 Victoria Harrison http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/?p=1945 ]]>  If you buy one thing…

Make it these ‘Pair of Bluebirds’ pillowcases designed by London based illustrator Karin Akesson. Who doesn’t want to fall asleep thinking ‘Tomorrow will be a great day’?

£24.00 from Hunkydory home

There’s nothing I love more than a sneak preview of a new collection. I’ve been working on long-lead magazines for so long that my mind set is always six months ahead; if it’s hot and sunny i’m itching to see the new Autumn Winter collections and in the depths of Winter I can’t wait to preview the new Summer collections. A couple of weeks ago I went along to Bloomsbury for the A/W 2011 preview of the new Debenhams collection and took a few snaps for you of my favourite new products.

Pretty earthy coloured crockery and smoky glassware – I think this is the Rocha John Rocha collection, or it could be Betty Jackson, I forgot to take a note, but I love the muted lime shade against the soft stone colour.

Quirky cushions from the Ben De Lisi collection. This range was the standout of the show for me; building on the success of the ‘Ella’ bulldog cushions and primary bright accessories of last season there were plenty of eye catching printed cushions and quirky pieces.

Prettiness, as to be expected from Jane Packer – I love real flowers but if I have to use artificial flowers then Jane Packer are up there with the best of them in terms of realistic design and pretty arrangements.

Plenty of jewel coloured goodness from Matthew Wiliamson – his collections always transport me to hotter climes. If I had a whitewashed Ibizan villa I would fill it with gorgeous hot-hued accessories like these. I’ve also got my eye on that brass Moroccan style lantern.

All in all it was an interesting show with lots of predictably good products mixed in with some really unusual and unique pieces, notably from Ben de Lisi. I’ll post up the official new season photography soon but I wanted to share these snaps from the show first just to give you a flavour. The styling of the show was interesting too – the vast space was carved up with white frames within which each collection was showcased. The dramatic lighting also cast interesting shadows on the whitewashed walls which were emblazoned with slogans from different designers (as above.)

Image credits: Victoria Harrison

Filed under: New launches Tagged: 2011, autumn 2011, autumn winter 2011, ben de lisi, betty jackson black, debenhams, debenhams press show, mathew williamson, matthew williamson, new collection, new collection 2011, press preview, press show, rocha john rocha, winter 2011 ]]> http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/debenhams-aw-2011-press-show/feed/ 2 OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA stylemadesimple OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/scents-of-occasion-as-featured-in-cambridge-agenda/ http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/scents-of-occasion-as-featured-in-cambridge-agenda/#comments Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:21:17 +0000 Victoria Harrison http://stylemadesimple.wordpress.com/?p=1782 ]]>

Hello, Hope you’ve all had a good week, i’ve been busy over at Angel + Blume with lots of article writing, so I thought i’d share a few of those on here with you so you don’t think i’ve disappeared completely. I have been working, honest; Just off-line! I’ve just started a fortnightly blog for Cambridge Evening News too, so i’ll point you over to that when it’s up and running. In the mean time, this article appeared in the April 2011 issue of Cambridge Agenda magazine and looks at how to use home fragrance.  I’ve been all about the Spring Cleaning; I know, I know, it’s June already so not technically Spring anymore but better late then never right? Note to self, must blog articles as soon as they are published.

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The scents that fill our homes can be welcoming and evocative; Victoria Harrison of Angel + Blume looks at how to add fragrance to your home to create a unique atmosphere.

Before adding fragrance to your home you need to make sure you start with a clean base. Now that the gloom of January is lifting and Spring is just around the corner it’s the perfect time to scrub up. You can start by simply opening windows and welcoming the fresh air. During the winter when windows remain closed, carpets and textiles can become stale, but a quick steam clean will get rid of odours and freshen them up. A wipe down of all door frames and skirting boards will get rid of accumulated dust and grime and if you’re feeling energetic give the ceiling a clean too as smoke and oils can build up over time.

The citrus smell of a lemon is refreshing and invigorating and as such it is added to many chemical cleaners. However, my favourite cleaners are naturally scented ones which don’t overpower or leave a chemical smell. Maison Belle are a great range of cleaners from The Natural Store with enticing names likeLavender & Mint Limescale Remover and Green Tea & Sage Glass Cleaner. They do the job well and leave a fresh scent afterwards.

When it comes to fragrance, nature does it best. In an ideal world I would live in a house by the sea with scented roses growing outside the door, and a fresh sea breeze wafting in through an open window. But wherever you live you can still bring a little bit of nature into your home. The simplest way of doing this is filling a bowl with fresh cut flowers or keeping a few pots of fresh herbs on the kitchen windowsill. Potted flowers such as hyacinths are brilliant at cheering up a room as they add both fragrance and colour. Scenting your linen with dried lavender is another way to ensure a sweet and fragranced night’s sleep and there is nothing better than the scent of freshly brewed coffee to make a kitchen feel homely and comforting.

Scented candles, room sprays and diffusers all have their place too. These days there are a huge range of options. You do tend to get what you pay for, so a good quality natural wax candle is worth investing in. My current favourites are the wild mint candle from the White Company and the herb scented candles by Jamie At Home. Scent is very individual thing, but when you’re choosing think about the kind of atmosphere you are trying to create.

Scent can disappear quite quickly so if you want to build an atmosphere then consider layering your home scent. Start off with a scented candle, then add a reed diffuser in the same fragrance to build depth. You could also spritz curtains and textiles with a room spray but be careful not to overdo it. Once you have been in a room with a scent for a while you get used to it, but any new guests will be able to smell it immediately, so don’t be tempted to keep spritzing!

This article featured in the April issue of Agenda magazine

Image credits: The White Company, Cox and Cox, Maison Belle

Hello and welcome to the first in my new series of ‘Styling Secrets’. Over the past 8 years i’ve collected lots of tips and tricks to make an interior look inviting, welcoming and inspirational. I’ve been meaning to make a note of these and thought that it might be useful and interesting to collect them all together here and share them with you week by week. I’d love to hear your comments or suggestions on this series and I hope you enjoy.

Kicking off the series is a very simple and widely used styling trick. When arranging objects, three really is the magic number. Somehow two objects always look too lonely and more than three can start to look cluttered but three makes a perfect little group. I think it also has something to do with the pleasing triangular shape object form when grouped in threes. The three stars above are different sizes for example, but when placed in a row they balance each other out and create a pleasing if slightly off-beat symmetry. Likewise the three candlesticks make a pleasing little group when placed together and the different heights and sizes complement and balance each other. This rule can be applied to grouping objects on a wall as well as on a flat surface; the three deer and stag heads work well when grouped together as demonstrated above; one would have been lost on that wall, two would have been difficult to balance and could have looked too neat, but three work perfectly.

Image credits: Graham and Green, Cox and Cox