Plant of the Moment, the Sophora, and a charity shop find.

I've only ever seen these dainty little plants on the internet, that is until this week when I happened to spy one in my local Garden Centre, Ransoms, and seeing it up close in  its perfectly petite form did not disappoint, though I'm not sure what I loved the most, the packaging it came in or the plant its self! So I decided to keep the little brown paper bag as well.

I also found this lovely wicker/grass tray in a local Hospice charity shop which seems to be the perfect partner for the Sophora plant.  A quick tip for bringing a tray like this back to life is to spray liberally with some furniture polish, then use a soft bristle paint brush to get in between all the gaps getting rid of dust and debris, and it will come up as good as new. 👍 (I just discovered blogger has recently added emoji thingies too)

Styling tip, add trees to you interior.

Clemtinedaily  Photography by Sarah Lou Francis

Alvhem 

Pinterest

Instagram

My latest interiors obsession is large plants/trees for indoors. 

Living room updates for the change of season.

I feel a change coming on in the living room after a recent visit to Guernsey and a chance to check out one of my favourite shops, Indica, which has seduced me many times before and have written about here in a  previous blog post.

While on a recent stay to see my daughter I popped into Indica and found some lovely cushions by one of my favourite online Danish Lifestyle stores Time K Home, the products are  a mixture of bohemian living, and elegant simplicity, inspired by travel and nature, I haven't seen any Tine K products sold at home, so was really pleased to have found this cushion while Island Hopping!

A Bit of Cushion Plumping...

Styling/Photography Samantha Stansbridge

If you follow my Instagram feed you might know that I recently shared a giveaway by illustrator Abi Overland to win one of her grey piped Neverland Cushion Covers from her new collection and guess what?! I entered and won!  I'm a bit of a fan of Abi's work, I already own one of her prints, and she was also guest a while ago here on the blog, I highly recommend you take a look at her work, I think she has some new project in the pipeline, so definitely one to watch. 

Tips to Help Sell a Basement Flat.

1& 3. Clementine Photography SaraLou Francis 2. Pinterest  4. Pinterest 5. Studio Naya

My Nephew is in the process  of  selling a one bedroom  basement flat,  which is currently being advertised   with a local estate agent here, (it's been on with a previous agent already with no luck) it is a perfectly good little flat,  the problem in my mind is that the flat is being shown empty and is totally devoid of any features or personality, so as the interiors obsessed Aunt that I am, I have come up with some tips for styling a basement flat to sell. 

Our Family is Expanding! Simple Nursery Makeover.

1. Alvhem via  planete-deco.fr  2. bolig Liv 3.planete-deco.fr   4. Pinterest

Technically my Daughter is doing the expanding,  yes there is a baby on the way, and I am going to be (and I hate to use this word because I'm far too young) a grandma!   I have decided that I am not going with the conventional name of Nanny or Grandma, but have chosen the much nicer title of MeMe.   A bit of a French influence and American I think, but so much nicer than grandma.

A free flower arrangement.

Styling and photography Samantha Stansbridge

When you want flowers but all that the garden can provide you with is

grass and weed...

Laurel & Wolf Shelfie Challenge.

currently in the Living room.

I've been invited to take part in this fun little exercise on creating a magazine-worthy shelfie by Laurel & Wolf, now I don't actually have any shelf units in our home because we live in an old cottage dating bask to the 1800's where the walls are made out of sand and lime and they  don't take kindly to having nails driven into them, and the floor boards are so wonky anything with any height always stands with a list to one side a bit like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so I have to get a  bit creative with low units, sets of draws, the coffee table and window seats for displaying things on.

Re-Purposing an Old Microwave Tray

  

Styling and photography Samantha Stansbridge

This circular white plate/tray was originally the tray that spins round in the microwave, the microwave packed up ages ago, but I kept this tray as it was too good to just chuck out with the oven, so now it gets used for various things. serving tray, a base for my IKEA vase,  for candles, etc etc.

How to Help Your Digestion.

If you read by blog on  a regular basis, then you will know that I am a huge fan of IKEA, and the Life at Home section on the Swedish website, I'm always inspired by the styling and simple DIY tips that they post, and today is no exception.  I heard that sitting at a table that has been  nicely set out, even to eat just a simple meal is actually good for your digestion, and it doesn't have to be posh or elaborate, take simple white china, and add a table cloth and napkin, all from IKEA, styled with a DIY napkin ring made from off cuts of leather strapping, that you can buy on Ebay, and finish with a flower. Perfect.

Style and Space, Bohemian Style + Blog Crush.

Do you ever have a blog Crush? you know, when you come across a blog, and you keep revisiting it over and over again, and you just can't get enough of it?  Well I have a blog crush at the moment, I think it sort of stems from my recent trip to France when we stayed in a tiny but lovely white light filled, floor to ceiling window's French apartment, then I recently came across this blog, by Camille who  is actually a fashion blogger, but she also has a few decor posts on her lovely french bohemian styled apartment, I'm currently totally smitten with the look.   Her fashion posts are pretty great too!

Camille has cleverly  used a mixture of budget friendly high street items from the likes of H&M with second-hand finds on the French website Bon Coin, which is like a Craigs list or Gum Tree type thing, and some junk shop finds.   Isn't it a great space?

All images from  www.noholita.fr

Best Budget Buy Cylinder Vase/Bowl.

Photography and styling Samantha Stansbridge

All Photography and styling Samantha Stansbridge

Well, I'm as pleased as punch that I managed to get my vases home in one piece from our weekend shopping trip to IKEA in France.   Of all the things to bring back as foot passenger I choose glass! Even the security guard at the harbour got warned about my precious vases as it disappeared through the x-ray machine. 

Some pine cones collected on a walk yesterday provided the perfect inspiration for a little styling.

I'm in love with this little ply unit.

Images Marloes Wonen

Instagram is soooo addictive isn't it?  I found yet another profile to follow, that of Marloes Wonen who in her own words "can not sit still" and always with several projects on the go, and this is one those  project, a lovely little unit made from ply, I just  love the simplicity and rawness of it.   Great styling too! 

Have you picked up your new B&Q catalogue yet?

Decorating a home and bringing a style together is actually quite a skill, and when you are on a budget, very often your local B&Q/DIY store can be your first point of call to find budget friendly paints wallpaper and products, but being presented with rows and rows of items in packets can be a little uninspirational, particularly if you lack confidence or imagination in creating a cohesive style, and this is way I like the new B&Q catalogue 'Enjoy'

This year B&Q have pulled together a collection which has never been done before by B&Q, called the Neutral Collection, aimed at being a foundation of products  on which customers can layer and create their own style. In the catalogue as well as 'How To' videos on line you will find  ways of decorating with  products and items in new and interesting ways, such as using gabions as office storage,  creating  bespoke shelving, using rope and planks of wood, tapping into the crafting and up-cycling trend, and creating eye catching paint effects on walls. 

From the new Enjoy Catalogue 

The looks are bang on trend with ideas on how to use copper or creating the very trendy Scandinavian/Nordic look for example,  So if you are looking for some DIY inspiration over the Easter break, then why not pop along to your local B&Q,  pick up the new catalog and get creative!