You've been giving out for long enough.... looking for some easy ways to glam it up? We spend so much time in the bedroom we all deserve a comfortable relaxing space. Some of the easiest ways to get it right are staring us in the face. Before you read on without spending a penny try and guess the first 3 things I would recommend without spending a penny. No scrolling down......... Ok, I wonder how many got it right? 1. Declutter By this I mean be ruthless. get rid of all the clothes you never wear. All old and worn favourites. Those flares were grand in the seventies, oh and the parallels were lovely in the eighties. Put all things from the dressing table in baskets or put them in a cupboard . Better still throw out all old and out of date cosmetics. Pack the summer clothes away, yes it is over and not due to come back for a few months yet. 2. Light it up Light a few candles. I am not mad into scented ones with the exception of the fresh cotton, jasmine or lavender.These give a wonderful fresh smell but each to their own.. you know what you like yourself. Please always light them in a glass hurricane or somewhere safe on a non inflammable surface away from soft furnishings.Another top tip is to always buy a good brand, cheap candles can explode and cause fire. 3.Flower Power Fresh flowers or foliage. Grab a few sprigs of evergreen shrubs and berries from the garden or put a flowering orchid plant in front of your dressing table mirror. Spend a few quid if you can on a few tulips, there is little nicer than these symbols of Spring to come. Now when you have all this done you could consider the following. Lighting What is your bedroom light like? This is a great little fitting to give that Hollywood touch. This one is great value at only €125 and is one of the best antique reproduction chandeliers on the market. The droplets are cut glass as is the centre. The frame work is available in antique white , chrome or brass. They are also available in 5, 8 and 12 arm options. There are also matching wall lights for these chandeliers for only €75. Acrylic and very light iron versions can be found in diy stores. It is a good idea to put all bedroom lighting on a dimmer switch.( reasons obvious of course) Wallpaper or paint Try just one feature wall or go all out and do the whole room. 3 rolls of wallpaper should do an average feature wall and 7 a whole room. There are so many to choose from so it can be daunting. My suggestion is to pick one that will work with your existing bedlinen and find a supplier that will help you choose. Take pictures of your furniture and bedding and show it to your chosen retailer. Furniture If your furniture needs updating, depending on your budget of course, you could change the bed or for a new look on a small budget try replacing the lockers only. These little baby's are only €169 and are available in antique white , silver and gold. A good tip is to put a little mirror over the locker to make the room look bigger Most bedroom furniture ranges come with lots of different combinations, tallboys, blanket boxes , dressing tables etc Have a look at our storyboard below for some inspiration.
Happy decorating. Wishing you all bedroom bliss. Paula x Its traditionally that time of the year again... There was a time when a lot of the houses around the country got their annual revamp.... Remember the craze of the wallpaper border? The trip was made to the local diy store and before you knew it walls were painted in the latest colour and the wallpaper was replaced with the trendiest new design. I have a vivid memory of being in a house watching tv with a friend and their parents painted the room around us. The Mam took the pictures down as the Dad rolled the walls and before he finished the pictures were back on the walll....... hillarious. Lots of you are busy getting your homes ready for Christmas and all joking aside wallpaper and paint is a great way to make quick changes without too much disruption to the family. If you are getting a decorator in we have a list of trusted decorators that are happy to work while you are out and will have the house hoovered and clean before you get home. Some of you were asking for traditional period wallpaper for older homes. We have recently got some in from Osborne and Little, Nina Campbell and Mathew Williamson. Lots of these wallpapers were named after Scottish country homes. They are wipeable and start at around €60 Here are some pictures from those ranges Some of the most fascinating of all the current wallpaper on the market is the award winning Kandola range. Some of it is very Romanesque and some just glamorous beyond belief. Grace Kelly would have been quite at home with it. some of them are hand embellished with Swaroski crystals. There is a range of silks and crushd velvets to match with or without crystals. It is just stunning. So whether its paint or wallpaper for you there is plenty of choice out there. You still have a few weeks to get the job done. Happy Decorating everyone.
Paula x This wallart for kids from the Storybook collection at Voyage is an easy way to brighten a childs room. They are digitally printed on double width non woven, hard-wearing paper and are easy to hang. They are all wipe able which is of course a great advantage. Designed and painted individually by an artist each brushstroke is preserved and illustrated in the finished product. All the wallart has matching fabrics but a simple plain or stripe fabric would work just as well. Some simple instructions for hanging available here. It is €40 m so when ordering you need to take the width of the wall x the drop
eg. a 2.4m wide wall will need 4 widths of wallart (60cm wide) . 4 widths of wallart x 2.4m drop = 9.6m It is recommended to buy an extra drop at the time of ordering as batch colours may vary. Cal us if you need any more information. Paula x 0469549200 It is just a pleasure to find an excuse to show you these fabulously girly fabrics from Prestigious textiles. They are not just for baby's but for toddlers and teens too. The butterfly, floral, spots and stripes come in several different colourways but this is one of my favourites. We made this recently for a little girls room in Rush in North County Dublin. Long butterfly pattern curtains with 10" french pleats and bonded black out lining to guarantee as the sun rises to blacken out the room. The sun must be shining a lot out that direction as we are doing a lot of blackout curtains in all the seaside towns along the East coast, particularly Skerries, Rush Lusk and Malahide. It is a pleasure to work in these areas and have lunch at the seaside. Lucky for you who live there! This range is also available in a blue, yellow and green combination that is gorgeous for a boys room. Butterfly from Prestigious Textiles only €25 mVoyage fabrics for kidsWhether your windows are suitable for simple laminated blinds, Roman Blinds or curtains this range from Voyage has something for everyone. Team simple spots, stripes or checks with some animal prints to add a touch of magic to your childs room. The colours are incredible and with names like "up in the air", "under the sea" and "mischievous mice" this range called "Storybook" will definitely inspire those precious little minds. All are fit for a Royal don't you think?
Paula x To blackout or not to blackout here is the question! Dublin must be bathing in sunshine this week as rumour has it the "little ones" are all awake at 6.30 am from the blinding sunshine. I know the sunrise is beautiful on the east coast must most of us don't really want to see it. The latest collection of blackout blinds from luxaflex are ideal for preventing this natural beauty from getting into our bedrooms. There are numerous plain colours ,some patterned and in addition there are many little additions at very little cost that can be added to make the blind unique. We have applique bumble bees, bunny's , fairy's, monkeys, and teddys. Buttoned or plain braid can be added either. Blackout fabrics are not only for childrens rooms, the plain palette is ideal for any room that requires blackout. They can be made as standard rollers or where necessary can be enclosed in a sealed unit to avoid light leakage at the side and the top.( the perfect fit or sealed unit can only be used where specifications allow)
Curtains are ideal for darkening a room and our bonded blackout lining works a treat for achieving this. Used instead of ordinary lining it insulates as well as blocking out the light. Another solution is Roman blinds. They can be made with bonded blackout or ordinary blackout. We have a fabulous selection of fabric from Designers Guild that is blackout and needs no lining. It is used a lot in hotels, guest houses and retirement homes and is ideal for a sleek and modern solution. They are also easy to dry clean. So if blackout blinds, curtains or Romans are the answer to your prayers at the moment I hope this will enlighten you! Paula x 01 6274977 Well , when is a pole not a pole ? When its a Polmet ! It's an ingenious new product from Byron and Byron. A combination of both a rail and a pole with the advantage of a decorative profile. They are available both corded and uncorded and in several finishes. The Baroque and Milo polmet are available in white, antique ivory, silver and gold. These are a great solution for period homes with decorative cornices, where pelmets or swags and tails are not required. The Deco polmet is more suitable for a modern interior. There are several other options available including a cute range for childrens rooms Another ingenious product from Byron and Byron is the Metamorph bay curtain pole. Metamorph™ is a Byron & Byron Bay Pole System providing a silent, smooth, durable and decorative solution for most bay window configurations. A carefully engineered system that follows the unique curves of your bay windows. It is available in both 55mm and 67mm diameters and in all finishes. Available made to measure, Metamorph™requires metal brackets. It rarely needs more than three brackets. Accurate measuring, detailed drawings and expert fitting are the keys to success with this product. Finials as always are available from the vast collection at Byron and Byron . The pole finishes are available as standard or bespoke to your exact specification. These are just two of the alternative or not so standard products available for curtains. There are many more and I will introduce more to you in time. Windows and curtains need never just make do with the ordinary. No matter what challenge your windows pose there should always be a solution and if not we have to make one.
Paula 046 95 49200 This new collection is named after the Constellation Cassiopeia which was named after the mythological Greek vaie queen of Aethiopia. She was placed in the sky as a punishement for her boast that her daughter Andromedia was more beautiful than the Nereids (female nymph). She was forced to wheel around the North celestial pole on her throne, spending half her time clinging to it so she didn't fall off. The constellation is made up of five main stars that sit opposite the big dipper.
The Cassiopeia collection from Voyage offers five distinct fabrics in a neutral palette from chalk to grey and taupe. The texture is soft linen, with a sumptuous contrast of a matching palette in soft velvet. The five distinct fabrics are plain linen, velvet, large leaf, diamond and script. The colour range is fantastic and although in vogue now it will always be a classic collection and never date. Although your custom made curtains last for years and years, do you think Cassiopeia will turn your head? I know although I love my curtains there could be a a house in Meath about to get a makeover. Thank you Cassiopeia you are truly beautiful. Paula x Its not just Jennifer Aniston that is obsessed with Ralph Lauren. As if Ralph Lauren needed the exposure he got on the famous Friends sitcom ! The iconic brand has added these new ranges to their already vast and timeless home collection. Checks and plaids are huge for 2013 and are seen in many of the famous interior labels, but none do it quite as elegantly as Ralph. I love it so much that we are even on first name terms. True story, not a word of a lie ! I'm giving you a sneak preview here, and it is everything the brand promises across their whole collection. Colour, texture, quality and design, the complete package ! With prices starting at €40 per metre to over €100 per metre, it is affordable luxury.The Ralph Lauren collection is suitable for all tastes, country classic or modern. Something for everyone.
The Ralph Lauren home collection has fabrics suitable for multiple uses. Just 1 meter will get you a few cushions. Many of the fabrics are suitable for upholstery. Try covering a little foot stool...
The ticking stripes and plaids are fabulous as Roman Blinds and use little fabric. Transform plains florals and velvet's into the most amazing custom made curtains. We would always recommend thermal or interlining to make the curtains sumptuous and ultimately prevent heat loss through glass by up to 30%. So, if you fancy a bit of Ralph Lauren at home let us know if we can help you. Paula x Call 046 95 49200 or 01 6274977 for more .. Spring is trying its best to get to us! It really is, but we might have to meet it half way. In fact if we don't some of us might just crack up all together. Our homes should exude an aura of calm and comfort whatever the weather. Beside the obvious task of spring cleaning and de-cluttering, here are a few little tricks to help you get that "Spring feeling" Try this little Balinese ritual of scattering a few flowers heads in a bowl with leaves. Done daily and almost religiously it is a constant reminder of the natural beauty around us. It awakens the senses and subconsciously and subtly brings a sense of gratitude and joy. Try a few daffodil heads as they are in abundance at the moment. Do you have somewhere to relax, stay warm and cosy and watch nature unfold ? This little window seat with matching cushions and Roman blinds works a treat. The roman blinds provide an unobstructive view to the outside. The colours are ivory and indigo, calming colours but fresh and young. This look is easily achieved with fabrics from Designers Guild and Ian Mankin.There is a huge range of checks, stripes and damasks not just in blue but in all colours of the rainbow. Prices are very reasonable too. Finally, How to accessorise? You have the "proper" curtains, you have all the furniture, but often the last few bits are the hardest to find. Well fear not help is at hand. There are so many options available this season. From contemporary , retro or traditional , whatever your style you are bound to find something in our accessories download section. If you cant find it there, let us know what you are looking for and one of the companies we deal with should have something for you. Here are a few samples of what is on offer giving you a rough idea of prices. If you find something you like email us and we can forward a price. We get deliveries weekly and can order in specially for you at no extra cost. Mannequins from €20 Table Lamps from €25 Mirror €75 Victorian frames €10 Jewellery Mannequin €20 Table Lamp €35 French Grey Mirror €75 600 x 800mm Victorian Frame 3 for €25 So you see you can accessorise on a small budget so don't be afraid to browse and start a wish list.
Download your accessories brochure here. If you want any help just ask. 046 95 49200 |
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Welcome to our interiors & lifestyle blog. We'll be posting regular articles about cutting edge trends in interior design, as well as some descriptions of work we've just done. Most of the posts are from me but we will have guest posts too. We will talk about my house and yours and tell you what we are wild about at the moment. There will be plenty of hints & tips & a bit of fun stuff too. Thank you for following our blog. You did, didnt you ? Paula x Blogging about all things interiors & moreCategories
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