Shopping: Gift Guide – 50 Scandi Gifts for Interior & Design Lovers

December 9, 2016

Dan asked me recently if I’d made a Christmas wishlist, which was his less than subtle way of telling me that he’d made one himself! Well, asides from the thousands of items I’m coveting on secret Pinterest boards, I have compiled a list, and it’s just 2 short of 50 items! I’ve chosen quite a lot of modern & minimalist pieces with a Scandi vibe, which are perfect after all the extravagance of Christmas, January will be all about pared back glamour here. I’ve tried to cover a price range, there are 3 items over a hundred pounds (all in the first list), three under a fiver and the majority hover somewhere around the £50 mark. Actually we don’t take Christmas very seriously around here present wise and quite often play a game of best present from the pound store but a girl can dream! As I am a generous sort, I’m also throwing it out on the blog today as a veritable gift guide for anyone stuck for present ideas for home-mad-design-lovers (and not least because I know my husband will actually be able to find this list!). So, if you know a suitable recipient (Me! Me! Me!) someone crazy about design or interiors walk this way my friend, I have four lists, one for general home beauties, one for Kitchenalia, one for office based pretties and bathroom indulgences, God I hope Santa thinks I’ve been good this year! Read More

Ideas for Styling a Winter Dinner Party

December 5, 2016

Image: Design Soda

So everyone (well I say everyone, I mean interiors bloggers) seems to be doing these posts on winter dining this year, they have all been a real feast for the eyes and showcased each particular bloggers personal style, I particularly liked this lush example from San Francisco based blogger Apartment 34 and Will from Bright Bazaar‘s Holiday decorating on a budget, plus I can see blogger buddies Patricia from No Glitter, No Glory & Jenny from Seasons in Colour have some real magic planned from their Instagram feeds soon. Well, the Design Soda house likes a party as much as the rest of the world, and as we had friends coming over for lunch this weekend (who haven’t been here together since we moved) I thought I’d push the boat out a little and practice my Christmas table styling.

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Three simple Christmas card ideas

November 28, 2016

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It’s less than a month til Christmas! Let me just say that again so that it really sinks in, really, where did that come from?! I’ve been happily dancing through November and suddenly it’s almost over and so Advent begins. Expect a few Christmas related posts on the blog over the next 10 days, starting with some super simple and quick Christmas Card designs I’ve made.Read More

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Five Favourites: Winter Blankets

November 21, 2016

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It’s staring to get really cold around here, hats and scarfs are necessary, the heating is ramped up, a few Christmas traditions have already been started, and I think this may be the perfect moment/excuse to go window shopping for blankets! I’m off to the preview of Craft Central as a part of the winter Made in Clerkenwell this week and I’m sure to come back with memories of several stunning weaves I can’t stop thinking about, so in anticipation of this I thought I’d narrow down a few of my current favourites. I am pretty hopelessly incapable of not falling in love with just about any well designed patterned knit. This can be a costly downfall as I’m forever loosing my heart to some designer pattern or other that I can’t afford, I swear I’m still dreaming about this Arne Jacobsen one I saw 6 months ago. My idea of heaven may well contain copious amounts of woven patterned wool, both my wardrobe and my home are prided on a fabulous selection of it during winter. This rundown is now a yearly tradition on the blog and as you can see from the pictures, I’ve amassed quite a few in the Design Soda home along the way.

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labeled : Design Favourites: Sourcing & Inspiration | 5 COMMENTS

RHS Urban Garden Show & Thoughts on small scale gardening

November 16, 2016

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So, as you have undoubtably noticed, 2016 has definitely been the year that houseplants made a comeback in the fashion stakes. Every top fashion store worth it’s weight has a fiddle leaf tree or some variation of this in its fit, design bloggers have them all over their homes and Instagram feeds, Anthropologie has been leading the way with its indoor living walls for years, and if you don’t own a cactus in your home you are probably old enough to remember the last big houseplant trend in the late seventies/early eighties. Read More

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