Cabbages and Roses

I've lusted over the Cabbages and Roses brand for many years, it always seems

Turkish Towels

A couple of my towels hanging up in the bathroom.

Many years ago whilst on holiday I admired a couple who wore beautiful sarongs around the pool, they also used them as towels and they were perfect palest blues and grey stripes.  When I returned home I was determined to track them down.  Unsure what they were called and not seeing anything similar in UK shops I was stumped.  Then one day out on a visit to a small town in north Devon I came across a shop selling beautiful bathwares and there on the shelves were my towels.  I immediately asked the shop assistant about them, who told me they were called Peshtemal .  

Traditionally used in Turkish baths the Peshtemel is a thin towel made from 100% cotton but with high absorbency.  They are really lightweight and are therefore perfect to pack to take on holiday.  Even though they are really thin, they are incredibly absorbent and get softer and better with every wash.

 

I also wear them around the pool or to and from the beach.  Some of the larger, thicker sizes also work perfectly as a wrap or a throw on the sofa for chilly, snuggle nights.  You could even use them as table cloths or as picnic blankets.  They come in an array of colours (usually striped)  and also plain white which I love in my home.  People always comment on them when they see them hanging up, a really stylish alternative to the traditional fluffy towels we are used to in this country.

pictures from Pinterest

They are also really good value for money, very affordable and continue to look wonderful for a long time.  The best place I have found to buy them is of course that well known auction site !

Wardrobe to Armoire

Last year hubby and I made a long trip to North Devon to collect two wardrobes I won on Ebay (that is another story in itself).  When I laid eyes on this one I knew instantly I wouldn't be selling it.  It was perfect for us to transform into the French style Armoire with chicken wire I had been coverting for some years.

I think it turned out pretty well.

I gave hubby the job of taking the door panel out and putting in the chicken wire. 

Huge drawer at the bottom for storing all sorts of useful bits and pieces.  Sorry couldn't take a pic of it open as it is full of unattractive bits and can't possibly photograph them on om blog !

Hubby put two large shelves in to give me lots of room to store my vintage china.

Unfortunately I can't find my before picture I took of the wardrobe, but here is the picture as it appeared on Ebay.  

Looking forward to filling it up with wonderful white vintage finds. 

Made.com

I am always on the lookout for companies who support independent designers and sellers.

One of my favourite online sites is Made.com who make it their business to cut out the middle man ensuring the best prices are available to the customer.  They do this by having no physical stores and by grouping together online orders every 7 days.  The orders are then placed with the maker/designer to go into production and therefore only making what is required.  Its a great idea and ensures the customer gets the best possible price for their piece.

You can normally save upto 70% on the high street retail value and the even better news is they currently have a sale on !

Some of my favourite pieces at the moment are :

Fonteyn Drinks Trolley  Today's price £169 - Regular Price £239 - High street price £395

The Bowie Table Lamp Today's Price £49 - Typical high street price £373

Kitson stools x 2 todays price £99 - Typical high street £320

I am looking for something a bit special for my hallway.  Think this might be on the shopping list, I love the industrial look of the Starkey Cluster Pendant light.

oh and just in case you were wondering, no this is not a sponsored post.  I am popping it on my blog because I just simply love this company!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Well, the first six months in my shop have flown past.  It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs, doubts and highs and I am learning everyday.  I plan to write regular posts this year on what is is to set up and run a small bricks and mortar business in an age of recession and internet shopping.

I am running a sale in my shop at the moment which, is frankly driving me insane as it looks cluttered and jumbled and totally out of line with the look I am trying to achieve, but, I am distracting myself with the plans and sourcing of stock for the Spring look which will consist of the ever popular :

Nautical style.  Living by the seaside and having my shop in a coastal holiday destination I have many customers interested in nautical  products.

White, White and more White .  I love white, no matter how I try to diversify I always come back to this wonderful , calm colour and I will be sticking very firmly to my guns with my furniture this year.  More and more people are (finally) coming around to what I have been preaching for most of my adult life that white is THE only colour to use in your home for many reasons.

French influence.  Again another style I adore, although in recent years it has become harder and harder to buy authentic French homewares at reasonable prices.  I hope to accent the shop with French inspired items and where I can find them for a good price, authentic pieces.  There are hopes that we might even fit in a trip to France !


In the meantime please pop over to my facebook page to see the daily updates or take a peak at my Pinterest page for work I have carried out for customers, images that inspire me and what I think the trends in homes will be.

Happy New Year and may 2014 bring you all that you wish for.


Karen xx

Creative Family Home by Ashlyn Gibson

I was recently sent a copy of Creative Family Home by Ashlyn Gibson to review.  I am always on the lookout for beautiful books on home decor and style and I can tell you this book does not disappoint.

A bold, bright book crammed full of ideas on home, style and decorating when your home includes children !  The book  " explores the heart and soul of twelve specially photographed homes " celebrates the magic of childhood and whether you have just started a family or have a tribe of pre-teens this book has it covered.

The books covers Creative family style, ideas for using space imaginatively, Print and pattern, Storage and organisation, homework and creative zones and brilliant ways to showcase treasured artworks and prized collections.

Ashlyn visits twelve real life homes all of which are wonderful and inspirational and NOT like they just came out of the pages of glossy magazines.  We all know that kind of living is unsustainable.  The homes featured in this book are imaginative, quirky, bright and interesting.

Perfect for the way modern families live today.  I love the way all the families have combined new, old, recycled, crafts, homemade and included the children's work throughout.  Real imagination without costing the earth.  Homes that are beautiful and say so much about the occupants, such a refreshing change from the flat pack mentality that invades many homes these days.

I LOVE THIS BOOK !

and I'm giving you the opportunity to win a copy .

Just comment below.

 For additional chances you can like, comment and share the link on facebook and twitter

and don't worry, if you don't win :  Creative Family Home by Ashlyn Gibson is published by Ryland Peters & Small and is available from www.rylandpeters.com
I was sent a copy of this book for the purpose of review.
Giveaway entry date closes at 8pm on Tuesday  29th October.
Winner will be selected at random.

Seaside Style Book Giveaway

Sooooo sorry, forgot to draw the winner of this giveaway.

Milo listened to me read through all the entries and decided that he liked Teri 's entry about her doggie !  Congratulations Teri.

Thak you to everybody who entered, don't fear this is the start of many more to come.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED


If you follow this blog you will know that my husband recently completed the bookcase in our living room and I have been busy sorting and sourcing books to fill its shelves.  I buy lots and lots of books, I love them and can't ever imagine moving over to the darkside which is the Kindle !  I t has to be said most of the books that fill my shelves have beautiful photographs so I can't possibly imagine how the colour and beauty would translate.  Anyway,  what I wanted to say was, I have on occasion duplicated books as I have so many.  One of them being the  Seaside Style book.  Its a lovely book full of inspiring ideas on seaside style .  I have a new copy to giveaway.

The book includes 35 practical projects for transforming your interior and exterior from pebbled floors to driftwood candlesticks.

over 450 stunning colour photographs

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Just leave a comment telling me what your or your family love most about the seaside.

You can get an additional entry if you follow my blog and leave a comment

Open to UK residents only (sorry)

Winner will be picked at random on Thursday 29th March at 8.pm

Good luck

I miss my flowers

One of the things I miss most around my home is all the flowers I used to buy when we were "living the dream" .  After the bubble burst one of the first things I had to give up was the extravagance of buying flowers.  I was spending about £50 a month on them, obviously when times are tough this was first to go, along with trips to the hairdresser, new clothes etc.

Since moving to this house with its established garden I wait for this beautiful  Weigela to flower and my goodness it never disappoints me.  It only stays around for a short while so I make the very most of its beautiful blooms.

An invitation from the Master of Vintage Clothing & Magpie Monday

To my shock and delight an invitation popped into my inbox from the true Vintage Clothing King - William Banks-Blaney who is holding an event at the V & A Museum to mark the wedding of William and Kate Next Friday.    Sadly I will be attending a not so prestigious party at my next door neighbours house, otherwise I might just have popped on my Manolo's and jumped on a train to London. 

This did get me thinking though about my own love of vintage and thrifted clothes and accessories.  Bargains have been few and far between for this week's Magpie Monday so here are some of the beautiful designer items I have collected over the years and although most don't now fit, I just can't bring myself to be parted from them.

Emporio Armani Ladies dressing gown, purchased off Etsy and THE most gorgeous mink coloured silk.    I love the detail on the back.

Ralph Lauren Tweed jacket, totally too die for tayloring and wonderful buttons.  I adore Ralph Lauren and snap up jackets whenever I can from Ebay. 

Another Ebay 100% Silk Ralph Lauren Jacket in a beautiful soft cream, I wear this with wide legged trousers or the Silk Skirt below.  Only when there are not any children about though !

Devine Ralph Lauren softest of soft fluid sik skirt again another Ebay find and as new !

Palest Pink Silk Ralph Lauren.  This was advertised as a dress, but it is totally sheer and you would need nerves of steel and a figure like Kate Moss to get away with it.  I wore it as a nightdress on a few occasions! Sadly it no longer fits.

What girl doesn't want to own a killer pair of Carrie Bradshaw Manolo Blahnik shoes !  These are my totally gorgeous, too die for Sneaklo Porc Velour Rose Mules as worn by Carrie in Sex in the City.  Purchased prior to the birth of the twins they are rarely worn now as you can see but I take them out from time to time, just to look and stroke !

Finally, a PUCCI Bag again off Ebay and a total steal, appears brand new with all the tags included and the dust bag.  The lady who sold it must have been distraught at the price I won it for but bless her she still sent it to me, not so sure I would have been able to part with it if it had been the other way around.

A selection of some of the beautiful clothes I have managed to buy thanks to Ebay, Etsy and other internet sites.  As I have always maintained you really don't need a bank full of money to buy quality designer pieces, they last for years and if you stick to classic styles you can wear them again and again year in and year out.  Please pop over and see the other MagpieMonday entries.

Some Kitchen pics

I am duplicating this post from my All About The Boys Blog  as it shows how my kitchen looks now.  A detailed post on the before and after will come soon. 

I still think they sent me the email by mistake and will at any minute realise and withdraw the invitation.  Those who know me will know that cooking is not my *cough* strong point or rather something  I can, but prefer not to do.  I blame years of being waited on in the Army Mess.

Anyway until I'm thrown out of this exclusive and rather imposing club I will continue to masquarade as someone who cooks and reveal my kitchen as requested.

Can you spot whats missing ?

There it is !  The essential cooker and hob.  Apologies for the microwave, we really don't use it that often .  If you look closely you might spot the Marie Claire cookery books ontop of it, never use them, just bought them because they have pretty cover pictures that match the colour of my kitchen.   The sign on the wall ?  Says it all really : Coffee, Tea or ME !

I love vintage and thrifted household items.  Here are a selection I have out on display.   You can follow the progress of the renovation of our home on this blog with a post on before and after transformation coming soon.


So there you go.  My kitchen. Take a minute to pop over and like the WORLDFOODS fusion of flavours facebook page and you will also be able to follow us as we cook (or attempt to) our way to Asian cooking heaven !