Friday’s fetish: Garden hammocks

Summer may be coming to an end (hence yesterday’s rant) but there are still loads of garden ideas to be had on Housetohome.co.uk.

Best of all, the weather is (apparently) set to clear up for the bank holiday. So, rather than moan (I hang my head in shame), I thought I’d jump straight back on the optimistic saddle and hunt down some sunshine-friendly gardens.

Vintage garden - Housetohome - Roomenvy

Neutral cottons, fresh white fabrics and lots of cushions create a tranquil chill-out area in this garden. The hammock, hung between two trees, is the perfect spot to while away the hours.

Country garden hammock - Housetohome - Roomenvy

Love, love, LOVE this outdoor hammock. Pretty cushions and soft, cosy throws create a luxurious little hideaway for lazy summer afternoons. Complete the look with a large glass of Pimm’s, a heavy dose of sunshine and a good book.

Browse more garden schemes on Housetohome.co.uk and don’t forget to follow out on Twitter for all the latest news!

Trend alert: Decorating with wood

Humph. It’s still raining and the forecast doesn’t look good for the bank holiday. So rather than witter on about summer decorating schemes and cute picnic spots, I decided to get real and embrace autumn/winter.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long for me to adapt. The new trend for beautiful hardwoods and rich colours is perfect for long winter nights and cold blustery mornings. Bring on the wood!

Decorating with wood - Livingetc - Roomenvy

A scene-stealing bed celebrates wood’s more dramatic side with barley twist flourishes. A linen throw and luxurious cushions complete the look.

Decorating with wood - Livingetc - Roomenvy

Celebrate the beautiful grains and rich colours of this new trend by playing up your home’s natural features. I love the oak beams and beautiful freestanding bath. I can just picture snow fluttering past the window on Christmas eve… bliss.

Love these? Check out the September issue of Livingetc to see more fabulous ways with wood.

Bank holiday lust: Ditsy florals

Thinking about redecorating over the bank holiday? Sweet small-scale flower designs are huge this season, so why not create a country look with pretty chintzy patterns?

All you need is a little imagination (courtesy of Country Homes & Interiors), a sprinkling of 1950s florals and a hint of nostalgia…

Ditsy florals - Country Homes & Interiors - Roomenvy

Mini-prints, pink 1950s florals and bright graphics on cushions make for a homely corner when piled on a daybed.

Ditsy florals - Country Homes & Interiors - Roomenvy

Working from home over the bank holiday? Create a cheerful workstation with a collection of floral box files and notebooks.

Ditsy florals - Country Homes & Interiors - Roomenvy

A tied headboard and layers of cushions, pillows and quilts create the perfect look in the bedroom.

Ditsy florals - Country Homes & Interiors - Roomenvy

Cute, cute, cute! I love this cottage-style curtain. Simply tie in place with ribbon for an informal way to hide clutter. Complete the look with a bunch of fresh flowers.

So there you have it – ditzy florals in a nutshell. For more inspirational country schemes check out Housetohome.co.uk.

Leafy shapes and urban attitude

Gone are the days of weedy patios, tired old plants and rickety fences – it’s time to get creative! This season is all about bold statements, geometric shapes and zingy summer colours.

But before you hands dirty, check out Housetohome.co.uk for all the latest style tricks for lack-lustre gardens. Here are a few of my favourites..

Colourful garden walls - Housetohome - Roomenvy

Flamingo pink paint gives this outdoor living area instant curb appeal. Make a sophisticated chill-out zone by painting your own rug onto decking and group living room-esque furniture and accessories around it.

Colourful garden wall - Housetohome - Roomenvy

Create a modern arbour by using an outdoor wall as a canvas for a bold artwork – either your own or an artist’s. This graffiti combines urban attitude with leafy shapes and glorious summer colour to lift a simple seating area out of the ordinary.

Colourful garden walls - Housetohome - Roomenvy

The background in this garden works two big trends – grey and geometric – and gives the green and silver an almost magical glow.

Need more inspiration? Browse hundreds of beautiful garden schemes over on Housetohome.co.uk.

Cosy up in coastal fabrics

Anyone else struggle to get out of bed this morning? Imagine if you woke up in this little beauty! Plumped-up cushions, fresh white walls and coastal-inspired fabrics… what more could you want?

Coastal bedroom - Homes on Film - Roomenvy

And if you thought this was tempting – check out the abundance of seaside prints and pretty kids’ bedlinen on Homes on Film.  You’ll be re-creating coastal chic before the bank holiday has even begun!

Coastal living room - Homes on Film - Roomenvy

Floral cushions in a variety of colours bring this white-washed bench right out of the ordinary. And I adore the vintage tea posters!

To see more coastal schemes check out Homes on Film. And don’t forget to join Housetohome’s webchat with Linda Barker today at 1pm! She’ll be on hand to answer all of those niggling decorating questions…

Linda Barker to the rescue…!

Planning to tackle those niggling DIY projects over the bank holiday? You may want to have a quick chat with style guru Linda Barker.

Luckily for us, she has agreed to host a live webchat over on Housetohome.co.uk so you can get all those decorating questions answered!

Simply tune in on Wednesday 25th August at 1pm and quizz her on all things interiors – from putting up shelves to hanging wallpaper. You might even get a heads up on the new decorating trends for autumn/winter!

Linda Barker webchat - 25th August at 1pm - Housetohome.co.uk

Register now for an email alert or, if you can’t wait until then, be inspired by her product ranges for every room at Really Linda Barker.

Swanky summer entertaining

The bank holiday is fast approaching, so why not celebrate the end of summer with a garden party? The weather may not look great, but I’m prepared to throw caution to the wind (and ignore the weather forecast) one last time!

So if you’re keeping your fingers crossed like me, you may want to check out these alfresco dining ideas from Homes & Gardens…

Smart gazebo - Alfresco dining - Homes & Gardens

A romantic Indian-style tent makes a fabulous venue for outdoor dining. Using a circular table  ensures a sociable feel, while cushions add extra comfort.

Relaxed terrace - Alfresco dining - Homes & Gardens

Simple good-quality tableware is key to this informal outdoor arrangement. I love the mix of textures (rustic chickenwire, natural wicker and chunky wood) – it creates a gorgeous French-country feel.

Smart gazebo - Alfresco dining - Homes & Gardens

Brighten up a simply monochrome palette with a twist of colour. Use bright napkins and flowers to keep the look fresh.

Need more alfresco dining ideas? Hop on to Homesandgardens.com for hundreds of inspirational schemes.

Teeny tiny dimensions – make the most of your space

Think you’re tight on space? Think again. Apartment Therapy has been running a Small, Cool 2010 competition in a bid to find the tiniest home.

This year, US winner Chris maximized his 450 square feet studio with perfectly-placed furniture and thoughtful additions like his sheer panel room divider that doubles as a projection screen.

Small Cool 2010 - Chris's furniture Tetris - Apartment Therapy

He even drew out the floor plan and furniture pieces to scale in Adobe Illustrator and played furniture Tetris for two weeks straight!

Small, Cool 2010 - Chris's Tetris apartment - Apartment Therapy

Want to see more pics of this teeny tiny studio flat? Check out Apartment Therapy for more of the contestants’ homes.

Lunchtime lust: Paintbox florals

Capture summer’s brightest trend and bring florals up to date with vivid, hand-drawn-style blooms used in unexpected ways.

I love the pop-art shades and floral flashes in the September issue of Livingetc. Forget fussy, feminine prints – these bad boys have attitude…

Spray of flowers - Livingetc - Roomenvy

For a grown-up alternative to stickers, have a floral design graffitied onto a wall. It allows you to choose your own design, shape and colours, such as on-trend fluorescent pink and charcoal grey .

Shades of pop art - Livingetc - Roomenvy

Make floral lamp shades more feisty than fussy by going big on scale with giant drums and large screen-printed flowers in rich colours. Flex dyed in a zingy shade adds to the attitude.

Floral flash - Livingetc - Roomenvy

No time to decorate? Simply lay an oilcoth over a table for an instant – and easily changeble – swathe of vibrant blooms. For a personal feel, have the fabric of your choice made into an oil cloth.

Need more decorating ideas? Visit Livingetc for hundreds of inspirational schemes.

Can i come in? Modern LA home

Got the Monday morning blues? This stunning LA home is sure to lift your spirits!

Bright open spaces give way to breath-taking views of the countryside and industrial materials collide with punchy pink fabrics. And it doesn’t end there: there are several balconies, an alfresco dining area and even an outdoor pool!

Actually, I’m not sure this is cheering me up…

LA home - Livingetc.com - Roomenvy

Anyone for a swim? This outdoor pool is a little slice of paradise…

Outdoor pool - Livingetc.com - Roomenvy

Bright, playful colours breathe life into the kitchen-diner, giving it a contemporary, modern vibe.

Kitchen - Livingetc - Roomenvy

Want to make statement? Go for a hot-pink metal dining table – this one certainly stakes a claim in this room.

Dining area - Livingetc.com - Roomenvy

Feeling inspired? See more pictures of this beautiful LA home… it’s worth it! And don’t forget to follow Livingetc on Twitter.