Looking for bedroom decorating ideas? Or bedroom wallpaper inspiration? Helen Morris, founder of The Stencil Library, shows us her favourite scheme.
“Some years ago The Stencil Library created a collection of Chinoiserie stencils based on hand painted wallpapers from the 18th century. My blue Chinoiserie guest room was a perfect place to display them. Although the designs are true to the period my choice of colour is not.
The room is dominated by a tall bed, storage is built under it. This is a big room with a comparatively small window so I have tried to maximise light by use of paint, mirror and crystal. I used silver acrylic paint as the base colour then added burgundy and blue over it. The colour changes in intensity with the light.
This room sparkles when the afternoon sun hits it. The stencilling is embellished with over four hundred crystals fastened onto flowers and birds eyes. Every month we host a tour around our stencilled home. This room is a favourite with many visitors. I’m rather fond of it, too.”
Not all of us are lucky enough to have a garden to play with on sunny weekends like the one just passed … we have to spend our time sunning ourselves in the park, or other tiring chores like that! Seriously though, I don’t think not having a large garden should make you miss out on all the fantastic garden inspiration there is out there.
I found this really cute balcony idea on Apartment Therapy, it really makes the most out of a small space.
roomenvy - cute canopy balcony
I love the idea of growing vines on the balcony to add a bit of privacy.
I’m going to start hunting for more ideas for small gardens, and feel free to send me any designs you’ve seen that have inspired you.
Speaking of lust-worthy balcony ideas, check out this beautiful modern extension idea. onlookers would have seen me do a classic computer-screen-double -take as I noticed this glamorous balcony in Housetohome‘s house tour of a stripped-back Victorian home.
The owners have removed the back wall of the ground and floor flat to allow light to pour in. ‘You almost can’t tell where the inside ends and the garden begins’ says the owner. Blinds have been replaced by a modern trellis to maintain the indoor-outdoor feel.
roomenvy - urban-chic extension
Below, the owners have used garden furniture and glass doors to maintain the balcony feel … and without the fear of rain. I love it.
I have been missing the hustle and bustle of busy entertaining ever since New Year spelt the end of the Christmas period. I LOVE having friends and family to stay, and looking around for ways to make them feel more at home.
These GORGEOUS country-house hotel touches, however, make my hospitality skills rate like a visit to deserted warehouse! I try my best, but these ideas are simply beautiful. Hostess SCHmostess – when can I come and stay here instead!!
roomenvy - home from home bedroom
Layer up a bed with pretty embroidered vintage-style bedlinen and mix and match cushions, then pile on the crochet blankets. Love that headboard garland.
roomenvy - country home office
An elegant dressing table can double up as a laptop desks so that guests can catch up on emails! (I might hover over though – no work allowed during a relaxing weekend!)
roomenvy - bathroom sanctuary
Provide your guest with comfortable dressing gowns, essential for lounging.
Gosh, I really hope my previous guests aren’t disappointed!
Im saying goodbye to winter, and I don’t care how frosty my fingers are, or how I appreciate even a second-long glimspe of sunshine, it’s time to start a new season afresh!
Spring florals look just as good indoors as out, and are really easy to live with. Don’t go too crazy though. Decide on a feature wallpaper, a window treatment or furniture fabric, then pick out one or two colours from the pattern and use these as accents in your room. Hey presto!
roomenvy - lemon and plum living room
This fruity living room is certainly eye-popping. I love how the blooms climb up the walls and how the key colours stand out.
Roomenvy - green and blue kitchen-diner
This is a softer look, and perhaps a bit easier to live with, the washed-out blue and green floral fabrics give this kitchen-diner a really fresh feel.
Looking for luxurious bathroom decor ideas? Whenever I want to do the decorating equivalent of trying on a ‘should I, shouldn’t I?’ expensive dress, I always go straight to Homes & Gardens to check out their swanky decorating ideas.
This sky-blue bathroom has oodles of timeless classic-style and is stuffed with glistening glassware and shimmering crystal which really give it the luxe factor. Take a tour around it for fab bathroom decor ideas.
I LOVED the Ideal Home Show last year and cannot wait to go again. I’ve been begging the deputy editor of Ideal Home, Jen Morgan, to give me some sneaky insider gossip on what to expect from Ideal Home‘s stand – apparently it’s all about getting the designer decorating look on an everyday budget.
And as if that wasn’t enough to get me all excited … she agreed to let me quiz her on the day about her favourite clever ‘luxe for less’ ideas! I’ll be sure to pop up the video as soon as it’s ready. In the meantime, check out my favourite decorating ideas from last year’s show – really gave me the motivation to make my bedroom work harder! See you from 20th March to April 5th (I’ll be the decorating addict WOOPING by the Ideal Home stand).
Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mums out there who would decorate a girls bedroom with such beautiful wallpaper and not rob it for themselves – I’m not convinced I would be able to make that choice, given this pretty pink design!!
I adore the exotic wallpaper and matching detailed side table – oh and there’s the magical daybed and Eastern-inspired linens. Simply beautiful. I definitely think this will last them longer than a feature wall of Miley Cyrus … or whatever they insist they’ll never tire of!!
I’ve been eavesdropping on loads of ‘I would give my right arm for a country-style dining room‘ conversations, but when offering my advise (I will point out of was involved in these natters – not some smug decorating addict butting in on the tube) I found myself in a whirlpool of ideas – there are so many gorgeous takes on a country dining room.
Here are some of my favourites – hopefully it’ll help if you decide on what look you’d go for.
roomenvy - pink and white country dining room
White painted furniture, and a smart floral feature wall. This is not too formal, and pretty enough to be at home in a cute country cottage.
roomenvy - rustic coastal dining room
Well it’s not like most coastal cottages are in the middle of a bustling metropolis, is it?? I love the warm and fresh coastal look, and think it looks fab in a country home.
Going for a more formal look? Go for a darker wood, a classic colour palette like mit green, and upholstered dining chairs.
roomenvy - chalky pink dining room
Polka dots, chintzy fabrics, and shabby-chic furniture, the ultimate space for afternoon tea in the country.
roomenvy - country conservatory dining room
Finally, a conservatory option, if you’re lucky enough to have one. This BEAUTIFUL room is filled with mismatched furniture for a relaxed, homely … and most certainly, country … feel!
“I love this pink kitchen belonging to Sophie Conran. It’s a fabulous kitchen belonging to someone who is super stylish, but someone who’d not afraid of being a little off-the-wall and bohemian. It’s a confident space that’s not too showy or overworked.
I’m sure it’s a space that reflects the people who use the room, principally children. The bold pink suggests that this is someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously, it’s a lot of fun whilst still being a room where some serious cooking can take place.
It looks to me as if the kitchen is really at the heart of this home, a grown up space that nods at childish pleasures and belonging to an individual spirit who does things or her terms and no-one else’s”
Amen to that Linda! Hungry for more of her decorating tips, join her at the Ideal Home Show from 20th March.
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