Can I come in? Jamie Theakston’s quirky home

When I think back to the mornings watching Live & Kicking with a inexPLICABLY enthusiastic Jamie Theakston, it’s hard to believe that the former children’s television presenter turned out to have such a calm and relaxed decorating style.

The more I flicked through Livingetc‘s gallery of his beautiful home, the more impressed I was – how could such a busy TV and radio presenter have time to transform a hollow shell of a house into this quirky stunner – and to spend so much time bidding on eBay!!

roomenvy - light and spacious living room

As much as I’m almost frightened of the pendant light, I love the relaxed retro feel of this living room – it’s a great example of Jamie’s eBay addiction!

roomenvy - industrial-chic kitchen-diner

Jamie knocked through the ENTIRE basement to create a humongous entertainer’s kitchen stuffed with quirky finds. Ie: the framed Union Jack trousers, worn by Ian Poulter in the Open Golf Championship. (p.s I don’t know who that is either)

roomenvy - shabby-chic bathroom

Apparently the bathroom is Jamie’s favourite room of the house. I wanted a cross between the washroom at my old school and the gents’ loos at Lord’s cricket ground, he says of it.

roomenvy - dark and elegant bedroom

I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t intrigued …. too ‘batchelor paddy’ for my liking, but definitely stylish!

roomenvy - designer-style children's room

And his son doesn’t get a break from Jamie’s decorating enthusiasm, I have a naive ambition to avoid having anything too garish or plastic in the house” … I guess that means no Transformers for Sidney …

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Friday’s Fetish: Birds, Buds and Bouquets

Looking for bathroom decorating ideas, a way to spruce up the hallway, or a way to liven up your bedroom? Have no fear, new spring collections are here! It’s time to get shopping! … Or if you’re like me and hoping that March will be a ‘quiet month’ in terms of opening your purse, start gathering decorating ideas – trust me, it’ll make the month fly by!

Check out these gorgeous decorating schemes from Country Homes & Interiors, using wallpapers and fabrics that are sure to take the shops by storm – and check out Countrydays for the latest country trends.

roomenvy - bouquet wallpaper bathroom

Such a romatic space, the painted bath suits the floral backdrop perfectly.

roomenvy - fresh spring bedroom

This simple bloom print adds subtle interest to the walls. Pick out a colour in your wallpaper and continue the look with bedlinen.

roomenvy - patchwork pieces hallway

Make the most of your hallway with a simple chair PACKED with colourful cushions – such a cute seating area.

Decorating with paint … and THEN SOME!

I bet when Martha Stewart and her team of decorating fanatics began asking people to share the best Painted Rooms in their households, they were expecting to see a bold feature wall here, or a quirky bit of painted woodwork there, but not THIS? It might not be for everyone (not us mere peasants anyway) but these painted castle rooms are just incredible.

They were submitted by MuralPainter, check out more of his talents at www.garrettmccarthy.com.

roomenvy - gothic dungeon bathroom

I mean it’s all so very ‘Beauty and the Beast’!

roomenvy - garden toilet

… because when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go??

roomenvy - castle hallway

Well now I just want to know what’s behind those doors? … unless it’s the aforementioned beast!

Lunchtime lust: flower power ceiling

Ok, I admit this wallpapered ceiling might be a bit much on a day-to-day basis (especially afters girls’ night), but as a fan of colour, and a fan of feminine boudoir-chic decorating, I’m really drawn to this ambitious floral wallpaper, as seen on gdlaneinteriors blog … they do say, ‘aim high’, after all?

Personally, I wouldn’t go for it in the dining room – it might be a bit much for some dinner guests – but I think this wallpaper would look great in a girly bathroom or bedroom – just as long as it doesn’t spread to the floor!

roomenvy - planting on the ceiling wallpaper

Sexy kitchen diner design

Not only do I love looking at the latest kitchen designs from Beautiful Kitchens magazine, but when I’m invited on a little tour around it, I feel like it’s summer, I’ve got a cold drink in hand, and I’m chilling with the host catching up on the all the gossip (oh, daydreaming again!)

I love this white and orange ‘entertainer’s kitchen‘ – the gloss units look like they’re floating on air, and the bar stools add a shot of zesty colour, as well as providing a place for guest to chitter chatter with the chef.

I might not be able to actually hang out here, but the next best thing is quizzing the Editor of Beautiful Kitchens, Ysanne Brooks on everything from where to buy orange bar stools like these, to how can I make the most of my small kitchen layout (when all I want to do is drool over this light and spacious number!) Tune in to housetohome’s kitchen webchat tomorrow (February 26th) lunchtime at 1pm to join me in stealing her expert decorating tips.

roomenvy - white modern kitchen design

Posh bedroom decorating ideas – oooh la la!

Whenever I look at the latest decorating ideas from homesandgardens.com, I always have the sudden urge to wipe my feet, stand up tall and prooow…nOWWn…SSSSSe my vOOW..ELs!

These swanky bedroom ideas are no exception, but BOY are they eye-catching. I love how they all use a striking headboard as a focal point and as a way of start off their individual looks – whether it’s quirky and vibrant, detailed and glamorous, or rich and classic.

roomenvy - luxe green bedroom

A classic bedroom decorating scheme for a fruitarian or an apt children’s room idea for Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter! 

roomenvy - delicately detailed bedroom

The bold lipstick red bed looks extra pouty next to the silk floral wallpaper.

roomenvy - ink and white bedroom

This is probably my favourite bedroom of the three. Rich and deep, classic inky with white modern accents packing a punch!

Bathroom tubs – the good, the bad, the ugly

I’ve been hunting for the best freestanding baths all morning and my top 10 were positively SAINTLY in comparison to these ‘loud mouths‘!

The good …

I adore traditional freestanding baths and I ADORE colour, so it’s no surprise that I really like this bathroom scheme. I’m not even offended that they’ve painted the metal feet.

roomenvy - show-stopping tub bathroom

The bad …

I mean, I’m all for making a bath the focal point, but when it reminds you of the end scene of Ghostbusters …? p.s I’m not sure if I want to know what’s image is tiled on that wall.

roomenvy - marshmallow bathroom

The ugly …

Button back chair? Elegant. Button back headboard? Classic. Button back BATH? I just don’t agree! And the drapes … oh the drapes. It’s like the set of ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’.

roomenvy - antique bathroom

New country decorating trend: Indienne

I’m always on the lookout for a new country trend, not that my decorating bank budget enjoys this side of me. Anyway, I saw this exotic look in February’s Country Homes and Interiors mag (pssssst, you can read them online, on the Editor’s blog Countrydays). It’s all about rich velvets, luxurious beading and ornate patterns, all for an Eastern-inspired flavour that’s sexy and spicy!

roomenvy - Eastern-inspired bedroom

Ornament a velvet headboard with a spiralling flourish of exotic floral corsages. Wondering how? Check out housetohome’s step-by-step craft guide to doing EXACTLY this!

Roomenvy - luxuriously detailed living room sofa

Give your sofa the Indienne luxe factor, with rich purples, velvet piping, oh and a lust-worthy collection of cushions.

roomenvy - ornate living room fireplace

What a glam reading spot, don’t you know! Add curling elegance with filigree fittings.

Hidden home offices

If only every ‘skeleton in a closet’ was so neatly filed and organised! Since I saw casasugar‘s top 10 closet home offices, I’ve begun to look at my hallway cupboard in a new light – suddenly ‘he’ has potential, hidden depth and the ability to organise dates and bills!

Check out these sneaky home offices, they’re just perfect for compact homes – and it’s amazing what you can discover behind closed doors!

From the good …

The simple, practical and stylish compact home office (very impressed) …

roomenvy - neat and tidy hidden home office

and the ‘I almost expected birds to fly out of this, but it’s oh so pretty’ hidden home office …

roomenvy - floral filing station

to the bad …

Yes I’m talking to you yellow jacket!

roomenvy - colonel mustard in the study

and the … ‘is that a log shelf?’ home office. Such a fantastic use of space though.

roomenvy - woodland secret home office

Can I come in? Pretty punky London flat

Check out this super stylish home. I love the mix of traditional period details with punky touches and gothic curves – it’s just so glam and individual – and I LOVE the fact that the homeowner works in a really straight-laced job (although i’m not telling you what it is!) That’s how it should be, let business be business and at the weekend splash your home with as much as your personality as possible.

roomenvy - romantically gothic bedroom

I think the mural adds a real sense of gothic-style glam to this bedroom.

roomenvy - child-friendly hallway

I didn’t want to say anything, but I believe the blackboard was asking for it.

roomenvy - me me me home office

I’m a massive fan of colour, but this home goes to show that you that monochrome can be just as eye-catching.

Roomenvy - smart and snazzy children's room

This is one of the smartest children rooms I’ve seen! What a difference a lick of inky metallic paint makes.

roomenvy - Victorian-style bathroom

This bathroom looks sooooooo relaxing. I love how the Victorian-style fireplace and detailed chandelier is teamed with a industrial chic power shower!