Fun with florals

Here at 25 Beautiful Homes we’ve always loved a pretty floral print, and whether it’s rain or shine, they never fail to put a smile on our faces. From delicate to bold, graphic to vintage, floral prints help create a warm feel within the home…

 

We love this feminine boudoir which uses shades of soft pink and cream, with a delicate floral design.

 

 Vintage-style florals are used within this dining area on the cushions, tablecloth and within the shelving unit. They’re even carried through to the crockery, with some pretty blooms as a centrepiece on the table.

 

 

 A bright-coloured floral wallpaper has been used to create a feature wall in this sitting room, with a variety of pretty cushions and equally bright curtains. Bold, yet beautiful.

Chayla 

Summer paradise

Finally the sun has made an appearance, so we thought what better way to celebrate than to show you some fabulous ways of combining your indoor and outdoor areas. Make the most of the summer by incorporating big expanses of glass that will let the light pour in – you’ll feel as though you’re outside whist carrying out daily chores, too…

We love the way this seasonal bright blue shade has been used both inside and out – on cushions, wallpaper and a rug – linking both areas together.

Here, folding doors open wide to let the sunshine in, with a wooden dining table echoing the timber door frames.

In this kitchen, floor-to-ceiling glass provides a picture-perfect view of the exterior.

Fling open your doors to the garden and make the outside an extension of your home.

Chayla 

When old looks new…

I think it’s fair to say that most of us fall into one of two camps when it comes to style of houses – old (think rustic, traditional, cosy…) or modern (light, glass-filled, open spaces…) and I have to confess to loving the latter. Working on 25BH we see every imaginable kind of home but even I am pleasantly surprised at how fresh and contemporary this 17th-century cottage has been made to look. Largely thanks to white emulsion, quirky accessories and modern fabrics, I’d happily live here. Given the chance, that is…

Seán O

A look I could warm to…

 

 

French fancy

Escaping the rain and heading to a holiday home in France sounds like bliss right now, and so I couldn’t resist showing you this little gem. A 1960s architect-designed property in the South of France, I especially love these two rooms, both for very different reasons.

 

Woven furniture, an antique coffee table and ceiling fan give this sitting room a colonial air.

 

Who wouldn’t want a bedroom that opens out onto a sunny terrace?

Click here or visit housetohome.co.uk/25beautifulhomes to take a peek at the rest of the house.

Laurie

In for a surprise…

Often the homes that make the biggest impression do so because what you discover inside is very different to what you’re led to expect from the exterior. This home tour is a good example: it was previously an old Victorian warehouse built in 1890 but converted into a contemporary three-storey home. Enjoy!

Seán O

Proving all’s not what it seems…

A place of refuge

We’d all be the better for having ourselves a little refuge like the one created by this old desk with its slightly colonial-style accessories and overlooked by a forest-glade triptych. Clearly a quiet spot that’s perfect for sitting down, writing a letter, perhaps penning a poem to a loved one… All reminiscent of a once-leisurely age with values very far from those of today. Fast forward to now and I personally feel fortunate if I can find a place between the coffee cups to squeeze my iPad in on the breakfast bar so I can log onto Facebook. Why not step back in time (in a good way) by taking a tour of this Georgian country house.

Seán O

A place you can see the wood for the trees

Animal magic

We’ve been to an influx of Autumn/Winter press shows of late, and one trend that keeps cropping up, is that of animals. You’ll no doubt have spotted the popularity of birds and butterflys this summer, but a little tip is to keep your eyes open for all things fox, owl and stag related for winter. We can’t get enough of them, so here’s a few ideas on how to get your home looking animal-friendly…

Go for dog-print wallpaper in the hallway – with a few framed pooch pictures to boot.

Owl cushions fit in nicely with this tranquil bedroom scheme…

Pretty as a picture with butterflys…

A stag’s head and dog-print cushion make a feature on this landing.

Laurie

Devoted to dining room

For everyday purposes I can take or leave the dining room. After all, in this age of kitchen-diners, we don’t tend to create a special space for this function any more, do we? You know what I mean, the kind of place that would get a dusting down just for Sunday lunch, or if the relations paid an unexpected visit (heaven forbid…). But if you’ve got a special occasion I’m not against a grand setting such as this home that is a former church. Chance would be a fine thing…

Seán O

Dine in style…

Swede inspiration

I’ve just returned from Stockholm (don’cha know) and I’m infused with a new-found appreciation of all things Swedish. I was slightly taken aback at the variety of styles – the Nordic style we all know and love is far from the whole picture. Colour, minimalism and modernity are all words that spring to mind. The study shown below typifies the relaxed style the Swedes employ – modern accessories (perspex magazine holder) mixed with Gustavian furniture and delicately coloured curtains. I’d call it a veritable (yes you guessed it) ‘smorgasbord’ of styles.

Seán O

A study in good taste…

So black and white

Bathrooms are often seen as a functional space rather than a room to really be creative with – which is why I like this scheme so much. It may be black and white, but the tree-print wallpaper and elegant French-inspired furniture gives it that little something extra. Add to it the black tiles on the bath panel, a glass candelabra and some luxurious towels, and you’ve got yourself a bathroom to be proud of.

Laurie