Feb
23
Granny, I love you…
Filed Under Handmade, Inspiration, Textiles | 2 Comments
If I had $690 lying around, that’s approximately 510 europes in our money, here’s what I would buy…
Completely handmade by the supremely talented illustrator and graphic designer Sandra Juto, this crochet Grannysquare blanket and I would make a very happy couple indeed.
All images via Sandra Juto
Jan
30
Interiors Induced Insomnia
Filed Under Affordable Interior Design, Inspiration, bedroom | 5 Comments
Having recently re-painted and re-carpeted our bedroom, instead of relaxing and enjoying the calm grey and white sleep inducing space that we have created, I find that I am now spending hours lying awake at night thinking and deliberating over the rest of the decor. I have a fair idea of how I want it to look and what I need to get that look and it basically involves acquiring some cash. Quelle surprise! So, sadly for me and more importantly, for those around me who have to tolerate my grumpy tired self, it looks like there will be a lot of sleepless nights ahead. What I am planning though is a wallet friendly trip to IKEA (yes I will be wearing a blindfold and obviously a trolley is out of the question) so that I can install some shelving above our bed and artfully display some stuff as artfully displayed in the images above.
Images via Skona Hem, emmas design blogg and My Scandinavian Retreat
Jan
11
Our Trip to the Wee North
Filed Under Inspiration | 2 Comments
We celebrated our first wedding anniversary over Christmas by taking a trip to the wee north to see the Giant’s Causeway, something we have talked about doing for so long. We stayed in the nearby village of Bushmills, yes that of the whiskey fame and another very good reason to visit, and managed to book a room in the perfectly quaint Bushmills Inn, right in the heart of the village. Having worked in the hotel industry for many a year, staying in hotels can often turn into something of a disaster as I unwittingly scrutinize every detail, running my index finger along every surface, checking under the bed for debris and analysing the form versus function aspect of each animate and inanimate object occupying the room. Quite scary stuff, expecially for himself as he watches me navigate the room, with a glint of fear in his eye and then breathes a sigh of relief when he remembers that he didn’t book the hotel and can’t be held responsible if it doesn’t meet my impeccably high standards! Anyway, the good news is that this one passed with flying colours and we barely ventured out the door for the whole two days we were there.
I just loved what they had done with the bedroom we stayed in. The bed was huuuu-age and super comfy with gorgeous linen and more pillows than you could shake a stick at. It had a ye olde-worlde feel without being too traditional or pastiche with roughly plastered white-washed walls and just the right amount of florals and colour without being too co-ordinated. Told ya I was fussy!
I fell in love with the bathroom with it’s mix of contemporary sanitaryware and country styling in the form of tongue and groove panelling. The subway tiles added a lovely retro touch and the off white and olive green colour scheme worked so well that I immediately wanted to leg it home to wield a paintbrush to our own newly completed bathroom.
The deluxe rooms are all situated in an extension, which is newly built, despite looking like it has always been there and surrounds a pretty courtyard. I was unable to get pictures of the bar, which was definitely another highlight and not just for obvious reasons! It is full of lovely little nooks, featuring real open log fires, gorgeous antique furniture (they even have a big old weathered chesterfield – be still my beating heart) and is illuminated by gas wall lights. It’s basically the perfect place to spend a cold winter’s evening a deux or with a gang of friends sipping hot whiskies and downing pints of Guinness. These words of mine really don’t do it justice so I would really recommend that you take a look at their website to see the images of the bar.
Oh and the Causeway was alright too.
Dec
4
Industrial Meets Country
Filed Under Inspiration, Photography | 1 Comment
I am really digging this industrial meets country look at the moment. Love the floorboards although I’d come dangerously close to them with a paintbrush and tin of white paint, the industrial lighting, the big old cast iron bath, the dresser…love it all. Now all I need is a big old country pile or former country mill so I can start rocking it.
Images via Tim James Photography
Dec
2
Bold Blogger
Filed Under Banter, Inspiration | 6 Comments
Dear oh dearie me, what sort of a blogger am I? A pretty bold one as it turns out. That’s “bold” in the Irish sense of the word, which means “bad” as opposed to “daring”. I am not a daring blogger, no. “Is blogger dána mé”, as we would say in our native tongue.
When one’s husband starts giving out to one for not blogging, one knows that something must really be out of kilter, especially when one’s husband disapproves of such things that normally eat into one’s personal time after work.
Likewise, when one’s friends start asking questions such as “Where have you been? How are we supposed to know what’s going on in your life if you’re not blogging” one must ask oneself, “Why don’t one’s friends just pick up the phone to chat to one?” HEL-LO! But also, on a more philosophical note, “Why hasn’t one been blogging lately?” or should that be “Why haven’t I been blogging lately?” All this third person stuff is far too complex for my little brain. The answer to that question still eludes me but I suppose I just got out of the habit and was quite enjoying the free time and then the more I didn’t blog, the easier it became not to blog. It’s a vicious circle but luckily for you peeps I’ve decided to get back in the game, so here I am.
I suppose it’s my own fault for starting this blogging thing in the first place. And there was me thinking that no-one ever read my blog anyway. At least now I know that my friends do, so when they’re not checking up on me on Facebook and Twitter they’re popping over here to see what I’ve been up to week in, week out. Hmmm. Next time I meet them I’ll prepare a little table quiz to test their “Meet Mabel & Violet” knowledge. They can only be considered real friends if they get at least 8/10 answers right. That’ll learn ‘em!
Image via marieclairemaison.com
Sep
8
I want…
Filed Under Inspiration, Photography | 2 Comments
a new camera. That’s all. I’ve been taking photos with a Canon Ixus, which is a great little thing that fits in my handbag but I’m ready for a big fat digital SLR that comes complete with its own handbag, although those are usually black and not particularly aesthetically pleasing. Okay, maybe I want a new camera and a new (large) handbag. Then maybe I will be able to take photos like these…
Images via concrete and honey
Aug
14
Fireplace Fashion
Filed Under Affordable Interior Design, Inspiration, My Home | 5 Comments
Right now I’m thinking about fires and fireplaces, a lot. Why? Because we need a fire for this lovely faux chimney breast that we built and then cut an electric fire with marble surround shaped hole out of! The problem is that the fire we wanted is a “Wall Hung” fire and not a “Hole in the Wall” fire so it’s going back to the shop. Who knew these things could be so complicated? I find that I’m quite partial to the hole in the wall now though, it’s not as huge as it looks in the photo but we might have to reduce it in size a little. I don’t think I’m going to win this one though and an electric fire it will be, ah well. Here is some drool-worthy hole in the wall and traditional fireplace inspiration for your viewing pleasure…
I love the simplicity of the traditional fireplaces in the last three images. All images are from Shoot Factory bar the first one, which is from our living room!
Aug
6
The Yvestown Blog
Filed Under Affordable Interior Design, Inspiration, Photography | 2 Comments
I just came across this gorgeous blog today via Decor8 and I am so in love with Yvonne’s beautiful home. She uses my favourite colour – white as the perfect backdrop for her amazing finds and pimps her furniture, particularly her IKEA pieces to give them her own unique style…
She also clearly has great taste because she chose the same colour Smeg as ours, go baby blue go!
Jul
31
Vintage Dreamy Wedding Photographs
Filed Under Inspiration, Photography, Weddings | 5 Comments
I love photography that evokes a feeling of nostalgia and combines a dream like quality with a sort of vintage charm but I never really knew how this type of imagery was achieved. And then I came across a post on flickr called Dreamy Vintage Photoshop Action by old underthewaves. So, I followed the instructions and started to experiment with some of our wedding photos and here are the results…
Jul
30
Inspirational Images
Filed Under Banter, Inspiration, Photography | Leave a Comment
I’ve been feeling very uninspired of late, hence the noticeable lack of posts, but I came across this post today by Naomi from inspire*inspire and I just find these images really calming. I have so much going on at the moment – seemingly endless lists of things to do and I just don’t feel like I’m getting anything done, you know how it is. Anyway, I managed to draw some inspiration and give myself a well deserved kick in the backside to add a post to my blog after seeing these images so thank you Naomi. And I’ll replace the tumbleweed blowing around here with some of the aforementioned beautiful, inspirational images from the cheshire smile – available to view on Flickr here and to purchase on Etsy here.
