Growing Spaces

Is white bed linen really the only option?

Is white bed linen really the only option?

I can’t remember the last time I had bed linen that wasn’t white (or the lightest grey). I’ve been a firm believer in white bed linen for as long as I can remember, but when I posted about this recently, the very lovely Clarissa Hulse dropped me a message setting me a challenge to give something else a go. I’ve loved Clarissa’s colourful screen-printed patterns for a decade – she even treated me to a go at screen-printing my own cushion cover a couple of years ago – but I’ve never taken the plunge and tried any of her designs on…

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Quirky and colourful London home on the Livingetc House Tours 2016

Quirky and colourful London home on the Livingetc House Tours 2016

Here’s another space from last week’s Livingetc House Tours around south west London, sponsored by ao.com. In my own home I’ve been moving away from bright colours and bold patterns, but it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate seeing them used well in other people’s houses, especially when it’s done with the confidence shown in this Edwardian townhouse. What I love about the use of colour in interiors is how much fun and personality it can add to a home, and that was definitely the case here. Clashing combinations were embraced throughout the house – unexpected pattern pairings looked flamboyant and carefree, styles ranged…

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Mini makeover | Candy brights for a family kitchen

Mini makeover | Candy brights for a family kitchen

I love our new kitchen (can I call it ‘new’ when it was actually finished over two years ago?), but since it was installed it has definitely become a neglected space that wasn’t living up to its potential in our home. We’ve made various changes to the way we use the space, including installing a banquette (built-in seat) and moving the kitchen table to make way for a small island unit (more on the banquette soon, I promise), but when it came to accessories and a pulled-together look, the room needed reworking. The main problem was that the jumble of…

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{Soft Spot} Catching Stars

{Soft Spot} Catching Stars

  I love the detail on these butterfly sofa cushions from Catching Stars. Designed to be a bright alternative to the usual boring colours used for kids’ products, each butterfly has its own pattern and the cushions are available with a pink or purple patterned border. Designed by fellow colour-lover Roz Robinson, the cushion works just as well in a living room or child’s bedroom and I think it would be a beautiful addition to any room. Handmade from 100% cotton in the Catching Stars studio in Surrey, each butterfly sofa cushions costs £40.  

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