Off to Denmark

My whiz kid son flies off to Denmark tonight to present a paper at an IT conference in Copenhagen about his work. This mother's heart is beating proudly. An oh, how I wish I could go with him!!

No, no, not to babysit him! It's just that I am green with envy, as I have never been to Denmark or any of the Scandinavian countries, for that matter. Pity, as I am a huge fan of Scandinavian style.

I really admire the way they design rooms - so clean and unfussy, making even small spaces feel airy and spacious. And while the rooms often are pure white and uncluttered, they never feel austere or precious.   

 

 

 

The large expanses of white create such a feeling of space and of serenity, don't you think?

 

This bedroom set is typically Danish with its sraight lined, simple design and focus on functionality.




Danish bed linen designer Rosenberg produces gorgeous, must-have bedding:

And who can talk about Nordic designs without mentioning Finnish brand Marimekko with their unmistakable bold, bright and joyful fabric.

Bed of roses

Today is my wedding anniversary. The 32nd one!

Yes, we are still together after almost three decades, and happily so, I am glad to report! And my very romantic husband spoilt me with an enormous bunch of deep red roses - one for every year of wedded bliss!  Apparently it took my dedicated florist-neighbour Marida from Paradiso an entire week to source them, as September is not exactly rose-season in the Cape yet! So I am doubly grateful to have them light up the house!

Naturally, my bedroom inspiration for the week is (red) roses!


I love an all-white bedroom, adding just flowers for a touch of colour.


Source: bedding.ie

 

If you like an all-over rosy design, the queens of floral bed linens, Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston, as well as Cabbages and Roses, have several options:

Source:    Left: Cath Kidston      Top: Cabbages and Roses     Bottom: LauraAshley

  

 

Here is a more modern take on rosy bedding:

Left: Lulu Guinness bedding       Right: lieutenantpriceinspector

 

If you visit the luxury hotel, Maison Hotel Moshino in Italy, you can sleep in a bed covered in velvet rose petals. Mmm .. not so sure about that? I guess it's fun for a romantic night or two, but how on earth does one wash this?

Too much?  Go for rose-accessories like a scatter cushion, a deep-red chair or perhaps a zany lamp or light fitting?

 

 

 

 

 

Left: dreamstime.com    Top:globalmarkets     Bottom: exportbay.com



 

Namakwa dreaming

Last weekend, hubby and I drove up along the West Coast on a flower-watching expedition. Thanks to this season's unusually cold and wet weather, the spring time wild flower extravanganza is particularly spectacular this year. Fields of flowers as far as the eye can see, delight you around every corner.

I was very thankful for digital photography, as I became quite trigger happy and took literally hundreds of photos of every colourful expanse, and equally many close-ups of the small, often minute, little blooms that make up this joyous canvas.

Here's how you can bring the floral splendour of the West Coast and Namakwaland into a bedroom any time of the year:

Source: 1: My own 2: yolocolorhouse

Source: 1: homeinteriorblogspot   2: My own   3: digsdigs.com  4: houzz

Source: 1: My own 2: digs.digs.com 3: housetohome 

 

 

Source: 1: My own 2: 

 

Source: 1:My own   2:etsy.com   3:decorpad

 

Source: 1: My own  2:jbrulee 3: etsy.com

 

Story time

Do you love reading in bed as much as I do?

I am a self-confessed bibliophile. I collect books and simply cannot go through a day without reading. And I definitely can't sleep at night until I have read at least a few pages of whatever book I have on hand - much to hubby's dismay, who reckons he cannot possibly fall asleep while there's a glimmer of light somewhere in the room.

And unfortunately I cannot stop at reading one book at a time - I usually have several must-reads that I devour at the same time. Consequently, my bedroom resembles a busy library more than a restful retreat or a romantic boudoir.

This is kinda what I aspire to: books neatly stacked in a colourful tray or floating shelf, reading light poised, with enough space left for fresh flowers or pretty displays...

Source: Pic1: apartmenttherapy.com  Pic2: Sarastraussblogspot


 



Source: Pic1: feelinspiredblogspot  Pic2: theentertaininghouse  Pic3: homeedit.com

In reality, this looks much more familiar:

 

Wow .. some really organised readers here! A bookshelf conveniently placed next to the bed, seems like a dream come true. But books arranged by colour?  I bet Dewy never considered that!

 

Source: Pic1:apartmenttherapy  Pic2: thefurnishingtouch.com

Piles of books supporting lamp and fan ... very practical!

 

Source: Pic1: flavorwire.com  Pic2: brit.co

Very creative solutions for the ever-increasing stacks of literature, but what if you just HAVE to read one of them?

Source: flavorwire.com

Source: casasugar.com

And what about reading your duvet cover? Yip. A very original designer, Tiago de Fenseca, came up with the idea of printing stories on a duvet cover with "pages" that flip just like a book. 

Jury's still out on this one, I think!

But how do YOU deal with your bedtime reading matter?

 

Spring time quotes

"sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love” 

 

e e cummings

 

Source: the house in roses

 

Pretty pastels

Well, it's September 1st, and at least calender-wise, spring is here! Our colour inspiration for the week is pastels. We're thinking soft green new leaves and delicate pink buds and the gentlest yellow rays of sunshine against pale blue skies.

Like the little black dress, pastels just never go completely out of fashion. Good enough to eat, it is such a happy palette.

 

Pastel colours and spring flowers just belong together!

Cath Kidston bedding

Lighthearted and happy, pastel colours are perfectly suited for a girl's bedroom.

 

 

Clean lines and unfussy designs makes for a modern interpretation in pastel.

 

While pastel shades are ultimately suited to girly rooms and romantic settings, it can work equally well in a more sophisticated and even glamorous setting, depending on what you combine it with. Here, lilacs and lavenders are off-set against a neutral taupe wallpaper and paired with glamorous silver headboard for a very grown-up look.

A little bit of grey thrown in, and an unexpected touch of hot red, prevents the pastel colour scheme from becoming sugary sweet.

Countdown to spring

Only a few days to the official arrival of spring day! Although the cold weather has not quite left the Cape yet - and we're not holding our breath for spring temperatures by next week - we are eager to start preparing for warmer days.

We've taken our cue for today's colour inspiration from  a few early-starter trees who already sport the first showings of the softest green buds.

Nothing like sheer curtains, white flowers and fresh green to say Hello Spring!

greigedesignblogspot.com
 

Pic: 2movehome

Bed: mothbomb - Lampshade: Marimekko  - Throw: brahmsmount

 

Green chaise: kaboodle.com -  Chair: Hans Wegner - Pillow: houzz.com

Fabulously feminine

We celebrated Women's Day earlier this month, and actually like the idea of dedicating the entire month of August to all the fabulous women out there. Is it not amazing that all the opposites you can think of apply in equal measure to most women you know ?  Soft, strong. Gentle, forceful. Demure, Sexy. Calm, passionate. Tolerant. Stubborn. Wilful. Giving. Playful. Kind... endless adjectives.

So what is your idea of a feminine bedroom? Is it soft, romantic drapes? Pure white linen? Crisp cottons or sexy silk? Or lace, frills and flounces? Florals? Girly pink or femme fatale red? Here are just a few examples of what we consider feminine bedrooms!

It hardly gets more girly than this: soft blush pink and oodles of flounces:



Soft pastels and florals against crisp white makes for a fresh, wholesome look.

Laura Ashley

 

Pink and grey silk pillowcases embellished with lace and embroidery are placed on gently "crushed", textured pure linen for an unconventional bed setting:

Bella Notte Linens

Ange ou demon? Demure white pillowcases with cotton crochet border and Victorian embroidery or sexy, sultry red silk!

 llph.co.uk                                                                                     agentprovocateur.com

A lush drapery above the bed, coupled with layers of softly frilled pillows in gentle, winter white, creates a romantic hideaway:

Bedding by Ralph Lauren

Which is your favourite or depicts you best?

 

Scattered beauties

Wow, are we glad to see the sun after two weeks of almost constant rain!  Can't wait for summer and gardens filled with flowers.

Our very clever neighbour, the ever-creative florist Marida of Paradiso Flowers came up with this brilliant idea: if you dislike wrapping gifts in paper because it immediately ends up in the rubbish bin, why not consider flowers instead? A flower wrapping makes a gorgeous presentation and at least lasts a while!

We decided to focus on scatter cushions as a flower-wrapped gift idea. For instance, give a soft cuddly cushion to comfort a sick friend and add a posy that says "I care". Or tie the customary bunch of flowers to a cushion as a hostess gift next time you're invited to dinner. A scatter is also an ideal housewarming gift, if chosen with the recipient's room scheme in mind. A soft pillow as a baby shower gift will be much appreciated by a new mum to prop up herself at feeding time.

Whatever the occasion, this versatile gift will remind them of you and the message of love and care of your flowers long after the flowers have wilted

Silver for seconds

Still inspired by the Olympic Games, here's a look at a few ideas for using silver in your bedroom.

Silver is a really easy colour to add to any interior, as it coordinates easily with just about any other colour. It works particularly well in a very contemporary or minimalist setting, but as you'll see from some of the rooms below, it can be at home in a more traditional room and opulent as well.

Silver leaf headboard with ornate detail:

Source: beingbrazen.com

Source:floatproject.org

Gleaming and minimalistic:

Source:home-decoration-centre-blogspot.com

Add some sparkle with silver bedlinen: over the top shine or the subtle sheen of indulgent silk: 

Source: thestylepaathome.com; exclusiveboutique.co.uk

If you are - like me - not brave enough to go for an all out silver look, just stick to the small details. Pretty and practical!