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.