by rachel | Jan 16, 2014 | Craft, Interiors
A few months ago I had the pleasure of helping my sister Lydia plan her special day to her fiancé, Jamie. Now I should point out here that my sister is never happier than when she’s sat behind her sewing machine, and in that respect, we couldn’t be more different. Whether it’s knitting, crocheting, sewing or painting she loves to create her own pieces of bespoke art – and rather annoyingly she’s really good at it!
So, when it came to thinking of a theme for her wedding it came as no surprise that Lydia wanted to hand make everything from her wedding bunting and table settings, to the accessories the bridal party wore, even down to the delicate handmade buttons she pinned into the wedding flowers. The attention to detail was quite amazing and I’m sure every bride-to-be left Lydia and Jamie’s wedding thinking…how are we going to top that?!
However, one of the handmade touches that really stayed in my mind afterwards was the wedding painting which Lydia and Jamie’s guests helped to create. Lydia had decided she didn’t want a traditional guest book and instead wanted to create a painting which she could share with her friends and family and proudly hang on her walls at home.
“I first stumbled across the idea on Pinterest (every bride’s obsession!) and thought it was a great concept which I wanted to customise to suit my wedding colours and theme for the day. I brought myself a large canvas and set about creating my wedding tree by mixing some coral and aqua emulsion paint with water to soften the effect,” says Lydia.
“Next, I drew the outline of the tree and added a little love swing which is where the bride and groom’s finger prints would go. On the night of the wedding I put the painting out alongside a few pots of aqua paint so our guests could dip their finger in and leave a fingerprint on the branches of our tree. Rather than a traditional guest book which would get forgotten about in a drawer at home, I love how this painting isn’t perfect and how there are lots of different shapes and sizes. Also, it’s been lots of fun inviting our friends over so they can point out their finger print!”
The finished ‘wedding tree’ complete with 110 guest finger prints
Would you try and recreate a finger painting for your wedding day? Please leave your Comments in the box below.
by rachel | Jan 9, 2014 | Interiors
Buying a new bathroom suite can be an expensive business – and that’s before you’ve budgeted in the cost of tiling, plastering and getting a good plumber in to fit your new sparkling chrome taps.
It can also be rather daunting choosing a colour scheme and then shopping for tiles which will enhance your chosen suite and make your bathroom dazzle. I’ve had years to practise putting an outfit together, but as soon as it came to thinking about a new bathroom I really didn’t know where to start!
When we were renovating our home a few years ago I was repeatedly told that large tiles would make my small bathroom look bigger, even though I’d set my heart on a 1920’s theme which would add colourful character to the period flat we’d just bought.
I’m pleased to say that I stuck to my original idea and two years later I still love the end result. But, whenever I flick through interior magazines I always get inspired by the different ways you can update a bathroom without having to call in the builders. Whether it’s a retro shower curtain, some bold photo frames or a statement mirror it’s really easy to accessorise your bathroom and add a stylish twist. All you need to do is go shopping!
Bathroom 1: Vintage Drama
Choose from a selection of white, chrome and silver accessories to revitalise a tired looking bathroom and bring it bang up-to-date. Adding a new set of flock towels, a twinkling chandelier, or a statement mirror can change the feel of your bathroom in an instant. If you want to go one step further, look at repainting your walls with a sage green paint and add the finishing touch with a bunch of soft, pretty flowers.
Credits: (1) Isme Rose Heart Shape Mirror, £69, (2) Zara Silver Glass Bathroom Set, £17.99 to £19.99, (3) Laura Ashley Hydrangea Camomile Printed Towels, £34, (4) www.berryred.co.uk Wire Soap Tray, £7.75.
Bathroom 2: Retro Colour
This bathroom proves you don’t need to be scared about experimenting with clashes of colour if you choose your accessories wisely. Keeping in mind a 1950’s vibe, hunt around for a bold shower curtain and make sure your instincts are geared towards bright punchy colour and retro inspired patterns which promise to make your bathroom a talking point for all the right reasons!
Credits: (1) Rigby & Mac Origami Fairy Lights, £36, (2) French Bedroom Company Flounce Flock Ruby Shade, £50, (3) www.cloth-ears.co.uk Transistor Radio Cables & Clobber Bag, £28.99, (4) Orla Kiley Towels, from £3.50 to £36.
Bathroom 3: Monochrome Magic
A black and white bathroom will never go out of fashion and this year the trend for checker board flooring doesn’t look like it’s going to go away. Because of its timeless elegance you can either decide to keep things simple with crisp white walls, or add a touch of warmth with a wash of mauve or dove grey emulsion which can be accessorised with some stylish black picture frames.
Credits: (1) Red Candy Umbra Montage Photo Art Display, £99, (2) Rigby & Mac Set of 3 House Box Shelves, £98, (3) H&M Candle, £3.99, (4)Love From Kent ‘Do Not Disturb Mummy Is Having A Bath’, £7.95, (5) Tesco Black & White Storage Boxes, from £4.95.
How do you accessorise your bathroom? Please leave your Comments in the box below.
