Home Tour: A Festive Scandi Home

Home | Photography by Federikke Heiberg | Market Picks: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Oh, boy! This home is SUCH a festive treat! Owned by couple Mille and Christine, who holiday there with their two girls, the home shows how simple, organic elements can make for a charming, sophisticated and understated Christmas decorating scheme; this quite ironic given the home was originally built as a summer house! The couple decorate with vintage ornaments and family pieces handed down from generations before them, which gives the space a personal and welcoming feel. Despite extending the home, I like how the couple have maintained the building's original character, such as the light wood floors, adding colour through the barn red doors inside and the black doors outside. As for that natural festive tablescape: isn't it just beautiful? What do you like about this wonderfully festive home?

Country Style: Colour & Styling Inspirations

Country Style | Photography by Craig Wall

The moment I set eyes on this beautifully styled shoot in Country Style magazine I knew I would eventually wax lyrical about it over here on Bright.Bazaar! First off, the shoot includes the excellent Whitby wallpaper by my buddies over at Mini Moderns. I can see why they used the paper in the shoot because it's teal-like colour way (affectionately named Washed Denim by the MM chaps!) works perfectly with the overall theme. The rustic wooden surfaces, eclectic mix and match glass jars and beautifully patterned tiles all combined to create an inspiring series of images that demonstrate top notch composition. Whether it be for how one decides on the tiles for a kitchen splash back or the new wallpaper for a guest bedroom, I think there are some great ideas here that can be used when cataloguing our own decorating inspirations at home. What inspires you about this colour-led shoot?

10 Things I Learned & Loved This Weekend

1. I bought some bowls from Anthropologie in the sale and they look great with these measuring spoons!
2. The beautifully packed (and very colourful!) cards by Nina Hutton made me smile.
3. These circus light signs I saw in Primrose Hill are perfect for a Mr. Bazaar home!
4. Please may I move into number 26?
5. The star-shaped Christmas lights strung across Regent St, London are beautiful.
6. I felt super cosy in my winter knitwear on a Saturday morning walk.
7. How fun are these hand illustrated Christmas cards by Charlotte Cooke? They are one of my favourites I've seen this year!
8. This festive cushion from H&M Home has a timeless feel to it; perfect to bring out year-on-year.
9. I'd be happy to find this smartphone dock in my stocking on Christmas morning!
10. I found the socks I'm going to wear on Christmas day!

Sunday's Bright Links No. 62: Salvage Kitchen

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Elsewhere
Adam Pearson has a lovely portfolio of his food styling work.
Light and airy autumn decor.
A fun round up of Christmas cards by Etsy sellers.
Beautiful photographs of Granada, Spain.
Free printable advent calendar box labels.
Anthology produced a special gift guide edition of their magazine.
DIY rossette.

Bright.Bazaar
Last weekend I felt inspired by colourful wrap and my latest home accessory buys. (I changed a car tyre, too!)
Inspiration for a woodland-inspired blue Christmas scheme.
Three ways to add colour with dining room chairs.
Bartsch painted walls.
Sneak peek: Holiday with Matthew Mead.
Loved this Scandi kitchen with lovely green dining chairs.

Happy Weekend: Colourful Green Chairs

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Wouldn't it be lovely to wake up on a Saturday morning to a pot of freshly brewed coffee and warm pancakes that could be enjoyed in this delightful kitchen? The little table is well positioned by the window to make the most of the natural light and the bold green chairs echo the glimpse of greenery seen outside. As for the navy and sky blue linens under those pancakes? I would snap those up in instant! What are your plans this weekend, friends? I'm heading over to my friend Rachie's for dinner and really need to start my Christmas shopping. Have a good one!

Sneak Peek: Holiday with Matthew Mead

I've expressed before how much I love reading the special Holiday issues published by magazine brands, so I was delighted when the folks over at Holiday with Matthew Mead offered to share a peek inside their 2011 Holiday issue. Packed full of craft ideas and cookie recipes from foodie bloggers, the magazine also provides inspiration for a variety of Christmas decorating schemes. With colour palettes from pinks and whites through to traditional red and green, I was impressed at the breadth of the styles and taste points covered in the issue's 144 pages. (Pssst! You can see even more from the magazine this video preview!) I really like the all-white space that has used paper stars and layered textiles to add interest but the moss wreath-cum-candle surround was my top tear from the issue. What's inspiring you from this peek inside Holiday with Matthew Mead?

Bartsch Painted Walls

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First of all: Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating today. I hope you and your loved ones have a smashing day full of good food, great wine and a healthy dash of colour! OK, so I just had to share these playful, graphic and colourful painted walls by Bartsch Paris as they charmed me the moment I happened upon them. They may be aimed at kids but I still think they can bring festive charm to adult rooms, too. The painted walls would look great in living rooms, little boys and girls rooms and statement hallways: I can visualise the check design making a statement in an entryway. I thought they were wallpapers when I first saw them but they are actually a form of decorative painting; not only does this put my French language skills to shame but it makes the walls all the more impressive! I feel drawn to the moon phrases in the gold but I think the slanted check pattern in navy and grey is my favourite. Which wall do you like best, folks?

Three Ways: To Add Colour With Dining Chairs

1 | 2 | 3, Anthea Williamson

Recently, I've spotting a lot of colourful dining chairs and it led me to think what an excellent way this is to add colour into a dining space. It's also an ideal piece of furniture to get crafty with, too. You could paint the chair legs, recover a fabric base using a bright and bold patterned fabric or make a slipcover to use over the whole chair - all would add something new to your space. First up, we see how a white Scandinavian dining room is given a colourful update with primary coloured chairs and stools. The second space shows that you can add colour by doing nothing at all, simply invest in well-worn, vintage wooden chairs; the texture of the wood against the blackboard wall tells a thousand stories. Finally, if you want to inject a dose of fun into your dining room, why not paint some simple, wooden chairs in glossy, neon hues! Which dining chairs would you choose?

BHG: A Woodland-Inspired Blue Christmas

Better Homes & Gardens Dec 2011 | Kelly Ryan Kegans | Photography Dana Gallagher | Styling Paul Lowe

Do you ever happen upon an editorial that you literally wish you could step into the page and live in it? Well, this happened for me when I read Paul Lowe's recent feature in the December issue of Better Homes & Gardens. Beautifully shot by Dana Gallagher the story centred around a blue-hued woodland scheme created with crafty makes and natural, organic elements. Last year, my tree was decorated with ice blue and teal baubles, so I was really inspired to see how the colour scheme could translate to a tabletop. My favourite elements of Paul's Christmas decor are the pine cones hung from the back of each chair, the DIY votives and the potted branch sideboard tree. What inspires you about this holiday scheme?

10 Things I Learned & Loved This Weekend

1. Loving these three recent buys: a old-style sweet jar, a yellow hurricane lamp and a sweet little owl to add to the collection!
2. I felt inspired by the colourful wrapping paper on this present from The Conran Shop.
3. Enjoyed walking around Hampstead in Saturday's crisp and foggy weather.
4. Proving life isn't all about vases and pretty things: here I am getting my hands dirty teaching myself how to change a wheel on the car after it suffered a puncture on Saturday afternoon!
5. Big Ben looked even more impressive than usual on Sunday as it pierced the clear, winter blue sky.
6. Loved how this back lit tree looked illuminated with a warm orange glow.
7. I started looking for my Christmas cards and this letterpress card caught my eye.
8. Polar bear jumper? Adorable.
9. How fun is this circular candlestick holder from Ferm Living?
10. Tempted to add this little fellow to my Christmas decor!

Sunday's Bright Links No. 61: Lights & Stripes

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Elsewhere
I was so excited to see Bright.Bazaar named as one of the Best Home Decor blogs on Refinery 29!
Beautiful photography in this post on making apple cider donuts.
Love the textiles from Saana ja Olli (via the style files).
Fairytale landscape.
A Harvest Gift: Spiced Ginger Cakes & Rosemary Apple Butter.
An interesting interview with West Elm's VP of Merchandising for Kitchen, Tabletop, Decorative Accessories, and Lighting & Textiles.

Bright.Bazaar
Last weekend I enjoyed wearing my first chunky knit of the season, discovered some sweet reindeer paper clips and much more!
Home Tour: Well Edited Grey Hues.
Three ideas for adding colour to your bedroom space.
Tablescape 101: A Rustic-Glam Thanksgiving.
H&M Home's Modern Traditional Christmas collection 2011 is full of stylish, practical and affordable pieces.
My latest Will's Picks feature in Sweet Paul magazine.

Happy Weekend: Sweet Paul Feature

Hurrah! The weekend has arrived and after a manic week of work I am so pleased to have two relaxing days ahead. I'm going to be heading out of London for some countryside time, catching up with friends and maybe a little bit of baking, too. What are your plans, friends? I hope there's something fun on your weekend agenda! Here I've shared the tear sheets from my latest Will's Picks feature in Sweet Paul magazine, which is titled 'An Antique Christmas'. It's centred around tabletop and decorating ideas for an antique Christmas with a modern twist, with a few craft suggestions thrown into the mix. Plus, I rounded up product from across the decorating market to help readers replicate the look. How fun are those crown tea light holders? Which product do you like best? You can read the whole feature here. Have a top weekend, folks!