Heart Home Mag Sneak Peek: Bright Decor

I'm super excited to be sharing this sneak peek of Heart Home magazine's Winter issue ahead of the full launch tomorrow. Isn't this shoot a bright delight?! I'm in love with the sophisticated take on a multi-hued palette, which has been grounded by a chic grey base palette. The inspiring scheme has been expertly pulled together resulting in a balance between the three key elements - colour, pattern and texture. The mix of brights are tempered by sleek grey tones; the graphic patterns add visual interest and break up the individual hues; and texture is introduced through cable knit throws. Whilst yesterday's post on a multi-colour bedroom scheme felt ideal for the summer months, I think this is the perfect take on a similar palette for winter. What do you think, friends? Be sure to check out the full Winter issue of Heart Home magazine when it launches tomorrow.
// Heart Home Magazine | Production & styling by Pippa Jameson | Styling by Joanna Thornhill | Photography by Joanna Henderson

Walther & Co: Danish Christmas Decor Ideas

Ever since my recent trip to Scandinavia (expect some super fun blog posts on that very soon!) I've been obsessing over all things Scandi even more than before. I featured Walther & Co's festive 2010 range a few years ago, and I'm excited to be sharing their new 2012 offering because, well, it's down right beautiful! This season's collection sees the core palette of sepia and gun metal remain at the centre of the collection, which includes delicate Scandi-patterns imprinted into metal tree ornaments and plenty of tactile textiles. My favourite elements of this Christmas look? The musical instruments; I love the idea of using  a drum and old trumpet to create a playful festive display. Plus, aren't those metal Christmas tree candle holders are super stylish?! What's catching your eye?
// Walther & Co

How To Create A Colourful & Rustic Home Office

As I work from home, my office space is one of the most important rooms in the whole apartment. I need it to be colourful (OK, that was a given!), practical and energising for all those long hours in front of the laptop. So, when I happened upon this colourful and rustic home office, I knew I had to share it here on Bright.Bazaar. The scheme is an effortless mix of weathered, rustic materials like metal and bare wood. paired with brightly painted gloss pieces and rag-like textiles. It's these colourful additions that give this room it's heart and personality: the visual surprise of the two colourful chairs brings a new angle to what would otherwise be a generic, paint-by-numbers industrial meets rustic scheme. The two chairs also serve to soften the harder, rougher vibe that flows through the rest of the room. Laying the rag rug in the centre of the room makes good use of the free space to bright another hit of hue into the scheme. By opting for a rag-style rug, as opposed to a high pile wool rug, it means this key textile piece sits comfortably alongside the heavier industrial furniture. This is because it brings just enough comfort and tactile texture without being too much of a juxtaposition with the more rustic pieces; pushing this contrast further would compete with the statement already created between the gloss bright chairs and the metal and wooden desk.
// Hus&Hem | Photography by Carina Olander

Country Road's Colourful New Collection

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Oh, Country Road, how I love thee! I look forward to your collections like a toddler looks forward to Christmas morning. Whilst many of us north of the Equator begin to endure the long slog through winter, you've so kindly brought us warmth and sunshine via your cheerful and bright new collection for the Australian Spring Summer season. As always, I'm enamoured by your colourful offering, and feel like I've fallen especially hard this time around. You just had to throw in some striped bistro tableware to push me over the line into Interiors Shop Obsession, didn't you? If only I could be cross with you, but somehow each time I see your yellow stripe linens and graphic pillows, I can't help but smile and forgive you for burning a hole in my wallet!

// Country Road

Colour Palette: A Stylish Teenage Bedroom

I've had several emails recently asking for advice on how to decorate a teenager's bedroom in a manner that balances both fun and function without loosing any style points. This bedroom is a fine example of how to do this as it strikes a balance between feeling youthful and sophisticated. The benefit of this approach is that once the bedroom is freed up you will be able to swap out a few smaller pieces such as the lamp and the textiles in order to make the room a perfect spare bedroom. In the meantime, the playful stripes are tempered by the chic grey painted panelling, which is anchored by a black bed frame and rug. Choosing a metal bed frame allows teenagers to twist fairy lights around the headboard for a relaxed, younger feel, which again can easily be taken out for a more grown up look. Finally, incorporate plenty of storage into the room to make it practical for storing away DVDs, sports kit and so on.
// Ideal Home

Take Your Pick: Thornback & Peel Fabrics

Welcome to the weekend, friends! Apologies for not bringing you your daily colour fix yesterday but I was having technical issues with the site. Of course, to calm my technological-induced stress I sought out some Pin Therapy over on Pinterest. In doing so I discovered these beauties from Sofa.com; the shots show a range of the brand's pieces upholstered in Thornback and Peel's super fun Jellies and Cakes fabric: the Jethou armchair gets the mustard treatment, the Sunday armchair a splash of raspberry and the Saturday sofa is married with the cool grey colourway. Aren't they fabulous? Not only is the print unique and playful but the different colourways really bring each of the pieces to life. Being the Colour Addict that I am, I clearly love the mustard option the most. That said, the grey colourway is very sophisticated and looks great paired with the romantic shape and form of the Saturday sofa. Your weekend task? To pick your favourite colourway! Have a great one! x
// Sofa.com

Colour Cocktail: The Pumpkin Smash

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As this year's All Hallows' Eve approaches, rumours are rife that there's a new cocktail in town that's set to tear up the town with its stylish sensibilities. Well, folks, it's true and the colour cocktail takes inspiration from the seasonal gourds of the moment. The Pumpkin Smash mixes up a refined palette of slate grey and gunmetal, with an added shot of spicy tangerine and pumpkin accents. For those who prefer their schemes on the calmer side, I would opt for a one shot version. However, for those who like to go all out on Halloween and in their decorating, you'll want to order the triple shot version of The Smash. The stronger cocktail is made by accenting the elegant and refined grey notes with a heady mix of pumpkin-hued pendants, accessories and textiles. One shot or triple shot, this cocktail hits the right note for the season by bringing a welcome warmth to the cooler days.

// Lifestyle photography by BH&G | Ferm Living

Palette Addict: Black, Grey & Tea Rose Pink

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As autumn well and truly takes its hold here in London, I'm hankering after a cosy and welcoming palette to warm the cooler days. This combination of black, grey and tea rose pink is the perfect balance for the season ahead: the enveloping and deep hues of an industrial slate grey, charcoal and black palette are gently softened with occasional tea rose pink accents. In some ways, reflecting the now omnipresent grey cloud of the outside, on the inside, makes the gloom less noticeable as the darker base tones become a silky, sleek backdrop for the hero pink hue. For added warmth, temper the cooler concrete and metal material by adding in tactile, rustic textures such as exposed wooden furniture. I'd love to kick off this scheme in my own place, especially with the factory-style storage unit and pink pendant. What elements of this palette do you like?

// Lifestyle photography by Line Thit Klein

Palette Addict: Black, White & Grey

Black and white will always be the classic colour combination for the ultimate chic scheme, but throw some grey into this masculine mix and the look takes on a whole new edge. For me, this monochromatic scheme feels soothing and the essence of calm. Sometimes you see pictures in magazines of austere monochrome schemes, yet this space feels far from clinical and I believe it's all thanks to the grey mid tones. I like how grey has been introduced as an accent hue amongst the dominant black and white, yet because it's been added to the room's statement piece - the sofa - it plays an important role in breaking up the graphic patterns that surround it. In fact, that couch can come home with me right away - I love it! Do you like monochrome decor schemes?
// Deborah Moir for AMM

Sneak Peek: Toast A/W 2012 Collection

This forthcoming collection from Toast encapsulates so many things I love about Autumn: leisurely weekend mornings spent lounging around the kitchen in my pyjamas; not feeling guilty about weekend days spent inside baking a new recipe; lazy afternoons on the sofa with cosy blankets, cushions and a stack of magazines to challenge the Empire State ready to read. The collection also ticks Mr. Bazaar's boxes when it comes to interior decorating for the season. The colourways are in tune with the darker days: deep racing green is paired with jewel-like purple; soft tea green with biscuit and chocolate. The hues work in harmony with the materials - ceramic, terracotta, organic cotton, British wool - all of which speak volumes of the products' artisan beginnings. Plus, the collection is packed full of practical buys, from storage to tableware and bedding basics, showing its balance between form and function. Which pieces will have you reaching for the credit card when the collection goes live next week?
// Toast

Store Tour: Jamie Oliver's Industrial Italian

I've long been a fan of Jamie Oliver's relaxed approach to cooking; his kitchen ideology sort of matches up with the way I like to decorate - have fun with it and express the things and people you love through your decor choices. Well, as the Olympics are due to kick off this evening here in London I thought it would be fitting to give you all a tour of Jamie's new restaurant, Jamie's Italian, which is located right next to the Olympic Park. The interior was designed by Blacksheep and they've worked stacks of decorating features into the industrial space that are perfect for introducing back at home. If you have an open plan kitchen-dining area, why not zone the dining area with a chequerboard tiled flooring? Or, if you can't change the flooring, you could use subway tiles or wood panelling on the walls for a rustic-industrial look. One of the main things to do when decorating industrially like this is to work some warmth into the scheme, otherwise it can feel cold and overly harsh. At home you could do this with some tactile linens or textiles - soft drapes over the windows, or a linen covered cushion pad along a bench by the table. It's a good idea to work an accent colour into the space, too. Here, exposed wooden beams and patterned tiling have been anchored by a strong burnt orange hue. Are there any elements you would work into your home?
// Photography by Gareth Gardner | Interior design by Blacksheep

Instant Update: Bemz IKEA Furniture Covers

Since I graduated from university I've furnished the majority of my apartments with IKEA furniture. Granted, I like to save up and buy a few investment pieces into include in the mix (namely my Decker bookcase from Anthropologie) but the majority of my furniture is from the Swedish brand. As a renter it makes sense: the pieces are easy to move and often offer space-saving solutions. However, the real benefit that comes with IKEA pieces is the opportunity to personalise them, whether it be with paint, hardware or upholstery. One example of the latter is Bemz who offer a range of upholstery and fabric options for IKEA furniture. The shots here alone show how one can personalise their space with fabric updates in a variety of different styles. Gravitate towards a country style? The relaxed fit linen covers from Designers Guild are ideal for you. Or, perhaps you're more preppy in your approach? The fitted Stockholm Stripe in Candy Pink fits the bill perfectly. Do you own any IKEA pieces and would you update your pieces with Bemz upholstery?
// Bemz