Market Picks: Habitat Brights

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What's the weather like with you, friends? I know, I know, it's so British of me to talk about the weather but we do it so well; in London it's grey, damp and overcast so I'm craving some full on brights. Thankfully, Habitat have more than enough colour to go around this season and, well, that makes Mr. Bazaar a happy interior camper! I'll pulled together some of my favourite pieces that would work well to introduce into your home right now as a quick colour update. Feeling a lack of warmth and colour in the bedroom? The Holbeck bedspread is for you. Needing a little more light in the dining room as the days grow shorter? The Saunders rubber pendant shade is what you need. My favourite idea is to combine different coloured Kilo tables - three in a row or four together as a square - to make a colour block coffee table. This is such a quick and relatively affordable way to bring customised colour into a living room. Which pieces do you like best?

How To Decorate With A Complementary Colour Palette

The best approach when combining two hues to make a colour statement is to pick from opposite sides of the colour wheel. This living room is a fine example of this decorating method: the teal blue walls paired with the burnt orange ceiling results in a striking yet balanced scheme. Notice how the main piece of furniture - the tufted couch - is in a slightly lighter shade of the teal walls, this prevents the piece from detracting or competing with the main statement of the room - the walls and ceiling. The strong colours of the scheme have been anchored with neutral textures, such as the jute rug and wooden table. For me, this shows how a well-executed colour scheme can breathe life into an otherwise formal and traditional space. Plus, the tufted couch is the definition of Divine, right?!
// House & Home | Photography by John Cullen

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

Tablescape 101: An Indian Inspired Soiree

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I indulged in my obsession with aquamarine and Eastern patterns to host an Indian-inspired soiree for this month's Tablescape 101 post. A colour palette of blues accented with burnt orange felt perfect to embrace the transition into Fall. With several strong hues like burnt orange I was keen add a few delicate touches to the scheme, which I did with watercolour stationery by Jenna and Elizabeth from Little Bit Heart. I especially loved the menus that were in watercolour print and mounted on mini canvases sprayed in gold - such a great idea! It can be impractical it can be to buy all new items for each gathering, so reuse, repurpose, switch an item for a new one or change up the centerpieces and you have a fresh look. For this table's centrepiece I simply arranged Baby’s Breath (super affordable!) in three vases that I already had, and then added burnt orange Calla Lilies and tangerine Orchids in tall cylinder vessels on either side. On the walls I hung paper fans in Eastern-patterns for visual interest and add some drama to the dining area. When I host an Indian-themed dinner I like to skip the over-popular ginger-infused cocktails, and make one using my favourite herbal tea. I brew tea with honey until it becomes thick and syrupy, pour into champagne flutes and top with bubbly. My final top tip is to avoid any scented candles near the table and food area because Indian cuisine is so aromatic and fragrant that it any scent will be lost. - Manvi

Click here to read all the Tablescape 101 posts.

// Styling and photography by Manvi Drona-Hidalgo | Stationery by Little Bit Heart

Sweet Paul Magazine: Dip Dye Ideas

Not only are we on the brink of welcoming a new weekend but we're also about to be treated to 143 pages of inspiration courtesy of Sweet Paul magazine's Fall issue as it launches later today. One feature that hit the top of my inspiration Richter scale is this dip dye story. Beautifully styled by Paul himself, the piece guides the reader through a range of different dip dye craft projects for both home and fashion. One of my favourite ideas was to dip dye ribbon as you could make big batches of it in one go and then keep coming back to use it for months ahead, perhaps to wrap a gift, update a vase or decorate votives for a dinner party. Talking of dinner parties, don't you think that the dip dye table runner holds such a beautiful simplicity? Which of these projects inspires you the most? P.S. Don't forget to look out for my market pages, a travel story on the Soho district of New York City and a rustic warehouse decorating feature - I'd love to hear your thoughts!
// Styling by Paul Lowe | Photography by Alexandra Grablewski

Kitchen Brights: Pick Your Hue!

For years I've been left frustrated when shopping for small kitchen appliances. You know the ones I mean: those appliances that resemble a lump of steel or have a cheap white finish. So you can imagine Mr. Bazaar's delight when he happened upon the Kenwood kMix range of kitchen electricals, a collection of colour block brights for your kitchen that could easily have been commissioned by Mr. B himself! (Also check out their Barcelona food mixer - talk about love at first sight!) The moment I saw the range I knew it contained ideal pieces to use as accent pieces to a pared back or simple colour palette. Take the first kitchen as an example, where tomato red accents have been used across the electricals and utensils to add interest and warmth to the otherwise clinical and industrial space. By sticking to one accent colour the resulting scheme feels consistent and visually balanced. Yet don't be fooled by these clever brights because they earn their keep beyond a standard white kitchen, as seen in the second kitchen unit where pink and orange accent pieces create a sophisticated yet playful palette. For my Bright.Bazaar kitchen I'm opting for the yellow colourway but which colour would you pick to brighten your kitchen, friends?
// Kitchen photography by Tim Young for Ideal Home | Shelving via Ideal Home | Animation by Will Taylor for Bright.Bazaar 

Colour Cocktail: The Mint Magic

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Chill those pillows and put the vases on ice because there's a new colour cocktail in town. Yep, The Mint Magic is the bar menu's new resident and it's perfect to enjoy all year round. Featuring the refreshing base notes of mint and milk white this colour cocktail feels cooling and crisp. But don't be fooled as there's a triple shot of coral, pink and orange accents mixed in to keep the heat! These hues combine to create a colour cocktail scheme that's perfect for spaces that need to remain light and airy all year round. Be sure to mix carefully: be generous with your mint and more restrained with the stronger coral hues for the smoothest result. Cheers, friends! Which of these market picks will you be ordering as you mix up your own Mint Magic colour cocktail?
// Interior design by Maria Barros

H&M Home's New A/W 2012 Collection

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I've written here before about new H&M Home collections (here, here, here and here) and whilst the European members of the Bright.Bazaar gang were able to satisfy their shopping drive with an affordable home purchase, the American folks were unable to do so. Well, the excellent news is that from early Spring 2013 the brand will be stocking their homeware line in North America. So, now that even more of us can get excited about H&M Home's new collections, let's take a walk through their A/W 2012 range. The first look, Art Deco Opulence, is the counter trend to the pared-back simplicity we have seen so much of recently: think metallics, shimmering glitter, bold 1920's art deco patterns and sumptuous, indulgent colour palettes. The second trend, Mountain Retreat, is more rustic in it's approach and therefore on closer ground to their previous collections. They've updated the look for the forthcoming season with N.American Indian patterns and Wild West print textiles, all of which is set against a palette of orange and brown hues. Finally, Kid's Kingdom offers a host of playful and colourful options for little ones. Personally I'm feeling drawn to the burnt orange hues of Mountain Retreat, how about you?

// H&M Home

Sunday's Bright Links No. 88: Orange

Elsewhere

This post made me want to shop at the farmers' market.

Excited for my friend Kayla who has launched a new photography business.

A beautiful wedding in sunny Provence.

So excited to make these Nutella Popsicles!

Awesome infographic showing a year being freelance.

Super fun free printables.

This cookbook trailer made me smile.

Bright.Bazaar

Mr. Bazaar baked chocolate chip cookies and more!

Store Tour: The Conran Shop, London (love these beach huts so much!).

Three ways to style up a bedroom.

Ferm Living's A/W 2012 collection.

A few of my snaps from Italy last year.

Serena Mitnik-Miller watercolours.

Super cute and colourful kitchen accessories from Our Workshop.

Bloomingville's colourful new A/W 2012 collection.

// The Foundary

Three Ways To Style Up A Bedroom

BEDROOM | ONE | TWO | THREE

BEDROOM | ONE | TWO | THREE

BEDROOM | ONE | TWO | THREE

Given we spend almost half our life in our bedroom, it's worth while investing in the space for ultimate comfort and style - a style that suits our personal taste and vibe. I've pulled together three bedroom schemes using products from HomeMint. Up first is Beach Vibe, with a gentle nod to coastal style this bedroom consists of fresh, crisp whites interspersed with graphic stripes and linen textures with red and blue details. The second, Relaxed Loft, is an altogether different space, one that marries masculine and feminine tones: jet black bedding in a loose fit linen creates this vibe. The low-level bed and casually propped up art works is perfect for this warehouse-style loft space. The third and final bedroom, Rustic Romantic, is another fusion of styles. The overarching romantic theme created by soft white linens and gentle grey walls, is given an offbeat edge thanks to the metal bedstead and Tolix chair. I would add a rustic console table and some bright textiles to keep this space feeling current. On balance, my favourite is Beach Vibe but which of these HomeMint bedroom schemes takes your vote, folks?

// Partnered HomeMint post, all choices Mr. Bazaar's own.

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

IKEA - New Rustic Style Inspired Pieces

This small collection of rustic style products from IKEA was inspired by public spaces and workspaces that date from the 1880’s to the 1920’s like farms, factories, and schools. The look is created by using materials and designs that are honest, long lasting and utilitarian. In fact, IKEA are saying this a style that's simple, imperfect, yet personal - pretty spot on, I think. They have created pieces using long-lasting materials like pine, clay, ceramics, natural fibres and lacquered metal, wool, cotton, sheepskin and linen. Then they've finished them with accent colours like faded red, turquoise, muted yellow and green – all still visibly popular in today’s houses that dot the Swedish landscape. You'll see how they've used textiles like cushions, rugs and throws that use visible stitching, coarse weaves and raw edges, creating an unrefined look. Personally, I like how they've shown how rustic style can be expressed differently across the home. In the living room they've shown how darker tones of blue and black and can combine with natural materials like rattan for a cosy atmosphere. Yet, in the bedroom, the rustic look becomes lighter and more industrial with strong metal pieces mixed with crisp, white linens. Which rustic style is for you, folks?
// IKEA | Products shown FJELL wardrobe and bedside table; BJÖRNLOKA cushion covers; BYHOLMA chair; LILLESAND bed frame; ODDVAR stool; SIBBARED picture - all should be instore from August 2012.