Top lifestyle books for Summer

May 30, 2017

With summer upon us, you may be taking a little bit of time out, so it's the perfect excuse to indulge in some beautiful inspiring books while you kick back. I've gathered a few faves that I definitely think are worth checking out, with varying themes - from Instagram help to modern craft projects to London shopping tips...

A Year Between Friends by Maria Alexandra Vettese & Stephanie Congdon Barnes

I reviewed Maria & Stephanie's first book A Year of Mornings previously and loved it, so was excited to get my hands on their latest offering. A Year Between Friends has a similar feel to their first book - gorgeous every day photography from the lives of two friends, but this time it has a more practical element added in. Recipes, craft ideas and tips on wellbeing flow through the book and the seasonal journey it takes you on. We follow Maria's pregnancy as it progresses, and share in her joy at the birth of her daughter mid way through the book. It is a heart warming read, full of appreciation for domesticity and creativity, and the celebration of true friendship.

Published by Abrams. Order here.

Sunshine Spaces by Beci Orpin

I'm just loving the cover of Beci Orpin's fourth DIY book, it seems to exude happiness! Once you delve inside, you'll feel totally inspired by the gorgeous photography and fun design too. So, even if you never make any of the projects, it's simply a beautiful book to flick through regardless. BUT, the chances are you will want to make many of Beci's nature inspired ideas, as there are so many great ones! They seem straightforward and all are cool, modern projects - not a twee craft idea in sight! Make a macramé camping chair, a picnic blanket or pet rocks with the kids, all in on-trend Beci Orpin style!

Published by Hardie Grant books. Order here.

Living with Plants by Sophie Lee

I don't know about you, but my plant habit has been escalating lately, with varying levels of success, but I do feel like my plant care skills have improved some what. There's still much to learn though, and this guide by Sophie Lee, owner of Geo Fleur is a good place to start. As well as lots of pretty plant-filled imagery to pore over, Sophie explains how to choose the right plants for your home, takes a closer look at some of the most popular varieties and shares lots of practical tips for caring for your plants. I shall be studying this closely in my quest for houseplant heaven!

Published by Hardie Grant books. Order here.

The Scandinavian Home by Niki Brantmark

This book is kind of a no-brainer for me. I LOVE Niki's blog My Scandinavian Home - it is jammed packed of some of the most inspiring homes I've ever come across, so a book filled with the same MUST be in my collection! And it certainly doesn't disappoint - I literally want to scrutinise every single page, gleaning ideas that might just make my home as effortlessly chic as the ones featured. It's also made me yearn for a trip to the Nordic countries more than ever, in the hope that some of their natural style will rub off on me!

Published by Cico Books. Order here.

Read This If You Want To Be Instagram Famous by Henry Carroll

Lastly are two small format books, the first which claims to be your guide into Instagram fame. It's title certainly does grab you if you are as Instagram obsessed as I am! Whether reading it will actually bring you those millions of followers you dream of is yet to be seen, but it is at the very least, an interesting insight into the people who are making it big on the app. Tips from 50 top Instagrammers are interspersed with technical advice on things like composition, using hashtags and how to make money from your feed. It is definitely worth a read if you are having a creative lull and need a inspiration boost, plus you'll discover some ace accounts to follow too.

Published by Laurence King. Order here.

Shop London by Emma McCarthy

I obviously love any book that's about shopping, particularly when it's about my own city and the independent shops to be discovered there. There's been many of these types of guides published over the years, but they can become outdated as shops close or change, so I like to pick up newer versions like this to see what's new on the retail scene. Saying that, the shops featured in this book aren't necessarily new, but they've been carefully handpicked by Emma (deputy fashion editor of the London Evening Standard), for being the most talked about, tucked away and unique retail spots in the city. It's a must for anyone visiting London, but also for those of us who've lived here for years, but are still discovering its hidden gems.

Published by Frances Lincoln. Pre Order here.

So, that's what's on my shelves right now, I know I'll be dipping into these books regularly for creative inspiration! What's on your reading list this summer?

Two books to quietly inspire

July 20, 2016

Being a working mum of a toddler severely affects your free time in general, but I've found it particularly diminishes the time I have to read.. So when I can steal an hour or two, whether it's on a solo train journey, or a rare moment when my 'to do' list has become blank (pretty much never!) I do enjoy to spend that time either with a gripping novel or an inspiring creative book.

I'm often asked as an editor and blogger who I am inspired by, and I always say, without a doubt - other creatives. And when asked where I find inspiration, my answer is usually - from the books, blogs, homes and lives of said creative people. So these two books I recently treated myself to, absolutely hit the nail on the head for me as truly inspiring reads. Both are penned by creative women who started blogging as a means of expression, and it was this activity that later led them to many great adventures and projects. Very similar to my own experience.

I read Fine Little Day by Elisabeth Dunker in one sitting during a train journey and was blown away by her openness and her effortless creativity. She talks of her childhood obsession with her camera and taking what we now call 'selfies' as well as her slightly haphazard and spontaneous approach to blogging. I felt a real affinity with Elisabeth's story, and how she has got to where she is today - no solid plan, just going with the flow and following the creative path as it unfolds in front of her.

The book itself is mainly photographs, interspersed with narrative from Elisabeth, explaining her love of collecting certain items, snippets from her home, simple craft projects and moments from family life. Heart warming and endearing, both through Elisabeth's honest words and beautiful photographs, it made me yearn to step into her shoes for a day to experience what seems a very free way of living creatively.

The other book is A Year of Mornings. This book was actually published in 2008, so I am VERY late to the party on this one! In fact, authors Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes, are soon to publish another book entitled Year Between Friends: 3191 Miles Apart (*quick;ly adds to wish list!)

3191 Miles Apart is the name of the blog the two ladies set up as a collaborative photography project at the end of 2006. Separated by 3191 miles, Maria in Portland, Maine and Stephanie in Portland, Oregon, the two found they had a creative connection that surpassed the distance between them. A love of early mornings and for capturing the simplicity and beauty of daily life, they embarked on a project to snap and share one photo every morning for a year.

Apart from the foreword and introduction, this book is purely a photographic essay of the two woman's respective lives on opposite sides of the US. But no words are required, as the narrative that runs through the images, categorised by the seasons, is enough to tell the story. It takes me back to my time studying photography at university when I was highly influenced by photographers who captured those mundane moments in life, yet made them beautiful. After an evening absorbing the imagery, I felt lighter and happier in myself. It is a reminder that even with all the tragedy and sadness in the world today, it is those tiny magical moments of every day life that we must notice and cherish. Whether that is a shaft of bright sunshine streaming across your kitchen table, a sweet handwritten note left by a child or hearing a favourite song on the radio, these simple pleasures must be treasured - and Maria and Stephanie have expressed this perfectly through their project. I can't wait for their next book.

Are there any books that have quietly inspired you and left you reflecting on it weeks after reading it? I'd love to hear your suggestions - I definitely need more of these moments in my life!

All photos: Caroline Rowland

WIN! My book PLUS Oh Hello Friend goodies!

March 21, 2016

As so many of you entered my Shopkeepers Home bumper giveaway before Christmas, I thought I'd give you another chance to win a copy of my book as well as some other lovely goodies! I'm afraid it's not quite as bumper as the last time, but still, it's a bag full of beautiful goodies nonetheless, all courtesy of Oh Hello Friend - a gorgeous shop, featured in the book - based in the sunny state of California!

Owner Danni, has such great style, her home is full of beautiful vintage finds and like me, (and I'm sure a lot of you guys!) she is a big stationery fan! She has sent me this little bundle of goodies for one lucky Patchwork Harmony reader to win! Here's a closer look at some of the things included...

And of course you will also win a copy of The Shopkeepers Home. So, how can you enter?! All you have to do is read all the details below, including the terms and conditions, to find out!

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a great chance of winning you can enter in a few different ways, one entry per method per person, so you basically you have 4 chances of winning:

- Comment on this blog post, telling me why you'd love to win The Shopkeepers Home book. Please leave your email address so you can be contacted if you win (or leave your comment here then email me at info@patchworkharmony.co.uk with your contact details with the subject line WIN SHOPKEEPERS HOME - BLOG ENTRY)

- Follow me on Instagram and regram the giveaway image - please include @patchworkhrmy and #winshopkeepershome in your caption.

- Like The Shopkeepers Home Facebook page and share the giveaway post, ensuring you tag in 'The Shopkeepers Home' page too.

- Follow @p atchworkhrmy on Twitter and tweet your entry using this link.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

- Giveaway closing date is 4th April 2016 at 23:59pm. Entries after this are not counted.

- The giveaway is open to worldwide readers.

- Entries can be submitted via the four options listed above, giving each person four chances to win, but only one entry per method will be accepted per person.

- The giveaway image on Instagram & Facebook should not be changed, edited or defaced when regramming or sharing. Entrants who do so will be disqualified.

- Failure to follow entry guidelines as above will result in that entry not being accepted.

- All prizes are non-transferable, non refundable and non negotiable. No cash alternative is available for any prize.

- The winner and runners up will be chosen at random on the 6th April 2016, and will be notified shortly after this date. If the winner has not provided an email address or can not be contacted through social media or via email by 15th April 2016, we reserve the right to select another winner at random.

- Prizes will be shipped from the UK by 30th April 2016, using the most affordable shipping method available.

- The decision in respect of all matters to do with the giveaway will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

- By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

- The giveaway and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.

My book launch at Drink, Shop & Do

December 4, 2015

Not long after my book published in October, I gathered a few friends and colleagues together on a Wednesday evening in London to celebrate its launch. I really wanted it to be held in one of the featured shops, and was chuffed when the lovely Kristie of Drink Shop and Do offered to host it.

After all the hours beavering away at my computer researching, coordinating photoshoots and writing the copy it was really nice to have an evening to celebrate its completion with my nearest and dearest as well as my colleagues at Jacqui Small, some of the featured shopowners and blogger friends! Thank you so much to everyone who popped along!

Fellow recently published author and 91 Mag contributor Leigh Metcalf chatting with Sonia of The Old Haberdashery.

Susan, owner of lovely shop Loop, featured in the book.

Sonia, owner of The Old Haberdashery - also featured.

Me with some of the featured shopkeepers. L to R: Sonia of The Old Haberdashery, Me, Susan of Loop, Lisa of Sew Over It and Kristie of Drink, Shop & Do.

It was such a lovely evening, and topped off by the news that Anthropologie are stocking the book! Has anyone spotted it in there yet? I must make the trip and see it! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever having a book for sale in there! ;)

Finally a massive thank you to Siobhan Watts who took all of the above photographs. Siobhan agreed to come at quite short notice to take some pics and I'm so pleased as it really is lovely to have a record of my first ever book party! :)

Pop up book shop

October 28, 2015

As we try to get our heads round packing up all our stuff to move house in the next few months, I've decided to start clearing out bit by bit. It seems sensible to take less rather than more with us right?!

I decided that my book collection needs to be downsized, so I've decided to open a little pop up shop on the 91 Magazine website where I will be selling some of my books at super cheap prices. Basically the prices you see on there are exactly what you will pay (no P&P) added on at the till. And really what I am charging is really just covering postage and packaging, and generally the books should be cheaper than what you will find them on Amazon for.

My collection is all interiors and crafts books and at the moment there are 17 titles on there, ranging from £3 - £8. The majority are in 'AS NEW' condition - but you will find details of this on each listing.

I plan to leave the shop open until January, and then after that any books remaining will probably go to the charity shop, as I'm hoping we'll be moving sometime soon after that!!

PLEASE NOTE: I only have one copy of each book, and there are no returns I'm afraid. Sales are to UK customers only.

If you have any questions, email me at info@91magazine.co.uk

Happy book shopping! Visit the book shop now

Top Interior & craft books for A/W 2015

October 20, 2015

I know there's been a lot of book talk on my blog of late, but there are lots of lovely books out at the moment which I think are worthy of your Christmas wish list. So here are a few of my faves! And of course I couldn't write a post about my top books for Autumn/Winter 2015 without mentioning my own! But I will direct you to my recent 'It's published!' post for more info on that!

Winter Living by Selina Lake

Selina's latest book is seasonally relevant and one you'll be able to go back to year after year, as it is packed full of lots of lovely ideas for cosying up your home and preparing with winter and the festive season. As in her last book, Outdoor Living, there are lots of little DIY makes scattered throughout the book to recreate some of the looks Selina has styled.

As well as a Winter Inspirations section, the rest of the book is categorised into looks - Homespun Charm, Faded Grandeur, Rustic Retreat, Winter Whites and Festive Celebrations, so you will definitely find ideas to suit your home.

The photography by Debi Treloar is stunning as always, so this book is a total feast for the eyes, to be enjoyed in front of a stylish wood burning stove of course! Buy Winter Living now. Selina Lake Winter Living by Selina Lake, photography by Debi Treloar, published by Ryland Peters & Small

Vintage Home by Judith Miller

I mentioned in a post a while ago about my growing love for mid century furniture, and how it can be incorporated into today's interiors. This new book from antiques expert Judith Miller not only looks at mid-century, but gives you a comprehensive round up of 20th century design as a whole, with the sections looking at Deco World, New Look and New Moderns. It is full of historical info and designer background details, so incredibly useful for anyone interested in or working in the design world, but not only this, it demonstrates how to use these pieces of design in the modern home.

I loved seeing how some of the more extravagant and over the top designs have been incorporated into people's homes, and has also improved my knowledge of some of the most noteworthy designers of our time. Buy Vintage Home now. Images extracted from Vintage Home by Judith Miller. Published by Jacqui Small (£30)

London Stitch and Knit by Leigh Metcalf

Regular 91 Magazine contributor and super crafty lady Leigh Metcalf has created a book which is a must for all London based crafters as well as anyone visiting the capital who has a penchant for haberdashery supplies. This book is a comprehensive guide to all the crafting shops in every neighbourhood of the city, as well as a few out of town ones, which Leigh felt required a notable mention.

As well as being mega useful, this book is also really beautiful to read. The photographs are all taken by Leigh herself and the design and illustrated maps are just stunning, with a really tactile feel, perfectly matched to the subject matter.

Make sure to follow along on Leigh's crafty and family adventures on her blog Found Now Home too, she is super inspiring! Buy London Stitch and Knit now. London Stitch and Knit by Leigh Metcalf is published by Black Dog Publishing.

Chic Boutiquers at Home by Ellie Tennant

The follow up to Ellie Tennant's first book 'Design Bloggers at Home' is along the same vein, and in the same beautiful style, but this time ventures into the home of online shop owners.

106_RPS_1791_Chic Boutiquers_0001_1200.jpg

It is split into 4 categories - Designers, Makers, Curators and Launch your own Chic Boutique. I love the format as each shop owner is given their own section, meaning you can see the images of their home as a set rather than jumbled together and it also gives little fact files on each shop too. The last section is super practical - with lots of advice from both Ellie and the featured shop owners on how to go about setting up shop online.

There are some really stunning homes in here, and it's one of those interiors books which I actually want to read from cover to cover as I want to find out more about the shop owners lives and homes. Buy Chic Boutiquers at Home now. Chic Boutiquers at Home by Ellie Tennant, photography by James Gardiner, published by Ryland Peters & Small

Creative Children's Spaces by Ashlyn Gibson

This book is also a follow up book, this time from Ashlyn Gibson. I loved her first book Creative Family Home, even before I had Ruby, and now this book is filling me with so much inspiration for future spaces for her. I love the play tent above made from vintage doilies, and really want to make one of these beds in the below shot when Ruby is older and out of her cot!

The sections of the book look at things like clever storage, den, hideaways and play zones, and snug bedrooms, each with a 'feature home' within them.

There are so many clever and fun ideas to steal that look cool and that the kids will love. And to be honest, even if you don't have children, there is still loads of inspiration for things like work spaces, storage and displaying art. But it is a must if you strive to incorporate your family life into your decor. Buy Creative Children's Spaces now. Creative Children’s Spaces by Ashlyn Gibson, photography by Ben Robertson, published by Ryland Peters & Small

I'd love to hear which of these books you'll be adding to your wish lists, alongside The Shopkeepers Home of course! ;)

my book: it's finally published!

October 15, 2015

Hurray! Today is the official publication date of my book! It has been months and months of work to get to this point, so forgive me if I have bleated on about it a lot lately! While it's been on Amazon to pre-order for quite a while, there is nothing quite like seeing the book in an actual shop, so you might just find me stalking out my local bookshops today making sure it is in a prominent position! haha!

While I do love a spot of online shopping while curled up on the sofa, I'm still a MASSIVE fan of 'real life' shopping. Not only being able to hold objects in your hands, but also the style of the shop, the smell and the atmosphere all contribute to a great shopping experience, and no one can deny that retail therapy buzz when leaving a shop clutching a bag filled with goodies! That is why this book was a total no brainer for me - as well as the shopping aspect, it combines with my love of interiors, and it is true that the owners of the beautiful shops featured, also take the same care and attention when creating their own home.

The blog tour just finished yesterday, so rather than share any more images from the book today, I'm going to direct you to the seven lovely bloggers who were involved so you can read their words and see what their favourite images/shops/homes were from the book.

Decor8 - a Q&A with me about creating the book

Yvestown - Yvonne talks about what she loves about the book & announces some of her own shop related news.

Lobster and Swan - Jeska picks out her favourite images from the shops and homes around the world.

Apartment Apothecary - Katy focuses in on the shop & home that inspires her the most - The Hambledon - which is the one featured on the cover of the book.

Makelight - Amazing photographer Emily has taken some beautiful pictures of her favourite spreads from the book, giving you a sense of the book design as well as the photography.

At Home in Love - Aileen selects her three favourite shops and home from the book.

Happy Interior Blog - and finally, Igor ends the tour with a beautiful summation of the book's concept and a great choice of images.

If this isn't enough to whet your appetite, then you can also view more in the special issue of 91 Magazine I created, featuring a little peek inside the book!

If you pre-ordered a copy, you will probably be receiving it today, so do let me know what you think and share any pics on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook with #theshopkeepershome and tag me in @91magazine (I also have a page on Facebook just for the book)

oh, and I have a SUPER exciting giveaway planned for next week that is going to blow your socks off! The top image here is a little hint to it, but do keep your eyes peeled for the details as I promise you will not want to miss it! :)

thank you for all the lovely comments and messages of support, it means SO much to hear that you like the idea of the book enough to spend your hard earned cash on it! I hope it will bring lots of enjoyment and inspiration! If you would like to order a copy, here is the link to buy it now!

Munich trip: Day 1

September 14, 2015

A few months back I was contacted by German book publisher Callwey to inform me I had been nominated for their 'Best of Interior Blog Awards' - which was a shock and an absolute honour. The more i found out about it, the more exciting it got. First there was the fact they were producing a book in conjunction with the awards that would feature all of the 15 nominated bloggers images and profiles, and then that I was invited to Munich to attend a day of workshops and the awards ceremony!

So on Friday morning, I leapt (read: dragged) myself out of bed at 3am and made my way to Heathrow. What made this trip even more exciting was that 3 other UK bloggers were also nominated - Jeska from Lobster and Swan, Kimberly of Swoonworthy and Tiffany of Curate and Display. I've either met, worked with or collaborated with all three of these ladies in the past, but had never spent a great deal of time with them in person, so the chance to do this made it all the more fun! Our first stop of the day was The Nymphenburg Porcelain factory where we were to have a tour.

What I love about these kinds of tours, is getting a 'behind the scenes' of the creative workspaces that are around every corner, and this was a particularly lovely one. Rather than looking at the finished pieces of pottery I found myself poring over the desks covered in paint, brushes, plants, personal items and half finished pieces!

After the factory tour we travelled over to the offices of our hosts - Callwey publishing house. Here we got a real insight into the book publishing world - a talk from the publisher herself - Marcella Prior-Callwey, a tour around the offices and talks from Farrow and Ball and Stefanie Luxat, who is one of Callwey's bestselling Interiors authors.

I think as most Interior bloggers love a moodboard we were all drawn to the wall they'd created representing their 'target customer' - which builds an entire fake persona around the lifestyle and interests they believe their target reader to have. This was really interesting to me, particularly in relation to 91 Magazine, but I think something that is relevant to all bloggers too, in terms of working out their target audience.

The day was completed by attending the awards ceremony which was held in Interiors shop Kokon. It was a wonderful evening, mingling with the other nominated bloggers from all over Europe. I absolutely knew that I would not be in with a chance of winning anything, as I had seen the standard of the other bloggers involved and was totally comfortable with the fact I was nowhere near as creatively strong as them! The talent in the room really was outstanding!

I was super happy for the lovely Kimberly of Swoonworthy, as she was awarded 'Best Creative Idea'. Kimberly has a super individual aesthetic that really encapsulates her personality and she is the QUEEN of DIY, transforming furniture and even making her own light fittings. If you don't know her blog, pop over to Swoonworthy, it is a fun loving, colourful and inspiring place to be!

There were two other award winners, Anastasia Benko for Best Individual Style, and Mette Jakobsen for Interior Blog of the Year. I'd not came across these two blogs before, but I'm definitely going to be checking them out properly when I get some free time.

Once the winners had been announced, we finally had the chance to get our hands on a copy of the book. (the winners profiles were labelled with their awards, so we couldn't see before!) And honestly, it is gorgeous! The text is in German, but it doesn't matter too much as the visual inspiration is more than enough.

I can't tell you how immensely proud and honoured I am to have been included amongst these pages, alongside some AMAZING talent. It really does prove that bloggers are worth so much in this industry. Their creativity and ability to produce stunning styling and photographic work is truly impressive, especially when many bloggers are self taught at many of the skills needed to produce the content they do on a regular basis.

I hope to do a giveaway soon of the book, so do look out for that, as I promise, you will love it even if you don't speak German! :)

Next post, I will share the second day in Munich spent at gorgeous shop Room to Dream, which actually features in my book so you can get a little sneaky peek!

Living stylishly with kids

June 25, 2015

When I recently received an email about a new book called Design Mom: How to live with kids, a room-by-room guide, it really resonated with me. When you care a lot about how your home looks, it's a natural worry to wonder how all of the paraphernalia that comes with children will fit into your decor. Ruby is still young, so she doesn't have too much stuff just yet. I currently use boxes and baskets just to throw all of her toys into once she's gone to bed, but I'm sure this will change as she gets older and wants more things.

So this book by Gabrielle Stanley Blair, grabbed my interest. The book is full of lovely interior images that show you how to still have a lovely home with kids in the mix. It's broken down into bite size chunks; perfect for us mums who don't have extended periods of time to read - we can pick it up when we've got five minutes! Tips such as 'shoe storage is your best friend' and 'furniture that moves as quickly as your kids' will probably ring true with some of you. It also has some easy DIY projects thrown in which is really nice.

These are a few of my favourite images from the book to give you a taster. I love how there are clearly children living in these homes, but the owners have made it part of the space, rather than trying to hide it all away. It really is a lovely book that is practical as well as pretty. I'm sure I'll be referring to it for years to come!

178_A Sofa You Can Sink Into. Photo by Caroline Coehorst..jpg

114_Teach Your Kids to Cook. Photo by Meta Coleman.jpg

135_What about the Dining Room, Photo by the Land of Nod.jpg

24_Use Your Walls, Photo by Anna Napthali.jpg

145_Design a Room, Photo by Meta Coleman.jpg

191_Toy Storage, Photo by Heather Zweig, with stylist Jordan Ferney.jpg

Photo credits: 1: Caroline Rowland / 2: Caroline Coehorst / 3: Meta Coleman / 4: the Land of Nod / 5: Anna Napthali / 6: Meta Coleman / 7: Heather Zweig, with stylist Jordan Ferney

Inspiration - creative homes

April 14, 2015

I love seeing inside creative people's workspaces and homes, so I was really excited to hear about Emily Quinton's first book which has just published with Ryland Peters & Small.

Maker Spaces takes a peek inside the homes of artists, designers and makers in the UK, US and Europe including Sarah Hamilton, Donna Wilson, Inge Cremer and Anna Joyce.

As well as being lovely on the inside, this book is also beautifully bound on the outside. It's quite an unusual format, and maybe it's just the 'coffee table book geek' in me, but I really love how the cover is separate from the spine, and how it gives a contemporary and quirky look to the book. Surely books will never disappear from our world considering e-books could never replicate this aspect of publishing.

Here is a little peek inside at some of my favourite creative homes that Emily has featured in the book, including her own, which is the perfect space for a creative family such as hers.

If you fancy seeing a bit more, then pop over to Emily's website and order your copy asap!

Maker Spaces by Emily Quinton, photography by Helen Cathcart, published by Ryland Peters & Small (rrp £19.99)

More book related news - Shed Decor

January 23, 2015

Last year I worked on a really great freelance project for Jacqui Small Publishing. I was picture editor on a new book by Sally Coulthard, called Shed Decor, the follow up to Shed Chic which was published back in 2009. The book focusses this time on how to decorate the interior of your shed, garden room, summerhouse or outdoor studio. The book publishes next month in the UK, but I was really excited to receive my advance copy and finally see all our hard work in print!

Without wanting to blow my own trumpet in regards to my picture editing skills (!), but I really do love the cover image! The checkerboard floor!! and everything else in this image - just gorgeous.

Inside there are lots of great case studies of outdoor rooms from around the world, and styles to suit everyone - from rustic to retro to recycled. There are 'essentials' pages which share what elements you need to create the look, and the second half of the book then looks more closely at specific areas, such as lighting, flooring and furniture.

Working on this project really made me want a garden shed work room more than ever!! Here are a few of my favourite images from the book:

You can preorder your copy on Amazon now. Published by Jacqui Small Publishing.

pic credits: 1. Caroline Rowland 2-4. Carina Olander, 5. Lucas Allen, 6. Stellan Herner

My exciting news for 2015!

January 12, 2015

This time last year I revealed the news that I was expecting my first baby, and this January I have some more exciting news! No, not another baby just yet! This time it is a professional announcement rather than personal.

Back when I started blogging in 2008, interior inspiration came mainly from magazines and books. Blogs weren't really a 'thing' just yet, and Pinterest probably wasn't even a seed of an idea. So for me, I loved to leaf through beautiful interiors books, and I remember that some of the first that I bought were Selina Lake's Bazaar Style and Emily Chalmers Flea Market Style. I think these both greatly influenced the direction I wanted to go with my blog. Today, I have quite the collection of books, both interiors and crafts, and despite the abundance of content there is online these days, I still enjoy going back to my books for ideas or to simply sit down with a cuppa and enjoy flicking through the beautiful pages.

So it's with pure excitement that I am announcing the news that I am currently working on my very own interiors book to publish in Autumn 2015! I'm working with Jacqui Small Publishing, who have published books such as Holly Becker's Decorate series, Will Taylor's Bright Bazaar, Happy Home by Charlotte Hedeman Gueniau as well as craft titles like The Hand Stitched Home by Caroline Zoob and Giftwrapped by Jane Means.

I can't reveal what the theme of the book will be just yet, we are busy shooting at the moment, and things are coming together really well, so you will just have to stay tuned to find out more!

It's a very exciting time, and I can't wait to see my book gracing the shelves of my bookcase along with all these other great authors! Fingers crossed you will also want to add it to your collection too!

Displaying your Kitchenalia

September 17, 2014

When I'm at markets and car boots sales I am always drawn to vintage kitchenalia - enamelware, utensils, glassware, storage tins and the like. I'm not sure why, whether it's the variety of designs, colours and patterns that attract me, or the idea of open shelves with a collection of interesting items stacked high.

But the most important thing is knowing how to display these collected items so it looks stylish and not cluttered. So I was excited to see that Vinny Lee's latest book, aptly named - Kitchenalia - does just that. It is packed full of gorgeous kitchens and ideas for styling this frequently used room to perfection. These images give a little taster of what's inside the book...

A perfect book if you are planning a vintage style kitchen, or are just wondering what to do with all those flea market finds you've amassed!

You can get the book with £5 off using the below info:

To order Kitchenalia at the discounted price of £25.00 including p&p* (RRP: £30.00), telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code APG221. *UK only.