Put Away the Purposeful Vase and Look For Something Different to Display Flowers

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Bored with glass vases, the thought of re-purposing vintage items or using china designed for other purposes seems a fun way to display flowers. Vintage teapots, trophy's, tin cans, metal urns, milk jugs and glass bottles, can all be used to display a bloom or blooms...

Swedish, Gustavian Antiques - Home Tour

Last year I featured a fabulous home decorated Gustavian style with Swedish antiques. Today I am posting some more images and filling you in a little on the background of Jo Lee and Madeleine's home which they share with their rare, Norwegian Forest cat, 'Uzu'.

Jo Lee and Madeleine moved from London to Hove and when decorating their home, chose a Swedish, Antique style as Madeleine is half Swedish and has been raised with this style. The house was originally Built in 1886 for a well known family who were supposedly friends of royalty.The original house has since been divided into 4 apartments and Jo's apartment is on the original 'ballroom floor'. In fact, what is now Jo Lee's den was the original 'boudoir'. This was discovered when the door was removed for sanding and they found the original craftsman's name and signature inside the frame with a note saying "boudoir". The house has magnificent marble fireplaces in every room. The original Flame oak parquet floors remain, along with the original wall and ceiling moldings. Hand carved door frames and architraves are also still intact.

In the basement of their home lies a butlers pantry, plate room, cheese room and wine cellar and their piece de resistance is the 40 foot balcony overlooking the sea. Decorated with Swedish antiques from Jo Lee's antique and interior design business, this home is just stunning. I hope you enjoy these extra images. If you wish to learn more about Jo's antiques or interior design business, please visit their website at www.swedishinteriordesign.co.uk. they have some fabulous antique Gustavian furniture and after only 8 years are now No. 1 in Europe for Swedish Mora clocks, Gustavian, Biedermeier and art deco antiques.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of Jo Lee and Madeleine's fabulous home. You can catch up on the previous post and lots more images...here. 

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Beautiful Painted Shabby Chic Furniture

Recently I featured some diy painted furniture in my post on Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint™ and today I am staying on this subject, however this time not diy. Notation Furniture are a company who have a unique range of  ready made, hand painted furniture. I realise the idea of my previous post was to get people painting furniture, but not everyone considers themselves artistic or wants to pick up a paintbrush. If you are one of those people that shys diy, then you might want to read on as Notation have some beautiful hand painted pieces worthy of sharing.

Notation Furniture are based in the UK and recommended by the 'Good Web Guide'. They have a wide range of solid oak, walnut and mahogany furniture all beautifully hand crafted. I was particularly drawn to their shabby chic range designed by Peter Shell. Each piece is unique having been individually hand painted, no two pieces are alike. From subtle baby blues to bolder colours, flowers to flags each piece makes a statement. My favourite has to be their union jack chest of drawers, both my boys were born in the UK and I know they would love this piece. And, if your not partial to flowers or flags, they also have some beautifully distressed, hand painted neutral pieces such as their Roosevelt sideboard as seen below.

 Painted detail

Notation Accent Kadzu Chest

Notation Accent Kadzu Side Table

Notation Accent Union Jack Chest of drawers

Notation Accent Green Acres wide chest of drawers

Notation Accent Roosevelt Sideboard

Notation Accent Balloon Table

Notation Accent Fayence Shabby Chic chair in solid mahogany with a rush seat

If  you want to know more about Notation Furniture, you can visit their website or contact them by email;

Email: sales@notationfurniture.co.uk 

Eclectic, retro interior

I am still waiting for some of my furniture to complete the makeover of my guest bedroom, so meanwhile I am delighted to share an eclectic and colourful interior. Retro, vintage with a touch of Bohemian would be my description of this interesting home.

 When you have white walls and couches, it is so easy to add colour with cushions and rugs.

 A truly eclectic mix.

 A mix of bar stools in this simple kitchen layout.

 Blue is "oh so pretty! Without giving my age away, anyone remember enamel breadbins?

A striking Mexican mirror.

I love the traditional wood chair repainted in bright pink.

 Touches of blue.

 Scraps of wallpaper create an interesting patchwork wall.

 That lovely pink again.

 An eclectic mix of colour and pattern.

 A simple way to display artwork.

Still in trend, desk lamps for bedside reading.  The pop of pink is a surprise in the blue and white bedroom.

I love these old stretched oils.

Images copyright jjlocations. This home is available for photo and film shoots through jjlocations.

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A Vibrant Eclectic Interior With a Vintage Feel

I've been looking for an interior to share this week that is a little out of the ordinary and when I stumbled upon this home at JJ locations, I just had to share it with you.  The house is an 8 bedroom Victorian villa set in 2 acres of gardens. Clever use colour, patchwork fabrics and wallpaper, along with an eclectic mix of furnishing has created a comfortable vintage feel to this unusual interior. 

This vibrant home in Somerset, UK is available for film/photo shoots, see more images of this unique interior at JJ locations.

High Tea - Vintage Love

Just a short post today, sadly my mum passed away on Monday 6th August after a long battle with cancer. I am thankful, however,  that I could be there for her until the end holding her hand, and that she is no longer suffering.  I will be back posting regularly next week. My mum loved her porcelain and silver so today I'm  sharing some vintage images of items I know she would love...

Collages designed by Lee Caroline, photographs from Style Me Pretty.

My mother had many beautiful possessions similar to the ones above, never locked away but always brought out and used as they should be. 

Thank you to all my lovely subscribers who left touching comments on my last post.

I'll be back with more interior design, great recipes and inspiration from the blogasphere in a weeks time. 

A Country Kitchen & Shabby Chic Wallpaper From Paper Room

Recently I came across this quaint kitchen via House of Locations, I thought it an eclectic mix of quirky and country and couldn't resist sharing with you. I love the idea of papering the back of an old hutch dresser and the pretty T light chandelier.

Paper the back of an old dresser with gorgeous shabby chic style papers by Eijffinger and available from Paper Room. 

Love these two papers above, think they would look fab at the back of an old hutch dresser.  Paper room have a wonderful selection of unusual wallpapers.

A selection of my favourite wallpapers can be seen on my Pinterest board or you can check out lots more designs at Paper Room