Styling a Bed - How to and Tips

Whether your approaching winter or spring, there is no better time to give your bedroom a new look. I don't mean totally re-decorating, making simple changes to your bed linen and the way you dress your bed can give a fresh, new look to your private oasis.

A Cotswold Country House Renovation

The Cotswolds is one of my favourite places to visit in the UK, in fact my mothers sister used to live in a wee cottage in Bourton on the Water, a picture post card village in the most picturesque part of England. I loved wandering around Bourton and the surrounding villages looking at all the quaint cottages and grand manor houses, so when I spotted this Cotswold country house, I couldn't resist sharing it.

Achieving The Perfect Nights Rest with Sleepyhead Sleep Solutions

Achieving a restful nights sleep is paramount to our well being and recently I learnt that it is not just about a good mattress and restful surroundings, there are other reasons we may not be sleeping well. 

HGTV Fresh Faces of Design 2015 - Nominated Master Bedroom from Blackband Design

I was excited to recently discover my favourite US Designers, Blackband Design were nominated for HGTV Fresh Faces of Design 2015 in the Master Bedroom category for this Bayshore project.

What the Best Dressed Beds are Wearing

Anthropologie John Robshaw Nami Duvet 

Staying on the topic of bedrooms, I wanted to explore some of the latest bedlinen designs and see what some of the designers are up to when it comes to creating an inviting place to rest your head.

Overdue Update on Master Bedroom

I have been promising a reveal of my master bedroom for some time now. The delay is several things of which I am sure you don't want to hear all my excuses, however the main one is I have simply run out of money to complete the room. The main part such as the shutters behind the bed, side tables and bed linen, are now in place so I thought I had better post an update.

Pillowtalk - Ideas For Creating an Inviting Bed

Above: Anna Carin Design - Photography by Amanda Prior

Are you a stacker, or do you prefer your pillows upright? Do you mix and match patterns and textiles or prefer plain, do you co-ordinate or contrast? How many pillows/cushions do you prefer, four, five or more? Or, maybe this all sounds far too complicated. There is no right or wrong way to dress a bed, however there is definitely a way of making a bed look more inviting, so I set out to discover some well dressed beds.

Update on Master Bedroom - A Peek At My New Cushions, Headboard and Wall Colour

I promised an update of the progress of my master bedroom, I wanted to give you a glimpse of my new headboard and cushions. My shutters have just been installed, however I want to wait until the full reveal to share these properly.

A Bohemian Style Bedroom and Gabryel Harrison's Atmospheric Roses Painting - Plus a Peek at My Latest Peony Painting

It has been some time since  have featured an artist on the blog, however while looking for some interiors to share, I came across a colourful condominum and immediately recognised the artists work as New Zealand born, Gabryel Harrison.

Master Bedroom Project Underway - Blue and White Hamptons/Coastal Look

Above: My inspiration from my Houzz and Pinterest boards

My latest home project is my master bedroom which I am keen to paint a soft, clear blue but finding the right shade of blue has become quite a challenge. I have paint swatches all over my walls but none are that perfect shade for my room. I have narrowed it down to two Porters colours, either French Grey or Ice. French grey is subtle and a little dirty, while Ice is a clear baby blue but maybe a little strong for me in depth. However, While I ponder the right shade of blue, I want to share my inspiration, mood board and a few options I have for bed linen and accessories.

Bedroom Inspiration - Designers do it with colour and pattern

Monday's post was bedroom inspiration, monochromatic schemes that were peaceful and inviting. However, I realise some might prefer a little colour, possibly you have a bedroom that doesn't receive much sunlight and you want to add some life and make it more inviting. For me, one of the simplest ways to brighten a bedroom is by painting the walls a neutral colour and adding colourful bedlinen such as cushions and a duvet or gorgeous accent throw. Curtains are another way of brightening your room, however a colourful pattern on curtains makes it a little more difficult to change things around and I love to update my bedlinen seasonally. When it comes to using colour in a bedroom you need to tread carefully but be a little adventurous and the following designers do it with panache.

A Mix of Beautiful Bedrooms - Monochromatic

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More often than not, the interior design of our bedrooms can be a little neglected compared to other areas in our homes. However, considering we spend around 26 years of our life sleeping, it is clear to me they should be seen as one of the most important rooms. A bedroom should be a restful safe haven, beautifully decorated in a style that you feel comfortable with. Decorating a bedroom however, can be a little bewildering with the vast choice of colours, bedding and furniture around. 30 years ago you would never have found such creative use of fabrics, wallpaper and furnishing that we see today, so yesterday I set out on a mission to look for some inspiring ideas that might help if you are thinking of re-decorating this part of your home.

Creating a Restful Bedroom - Week One

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When planning to decorate a bedroom, it is important that certain elements of design are followed to achieve a welcoming and restful haven. I am planning to re-decorate my small master bedroom and created a list of points to help when planning this space. As I want to use a number of images to illustrate these points, I have decided to blog this post in a few parts. Please note, the is not a sponsored post so where I have referred to products or other websites, it is merely to help you with more information.

A Colourful Cottage and a Restored, New England Inn

Today is a public holiday in New Zealand, Queens Birthday weekend and my lucky friends are still away at their beach houses, we have remained home as we are lucky enough to be able to walk to the beach so I guess you could say, our "beach house is our home"☺. We have made the most of the sunny weather Saturday and Sunday with lots of Poppy walks. However, today is cloudy, cold and drizzly and driven me into my woolly socks, lots of layers and warm office looking for inspiration, which I found in two pretty cottages.

An Edgy Renovation - Part Two - Living Room & Bedrooms

My last post featured the kitchen of a Victorian house renovation, an edgy mix of traditional and contemporary furnishing and materials, a renovation with surprising twists and turns. Today I want to share a little more and I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

An Impromptu Photo Shoot With A Handsome Young Fellow & Two Guest Bedrooms

I was taking some impromptu photos at a friends house, when someone else wanted to get in on the action. Charlie decided to settle down on one of the beds and didn't look like he was in a hurry to move, how could I resist photographing such a handsome fellow...

An Eclectic Mix of Bedroom Headboard Inspiration - Thailand to France and a little contemporary

 Above Interior design by Cindy Rinfret (Headboard discovered on a trip to Thailand)

One of my most read posts features a little of my creative work where I used a pair of antique French shutters as a headboard above my bed. At the time I had just moved into my house and didn't have the money to spend on a luxury headboard. Along with all the other things that had to be bought, the shutters were the perfect temporary solution. Not only did they look effective but they added a country feel to my boxy bedroom. When I complete my home office (images to be posted next week), the next room to tackle is my bedroom of which I plan to purchase a headboard that will be my focus piece. I have been perusing the internet for inspiration and discovered some stunning examples, from grand and ornate to the more sedate, some my style, some not, however their uniqueness is appreciated

Colour + Pattern + Bedroom = Wow!

I am all for a restful interior, especially when it comes to bedrooms, however sometimes subtle and neutral can become too predictable. I remember a friend saying to me when she saw my rather safe, French grey Chalk Paint™ makeover, "when are you going to paint something with colour?" Ann is a talented NZ artist and I understood exactly where she was coming from. As an artist, I am a little reserved when it comes to using colour in my home. Don't get me wrong, I do love colour and currently testing out shades of blue for my study and bedroom. Clever use of colour is about creating a balance, however it can also be about making a statement. You don't always have to follow rules to create colourful spaces that work. The bedrooms below have combined colour and pattern with stunning results, and so I have dedicated this post to those of you who embrace both colour and pattern and can't get enough of it.

Above: Both bedspread and glass suspension lamp make a statement in this room

Above: A bold mix of colour and pattern

Above: White walls and contrasting florals give this bedroom the feeling of spring

Above: A slightly quirky, retro come boho feeling in this pretty room

Above: Another bold mix of colour that works fabulously with the white walls and floors

Above, if you love this look you can find out more about the products at The Home where Jen Bishop Talks about her style.

Above:  How could anyone feel down in a room with these colours

Images via: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7

Which reminds me, Ann, if you are reading this post, I would love to come out to Waiheke Island for a day and photograph your house and studio as I know my readers would love it.

More posts with colour:

A Colourful Bedroom Makeover - Blogger Jennifer of the Pink Pagoda transforms her daughters room

A Spanish Holiday Casa In Costa Del Sol - Home tour

A Belgian Artists Colourful Home - Tour an artists home

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend, Sunday in Auckland was probably the best day we have had all summer, not a breeze or cloud in the sky. I spent the day at Devonport wandering around the pretty seaside village and discovered the most delightful shop which I will elaborate on next week.

If you would like to see more colourful bedrooms, please check out my Pinterest board on colourful interiors. 

Lee oxo

Hooked On Hamptons - How to achieve this look in your home.

In the interior design and architectural world 'The Hamptons' is a familiar sounding word, but where are the Hamptons and what depicts this style? The Hamptons makes up a group of villages and hamlets in a seaside location on the South Fork of Long Island, New York. The area is popular with anyone who's anyone in New York. An historic location with a mix of original colonial homes and new builds replicating the colonial style. Think of grand portico's, pillars, shutters and shingles along with perfectly manicured gardens. For the interiors, designers have created a unique look, a style that works perfectly in this pretty coastal location. Light filled rooms with neutral walls, white washed or light toned wooden furniture combine with linens in soft accents such as pale blue, grey and beige uniting this look.

Hamptons Architectural style

Above: Aerin Lauder's South Hampton home via

East Hampton home via

Above: Proving Hampton style is worldwide, this Auckland home reflects a little Hamptons with its portico

Hamptons interior Style...

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Images via: 1|2|3|4|5

When I search 'Hamptons' the resulting images send me into a kind of dream like state, where my mind is mentally re-decorating every room in my house to achieve this light filled style. Who would have thought a location would become a style! I have never heard of anyone asking for 'Mission Bay' style, although Mission Bay is a seaside location. Recently I was informed, the front of my house (since its makeover), does look 'Remuera', so maybe the Auckland suburb of Remuera does have a distinct style. Regardless I took this as a compliment to my home. To those of you located outside New Zealand, Remuera is a prestigious suburb in Auckland although not near the beach.
Come to think of it, I wonder if there is a Notting Hill, Ohio or Sydney style. Nevertheless Hamptons is almost a dictionary style that has made its mark on interior design and architecture, worldwide.  

If this is your style you will certainly have fun trying to create a little Hamptons love in your home. Easily replicated without the millions required to reside in this prestigious location. You don't need a grand home to incorporate this light filled look to your interior. Take one bedroom, subtle neutral paintwork, white shutters or wide white wooden blinds, white washed furniture, the right toned linens and a few accessories and voila you have your own Hamptons escape!

Hamptons bedroom moodboard. Take some basic white furniture and add your accessories...

Above: Wardrobe, bed and drawers from the Coast range at David Phillips - Sesame square throw, also from the David Phillips range.

I hope you have enjoyed an introduction to Hamptons style. Next week I will be sharing the progress to date of the makeover of the front of my house, If you don't want to miss out, you may want to sign up for email updates over at the sidebar.

Lee oxo

Sharing this post at the following blog parties:

I should be Mopping the Floor
Alderberry Hill

The Dedicated House

A Stroll Thru Life

DIY Showoff
Ivy and Elephants

Savvy Southern Style

Not Just A Housewife

No Minimalist Here

The Real Housewives of Riverton

A Colourful Bedroom Makeover

Even though I live in neutral surroundings with the odd splash of colour, I adore colour and if I had a daughter most definitely her bedroom would be colourful. Jennifer of the The Pink Pagoda created exactly that for her 15 year old daughter when she took part in the recent 'One Room Challenge', set by fellow blogger Linda of Calling It Home. The objective was to complete a room makeover in 6 weeks and Jennifer chose her daughters bedroom for this challenge. While visiting Jennifer's blog I discovered she is also a fellow artist and her colourful images of ginger jars and modern chinoisere are available as prints at her Etsy store. To tempt you over to Jennifer's blog I have included only a couple of the lovely images of her completed room. Please visit The Pink Pagoda to see more beautiful images and find out more about the items Jennifer incorporated such as her bed linen, throw and the gorgeous painting above the bed which Jennifer had privately commissioned.

Images above by Albertina of Mimosa Lane

Jennifer's love of chinoiserie can be seen in her colourful artwork below... 

Visit Jennifer's store to see her full range of colourful prints

Recently I re-invented my previous studio into a guest bedroom which was not part of this challenge but you may enjoy the post if you love 'before and after' images. If you only love colour you may want to visit my Pinterest board on Colourful interiors for more inspiration.

To see all 60 rooms in this clever challenge, you can visit...here.

Lee oxo