Interior Styling | Rustic Bathrooms

As we make the final decisions on the bathrooms for our new house, which are very simple and predominantly white, I can't help but be drawn to rustic styled bathrooms whenever I'm on the internet. There's something about the textural surfaces of concrete and wood that really appeal. The grey floor tiles we've chosen look a bit like slate, and I'd quite like to find a vintage wooden stool, but that's about as close as we're getting to rustic. If you're braver than I am and want to give this look a try, here are some inspiring images, starting with something I'm particularly fascinated with right now, concrete basins.

Concrete vanities create a bit a of drama and look especially earthy against white walls and modern ceiling lights.  

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I love the simplicity of raw wood. Thick cut, rough-hewn timber certainly adds plenty of warmth to a bathroom. To me, these bathrooms above work really well in terms of balance. The natural wood contrasts beautifully with the white walls, grey floor tiles and minimalist sinks, tapware and mirrors. I'm also crazy about large, rectangular counter top basins. If they're doubles, even better! 

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Either freestanding or built-in, a rustic wood bench is both stylish and practical.

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Finally, you can not underestimate the power of a simple wooden stool in adding a rustic touch to your bathroom. So easy to come by on auction sites or second-hand stores, a tree stump would also work really well!

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If you'd like to see more rustic style bathrooms, I have pinned loads to my bathroom board. Have a lovely weekend everyone. I'll see you back here on Monday with an exciting giveaway! 

Lumiere Art + Co

Since starting her label Lumiere Art + Co in 2010, artist Emma Cleine has been featured in numerous print publications. While I've been admiring her gorgeous art and homewares on the web for some time, reading her interview in the latest Inside Out magazine confirmed how in awe I am of her work. Previously the art department head teacher at a secondary school, Emma realised while on maternity leave that she was 'yearning to make things again', and soon after Lumiere Art + Co was born. Incredibly creative and versatile, Emma uses a range of techniques to achieve uniquely beautiful, yet functional design pieces including artworks, cushions, bedding and kitchenware.

Cushions and artworks from the Lace Mandala Series

Heat-setting cushions on the kitchen bench and practicing Shibori-dying techniques on the grass outside was the norm before moving into her studio space, where she's currently working on 'ice-dying' using buckets of ice, linen and dye. The results speak for themselves. Sold in over 30 retail outlets in Australia and NZ (yippee) Lumiere + Co has also been commissioned to work for major retailers, publishers, jewellers and art festivals. 

The modern designs of the Deco collection have been achieved through Shibori, a traditional Japanese Dyeing technique.  

The latest Collection Wish features beautiful colours and vibrant floral, botanical and geometric designs. 

Make sure you pop over to Emma's beautiful site to see the full range and to shop online. You'll also find info on international shipping and see the list of stockists. 

Interior Inspiration | Alvhem Makleri

You can always count on Alvhem Makleri, the Swedish Real Estate company I introduced you to here, to deliver some serious interior eyecandy of the Scandinavian kind. Which is why it's unusual that this is the first time I've popped over for a look in quite some time. The upside however, is that there are lots of new listings to swoon over and in typical Alvhem style, they all have loads of character and charm. Before I go on a pinning frenzy, I wanted to share some of the standout spaces with you. 
 

The living room in this home has a lovely sense of balance and harmony. Grounded by a striking rug, the superb placement of furniture, homewares and art has created a wonderfully pulled together, cohesive room. Striking monochrome interiors and a pop of bright colour always wins me over. The office chair is delightful!

I love the colour palette of this home which uses a lot of grey with touches of yellow and pink. The bedroom has a casual, relaxed feel with simple yet stylish bedding and furniture. Art, plants, a rug and throw add texture and make the room even more inviting.

This home is my favourite. The styling is simple and refined, anchored by an all-white canvas and a layering of playful yet understated design elements such as the lighting and clothing rail.

Taking inspiration from the images above, here are a few key products that will help you replicate the look and feel of these gorgeous Scandinavian interiors.

Links below images 

1 Wall Flip Clock by Karlsson from Let Liv
2 Linen Bedding from Cultiver
3 Series 7 Fritz Hansen Chair by Arne Jacobsen from Corporate Culture
4 Ikea Stockholm Rand Rug from Akia Homeware
5 222 La Gras Wall Light by DCW from Simon James Design
6 Ramsie Pillow Case Pair from Country Road Home
7 Clothing Rail by Annaleena from The Minimalist
8 Kartell Componobili Module from Small Acorns

StudioSarah

Despite the fact that these days we are attached to our laptops and smart phones, there's still something deliciously tactile and satisfying about writing notes and lists the old-fashioned way. Take me for example. In addition to the blog and my Pinterest boards, both of which record my design loves and inspirations, I always have at least two notebooks on the go. At the moment I have one for blog notes and one for our home build. Of course the prettier they are the better, so when I heard from Sarah Silver, a London-based graphic designer who has recently launched a gorgeous luxury stationery brand StudioSarah, my heart did a little flutter. I was instantly smitten with the fresh yet timeless designs of her notebooks and cards which feature pretty pastels and beautiful gold detailing. Already stocked in many retailers worldwide, it's easy to see why Sarah's products are being snapped up!

To find out about Sarah's journey so far, I asked her a few questions. 

You were born in London. Do you still live there and if so, what do you love about the city?

I've always been a Londoner and really couldn't imagine myself living anywhere else! It's such a diverse and interesting city with so much culture and heritage and there is always something interesting to do or see.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to launching StudioSarah?

As far as I can remember I have always had a love for paper goods and letter writing, and so it has always been a dream of mine to have my own line of stationery products. I trained as a graphic designer at the University of the arts (in London) and then went onto work as a designer for a magazine at Conde Nast before leaving to start my own business. I felt there was a real lack of stylish stationery, particularly in England, and so spotted a gap in the market which is when StudioSarah was born! I wanted to design luxurious products that I would want to use and send, with a real emphasis on quality and finish.

You have several collections. Which is your favourite and why?

It was a considered decision to launch StudioSarah with a clean capsule collection that has a strong identity and a signature style (touches of gold foiling and high end materials) where all the products relate to one another. I chop and change between having a favourite, but at the moment I would say it's the Desktop collection of notebooks which are currently taking over my desk as I seem to be using every colour!

What inspires you - international design, other creatives, the web, magazines etc?

I find that living in London is a great source of inspiration, as there is such a focus on art and design and a wealth of galleries and beautiful stores at your disposal. I would say I'm inspired by understated but beautiful design and so it can be anything from a great handbag or piece of packaging, to a lovely bit of typography. Fashion has always been great food for thought with such an array of amazing concepts, colours and textures to look at, and so I treasure my ever growing magazine collection. I have also more recently become a fan of Pinterest which is great for collating new ideas.

What are your goals for StudioSarah - where do you hope to be in five years time?

I would love to grow StudioSarah and expand my product range which I hope to do over the next few years. My ambitions are to become a well loved British brand and be the 'Celine' of the stationery world, known for well made, tasteful collections that people love using!



Pop over to Sarah's beautiful website to see her collections and stockists. 

Monday Mix Up | Local Finds

I've decided to kick start the week with a Monday Mix Up post today. I hope all you gorgeous Mums out there had a fabulous Mother's Day. Here's yesterday's moodboard in case you missed it on Facebook. Images via my Pinterest boards.



I love showcasing local talent and today I have a triple treat for you! 

Father Rabbit has been very busy lately adding even more gorgeous products to his collection of homewares and to celebrate he held an official launch at his General Store recently. When I got there I was met with so much loveliness, once again being reminded why I love that this beautiful online boutique now has its own retail space in Grey Lynn, Auckland. If you missed it, take a look at my write up on the store opening from last year.

New products include Reiss Kitchenware, a beautiful timeless range of enamelware that has been manufactured in Austria for over 200 years, and Barr Co, a natural all-American bath and body collection. There's the stunning new range of Telegram Lamps and Sort of Coal, a Danish company that uses a Japanese coal to naturally purify the air, water and body. Lastly, one of my faves, is the gorgeous range of Kids PJ's from G. Nancy featuring an adorable bunny print designed by Father Rabbit's Artist in Residence Angela McKay.

I'm a firm believer that natural is best when it comes to beauty and cleaning products, so when Hamilton based company The Green House got in touch recently asking if I'd like to try out some of their range, I jumped at the chance. Not only did the products arrive looking gorgeous thanks to beautiful packaging, they've been an absolute pleasure to use. 

Moisturiser is one of my everyday essentials, especially in Winter when my skin is prone to dryness and The Green House Hand & Body Lotion certainly didn't disappoint. Together with the Handcrafted Soap, these products are made with natural oils to leave the skin soft and hydrated. The yummy blend of citrus tones and classic lavender fragrance has also left my home smelling clean and inviting after using the Refreshing Room Spray. The All Purpose Cleaner definitely gets my tick. Entirely chemical free and infused with oils, it effectively cleans all household surfaces and is even safe enough to use on toys. Other products include soy candles, hand & body wash, bath salts and more. To see the full range and shop online (and receive free shipping when you spend $20 or more) pop over here. The Green House products are also available at many NZ retailers which you can check out here. 

Now living in New Zealand after four years spent working in Dresden, Germany for a wall deco company, graphic designer and artist Antony Clark recently started up his own decal business. Your Decal Shop offers a reusable matt finish wall decal that is completely removable. There is a great range of stylish designs to suit any room of the home, including a Custom Design Service. The Clock Decals are amazing and I'd love to get my hands on a Chalkboard Calendar! Aside from clock parts that Antony has sourced from Holland, all the design and manufacturing of the products are done right here in NZ. You can check out all the designs and shop online here.