{From Magazine to Market} Achieving a Nautical Look

 Top image by Oliver Gordon

There's always something cheerful, happy and upbeat about the famous nautical theme. Maybe it's because the look is a blend of both masculine and feminine energies. The colour palette of red, white and blue is strong and powerful and harmonious without being too abrasive to the eye. Today I was inspired by this chic-yet-simple nautical look photographed by Oliver Gordon for Ideal Home (many thanks to them for the inspiration!) To achieve the nautical look using simple home accessories, I've collaborated some of their market finds as well as a few of my own. Believe it or not, Amazon is a wonderful place to browse for many accessories that have a grassroots or "homegrown" touch that you may not find anywhere else. Also, don't forget about IKEA - you can always put slip-covers over their chairs to jazz them up and make them your own. Or buy accessories in red, white and blue tones and mix them up. What do you think of this nautical inspiration? I hope it makes you want to sail away!

Market Picks ~ 1. Coastal-themed crockery from Sainsbury's. 2. Cover your favourite chair in a slip-cover from Bemz. // 3. Tesco Milford ceiling lamp in red // 4. Nautical wheel through Amazon. // 5. Nautical anchor through Amazon. // 6. Kenneth Turner shell tea light candle holders. // 7. Antique brass ship anchor oil lantern by Handcrafted Model Ships.

Weekend Inspiration ~ Kitchen Islands That Pop!

The island can be the hub of your kitchen. Often praised for its convenience, why not also make it stand out design wise?  For some weekend inspiration, I decided to present two kitchen islands that pop. The first is designed entirely of Lego {how cool!} This Lego basic kitchen island - crafted out of more than 20,000 pieces - was created by Parisian designers Simon Pillard and Philippe Rosetti for IKEA. With an island as colourful and eclectic as this one, you can keep the rest of your kitchen basic. Red stools are added for a splash of colour but the rest of the kitchen, including the appliances, are in basic white. Or how about this beautiful green kitchen island? Check out all of the storage possibilities! Shelves, drawers, hooks and crannies make this island stand out from the rest. Naturally, I'm in love with the green colour. There's even a shelf to keep your rolling pin! And those cookbooks you adore so much? Hidden away with easy access! Which island do you prefer? 

Cheers to a beautiful weekend, gang!

Spring DIY ... in 5 Minutes!

The Goods: IKEA frame ~ Amy Butler ~ Vervain ~ Lee Jofa

Today I was inspired by the perfect Spring DIY project that will only take you 5 minutes and will make your space ready for a new season. Now we all know that artwork can be expensive, but here's an idea that won't break the bank (and will encourage you to "think outside the frame" -- pardon the pun). All you really need are 2 items: a frame + your favourite piece of fabric. My suggestion is a simple frame from IKEA. They have a wide selection ranging from under $20 to over $100. I just stuck with something that was mid price-point at $34.99. Next, slip in your favourite fabric. I loved the coral tones for Spring and I was also dazzled by the purple and pumpkin combination. For this project, you don't need a lot of fabric (and you can even use fabric left over from a previous DIY project). This is a smart design idea because you can swap out the fabric for a new one when you want a change. I personally love the idea of alternating the fabrics to go with each season. What do you think?