Six Styling Tips For A Minimal Bedroom

Hello, Friday and hello weekend! Wow has this week been one of those ones, if you know what I mean. Like trying to paint the kids room with them in it. I kid you not (if you'll excuse the bad joke). In fact, there's been a whole lot of focus on the bedrooms at home lately. Recently I've been experimenting a little with our style of bedding and attempting to move away from my go-to whites and greys. I know. Whaaaat?! I don't like to style according to season because I tend to use and wear the same colour palette all year round, but this time I just wanted to try something a little different, still in muted tones but a little further away from my usual monochrome. So I let Rob pick. And the boy done good...at least I think so now. When I got the sheets out I had a major minor panic but once I got used to the oatmeal (which I'd pared with 'pigeon pink seersucker pillow cases and a black matelasse bedspread) it started growing on me. I took the soft pink throw pillows from the sofa downstairs and somehow they pulled the whole look together. Hello oatmeal! Just the right balance of feminine to masculine, don't you think? So, I thought I'd share with you some useful tips for styling a minimal bedroom, not so that it feels too sparse or even too perfect to live in, rather to enhance your down-time and help make your space a place you can relax and (hopefully) sleep in.

Clear Out The Clutter

If there's one thing that instantly gets me down, it's being surrounded by clutter. I don't mean for a second that I live in a squeaky clean white box with nothing in it (where's the joy in that?) merely that I choose very carefully the things that come into our home and they are there because they serve a purpose or they add something to the room. If it hasn't been used in at least six months, then it goes. So, have a good clear-out, go through your wardrobe and shoe collection and make some space. Is there room for you to store some items out of sight-under the bed or inside a cupboard for example?

Neutrals Please

Find a neutral colour of paint and refresh your walls. Ours were standard Magnolia when we moved in but I wanted and instant lift so went with a shade of white instead to make the most of the light we have during the day. It's worth noting, however, that white will only work in a room where there is plenty of light, without it, it can look really flat and cold. If you have a dark room, try instead a pale grey, beige or other soft colours such as rose pink or nude to give the room a restful feel. The same goes for your bedding choices. Pick out muted or monochrome shades and fabrics like linens and cotton for a more natural feel and layer them up with textured blankets, throws and pillows.

Functional Furniture

Choose your furniture with intention and use only what you know you'll need or have room for. I prefer pieces with clean lines, but minimal doesn't have to mean contemporary. Our room doesn't have space for a wardbrobe, but given that we're not huge fans of solid pieces of furniture anyway, we have a simple, black clothes rail instead which still gives the room a sense of space as you can see through and around it. The same with bedside tables-it doesn't have to be your typical idea of one (particularly if you're pushed for space) but you could utilise an old fruit crate or a set of steps which will allow you a surface on the top for the essentials and have space inside on underneath for some books or magazines. Think also about the sort of materials your furniture is made from-plywood or pale woods work really well as part of a minimal aesthetic, as do black and white metal and high gloss surfaces.

Statement Lighting

Don't ignore your lighting! Sometimes, the single light hanging from the ceiling just isn't enough. Swap out that tatty old shade and replace it with something in a translucent paper for a warmer glow or a large sculptural piece if you've tall ceiling to take advantage of. Alternatively, forgo the ceiling lights completely and use black cabled festoons loosely hung over the bed or draped down the corner of a wall. We use vintage style Edison bulbs with gorgeous Italian fabric cable which we wall mounted with IKEA brackets to give us extra bedside space. Now they're a feature in themselves.

Touches Of Green

I wouldn't be doing my job as an Urban Jungle Blogger if I didn't tell you to go nuts with the plants - they bring vibrancy and texture to a room with minimal effort and you can pick them up cheaply in most supermarkets or IKEA which stock some really exciting varieties. Buying a small wrap of foliage from your florist and using single stems in a small bud vase or bottle is a simple touch if potted plants aren't your thing-I use eucalyptus and fern all the time. For today's post though, I went all out on a bunch of deep burgundy peonies. Can't wait for them to unfurl.

Be Artful

Don't forget to bring pieces of art into the room. I like to use singular, bold black and white designs that stand out against the white-leaving some of the walls blank gives a feeling of having some space to breathe. As an alternative, pull together a gallery wall of the pieces you've collected, lean larger framed art work against the wall on the floor or use wall-mounted frame ledges for a linear look. I like to use metal clips to display groupings of magazine cuttings I fall in love with and also use them to help me decide where I'm eventually going to hang a framed piece, like this one by Dot & Fox Print Shop.So there we are, six sure fire ways to style a minimal bedroom in a more meaningful way. Try saying that with toast in your mouth.

Photography & styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley

This post is in collaboration with Habitat as part of their #HabitatVoyeur campaign. Have you seen the ad on TV yet? Upload your Habitat product in your home for a chance to win a Hendricks sofa.

Kitchenalia

It would appear that I've fallen into a habit of hoarding photos, because these (taken last October) where meant to accompany a new book review...for the now not-so-new 'Kitchenalia'. Sorry Jacqui Small Publishing!Written by Vinny Lee, Interiors Editor of The Times Magazine and a sumptuous feast for the eyes (if you'll excuse the pun) the book explores the life of the kitchen, focusing on styles such as 'retro' and my favourite 'utilitarian', down to the details to help you better plan and style your own space with heart and personality. I have a love-hate relationship with mine at the moment-brilliant for space, yet a shoddy example of a cheaply thrown together bargain-bin landlord special. With that in mind, I spent a happy afternoon baking a Dutch apple cake with Reuben at home in the basement at my mother's instead.Mum's kitchen in relation to the book is a cross between 'The Country' and 'The Collector's Kitchen', as illustrated beautifully in the photography combining tiled floors and traditional wooden cupboard storage with open shelving. There are Kilner jars of dried pasta and lentils, wooden chopping boards stacked against a wall and a neat collection of tea cups on display. There are wooden baking spoons, well licked over years of "cleaning up the cake bowls", the beautiful old shop scales I learnt to use when I was eleven. Things in my own kitchen don't quite as yet hold the same attachments but will I hope for Reuben and Tabby when they're old enough to look back on our cooking sessions together. They will be accomplished cooks before they leave home, mark my words!This is the heart of her home. From the creamware collection on the mantlepiece, the tiles she chose to pick out the original Victorian range that she lovingly restored when we moved in fifteen years ago. In the centre of the room stands my step-father's worn and loved farmhouse table that some eighteen years ago brought us together around the table for the first time as a family. His wooden butter pats sit with the brass dinner bell on the mantlepiece. The perfect combination of two lives combining and sharing a space. There's a dining room upstairs, but somehow we always prefer to sit together here where we can talk whilst we prepare a meal together. Just how I want my own kitchen to be.This is a book packed full of inspiration for all tastes, so I'm holding onto it for when the day comes that we have our own kitchen again to do as we please with it. I've spent so much time shooting in other peoples kitchens lately that I have a pretty good idea of what I'd love to make a reality. Wouldn't it be wonderful to open one side out into the garden in the summer months? Maybe polished resin flooring under foot? If I'm shooting at the moon, then I've got plans for open shelving, a concrete worktop and really simple styling that I can change-up and play around with as I go, with just a few much-loved ceramic bowls and plates a permanent feature. In fact, not too far removed from these beautiful shots from the book below...What's your idea of the perfect kitchen? To help you decide, you can 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 - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

Images 1-6 © Tiffany Grant-Riley

Feist Forest / The Ashling Table

I have reason to be excited today as I introduce you to beautiful new independent design brand Feist Forest. Tucked away inside an old tin tabernacle in Devon, headed up by founder, designer and wood finisher Vicki Turner, Feist have been thus far quietly producing by hand one of the most stunning tables I have ever had the joy of discovering. The Ashling Table. Take a moment to pour over these exquisitely styled images. Oh for a tin tabernacle and that table...A trestle made for the most astute of design lovers, its subtle mix of pale ash and matt black lacquer make it a match made in heaven. Just look at that laser etching! This is a piece that will move and evolve with you, folding down to be stored upright with recessed brass hinges, it is flexible to the core. Production is a carefully considered process; the wood is sourced from sustainable British Ash in collaboration with Sutton Timber and tables are handcrafted in small batches in part with skilled craftsman Ben Algar from his workshop in Bedfordshire.Aside from nature, Vicki finds much of her inspiration in watching others come together to create and make great ideas happen."Seeing people who challenge the normal way of doing things and often appear a little crazy whilst they do so, yet battle on anyway. They're certainly the inspiration behind Feist Forest."  And so she designed a table for them.Any plans for extending the collection? I asked. I for one would love to see The Ashling as a dining table. There are plans for different finishes and formats, new collaborations with local makers too. Keep those eyes peeled apparently.Find out more about Feist Forest's ethical practices on their site and try your very hardest not to fall in love with The Ashling. It's all over for me...

Urban Jungle Bloggers / Plant Gang

Yes! to this month's Urban Jungle Bloggers topic - show your plant gang! Last month I shot a huge collection of my plants on our Ercol dresser and was blown away by how insanely, gobsmackingly beautiful they all looked that I really didn't need much encouragement to do it again! So here is 80% of my plant collection. I love how versatile an old folding ladder can be for displaying (and...eh hem...curating) meaningful pieces in the home. Amazingly, this set was in the garage when we moved in and I've been itching to use them for something. We don't have room to keep them out permanently (the set-up was done in our dining space) so I enjoyed having an hour or so to play with them. Using a simple white backdrop and natural jute flooring I focused on the shapes and shades coming from the plants and built up.This Boston fern very nearly didn't make it so I'm chuffed to see it centre stage, larger than life. Originally I'd bought it for my workspace but as the light in the room is so bright and concentrated it didn't take long to start showing signs of fading. Needless to say I moved it out quick and relocated it to the porch which has a softer, defused light which it loves. I don't like to lose. Can you tell?Mosey loved his temporary jungle.The Peperomia normally sits on the shelf in my workspace and as I'd hoped has started to trail and soften up some of the lines a little. Trailers are ideal for suspending from the ceiling too. This one is a guaranteed winner if you've plenty of light.This is Marvin (as in Gaye) who I rescued from a shop almost a year ago. He was just 5ft when I brought him home and is pushing 6.5ft now. I love him, such a gentle giant.And this is Tammi (as in Terrell) who normally sits opposite Marvin either side of the French doors. I like to think they sing 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' but who knows...Urban Jungle Bloggers is an online community of plant lovers started by Igor Happy Interior Blog and Judith JOELIX, growing and sharing their love of plants one post at a time. Join us!

Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley 

Six Kinda-White Dining Tables

I've been looking for a new dining table for the longest time. The need is real. Something in white and pale wood that suits the home we have now; our current one is an extendable vintage piece, once restored by my father in-law and well loved, but it's time to move on now. It's almost jarring to look at, with too much dark wood in our dining space (and no beautiful white floors to speak of) so it all needs a lift. I'd been toying with the build-your-own IKEA trestles and baltic-ply option for a while, but felt that it wasn't permanent enough and I'd be worrying about spaghetti sauce staining the plywood top. Those are real issues. Having a surface with a clean, white top is ideal to shoot down onto when I'm working on a project at home, a lot of the time I end up using boards if I need a blank canvas which serves a purpose to an extent but does have its limitations. And everything looks better on white. Seriously. Of course, in typical me style, everything I fall in love with is what they refer to in editorial as "an investment piece" so I'm biding my time a little until I'm in a position to commit.To make my search a little easier and to give you a little food for thought if you're going down the same road, I've picked six of the best kinda-white dining tables (because they're not completely. Not ready for that yet). I've been making eyes at the Raft Table Na2 by &Tradition for so long now - I mean look at it-the trestle shape in the legs, the white laminate top (easy to care for with two messy children) powder coated steel and oak legs just scream "take me home!" It's no surprise that something this beautiful came from the geniuses behind NORM Architects. You beauties.Which one is doing it for you? 

| 1 | MF0702 | House Doctor DK

| 2 | Skovby Olso SM11 Extending Table | Barker And Stonehouse

| 3 | Muuto Adaptable Dining Table | Nest

| 4 | Hay Loop Stand Table | Nest

| 5 | &Tradition Raft Table Na2 | OCCA Home

| 6 | Switch Table 'Mid' | rForm at Clippings.Com

Wanderlust Wares / Giveaway

Can we just take a minute to talk about this incredible skincare collection? I've had my beady eye on vegan skincare brand Herbivore Botanicals for some time now since discovering them on Pinterest. Before even getting anything out of the packet that fresh, minimal branding has my complete attention. Finally, an ethical skincare range that looks so good they practically style themselves!

Up until recently, it's been very hard to find this range in the UK, so when Wanderlust Wares subtly whispered in my ear that they were stocking them, I jumped at the chance to road test them. They're completely cruelty free - important in our house where almost 80% of the products we buy are, having made a very conscious decision at the end of last year to make more of an effort.

I'm very lazy when it comes to anything cosmetic; I still put my eye shadow on with my finger and my skincare routine is very low tech - water. So it was great to be able to feel the benefit of the natural ingredients just by swapping them for my usuals. Total game changer. They smell absolutely beautiful (hello Coconut Bath Milk!), a joy to use. I really look forward to using the Jasmine Body Oil after a shower, use it at bathtime with the kids and the dry red skin I've had on my cheeks since I had Tabitha has almost gone with the Pink Clay cleansing soap. Just proves that the natural stuff is best, right?

Wanderlust Wares are very kindly giving away four items from the range, including:

✚ Calm Dead Sea Bath Salts

✚ Orchid Facial Oil Roller

✚ Pink Clay Exfoliating Mask

✚ Bamboo Charcoal Cleansing Soap

To Enter...

Take a look at the range over at Wanderlust Wares and leave a comment below. The winner will be chosen on Friday 22nd May.Open to UK residents only.

Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley

A Beautiful Black Wall

So I realised that I hadn't shared the results of our new black wall with you. Normally I'd prefer to wait until I've chosen all the art for the wall before I shared it with you but I thought, seeing as I've recently shot this part of our living space for the "project" I mentioned, that you might like to see it how it looks right now. Not finished. But nearly.First of all, can I just give Valspar massive high fives for the paint. Yes. You beauties. I tested three different brands including the stalwarts of the designer paint world in four different shades of black and their flat black 'La Plancha' in Premium came out on top. There are no subtle blue or brown undertones to this shade, just pure matt black in any light. The coverage is excellent and the paint is just the right consistency, really smooth even on this wall which is slightly textured. Two coats. Done. And no, this isn't a sponsored post, I'm just really impressed.As per my mission here I've achieved what I set out to do (hide the God awful TV) and I'm loving the way it looks now, intentionally hidden against the wall rather than jumping out on bright white. Sometimes, depending on what you're watching, it's like a piece of art in itself.This area of the room is far from dark being right next to the front window, and I'm playing to that accessorising with polished copper and brown glass to pick up on the light. The almost orange tan wood of the sideboard has really brought it into its own too, picking it out as a feature in the room now, the focal point it needed being such a long and narrow space.Have you seen this beautiful Kew Forestry botanical print by Alicia Galer on my IG feed? When I first saw it, I leapt up and ran up to Rob's office to show him. "That's nice..." he said. Nice????! I'm using it as the jumping off point for the other pieces to follow; abstract, minimal colour with perhaps a plant based story running through. Having discovered her on Instagram a few weeks ago and unable to find this particular print for sale anywhere (it was out of stock in Anthropologie) I got in touch and she very kindly rushed one out to me in time to shoot it (thanks Alicia!) I love her use of abstract shapes, the greens, the frenetic movement, yet still calm...Cannot wait to collect more of her work. For now, I'm enjoying playing around with the rest of the wall space moodboard style, pinning up snippets from magazines and lookbooks, keeps it fresh and interesting.So that's it. A little preview of the TV wall as it is right now. Are you feeling it? Trying really hard not to paint any of the other walls black now as much as I'm desperate to...I keep eyeing up the kitchen, but I think we're leaving that...Styling & Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley

Design Apartments Weimar

It's rare to come across a design based community project as wonderful as this. As all the best ideas are, The Design Apartments Weimar was born from the need to solve a particular problem. Four years ago, German actor and design enthusiast Mark Pohl bought an historic townhouse in need of renovation in Weimar, the home of the Bauhaus University Weimar. With several friends interior design graduates struggling to get their work known, he came up with the idea to renovate the space into two holiday apartments furnished with pieces designed by the local students. Guests experience living first hand alongside these pieces and are invited to shop directly from the apartments or through the online store. What a stroke of genius. Pale wood flooring throughout, tall ceilings and light drenched spaces. The combination of new, young design with vintage. Every piece of furniture is carefully considered, drawing attention to a flash of colour, a sculptural shape. A Bauhaus fan's dream, right? I want to be here, right now, bare foot with cup of coffee in hand just quietly taking it all in...Follow all the beautiful details from the apartment through Instagram. Well, this is going up on my holiday list, fancy it?Photography © Matthias Eckert.

Urban Jungle Bloggers / Gift A Plant

I just love being a part of the Urban Jungle Bloggers community - I get to feed my obsession for collecting plants along with likeminded friends, you know, we kind of egg each other on. And it's a healthy habit...perhaps not so much on the bank account but most definitely for the spirits. So it was a brilliant surprise to find that this month's topic was to offer a friend a plant, it could be in the form of a May Day posy, introducing a friend to a new variety for the windowsill or perhaps a pot of herbs for the kitchen. I for one could not wait!You'll forgive me if my contribution is somewhat cryptic, but my gift has yet to reach its recipient and I wouldn't want to give too much away in case they're reading...Recently, this friend of mine has helped me realise a couple of dreams (more on this soon, promise) and has been a brilliant support. So I'd had it in mind to send a gift for a while now as a way of a thank you and, knowing how much they love plants and handcrafted pieces of pottery it was obvious what to send. There was only one place I could go too, the Aylesford Pottery, just a ten minute drive from our home. I took the children with me and both were on their best behaviour as we watched a potter bring to life a vase from a simple lump of clay on his wheel and chose two beautiful pieces to take home.The plants are, unfortunately, only a virtual offering as after much research I discovered that sending plants to other European countries isn't allowed...so let's just imagine they are. The cactus made me giggle. For obvious reasons. Don't make me explain. And I think the other is a type of Aloe, or possibly a Jade. I chose them simply for their shape and vibrant colour, the cactus promising to bloom at some point soon.Made by my ridiculously talented friends across the pond in Baltimore, Jolly Edition who produce the most beautiful illustrated stationery, this sweet little Grey and White Herbs card will accompany the pots on their journey across the English Channel. Ooops. There's another hint.By the time you read this, these beautiful, hand-thrown pots will be on their way to be home to two lucky plants chosen by my friend. Thank you. If you'd like to take part or find out more, check out the Urban Jungle Bloggers community or follow #urbanjunglebloggers on your social media.

Bedroom Refresh / Better Sleep Month

Gosh-is it May already? This month, if you didn't know, is Better Sleep Month and with this in mind I finally got my act together and gave our bedroom a little spring refresh following on from this winter post. It had been needing an update for a while now with the bedside lighting and a new print waiting to go up (aren't they amaaaaazing?!) so last weekend we got our heads down and Rob got the drill out. It's not quite finished yet (is it ever?!) as there's still new bedding to come - I'm experimenting away from classic white but for now, this is us.It got me thinking about what the perfect bedroom environment is and how not creating the right setting can really affect your mood. Essentially, it has to be a place that promotes sleep but also a space to nest, relax and make plans (I always have moments of inspiration as I'm falling sleep). In an ideal world, our room would be a lot more spacious...maybe with a roll top bath, tall ceilings boasting architectural features and a huge bed so that if we do have the kids in with us then the customary sleep gymnastics won't be as noticeable. As we don't live in a New York townhouse, this will do. Sure, it's a little on the small side with an awkward cupboard taking up space but as we're not really "stuff and clutter" people anyway the minimal look works for us.And what about you? I've teamed up with bedding experts Soak&Sleep as part of Better Sleep Month to delve into what gets us into and out of bed every day. We'd like you to tell us what makes for a good night's sleep-whether it's all about the pre-bedtime hot chocolate (that's mine) or a good book. Fancy sharing? Spend a couple of minutes with our questionnaire and you're in with a chance to win £150 to spend at Soak&Sleep. It is ALL about the charcoal grey French linen if you ask me...

The Nitty Gritty

To enter you must complete the questionnaire in full with the correct contact details. The winner will be drawn after the questionnaire closes at Midnight GMT on May 22nd and will be contacted via email. The prize of £150.00 can be used across any of the Soak&Sleep collection and there is no cash alternative.

Photography & styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley

Doe Leather Lookbook

"Oh My God!" is pretty much what I said when these shots from Doe Leather's new lookbook landed in my inbox. Oh. MyGod. A wistful, solitary walk looking out across the tousled Suffolk countryside, waiting to explore with an exquisitely handcrafted leather bag slung over one shoulder...I don't really need to explain why they've caught my attention. But I'm going to anyway.Social media has a wonderful way of bringing people together sometimes, my go-to community is on Instagram right now where I first met fellow Suffolk girl (always a conversation starter) and owner of Doe Leather, Deborah Thomas. Over the Easter break I found myself sitting at a table with her over coffee and pastries at Pump St Bakery - a last minute get-together whilst I visited my parents up in Suffolk. The room a cosy warm against the crisp cold of an Orford morning and with the shuck of the milk frother readying our lattés she told me her story of the Northamptonshire factory run by her family for three generations.She told me how, spanning almost a century, her grandfathers built up a strong heritage in the British leather industry, producing and embossing hides for export only for the factory to close its doors in 2002, pushed out by the cheap and fast imported leather from the toxic tanneries. Google it. As she showed me some old photos of the factory in its Art Deco glory days to a postcard of a now derelict, empty staircase inside, I could see the how much this meant to her and the childhood memories attached to it.Now, Deborah is working to rebuild that heritage with her own collection of bridle leather accessories, produced in the Black Country in one of the last remaining leather workshops where the leather is lovingly nourished and crafted into bags over a period of several months. And the details? Oh you'll love this - the designs for the zip pulls have been cut from the factory swatch archives and stitched carefully to give each bag a unique identity and a piece of that history.Ethically produced. British made. These are bags for life.

Photography © Julia Bostock 

Birthday Giveaway Week Winners!

Good morning! I guess you're all waiting to find out who won the prizes from the amaaaaazing first Blog Birthday Giveaway Week, right? It was a full on, exciting six days of celebrating with some of my favourite brands and designers and I'd like to say a huge thanks to all who so generously agreed to be a part of it and of course every one who entered, shared and enthused!So let's get down to business, shall we?

The Winners

✚ Lane Twin-Tone Lampshade (in your choice of colour) goes to Sara Franks - congratulation!✚ 'For Rest' photographic print by One Must Dash from Future And Found - well done Julieta Lucca!✚ Via Martine's beautiful Instagram collage is won by Erin De Mange.✚ The beautiful plywood pegboard by Kreis Design goes to Fiona Bottrill. Happy pegging!✚ Look forward to snuggling your little one up in the Mourne Textiles baby blanket Laura Humphries-you won!✚ And the winner of the massive £600 sofa giveaway with Habitat goes to Katie Fig. Good work Katie. No go sit down and choose your favourite!If all winners could please email me via the contact page with their full name and address then I'll sort getting your gifts to you. I hope they all make a difference to your homes and put a smile on your face.Thanks again to all who took part! No pressure for the second birthday then...

Image © Tiffany Grant-Riley via Instagram

Behind The Scenes Snapshots With HP & Intel

I'm often asked what's involved in working as a stylist and how I manage my schedule with two small children and the blog. Well...much of the time it's a game of spinning plates and sometimes I drop the ball (wait-that's a different analogy) and have to admit defeat - sometimes cleaning up smoothie or plant soil off the carpet trumps planning for my latest project!

I know some of you are really keen to see more behind the scenes type posts which I'm working towards gradually, but today I thought I'd take you with me on an exciting project I'm working on for September. I'll tell you more about it when I know it's safe to but for the moment I'll have to leave you guessing...however I will tell you that it involves our home. I've been working hard on getting some of the other rooms in the house finished in time for this which has been both exciting and terrifying, particularly the past week when I've been trying to balance entertaining my two over Easter and feeling the pressure of this deadline. Unless I'm assisting on location or have a focused day of work booked in with Rob who also works from home, I have to try to fit things in around the day to day stuff - morning naps, nursery pick-ups and running errands. In the evenings after the rotters have gone to bed I'll spend three hours or so emailing and blogging. Phew! Not exactly an ideal situation and despite having my phone to keep me in touch with things when I'm away from my desk, I'm still waiting to come home to the safety of guaranteed wireless before I catch up with myself. So, I teamed up with HP & Intel to see if I could better streamline my workload and find my happy work place outside the sanctuary of my beautiful little office to get stuff done. And how I love my office...

Having flexibility on the move is absolutely key for me, that's what's so clever about the HP Stream 7, a new kind of tablet with Intel Inside®. No longer tied to my laptop and stuck at home, this baby allows me to access email, my social media, set up an invoice and source props for a shoot at any time throughout the day. Since the Stream runs on Windows 8, a lot of the applications ask you to sign in with a Microsoft account. If you don’t have one (as I didn't) then it doesn't matter-it takes a few minutes to set up. Tip: You can use any existing email address to create a Microsoft account although the default option will encourage you to set up a new one (Hotmail, for example). Once signed in with this, I could easily add my cloud-based email account to the Mail application in Windows and customise the desktop with the apps I needed.

The 7" notebook is compact enough to carry around with the rest of your essentials but has a substantial enough screen to work on too - saves me from squinting over my phone. I'm your habitual paper and pencil type when it comes to keeping all my notes (often ending up scrunched up at the bottom of a bag) so when inspiration strikes I can open up OneNote and store my ideas and lists in one place-it also has the ability to voice record which saves me time if I don't have any hands free for typing. The super fast Intel Inside® processor puts my laptop to shame with fast loading speed too, so I can access all of my documents quickly from any device via cloud storage (which includes up to 1TB for a year). I've had to do a lot of last minute chasing in the past week so it's been brilliant to have this to hand when I need to be quick and now I've got the ability to shift seamlessly from my laptop and continue to work wherever I am with a wifi point. This weekend I escaped the kids for a quick trip to IKEA to research and make a few unnecessary purchases. And no. I absolutely did not buy any more plants. Really...

Let's not be forgetting that aside from all the desk based work of which there is plenty, there's a small percentage of creativity involved in the job too. Honest. I often find the best inspiration when I'm least expecting it, so being able to take snap shots on a larger screen to save for later is ideal - I took a couple of shots of the moodboard I've been working on with it to take with me as a reference which made life easier choosing what I needed.

All in all I'm pretty darn impressed with the HP Stream even though it's a new system for me. Thanks to HP & Intel for taking me out of my desktop bubble and making it work for me, wherever I am. Can't wait to share more of my news with you in the coming weeks!

This post is in collaboration with HP & Intel as part of their #WorkHappy campaign. Check out the hashtag and find your happy work place. 

Thank you to my sister Megan for taking over the camera on our propping trip!

How To Feel On Holiday At Home

Haven't we just been having some of the most beautiful weather lately? Well, if you're in the Northern hemisphere then spring is in full swing right now, the delicate blossoms are falling around us like sweet smelling confetti, the sun is warm on our backs and the light so very welcoming after many months of cocooning grey. I got to thinking about how much the change in season can feel like being on holiday, especially as we're in the middle of the Easter break and have been making the most of some time together. Finding the time (or indeed the budget) to get away can be tricky, particularly if like us you're self-employed and locked into several on-going projects for months on end. I'm not moaning, honest! So, instead I wanted to flip the idea of the holiday on it's head to inspire you to create that "on holiday" feeling at home with some simple tips...Turn Off The Technology | A purge from all the noise of social media feels like a holiday in itself. Set your automated email responses, turn off the TV and lock away your laptop and phone. You wouldn't take them with you everywhere on holiday would you? Ok, with the exception of your camera phone...Break From Routine & Create A New One | A simple change in routine can make all the difference to your mood, like making more of an occasion of breakfast with pastries, fresh coffee and the papers rather than forcing down a piece of toast whilst you get on with other things. Go for a walk each night after dinner and get some air, a real tonic for clearing your head and finding inspiration or end the day with a long wallow in the bath. Blissful.Be A Tourist In Your Own Town | Explore the places you've always wanted to visit that are close to home and see a different side to where you live. Maybe it's time to revisit some of the oldies after a few years?Dress For The Holiday | One of the best things about going away (at least in my opinion) is planning your wardrobe and dressing for the 'holiday you'. If you look good you feel good too, so make it your mission to style up and wear your capsule holiday wardrobe.Switch Up The Menu | Exploring different cuisines is all part of being on holiday - when in Rome, right? This weekend I whipped up a beautiful tapas style lunch with some beautiful Spanish cheese, paprika spiced pecans, crusty bread and all the necessary trimmings. Instant holiday feeling! Push your boundaries and try something new, pull out the cook books and cook up a storm...or order out if you'd rather.Make A Holiday Playlist | Find all the songs that put you in a ridiculously good mood and throw them onto a playlist. This one always gets me in the mood (showing my age now) and you can use your iTunes library, Spotify or Grooveshark to create yours.Make Room For Treats | When we're away we make it a rule to have at least three ice creams a day as standard, so don't forget to make room for treats. It might be buying a stash of magazines to devour in the evenings or that bottle of wine you've been saving for something special.Plan Something Every Day | Letting the day slip away is the worst feeling so make it a priority to plan something to do, however small. Dust off the bikes, visit a gallery or go out to dinner and have something to look forward to.So tell me, how do you get that holiday feeling at home? Feeling inspired to give it a try?* Thank you to Trujillos Villas España for transporting us to #Spain from home last weekend with an absolutely beautiful hamper for us to share and enjoy a little #holiday time together. 

Giveaway #06 / Habitat Sofa or Armchair Worth £600

Well, here we are on the final day of birthday giveaway week so I thought we'd go out with a bang with Giveaway #06 - an incredible gift from Habitat up for grabs - a chance to win a sofa or armchair of your choice up to the value of £600. Shut up! So if you saw my Habitat Fresh For Spring post last week here's a chance for you to jump straight in and update your lounging situation.Choosing the perfect sofa is a big deal, almost as much as buying (or renting) the house itself. We bought ours three weeks after Miss Twitchit was born as were were all scrunched up on a two seater when we moved into a bigger home. It didn't work for us anymore...but then the sofa we ended up with, although bigger, was so not worth what we paid for it. Sure, we didn't want a forever piece with two small children and sticky fingers, but we at least needed it to hold up to the daily beating and still look good. Biggest regret. And now we're stuck with it. It slouches, the seat cushions move, it's like sitting on a marshmallow. Sob. So, choose wisely. Do I have your attention now? Maybe you've just moved, your current situation is looking sloppy or like us the family has grown and you need more space to spread out on? Well, to get you thinking about a favourite to snuggle up on, I've narrowed down a few of mine and they're all within budget...✚To Enter The Giveaway✚Retweet any of the Habitat giveaway tweets from Curate & Display.Follow Habitat's Facebook page and leave a comment under the giveaway post on Curate & Display's page.Regram the image posted on Curate & Display's Instagram and tag Habitat and Curate & Display with #cdbirthdaygiveaway

The Nitty Gritty

* Please note: Prices may change according to Habitat sale period. Prices were correct at time of publication.

Entrants must reside within the UK. This giveaway closes on Saturday 18th April at Midnight GMT. The winner will be chosen at random using a number generator and contacted via email. The winner has 7 days to respond before another winner is chosen. The prize will be shipped directly from Habitat and there is no cash alternative.

Giveaway #05 / Mourne Textiles Children's Blanket

I couldn't think about celebrating Curate & Display's first birthday without a mention for one of the loveliest, most genuine friends that I have made through this blog along the way, whose family run textiles business has come on in leaps and bounds since I first got in touch to feature them. And no, their success has nothing to do with me, really, their beautiful, handwoven accessories do all of the talking, so much so that most recently the likes of Jamie Oliver has been singing their praises on his Instagram feed. Mourne Textiles caught my eye in spring last year when I came across their rich family history. The skill, dedication and pure heart that has gone into rebuilding the foundations of a sixty year legacy is nothing short of incredible and it is so deserved that they are being recognised and appreciated now that focus is changing towards British and handmade once again. I would very much recommend that you take a look at their history, which started with Mario's grandmother Gerd Hay Edie from a small workshop at the foot of the Mourne mountains and get a real sense of their beautiful accessories. Ok, I'm going to stop now because I could write a thesis on these guys...I talk about them to almost anyone who will listen!So, Giveaway #05 was a complete no-brainer and I'm delighted to offer something new from their children's blanket collection in the colour of your choice. The blanket measures 80cm X 140cm and is a wonderful example of the Tweed Emphasize, a Mourne design created by founder Gerd Hay-Edie in 1956 (I have the grown-up version and it's pretty much amazing). A perfect forever piece to give to a little one, I love the idea of this blanket becoming a much-loved comforter -  a corner scrunched up tight in a fist to aid thumb sucking, there to transform into a super hero cape, a picnic rug for the teddy bears or simply to snuggle up under before bed.✚ To Enter The Giveaway ✚You can enter in one or two ways:• Make sure you're following Mourne Textiles on Facebook, then check back to the Curate & Display page to leave your colour of choice underneath the giveaway post.• For Instagram, regram the image posted on the Curate & Display feed and tag it with Mourne Textiles and Curate & Display with #cdbirthdaygiveaway.Good Luck!

Photography © Tara Fisher 

The Nitty Gritty

Entrants must reside within the UK. This giveaway closes on Friday 17th April at Midnight GMT. The winner will be chosen at random using a number generator and contacted via email. The winner has 7 days to respond before another winner is chosen. The winner must choose from the children's blanket collection. The prize will be shipped directly from Mourne Textiles and there is no cash alternative.

Blog First Birthday Giveaway Week!

Wow! So it would seem that I've been writing Curate & Display for a whole year - what an incredible year it has been. It started as a place to share my work and develop as an interior stylist which has definitely been a huge part of it but grew into so much more, creating friendships with fellow bloggers and collaborating on some wonderful projects. And there is more to come (which I tell you more about soon and it's a dream come true!) Of course, the best part has been connecting with you and I really do hope that you've found something here that has inspired you somewhere along the way.Well, I couldn't let this first milestone pass without a celebration, so I've been working on an amazing week of giveaways with some of my favourite designers and brands. Yep - every day is a new giveaway, each runs separately for a week so make sure you stop by and be a part of it! You can also keep a toe in over on Instagram and Facebook as the competition will be focused there.Thank you for continuing to read my ramblings, for taking the time to 'like' or comment. It means an awful lot.See you on Monday...Tiff X

Habitat / Fresh For Spring

How good does it feel to have some sunlight back in our lives? Yes to that! I don't know about you but I'm feeling a renewed sense of energy to get back on track with the house, done with hibernation. I'm also feeling more at home in my personal style (particularly after I wrote this post) and I'm moving more and more towards the minimal and simple these days. I prefer a muted palette over bright colour and seek natural, untreated materials for an overall more restful atmosphere. Spring for me is a time to implement changes, refresh and reboot as these all have a really positive impact on the way that we feel - clear minds, space to breathe and all that.Updating your home for the spring season doesn't need to involve a huge upheaval, just introducing small details can make all the difference so to instil a little inspiration I've selected my favourite picks from Habitat's new collection to be fresh for spring...| 1 | I'm a sucker for a stylish workspace and I love this Okli desk for its light oak combined with the black laminate top and legs. This would be perfect for Rob's office which is in dire need of an update!| 2 | A timeless classic (sorry for the pun) that makes a bold statement and works for its wall space. Flap analogue clock.| 3 | & | 4 | Texture is so important when you're choosing soft furnishings, particularly if you're not so keen on colour as it helps to give a room some interest. While these cushions are still quite muted, they still hold their own. Astell grey and cream bouclé cushion and Bate cushion (unfortunately just sold out at time of publication).| 5 | A chic option in classic grey wool, it's a sofa for lounging but isn't clumpy on space.| 6 | Clean and simple wall hooks are ideal for additional storage when floorspace is at a premium. Hang them in the hallway, in the kids room to keep random clothes off the floor or your workspace-there's a handy ledge at the back for keeping letters or other small items too.| 7 | Our glassware is somewhat thin on the ground at the moment and could do with mixing up a bit. These textured Elmore high ball glasses totally raise the bar. Sorry. Another pun.| 8 | I think every home should have a set of baskets somewhere, they help make the day to day clutter a little easier on the eye. These Coby water hyacinth baskets are perfect for storing clean towels, magazines, toys - you name it.| 9 | I'm currently on the look out for a new dining table-our old one is great for space as it extends at both ends but the dark wood looks kinda clumpy in our dining space now. The Talia oak dining table is a perfect compromise seating up to six with a lighter oak top and white base. Gives a feeling of more space and our black chairs would look right at home underneath it.| 10 | Mix up your dining chairs and avoid being too matchy-matchy. I like the idea of having two of these at each end of the table so I don't have to fight with Rob over who gets the comfy chair.| 11 | The faceted grey Deacon jug is a more masculine option for displaying greenery or used in its traditional sense makes a welcome addition to the table. I'm loving a blue-grey palette for spring tableware at the moment, it's a subtle alternative to sweet pastels.Have I got you feeling inspired for spring now? Then you'll want to keep your eyes peeled next week as I'm gearing up to celebrate Curate & Display's first blog birthday. Boy have I got some goodies for you. For real. Stay tuned...

TOAST + Botany Pop-Up Shop

I'm a firm believer in the less is more approach, an ethos that is synonymous with lifestyle brand TOAST. If you've ever had the all-consuming pleasure of pouring over their Lookbook you'll know exactly what I'm talking about, it's an ode to slow-living, absorbing your surroundings, finding meaning in the simple things like, for example, the joy of plants. Over the next few weeks, TOAST's Notting Hill store is hosting a botanist's dream of a pop-up shop, collaborating with Hackney based plant and homeware concept store Botany. I stopped by to check it out...Founded only last year by die-hard plant lover and former menswear product developer Andrea Maynard, Botany believes "that good, useful, ethical design and considered surroundings make for a beautiful and balanced life." I couldn't agree more and instantly made a beeline for the concrete planters (housing a variety of cacti) and copper watering cans - the accessories are as important as the plant as far as I'm concerned!Amongst the bounty of plants sat some beautiful examples of handcrafted homeware and organic skincare products including soaps and candles by Honest and tactile cork covered notebooks.I couldn't resist exploring the rest of the store, enjoying the feeling of space inside which had light streaming down through sky lights, bright white paint on rough brick walls and large planters of tall bamboo reaching upward. No surprise that I was so drawn to the softly glazed Eve tableware, hand thrown in Suffolk where I grew up. Always a sucker for good quality ceramics, I could see these sitting pretty on the table for Easter lunch.As part of the pop-up, TOAST is running a competition on Instagram for those who visit during its residency - take a snap of the pop-up and upload it with #TOASTANDBOTANY to win this basket full of succulents. Open until May 2nd...what are you waiting for?!

Coffee At Future And Found

Much has changed since my last visit to Tufnell Park's interiors store Future and Found, and this weekend I took some time out for a catch-up to see the beautiful new space. Kicking off 2015 with a full-on renovation and extending the shop floor to hold even more lust-worthy homewares, the new extension holds a dedicated space for everything bedroom and bathroom.The shelving system was designed by owner Andrea Bates and built in plywood - I love her decision to add in the sink, it gives the space a definitive purpose and allows you to visualise how certain things might look in your own home. Wow, how much do I want those shelves. If I'm honest, I found it ridiculously difficult to whittle down all the photos I'd taken for this post because as you well know I'm like a kid in a sweet shop when faced with all my favourite brands in one space, top of the list being HAY (I spotted the Scholten & Baijings grid bed linen) Muuto and newcomers to Future and Found Normann Copenhagen. I think I may just have found my style soulmate in Andrea! But anyway, I digress...The new space also includes a coffee hatch which opens out onto the courtyard and from this Thursday will be perfect for grabbing coffee and cake on the go (or to take round the shop with you like I did).Grace gave me a demo of the gleaming new machine and I can vouch that the coffee is really good.As shopping experiences go, Future and Found is pretty unique, offering interior design alongside its curated homeware collection with a new workspace upstairs in Andrea's former living space. Making the most of the space and light inside this former factory building, this room echoes the minimal style of the shop floor. I love the new consultation area with inspiration boards showing some of their recent home projects - and do you recognise the white pegboards?  The team have been brilliantly clever in making every inch of floor space work that little bit harder and by losing the smaller office downstairs to make room for the extension and coffee hatch, moving Andrea's living space up a level to allow for the new workspace, Future and Found has grown intelligently and matured into the brand staple it so rightly deserves to be.So if this doesn't whet your whistle enough to get you down to Tufnell Park (left out of the tube station and across the road just for reference) then maybe a few of my shop favourites will...How about this J110 chair by HAY in natural beech?I'm down for subtle colours of spring in grey-blue and off white ceramic tableware by French brand Jars...And love the organic patterns in these monochrome bowls created by local ceramicist Hannah Bould. She's most definitely one to watch.Keep your eyes peeled next week for a little Future and Found collaboration and in the meantime, get yourself down to the hatch for coffee from Thursday...