Lusting: Persian Cowhide

I raved about Ryan Korban yesterday and his love of taxidermy, furs and skins.  I share this love and funnily enough, I am now lusting after a skin I stumbled upon online.

Cowhides and zebra skins are no strangers in my home and to be honest, I don't really need to add to the collection so I had moved on and was searching for a new style of rug to furnish my floors.

Recently, I have been on the hunt for a beautiful persian rug big enough to fill my living room floor.  I have to say it's hard to find the perfect persian rug and the most stunning ones always come with a hefty price tag.

I was buying some bits and bobs from Rockett St George  a few nights ago and came across the ultimate in rug fantasy.  My two favourite styles of rug merged together.  I actually gasped ...

I understand this almost verges on the ugly but I just love it.  I think it would go perfectly in my livingroom but it is a little bit pricey.  Rocket St George are full of good ideas and quirky objects for the home, including artificial stuffed birds à la Korban but this is my favourite on their site so far.

I just need to convince Mr Read it's 'the one' in terms of rugs now.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

The Money Pit

A lot of you will know I have recently moved to a new house which I guess my Mr and I class as a bit of a 'fixer-upper'.

We have been working hard and spending hard on it for a while and to be honest we are getting a little fed up and in desperate need of a holiday (NYC I mean you!!). So ... we have slowed down the progress so we can still enjoy the finer things in life.

One of the first rooms to be trashed and rebuilt was the bathroom.  It's not finished yet, we still need to paint a wall and replace some bath fittings that were delivered faulty :( However, it is getting there and I can start to see it take shape.

I thought I would show you some of my inspiration charted against how my bathroom looks currently.  This should give you an idea of what it should look like when it is finished.

Naked art whether it be sculptural or illustration, i love it!

A chandelier and a rolltop bath were always top of my list

Dark walls against warm rustic pieces look awesome

I wanted brick tiles, marble and vintage touches

In my head I had the idea of a 50's/60's era New York City style bathroom with brick tiles, monochrome colour scheme and a bit of marble thrown in for good measure.  You won't see in the photo but our shower cubicle is covered in brick marble tiles and a retro rain shower head.  The rooltop bath was debated over for weeks, we originally wanted a modern rolltop but this reproduction was too lush to resist.  I am a little obsessed with grey and black walls at the moment so I painted the bathroom a Valspar shade 'Caviar for the Tsars'.  I want to paint at least one wall in every room black for some reason while others desperately try to talk me out of it. Go figure. 

I'm also obsessed with fur blankets, rugs and taxidermy so as well as the Ikea sheepskin rug in the bathroom, I plan on adding a few extra creepy bits and pieces that will act as a talking point/incite disgust ;).  TK Maxx has been a bit of an interiors paradise for me lately.  I don't know what I would do without that shop.  I always find interesting and 'on trend' pieces for a fraction of the price.  I found these 2 framed naked lady illustrations there for £10.  whoop! 

rolltop, chandelier, black walls, sheepskin rug

TK Maxx bargain 'art'

Currently we are adding a pop of yellow/gold to the room to help warm it up and add a modern/vintage balance.  Hopefully we will have finished it soon and I can post some final photos.

Oh and a quick edit for you - I forgot to post a pic of the bathroom BEFORE I got my hands on it so here it is. It's small and blurry but it's all I have.

BEFORE the makeover

As ever, I would love your opinions of my humble abode :) 

Interiors Inspiration: Handira

While I was in Morocco, I scoured the souks for potential interior inspiration.  I love to fill my home with stories which usually means subtle pieces and sometimes statement pieces come home with me from my travels to fill my abode with pretty things.

In Marrakech I stumbled across and cheeky chap selling some of the most wonderful rugs I had ever seen.  Loomed from sheeps wool and covered in sequin, one of them caught my eye and after a half hour of haggling, I got my price and bagged my rug :)

It was only after returning home that I learned more about my purchase.  It turns out my new rug is traditionally a Moroccan Wedding Blanket or Handira.   Apparently, Brides and their relatives painstakingly create these blankets in time for the big day where the Bride wears it on her journey to her groom.  It is said to have talismanic power and protects its wearer from evil.

Nowadays, they have become a bit of a showpiece in peoples homes as rugs, beadspreads, wall hangings and more.

I plan on using mine on my bed.  Here is my inspiration ...

This is exactly like mine

Those of you with an eagle eye might have spotted a Handira in that ghastly Sex and the City 2 movie.  After being such a fan of the show, I cannot tell you how much I hated this film!! 

I think they are beautiful works of craft and I can't wait to use it in my new home.  I think it will make a real statement in my room should I decide to use it on my bed.

What statement pieces do you love in your home?

x

Style Crush: Katie Shillingford

I decided to feature Katie Shillingford, super talented stylist and Fashion Editor of Dazed & Confused for 2 reasons:

a) My previous post on dip dyed hair.  It's quite possible that Katie was the real trendsetter for this having sported dipped ends for quite a few years it seems
b) She recently made headlines for her absolutely drop dead gorgeous Gareth Pugh wedding dress at her recent nuptials

Like so many editorial big wigs in the world of fashion she exudes that super cool exterior with a to-die-for wardrobe.  I guess it comes with the territory.

And now for 'that' wedding dress...

Isn't it divine?  Pale grey, gothically romantic with a 1930's deco vibe.  It drapes over her shape perfectly and the sets of her pale pink locks perfectly.  I love how she has styled her bridesmaids to beautifully complement her own dress without being overly similar or contrived.

It's obvious Katie loves to experiment with hair colour but pink hair on your wedding day, now that is brave.

x

Hairspiration: Dip Dye

My first insight into the dip dye phenomenon that is taking over the split ends of the famous and not so famous was in London when I spotted Bleach salon at Topshop Oxford Street.

The girls there had fabulous dip dye and ombre creations going on ... but at the time I was looking to get rid of my own ombre hair that had seriously dried out my ends.

I promised myself I wouldn't buy into this 'trend'.  For a start I hate trends as such, it makes me feel like a bit of a clone and when ombre became too popular I swiftly got rid.  Also, how do you dip dye as a professional?

I work in an office that is still stuck in the 1950's.  Unfortunately not in the glamorous sense of Mad Men but instead the ignorant, backward thinking sense.  Oh Miaow!  So, you see, neon pink hair will not go down well.

Anyway, I'm rambling ... I will let these pics do the talking ...

I LOVE this girl! How cute/cool does she look? 

I adore how the pink hair clashes with her gorgeous orange lippie! 

Apparantly this is Lauren Conrads hair... subtle but daring

I love Drew, she ain't afraid to experiment. The block black ends look wicked and
go perfectly with her Alexander McQueen dress

Nicki close your mouth love! The Queen of the Dip Dye! 

Cute or what?

In reality I can't commit to a visit to Bleach London to have my ends perfectly blended into shades of lilac, peach and violet so instead I am on a quest to create a temporary solution.

I want to enjoy dip dyed-esque hair that can easily be washed out in time for my Monday morning team meeting.

Therefore, I am going back to my youth (read: 8 year old me) and will be picking up some spray on colour this week to recreate a colourful ombre barnet.

I could do with some advice though ... can anyone recommend a good brand and/or colours to spray the ends of my auburn locks?

I'm thinking violets, turquoise and pink but can you think of a better colour combo?  Direct me to the best shops and brands too please!

I will keep you posted with photos of my experimental hair frolics!

x

Navajo Inspired

Usually it's around this time of year I start going a little tribal with my wardrobe.

I would love to get away with Native American inspired blanket ponchos and knitwear but it just doesn't suit me so summer time is when I get the feathers and fringes out to accessorise my look.  I love the effortless laid back vibe that suits this time of year.

I adapt it to my own personal style and of course what suits my body shape and so on ... think Jessica Rabbit meets Pocahontas! ;)

I picked up some lovely accessories this month that I will be sure to team with the plethora of fringed tops and dresses that adorn my wardrobe.

 The dreamcatcher necklace and feather earrings are both from H&M.  I can't remember the prices but both were under £10 ... well under it i'm sure.
I have been watching some dreamcatcher necklaces on eBay for a while now but popping into my local H&M was an easier option although the ones I have been watching are a lot bigger and more colourful so maybe I will buy them at some point.

This gorgeous ring is from Topshop which I picked up in their sale.  I guess it can't really be descibed as navajo or tribal but it goes well with my other jewellery.

I still have a huge wishlist (mostly ASOS since I am permanently broke these days) of native inspired pieces I would love to pick up.  Payday is right around the corner so I will have to choose wisely but I will also look to find what pieces from my own wardrobe can be adapted to suit.

Paprika playsuit - ASOS

Suedette Fringe Leggings - ASOS 

Rare Fringe Dress - ASOS

American Gold Fringe Kimono - ASOS

H&M

I'm afraid I have no link for the last jumpsuit other than the stock photo - I bought this back in February and after wearing it constantly for the first month of purchase (a habit of mine after I buy anything new) ... it has now been left hanging in my wardrobe but it's time to dig it back out.  

There is really only a tiny bit of summer left before the autumn/winter season kicks in ... I am so excited for my winter wardrobe this year ... I will be sure to share it with you! 

x

Wall Candy

Last week I posted my bedroom makeover and as well as freshening up my bedroom, I have been trying to give my walls a revamp.

I enjoy images of iconic beauty, architecture and advertising in particular retro/vintage photography.  As a cheap alternative to otherwise expensive wall art I usually frame posters and photos, creating something a tad different to typical Ikea prints of City landscapes.

In this instance I logged onto AllPosters.co.uk and browsed through their many galleries from Banksy to Warhol to Kandinsky.  I went with my favourite choice of iconic beautiful women.

Instead of going for the obvious images of Audrey Hepburn,  I went for a stunning print of Liz Taylor and a gorgeous print of Marilyn Monroe, one of which I had never seen before.  I also purchased a movie poster of Le Mepris poster featuring Brigitte Bardot that was featured in a previous inspiration post.

Elizabeth Taylor

Marilyn reading 

Brigitte's Le Mepris poster

I think the key to choosing a good poster is dependant on the feel of your home and whatever room it will hang in but also to choose something that is a little bit different.  Instead of the same Audrey Breakfast at Tiffany's print or Marilyn's seven year itch, choose something that is less 'typical' to the eye so that it becomes a talking point in your room.

Of course I would love to afford 'real' art in my home and it's certainly something to work towards but in the mean time I find this a cheap and effective way at dressing my walls.

What do you have hanging on your walls?

x

Style Crush: Taylor Tomasi-Hill

I had seen photos of Taylor Tomasi-Hill plastered all over the internet for such a long time and even had many images of her saved in my own personal inspiration file but I never knew her name or who she was until recent weeks.

The cats eye glasses are to die for and the lip colour is lush!

A fluffy leopard print stole - I want!

 Turns out Taylor Tomasi-Hill is style and accessories editor for US Marie Claire.  That's not really important to me although it does explain the countless photographs and experienced style she exudes, what I care about is how flipping brilliant she looks and how unique (or as unique as you can get these days) her look is.

Easy colour blocking with a yellow skirt and bright blue clutch

Bold colours teamed with a pinky nude clutch - works perfectly

Naturally, it was her red hair that attracted me to her look ... being a 'Redhead for Life', I adore catching sight of fellow copper tops and their sartorial choices.  Taylor's locks however, is her best kept secret, refusing to disclose who colours her hair.  

For years I have been trying to style up basic pieces through the power of accessorising.  When all else fails and I can't find something half decent to wear, I resort to jeans, heels, white vest and layers of accessories.  Depending on the accessory you can have 3 or 4 different outfits for the price of 1 and it seems that Taylor's ethos isn't too disimilar.

She styles basics (albeit designer basics I'm sure) with the finesse that only an accessories editor can.  From her Chanel bags to her Norma Kamali cat's eye glasses - which are to die for, she dresses up or down the most basic of looks.

I love Taylor's use of bold colours, leopard print and a healthy mixture between skyscraper heels and sneakers.  Her look is not for the shrinking violet but pretty inoffensive too leaving you admiring her edgy sophistication with daring choices in just the right dose.

Am I the only one late catching on to Taylor's inspirational style direction?

x

Bedroom Makeover

This weekend, I set about making my small bedroom space a little prettier and a little more organised.  Things had got a bit cluttered so I had a massive clearout, tore things apart and set about putting them back together again.

I didn't have any money to spend so had to use resources already available to me and in the words of Tim Gunn, 'Make it Work!'.

So here is what my room now looks like.  Using a palette of black, white, grey, turquoise and navy I tried to emulate a classic, simple, glamourous, relaxing space.  I went with lamps I already had ... the black shade and glass balls make for a 1940's vintage glamorous vibe.  I used turquoise cushions which were on my bed previously but used some gorgeous furry bo-concept cushions that previously lived on my couch to complement them.  A silver throw and grey woollen throw layered on top of one another added some depth to the bed.

The piece de la resistance (can someone tell me how to get accents on the macbook) is however my homemade African Juju hat!!  I couldn't afford the £200 to buy one or the flight to Africa to track one down so instead I recycled one of my favourite pieces of clothing.  Remember I wore this at new year?  Yup, its my navy feather cape tied around a nail in the wall.  Whadd'ya think?  Does it work?  It's not quite a juju hat but a little bit inspired?

Inspiration was taken from this image ...

For bedside tables I used my make up drawers.  The grey shade is a perfect combination with the bedding and other accessories and also saved space elsewhere.  They don't look as pretty as my mirrored tables that I had used previously but they are a great space saving and multi purpose solution.  By adding some black and white Chanel accessories and turquoise candle votives, it infused a little bit of decadence to otherwise plain drawers.

My perfume is normally stored away in a drawer to help keep it fresh but have since decided to display them on my chest of drawers as it is not in direct sunlight.  I also have my half naked framed pic of Kate Moss on display here which usually makes everyone gawp!  She looks amazing, I'm not sure why people find it so offensive.

Clothes, shoes and bags are safely hidden away behind my mirrored wardrobe and I have even made a good effort at making sure this is a little more in order this weekend.  Not quite ready to show you any space saving/organisation solutions yet but maybe I can save that for another post.

I love my new space I want to spend all my time in here.  Super comfy and on a such a tight budget I am really pleased with how it has turned out.

x