[Your] Place: A winter update, That's not just for Christmas

It's officially winter here in Blighty; December is in full swing, festive lights are twinkling and the parties are in full swing.

So it seemed very timely to have been encouraged by Jordan at Douglas Elliman’s Florida office to write a blog post that would inspire people to cosy up their homes for the oncoming season.

This post has been conjugating in my mind since we first decorated our lounge (you can see the original decor here) which has been designed with a neutral base to allow us to change it up seasonally. 

Many people decorate their homes exclusively for Christmas festivities, but I wanted to create a scheme with a big more longevity that celebrates the beauty of the winter season, lasts well beyond the month of December and could just as easily be implemented in warmer (than freezing) climates.

My first step is always a mood board, a collection of images, textures, materials and photographs that start to shape the feel of the scheme I want to create. Pintrest is such great platform for this. You can see the full board here [Your] Place: Winter Wonderland.

I wanted to create a relaxing colour scheme, inspired by the colours of winter. A palette which creates a feeling of cosy, refined opulence through the use of natural materials and variety in texture. 

I also wanted to bring some of the freshness of the outdoors inside, to create a connection bring in some of the evergreen life and beautiful muted blues and greens of Eucalyptus. 

So here are my easy updates...

1) Cushions & Textiles

One of the easiest updates, with the most impact, is to change the textiles.

When coming up with the original scheme for the lounge I kept the base monochrome and of colour limited to throw cushions and artwork for exactly this reason. 

I've kept our teal cushions but removed the mustard yellow and bright pink for the time being. I've introduced a more muted colour palette of pinks and greys, inspired by the mood board above, and introduced a wider range of texture to keep things interesting and feeling sumptuous. Choosing to mix up textures in a simple colourway really gives a lot of freedom to just pick up the things that appeal to you, without worrying about clashes or mismatches. 

2) Plants, flowers and greenery

There are many studies into the positive and uplifting effects that a connection with nature has on the human psyche. I used a lot of greenery in the scheme as a cost effective and sustainable way to resist the stuffiness that can come with winter. 

My home is full or succulents a year round, as they are easy to maintain (I've got previous as a plant killer), and come in a vast variety of shapes and colours. 



Introducing seasonal evergreens connects the existing succulent plants with the seasonal update and brings a fresh fragrance into the home. The use of similar evergreens in each space is a cost effective way to create a cohesive look throughout your home and a chance to get a bit creative. I used two bunches of Eucalyptus from our local flower market [£15] but you could just as easily go foraging in your garden. 

3) Accessories

I've introduced some marble accessories into the lounge area to build on the muted natural colour palette and texture. The coasters and tray were from Home Sense but I have found a similar tray and coasters from Olivia Bonas 

4) Lighting

Lighting is one of the most powerful tools to change the way a space feels. I'm a great believer in levels of lighting, table, floor lamps and candles are a permanent feature in our home. 

For the winter update I've used white, cream and grey candles in every room. I've also added a wooden garland with fairy lights in the lounge.

The antler candle holders on the mantle piece were from H&M last year but I found a similar Branch Candle Holder this year.

5) The Tree

Our tree is a mixture of metallics and white, every year I buy a new ornament (or two) this years additions was from our new John Lewis store, available here and from Olivia Bonas available here 

6) Table settings

Food and drink is a big focus of the festive period, and they say you eat with your eyes so the table setting deserves some good attention. 

Every year we lose at least a couple of glasses, due to my chaotic demeanour, so this year we recycled the odd ones and stocked up with cheap and (I think) stylishly cheerful glasses from Ikea, suitable for a range of cocktails. The tall tumblers are my particular favourite. The stopper bottles are to avoid that last minute 'who needs a drink?' as you're trying to get all the food to the table.



The washed linen table runner is from H&M which not only provides variety in texture but also protects the table from hot dishes. The paper napkins are also from Ikea and the napkin holder is from H&M

The total cost of the lounge update was around £155 and will (mostly) last well beyond Christmas. For me its about creating a home that you long to be in without breaking the bank.

Happy Holidays!

[Your] Place; The Finishing Touches

Getting the basics of your scheme right is important,
Sometimes a scheme concept can be a struggle to get right...

...but all that hard work will pay off when you add the finishing touches.

This is the fun bit- These pieces will really put your stamp on the your place, they'll have the most impact with instant effect and (with a little luck) bring everything together.

[Our] Lounge scheme (post coming soon]) has been developed as a neutral base with dark charcoal grey, creams and blacks. The prints and patterns we've selected  are very graphic and I've been letting it settle in my mind whilst looking for the right statement to set it off.

Sometimes you just can't rush to finish!

I recently painted a very simple canvas (project from the January Cure) that brings together my favorite shades and tones in a sort of graffiti mood board.

My colourful Graffiti Canvas

Its a large canvas and a strong statement that balances the monochrome patterns and metallic wallpaper and introduces another influence.

To pull this influence into the room I have been seeking some bright color block velvet cushions to complement the pale grey velvet fabric of the sofa.

I love velvet and suede; the intensity of the color is so much more lustrous and luxurious with a textured fabric finish.

After a long search I found some gorgeous cushions in by Soho at Heals, but at £45 a pop I couldn't bring myself to do it (especially as the Mr hates cushions).

Soho At Heal's

I am a firm believer in spending your money where it counts and in my mind that is investment pieces of furniture, I always try to keep spending on accessories minimal so a scheme can be easily updated without breaking the bank.

And that's how I came across H&M for Home cushion range and I just had to share...

The Colourways...

The cushion covers come in two sizes 50 x 50cm (£6.99) and 30 x 50cm (£4.99). H&M also sell the inner cushions at £6.99 and £4.99 respectively.

Its quite unusual to find such a board range of colors and sizes in a variety of fabrics I think H&M will be my go to for throw cushions from here on in.

I've put together some example colorways below to get the creative juices flowing!

 Post on completed Lounge scheme coming soon...