Thursday 31 July 2008

My website is up and running!

If you live on Anglesey and have a need for an approachable interior designer, then why not drop me a line via my website. Even if you don't live in the area, and you would like some advice on what to do with your home email me for some friendly advice!

Monday 21 July 2008

Summer here to stay?

So we've had a couple of days here and there of sunshine, and I have to say it is great to see as I seem to get much more done in the sun!
My advice on getting your house all summery?
I'm not suggesting going all out and buying everything new, but bedrooms crave for crisp white cotton in the summer, with bright accessories in light fabrics. If you do fancy spending a bit, and you have no particular colour or pattern already then go wild with some bright bohemian fabrics and colours like turquoise, cerise and yellow...a bit much?? why not pick a colour from your existing scheme and bring it out a bit more.
Spruce your living room with a little bunch of sweet peas from the garden and place them in a posh drinking glass you have in the back of your cupboard. And if you have a throw on your sofa either tuck it away, or place it on the arm of your sofa rather than the back.
Kitchen - fresh herbs on your window sill look great, but if you're anything like me they don't stay alive for long, so make sure you buy ones that you actually use, mint is a great one in summer, the perfect companion to Pimms and lemonade!

Tuesday 18 December 2007

Display

One Man's Treasure....
If you're anything like me you pick up various things in shops/car boot sales etc. not knowing where you are going to put them, but you like them and so they reflect something about you, and surely there is a place for them in your home?! So what are the rules of displaying? The two things you need to ask yourself whilst experimenting with your diplays are, does it look contrived or cluttered? If the answer is yes to either try again!

Putting pictures together - you may have seen in various magazines various pictures placed on one wall, this is a great idea with a great effect.

How to do it.
The way you put them together depends on the shape of the wall i.e. let the wall space dictate the overall 'frame' to the pictures.
Choose frames carefully, although most frames will go together its best to keep to similar styles/ colours.
Place all the frames on the floor in front of the wall and play around with them until they look about right and then draw a rough plan on paper so you remember where thay all go. Imagine a frame around the pictures so they look tidy.


Other little displays
I like putting small ornate frames together, and mixing then with things like ceramic balls or candles or teacups!

Monday 3 December 2007

Wallpaper

There are loads of great websites out there with some fabulous wallpapers, my favourites are: Anna French (Ritz), Lewis and Wood, Cole and Son, Osbourne and Little and Romo. And my particular favourites at the moment are one by Cole and Son and its called Richmond- India Paper in colourway 1001. It's a great peachy colour that would look great in a boudoir type bedroom, along with opulent gold silk curtains and piles of luxurious cushions. And the other one is Osbourne and Little's Asuka Weaves in colourway 02, it has a black background with a red and gold pattern, it would look great as a feature wall in a dining room, with an ornate gold mirror on top!

Begin at the Beginning

So here we are the start of my blog. Not really sure how to start it as I haven't really done my research on blogs.
Who am I?
My name is Mandy and I am a mother of two boys aged 2 and 5 months.
What do I know about interior design?
My mother always had an interest in country style interiors magazines, and one of my child hood memories is of my mum trying to re create looks from a big file where she collected sections for it every week. After graduating in Business and Sociology, I went to work for an Interior design company who dealt with mid - high end suppliers and although at the start I was only there to do some admin, my interest grew and grew. I was only there for a year before I decided to move back home and find a job locally. I know work for an environmental advising organisation as an External Relations Officer, but my heart still lies with interior design, and I have since completed a diploma in Professional Interior Design, so I'm hoping my blog will give me the nudge to do what I always wanted to do!
My style
My mind changes as soon as I see a new trend emerging , but as for my own home I like vintage, classic and a bit of contemporary thrown in, my first house was quite modern, but now I'm a bit older my tastes are maturing as well, and the chintz' that I once frowned upon are slowly finding their way into my home!