Where ever you are reading this from I hope your feet are not soggy, so many people have been affected by this scary rain that posting a blog about house plants seems a little fickle. As I look out of the window at yet another grey sky and a very muddy patch that used to be my garden I find myself willing on spring and the bulbs appearing. However in the meantime I will have to make do with my new indoor gardening craze.
Without going all Titchmarsh on you, the hot new interior news is that house plants are cool again. For a while it seemed that only an orchid was ever added to rooms in stylists shots and sales in phalaenopsis went through the roof. I don't mean run out and purchase a whole load of spider plants, that's not the look i think you should be creating. I'm thinking more BIG leaves and mini trees. Kind of creating a jungle effect in your living room?? Bringing the outside in.
For Christmas Santa was so kind as to bring me my very own fiddle leaf fig plant. which I have been carefully watering and chatting to and so far it seems very happy.
The fiddle leaf is a bit more of a high maintenance plant than most, it likes to be kept it in indirect light. You need to let the soil in its pot dry out completely before watering it and you have to be careful not to put it into a pot that feels too big or it will get freaked out. The leaves will also need a polish from time to time to keep them shiny.I am gradually trimming off the leaves from the stalk to create bulk around the top and make it look more tree like.
However if you want something a bit easier there is the Olive tree which looks fab, the recipe for success with an olive tree inside is at least six hours a day of direct sun, a deep pot to welcome a root ball, and a position not too close to a window ( You don't want the hot sun to burn the olive tree's leaves). If you have a conservatory or room with bi fold doors this would be a perfect place.
I love the way a large plant can soften a room, furniture all seems to have such square angles and straight lines its nice to break up the eye line and add a splash of green to your colour palette too.
Ok then, its raining again and i have a school run to do, Wellington's on and off I go.
Back soon, and wherever you are I hope the floods don't bother you too much.
Over and Out
Lynne
Happy New Year to you all.
I hope you all enjoyed the celebrations last night. Great friends, soggy fireworks and some bad Dad/ Mum(me) dancing made for a great night this end.
Its time to start thinking about taking the decorations down, not one of my favourite jobs but putting those Christmas tree lights back neatly with no tangles will save hours of stress next Christmas !Its time to start getting back to painting up some of the lovely pieces of furniture that are taking up space in my garage. With the school holidays very little gets achieved.
2014 I feel sure it's going to be an interesting year, I hope that the craze for up cycling and re-purposing things around the home will continue to gather pace .Lots of the things that I predict will become big interior fashions over the next year are so easy to achieve at home and this is what excites me. I'm hoping that i can pass on some of the top tips to you over the year.
Interior wise a few things I'm predicting......
Ombre or dip dye effect used on soft furnishings as seen with Bluebell Greys Teal Paintbox cushion £70.00 and Marks and Spencer's with their Padova Peony Footstool
This effect can be so easily achieved with some Dylon fabric dye for hand use. I will be blogging about the best and easiest way to do this over the coming weeks so watch this space. I made a duvet cover using blue dye and it was super easy and i think very Designer Guild styleeee.Cheap to do and maximum effect.
Exposed light bulbs and light fittings with an industrial feel are another trend that I think will continue to grow though 2014. Graham and Green have an amazing selection of these lights.
They look fab but very similar ones can be made by buying the bulb holders from specialist stores for around £3.90 and then buying the coloured flex, again I will blog about this and let you know where all these parts can be bought and how to do it. Here is one i made....
I went for a sensible Grey flex cable as I was practising to see if it could be done but next time I may go for a bright pink ...crazy! I will also show you how to make table lamps using old jars, love this one made from a cookie jar.
Blue Walls, Farrow and Ball's downpipe has been everywhere for the last year or so and whilst i feel in the right property can look amazing its time to make way for BLUE!!
I am loving the following two:
Marine Blue absolute matt emulsion by Little Greene.
Stiffkey Blue 281 by Farrow and Ball
2014 could be the year to go blue!
So much to tell you all, there is what we can make from old pallets, up-cycling furniture projects, garden tips and interior inspiration. So stick around for the ride and sign up for Love Nellie's Daily Dose to be delivered to your inbox. I can help you get creative and save £££££££ achieving fantastic style around your home.
Right is there anything even vaguely good on television tonight? If you need me I will be in front on the fire in my onesie !!!
Happy New Year to you all x
Oh my lordy I am only on my 6th day of school holidays and already I am thinking I need a team of industrial cleaners on a full-time contract just to help me cope with the mess.
It's far too rainy and cold to send the kids out into the garden ( I have even been flicking the heating on - don't tell the husband) ! Therefore the mess in the house is insane.
I have therefore taken the opportunity to have a good sort out. I have been through all the felt pens and binned the ones without lids, sorted out the jigsaw's and made sure all the pieces are there, popped anything that looks like it came from a party bag in a black bin liner heading to the bin.
Clever storage seems to be the order of the day, a place for everything and everything in its place! With a bit of creativity there are some fantastic ideas out there to help make life more organised. Here are a few that I love....
These crates can be purchased from www.roseandgrey.co.uk for £55.00 but could easily be made with a few wheels sold at B&Q or Ikea and an old crate, I picked up crates at Sunbury Antiques Market for £5.00. The aluminium flower planters hung indoors on the walls are also a really clever and cheap idea.
I went to Ikea and bought a EXPIDAT shelving unit, they now come with clever cupboard inserts that turn the shelf unit into great storage for any playroom. I then got a can of blackboard spray paint and sprayed the doors, making it easy to write on the doors exactly what should be stored in each section. Easy peasy and its made life much more organised!!!
Anyway must dash, onto my next DIY project, making an Ark as it does not look like its going to stop raining any time soon.
LOl
Lynne xx
