WEEK 4 - WALLPAPER OF THE WEEK

Wallpaper Direct - Bergmasque

This week I have been looking for a wallpaper for a 'Fairy Princess Bedroom'. My Small2 has her first birthday this week and I have to admit that I have been looking forward to creating a little girl's room since we found out that the bump was a 'she'. There are literally hundreds of specially designed children's wallpapers featuring fairies, princesses, stars, spots etc etc and butterflies ... I'm sorry but I just don't get butterflies I think I'd be trying to squat them - anyway, personal preferences and all that ...back to business.

The paper that I have chosen above is actually a "sugar pink flock on a pale opal base" and it has a shimmer (If only I could get a touchy feely blog to let you all see it in real life). probably not what you would first think of for a small girls bedroom, but place it on a feature wall with a soft pink and neutral colour on the other walls. Add in white painted furniture (I'm loving the sleigh bed in Aspace), a sparkly chandlier, some floaty white curtains, a pretty pink and white bed throw and some shimmery cushions.

Hmmm... Small2 will probably request 'Teletubbies' and I'll have to move into that room instead - shame !

That Friday Night Glass of Wine ...

What is it ? That moment when the wetness ripples like the ebb of a stream across the tongue. The clean, cool, crispness of the honey-like substance, refreshing and tingling in the mouth, effervescing against the taste buds.

Or is it the fact that in the inhalation before taking the very first sip, just three words come into the mind "its the weekend". The next few moments are mine, all mine, to savour alone. One of the few things that a Mummy can have to herself.

Mine is already in the fridge, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (Ara Composite), way below the recommended temperature just as I like it. So as Pete Tong announces the weekend, as he does at 7pm every Friday in our house, to shouts of '"Are You Dancin'?" from small1, I will be swinging open the fridge door and enjoying my Mummy moment - enjoy yours x

Leaving behind the 'previous life' and trying to live the Ivy House values ...

Some weeks ago I gave Ivy House Interiors some values (see earlier blog post below) and I've realised in the last day that what I have set as my company values aren't currently the personal values by which I live my life. I'm there with most of them but what I hadn't realised was that more than 2 years after leaving the corporate environment, how much I was still brainwashed into a 'must deliver as soon as possible at all costs' mind-set.

I made my decision to leave the rat-race while travelling in the back of an ambulance with Small1 at 3am one Saturday in December. I can't remember having a 'defining moment' ever before but this certainly was one. I had returned to work 6 weeks earlier and in the space of those 6 weeks, Small1 was on his 3rd hospital admission after developing pneumonia. As I sat in the back of that ambulance opposite his tiny little face, smothered in an oxygen mask, I was trying to remember what was in my work schedule for the coming week and how I was going to fit everything in around being in hospital 40 miles from home - then like the biggest coldest wettest slap in the face ever possible, I looked up and (I'm now blubbing) there he was, my baby. By the time we got out of the ambulance at the other end I met up with GB and that was it - from that moment on my life had changed. My family are my priority and it was a great opportunity to follow my new found love of interior design. How lucky am I ?!

So why 2 and a half years on have I taken myself back to that ambulance journey ? Well, small2 has the chicken pox ('pops' as they are know in our house). My first thoughts, after berating myself for thinking we had got away with it (Small1 had them 21 days ago), was everything that I had planned to do with regards to the business this week and how it was going to have to be done in the evenings / nap times and how I was going to have to re-arrange a meeting that I was really looking forward to. Cue 2nd biggest coldest wettest slap in the face !

I am still very ambitious and I am going to make this business work. It will deliver both the results for the customers and the WAHM lifestyle to be able to support the family. But that's just it - and I'm being honest - my family will come first and poor spotty, grizzly birthday girl-to-be is my priority. The values that I set were customer facing and I've realised that GB, small1 and small2 are more than deserving of the same treatment. So as I sit here, on the landing outside her bedroom, I have remembered how lucky I am ...and the fact that I am my own boss means that if I need to launch my new website next week rather than this week, then that's what will happen ! ...please bare with us it will be worth the wait.

WEEK 3 - WALLPAPER OF THE WEEK

Wallpaper Direct - Dandelion Clocks

I've been searching wallpaper books for backgrounds to use on the website ...watch this space ! and came across this design which I have fallen for big time ! My 'usual' preference is currently for sparkly damask prints but this one has really caught my attention. (Have just done a wander round IvyH to see where I could squeeze it in !)

I love the raspberry with the grey and the pattern is striking and yet unoffensive. Yep its not going to be a classic that will live forever, but for the next few years I think it will be a great addition to any room.

So where would I put it ? A nice sunny kitchen / diner teamed up with grey linen and raspberry accessories or a living room alongside charcoal sofas - give it a try !

WEEK 2 - WALLPAPER OF THE WEEK

Wallpaper Direct - Classic Brown


The brief for this week's wallpaper has come from a friend of mine Mrs P. She has a lovely modern home with a neutral base colour scheme and is looking to add a feature to a dining room that links through into a conservatory. The furniture in the dining room is a lovely chunky oak suite.

After trying out various colour schemes but remaining unconvinced, I have opted to recommend the attached wallpaper from the Raffi Collection.

This modern yet unimposing design will add interest and subtle colour variation to the neutral scheme. The glossy pale blue will work well in a room linking into the conservatory and out into the garden and the base colour will add a further tone to the neutrals without changing the overall feel of the room or making the space close in. I would then recommend the use of chocolate brown and pale blue cushions on the conservatory furniture and the dining chairs.

WEEK 1 - WALLPAPER OF WEEK

Wallpaper Direct - Pembroke Duck Egg



This is a gorgeous colour and very easy to use damask design - for sentimental reasons I have choosen it as it was the first wallpaper that I used professionally - in my first showhome. I used this wallpaper in the lounge as a feature wall, sitting behind a shiny chocolate brown leather sofa.



WALLPAPER TIP OF THE WEEK

To co-ordinate the rest of the room take a small piece of your paper to a paint colour mixing place (Dulux or Crown Trade Centres or Homebase) and get them to mix you a colour to match your favourite part of the wallpaper design.