Wallpaper of the Week - Fashion

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/products/ferm-living/fashion/71618

A quirky one for you this morning, its from a collection by Ferm Living and is called Fashion. Featuring rows of models with a whole host of accessories, striking various 'catalogue' poses !

The black and white makes an ideal focal point for a monochrome scheme that I would keep to a modern property. Ideal for a hallway or those rooms where you can get away with it....the good old downstairs loo springs to mind. On the flip side, it would look stunning in a modern double height room where you would be able to drop huge long lengths. Also to be considered would be commercial use, whether that be in an office, reception area or shop....quite versatile really...

Wallpaper of the Week - Playtime Collection

http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/collections/casadeco/playtime/558

I find children's wallpaper can be quite tricky to select. There are lots of cars and fairies around but this new range from Casadeco caught my attention initially because of the little Japanese Harajuku lady (she reminds me of the lovely Momji collection). On looking into it further, I found that not only did they have 'tasteful' papers and boarders for girls but also for boys.

The range has 5 options in total Deers, Huts, Hills, Hearts and Japanese (as shown above) with supporting papers to complement such as a delicate all over floral design and a simple stripe. All equally desirable that I have failed to choose one as a wallpaper of the week and instead gone for Wallpaper Range of the Week. Its the attention to detail that makes it for the me, the bird sat on the Deer's antlers and the little ducks swimming in the pond on the hill.

It goes without saying that I would suggest using them in a children's bedroom or playroom and don't really think they would work any further afield. Pricing wise they are £20 per boarder and £21 per roll for wallpaper, not the cheapest but would probably have a longer life than a more specific character wallpaper that may get grown out of sooner.

New Years Resolution ..2010...

Its late I know (what are we about the 9th January ?) but that is kind of in keeping with my 'Resolution'...note the singular... for 2010.

In the run up to Christmas we were mad busy, doing the things that people who work in retail do and transforming our house back from building site to family home. Christmas Day arrived (was fab - ate turkey in PJs) then we packed up and went down to Torquay for a few days into the New Year.

All this time I had a niggle at the back of my mind that I hadn't had chance to do 'my plan'. I'm a control freak ...I quite openly admit it ...I need to know what's going to happen and when and therefore, I need to plan. I needed to get straight in my mind what it was that I was going to focus on at the the start of the new year, start of the new decade. I was mentally conjuring up a resolution list that would resemble more of an update on the business plan with my life splattered around the edges.

It got to New Years Eve, we had left the small people with M-i-L (thank you x) and we had the whole afternoon to ourselves...TIME...The others were hitting the local tourist shops but instead we got on the tiny ferry across the very cold and choppy River Dart and wedged ourselves into the corner of a very lovely, very busy, very tiny pub (in the daytime !!) "Right" I thought "GB can hit the papers, I'll attempt my plan" But, it was just so lovely having time to sit there and talk about nothing important (why SJP is striking in appearance and who was too skinny in Grazia), munching on ham, chips and egg and drinking me'spritzer, that I didn't want to plan, I wanted to enjoy the moment, enjoy the time.

It goes so fast, I know there are so many cliches about it going quicker when you get older, have kids etc etc but I had struggled over the course of 2 weeks to find 20 minutes to sit down with a pen and paper. It struck me that the priority had to be to sort out my time balance.

Sunday 3rd January about 10.30pm I got round to it...I (while keeping half an eye on Daniel Craig on the TV) split out my average week allocating the current time split that I have across work, children, housework and me. An eye opener and a bit of a pathetic picture to tell you the truth...all housework and no fun making Sarah a very dull, boring and fed up person. But at least I had my plan of what I needed to change.

Tuesday 5th January, playing with the children after they had got home from school, childcare potentially over for the week due to weather forecasts and me still not getting round to achieving the me part of the revised time schedule and I thought what am I faffing about for ??? ...why don't I just lighten up and enjoy myself ?

So that's my Resolution ...I know my current balance is wrong I should be having fun not planning. I know I'm lucky and I don't always appreciate it (cue huge test of being snowed in for 3 days with 2 small people on my own not even able to get the pram out never mind the car). I know I feel better if I have lists going left, right and centre ...but I've decided I've got to challenge myself and every time I feel the need to list or plan or organise I'm just going to stop and enjoy myself instead. Life is passing by way too quickly for my liking at the moment and I want to make sure that 2010 is my happiest, longest year ...

(sooo tempted to add in 2.get fit 3.drink less Starbucks 4.increase business turnover by 50%....but am off to beat my 3yo on Super Mario Carts instead)

Words, Words, Words ...

I'm a fan of words...words to provoke thoughts, memories, smiles...

I was browsing (should really be drooling) over a whole host of new ranges that have launched recently and I couldn't help but pick up on this company. These are vinyl pieces that are added over the existing wall covering. I love the scale of these designs, as you can see from the entrance hall image they are not for shrinking violets... but they are removable (hmmm not sure I ever really trust that something is 'really' removable). There are a range of standard quotes or a bespoke service if you have something specific that you are looking for. They are also really adaptable to different rooms -"Rub-A-Dub-Dub" "Kiss the Cook" (sorry cheesey I know). Finally, the pricing, I always go on about what good value feature wallpaper is in comparison to wall art but it definitely deserves a mention in this case, ranging from £20 to £30 I'd say worth a try.

www.wallworddesigns.co.uk

I can't do a post about words without mentioning a personal favourite site The Keep Calm Gallery. (www.keepcalmgallery.com) I came across them in a Sunday Times editorial after they were the first people to relaunch the WWII print of the slogan Keep Calm and Carry On. I have then gone on to purchase numerous screen prints that are adorning the walls of Ivy House. Sitting here at my desk, I'm surrounded by their Eye Charts quoting various things from 'Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder' to 'Hindsight Is Always 20 20'. At one point I think I did have an addiction but they are 'different', lovely and so flexible to their surroundings.

Sorry for the slight weekend diversion ...back to wallpaper next week...

Wallpaper of the Week - Frosty Morning 2010

http://www.cole-and-son.com/collection_detail.asp?collectionid=13

2010, Happy New Year !

It was difficult not to reflect back this New Years Eve to the Millennium and the amazing time that I had with my then newly acquired boyfriend, now Husband of 6 years in the sunny heat of Thailand. The climate was a bit different 10 years on, although spending NYE on the 'English Riviera' (always makes me chuckle, aka Torquay) was slightly warmer than the cold frosty weather that greeted me for the first school run of 2010.

As I drove my defrosted car, laden with small people bundled in coats, mittens, Father Christmas hats (he's become rather attached to it and it was easier to just go with it !) through the dark with the head lights glistening on the frosty roads and trees, I was reminded of the inverse print of one of the Cole and Son prints that I am continually looking to squeeze into designs.

No doubt you'll have seen this paper around in its original black-on-white colourway. Researching this morning, I didn't realise just how many variations they actually run, anything from reds and gold to various shades of beige. I'm sticking to the basics with my recommendation and this charcoally grey with frosted trees as it focuses on the pattern without overpowering with colour. Very adaptable and suitable for use as a neat little feature wall wherever takes your fancy from living room to downstairs loo and anywhere in between....

...wrap up warm and drive carefully..