Style resolutions: Louise from Glitterball

The end of the month has arrived and with it the last of the Style Resolutions series. I'm so pleased that it's getting a little lighter in the afternoons and am hoping some sunshine will stir me out of my January slump. A lovely interview to finish with; Louise from Glitterball, a blog with inspiring fashion and interiors finds. Thanks Louise!

Style resolutions: Louise from Glitterball

Q. What was your favourite design find/achievement of 2009?

2009 was the year that I became more than a bit obsessed with Etsy (sooo many weekend afternoons were spent trawling through the Treasuries), so it’s rather fitting that my favourite design find was from there. Back in the spring I bought a silk swing dress for my cousin’s wedding from Etsy seller, Nod to Mod Vintage. I’m such a fan of vintage clothing but have always struggled to find pieces that fit me really well. I usually end up buying pieces that look beautiful but just seem to hang wrong and I can’t find the heart to return them. This dress, however, fit like an absolute dream, came in the most beautiful rosemary green colour and is ridiculously light to wear. My perfect dress.

Q. What are your style resolutions for 2010?

My main style resolution for 2010 is to start redecorating the flat that my boyfriend and I moved into last year. We are so excited to get rid of our rather damp stained magnolia walls! The main challenge will be to find a style that melds both of our tastes. He’s more of a minimalist whereas I need splashes of colour and like a home to feel very warm and cosy, so the ultimate goal is to find some kind of compromise that manages to reflect both of our styles. I think we’ll be sticking to white walls to lighten the flat and then warming things up with cushions like these from Niki Jones and framed photographs from Alicia Bock.

Q. Which style/design blog(s) will you be reading in 2010?

This is a tough one as I’m constantly in awe of how many inspiring blogs there are out there, but in 2010 I’ll be sticking to some of my long-term favourites. In terms of interiors, Desire to Inspire always features a great range of photographers and is a constant source of inspiration. Delikatissen is a blog that I came across late last year and collects pictures of some of the best interiors out there, and I also love The Rockstar Diaries, which isn’t a blog focused on interiors, but I found the revamping of their DC apartment completely inspiring (such bold use of colour). For fashion, Moodboard is one of the blogs that I always turn to first. She has an amazing eye and is a great source for those editorials that you wished you’d torn out and kept, but were too disorganised to do so (if you’re anything like me...) Finally, Stockholm Streetstyle captures the awesome style of surely the best looking country out there.

Mini bunting

Cork pen pot (£9.95), styled with mini bunting made from vintage seed labels from Burgundy Brocante (from £6.)

Style Resolutions: Camilla from Hygge Nook

So, this is the penultimate Style Resolutions interview. I've really enjoyed all the interviews this year, it's great to hear about other people's home projects and discover some inspiring new blogs along the way. Today's participant is Camilla from Hygge Nook, a keen crafter who also has a little Etsy shop selling crocheted corsages. Oh, and I have a top tip from the Tea for Joy headquarters - the Eames chair she is after is 20% off at the Lollipop Shoppe until this Sunday. I know this because a friend is currently obsessed with this chair, ordered a cheaper copy which wasn't up to scratch and sent it back, and now has his Lollipop Shoppe chair on the way...

Thanks for taking part Camilla.

Style Resolutions: Camilla from Hygge Nook


Q. What was your favourite design find/achievement of 2009?

I was hugely influenced by Danish design last year with Swedish style coming in a close second. I like the feeling of space, openess and good living which both seem to offer. My favourite store finds have to be the Rice range - I have quite a few pieces of their kitchenware which are fun, colourful and unbreakable - and Rie Elise Larsen for its uber prettiness.

Having said that my absolute favourite design piece is the Eames rocker chair - the only thing stopping me from buying one this minute is not knowing which colour to get!


Q. What are your style resolutions for 2010?

Like a lot of people, I struggle with defining my home style within one particular style. I may be certain I love one particular style, then see an amazing house online or in a magazine that doesn't fit my style and think 'wow, that's for me.' So, my resolution is going to have to be to explore what my style really is and plan around that.

I'm also going to really get to grips with decluttering. Do I really need all those books hidden in the bookcase or the clothes I don't wear? I would rather streamline my life to include the things I really want then hoard things that have no relevance.

By less, buy better. I'd rather have one great thing that I love than a myriad of little things that don't last as long and aren't wanted as much.

Q. Which style/design blog(s) will you be reading in 2010?

I have my eye on quite a few US blogs, namely Young House Love, Apartment Therapy, Making it Lovely and Decor8. Ish & Chi gets my Australian vote and Swedish blog Chez Larsson is a new one for me. Isn't it amazing how you can drop in and out of people's lives and styles globally on a daily basis? My RSS reader is getting huge though!

Ben Javens

Love all of the prints by Ben Javens (blog, shop) especially 'Times are hard for dreamers' (£25).

Wednesday workspace: industrial pipes

Industrial table legs with some feminine touches strewn around - lovely.

via Emmas Designblogg (if anyone knows the exact credit, please let me know.)

Sally Nencini

Sally Nencini is an upholsterer based in London who customises vintage chairs with intricate embroidered designs. Designs below are a Rajasthani chair, inspired by a traditional Rajasthani jacket, her 'County Mayo' chair and the 'Come to Life' chair, which uses the words of a family poem. A perfect heirloom.

Sally also has a blog, and an Etsy shop, which sells cute knitted toys and brightly-coloured cushions.

Style resolutions: Zoe from Conversation Pieces

Zoe from Conversation Pieces is today's contributor to the Style Resolutions series. Zoe lives in Edinburgh and her blog is so lively and full of fun. Zoe got engaged last year and I totally saw it coming (a surprise trip planned by her boyfriend sounded very suspicious) so I feel like I know her even though we've never met!

Thanks Zoe for taking part - I'm excited about following your wedding plans in 2010 as I know they are going to be a little bit alternative and original...

Style resolutions: Zoe from Conversation Pieces

1. What was your favourite design find/achievement of 2009?

This is maybe a bit of a cheat but I have to say that my favourite design achievement was probably our flat. At the start of 2009, our place was still in need of a lot (and that's a total under-exaggeration) of renovation – we had no kitchen, a bathroom that was a bit third world, windows that were on the verge of falling out etc etc...

Back then, it seemed like we had so much to do that it was just terrifying. But, by the end of 2009, all we had left to do is put down some flooring in the kitchen and hall.

Find-wise, one of the things we love the most is the old furniture we acquired that belonged to the OH's aunt – like this chair.

It's been great to save some of the things she kept for all these years and give them a new lease of life.

Fashion-wise, my favourite finds of the year are probably my two engagement rings. Of course, technically the other half is responsible for those finds – but they were certainly the things I enjoyed wearing most in 2009!


2. What are your style resolutions for 2010?

Finish the bathroom – it's gone from the blaargh blue bathroom to being all lovely and white – but we still have to do the painting of the windows, retouch the wall from where the plaster has moved and stencil on some leaves going down one wall (like in the bedroom photo below)! We will get there eventually!



Recover this day bed – we have the fabric (and have had it for about 8 months.) We just need to get the sewing machine out and get going.

Fashion-wise, my resolutions will be only wear boots that have proper grips on them – bruises from falling are so not 2010!

3. Which style blog(s) will you be reading in 2010?

For fashion, Kingdom of Style. I love the way Queen Marie and Queen Michelle dress – they have a great sense of fun and adventure. For design, Oh Hello Friend. It's so full of such prettiness and I think Danni who writes it is so sweet. For wedding-y stuff, I've just discovered Rock n Roll Bride so I'll be sure to be checking that out as we get down to serious (but hopefully still fun) wedding planning in 2010.

My favourites: Sheepskins

Today I had a blissful experience sitting on this sheepskin-covered chair at Ikea. Ikea is not my favourite place to buy furniture, but I can't deny it is one of the most comfortable chairs I've ever sat on. I was transfixed to the spot, unable to move, even though my aim was to be out within an hour (actual time 3 and a half hours, oops.) I'm easily lured by any kind of sheepskin, especially if it's layered over something else, such as a chair or sofa. Habitat has a huge sheepskin rug which I'm saving up for (i.e. waiting for Elle Decoration's bi-annual 20% discount voucher.)

Famapa on Flickr

1st Option, Emma Lee

Peter Guthrie (this is the Lamino chair by Swedese, available at Skandium)

Rumid

Living Etc

Living Etc

Style resolutions: Emma Lamb

Today's style resolutions come from Emma Lamb, a Scottish blogger and Etsy shop owner. If you haven't been to visit before, Emma's blog is full of lovely craft ideas and inspiration. I'm off to check out the Flickr pool she mentions below - it sounds like a real treat!

I have a few more of these interviews left and I'm trying to put them all up before the end of January - I'm behind schedule on these, and on my tax return... So, it's going to be a busy week!

Thanks Emma for taking part!

Style resolutions: Emma Lamb

Q. What was your favourite design find/achievement of 2009?

I have to say my most favourite discovery of 2009 was the 'granny chic' trend. I know it has been around for a while in the fashion world but it's really lovely to see it start to seep into our homes. For me 'granny chic' is about quality hand-crafted and vintage pieces teamed with bold but beautiful colours, it is about mixing old and new ideas, patterns, colours and textures to create something that is both fresh and modern, yet traditional at the same time.

What is really wonderful is that there are already so many people embracing it this trend, so in august i decided to set up the 'granny chic' flickr pool to bring together some of the fabulous interpretations. I think what makes it so appealing is that it supports the handmade and up-cycling movements, and it is such an easy trend to personalise by mixing your favourite vintage or hand-crafted finds with your existing decor.

1. Piou, 2. Camilla Engman, 3. ATLITW, 4. Dottie Angel.

Q. What are your style resolutions for 2010?

Of course, this year I really want to continue to build on the success of my wee Etsy shop. The holidays have given me time to take stock of what I've achieved so far and also time to ponder new ideas for expanding my crochet range.

I'm also really eager to explore my sewing and textile skills, with the aim of developing a range of pillows and tea towels. At the moment my ideas for this are quite loose and free. I know that I want the design process to be very fluid and organic, responding spontaneously or emotionally to the fabrics and materials I use. After working in the textile design world for nearly ten years I've found myself at a point where I need to find a fresh approach to designing and working with fabric, and think this is the perfect opportunity to do that.

Also this year, I really want to give my home some much needed tlc. We have been in our wee flat for much longer than I care to mention and there is still so much renovation work to be done. My studio is the only room that is completely finished ~ yep, I certainly got my priorities right on that one! Next on the list are the hall and living room, and as long as there aren't any scary surprises under the decades of wallpaper the work needed should be fairly straight forward, hopefully...


And lastly, if I can find the time I would really love to learn a new skill. Clothes-making and hand-quilting always crop up on my to do list, so maybe this year will be the year I have a go...

Q. Which style/design blog(s) will you be reading in 2010?

In 2009 I found some fabulous blogs and friends who never fail to inspire me so I will be keeping up with these lovelies; Sf Girl by Bay, Decor8, Bliss, The Constant Gatherer, Dottie Angel.

Wednesday workspace

I'm always looking out for interesting office chairs as my desk is in the corner of my living room and it would be on display. Although this one is bright and looks good, I've already eliminated it from my enquiries as it's not adjustable and looks like it could scrape my wooden floor. As I'm already in possession of two uncomfortable office chairs, I'm going to deliberate for quite a while before buying another one. If anyone has any stylish but comfortable recommendations, please let me know!

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for storage under a desk like this? My desk is pretty open, like this one, but I'm accumulating quite a pile of printers/scanners etc which are sitting on the floor at the minute. I've recently bought a box on wheels from Rose and Grey which stores printer paper and some items when they aren't in use, but the area still manages to look very untidy.

image via Livingetc.

Catherine Tough Textiles

Today I came across Catherine Tough textiles - and since I'm a little bit obsessed with lavender sachets, I had to share the lavender heart (£16.50), chick (£22) and owl, (£46) which are made from 100% lambswool and are available in lots of bright, vibrant colours.

As well as my lavender favourites, she also sells a range of homewares, which include draught excluders, this hug cushion (£65), striped throw (£60) and lace stitch throw (£60). Both of the throws are heavily discounted in the sale and if the quality matches that which I saw today, they would be a very good buy indeed.

Style Resolutions: Patchwork Harmony

Today's style resolutions come from Caroline at the Patchwork Harmony blog. Caroline's shop, Patchwork Harmony, sells lots of lovely shabby chic/rustic-style homewares (I've always really loved this lace cushion, now on sale.) She is running a blogging competition to win a £50 voucher to her shop, so if you're ready to unleash your writing talent on the world, definitely check it out.

Thanks, Caroline!

Style resolutions: Caroline from Patchwork Harmony

Q. What was your favourite design find/achievement of 2009?

I think it would actually have to be buying my first home. When we found the house it was everything I had wanted and more, and I never thought we would get our offer accepted, so when we did, it felt like it really was meant to be. From the day we moved in I have been constantly looking and thinking about what I want to do in terms of decor so it is just one lovely big design project! I love it! I am especially excited to hang our beautiful Louise Body wallpaper in a few weeks!

Q. What are your style resolutions for 2010?

Occasionally save up to buy a really nice piece of furniture. For example I just spied these lovely drawers on wheels from Rose & Grey posted on the Glitterball blog - I'd love these for my office.

Try my hand at 'making over' some more furniture... I've painted and recovered a few wooden chairs this year which I loved doing, so I'd like to do more of that, and just 'create' more in general... I've got a few small projects in mind, so let's see if they actually materialise!

Be more imaginative about how things can be used. I love it when I see old wooden crates used as shelves, or an old stepladder in a kitchen being used to hold saucepans for example... so I'd love to give new function to objects like this.


Q. Which style/design blog(s) will you be reading in 2010?

At the moment blogs I read regularly include Eat, Drink, Chic, Tales of a Junkaholic, Glitterball, Conversation Pieces, Automatism, Her Little Place and Home Shopping Spy.

Paint swatches

I love to see paint companies and magazines use innovative styling to demonstrate their range of colours. These colour swatches are from a recent Farrow and Ball supplement for Homes & Gardens magazine. I'm always drawn to piles of leaves (and I got a flower press for Christmas which I'm keen to press leaves in next autumn) so that page really caught my eye - but I think the pile of notebooks is the most effective way of showing the colours. Which do you like?

Your style resolutions

Have you made any of your own style resolutions which you'd like to share? My own resolutions are simply to declutter (an ongoing theme, and an urgent priority in a flat with very little storage) and spend money on the basics before buying anything new. For example, I need to prioritise having my windows cleaned (never cleaned in the three years in this flat and they are filthy), damp proofing an area of damp in the kitchen and, fingers crossed, have a professional painter paint the hallway, skirting boards, and outside windows. These are not my favourite things to spend money on, but I've been ignoring them for quite a while and instead have spent my money buying Etsy items on a whim. Design blogs, you need to be held accountable!

If you'd like to, write a post on your blog with your resolutions and add a link below in the McLinky list (if you're reading this in a reader you'll have to go to my site to see what I mean). You can use the questions in the last post, or just use any of your own. I'm curious to read them, and no-one will hold you to account if you don't achieve anything!

photos via Living Etc.

Style resolutions: Nath from Le Petit Oiseau

Today we start a short series of new style resolutions from British bloggers. First up is Nath from Le Petit Oiseau (whose blog header I've always loved). She's revealing a big scoop in her answers - can you spot what it is? Congratulations Nath, that's very exciting news indeed. Thanks very much for taking part!

Style Resolutions: Nath from Le Petit Oiseau

Q. What was your favourite design find/achievement of 2009?

2009 was a pretty great year for me. It was the year that I started blogging, got into flickr, opened a little vintage shop and started upcycling vintage china (soon to be stocked in Paul Smith no less). I hope I can achieve similar heights in 2010!

As for design finds, I find my flickr favourites so inspiring, you can discover anything and everything.

1. Vintage hot-air balloon puzzle, 2. A Child's Alphabet, 3. Reused Plastic Pins 4, 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. ., 7. nido, 8. panda chops., 9. Conjunto para Consomê Casal Apaixonado, 10. pine cones!, 11. Doll Face, 12. 1950s biscuit tin (detail), 13. vintage original silk screen print, 14. January 26, 2008, 15. Van Cleef & Arpel, 16. Bareback Rider, 17. From a 1960's biology book, 18. Vintage Child Life Magazine Illustration--White Bunny Frolicking in Spring!, 19. Vintage Tins, 20. Untitled, 21. Thrifting, 22. memory cards, 23. Paper cut-out design, 24. Vintage Wallpaper, 25. 23, 26. collection, 27. Untitled, 28. Untitled, 29. lightning silkscreen , 30. The Pezidential Suite, 31. This is San Francisco, 32. new fabric!, 33. Austin Enterprises 1966 chess set, 34. NFG-Ship, 35. Melitta "Alter Schwede"

Q. What are your style resolutions for 2010?

Well, we're hoping to sell our house this year, so I do solemnly resolve to buy less and streamline a bit. In fact I will ruthlessly edit. I do try to keep that William Morris adage in mind - "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Because really, it makes so much sense doesn't it? And also to draw more, do more screen-printing. ­ I'd love to do a small textile collection. To get better at photography (to that end I am doing a 365 project on flickr) and to (more) regularly update my shop - (where I'm currently having a big ol sale until the end of January!)


Q. Which style/design blog(s) will you be reading in 2010?

So many. Too many. I have over 200 in my Google Reader! But here some much-loved favourites: Fine little day, Mieke Willems, Dos Family (the house tours are so incredibly inspiring), Inspiration Resource, and My Love For You Is A Stampede of Horses.

And I'll also be avidly reading recently discovered blogs like Barbara Berrade's. She is a photographer, designer and French fashion designer, with great style as you might expect.

Also Lovely World - another maker of beautiful things - and Karen Barbe who is a wonderful Chilean-based maker and textile designer.

bottom images Mieke Williams.

Style Resolutions Revisited: Jackie from Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle

Today's interview is the last of the Style Resolutions Revisited series - with Jackie from Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle. Tomorrow I am starting a short series of new resolutions from British bloggers.

These are Jackie's resolutions from last year:

So many that I don't even know where to start! My whole home has been a work in progress since we moved in four years ago. We haven't got a whole lot done as far as design goes because we have been focusing on starting our family. Now that my youngest is almost a year old, I feel like I can refocus on the little and big things I have been wanting to do around here. I'm currently working on my family room, using advice from a free consultation I won from the wonderful kelly + olive team. My next project will be redecorating my entry, which needs a major dose of "Organic meets Beverly Hills" style!

As far as fashion goes, I would love for this to be the year that I splurge on all the dream items that I have always lusted after. While this is highly unlikely, I'll put them out there in the universe in hopes they magically arrive on my doorstep from an anonymous donor.

And here's how she did:

I'm really glad Lynne asked me for an update to my 2009 Style Resolutions, because it helped me realize I had accomplished more than I originally thought! It has given me added confidence and enthusiasm for my goals for 2010.

My main achievement of the year was my family room redo. While I didn't get to buy everything that I wanted because of budget restraints, I was able to transform the space by rearranging some knick-knacks, painting the walls a new color, putting up a gallery wall of art pieces I had collected and buying a few new pillows for the sofa:

I really am in love with the room now. Big thanks to the lovely kelly + olive team for the design plans!

As far as my entry went, I did change it up a little bit, but it is still not where I want it:

Things I would still like to accomplish for the entry is a new seating area with storage for shoes, a new overhead light, a coat rack and either wallpaper or new paint for the walls.

On the fashion front, unfortunately no anonymous donors sent me my dream items. Here's to holding out hope for 2010!

My style resolutions for this year are rather simple: only purchase new items that I need (no new pillows, throws, lamps, etc just because they are cute), and find creative ways to re-purpose/reuse/recycle items I already own. I'm on a tighter budget this year because my main goal is paying off some debt we accumulated in 2009. I'm excited to put my thinking cap on and get creative!

Thanks so much Jackie for taking part. See her full original interview here, and click over to Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle to see lots more of her casual glamour style.