WEST ELM LAUNCHES UK WEBSITE

Yes my love for West Elm appears to be a reoccuring theme here on Peg- today I can't help myself sorry. The US interiors mecca has now launched their UK online shop / website - I've been poised for this news since they opened their first UK store on Tottenham Court Road. So now all of us Brits can enjoy a slice of West Elm home goodness, delivered directly to your door. I'll leave you with a montage  of my latest wants...

www.westelm.co.uk

Click here to visit their website

PEG PURCHASES {my home}

I've gradually been introducing some new additions into the humble peg home. One thing I've learnt about building a home is that is doesn't happen overnight. It can be a slow steady process, where your space evolves over time. And that's no bad thing as you often need to live in a space for a while to understand what will work. From my experience it is the impulse buys that don't stand the test of the time and it's the considered purchases that are for keeps (give yourself at least 4 weeks before buying an item- this way you know you truly like it or more importantly you want to live with it)...

Without further ado here are my latest investments and considered buys...

1. Bamboo pendant light £165 from Bodie & Fou: this delicate pendant brings a natural texture to our living area. Here I've used a filament light bulb to create more impact.

2. Patterned throw pillow covers $20 from Society6 adds some playful colour to the 

spare room / studio space.

3. Painting of jugs and ceramics by my very own mum Liz - mix personal traditional pieces of artwork with more modern prints.

4. Really happy with this new woodland meets bearded man print "ESCAPE" by Davies Babies from Society6 - framed in oak at www.frames.co.uk

What are your latest interior buys?

WISHFUL WEDNESDAY: IKEA

I always vowed that when I bought a flat I wouldn't shop in Ikea (invest in premium I told myself). Now I'm eating my words. Their latest collections are so practical and design led that I can't help myself. I'm planning on a not too distant trip to Ikea (anyone with a car want to take me?) and here is what's on my wish list...

1. DIGNITET Curtain Rail £10 - The neat thing about the Ikea website is that inspires you to use mundane fixtures in creative ways- I am planning on printing some instagram pictures (must get images off my phone before I end up losing it!) and hanging them from these in our study.

2. SNAR Place mat £2.30 - I tell you finding a good placemat is like discovering a tenner on the street.

3. RANARP Clamp Spotlight £18 - I've decided these look more high spec than their price tag. Also great if you don't have room for a bed side table like me.

4. HOJDARE Basket £5 - For my growing collection of gift wrap

5. FABRIKOR Glass Cabinet £150 - Quickly running out of work tops to display your trinkets? Yup me too. This cabinet is perfect for making a feature of your collectables.

Spotted any Ikea gems? I'd love to hear about them...

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TOP DRAWER / CRAFT / HOME LONDON

For peg readers that don't know Top Drawer, it is one the UK's biggest retail trade shows for gift / home inspiration aplenty. It attracts buyers right from small independent boutiques right up to giant lifestyle stores.

I like to pop along to suss out what's going to be hitting the interiors market next season and what gems we can expect entering our favourite shops for 2014. This year Top Drawer descended on the cavernous Earl's Court, along with another two sections to the show Home London (entirely dedicated to interiors and Craft (independent makers).

As there are hundreds of stands (quite literally) I've edited my stand out pieces for Spring / Summer 2014...

Boutique cushions from WAFFLE Design

WAFFLE DESIGN

I first spotted WAFFLE Design's cushions in Folklore. I've always loved waffle bed linen but according to my mum it's a complete buggar to dry so I stayed clear. WAFFLE Design has not only overcome this by using it for cushions but introduced a coloured stitch design which makes it feel more graphic and contemporary. For me though, the quality is what makes WAFFLE cushions worth their bunce- super thick cotton and generous bouncy filling. New for 2014 are these gorgeous reversible 'Mindful throws'. 

Visit WAFFLE Design here

SELETTI

You'll spot Seletti's distinctive designs all all manner of design led London shops and establishments - most notably Urban Outfitters (who sell their letter lights) Maison Trois Garcons and handmade pasta restaurant Burro e Salvia that have their cardboard lights hanging in a cluster above their counter (as seen above). You can purchase Seletti's recycled cardboard egg lights from madeindesign.co.uk from £22. Visit Seletti here

ABIGAIL WARNER

I've known Abigail via the blogosphere for some time now and she is hands down lovely. She also designs the most stunning wedding stationary (completely bespoke) and a range of sweet seasonal cards (mostly with eye catching geo patterns) and wrapping paper. The attention to detail is second to none- note her lined patterned envelopes new for 2014. Visit Abigail's website here

BLOOMINGVILLE STOOL

My heart sank when I saw this stool and remembered it was a trade show and I couldn't buy it. This burnt orange leather stool is from Nordic brand Bloomingville (which is now a concession in Debenhams). Brands such as Achica and Bodie & Fou also buy in their designs so fingers crossed they invest in this stool (hint hint). Visit Bloomingville here

KERRY HASTINGS CERAMICS

Over in the new Craft area (new sister show to Top Drawer and Home) was a whole zome devoted to independent makers and designers. Being a total sucker for handmade ceramics I was immediately drawn to Kerry's creamy blues and white pottery work. Visit her website here

Did you go to Top Drawer / Craft / Home. What were your favourite bits?

GUITAR WALL

Balancing your taste with your partner / flat mate (if you live with someone else) can be seen as tricky but actually what I've discovered is amalgamating your interests / possessions makes for a really unique and interesting aesthetic.

My guitar wall

In the spirit of this realisation, we've recently hung the epic Gibson guitar from the wall in our living room. Having been inspired by a recording studio and homes of music artists on Pinterest (check out below) I loved the idea of giving it a highly visible home and celebrating my boyfriend's love of guitar playing. I think it's fair to say that not only is it the most precious thing we own but it also one of the most stunningly crafted (handmade in the USA from African Bubinga and rosewood) so why not hang it from the wall and make a feature of it? It also adds to the natural nomadic look that the flat seems to be gravitating towards...

Image source: Top picture Blood & Champagne / Bottom left Susanne Kings / Jessica Marx

If you are thinking about doing this yourself, it really couldn't be simpler. We ordered our guitar hanger here from Amazon (£6.49), chose the height we wanted it and drilled it into the wall (basic DIY stuff).

Do you have a guitar wall? If not do you like the idea of them?

2014 CALENDAR CRUSH

Little bit late to the party I know but Happy New Year folks. Hope you've had a cracking start to 2014.

I have to admit I bought my 2014 calendar back in October (super keen I know) as I was in NYC getting in my fill of Rifle Paper goodies (my favourite US stationary brand). Fearing Rifle calendars wouldn't make it across the pond (first world problem) I invested in my mini Herbs and Spices calendar (No1 below) which is now happily hanging in my kitchen. You'll be pleased to know Rifle's beautifully illustrated goods (drawn by Anna Rifle Bond herself) have now swept across to the UK (I've spotted her stuff in Selfridges, Liberty, Not On The High Street and Paperchase) so good bye hefty international postage.

For all those still hunting out their 2014 calendar here are some I've admired on my internet travels. Best thing about buying them now is you'll probably get them at a snip...

1. Herbs & Spices Calendar from Rifle Paper $16

2. Secret Garden Calendar by Rifle Paper - Now £16.10 from Not On The High Street

3. Botanical Calendar by My Paper Kittens on Etsy £9.07+

4. Second Edition 2014 Dog Calendar by Gus and Abbey on Etsy £13.76

5. 2014 Robins Wall Calendar by the Paper Bird Society on Etsy £10.30 

PEG'S GIFT WRAPPING TIPS

What I love about gift wrapping is that it gives me the license to mix pattern and colour that usually I'd shy away from. It unleashes my aesthetic alter ego! Why? Because it's disposable (although I DO encourage recycling your paper people) and a bit of fun - so just go for it!

Spotted: Genius gift wrap inspiration

Here are my top tips...

1. Clash traditional prints / paper with ultra modern flashes of colour (note my attempt below and the neon + feather wrapping by Decor8 above). This is a gift not an outfit so why not be outlandish? 

(easily achieved with Rifle's bold midnight floral wrap)

2. Inject some added 'surprise' to your parcel by attaching a sweet or mini bar of chocolate. 

3. Use bold / neon washi tape instead of standard cellotape. The Glue Gun Girl on Etsy has a thrifty range of fun washi tapes.

4. Add some 'theatre' to your presents like Handmade Charlotte's Mouse Gift Wrap (genius) or by glueing feathers, sprigs of herbs, paper pom poms, lego, dried lemons etc. The options are endless...

5. Opt for some interactive gift wrap such as the recipe gift wrap by Minted.com, encouraging the paper to continue it's life post pressie opening. I'm calling it 'Multi functional gift wrap'.