URBAN JUNGLE BLOG POST: HOMEMADE ROSEMARY HEARTS

Once a month a crew of 'Urban Jungle Bloggers' (which is gleefully growing) get together to pioneer a sprinkle of 'green' across their blog content. Pioneered by the lovely Igor (Happy Interior blog), Judith (Joelix.com) and Jocelyn (The Little Room Of Style). This month we are sharing our 'Green Festive Decoration Vignette' which finally kick started my intention to craft some homemade green inspired decorations for my little flat. Introducing my rather humble (and admittedly simple) homemade rosemary hearts, using John Lewis' handy willow wreaths...

Having already got some sprigs of rosemary in the fridge (one of my favourite autumnal scents) I decided to customise my little hearts using herbs rather than foliage. Of course if you have a garden you could snip some fresh rosemary from your outdoor wonderland, or even use sprigs from your Christmas tree (if it's real of course).

I used: John Lewis Heart Willow Wreath for the larger heart and John Lewis Natural Mini Heart Wreaths Pack of 3 (from crafts department), sprigs of fresh rosemary, clear plastic thread and scissors.

These really were as easy to make as they look (I'm not one for overcomplicating things). Simply weave the rosemary stems into the nooks of the wood where possible and then secure it to the wooden hearts by tying it with plastic thread. For the larger heart I snipped the ribbon handles from an anthropologie carrier bag (being resourceful) and for the little hearts I suspended on a white wall with long loops of plastic thread (this stuff is v.versatile!) and short  strips of checked washi tape.

How are you bringing a nod of green into your home this Christmas? 

WEST ELM HAS LANDED IN LONDON!

I've been crushing over West Elm products from afar for the last 12 months and getting serious stateside envy. The Brooklyn born brand is owned by interiors giant Williams Sanoma (that also own Pottery Barn) and often branded as their cool hip younger sister brand.

On Thursday West Elm UK opened it's doors on London's Tottenham Court Road. Yesterday I made a bee line for the new store, like an interiors junkie possessed (OK maybe not a junkie but I was fairly excited). Despite giving myself a 45 minute window to sweep the store, an hour simply wasn't enough. West Elm have nailed the retail lifestyle experience; complete with a coffee bar, free nibbles, super friendly staff and a design service area. They even have a 'living wall' of free plants and greenery.

Highlights for me? Thick quality textiles, iron hexagonal mirrors, caged light pendants, Will from Bright Bazaar's Etsy wall gallery (curation of fun bright art) and copper cookware by British Designer Aaron Probyn. The beauty of West Elm is the breadth of choice - from hallway organisers and filament light bulbs to snow globes and wreath wood spheres. Also look out for their vibrant designer collaborations - having partnered up with the likes of Sarah Campbell on print and pattern and Lubna Chowdhary on tile based furniture and accessories.

Visit West Elm UK here

A SPRINKLE OF SEASONAL SCANDI STYLE

I have to admit I'm a tiny bit humbug when it comes to Christmas décor. Lashings of glitter, green and post box red scare me so I've compiled a little mood board below of seasonal scandi inspiration. I know I should just embrace the seasonal tack (that's part of the fun right?) but for now I'm opting for paired back, mellow and simple décor, whilst still a nod to festive... who's with me?

1. Wooden Wall Tree (space saving alternative to a real tree for those with a small pad like me) - Now £17.80 from West Elm. Decorate with homemade paper / knitted decorations.

2. Handmade Felt Advent Calendar Now £14.50 from Daylesford Organic 

(I never had a chocolate calendar as a nipper as I was allergic 

so the idea of filling this with sweet treats for loved ones is so nostalgic).

3. Real Buxus Christmas Wreath from £18 Rowen & Wren

4. Snug Trio 16.90 euros from Snug Online 

5. Handmade Donkey Christmas Decoration £12 from Daylesford Organic (adorable)

6. Gold Glitter Mini Clothes Pegs from LuluBelleDesign1182 on Etsy 

(I might just consider a sprinkle of glitter if they are on pegs!)

MADE IN CLERKENWELL

On Thursday night I met a friend in Farringdon and by chance stumbled across 'Made in Clerkenwell' at The Goldsmith Centre. I had actually been given a heads up about the event by ceramic artist Janet Stahelin Edmondson (a friend of my mums) but having been in a channel vision post work coma I totally forgot about it until there it was staring right at me.

Janet Stahelin Edmondson's lace printed ceramics

Made in Clerkenwell is a bi annual open studios event, showcasing independent crafts and design talent. It includes everything from jewellery and accessories to my weakness - ceramics and exquisite pieces for the home. What I love most about this event is the chance to chat to the makers and designers that make these items, which are often crafted by hand and buy something totally unique for your abode. If you get the chance to swing by Made in Clerkenwell it is still on today and tomorrow (Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December)

I sadly only had time to explore The Goldsmith Centre (gutting as I wanted to see Janet Stahelin Edmondson's work as well) but there are 150 selected designer-makers spread across 3 buildings, including 21 Clerkenwell Green and 33-35 St Johns square.

It is great for picking up gifts for Christmas, whilst supporting independent talent, rather than just buying pressies from the retail giants on the highstreet. Here are some of my favourite pieces - My Peg 'ones to watch'...

Pottery by Ryan Connolly

Hand woven basket bowl by Maggie Smith Basketry

It took some serious willpower not to buy one of these beautiful cushions by textile designer Penny Seume, who I got chatting to at the end. Her prints wouldn't look out of place in Liberty and she already stocks in interiors mecca- ABC in New York. Her cushions cost between £60 - £70. The unique prints are taken from Penny's very own paintings, inspired by urban landscapes. The cushions shown above are part of her London series- note the adorable attention to detail on the back of old fashioned London lamp posts. Penny is also a lovely lady to talk to and so modest about her inspiring work. If ABC have already scouted her textiles, expect big things to come.

To take a look at Penny's website click here

BLOOMINGVILLE LANDS IN THE UK

This week I have been soaking up a mini staycation here in London. A whole nine days of hanging out in the flat, doing those random chores you never get round to doing and making the most of the city (you sometimes forget how sublime your own patch is).

Whilst on my travels I swung by the new Bloomingville concession in Debenhams Oxford Street (after clocking their grand opening on instagram) Exciting because? Until now Bloomingville (from Denmark) has just supplied into various interior shops / online retailers and never before have we had an entire go-to Bloomingville one stop shop here in mother England. True to their light Scandinavian aesthetic, expect their signature geo shaped pieces (the hexagonal / house shaped wall boxes were winking at me) in pastel hues with a kick of flouro. The lighting, textured wood furniture and hand painted ceramics were also a delight - having admired so many of their lifestyle images on Pinterest, it was great to finally inspect them for real. For those outside London, I have also clocked online they have a new UK webstore - only selling a small selection of their full range but I'm poised for more...

You can view some of the Bloomingville at Debenhams products online here

SPACE SAVING DINING TABLES

My friends Dan and Claire have recently moved into a light airy first floor Victorian flat in Tufnell Park (North London) and were just telling me of their struggles to hunt out a smallish dining table for their living area. I also grappled to find something suitably compact when we were looking for our flat but ended up going for this extendable Monty Table from Made.com. It’s rare to have a proper dining space in first floor London flats so something neat is desirable. However, it is worth pointing out that slightly larger tables in a small space actually create the illusion that the space is bigger (I’ve done my interior design research) so diddy tables aren’t necessarily the only answer, unless you simply don’t have the space to house them.

With this in mind, here are my ‘top’ space saving dining tables around, a few of them being extendable so you can cater for up to six people for a spot of supper…

 

1. Bayonne Flip Top Table from Loaf.com £625

2. Street Table from Bodie & Fou £615

3. White and Nature Dining Table from Bodie & Fou £300

4. Hester Charcoal Dining Table from Habitat £450

5. Monty Extending Dining Table from Made.com £299

Anyone else been experiencing small dining table drama?

WISHFUL WEDNESDAY: OFF THE HOOK

These past few weeks I've been on the hunt for some hooks to hang up in our miniscule hallway (measuring approx 1.5m x 1m). These seemingly insignificant hooks / pegs are key to the moment people step into our little abode so I'm trying to take my time ('considered purchase'). I'm admittedly a smidgen messy and prone to dumping my coat / bag on the floor when I walk through the door (*past roomies / boyfriend nods knowingly*) so these might be my answer...

1. White old fashioned coat hooks £6.00 from Loop the Loop

2. Hooks landscape and beach design £15.00 from Chocolate Creative

3. Driftwood coat hook rack £29.95 from Not On The High Street

4. Rope and metal hook £10.28 from West Elm

My hook tips...

1. Consider what you are hanging and whether the hook is suitable i.e. wide knobs are not practical for hanging coats / jackets as the loop on the nape may not fit over it (causing your coat to fall off - that's annoying) but might work great for bags, especially those with long straps.

2. Consider ease of putting them up. If like me you are a DIY novice those involving 

a simple nail to wall (note option 4) might be your winner.

Any websites of great peg / hook / knobs gratefully received folks!