The thing I fell in love with this week

September 12, 2015September 19, 2015 | blueskygirlie

Alessi fridge magnets: £5.50 each via Amazon.

I love Alessi design. I own quite a few pieces and have them out in my kitchen creating a fun and funky vibe. Some even appeared in the interiors book I styled – ‘Style Your Modern Vintage Home’ by Kate Beavis.

Photo by Simon Whitmore for FW Media for Style Your Modern Vintage Home.

When I saw Alessi had created minature versions of some of their most iconic designs I fell in love immediately! There are 8 fridge magnets currently in the range depicting 4 of the most popular and iconic Alessi designs. I think a mint Anna G bottle opener might have to be mine next…

source

…Or maybe a Magic Bunny as I have the full sized version already (in real life it holds cocktail sticks).

At £5.50 each its a great way to buy into the range (Alessi designs can be quite expensive) or give yourself a little treat without breaking the bank. Mine sit on my orange Smeg fridge with pride and make me smile everytime I see them!

Find the full range of Alessi magnets via Amazon here and look out for a new item I’ve fallen in love with next week!

Store Twenty One Summer buys

June 16, 2015June 16, 2015 | blueskygirlie

I really like the homewares range in Store Twenty One. Its on trend, stylish and very competitvely priced. I blogged about my Spring homeware buys from this hidden gem here and often pop in to see whats new. I have recently fallen in love with a new range they have called Candy Floss. Its really pretty, in sugary pastel colours with a lovely retro vibe reminiscent of Orla Kiely and I couldn’t resist treating myself to a few bits especially since they had a 20% off promotion!
Here is my top picks from the range –
Hanging tree photo frame – £8.00  Cut out key cabinet – £5.00
Three part storage shelf – £10.00  Hanging Bird frames – £8.00 Cut out tree decoration – £3  Set of three frames on shelf – £10.00
I also fell in love with these retro storage boxes – I love a 1960’s inspired print!
Set of cardboard retro storage boxes – £3.00 to £6.00.

All images via www.storetwentyone.co.uk

And these are the bits I’ve bought so far. They will be going into our renovated utility room when its completed. I love them!

All these items are in store now! Look out for promotions and special offers across the summer. To find your nearest store click here.

My home style: The flat 2013

April 7, 2015August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

Back in 2013 my flat was featured in the book ‘Style Your Modern Vintage Home’ by Kate Beavis which I was also the stylist on. It is a fantastic book featuring peoples vintage inspired homes from the 1920’s look through to the 1980’s/90’s look and also includes advice on collecting vintage plus lots of styling tips in how to display your finds.

I thought today I would share it with you to give you a taste of my personal home and interiors style…

All images courtesy of Simon Whitmore via F&W Media International Ltd.

I love to mix vintage and modern together so my home fitted the books brief perfectly. As an ex window dresser and now stylist and style blogger how things look are so important to me. Am I fussy? Maybe!

I also wanted to show what could be done in a rented flat as so often interior books and magazines only show the most amazing, huge older houses – totally unrealistic for the majority of us. Real life can still look fabulous. So take a look at the flat I lived in then…

The lounge – a fun mix of pop art, flashes of red and orange and retro 60’s styling.

Table – original 1960’s Arkana, Artwork – John Lewis, M&S, Sofa – Harveys, Cushions – Matalan, Primark, Lamp – M&S, China Cats – Villeroy & Boch, Rug – vintage.

The kitchen/diner – a rented flats modern kitchen styled to feel different & quirky with a dining area designed to maximise a small space.

Table & chairs – original 1960’s Arkana, Artwork – vintage 1980’s, John Lewis, Fridge – Smeg, Glassware – vintage 1960’s, Kettle & Toaster – Breville, Clock – M&S, Accessories – Alessi, Matalan, Vintage

The hall – Fun vibes with a practical need.

Side table – original 1960’s Arkana, Lamp – Dwell, Clock – vintage 1990’s Swatch, Chair (just seen) – original 1960’s Arkana, Trimphone telephone & telephone book – vintage 1970’s

And finally some of the styling details –

It was a great exerience having my home, as it looked in that moment in time, immortalised in a book!

I have since moved to a new house that needs work, so look out for blog posts showing my home styling there. A bigger space will be much more fun and now thst we are not renting anymore, we can change what we want!

‘Style your Vintage Modern Home’ by Kate Beavis is available from Amazon – here

All images courtesy of Simon Whitmore via F&W Media International Ltd.

Store Twenty One Spring star buys

March 2, 2015September 27, 2015 | blueskygirlie

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know I love fashion and homewares store, Store Twenty One. A hidden gem and full of bargains, I shop there a lot and in todays blog I’m going to show you my latest purchases.

My mini haul –

In store there’s a great selection of homewares, but the range I was drawn to was the glass hurricane lamps and candleholders. A mix of smoky colours and brighter yellows and blues it really is on par with anything you’d see in a department store. With prices starting from £1.99 you can’t go wrong!

What I bought –

Grey hurricane lamp – £7.99. A fantastic chunky shape with twisted rope handle this will be great indoors or out.

‘All you need is love’ tealight holder – £1 (reduced from £1.99). So pretty when the tealight is lit, and for me, a perfect message….

Pineapple glass vase – £1.99. I love a fun, kitsch piece and this doesn’t disappoint. Will be adorable with spring flowers in co-ordinated with some other vases.

‘Be Happy’ cushion – £2 (reduced from £4). I just love this design – end of. Again its the type of thing you’d pay a lot more for in a different store. I bought two to sit on the bar stools in my kitchen.