Here’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d ever say: I’ve fallen in love with a deckchair featuring pigeons and jelly. These bold, quirky and downright adorable designs are the handiwork of Juliet Thornback and Delia Peel – known collectively as Thornback & Peel – who were inspired by 19th-century engravings and geometric patterns. I don’t know about you, but I think they have a slight Monty Python feel about them, which endears me to them all the more. They also have a fresh, clean finish, with the consistent use of bright colours on stark white backgrounds. And can we please discuss how amazing the jelly and icecream wallpaper is? I’d love to use it in a bathroom for sheer randomness. Oh, and there’s a Royal Wedding-inspired tea towel… you know I have my eye on that little beauty:

{all products available at thornback & peel}

Good morning! I hope you all had lovely weekends – isn’t it always so hard to drag yourself out of bed on a Monday morning when you’ve had an especially nice weekend? But just repeat after me, “four-day week, four-day weekend, four-day week, four-day…” – I think you get the idea. Feel better already? Good.
Now, how do you feel about the return (once again) of all things 70s? For me, done right it can look gorgeous, from laid-back, breezy shirts and flared, high-waisted jeans, to ultra-glam Studio 54 inspired looks. Seen on the likes of Rosie H-W, J-Lo and Camilla Belle, this trend is perfect for the upcoming summer months filled with festivals (although not for me, I’m allergic), picnics in the park and special nights out that require opulence and big hair. A word of caution, though… touches of 70s rather than going head-to-toe hippy will prevent you looking like you’re on the way to a fancy dress party. Jewel tones (à la Gucci S/S11) are perfect for adding that luxe feeling, and be sure to super-size your platform heels, brims of hats, sunglasses, wooden bangles and sleeves. What do you think of the trend? Groovy or outdated?


{1. A/wear coral batwing dress – £40 / 2. Topshop 70s print tunic – £33 / 3. Karen Millen high waist jeans – £105 / 4. Topshop tigerseye teardrop ring – £10 / 5. Accessorize two-tone round sunglasses – £14 / 6. Miss Selfridge tan chiffon bow shirt – £28 / 7. ASOS 70s floppy felt hat – £25 / 8. Warehouse halter belted jumpsuit – £70 / 9. Dorothy Perkins cork platform heels – £40 / 10. Reiss Ciara shoulder bag – £159 / 11. Very wide wooden spot bangle – £12 / 12. Haute Hippie sequin mini – £128 / 13. Warehouse soft leather obi belt – £25 / 14. A/wear belted fur gilet – £37.50 / 15. Oasis button denim dress – £55}

I’ve really enjoyed hosting a giveaway and hearing all of your comments – I’m already planning for the next one! Thank you again to everyone who took part in this, and of course to Alyssa Smith and Mrs Gibson’s Atelier for donating their gorgeous jewellery. Without further ado, here are the winners selected using a random number generator (and the post comment numbers).
Winner 1, who will receive the Alyssa Smith Lovey Dovey Swarovski Crystal Earrings is: Loraine Ardene!

Winner 2, who will receive the Mrs Gibson’s Atelier Charm Bracelet is: Sandra Henderson!

Congratulation to both of you… I will be in touch shortly to arrange posting the prizes to you. Happy Friday!

Hurrah! How good does it feel that this is the last 5-day week for 3 whole weeks? Pretty darn good. Lots of exciting things coming up, from family get-togethers, to weddings (Royal and otherwise), to even – fingers crossed – a holiday. Getting away from a busy London and an even busier 9-5 without any kind of technology, and just my boyfriend and chick lit for company sounds so appealing. This weekend is a fairly low-key one, with next to no plans – sometimes it’s nice just to see where the weekend takes you and nothing set in stone. Perhaps a long walk or a farmer’s market… who knows. Delicious ambiguity. Thanks so much to everyone who entered my British designer jewellery giveaway and for your lovely comments… I will be announcing the two lucky winners in a short while, so stay tuned! In the meantime, here’s what has made me sit up and take notice this week:
I’ve gotta say, I love the buzz that’s really building up over here ahead of the Royal Wedding. Similar to when England plays in a major sporting tournament, the whole country is unified and there’s a real sense of national pride. Although (and I hope I’m not generalising) it’s probably the female population that are slightly more excited – mostly about the unveiling of The Dress – it’s definitely gearing up to be a memorable bank holiday weekend. I have arranged a Champagne Breakfast and will hunt down some suitably patriotic bunting to decorate my living room (any excuse)… and I’m also very much enjoying the number of prints and letterpress stationery that have cropped up on notonthehighstreet.com. I’m especially drawn to no.3… something to do with the bunting, no doubt:

{1. Manimoo Royal Wedding canvas / 2. Bear Graphics typographic coordinate wedding art / 3. Sweet Home London Royal Wedding print / 4. Yield Ink Right Royal Knees Up invitation / 5. Cherry Pete Wills canvas / 6. Letterfest Royal Venue print}

So I’m guessing the team at Jimmy Choo got the ‘colour is a BIG trend this season’ memo. Vivid, acid tones and their typically lust-worthy accessories are the order of the day over at JC – not to mention ludicrously toned legs. Maybe that’s what I’ll be spending my weekend doing… squats and lunges:

{images via Jimmy Choo}
So the Black Swan ballet trend is on its way out, and all that’s left is feathers. Literally. Last seen adorning Dream Catchers above your bed, feathers are now making a big statement on the jewellery of A-listers. The high streets have caught on too, as well as certain designers who are charging £685 for the look. £685… what are they, famous feathers?

{necklaces from: 1. Dorothy Perkins / 2. Warehouse / 3. Republic / 4. Erickson Beamon}
A lot of style blogs incorporate cooking posts within their content, and as much as I like food, a lot, it’s not something that’s going to hit {what you fancy} any time soon I’m afraid. I’m not the most prolific of chefs (as my boyfriend will attest to), although I do enjoy watching shows like Masterchef and drooling. It’s one of my post-30 aims to be more adventurous with recipes (I can’t ride off the back of my Thai red prawn curry success forever), especially since such delicacies as Margarita and Gin & Tonic Sorbet exist in the world. That’s right. Erika over at The Ivory Hut is a culinary genius… Happy Hour, indeed:

{images via The Ivory Hut}

{images via prphotos & Design of House}
This week’s best dressed award goes to the perpetually stylish Camilla Belle. I don’t think I’ve seen any films she’s been in, but her appearances on the red carpet are always a treat. And her hair’s is so shiny, perhaps she shares tips with Kate Middleton. And following on from my post yesterday about colourful living rooms, here’s one that has just the right level of brightness without being garish. I love that striped chair.
I hope you have a fantastic weekend whatever you’re doing and wherever you may be…

Sometimes the thought of having my own home to decorate overwhelmes me because I love so many different styles: coastal, shabby chic, white minimalist and country, to name just a few. But when I was glancing through the Elle Decor website, it reminded me of just how much I love rooms that are simply a riot of colours… especially jewel tones. Here are a selection of living areas that made me take a mental note for future home ideas (statement rugs, a rainbow of scatter cushions and bright flowers in clear vases to add the finishing touch), and some high street buys that will ensure the sun always shines inside regardless of the weather outside. Our first taste of summer was fleeting to say the least… I should never have got my toes out, I jinxed it!
And don’t forget, TODAY is your last chance to enter my prize giveaway – leave a comment on the post to be in with a chance of winning some gorgeous British designer jewellery! Good luck!

{images via Elle Decor}

{John Lewis Bump Chair / John Lewis Union Jack cushion / Laura Ashley Suzanne lamp / Dunelm Mill Sundae Bloom canvas print / Pepper & Brown turquoise mini vase / Oliver Bonas Kartell Stone stool / John Lewis Estella Domino rug}