katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

Mirror Mirror On The Floor – 5 Ways To Use An Oversized Mirror

Freestanding wooden floor mirror with white console table and green plant

In every room, you want a statement accessory, one that draws the eye and adds the wow factor. From artwork to statement furniture pieces, there are many options, with the oversized floor length mirror being one of them. But simply adding it to a room is not enough. You need to give it the focal point it deserves.

Not just for the bedroom or the dressing room

The traditional spot for the full length floor mirror is in the bedroom or the dressing, and at a push, the bathroom. Clearly, it has a practical purpose from allowing you to do a final check of your appearance before leaving the room or house to bouncing light around a room, but the good news is, the floor mirror is not just for the bedroom…

In the living room

Double up in the living room by adding two floor standing mirrors together on one wall. There is something very dramatic about a large floor mirror but when you add two, you are ramping up the dramatic impact, not to mention doubling up the amount of light bouncing around the room, For extra drama, choose dark wood framed mirrors or in a unique shape.

HINT – when doubling up, always choose mirrors with a chunky frame. Floor standing mirrors with thin frames have their place but won’t have the same impact.

In the dining room

Mirrors in the dining room should never to be underestimated and when it comes to the floor standing mirror, you can emulate the living room by doubling up or, if wall space doesn’t allow, opt for one large mirror with a frame that blends into the wall.

This style of floor length mirror still has all the impact you need but ‘blends’ into the background more. This gives the room a cosy feel, ideal for when you are entertaining.

Go extra large!

An oversized mirror is just that – one that is far bigger than a wall hung mirror or a handheld one – but if you want to really make a statement, opt for a super-sized mirror that covers most of the wall. It’s a statement, for sure, but one you won’t regret.

In the bedroom

We’d go as far as to say that a large floor mirror in the bedroom is an absolute must. But just because it is essential doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish; just don’t overdo it. You want it to be a restful space and so adding too much drama to your bedroom furniture is counter-intuitive. Opt for a floor standing mirror that has a stylish but not over-the-top frame.

A large rustic mirror, for example, would be a great addition. The warmth of the wood brings comfort to a space that you want to be cosy. Also, consider where you place it. A corner near the door is a handy spot for a full length mirror without taking up too much room.

Can you go wrong?

Not really. A mirror is welcome in any room, but don’t be constrained by ‘traditions’ when it comes to frame style, colour and size. A floor standing mirror in any room is an easy design statement to make, so go on – make an impression.

The Eco-Friendly Living Room Guide

Sustainable and stylish, if you are aiming for an eco-friendly living room, you need to read this guide! Sustainability is a peaking trend at the moment with more and more people making conscious choices when it comes to furniture and materials. How can you create an eco-friendly living room?

Buy reclaimed wood furniture

For too long, when something was obsolete, we just threw it away. In old buildings across the country, there are all kinds of materials that can be salvaged and upcycled.

This is exactly what reclaimed wood furniture is all about. Hardwood beams and other structural wooden components are removed from buildings and, using the skills of woodworkers and other skilled craftspeople, are turned into beautiful furniture that is built to last.

In the living room, a reclaimed wood coffee table, for example, is simply stunning. Or, if you like the industrial look, opt for black steel and rustic wood display units as statement pieces.

The choice is continually growing and can be used to create a stylish living room landscape.

Natural AND sustainable materials

Not all natural materials are sustainably sourced or grown but with producers becoming more mindful and consumers more aware of the origin of materials and fabrics, the sustainability of an item is coming more to the fore.

Fast-growing and sustainably farmed, bamboo and wicker can be made into all kinds of things when it is dried and tied or knotted together.

A bamboo pendant light, for example, is stylish and a talking point but is also made from a natural and sustainable material. Similarly, a rattan coffee table adds a colonial vibe to a living room, whilst being eco-friendly.

Use non-VOC paints

Volatile organic compounds – VOCs – are carbon-containing substances that easily become gases or vapours. Major paint manufacturers are attempting to phase these out and so you have probably been using these for some time. But check the label and, if they do contain VOCs, don’t wash them down the plug hole are they are damaging to the environment.

Opt for recycled materials

The course of actions used to process materials are developing all the time and so many of today’s recycled items don’t look any different from the ‘usual’ ones we would turn to.

For example, the Seagreen recycled plastic mattress with pocket springs looks nothing like the plastic bottles it is made from, nor are the PET throws. Available in three beautiful colourways, these soft throws are made from recycled plastic bottles that fishermen have collected from the sea, adding warmth and detail to your eco-friendly living room.

Discover the power of LED bulbs

From strip lighting under the cupboards in the kitchen to ‘normal’ light bulbs in table lamps and pendant lights, the LED bulb uses energy efficiently. Not giving off heat, they are cheaper to run but also help to reduce your carbon footprint too.

Add houseplants

Plants are our friends – they soak up all kinds of goodness from the air which is great in the stylish, eco-friendly living room. If you are worried about your ability to care for them, the good news is there are some very hardy evergreen houseplants need nothing more than an occasional water now and then!

8 Changes you can make at home to help the Earth

Seed growing out of small terracotta pot with red heart on a stick

Earth Day is celebrated on 22^nd April and this year, there is an extra special twist because this is its 50^th Anniversary year. Like many people, you will to do your bit, no matter how big or small, to contribute. This year, the theme is climate change an issue that we are yet to truly take action to slow and reverse. So what changes can you make at home to help the earth?

Environmentally friendly, non-toxic products

Take a look at the cleaning fluids and product you use and, just for a moment, appreciate the number of chemicals that are used in one bottle. Ditch your usual products, opting for those that are known to be environmentally friendly or, better still, consider how some everyday natural ingredients can create just as an effective clean in your home.

Swap to LED bulbs

If you still have the traditional bulb in some light fittings, now is the time to make the change to long-lasting eco-friendly ones. LEDs are also an option. As well as reducing your carbon footprint, you’ll save money on energy too.

Use cloth towels for cleaning

Wave goodbye to paper kitchen towel and wipes and replace with cloths that you can wash and reuse time and again. When they are no longer fit for use, recycle them as they can be made into insulation and all manner of other things.

Buy local

Small, independent shops need your custom more than ever, but you will find that some of these delicatessens, butchers and grocers will source their products from local producers. That means a lot fewer food miles, so you’re not just supporting your community, but helping that footprint be just a little bit smaller!

Fix it, not throw it!

With the birth of rampant consumerism, came the ‘throwaway culture’. Too often we hear from manufacturers that something ‘isn’t worth fixing’ and we’re all guilty of the same habit. This is being challenged and so rather than throwing something away when it malfunctions, fix it or upcycle it.

Buy reclaimed wood furniture

The epitome of upcycling, reclaimed wood furniture is made from hardwoods that have been salvaged from buildings and other areas, such as railway lines, old industrial buildings, barns and so on. Beautifully and lovingly crafted, reclaimed wood furniture is growing in popularity. From reclaimed wood dining table or rustic coffee table to an industrial dining table made from reclaimed wood or kitchen sideboard, aged wood repurposed for today’s way of life adds character and warmth to a home.

Compost food scraps

Minimise food wastage by buying only what you need but when you do have kitchen scraps, compost them in the garden. The heat from the breaking down process makes it into a rich fertiliser for the garden. If you have a glut of it, why not share it with your neighbours?

Turn off electronic gadgets

From TVs on your rustic TV stand left on standby to gadgets being plugged in for longer than they need to be, tempering our use of electricity will have a major impact on the environment. It will also save you money. If we all did this, the earth would thank us for it!

Bonus tip: plant a tree!

Your garden, patio or yard is a great tool to offset your carbon footprint and to also help the earth. Plant a native tree – great for soaking up carbon dioxide but also great for local and native wildlife too.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Make the World a Brighter Place with Ju de Paula

With a passion for colour and a love affair with flowers, interior designer and founder of Blueberry Living & Co, Ju de Paula, is a joy to behold. We spoke with Ju at her technicolor home to talk colour (naturally), pattern and bold designs.

We just love the way you embrace colour and pattern! When did you first discover you had such a bright interior eye?

I was raised in Brazil and grew up surrounded by colour. My mum loved bright colours. Our house was very colourful, so it’s been in my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved interiors. I used to create furniture for my Barbie doll house when I was child!

What’s your philosophy when it comes to good interior design?

Be true to yourself and create a space that reflects who you are. I think interior design is about a feeling. When I work with a client my overall goal is to create a space that makes that person feel good. This can only be achieved by understanding the personality of the person.

You’re from Brazil. How has that influenced your interior style?

My love for strong colours definitely comes from Brazilian roots. We are a colourful nation and embrace colour. We are also blessed with an abundance of sunshine and I love the sun. I always try to add yellow into my designs as, for me, it’s a way of bringing the sunshine in.

What’s the key to getting colour and pattern right?

If there is a colour and pattern you like then go for it, there is no key to getting it wrong if it’s something you love. Decide on how you want the space to feel or what mood you want to create and then choose a colour and combination of colours. Understanding the colour wheel is great for bringing shades together. Pick different tones of the same colour and layer them or contrasting shades, such as blue and green or green and pink can look fantastic together.

We’re as passionate about reclaimed wood as you are about bright interiors. What advice would you give to combine your colourful style with reclaimed wood furniture?

I love mixing aged and reclaimed wood furniture with colour. For me it’s a wonderful combination. Reclaimed wood adds soul and character to a piece, which is how I feel about colour too. If you’re working with a new or modern space, reclaimed wood and colour gives it an instant personality.

Name three Modish Living products you are lusting over and how would you style them?

1. I love the simplicity of the Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Dining Table. It’s all about the beautiful wood. I would style it with some large plants inside jewel coloured crackle glaze pots.

2. I also like the Portobello Oak Console Table. I would style it with a pair of colourful ceramic table lamps, some plants and add a large ottoman upholstered in a floral fabric under it.

3. The Sabrina Curved Velvet Chair in canary yellow is gorgeous! I would style it with a patterned fuchsia cushion and a floor lamp beside it.

How important is sustainability and eco-friendly principles to you and how do you aim to incorporate them into your designs?

I’ve spent my life upcycling, repurposing and reusing old furniture and fabrics, so it comes naturally to me. I believe we should reuse what we already have and change it to fit with the space or room. Sometimes you look at a piece and it just isn’t right, but that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of it; you can change it. This principle is not only good for design, but the environment too.

What makes you happy?

Simple things make me happy. Like holding a hot cup of tea, eating ice cream on a summer’s day or carrying a bunch of flowers.

Talking of flowers, what’s your favourite flower?

Dahlias! They have such a beautiful shape and I love the different layers and colours.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

To see your fears as arrows pointing you in the direction you should go. Many of the good things that have happened to me in my life have been as a result of following this advice. It’s how I got a place on Interior Design Masters. It was a cold February day and I had just launched my new online interior design course. I looked up at the sky to ask the universe to give me a sign to help me get my course in front of people. I picked up my phone and an advert popped up on Instagram asking for interior designers for a new TV show. Now, I’m an introvert and the thought of putting myself out there on TV was frightening, but I didn’t want to be ungrateful. I had asked for direction and been given it, so I had to follow the arrows.

Being on the show opened up so many doors and opportunities for me professionally. I can now do what I love and help more and more people learn how to design homes that make them happy.

If you could be anyone for one day, who would it be?

This is a tricky question! I try not to compare myself with others, so there isn’t really anyone I’d rather be. I quite like me.

What’s your mantra for life?

It’s a quote from Brazilian poet, Mario Quintana – ‘Don’t chase the butterflies, look after your garden and they will come to you!’

See more beautiful images on instagram @blueberrylivingco

Fall Back in Love with Your Home

Sweet home written on green card with white flowers

We’ve all been there and it’s more common than you think. Falling out of love with your home or feeling a little lacklustre over what it can and does offer you is a sign you need to bring back a loving feeling to it. Here are some ideas to help you see you home with a loving gaze once again.

Have a good ‘sort out’

You may be glad to see the spring sunshine streaming in through the window but not so much the dust and the clutter that seems to have accumulated in your home. Set time aside to de-clutter and re-purpose items. If you feel that clutter becomes a problem due to lack of storage, consider how you can improve this, such as wooden sideboards or rustic coffee table.

Rearrange the furniture

With clutter gone and ‘stuff’ tidied away, you may feel like now is the time to have a move around. Don’t be constrained by traditional ways of arranging furniture. For example, in the living room, don’t assume the sofas and the leather armchairs have to revolve around the TV – place them in ‘sociable’ positions instead.

Clean from top to bottom

It may not be your favourite pastime but, with the vigour of spring comes a wave of new energy, so ride this crest by spring cleaning from top to bottom. You’ll be surprised how cathartic it feels! As well as recycling items you no longer need, move furniture, vacuum in corners, clean the windows and give the surface of those reclaimed wood shelves a good dusting.

Sort out lighting in the home

There are many reasons why you may have fallen out of love with your home, even if it is only an occasional and temporary feeling. Shadow, shade and darkness contribute to a space feeling small and closed in. Layering light is the solution – ambient light for a soft, gentle glow but functional light for when you need to ‘see’. Just changing the light bulbs from bright white to soft white will make a difference and add a table lamp or floor lamp to dark corners.

Refresh the walls

Even if you haven’t got time to sand down for glossing and doing a very thorough decorating job, simply taking a brush and emulsion paint to the walls will give any room a vibrant kick. Choose light but warm shades to lighten the space and your feelings about it!

Artwork and photos

Surrounding ourselves with items that we find ‘nice’ or pretty is sure to help our mood and how we feel about a space. Within the ancient art of Feng Shui, there is an ethos that surrounding yourself with personal things that are uplifting will nourish your mind and soul. So get out the old family photos, invest in artwork you like and create a wall of magical memories that are personal to you.

Get creative

Also known as DIY, trying your hand at something new for your home can be one way of helping you fall in love again. There are thousands of ideas online but one great idea is to create a reading nook (that awkward, unused space under the stairs could work) or making a window seat complete with wooden blanket box and homemade cushions for sitting and watching the world go by. Or if you’re feeling more adventurous, how about making your bed into a four-poster style long with a piece of fabric…?

A Modern Easter Dining Table

White hyacinth and card with handwritten Happy Easter

Christmas is a distant memory, but for many of us, it will have been the last time we had a proper celebration. Rectify this by planning an Easter feast and other delights over the long weekend! But this means you’ll need to create a stunning centrepiece – and menu! – to serve around your rustic dining table. We’ve got some great ideas!

1 Embrace the rustic woodland look

Nature so often has the answers and this is true any time of the year, but certainly at Easter. Spring is the season where everything comes back to life after winter and so use this as part of your Easter dining table decoration.

Collect the fallen twigs and when you lightly prune the branches of your trees and shrubs, keep some of them to make a beautiful and rustic display for your rustic dining table. Add small egg-shaped Easter decorations along with synthetic moss to give it an extra colour and texture.

2 Add white accents

We are used to Easter being about pastel shades as well as brighter hues, but if you feel you want a more neutral and minimal style to the table, using white accents will do just that.

From white serving wear to white accessories, such as a white tablecloth, you really can create a truly simplistic and classy looking dining table.

3 Invest in an extendable dining table

Family gatherings are fantastic, but not if someone is perched at the dining table on a wonky stool or your guests don’t have elbow room to enjoy the delicious meal you are serving.

So why let this carry on? Invest in a new table, adding your own Easter touches before your guests arrive. Extendable tables work well in any home – you’ll have the smaller size table for everyday, but extra space for occasions such as an Easter feast – as do round dining tables for being inclusive when you have a larger party to entertain.

As for seating, the best and most versatile dining seating must surely be the dining bench. Opt for a simple wooden dining bench that can double as a handy seat in the hallway or a plush upholstered dining bench, perfect for the industrial dining table.

If the dining bench isn’t doing it for you, then there is no denying just how comfortable fabric dining chairs are. Your guests will linger for hours… exactly what you want!

4 Use spring flowers

Spring is the time that the garden comes alive, but even if yours doesn’t have an abundance of flowers yet, you’ll find a larger selection of blooms at your local florist.

And there is nothing more welcoming to the eye, especially at Easter, than beautiful flowers as a centrepiece for the dining table. Or if you want to be bang on trend, create a display using dried flower options. Dried grasses and wild flowers have made a comeback with interior trendsetters swapping fresh bunches for dried bouquets.

But don’t just limit them to the dining room. Cluster flowers in vases on side tables next to your armchairs or sofa. They also make a wonderful addition to the console table in the hallway too.

Stylish Ways to Decorate your Home for Easter

Coloured mini eggs in white pot on reclaimed wood table

We decorate our homes for Halloween and Christmas, so why not Easter? With the coming of spring, we welcome colour and life back into our lives, so why not celebrate? Here are some tasteful decorating ideas to bring a touch of Easter joy into the home….

Easter tree

Winter brings some wild and windy weather, which means lying in the garden is sure to be a broken branch or two. Before you shred them into your garden waste, collect and trim them to arrange in a large, heavy-duty vase ready to decorate your hallway storage unit or reclaimed wood dining table.

There are many different ways you can decorate your Easter tree. You can buy shaped ornaments for the tree and you can make your own too. Wash the inside of broken eggshells and when dry, paint the outside using specialist craft paints.

Choose pastel colours including a cheerful sunshine yellow. When dry, arrange artistically on your tree.

By creating and decorating your own tree, you can choose the colours that best suit your interior décor and reclaimed wood furniture. But there is no denying that by adding pretty ribbon bows and colourful decorations, the Easter tree will make a fitting addition to any room.

Extend a welcome with an Easter wreath

The hallway is a space that sets the tone for the rest of your home and so an Easter wreath on the front door is a great way to welcome friends and family in. These are available in the shop, but for a more personal touch, you can make your own Easter wreath too.

Easter in a teacup

Using synthetic moss and some well-chosen decorated Easter ‘eggs’ or even mini chocolate eggs, create a simple and pretty botanical themed scene using teacups as the ‘planters’. Think about where you’ll display your crafts before you start. But this lush green display would look great on the living room sideboard, nestled next to your beautiful leather chairs or on a small console table in the hallway – you can then pinch a mini chocolate egg on your way out!

Make a spring statement

If you are unsure about introducing Easter colours into your home, then making a statement that spring has arrived is a great alternative. If your purple lavender isn’t in full bloom, you’ll find the artificial variety a fantastic alternative. As well as creating striking arrangements in vases for your storage shelves, they make a real impact on your reclaimed wood dining table. They’ll also bring a welcome softness to industrial furniture too.

Make paper blooms

You can be as artistic as you like when you make your own paper blooms, and as a family project, they are a great activity to do altogether.

Opt for subtle colours that complement your industrial furniture in the living room or dining room and for the farmhouse styled home, opt for nature’s colours such as pastel greens and yellow. If flowers are a little obvious, make paper birds and hang them from the ceiling for a contemporary spring decoration.

Use a cake stand for an Easter table centrepiece

Again, using a mix of bought items as well as those you can make yourself, using a vintage cake stand as part of your Easter setting on your reclaimed wood dining room is a great idea. Simple ideas are sometimes the best – wrap small boxes finished with ribbon and add painted eggs clustered around the edge. Finish with some gorgeous bright fresh flowers and you have everything you need to make a simple but joyful centrepiece.

Bunting

Nothing says a celebration more than bunting! Use pretty and bright hues to add some colour or if you prefer a more understated style, a pale yellow or white will still add a celebratory ambience to a space.

Let’s Hear it for Feel Good Furniture!

There are some items of furniture that ooze the feel-good factor. Every time you use it, it makes you feel good. It could be the old-faithful sofa, for example, that just gets better with age. But what other feel-good furniture items are there?

The leather armchair

From the traditional wing-backed leather armchair to a modern silhouette, the leather armchair is very much like its sofa cousin – is there anything better than being cocooned in its familiar warmth? We like it best with a cup of tea and biscuit or a good book.

The large rustic dining table

The dining table sees all of home life and that’s why the dings, the dents, marks and scrapes both infuriate us and make us feel warm inside. The family gathers around the table for everything from every day catch-ups and household disagreements to Christmas dinners and is the place where memories are made.

A coloured footstool

It doubles as an impromptu coffee table, the ‘something to stand out’ and, of course, a comfy platform for elevating your tired feet at the end of the day, a coloured and comfortable footstool is a must. As the feel-good factor goes, it’s at the top of the scale!

A large wooden bed frame

Along with a sumptuous, supportive mattress and high-quality bed linen, is there anything more heart-warming than a solid wooden bed frame? Strong, sturdy and the type of furniture you can always rely on, a high quality reclaimed wood bedframe will provide almost endless service for years on end.

The Welsh dresser

A large Welsh dresser solves a myriad of storage problems in the kitchen/diner in one swipe, but its grand stature in a room gives it a matriarchal presence. Its familiar shape is a nod to yesteryear, even if has a modern edge and design, that we instantly find comforting and familiar. Again, like a wooden bedframe, the Welsh dresser will instantly become part of the family, if not the head of the house, for years to come.

The dressing table

So far, we have looked at pieces that everyone will have a connection to, such as the dining table or the leather armchair, the place of comfort that the household often turns to. You may not have thought as the dressing table as being an obvious piece of feel-good furniture, but it is a truly personal space. From a slimline console table to a larger tabletop, this is a place in the bedroom where you can sit and reflect and spend time making yourself look great and feel good. Dress it with personal items and framed photos of your precious family to give a high-level feel-good factor about it.

Anything made from reclaimed wood…

The beauty of reclaimed wood furniture never tires and the range of choice is staggering – from coffee tables with storage to reclaimed wood large sideboards, open shelving display units and more – there is something for every style home. The feel-good factor is not just about choice and design but the fact that reclaimed wood gets better and better with age and use.

Reclaimed from its original use, the grain and patina of hardwood mellows and develop with age. Smooth to the touch, there is also a warmth to wood, a natural material that is nothing short of elegant. When it comes to the feel-good factor in our eyes, anything from reclaimed wood has it – but what’s your favourite piece of feel-good furniture?

Bring that Feel Good Feeling into your Home

Your home is your castle. It should be the place where you feel enveloped in its warmth and you enjoy the feeling of being home. And, with the spring sunshine flooding through your windows and the days about to get longer, why not make your home feel good again with these top ideas!

Make the most of the sun

Winter was, at times, truly dreadful in terms of the weather that hammered at the windows. The skies were overcast for days, sometimes weeks on end, the rain was relentless and the wind howled. And so, with the first rays of spring sunshine, make the most of this golden light by moving your furniture around so that when you lounge on the sofa in the living room you can enjoy its warmth. Sunshine is also a great way to trace the history in the grain of your reclaimed wood furniture , but don’t leave it in bright sunlight for too long as the sun will bleach the patina a lighter colour.

Clean the windows

Dust and grime accumulate on the outside and inside of windows leaving a film that distorts our view of the world outside and this is never more visible than when the sun is streaming through them. If it is safe to do so, wash the outside of your windows (or contact a local window cleaning company) and do the same to the inside of the windows too.

You’ll find all kinds of ideas online for streak-free windows including soapy water and scrunched up newspaper for streak-free drying.

Dry clean curtains, blinds and clean shutters

They have kept the warmth in all winter and so now is the time to freshen curtains, wash shutters and clean roller blinds. As well as vacuuming with the upholstery nozzle, either washing or dry cleaning your curtains will freshen your room too.

Add or move mirrors to make the most of the spring sunshine

The more light that can enter a room, the better. But what you don’t want is glare. Moving mirrors will help to reduce glare but maximise light. Mirrors in ‘dark’ corners make a huge difference and can also help push the boundaries of the room back – in other words, it creates the illusion of space. Brighter and bigger – win!

Get gardening!

Being out in the fresh air in your garden is great for your health, mental and physical, and if you trim garden shrubs that grow in front of your windows, you will not only have a more pleasant space to look at or look out of, but you’ll also maximise daylight pouring in through the windows.

Give your hard floors some care

Finally, whether its floorboards or tiling, if you have hard floors in your home, you will have sung their praise several times during winter. They’re quick to clean, keeping your home mud-free during the many wet days we had.

As well as walking on them, the constant mopping and steaming will also potentially lift the top layer of protective stain or coat, dulling the surface. Give your hard floors some loving treatment from reapplying the top-level of stain or varnish, or buff polishing natural stone or tiles.