50 Shades of White

Maybe it’s because I’m Swedish, but I have a real soft spot for the Scandinavian design aesthetic when it comes to interiors. Pale wooden floorboards, white walls and furniture mixed with grey and other neutrals and perhaps a few accents of stronger colours such as red or blue. Mixing old and modern pieces also makes for a unique home and I love the contrast it creates.

Here are some inspirational images from my Pinterest board ‘My Dream Abode’:

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{I love the positioning of the sofas in this room. Having them facing each other adds a cosy vibe which is offset by the grandeur of the stunning chandelier.}

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{White doesn’t have to mean stark. Layering different shades of whites and other neutrals creates a warm, inviting space.}

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{I love the tiles in this kitchen and the open shelves.}

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{This bedroom looks so calm and inviting.}

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{Using books as bedside tables is a great feature that doubles up as storage if you don’t have enough space for another bookcase. I also love the picture shelf above the bed.}

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{A practical and beautiful centerpiece filled with lovely cashmere. This picture makes me want to paint our floorboards white.}

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{The tiles, the lights, the bathtub – I love it all.}

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{If my boys shared a bedroom, this is the bunkbed I would get.}

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{This room is all about the details: the bunting, the Maileg bunnies with their own little matching bed, the practical blackboard…}

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{I wish our ceilings were high enough to carry off a chandelier on this scale. Oh and that my husband wasn’t allergic to cats!}

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{This room really makes the most of the natural light and I love the white letters on the wall.}

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{Another view of room number 9 which shows how effective a pop of colour can be in an otherwise all-white space. Mixing new and old furniture, such as this cupboard, in the same colour creates an original but cohesive look.}

Currently Coveting #10: Isabel Marant for H&M

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I realise that this is my second Currently Coveting post in as many days (how will my bank balance keep up?) but, with the excitement building over the forthcoming H&M and Isabel Marant collaboration, I just had to put the spotlight on my favourite pieces. Photos from the lookbook – with its impressive cast of models, including Lou Doillon, Alek Wek and Milla Jovovich – leaked online yesterday, plunging most of the fashion world into yet another frenzy over this hotly anticipated collection.

Those who, like me, lust after the inimitable Mme Marant’s ready-to-wear collection but whose budgets don’t quite stretch that far, will not be disappointed. The French designer’s bohemian aesthetic runs through the entire range, which encompasses not only womenswear but also menswear and accessories.

Some fashion commentators have criticized H&M for putting the price points too high (the most expensive piece is a jacket for £199.99) but, while the collection is dearer than the high street chain’s own brand, in my view the prices are justified as it is a collaboration with a designer whose brand of effortless chic is practically a uniform for off-duty models and movie stars in the know. In any case, the prices are still only a fraction of Marant’s mainline collection (and lower than her diffusion line Etoile Isabel Marant).

The collaboration will hit stores (and online) on November 14 so start drawing up your wishlist now as it’s bound to be a sell-out. If I can’t get my hands on the H&M version of last year’s embellished tie-dye jacket (in the main picture) I would happily settle for any of these pieces:

Marant Collage

Currently Coveting #8: The Perfect Autumn Knit

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Anthropologie is hands down my favourite store to visit and have a browse around. It’s like a treasure trove full of lovely clothes, accessories and homeware, all beautifully displayed in an old building where every nook and cranny reveals more hidden gems. At the moment, however, as I don’t relish a shopping trip into town with three children in tow, the online store will have to suffice.

This lightweight sweater by Knitted & Knotted is perfect for early Autumn days when a chill is just starting to creep into the air. The cream colour makes it wonderfully versatile while the cute ruffles stop it from being another boring basic. Add a statement necklace (as in the picture above) and it’s smart enough to wear for evenings out. What’s not to like? And yes, I have already ‘clicked to buy’ so I will let you know if the real thing lives up to the online promise.

Let there be light

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When we get back from our holiday it will only be a matter of weeks before autumn is upon us. Hopefully there are still plenty of warm days ahead but as the evenings get darker, these lanterns from Nordic House will add a soft, romantic glow inside or outside.

In the picture: Big stainless steel lanterns from £135; Nautical hurricane lamps from £26.95; Numbered glass hurricanes from £19.95,; White willow hurricane £29.95.

The Fashion Clinic #5: Red Hot Details

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I’ve been slightly obsessed with this picture since I first saw it on the ever-so-stylish Emily Schuman’s blog, Cupcakes and Cashmere (original image from here). I love the idea of using accessories to add a pop of red to an otherwise neutral or monochrome outfit. It’s an easy way for colour-phobics like myself to brighten up their wardrobe.

If money was no object, this would be my pick of the best red hot accessories out there:

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Clockwise from top left: Miu Miu leather tote £690; Alexander McQueen scarf £165; Saint Laurent ankle boots £600; Victoria Beckham clutch £450; Repetto ballet flats £190; Alexander McQueen scarf £165. All items available from Net a Porter.

For now though, I’m content to add a splash a red to my toes with Headline Colors nail polish in Catwalk.

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Currently Coveting # 3

AVF Vanity Tray Clear Front Pefume

I love these trays by California based designer Alexandra Von Furstenberg (daughter-in-law of wrap dress queen Diane von Furstenberg). Made from high quality acrylic, they come in two sizes and are perfect for displaying perfume bottles or as a kitsch bar tray filled with tumblers and beautiful decanters. My favourites are the mirrored tray in the picture above and the Zebra one below. I would like one on my dressing table for perfumes and make-up tools and another one on the coffee table in the sitting room for candles, small vases filled with flowers and perhaps a magazine or two.

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Currently Coveting # 2

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Hmm, I really thought that by now my wish list would have moved on to summer dresses and sandals but unfortunately the weather here in England is still more akin to October than May. And late May at that – in just over a week it will officially be summer! Anyway, enough about the depressing weather and onto the pieces that have caught my eye this week.

First up is a gorgeous blazer from Whistles which, because it’s made from a heavy jersey fabric, manages to straddle that tricky divide between smart and casual. The Jimmy Jimmy boyfriend skinny jeans by my fave denim brand Paige (available from Shopbop) are a must-have this season and can be teamed with the Breton striped T-shirt by Saint James for J. Crew for a crisp summer look with a touch of French chic. I am slightly obsessed with brightly coloured shoes at the moment and while yellow is a colour I would never wear near my face (unless it is in the palest lemon shade), on a pair of shoes it is perfect. This pair are from Whistles, which also has the same style in a more demure salmon pink or beige. Rose gold makes a change from my usual silver jewellery and the friendship bracelets from Monica Vinader are among the cutest accessories I’ve seen this season.

The Fashion Clinic #1: In Between Days

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“Mummy, the weather was really funny today. It was sunny then cloudy, rainy then windy, and I think I even saw a little bit of snow! It’s like all four seasons in one day,” my youngest son said to me the other day. Well, I think the bit about the snow might be a fib but otherwise he is spot-on in describing the inclement weather that seems to typify the British spring, autumn and even summer (let’s face it, I can probably count on one hand the number of scorching hot days we had last year)

It does make it rather difficult to get dressed in the morning as the temperature can drop or rise by several degrees depending on whether or not the sun decides to grace us with its presence. For me, layering is the name of the game as well as carrying a bag big enough to hold both sunglasses and an umbrella!

On my list of essentials are a well-cut jacket, a pair of flats (ballerinas or Converse), some slouchy jeans that can be rolled up or down, as well as lots of jersey pieces and lightweight knits. Luckily there are some great transitional pieces around at the moment including those in the picture above:

1. Heart Elbow Patch Jumper, £22 from Asos

2. French Sole Classic Black Ballet Flats, £65, also from Asos

3. Suede Jacket with Frills, £119 from Zara

4. Speckle Roll Sleeve Mini Dress, £26 from Topshop

5. Dip Dye T-shirt, £35 from Oasis

6. 1969 Real Straight Skimmer Jeans, £44.95 from Gap