A very interesting email hit my inbox yesterday from the lovely Anna at Livet Hemma (meaning Life at Home). This is Ikea’s very own interior blog and in Anna’s words, the blog’s aim is “to create inspiring images by styling Ikea pieces in interesting ways and in exciting environments. By doing this we want to reignite the qualities of Ikea furniture and let it be seen in a special light rather than just ‘the Ikea Catalogue’ images!”

I thought this was a brilliant idea and so I immediately rushed back to my office to write a post about it before any other bloggers got to it! Little did I know that Holly at Decor8 had (unsurprisingly!) already beat me to it! Oh well…

Aren’t these images just gorgeous and so beautifully styled?? I would have never guessed that these are Ikea products, would you? I personally think this is quite a clever initiative as we tend to think of Ikea products as unoriginal, with no character and mass-produced, so it’s refreshing to see these “ordinary” items looking “extraordinary”, when styled in quirky and more interesting settings.

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I’m thinking this company probably needs no introduction but for those of you living outside the city (and on cloud nine?- teehee!), Graham and Green have two stunning home accessories boutiques located in London.

A popular, well-loved company with a great eye for style, Graham and Green still finds time to offer that personal service which is so sadly lacking within the big corporate chains.

Great too if you’re after some home decor inspiration-  online boutiques can offer some great style tips and ideas.  I love their use of bold colour in their lifestyle images (see below).  If you’re struggling to know where to begin with a room, why not start a mood board?  A mood board will help you to decide on a colour scheme, fabric range and a style and you can use this as the basis of the design development.

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Modern homes aren’t just for bachelors y’know!  I’ve got this idea in my head that all single men have a home full of contemporary, minimalist furniture whilst families go for a more shabby chic homely look, packed full of bits and bobs here, there and everywhere.

Well the reality is that modern home accessories are becoming more and more popular and more of us are mixing and matching colours, prints and textures whilst still striving to maintain that minimalist feel.  What do you think of the rooms below, do they work in the real world?

The different colours and textures in this room are exciting and interesting without being garish

Who said these trendy curved chairs must be refined to the kitchen?

Is the blue just a shade too much?

The living room above doesn’t look particularly comfortable to me… what do you guys think?  I see the lounge as a place to relax and well, lounge about basically, with big squishy chairs and fluffy cushions.  The furniture above looks to harsh somehow.

I love this room above, although it reminds me a little of a seating area in an art gallery.  Arty, relaxed, inviting and contemporary.

Images via House To Home

Posted by Emily

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I loved the decor of the room below so much that I set about searching for where I could buy similar pieces to recreate the look.  This is a great example of how to begin with a ‘neutral background’ and then add colour with the introduction of home accessories.  Remember if you fancy a change in the future, it’s so much simpler to change a lamp or a rug rather than redecorate the whole room.

Room designed by Anne Coyle

Jane Packer vase, available at Debenhams, £18

3 seater sofa, £475 via Nicky Cornell

Thomas Paul Tweeter aqua linen pillow, $104 via Layla Grace

Oversized Pearl Lamp, £94 at Coco Målé

Square Coffee Table, £292, Sweetpea and Willow

Poster, £6.13, Ikea

Posted by Emily

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I’m loving the style of Swedish photographer Mari Eriksson.  The imagery really captures the essence of Swedish interior design and shows that white is far from boring!  Fresh, understated and luxurious- I could happily live in a place like this…

Posted by Emily

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