Turn something old into your something new!

Have you ever walked into a pretty, girly boutique and wished you could decorate your home just like it?  The thought of having a home full of beautiful antique furniture sounds divine- and expensive!  But it needn’t be costly; a few carefully planned trips to antique markets and second hand shops should do the trick, along with a spot of internet research.

US interior stylist Monique Keegan shows us how to perfect this look with a sneak peak into her lovely home…

Monique has used old haberdashery drawers for storage.  The glass panes clearly show what is inside here, so keep your bits and bobs tidy and aim to have interesting textures, shapes and colours on display.

Look out for shops wanting to ‘get rid’ of old furniture, perhaps they are refurbishing or need more space etc.  That is your chance to grab a bargain!  Special pieces such as these tend to be costly in a second hand shop.

Obviously your furniture won’t be matching, which is all part of the charm.  Despite this, try to ensure each piece has as place and a purpose, so that the room will ‘come together’ as a whole.  Don’t be afraid to repaint furniture (shabby chic) or re-cover something in a fabric of your choice… make something old your ’something new’!!

Vintage finds can really ‘make’ a room.  In the bathroom Monique has used old vintage hanging mirrors, old-fashioned personal care accessories (think hand mirror with a long handle) and baskets for storage.  Gorgeous!!

You can almost feel the quality of the furniture in this picture.  Monique’s fabulous antique table and interesting nik-naks will have you sat at that desk long after you’ve finished your work!  Note the quality floorboards, too- don’t spoil the look by cutting corners where you shouldn’t!

posted by Emily

“Style made effortless”

” Style made effortless ” is the motto at Rose and Grey. 

Their online shop is packed full of wonderful items of furniture and decorative accessories.  I just love their girly boudoir furniture, especially the ‘Chataux’ cabinet pictured below.  I imagine it filled with vintage perfume bottles and gorgeous silk lingerie; luscious!  

decorative shelves, from £115

Mixed-Up side table, £395

antique style display case, £45

chataux cabinet, £695

Fabulous French Furniture

One of my favourite homewear shops has got to be Maison in Richmond.  Every time I go in I feel I want to buy everything!  The French-style furniture is beautiful and of noticably high quality, whilst the accessories are so cute, especially the childrens’ range!

Much of the furniture is white wash and of a traditional style, therefore if you favour the Old England, shabby-chic or traditional French or English look, this company will be like a dream for you! 

Cheeky Charlie large childrens’ bookcase, £995

Cheeky Charlie storage settle, £495

Chateau single armoire with mirrored door, £875

Regency occasional chair, £550

Romance bed, from £475

Sophie three drawer curvy chest, £1295

by resident blogger, Emily

Going Au Naturel

Creating the Au Naturel look can be quite tricky, as there is a danger of the final result being too minimalistic and rather plain.  No matter what the choice of decor, the final result should always exude a warm, homely feel.

The look could be described as ’smart shabby chic’- mixing the old with the new but with a more sharp, sophisticated outcome.  And the fresh colour pallet is just perfect for the summer!

The flower display pictured above compliments the natural feel of the room… try getting away from the standard bright bouquet of flowers and opting for something more subtle such as pussy willow. Display in a plain glass vase… or even an empty jar?

Old perfume bottles (below) can make stunning ornaments- some of the older bottles were so intricately designed that it was worth buying the perfume just for the container alone!  Even old medicine bottles can look interesting.  I like the idea of filling jars with buttons- this reminds me of my grandma who had tins and tins full of the things and I used to spend hours rummaging through them as a child.  The old mirror compliments the period and suggests these items have a secret untold history….

This Copenhagen apartment, below, is the epitome of the Au Naturel look.  Notice the lack of modern items and minimal introduction of colour to the otherwise muted pallet.  The overall look is very clean and fresh yet with a strong  sense of history.  Every unique piece suggests it has a story to tell.

See Simply Natural for more inspiration…