Pages

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Guest post- Top interiors trends to look out for in 2013!


This article is brought to you by Edel Flood.


The advent of 2013 offers an excellent opportunity to make over your home and give it a whole new look. Whether you want to undertake a full renovation or just give one or two rooms a bit of a lift, it can be useful to know what is hot in the world of interior design this year.

Retro florals

Floral patterns have never really gone away, especially for traditionalists, but this year the look takes on a more retro than classic vibe - think Orla Kiely-style prints in bold colours and with clean, simple lines. This looks great in small doses throughout the home via patterned cushions, dinnerware and art prints, but the more daring among us can also opt for wallpapers and curtains emblazoned with bright flower and leaf designs.

If you are on a budget, try trawling through markets and charity shops for vintage pieces from the 1950s and 1960s, which is when the look originated, or have a go at repainting furniture or creating your own canvas prints with similar patterns.

Emerald hues

Color standards authority Pantone has declared emerald to be the go-to hue for 2013, making this a fantastic shade to start with if you want to make over your home, but are pretty open to colour suggestions. Again, it can work equally well in both accessories and across large surfaces, depending on the look you want to achieve.

Pantone suggests using emerald to evoke a luxurious feel in studies, dining rooms and hallways, or in feature walls in lounges. Alternatively, you could invest in dinnerware and kitchen appliances in this shade or opt for emerald linen and towels to brighten up bedrooms and bathrooms.

Mirror mirror on the wall

Mirrors have always been useful for helping enlarge small spaces and complementing traditional or vintage interiors, but we are being encouraged to use them in a slightly different way this year. The trend involves grouping together an odd number of small mirrors on a wall, much as you would with a series of framed pictures.

The trick is to invest in mirrors with pretty or unusual frames and place them in a slightly haphazard fashion on the wall, rather than in a neat circle or square. This works well in most rooms and will especially suit Victorian-style interiors.

Mix it up in the kitchen

Kitchens utilising a number of styles will be on trend this year, making this the perfect look for indecisive types. Colors, materials and textures that you might not think really go together are being used to create truly unique rooms with lots to capture the attention of visitors.

This does not necessarily mean that the resulting look should be overwhelmingly clashy; instead, think about combining just two or three different shades/styles in subtle ways. This could involve different wood finishes (e.g. light cabinets and darker floors) or mixing up plain, modern walls with chintzy floral patterns on your accessories.

The natural look

Another key theme of 2013 will be bringing nature into the home, ideally through the use of lots of wood - and the less polished the finish, the better. Birch, beech and oak look set to be the most popular wood types for this style, especially in furniture and flooring.

You can complement your wooden finishes with materials and accessories featuring woodland patterns/motifs, and this would be a particularly great look to use from spring through to autumn, changing your colour palette slightly as the seasons turn.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

A product review- Adore Me Lingerie Set!


Recently, the nice people from Adore Me contacted me again to do a product review for their new collection. This will be my second product review for this wonderful brand. You may read about my first Adore Me product review here.


Have you heard of this chic lingerie club? For those of you who are unfamiliar with the brand, Adore Me is the first subscription based lingerie website that offers women a personalized shopping experience. 

Lingerie sets are picked by professional stylists each month and only costs $39.95 per set with free shipping and free exchanges. Membership is not the only way to shop. You can chose the pay as you go option and you will not get charged every month.

Currently, Adore Me is running a fabulous promotion and you can get your first set of lingerie for under $20. What a steal! If you are a fan of cool rewards, don't forget to check out the details here and here.

Anyway, back to the pretty lingerie set I received. (The sexy model below is obviously not me) :)




What I love about this elegant lingerie set is the beautiful floral embroidery details found on the bra and hipster panty. The lovely cameo embellishment on the lingerie set is another favorite detail of mine, they are so charming! Made with nylon and spandex, the bra has smooth cups for comfort and lightly padded for a sexy lift! Overall, this lingerie set is well made, comfortable, supports well and looks flattering on me. This set comes in a nude color rather than the white shown but nevertheless, it is still a great lingerie set that I would wear everyday and would recommend to everyone!*

*I received this product to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are my own.

Adore Me has a wide range of lingerie sets and sleepwear collection. Below are some of my favorites!






 Jazz





Aren't these sexy and gorgeous? Which one are you drawn to? I have a preference for lingerie with simpler lines and subtle, pretty details. What about you? Are you like me or do you prefer fun and sexier lingerie designs? Adore Me has lot of other sexier numbers so you might want to check them out yourself.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

And the winner of the giveaway is ..........


Announcing the winner of the recent giveaway brought to you by Wallpaper Update.






I used random.org to draw a winner and here it is! The lucky winner of the $100 Wallpaper Update gift card is


the lovely Bethany from Powell Brower Home.



Congratulations, Bethany! I will email you soon. Thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway. There will be more fantastic giveaways in the future, so don't forget to check back regularly! Have a wonderful day,everyone!

Guest post- Restless disturbed nights are over, now I have memory foam!


This post is provided by Forenc.

Besides poor health, there is another thing that can give you restless disturbed nights, which is a poor quality mattress. If you haven’t been able to have a good night’s sleep, it is a high time that you invested in a high quality mattress, which is none other than a memory foam mattress. There are a number of ways in which this type of mattress can eliminate your restlessness or disturbance at night. They are as follows: 

·         It reduces back pain and aches

If you usually experience back pain and aches during the night, it is more likely that your mattress isn’t as comfortable as it should be. Memory foam is uniquely designed to relieve pressure points and keep your spine properly aligned. Doctors also recommend firm mattresses as very helpful in reducing back pain, and this type of mattress is good enough to help you have restful nights.

·         It maintains even temperatures

You may be having restless and disturbed nights due to either very high or low temperatures. With this type of mattress, you can rest assured that this will become a problem of the past. This is because the mattress is sensitive to temperature changes. It tends to conform and soften when the temperatures are high, and on the other hand becomes firmer and viscous when the temperatures are low.

·         It reduces motion transfer

A spouse who tosses and turns in bed can cause a lot of disturbance at night. What you need is a mattress that eliminates motion transfer between sleep partners and in this case, memory foam is the most ideal. Its firmness makes it resistant to motion, making it hard for one to notice that his spouse is making movements in bed. It also has the ability to distribute weight evenly, making it very good for you both, whether you sleep on your back, side or your abdomen. The fact that this type of mattress does not have inner springs makes it ideal if you are looking forward to have quiet nights.

·         It is hypoallergenic

If you are suffering from allergy, asthma or any other type of respiratory disease, it would be wise if you choose a mattress that will not deteriorate your condition. Memory foam is hypoallergenic, which means that it is very ideal for people suffering from allergies. Unlike many other types of mattresses on the market, this type of mattress neither produces dust, nor attracts bed bugs.

Besides mattresses, you can also experience some benefits with memory foam pillows and mattress toppers. In order for you to experience these immense benefits brought about by these outstanding products, it would be a wise to buy from a reliable online shop. You must ensure that the store that you intend to buy from has a good reputation in availing high quality memory foam mattresses to interested buyers. You can also check out for discounts and other excellent after sale services that will make your purchase worth while.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Guest post- New Year Resolutions For The Home!



New Year is traditionally a time to reflect on goals you hope to achieve in the up-and-coming year. With regards to your home, the New Year hails a time to consider resolutions for home improvements and how to make your home a cleaner, more beautiful and perhaps more efficient place to live in. You may have ideas of rooms that you want to redecorate, house chores that remain pending from the previous year and things that need replacing as well as the intention to make it an even more attractive space to inhabit.

There is no need to feel intimidated by luxurious glossy magazines, the New Year presents a time for creativity around the home working with what you have got and embellishing it with simple touches. Minor changes make a big impact on the home. Initially, assess what you already have at home, which room you wish to revamp and what has potential to be switched around and modified.

A New Year’s Resolution may be that you want to learn how to ‘do it yourself’ thus acquiring  new skills around the house and home; replacing fuses, repairing split shower heads, putting up shelves and other essential household tasks. Repairing or replacing what is broken or adding new touches to the house gives it a fresh, revitalised air naturally lifting the energy. Making simple changes can be manual or decorative and all contribute to a modified, more agreeable living space. 

Manual.

Changes around the house come in many forms. Reviving neglected house plants or re-potting them should bring them back to life restoring a natural element to the house. Putting up a new shelf and re-organising your books into colour themes looks smart. Repairing any cracks that have appeared in the walls or damp patches makes the house seem clean and fresh.


A fantastic, easy way to give the house a new feel is by de-cluttering. Over the year we all accumulate objects that we do not use or need. Investing in a few stylish storage units hides any clutter that does not need to be out keeping the house fuss-free and looking clean. It also helps you organise the home bringing order and peace of mind.

Decorative.

Simple, stylish updates and additions to different rooms transform the feel of the house. In the bedroom, an easy and transformative change is to invest in new bedding, quilts or throws along with scatter cushions in different colours. Try to be brave and not stick to safe colour schemes; add splashes of colour to a room changing the style and feel. New wall art is a simple way of changing a room as is a new style of lighting or a throw over a table or sofa. Restyling a lampshade or moving lights around room also alters the feel of a room.

Each room has potential to be re-styled by building on what you have and making small additions and changes. Repaint, fix or re-upholster existing pieces of furniture that you own. Purchase a few luxurious, coloured cushions and scatter them over a bed or sofa to create a new feel to your home making it a comfortable space you are proud of and want to invite people to.

At the beginning of the year, write down a set of goals you hope to achieve in the home and work steadily to achieve them, perhaps reviewing them mid-year to see what you have accomplished and how the home feels better for the slight changes.

Joy Venner writes on behalf of OKA. She enjoys writing about interior design ideas, room optimisation and home improvements.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Giveaway- $100 Wallpaper Update Gift Card!


My wonderful readers, how's your holiday? Hope you had fun celebrating the holiday season with family and friends! Today, I have a great giveaway for you! One of you lucky peeps will have a chance to win a $100 gift card from Wallpaper Update


Wallpaper Update is an established online store offering an amazing selection of quality wallcoverings from wallpapers to murals in a variety of styles and themes. Below are some of my favorites!














These wallpapers and murals are absolutely fabulous and they could be yours! Just follow the 3 simple steps below to win a $100 gift card from Wallpaper Update!


To enter:

Must be a resident of the United States or Canada.

1. Be a follower of Mix And Chic via Google Friend Connect.

2. Visit Wallpaper Update and let me know your favorite item (with link included).

3. Leave me a comment letting me know you have done both.

For additional entries (an extra entry for each of the following) (optional): 

'Like' Wallpaper Update on Facebook and leave a separate comment.

'Like' Mix And Chic on Facebook and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

'Follow' Wallpaper Update on Google Plus and leave a separate comment.

'Follow' Mix And Chic on Twitter and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

'Follow' Mix And Chic on Pinterest and  and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

Mention this giveaway on your Facebook status (include a link back to this post and leave a separate comment.)

Tweet about this giveaway (include a link back to this post and leave a separate comment.)

The last day for entries is January 16 , 2013. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Thursday, January 17, 2013. Good luck, everyone!