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Friday, November 20, 2015

Guest post- Interior Design Trends for 2016!


Is your home long overdue an image overhaul? Are you a business owner looking to give their brand a new direction with a corporate face-lift? Get inspired in time for 2016 with our cherry-picked list of interior design trends you can expect to see everywhere come the new year. It is easy to keep up with the Joneses, whatever available budget you have got to play with, dunhelm vouchers from couporando.co.uk can help you to save money.

Vintage goods and pre-owned pieces

Consumers love of vintage goods and antiques does not seem to be fading any time soon, and in 2016, it is forecast that more people than ever will be buying artisan goods and antique furnishings. When you shop right, pre-owned pieces need not cost the premium you would expect. Discover authentic antique pieces at prices you can not only afford, but will barely but a dent in the spending budget. Perfect for adding character to your spaces, you even refurbish furniture pieces that seen better days with new upholstery, paints and finishes to coordinate perfectly with your interior design theme.

Extendable, adaptable living space

As housing demands continue to rise, more and more first-time buyers are finding their budget exhausted from a relatively small property investment. But for those starved for space, 2016 sets to inspire as the continued popularity of outdoor/indoor living is expected to take off. Designed to help incorporate available outdoor space into everyday living areas, the idea of outdoor/indoor living is ideal for those short on space, and looking to making savings in their budget, with sturdy furniture pieces that can utilized both indoors and out.

Geometric prints, tiles and textures

Expect things to get mixed up in 2016 as the popularity of geometric tiles, prints and patterns continues to rise. A hot trend in interior design at the minute, you will find a multitude of geometric designs to get you inspired, making the perfect foundation for a tile project for the kitchen or bathroom. Get adventurous with your flooring and walls in other rooms of the house, and introduce geometric tiles throughout your home to stamp some real character to every space.

Natural materials from sustainable sources

Another enduring trend you can expect to see stick around in 2016 is the use of natural materials in every aspect of interior design. Signature furniture pieces made from ethically source oak, pine and maple woods continue to be a popular choice in kitchens, while metals and minerals are also making a comeback. Make sure your interiors are up to date with upcoming trends, and kit out your spaces with a semi-industrial aesthetic with copper, aluminium and stainless fixtures and fittings. Add a subtle style accent if you do not want to go big, with understated lamp shades, door handles and paneling.

Breathe new life into your interiors this 2016 with a new colour palate

Sometimes, all a space really needs is a new lick of paint. If you are on a budget and can only give your space a simple makeover, make sure you invest in some of the standout shades of the season when picking your paint. Rich reds, warm pinks and fleshy, peachy shades are sky-rocketing in popularity, with the trend expecting to continue into 2016 and beyond. The ideal colour palate for spicing up drab spaces, and adding instant warmth to any room.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Product review- The original Lava Lamp!


I have always been fascinated by lava lamps and the science behind it so when I was invited to sample a lava lamp from Lava Lite (the original lava lamp), I was beyond thrilled!

Lava Lite offers a wide range of lava lamps in a variety of sizes and combinations which includes the original lava lamps, specialty lamps, themed lamps, party lights, night lights and more. Here are some of the uniquely fabulous lava lamps that have caught my eye!





With so many fun and quirky lava lamps on their site, I had a hard time selecting just one lamp for a review. In the end, I decided on one of their 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Collector's Item lamp! Their 50th Anniversary lamps come in four sizes: 

14.5" (Classic)
17" (Designer)
16.3" (Premier)
27" (Grande)

To give you an idea the size of the lamps in relation to each other, check out this illustration.


I decided to go for the Premier size (16.3") for its larger than average volume!
This is the one I picked!

Check out the lava lamp that arrived at my doorstep a few weeks ago!


My wonderful lava lamp came with a glass globe, a gold base, a gold cap and a light bulb. The assembling was pretty straight forward and it only took me less than a minute from start to finish. A certificate of authenticity was included with my new lamp! The dimmer switch (which was not mentioned in the product description on their website) is definitely a welcomed bonus!


This was how my lava lamp looked right after I plugged it in with the dimmer switched to the maximum. I really like the combination of yellow wax and purple liquid. They look so gorgeous together, don't you think? I also like the beautiful glass housing and the chic gold steel base and matching cap. Because of the size of my lava lamp, I had to run it for 2-3 hours to ensure it reaches its optimal performance level.


After about an hour, the wax began to melt.


About 2 hours later, my lava lamp started to form a "towery" wax pillars which is totally normal.


I checked my lava lamp again an hour later and voila, there was finally some lava action!


No two formation was ever the same and it's so much fun to watch!

I am absolutely in love with my new, gorgeous lava lamp! The lamp arrived in a perfect condition. Because my lava lamp is larger than the average size lava lamp, it took a while to warm up but the wait was absolutely worth it. The flowing and colliding melting wax was mesmerizing, relaxing and quite entertaining to watch. Unsurprisingly, my son became a huge lava lamp fan after he saw me plugged in the lamp for the first time. Now, he always asks me to turn on the lamp for him. 

A well-made and awe-inspiring lamp with charming, hypnotizing powers, what's not to love? This fascinating lamp brings our family so much fun and joy, it is now one of my most treasured possessions! Use a lava lamp to jazz up a space or inject a playful touch in a room! Highly recommended for gift giving or for yourself!

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

Have you ever owned a lava lamp? Do you have a lava lamp obsession as well? I would love to hear about it! Don't forget to get your own lava lamp here!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Book review- Decorating With Carpets: A Fine Foundation!


Thanks to Meghan Phillips for sending me another gorgeous design book, Decorating With Carpets: A Fine Foundation by Ashley Stark Kenner, Chad Stark and Heather Smith MacIsaac!


The sophisticated black and white room on the front cover of this book piqued my interest right from the start. Here is a sneak peek of some of the brilliantly decorated homes you will find inside this book!












Decorating With Carpets: A Fine Foundation is truly a gem! This visually delightful book demonstrates the importance of carpets in the world of interior design with amazing photographs of stunning rooms designed by of top designers such as Victoria Hagan, Bunny Williams, Steven Gambrel, Markham Roberts, Alexa Hampton, Jan Showers and more! Page after page of beautiful carpets and inspirational rooms, this fabulous volume shouldn't be missed. Highly recommended for every designer and design aficionados!

Don't forget to get your copy here!

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