Wardrobes | Ideas & Inspiration

Once a luxury, it seems to be standard practice these days for a master bedroom to include an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, and from the start we knew we wanted both in our new home. As with all the bathrooms, the ensuite had my attention from the start, and we made decisions regarding colours and tiles etc very early on. Addressing the walk-in wardrobe on the other hand came up very late in the game, and as such we've kept things simple in terms of layout and design. Using local company Boston Wardrobes, we ended up choosing a basic setup of shelves and rails, and figure we can add to this down the track as necessary. 

Like many women, I love fashion and have 'Carrie' moments where I dream of having a fabulously huge dressing room with rows and rows of shoes and bags and racks of beautiful clothes. Those of you who watched Sex & the City will know what I mean. But in actual fact, the image above really appeals. I love the minimalist orderly style, and the fact that it is both spacious yet cosy. I'd be quite happy to escape there with a book! Although our little walk-in will be modest in comparison, that's okay, because what I ultimately want is a functional space free from clutter, where everything has its place. With that in mind, I thought I'd do a bit of research and think about how I might like my dream wardrobe to look.

Firstly I turned to the fabulous US-based company, California Closets, who have been in operation for over thirty years, and are experts in the field of custom designed and installed storage. If they are in your neck of the woods, then I would definitely recommend calling on them. If not, the site itself offers loads of tips, advice and inspiration. Below is an example of the fantastic work they do. Experts in closet design, find out more here. 

California Closets can help you with any area of your home that requires great storage facilities, including the office, entryway and even the pantry. They also create the ultimate entertainment center, and with today's challenge of organising our DVD players, gaming consoles, cable/satellite boxes, DVRs, flat-panel TVs and the miles of cables that connect them all, I think most of us could do with some assistance!

Of course I also want the kids wardrobes in our new home to be well organised and clutter free. I love this gorgeous nursery wardrobe... 

And here are another couple of stylish walk-ins....

I love the feminine touches here...

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To finish off, I've put together ten ideas for creating a lovely walk-in wardrobe. In particular, I'm coveting numbers 01 & 10 from the Douglas and Bec for Kate Sylvester range. I've already got some Muuto The Dots in oak for the entrance way, but the pretty rose colour (06) has just been released, and with so many colours to choose from, I'm not sure I'm done at just one set! I definitely need some nice coat hangers (04 & 05), the bird lamp (03) is simply divine, and the rest is all about stylish storage, which of course is a must!

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01 Folding Brass Stool 1.0 by Douglas and Bec for Kate Sylvester

02 Plastic Weave Storage Baskets from Citta Design

03 Areti Aloutte Wall Lamp from Nest

04 Cardboard Hanger set of 4 in black and white from Ferm Living

05 Couture Hanger Pack of 5 in white from Freedom Furniture

06 Muuto The Dots in Rose from In A Designer Home

07 Paterson Large Fabric Drawer from Freedom Furniture

08 Storage Sack by Varpunen from The Minimalist

09 Two-Tone Felt Storage Set from Citta Design

10 All Oak Mirror by Douglas and Bec for Kate Sylvester

Heavenly Hallways

I have a real soft spot for hallways. Traditionally seen in older homes, especially villas, to me they speak of character and charm. Often located at the entrance they provide a place for hooks and console tables, but depending on the size, they can almost lend themselves to being an extra room to style. I'm so pleased our new home has an entrance hallway. It's not big, but I'm looking forward to decorating it. Here are some hallways that I'm loving right now. 

Bright and white with pale wooden floors and splashes of greenery. Perfection! 

I love gallery hallways. This one has a stunning mix of framed photographs and art, both wall mounted and on display shelves. The herringbone floor and gorgeous cushions add texture and warmth to the pristine white canvas. 

White punctuated by a row of black wall lamps and herringbone flooring, this intriguing hallway has a lovely, serene quality. 

Once again the striped rug comes in to play, this time as a striking hallway runner. 

Here's an example of a modern, architecturally designed house with an incredible hallway. The blackboard wall is a great idea for a family home. 

This character hallway features a remarkable dome ceiling, a simple console table, framed pictures and plants. 

The extra wide Dinesen floorboards I featured here work beautifully in this spacious foyer-style hallway.



A rustic bench, glass jars and vintage touches make this light-filled hallway so pretty and textural.

Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Blog Love | Nordic Leaves

When I came across Nordic Leaves a couple of weeks back I felt like I'd struck gold. The beautiful interior design blog is written by Edina Sæther whose style and design aesthetic immediately struck a chord with me. As with many of the bloggers I write about here, Edina shares her own photography and home along with other inspiring design, art, fashion and foodie finds. I would say that her mission to make her blog "a magical place for dreams and inspiration" has definitely been accomplished!

Edina's signature Nordic style is evident throughout her stunning home and I've picked out some of my favourite areas to show you. In her office she favours black and white, splashes of colour (particularly yellow which she says she never tires of) and copper or brass. Although Edina is a self-confessed minimalist at heart, she likes having her favourite things on display which is why the String Shelving System works so well. Accessories from Hay, a Stendig Calendar and Eames House Bird from Vitra (who she lovingly refers to as Mr Birdie) are just some of the gorgeous homewares I'm coveting right now.

In fact I'm not kidding when I say that looking through Nordic Leaves is like looking at my own personal wishlist! The Etch candle holder by Tom Dixon is incredible. Available in brass, copper and silver, even just one would be lovely! They also make great pencil holders, don't you think?

More Tom Dixon magic with the Beat lights in the kitchen. I like how Edina mixes Ikea basics like the black picture frames with designer pieces like the Kartell Masters Chairs. There's a bit more colour here thanks to the gorgeous Smeg Fridge, fresh flowers, bright recipe books and a set of Pantone Mugs. 

Even Edina's baking and food styling is impeccable! 

The living room is bathed in light. A mustard coloured cushion adds a nice contrast to the grey and white furniture. I love the Gubi Floor Lamp, Eames Rocker and homemade pouffe. If you are thinking of painting your floors white, you'll find some great advice from Edina who is somewhat of an expert after painting hers twice in less than two years! Take a look here. 

The entry way is another gorgeous spot where Edina has added her own personal touch by decorating the front door with Ferm Living wall decals. She also painted four Ikea boxes and mounted them to the wall (with the help of her hubby) providing a great place to display her treasures. 

I feel like de-cluttering, painting my floors white and indulging in some retail therapy now. How about you? So much beautiful inspiration and the good news is Edina plans on taking more photos this year, so make sure you pop over to Nordic Leaves and follow along.  

Images with permission, via www.nordicleaves.com 

Entryways | Ten Ideas

The entryway is such an important part of your home because it's the first place visitors see when they walk through the door. Having a functional, uncluttered space will not only make a great first impression, it will make your life easier and more manageable. There's nothing worse than tripping over kids toys when you step inside, or not being able to find the car keys/umbrella/dog leash as you are rushing out the door!

Depending on what pushes your buttons, whether it be clever storage or eye-catching decor, this list should give you some great ideas. 

One | Storage

If you have a large family or want to be super organised, then a storage cabinet like this is the way to go. DIY hooks are great for hanging coats and bags and cubby holes hold storage baskets, which you can personalise with name tags. There's even room for sporting equipment and the dog leash. Pull out drawers at the bottom provide extra space for stashing keys, mail... anything really! 

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Two | Message Board

Put a message board on the wall or up against a side table to stick coupons, tickets, notes or outgoing mail. This is a great way to ensure you don't forget the important things!

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Three | Pendant Lights

Pendant lights make a big impact visually. Entrance hallways with high ceilings look great with two or three in a row.

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Four | Keep it Simple

I love this understated look. Beautiful styling by one of my favourite stylists and blogger Annaleena Leino, using basic nails as hooks.

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Five | Rug + Clothes Rack

An eye-catching rug like this one is very welcoming as well as being practical, and a free standing clothes rack provides a great place to hang coats.

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Six | Feature Wall + Chair

Add personality to you entryway by painting the walls in a bright colour, bold stripes or choose a graphic wallpaper. If you love chairs, like I do, then why not place one by the front door?

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Seven | Stairs for Storage

If you have stairs leading up (or down) from your entryway, storage baskets on the steps are a good place for bits and bobs. Oh, and you can never go wrong with a design classic like this Eames Hang it all! 

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Eight | Hooks + Umbrellas  

These pastel hooks are so pretty! I love the aesthetics of placing them at different heights and it's practical too - the kiddies can reach their things! I also love the wire storage basket. Perfect for umbrellas. 

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Nine | Mirror + Side Table

Not only do mirrors look great, you can check your appearance before you run out the door! I love the effect of this circle mirror against the striped wall. A side table is great for displaying lovely things like photos or a lamp. It's also handy for a phone and/or message pad and pen.

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Ten | Bench Seat + Art 

Abench seat is also really handy for an entryway, not only as a home for your things but as a place for putting on shoes. A lovely piece of art will create a warm and inviting space. The owners of this LA home are photographers Lou Mora and Sarah Yates. Such impeccable styling! 

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I hope that you've seen something here that inspires you. If anyone has any other ideas for a great entryway, please do share. I'd love to hear from you!