DIY Decor Projects

The school holidays are drawing to an end - phew! I often post DIY projects that you can do with/for your kids over the holidays, but I've found a few super cute decor projects that you might want to try when you have a quiet, child-free moment.

As you know, animal print is very popular at the moment, and I've seen some gorgeous leopard print wallpaper around. If you're the creative type you will be a whizz at painting your own spots with the help of a stencil and a steady hand. It will be time consuming, but the end result is pretty amazing.

Perhaps you're a dab hand with a needle and thread, then this gorgeous tassel blanket will be easy for you to create.

You can find many amazing Ikea-hack projects online and this Mr. Moon lamp is one of my favourites.

Mr. Moon's face has been borrowed from the print by Martin Krusche and hand painted onto an Ikea Fado table lamp. What a sweet little bedside light it makes.

Another simple and very effective Ikea-hack is this little reading corner. Use Ikea shelves to form the bench seat with built-in storage, and top with your choice of cushioning. A piece of foam cut to size with a brightly coloured cover would be ideal.

Do any of these projects inspire you to get creating, if so, which one? I think I'm going to try the Mr. Moon lamp for the twins' room.

ima-koko | Live and Love for the Moment

One of the perks of my job as a blogger is getting beautiful products sent to me, and I was thrilled with the package that arrived recently from ima-koko. They're a New Zealand based wholesale company supplying retailers with Japanese designed homeware products. Their motto is to "live and love for the moment" with your loved ones and loved products.

The Soil products are simple, beautiful, and practical. Made from natural materials (Diatomaceous Earth), they have the unique ability to absorb moisture, keeping their base surface clean and dry. I have the Dispenser Tray, Soap Dish, and the Toothbrush Stand. I've styled them in a different way so you can see how versatile they are.

You'll find a fabulous selection of products on the ima-koko website, all with the signature Japanese design style consisting of simplicity, purity and integrity. My girls love their Pitacoro Magnets, which are like tiny coloured rocks; and their cute little Lumibaby lets off a lovely, soft glow when you push his tummy, making a perfect night light.

Because they are a wholesale company, ima-koko don't sell directly to the public. But if you want to know where to buy any of the products on their website, or would like to stock them in your shop, drop them an email today.

Why It Works

Pinterest is an important tool for me and my work, and it's a great source of inspiration. When I come across an image I love, I pin it to one of my boards, and I also often share it on my Facebook page. Today I have chosen a few random, beautiful images with the purpose of explaining to you why I like them, and why they work...

I'm drawn to strong, graphic elements, and this large painted "N" is a fantastic alternative to a smaller wooden or metal letter representing your child's name. If you have a statement piece of furniture, artwork or element in your room, give it maximum impact by keeping the surrounding elements simple and pared-back. Your eye will be drawn to the "hero" piece and will not be fighting with things around it.

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Likewise in this room, the colour palette is quiet and subtle, allowing the framed photography to shine. When it comes to artwork, bigger is better, in my eyes.

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There are always exceptions to the rule, though. In this image the wall sconce and small framed print work beautifully together. The wall sconce does it's job to light the room, and the artwork helps to anchor the light so it doesn't just 'float' on the wall. As well as lighting the room the sconce also highlights the artwork.

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This artwork is anchored by the furniture below. The three pieces enhance each other and work together to form a triangle that keeps your eye moving comfortably around. This is one of my most favourite little settings, I love everything about it from the arrangement, to the pattern and colour, and the pieces themselves. No surprise that I love it when it's from the home of my favourite artist, Miranda Skoczek.

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I love to find solutions for decorating small nooks, you can find one each month in Your Home & Garden's "Nook of the Month". This little dining nook is perfect for when you don't have a big space. Having a built-in bench seat means you can push the table up close to the wall, and it also serves as a lovely spot for relaxing. The large mirror is a trusty tool for creating the illusion of more space, and here it also reflects more light into the room providing a lovely airy feel.

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It's no secret I love round tables. They're not right for every room, but they are great when your dining area is open plan and a thoroughfare through to other areas of your home. The nature of the circle means it's easier to move around it.

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I'll be bringing you more of these "Why It Works" posts. If you have any interior questions feel free to email them to me, and I may be able to address them in one of these posts.

Tutti Frutti

Do you remember when owls were everywhere you turned? And deer are still very popular, thanks to the Scandi look so many love. Recently I've noticed an abundance of watermelon accessories, and I must say, they are super cute.

watermelon lamp | watermelon felt rug | art print | nutcase helmet | watermelon pillow
pastel watermelon pillow | melon mania pillowcase | watermelon beanie

Quiet Seaside Cottage

Once a fisherman's cottage, this beautiful home in Denmark, north of Copenhagen, now belongs to a journalist, Helen, and her son Lauritz. Helen has used my favourite 'quiet' colour palette of white, grey, wood, and soft blue, which reflects their surroundings beautifully, to create a tranquil haven perfect for writing.

It's lovely to see a David Trubridge light looking stunning over the dining table. I love how the fire place is slightly off centre from the chimney (I like it when things aren't too perfect and symmetrical).

A gorgeous piece of rustic wood makes a fabulous shelf bracket. The home has a strong Asian influence which adds to the simple, zen quality it has.

Simple, honest materials are used throughout, and the bathroom is a perfect example of this, with it's concrete basin set on a rustic metal and wood vanity.

This tiny bedroom cleverly places drawers under the bed to save on room. Set up so high, it feels really cosy. Plenty of natural light, white walls, and very simple decorating makes it feel more spacious than it is.

Another bedroom makes great use of the awkward sloping walls by installing a very cool handmade wardrobe system. The wood wallpaper continues the earthy, natural theme.

via planete-deco via bolig magasinet

Such a beautiful, humble home. Do you have a favourite feature?

A Touch of Gold | Three Ways

I love gold! The smallest addition can make the biggest impact. The emerald green wall below is stunning, but add the gold mirror and it takes it to a whole new level.

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A painted front door is a lovely welcome, but a gold painted front door is extra special!

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I love a touch of gold in the wardrobe. I've just bought these boots, and they are my new faves. I love the style and the length, but it was the gold details that sold me on them.

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Here are a few more ways you can bring some gold into your home and life...

Adore book | Harriet sandal | triangle pendant | Moroccan pouf
Tilly clutch | petite gold cutlery | hammered candle

Bibby + Brady Loos | Part 2 + Giveaway

Yesterday I featured Dael's new loo on the blog, and today I'm going to show you mine. You may remember our recent bathroom renovation, well the loo is right next door and we used the same floor tiles to link the two rooms. I also wanted to carry on the coastal, beachy vibe - waves in the bathroom, palm trees in the toilet. We've got some great beaches here in Hawke's Bay, Napier is lined with palm trees, and I have a beach-loving family, so it seemed appropriate. Our wallpaper is Coconut Grove in emerald from Wall Candy Wallpaper.

Something (or someone) else we're proud to lay claim to in Hawke's Bay is David Trubridge and his internationally acclaimed lights. I chose his Kina design in white, as I felt the beautiful organic shape worked well in amongst the palm trees. It wouldn't be a room of mine without my signature touch of hot pink!

We added a Mocka floating shelf above the toilet, which fits perfectly on the back wall. It's a great way to add a few of my favourite things.

Speaking of favourite things... I love my collection of Ahoy Trader soaps from Republic Home. They look and smell gorgeous, made with essential oils, the fragrances include coconut, pink grapefruit, pineapple, peach, and basil, lime & mandarin.

Now, exciting news... one of you is going to WIN a set of Ahoy Trader soaps identical to mine. To enter the draw simple join the Republic Home mailing list and email me to let me know you've done so. You'll get an extra entry for 'liking' Republic Home on Facebook, following them on Instagram, and also 'liking' this blog post on my Facebook page (let me know which of these you've done in your email). I will randomly draw a winner next Friday 29th August, the winner will be notified by email and announced on Facebook - good luck.
Competition only open to New Zealanders.

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, HAYLEY WILKINSON.