ADDING PINK WITH PRINTS (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CUEMARS)

In a totally pregnant woman, cliche kind of way. Two weeks before my due date, and at the start of my maternity leave, I decided to NEST.  Well sort of. Our spare bedroom went from cluttered Monica cupboard, to room of my green dreams. I didn't even take before pictures as it was such a hell hole. A rail, piles of old unloved clothing, and a desk too big for such a small room that was covered in more unwanted clutter. Now its green, bright and airy and the clutter has vanished. And by vanished I mean I took it to the recycling centre/ charity shop. (Its not just hidden in a different room).  

But a room never feels finished until its got a little bit of art hanging on the walls to finish it off. (or leaning on walls- I'm big into leaning at the moment now I've had a baby and don't have time to get the hammer and nails out). Que Cuemars,  a contemporary homeware brand based in Hackney. 

It would seem I have a thing for flamingos and pink. It must be a sub conscious thing, as they somehow manage to pop up in almost every room in my house. I'm like a moth to a flame... or, a flamingo. 

This month I've teamed up with Cuemars to talk about their gorgeous A3 size nature inspired prints from their range of botanical greens to beautiful birds, all in a vintage feel. And obviously I chose their vintage flamingo print at £24 to add some more pink to these walls. 

Scroll down to see a selection of my favourites from their range, and if you fancy something for yourself, use discount code 'houseoflust' for 15% off their entire range. (Valid until the 10th July 2018).  

Bird- Flamingo print. £24 from Cuemars . Green paint by Valspar, colour Breathe Deeply. Brass Dexter light, M&S £199

Bird- Flamingo print. £24 from Cuemars . Green paint by Valspar, colour Breathe Deeply. Brass Dexter light, M&S £199

Bird- Flamingo print. £24 from Cuemars . Green paint by Valspar, colour Breathe Deeply. Black A2 frame with A3 mount is from John lewis £40

A selection of my favourite prints at Cuemars

Bird- Flamingo £24

Bird- Frigate £24

Bird – Great Marbled Godwit £24

Bird- Vintage Pelican print

Bird – Piping Flycatcher £24

Bird – Blue winged Yellow Warbler £24

Botanical Coco Illustration £24

Botanical Leaf Dracaena £24

Botanical Pineapple Yellow £24

Botanical Banana Flower Illustration £24

Botanical Leaf – Passion Flower £24

Botanical Date Palm Illustration £24

BRING SOME ART INTO YOUR KITCHEN WITH SARAH BODDY

As much as I love the latest fad trend, it’s also nice to add something more unique and individual into your home to mix up your style. Shopping online and on the high street can get pretty repetitive and samey if you don’t know where to look for newness, so it was so refreshing to be introduced to a brand I’d never heard of.  Today I want to introduce to you  Sarah Boddy.

Sarah has created a range of unique homeware from her own drawings, drawing inspiration on her Leicestershire country life surroundings, including her own flock of chickens. The range includes stationary, homeware essentials and even wall art inspired by the same collection of country animals which have been beautifully hand sketched.

The homeware collection includes oven gloves, aprons, tea towels, placemats, glass coasters, chopping boards, egg cups, glass worktop savers and cute teapots all designed with one of Sarah's trademark sketches.

My favourite sketch in the collection is the flamingo range. I've got the flamingo glass worktop saver which I keep on show over my oven when its not in use and it acts as a little piece of art in my kitchen, but I also love the bee collection . Now I’m guessing there aren’t many flamingos in Leicester but I blooming love a flamingo so this print definitely caught my eye since I love anything kitsch.

The prices at Sarah Boddy are certainly affordable; egg cups at £7, mugs at £11 and glass work top savers at £24. The perfect prices for gifting. It's a great website to grab some gifts for that friend who loves something a bit quirky.  I love that Sarah's designs are timeless and will fit with any kitchen style – not just your typical country/ shaker, although they would look pretty gorgeous in a country kitchen above an aga,  I also think they work well in industrial kitchens like mine. 

Here are my six top pics from Sarah Boddy. (Including my  flamingo worktop saver).

MY SIX TOP PICKS 

Flamingo glass worktop saver £24

Bee Tea pot £26

Stag egg cup £7

Flamingo oven gloves £18

Crab mug £11

Owl stoneware jug £16

This sponsored post was in conjunction with the lovely people at Sarah Boddy. I would never consider promoting a product that I didn't love and wouldn't have in my own home.

INNOVATIVE DESIGN WITH BE & LIV

And just like that it was 2018! Happy new year folks! Is it too late to say it on the 3rd January? oh god I said it anyways.  Has anyone made any new year’s resolutions or better yet, broken any?

Mine for 2018 is to definitely blog more. I’ve been a bit AWOL recently. It’s a long story and I’m sure I will write about it soon in more depth, but two big things have been happening recently. The first was a major renovation project in our loft. Ok, so those who have or haven’t had their lofts converted are all shouting.. that’s not major! But, I can’t even begin to talk about the stress and mess, not to mention the wrecking of what was a perfectly nicely decorated two bed terrace house, which has now become a slightly chaotic four bed terrace. Whoop whoop!

The second thing is that I’m pregnant! I will talk about this more another time I promise, and I’m not using it as an excuse but I’ve been blooming knackered and poorly and in the early days of my pregnancy my work decided to send me to seven different countries, so when I wasn’t on a plane I just wanted to curl up on the sofa or in my bed.

But now, lucky for you guys, I’m pretty much grounded (well not quite as I'm only 23 weeks preggers), but I certainly won’t be travelling for anything work related for a while so hello House lust.. I’m back!

Let’s get 2018 off to a corker with me talking about an old favourite of mine; Be and Liv. You might remember me talking about Be & Liv last year and their funky Finnish designed cake stand- see link.

My new favourite of there's is the Blossom light. A bendy brass work of art, this beauty comes flat packed so you can enjoy the assembly as part of the experience.

Plus, you can hang it from the ceiling or use it as a side lamp it’s that versatile. Either way you still get that warm glow from the fine laser cut perforated holes in the bendy metal frame work. And did I mention how easy and most importantly fun it was to assemble? Just see my pics below. I’m rubbish with flat packed furniture, but this has been so well-crafted assembly is a breeze when everything just slots together perfectly.

At €249 the Blossom lamp is worth its price tag to have something so unique and quirky, yet still feel substantial in its weighty metal frame.

My gorgeous blossom lamp is currently sat in my lounge on my marble top side table, reflecting perfectly against my dark walls.  I have big plans for this little lamp in 2018 to cosy up our new loft space. Plus, with an Edison light bulb you can really get that warm glow that’s really needed at this time of year. It's a new design classic of the modern age. 

How do you get that cosy warm glow at this time of year?

Here's how to assemble.. as shown by Be & Liv. 

To buy your own Be & Liv Blossom lamp- click on the link below.

BE & LIV - GOLD BLOSSOM LIGHT

BE & LIV- GOLD BLOSSOM LIGHT