Ruffles and frills

There is something almost decadent about frills and ruffles.  Picture a swishing ruffled underskirt of years gone by.  How feminine (sorry guys, if there any reading this that is).  I love the crisp cotton ruffles of my Anthropologie bedlinen.  This week I've found a few more items which are frilled and ruffled.  Unfortunately they are all from the US.  My favourite here has to be the monogrammed dish towels from The Pottery Barn (I do wish we had that in the UK!).  I feel a craft project coming on...

Creating the modern country 'look'

I've been very inspired by my time in LA, especially with all the beautiful stores and store fronts.  I love all the muted colours they use.  Similar to the Farrow & Ball colours in the UK.  I picked up a paint chart the other day thinking it was F & B, but it was in fact Martha Stewart.  Can't believe all the things she is involved in!

Anyway this week I'm having a look at the modern country look and how to create this.  When you look at the images below you will realise there is a common thread running through all these rooms and projects: simple walls, linen or natural fabrics for sofas/upholstery, colourful cushions/throws, fresh flowers.  Ok so you may not have double height ceilings, bare brick walls or open fires but you can create your own modern country look taking inspiration from these shots.  It's basically a plain back drop of walls, comfortable, cosy seating, layered up with throws, footstools and accessorised with pops of colour to bring the scheme to life.  Have a go, you may be surprised at what you can achieve relatively easily.......

Luxury bedrooms and nurseries for children

I've in LA this week and feel I must be getting broody (what a though as I'm way past that age!) as I keep being drawn to Children's furniture and accessories.  Maybe I should open up a Baby at ANGEL & BB??  As usual I have been mostly looking at pinks, sorry boys!  And my favourite shot here is the use of the pink/gold wallpaper in the bottom image.  A very sophisticated wallpaper used in a different way.  Just goes to show you don't need to go for a typically 'themed' child's nursery wallpaper.  It's actually better not to as you get much more life out of a 'non' nursery wallpaper.

The choice of stuff is amazing out here and I've some great ideas and inspiration for the shop to take back with me.  Watch this space ....

Lanterns and bird cages

This week in the shop I changed the window to a Mother's Day theme.  One of the things I did was put moss inside a large bird cage and 'plant' crocus bulbs in it; so effective.  I love using moss, it's such a great texture and colour.  So then that started me thinking what else I could do with lanterns and bird cages.  These things are so useful in decorating as you can change them seasonally and use them outdoors or indoors.  I love the idea of using fresh flowers and candles inside them and this would create such a romantic feel.

We have a good range of cages and lanterns in the shop, ranging from fab wall bird cages from Miss Etoile to rustic French lanterns with wall brackets.  I've chosen some of my favourite ways to use lanterns and cages.  See what you think, but really the possibilities are endless.

We need some sunshine in our lives!

I cannot believe it's been over two months since I last posted a blog.  Where on earth has the time gone??

I went to the Spring fair in Birmingham a couple of weeks ago and was very inspired by the use of yellow in home decorating.  I've bought a fair amount of yellow and black for Spring/Summer for the shop (www.angelandbb.co.uk).  Also some fab black dishes and plates lined in gold leaf, so rich and sumptuous.  I'm looking forward to changing the shop window and injecting some much needed sunshine into the grey weather we're having in Scotland at the moment!