honestly? i’m not a wallpaper person. painted walls are more my kind of thing, but i am starting to crave the atmosphere that a wallpaper creates in a room as the days are getting colder, so deciding to take part in national wallpaper week might just change my mind about it.

focusing on the theme, myself and the other half don’t have a huge social itinerary on sundays. it typically consists of cat snuggles, cleaning, comfort food and a glass of gin before preparing for the week ahead. until project annex is complete, we simply don’t have the space to have friends over, so one thing we would love to eventually have is a bar area to home our (many) bottles of gin and throw a little gathering.

alcohol and interiors, pure heaven! take a look at this moodboard for inspiration…

i’ve opted for the simple texture wallpaper ‘rhapsody charcoal’ from the graham & brown superfresco easy range to channel a moody vibe. the not-quite-black finish of this wallpaper is the perfect palette for almost any interior style. i’ve pushed for a little feminine edge by accenting with rose gold/copper barware, a playful handlettered piece of art and washed out flowers.

1 – graham & brown rhapsody charcoal wallpaper
2 – glass portrait zinc frame from john lewis
3 – ‘smile, there’s gin’ print from society6
4 – faux peony flower arrangement from john lewis
5 – rose gold cocktail strainer from drinkstuff
6 – rose gold jigger measure from drinkstuff
7 – rose gold boston cocktail shaker from drinkstuff
8 – birch wood paper straws from confetti shop
9 – crystal skull head vodka from 31dover
10 – hendricks gin from waitrose
11 – copper geometric hexagonal tray from H&M
12 – ‘good things to drink’ book by mr lyan and friends
13 – three tier iron drinks trolley from out there interiors
14 – stemless wine glasses by dartington glassware

this post was a collaboration with graham & brown. you can see previous days from national wallpaper week by following the hashtag: #nationalwallpaperweek

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no matter how big or small your space, creating a cosy garden is simple. whether you want to snug up with your partner, have friends over for a bbq or just spend time being at one with nature, here are a few elements to consider to make your space work:

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create an ambience
drape festoon lights from your fences to create a statement over your eating area. these solar powered lights from festive lights automatically turn themselves on when it starts getting dark, how cool is that?

if you prefer something less formal, set up clusters of oversized lanterns filled with candles to create a romantic vibe. tealights inside of empty jam jars work just as great, too!

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get comfortable
what better feeling than the fabric of a hammock hugging you whilst you gently rock in the breeze? i have fallen completely in love with this elegant crochet hammock from wayfair, now i just need to find some trees!

pouffes, cushions and blankets are a great alternative to clunky outdoor furniture. they’re super comfortable, easy to store and perfect for a scattering around the fire.

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grow a jungle
there are no rules when it comes to plants – these little things deserve pride of place in everyones garden!

mix and match different sized planters to create texture and visual interest. use plants like lavender to make for a beautiful bee jungle, alongside rosemary and thyme for a garden you can use in your cooking.

hanging plants and suspending them from your fence, walls and trees creates playful focal points at every level. using your vertical space is ideal for smaller gardens, preserving the valuable floor space.

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just a slither of inspiration; good design, nicely styled interior, words to live by, motivating ballet legs, witch-esque shoes and a gorgeous fluffy cat. all beautiful and found on my pinterest.

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i wrongly assumed that knitting was a granny thing to do. as it’s always seemed a traditional hobby for older women, it had never passed me as something that i should do. now i’m lusting over a chunky knit jumper and super chunky blankets every winter, it has made me question; why shouldn’t i start knitting?

still greatly in the mindset of ‘granny knitting’ when trying to research, i suddenly remembered all the beautiful pieces that fashion designers have produced over the years. so i’ve gathered myself some knitting inspiration more suited to my taste! some of the designers pictured above include: maison martin margiela, alexander wang, nanna van blaaderen, eleanor amoroso, sandra backlund, derek lawlor, sunghee bang, julie eilenberger and irina shaposhnikova.

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fashion graduate amy davidson, recently won the mulberry accessories award for graduate fashion week. the winning collection is based on her travels to french cathedrals, where she was drawn to the intricacy and detail of the buildings and ceilings surrounding her. what initially pulled me in about her designs was the delicate detail and pattern, the strong gothic theme and the level of patience it must have taken to produce; but secondly that she’s from my local city of manchester. it makes me feel very proud to associate with somebody with such skill and a keen eye for beautiful design. i’m very much looking forward to seeing more of amy’s work and wish her the very best of luck for her future in fashion, she is very inspirational.

you can follow amy on twitter, and keep up to date with her website.

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