Little Big Bell

24 Sep

My Autumn bedroom for cosy days in with The White Company

My Autumn bedroom for cosy days in with The White Company

Summer is always full of busy months, so there’s lots of rushing around, and finishing tasks, before our long family holiday away.

I must admit, as much as I love Summer, I do welcome and take comfort from Autumn.

It’s almost as if the shorter days and cooler temperatures are giving me permission to slow down.

To kickstart my slow living, I’ve decided to transform my bedroom into a cosy and inviting space.

My Autumn bedroom will be perfect for weekend lie-ins, breakfasts in bed and lounging in pyjamas all day. I’ve turned to The White Company’s new Autumn bedroom collection to create my desired comfortable, and indulgent bedroom.

As the plan was to stay in bed, getting the bed linen right was key, something soft to cocoon into.

I picked the Symons bed linen in Egyptian cotton sateen,with a very high thread count of 1000, hence it was super soft and luxurious feel. I could have snuggled there in bed all day. I added warmth and texture to the bed linen with a grey chunky knit lambswool bed throw and matching cushions from the Blakeney collection. Can you tell that the patterns on the throw have been inspired by a traditional Winter jumper? For added warmth on Winter nights, you could layer on this faux fur throw and pillows in Fig, also from the White Company. I’ve used it temporarily to cover over a sofa footstool, for a cosy little corner to sit and read.

I’ve selected a lace trim pyjamas set to lounge in. Look at the pretty lace effect at the sleeves. All the ingredients for a perfect weekend in bed have therefore been put in place. This super soft natural velour robe is the perfect ‘stay at home’ house coat, for wandering around the house. I’ve paired the pyjamas with toasty warm cashmere socks. Last but not least, I always like to light a scented candle to create that sense of atmosphere.

This Wild Rhubarb candle, inspired by crisp Autumnal walks, with notes of freesia buds, plum blossoms, juicy red apples and ripe rhubarb, was the perfect finishing touch to an Autumn vibe at home. What do you think of my Autumn bedroom? I’m so pleased with my finds. Off to enjoy some breakfast in bed now in my Autumn bedroom.

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

23 Sep

Styling for London Design Festival 2017 with String shelving and Skandium.

Styling for London Design Festival 2017 with String shelving and Skandium.

I have always been passionate about interiors and decor. I’m a bit of a shopper when it comes to beautiful accessories for the home.

For more than 10 years, I have always shopped at Skandium. It’s my all time favourite place for colourful and Scandinavian home accessories.

If you scroll through my Instagram feed, then the proof is in the pudding, as you will see that many of my photos and props used in styling are from Skandium’s mainstay collection.

I have a huge collection of Marimekko mugs, Moomin plates, ittala dinnerware, Alexander Girard dolls and many more.

When Skandium asked if I wanted to style a String shelving unit for London Design Festival this year, it was an immediate yes.

In fact, I already have String shelving units at home. I am looking towards getting a larger one for my son’s room. Let me tell you a secret. You know how some people unwind with wine or a hot bath? Well, I actually unwind by restyling my shelves at home.

My husband thinks it’s crazy, but it’s not an uncommon sight with me on a chair, redecorating my shelves at night. It’s funny because when I look at my completed styling of this String shelving unit, I can honestly say that I already own more than 80% of what I have used. When I showed the kids, they said it looked like home. If you are near the South Kensington area, or planning a visit to the V&A museum for London Design festival, then do pop in to Skandium’s large new store on Thurloe Place to see the shelf.

I think it’ll only be up till tomorrow 24th September 2017. If you do go, I’d love you to take a snap for me to see on Instagram. Oh, and whilst you’re in the area, don’t forget to pop into Maitre Choux for their most delectable eclairs. They’re very Instagramable too.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

( All styling and photography are by Geraldine Tan, editor of Little Big Bell. This is a sponsored collaboration with Skandium. All views are my own).

22 Sep

The MINI LIVING URBAN CABIN for London Design Festival 2017.

The MINI LIVING URBAN CABIN for London Design Festival 2017.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the MINI LIVING Eco concept home called the URBAN CABIN, at the OXO Tower Wharf’s courtyard, in London’s Southbank.

Following my previous trip to Milan, to see MINI Living’s ‘Breathe’ installation, another small space living concept , I was excited to see their new project this year, being unveiled at the London Design festival. MINI LIVING is a long term project by MINI that explores the different concepts of shared living, in an era of ever increasing urbanisation and housing space shortage.

The project aimed to explore a more ‘conscious’ way of living, by reducing our personal carbon footprint, but staying true to design. This year MINI had designed a 15 square metre URBAN CABIN in a fine Copper casing. They have partnered with local architect Sam Jacob studio for a touch of London character to the space.

Sam Jacob studio had added two modules to the cabin, the first of which, is a shared kitchen to symbolise the importance of food markets in a modern culture.

You can see the dining table that extends outwards from the internal kitchen in the photo above. Here’s a view from outside in. The table is multi functional and will easily accommodate a gathering of people for a shared meal. I got to enjoy a cold coffee press workshop by Sandows at the Cabin’s kitchen table last weekend. I’ve never considered drinking cold brew coffee, and now I’m a convert. Around the kitchen space is a shelving unit with a little display of small space living essentials. Here it is again, captured in a mirror on the opposite wall. The second add on by Sam Jacobs studio to the URBAN CABIN, is this structure called the Stack, which internally houses a micro library. The design was a response to the closure of many of England’s public libraries in an era of digitalisation. The Stack resembled a pile of books, and was made of many different materials, ranging from Terazzo, foam and acrylic. This is the internal micro library, filled with books of a London theme.

For the duration of the London Design festival, you can bring a book to swop for another at the shelf.

I have added my all time favourite romantic novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ into the mix. I love this large louvre window of the URBAN CABIN, as it gave that feeling of continuity from inside to the external world. So how do you feel? Is this concept of small space living for you? I think it’s a brilliant, with lots of elements that can be extracted for future homes.

The URBAN CABIN will be up until Sunday 24/09/17, so catch it whilst you can. The installation will be travelling next to New York, where a new local add on design will transform the space.

( All photography are by Geraldine Tan, editor of Little Big Bell. This post is a sponsored collaboration with MINI. All views and opinions are my own.)

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