Monday Inspiration: Beautiful Rooms

It is now about six weeks since I founded Design Storey Shop, the idea being that I would “edit” the internet for you to find you the best of each item to save you time scrolling through endless pages of tat to try and get to the good stuff before it a) sold out or b) you lost the will to live trying to find it. For those of you who have yet to explore it The Irish Examiner wrote a piece this weekend and you can also sign up to the weekly newsletter which has design tips, reader offers and flags up the new arrivals and trends.

Now there are lots of products to see (each collection is capped at 50 items – 10 items per page, five pages in total) and each one comes with an explanation as to why you might want it and where you might use it but I have had to admit defeat (for the moment… give me time) when it comes to surface coverings like tiles and wallpaper. There are just too many and it’s just too personal. But that is where the blog comes in. And I have to say that this week, I have felt inspired to go shopping and redecorate in a way I haven’t for a while. Perhaps it’s the end of lockdown and the 17yo being out at school all day for the first time in months. Perhaps it’s the fact that I got up at 6.30am to make sure he got there (for the first time in months) but there is something about his collection of fabrics and decor that has really appealed this week. Do let me know what you think. Remember also they are real homes so be polite. We kicked up quite a storm with Friday’s staircase didn’t we! I had the same thought about building regs as I was posting it and I knew you would also see it.

But back to today, the recent gingham post had a mixed response but I rather love this cosy dining corner of this Swedish flat, which is on the market with Historiska Hem (as always the links in the caption will take you there). I couldn’t find an exact match for the tablecloth but I did find this from Dunelm.  There are lots of gingham tablecloths around but if this is the colour you fancy it’s proving slightly tricker. If you want to make your own there is Etsy, as well as here. It seems to be known as gold rather than tan, which is a little cooler and browner- last one here.

I also rather love the curves of the sofa above and, in particular the unusual blue wall colour which contrasts and yet tones so prettily. It’s so hard to look for fabric I find. I have almost limitless patience for hunting down chairs and lamps and tables but when I need fabric the overwhelm comes fast.

Now what do you think about these tiles? Again there are hundreds of designs to choose from and I am very definitely moving away from encaustic which has dominated the bathrooms of instagram and pinterest for several years now. These are so pretty and while they are black and white, and secretly I would like chocolate and ivory, you could add dark wood vintage furniture, cream walls and towels and the overall effect would be similar as it’s a very soft black and not a brilliant white.

More gorgeous tiles here and this is a style that is gaining ground – large geometric shapes that can be laid in a myriad of different ways to create the pattern you want. This is the soft brown and cream I was looking for above and you can see how it looks beautiful with the wooden vanity unit and cane chair – not that many of us have room for a chair in the middle of the room like that.

And finally, wallpaper. Again, so many to choose from, but these bold wide stripes stopped me in my scrolling tracks. And, as designer Karen Knox said it’s been on her list for the last three years waiting for the right client. It also comes, to bring us back neatly to the beginning in a mustard and off-white version – so you can sit it with your gingham tablecloth in a pattern clashing, colour-toning kind of way. It comes in thin lines too if you prefer. Or you could mix the two… Now I must be off I’ve some blank walls to ponder….