BedNest Blog

We've been on the hunt for a new dining table for a while and for the first time are considering a bold (!) move to a round table. Now this change may not seem that earth-shattering or revolutionary to most, but it will totally change the look of our open-plan living-dining space and so for me (Mrs BedNest is not the most adventurous of souls) it is indeed a brave decision!

Here's my thinking...

1. Feel - a round table definitely creates a more casual feel. There's no "head of the table" and it's very conducive to conversation and chat. I would go as far as to say it can create a more intimate dining experience but with 3 small children that's not really something very high on the list.....

2. Look - in a room that is full of angles and straight lines a gorgeous curved table will be a total surprise and contrast and I do LOVE a surprise in any interior. Every room should have something a little unexpected...

3. Space - if you choose the right base and size you can pop a round table into any space and not feel so squishy. They also work with fewer chairs for every day (and a few extras for when guests come)

4. Grandeur - there's just something very grown-up  about a round dining table. I'm not talking formal here, still relaxed but they have a real presence and definitely  help mark out a separate dining "zone" in an open-plan area.

I do think it only works if you're after a relatively small table. If you've all the space in the world then, for me, nothing makes my heart sing more than an enormous long timber dining table. For now, for a Paddington terrace, I reckon round is the go!

Here are a few images that have helped me (nearly) get there. Very different looks but good food for thought...

All images from pinterest

Dusty, slightly greeny yellows are everywhere right now and we are LOVING how a shot of chartreuse can add a real wow factor to any room - especially a BedNest.

See how it livens up gorgeous dark, cozy bedrooms with a delicious, smokey pop of colour. All you need is a throw, blanket, cushion or even a painted side table or upholstered ottoman if you're feeling a bit braver.

Oh and of course, chartreuse is grey's best friend.....

All images from apartment therapy, atelier abigail ahern and Houzz

As you can probably tell from the BedNest photography, our logo and so many of the images I end up using and being drawn to, I'm a blues kind of girl. Anything from gorgeous, inky navy through to soft powdery sky blues tick my boxes - with a particular fondness for rich, tealy aquas and Delft or Wedgewood mid-blues.

But the one blue that ALWAYS makes me smile and brings something soft, uplifting and refreshing to a space? Duck egg blue....

Have a look...

Now I know that some of the blues above might not be strictly duck egg (if you're a purist) but they are there or there abouts and I'm sure you can see what I'm banging on about....

After a gentle, uplifting burst of colour - you can't go wrong!

All images from Pinterest & Apartment Therapy (except the last one which is our gorgeous Hampton bedhead!)

Black and white, stripes and scale - this rug has it all.

A long-time lover of oversized rugs, I have used the Stockholm Rand rug from Ikea in so many projects, for so many customers and in my own home and it always comes up trumps.

I keep noticing it in other shoots, mags, blogs and images - clearly a rug with "cult status"!

Want some instant, low cost impact in your BedNest - this rug's your answer!

Images from Houzz, charliesdesigndiary, imbusyprocrastinating

Yesterday I took a couple of hours out and popped in to the Decorate & Design show in Sydney. 

I have to say the show itself wasn't so amazing but the hour I spent listening to UK Interiors guru Abigail Ahern at her seminar on "Decorating with style" was utterly inspirational.

For several years now Abigail's individual, eclectic and refreshing approach to interiors and her absolute passion have made her daily blog update a wonderful and anticipated part of my day.

A big believer in not following rules, trends or pre-conceptions but instead trusting your instincts and sticking with a few little tricks, Abigail seeks to create spaces that are daringly different, very beautiful, utterly individual and personal and in her words "make your heart race".

Dark walls, wallpaper, layers, patterns and textures all with in a "reigned in" colour palette are all part of her style and I LOVE it!

Yesterday she shared some of her tricks, some great images to make us think differently and above all her genuine belief in the power of interiors to bring happiness to people's lives - it was fabulous to have the chance to listen, absorb and enjoy!

Sign up to her blog and you'll be on the inside too!

Abigail's own bedroom

Images from Abigail's Projects

Have you seen the work of the incredibly talented Swedish Photographer Anders Jungermark before?

Well - here's a sample... Just sublime...

Thanks so much Desire to Inspire for "introducing" me to him....

Yup, we admit it. It's so easy to work with white walls - we love this blank canvas as it gives us a chance to work with BedNesters to add colour or texture or pattern (or even all 3) with the fabrics we use on their bedhead, cushions etc.

We're also long-standing fans of a nice stoney neutral (NOT too yellow-based) - Hogs Bristle from Dulux we love.

Over the last year, however, we've been brave and bold and daring (well, by our standards) and working so much with grey walls. Not life-changingly different certainly, but that shift from "always light" so "sometimes dark" on a wall colour is not nearly as scary as it seems. Dark walls are NOT just for the northern hemisphere, libraries, studies and sheds - they can work so well in this beautiful sunny climate of ours and especially in a bedroom. What they create is a cozy, intimate space with instant personality and appeal and dark grey is definitely the way to go.

One of my utter gurus Abigail Ahern is THE guru on dark interiors and as she so brilliantly puts  it "go dark, cross over to the dark side, we promise way more fun and its pretty darn life changing!"

Here are a few images we love, both from bedrooms and other spaces - not all the greys are very dark but you get the picture....

Images 1,4,5 Desiretoinspire, Image 2 AbigailAhern, Image 3 Blueprintbliss

Hey BedNesters,

Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

We've got a great feeling about 2013 and hope it brings you all health, happiness, fun and plenty of down-time in a home you love.

Oh, and lots of playtime at the beach!

A couple of weeks ago we ran a competition on the fabulous blog Interiors Addict to win our gorgeous new Maddison bedhead below...

We were absolutely swamped in entries and Jen and I were delighted with how many truly inspiring bedroom images were sent into us.

Here's the winning entry...

.....on first glance it's a gorgeous image but maybe not the most inspiring, but have a look at the detail and you'll see the real beauty...The colour scheme, the combination of pretty/feminine and contemporary, the stunning feature wall, the clean lines of the furniture shapes with a real nod to tradition, that amazing parquet floor. SO inspiring in a very understated and elegant way.

Sign up to our newsletter and daily "pillow talk" update on Facebook to hear about more competitions and special offers..