Christmas wishes from Decorator’s Notebook x

{via Jill Clark}

May your days be merry and bright!

All my love for a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic 2013

DN xxx

Print & Pattern

I don’t think I’ve ever grown out of that ‘back to school’ feeling so I usually try and sign up to an evening class at this time of year to keep my brain cells ticking over and my creativity alive as the nights draw in.

This year I’m doing a beginner’s class in silkscreen printing at Morley College in Lambeth. We’re starting off with basic stencil prints so for my homework I’ve been gathering simple patterns for inspiration.

{Diamond Dogs / Clouds and Bolts / Leaves}

{Feathers / Trees and Birds / Glasses / Blue Clouds}

{Circles / Chevrons / Coffee Beans}

I could go on and on – there are so many talented printmakers out there. Not sure how far I’ll be able to get in twelve weeks but I’m hoping the learning curve will be a fun one! I’ll be sure to share the results with you.

Swedish summer textiles by Gudrun Sjoden

When I think about Scandinavian style, the first thing that pops into my head is white. Simple white wood houses, chalky accessories and a few natural touches. Not the dazzling array of colours and patterns offered by Swedish textile designer, Gudrun Sjödén.

Gudrun has been designing fabrics for clothing and homes for over 35 years, but they’ve only just become available here… I went along to the launch of the very first British shop on Monmouth Street last week and you’ll also be able to order online or through the very beautiful printed catalogue. The shop itself is a bit Anthropologie-esque with fashion and homeware displayed together in colour co-ordinated groups, with plants, flowers and vintage artifacts nestled amongst them.

Nature (especially Gudren’s gorgeous garden) is a major source of inspiration, and bright flowers, birds and fruits and vegetables feature heavily. As well as home accessories there are ready-made curtains and metre fabric too in case you fancy whipping up your own designs.

{all Gudrun Sjödén}

Next time you’re in Covent Garden it’s well worth popping into the new shop – in the meantime, have a flick through Gudrun’s beautiful summer sketchbook to find out how the designs came about.

Are these bold and bright patterns to your taste and how do you think British shoppers will take to them?

O is for Ombre

You might not know it by this name, but you’ll certainly have noticed this trend. Also referred to as dip-dye or graduated colour, ‘ombre’ has found its way into everything from fashion and flowers to fabrics and food.

Here are a few of my favourite pins… I hope you find them inspiring too.

{Apartment Therapy via Pinterest}

{Design Sponge via Pinterest}

{Etsy via Pinterest}

{Glorious Treats via Pinterest}

{Lace and Likes via Pinterest}

I really love this trend – it’s pretty and feminine without feeling too fussy. Have a lovely long weekend everyone and see you again on the other side of Easter!

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You might also like these posts:

E is for Ephemera

Gorgeous Indian summer colours

And don’t forget you can follow Decorator’s Notebook on Pinterest too for daily snippets of inspiration

Join The Room Debate!

Welcome back to the Decorator’s Notebook Room Debate. I have something that might be a little controversial for our perusal today.

As always, it’s easy to take part. Just have a good look at the room photo below and leave a comment with your answers to these two questions:

One thing I like most about this room is…

One thing I like least about this room is…

{via Habitually Chic}

I’ve started things off in the comments below… can’t wait to hear what you think of this one!

Have a lovely weekend.

Coloured internal doors. Now there’s a thought.

Checking your incoming links and finding you’ve been added to someone’s blogroll has to be one of the nicest ways to discover a new blog. And it’s even nicer when you get some love from a blog as inspiring as Taking Notes.

I popped straight over and had a good poke around Katrin’s amazing house. A-MA-ZING with capital letters and hyphens and everything. And that’s not even taking into account the picture perfect German village it’s in, or the walled garden, or the fact that garden has a BARN IN IT! House envy? Natürlich.

Inside the renovation is full of lovely little touches, including this one, that’s really got me thinking…

{all  Taking Notes}

I’m sure everyone has those little niggly things about their homes that nag away at them. In Le Flat, that thing is my cheap plywood internal doors. The living room one even has a hole where the handle should be. I know, I know.

Of course, they were the first thing I was going to change when I moved in and two years later they’re still there, taunting me with their god-awfulness. Reclaimed stripped-pine doors would be the obvious replacement, but the reality of my budget means I’ll be plumping for new pine doors that are going to need painting. It had never crossed my mind to use anything other than white / off white, but there is something about this Thatcherite blue that I can’t get out of my head.

This colour-phobe might just be for turning!