How to get a cosy living room...

I know for sure that my living room is one of the cosiest places in my house....minus my bed of course. There is nothing more inviting for visitors in your home than a cosy living room.

With it being one of the most used rooms of the house, finding a balance between a cosy and functional living room can take some trial and error. Have a look at some of the tips below for making it a successful cosy haven first time...

1. Throw Blankets and Cushions – By placing one or two throw blankets in your living room you are inviting everyone to curl up and get comfy in your living room. The added extra cushions are great for cuddling up to on a cold evening!

2.  Floor to Ceiling Curtains – A bonus of this is they are good for helping with your heating bills too keeping all the heat in!

3. Footstools – Footstools are on the rise! Not only does it mean you can put your feet up and really snuggle down on the sofa, they are an extra seat if you have visitors and can also make a great coffee table!

4. Lamps – Lighting is one of the most important parts of achieving a cosy environment. Be it table lamps or floor lamps, explore both options to see what works best with your space.

5. Rugs – Even on carpeted floors, rugs can define your space. Under foot having a soft squishy pile is always going to feel cosier than a bare floor!

6. Knick-Knacks – These little items can make or break a cosy feeling. Try not to over use and mix styles - pick a theme and run with it!

Using any of these ideas can help your living room go from stark and cold to warm and inviting. Keep the amount of space you have available in mind!

Furniture and Accessories UNICHE and you!

So in my quest to find some amazing lighting to share with you I stumbled across this little gem of a website -

Uniche Interior Furnishings

They have some amazing industrial looking lighting, furniture and accessories - I AM IN LOVE!
The styling photos have been taken to perfection showing the products in the perfect setting and giving you lots of inspiration.


Have a look at some of the great things they have to offer...

Glass and Metal drop Pendant Light - £75

Perfect Little Copper Light - £75

Industrial Glass Pendant - £70

http://www.unicheinteriorfurnishings.co.uk/

The unique pieces brought to you by the Uniche team have a rustic edge about them that can be added with minimal effort into existing decor. Painted brickwork and wooden floorboards are great for completing the look.

'Uniche came about from our desire to step away from the ordinary and furnish homes with truly unique pieces that blend with your lifestyle and dare to be different.' - Mark Bentham and Laura Lane

All this has also got me thinking waaay too much about cowhide rugs! They look great on the pictures above and I think are so under used. I have pulled together some of my favourites for you below...

Midas Touch Patchwork Hide in Gold £845 - Furnish.co.uk

LARGE REINDEER HIDE RUG LR179 - Citycows.co.uk

COWHIDE RUG CHR503 £239- Cowhiderugs.co.uk

KOLDBY Cow hide, brown £180 - Ikea.com

COWHIDE RUG CHR143 £219 -Cowhiderugs.co.uk

Parquet Rug £349 - Made.com

Photo credit:  southshoredecoratingblog.com , unicheinteriorfurnishings.co.uk

Up Cycling

There are so many amazing furniture retailers out there at the moment offering original designs but they normally come with a hefty price tag.

Upcycling is a growing trend in the UK with many people grabbing the paint brush to add a new lease of life to their current pieces of furniture.

Here at Redbrick we have he wonderful Rhubarb and Ginger who will breath a new lease of life into anything you have lying about your house! Check out some of their amazing creations below.

Here are some of our top tips for upcycling:

• Pick you colour(s) - if you are going to sand some of the edges pick a complimentary colour.
• Make sure you prepare the piece you are upcycling - if you are using chalk paint you don't need to prime and sand. We love Annie Sloan!
• Add wax to painted items once dry. This will seal and protect the paint, a clear wax with a lint free cloth will do the trick.
• Why not add a design with a stencil and really make it your own?
• Adding fabric or paper to a chest of drawers can make a truly unique piece.
• Don’t always upholster a chair in matching fabric – why not change it up with a different pattern on the back?
• If you are not feeling up to much hard work but want to revamp - why not just change the handles?

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Wax

Also if you get chance visit - www.royaldesignstudio.com - They have some amazing stencils! Check out some of the cremes that they have that you can add on top of your newly painted piece.

Let me know if you decide to give up cycling a go and post your pictures below!

I LOVE wreaths...

So I thought I would share some of my favourites for 2014!

Wreaths have been used as a decorative sign of Christmas for hundreds and hundreds of years. They can dress any part of your home, inside or out and are a symbol of growth and everlasting life. It is common to find a number of wreaths on doors, over the mantle, or hung in windows.

I am loving the pom pom design from Anthrapolgie but a little pricey for a girl on a budget at £118. With time and a few balls of wool that can be easily achieved for a fraction of the price. I will show you if I ever make one (chances are slim though!).

1. Rustic Egg And Feather Easter Wreath - www.tch.net - £30

2. White Apple Wreath -  www.houseoffraser.co.uk - £50

3. Coral Bells Wreath - www.anthropologie.eu - £118

4. Heart Shaped Twig Wreath with Pearls & Crystals -  www.tch.net - £30.00

5. Tesco Wicker Heart - www.tesco.com - £4.50

6. Wooden Star Wreath, - www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk - £19.99

7. Customised Dobbies Fresh Wreath - www.tesco.com - £9.99 

8. Pine cone wreath - www.mandco.com - £14.00

9. Large Natural Wreath, Dee Puddy House Vintage Garden - www.deepuddy.co.uk - £64