Friday, June 5, 2015

Summer-ready Garden in 5 Simple Steps

With the summer months on the horizon, there's no better time to get your garden into shape. If, like most of us, you've neglected your outdoor space throughout the winter, now's the time to get rid of those unwanted weeds, tidy up unruly flowerbeds and restore your weather-beaten lawn to full health. Here's how to transform your garden in time for the warmer weather in five simple steps:

1. Lights

Adding a variety of lights to your back garden is the perfect way to make the most of the long summer evenings. Whether you’re lighting up walkways with spotlights or hanging a lantern over your patio to create a cosy setting for entertaining, outdoor illuminations will enable you to extend your time outside. As specialist suppliers The Lighting Superstore note, using an assortment of light fittings is a simple yet effective way to transform the look and feel of your outdoor space and to emphasise your favourite areas after the sun goes down.

2. Lawn

If your grass is looking messy, dry and generally lacklustre, now might be the time to give it a little TLC. Start by having a general tidy up and removing leaves and other debris that may have collected over the winter. You can then breathe new life into your lawn by using granular feed and watering it on a regular basis for lush results.

3. Plants

There’s no getting around the fact that the colder months can take their toll on your plants. To help your garden flourish, prune deadheads, thin out overgrown shrubbery and weed flower beds. You can also start to pot new summer plants and make sure your beds have a sufficient cover of rich compost to lock in moisture and prevent them from drying up in the summer heat.  If you want to enjoy a colourful display when the summertime comes around, try planting summer-flowering bulbs, such as Gladiolus, lilies and Ranunculus.

4. Patio

As the focal point of most gardens, the patio also needs some attention. Give your decking a much-needed facelift by taming unwanted weeds that are peeping through the cracks and getting rid of any grime that has built up. While scrubbing, brushing and weeding isn’t the most exciting task in the world, think of it as an investment for the months to come when you’ll no doubt be spending more of your time relaxing in the sunshine, having family barbeques and entertaining friends outdoors.

5. Garden furniture

When sprucing up your garden, don’t forget to pay attention to your furniture. To complete your patio makeover, invest in some padded furniture to create the perfect spot to sit and socialise under the sun. You may also want to consider adding shelter, such as an arbour or retractable awning, to ensure you don’t get caught in any unexpected showers.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Wish list | Spring Transition

With the most anticipated season just around the corner comes the new wish list of home decor items. Not all of them are what one might typically expect for spring decor, but if you look at them closely, most of the chosen objects are somewhat related to spring. My redefined, contemporized version of spring, if you will. For example, the cuddly throw is here to keep you warm on those chilly early spring evenings and the flask can make a perfect Easter present for someone dear who is into music.  The pure beauty and functionality of the touch-free bin reminded me to share a little confession that might sound a tad quirky to those who are not that into interior design, but I'm sure there are many who will understand... My goal one day is to have a home that does not contain a single unwanted or aesthetically unpleasing item - from toothpick holder to toilet brush. Obsessive much? It's ridiculous, I know... Have a lovely weekend, lads and lasses!


1.   Spotlight Floor Lamp, Dot&Bo
2.   Cuddly Natural Throw, Yorkshire Linen
3.   Dome Sphere Terrarium, Dot&Bo
4.   Epicure's Spice Set, Dot&Bo
5.   Triple Feather - Cushion Cover, Yorkshire Linen
6.   Glass Bottle, H&M Home
7.   Chowpak Glass Planter, Urban Jungles
8.   Sense Touch-free Bin, White, MADE
9.   Anatomy of a Guitar Flask, Dot&Bo
10. Elements of Birds II Poster, Mintstudio, La Maison d'Anna G.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Carnevale di Venezia

This post is coming a bit late, but I'm pretty sure no one reading this will actually mind, right? I already mentioned in my old post from Venice how much I worship this city. Its grandeur is beyond words, and the Carnival is one of many Venetian events all creative souls and dreamers should experience at least once in their lifetime. You just need to look past the sea of tourists with the selfie stick disease. (It IS possible, I promise. "Early morning" and "late evening/night" are the keywords.)  Needless to say, the masks and costumes are spectacular, especially when you do some research about the meaning and symbolism behind the traditional ones. Now, hopefully, on my next visit, a mysterious new acquaintance will give me an invitation for a private masked ball... I am very eager to witness escapades of the locals and their mischievous guests... There's just something liberating in being disguised, isn't it? 
P.S. Expect more blog posts with plenty of photographs from Venice in March.