This month I had the enormous pleasure of having my own home feature in the July 2022 issue of House and Home Magazine. A 13 page spread detailing the renovation and design process involved in creating my home, including a budget friendly guide on how to replicate my style. Pick up a copy in shops now. 

Living room update for Winter nights

With the clocks changing last week and the days getting shorter, my simple tips for a Living Room refresh will leave you feeling cosy and snug throughout the Winter nights.

1. Introduce throws and faux furs. Layer wool and mohair throws with sheepskin rugs over the arms and back of your sofa for a warm and cosy feeling. Change out lighter coloured cushions for darker hues and moodier prints, opting for textured wools and plush velvets over linens. Change cushion covers rather than cushions where possible for a more affordable update.
2. Introduce drama and romance through lighting. Play around with lamp lighting as the evening rolls in. Combine floor standing and table lamps to introduce soft mood lighting rather than using overhead pendants. Switch out whiter hued bulbs for yellow bulbs for a more golden glow. Combine with candlelight for the ultimate in cosy ambiance.
3. Experiment with texture. Swap out jute rugs for thicker pile rugs and replace linen curtains with dark, heavier lined curtains for a cosier feel.
4. Change up art prints. With so many affordable online companies (such as https://www.juniqe.com/ , https://desenio.ie/ & https://www.kuriosis.com/), offering reasonably priced prints nowadays, replace light hued prints with more muted darker, moodier prints. This is such a simple and affordable update as you can use existing frames where possible and swap them out again in Spring.

 Image Credit: (@bo_decor)

See below for my top picks of what's on sale now to achieve this cosy look and feeling from your living room.

• Winter Deer Poster - €14.95 Desenio
• Roses by van den Broeck Botanical Poster - €19.00 Kuriosis
• Montrose Navy Blackout Eyelet Curtains - from €55 Homefocus at Hickeys
  
• Carolyn Donnelly Electic Ceramic Lamp - €50 Dunnes Stores
• Irish Sheepskin Rug (Single) - €69.95 Meadows & Bryne
• Glass Bell Candlestick Holder with Brass Bottom - €44.99 Generosa Home
• Ceramic Candleholder - €15.99 Zara Home
• Samia XXL Berber Style Rug - €373.09 La Redoute
• Embroidered Cushion Cover - €14.99 H&M Home
• Cotton Velvet Cushion Cover (Blue - Grey) €7.99 H&M Home
• Tadek Rattan Table Lamp - €110 Oliver Bonas
• Solid Bone Mohair Throw - €135 Foxford Woollen Mills

Hello September! Autumn is knocking at the door and the days are starting to get shorter. Embrace those back to school vibes by adding some cheap and cheerful accents to your home office. Nothing invigorates and inspires like an organised desk and a pop of colour.

Here's my pick of what's in the shops now to give a bit of zing to your home office setup.

Dark Blue Recycled Glass Desk & Table Lamp - €54 Oliver Bonas

Dance it out Art Print - €20 iamfy

Traditional Yellow Clock - €5 Dunnes Stores

Every Woman Notebook - £10 Paperchase

Skådis Pegboard, White (76 x 56cm) - €17 Ikea

'Working From Home" Blue Ceramic Mug - €14.50 Oliver Bonas

Frida Hanging Planter - £9 Sass and Belle

Egnan Desk Chair, Mustard - €179.95 Sklum

Lavinia Pencil Cup - €21 Anthropologie

Box with Label Holder, Green - €3.98 Sostrene Grene

Floral Kraft Desk Drawers - £12 Paperchase

A simple way to make a great first impression, a console table adds style and charm to your home and can be a practical source of useful storage space in your hallway too. Use my simple styling tips below to optimise this highly functional piece of furniture. I've also listed the items I've used to style my perfect console table.

1. Choose a console table with a shelf above floor height. This will give extra storage space and allow you to use stylish baskets to hide any items you wish to keep out of sight and off the floor. 

2. Make a focal point above your console table by hanging a large print or mirror above your console table. To maintain balance with the overall aesthetic, ensure the print/mirror width is approximately 2/3 the width of your console table and hang centered above the table.

3. As console tables are typically taller pieces of furniture, hang a print/mirror no higher than 6 inches from the top of the console table. This will give a slight visual break between the table and print/mirror but will ensure the print/mirror doesn't look at though it is towering above the table and is pleasing to the eye. 

4. Place taller items such as lamps and tall vases to the outer edges of the console table to maintain balance and so as not to obscure your mirror or wall art. 

5. Before deciding to hang a mirror above your console table it is worth considering the mirrors reflection as this will become part of the overall look of your console table. Ensure opposite walls are kept clear of anything too distracting and place opposite a window or a decorative piece of art if possible. 

Items featured above:

Console table - Herston Oak & Marble Console Table from Neptune; €1220
Storage Baskets - Cotton baskets from H&M Home; €22.99 each
Mirror - Aura Brass Mirror from Cox & Cox; £225
Lamp - Lamp with scalloped lampshade from Zara Home; €99.99
Vase - Kani lustre glass vase from Oliver Bonas; €23.50
Lantern - Idha mango wood and glass hurricane lantern from NKUKU; £69.95
Plant Pot - Coral plant pot from Rockett St. George; €51.52

What’s nicer than eating alfresco or lounging outside with a good book? Summer living is made all the nicer with these sunny accessories. Crisp linens, hints of lemon and cool blue hues all evoke feelings of long hot days and balmy nights. Given that most of us are enjoying a staycation this year, turning our outside spaces into our home away from home has never been so important. 

Items Featured:

Folding chair and embroidered side table -  €139.00 and  €59.99 from Zara Home
Carolyn Donnelly Eclectic Boho Parasol -  €195 from Dunnes Stores
Natural weave scarf detail panama hat -  €23.50 from Next
Striped linen tablecloth in light beige -  €19.99 from H&M Home
Antique stoneware floral plate -  €7.99 from Zara Home
Metal carafe -  €17.99 from H&M Home
Lemonade Napkin (set of 6) -  €29.70 from Meadows & Byrne
Rattan serving tray -  €9.48 from Sostrene Grene
Large rectangular tasseled cushion -  €34.99 from H&M Home