Industrial

This summer you can expect to see designers ditch the polished gold tones in favour of a more industrial aesthetic. We’re big fans of wirework furniture and reclaimed industrial lighting.

St Ives Galvanised Bay Light

The ever-popular St Ives range includes a superb selection of galvanised lighting. This striking bay light has been given a hot dipped galvanised finish for an authentic industrial look and feel. 

Farringdon Wirework Wall Crate

Lightweight, practical storage solutions are hard to find. Lightweight, practical and stylish storage solutions are even harder to track down. The Farringdon wirework wall crate can be placed at floor level or mounted to the wall. It’s perfect for anyone lacking storage space who doesn’t want to clutter their home with bulky shelving and cabinets.

Marble and brass furniture

Marble and brass are set for world domination in 2017. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration, but this winning combination is certain to take centre stage this year in many bedrooms, bathroom and living rooms. 

Marble & Brass Side Table

What’s not to like? Edgy, fresh and glamourous, this pairing of marble and brass is a match made in heaven.

Texture

Incorporating a wide range of textures is key to making a home feel homely and inviting. Whether you choose satin sheets, woollen throws or leather cushion covers, 2017 is all about having fun with texture, touch and feel.

Geometric Natural Throw

There’s something about curling up with a luxuriously soft, super warm Merino wool blanket that’s hard to beat. The soft weave of this geometric throw feels incredible and the pastel and grey pattern will incorporate perfectly with virtually any design scheme.

English Mustard Cob Weave Throw

The traditional weave of this generously-sized blanket is soft and breathable to provide year-round comfort.

Green accents

If 2016 was the year of the tropical print, then 2017 is already well on its way to becoming the year of deep, dark, earthy green. If you’re not a fan of feature walls (or you just hate painting and decorating) you can use green accessories to add depth and interest to your design scheme instead.  

Jelva Forest Green Side Table

Simple, stylish and practical, this glossy side table is available in two nesting sizes and looks fantastic when paired with neutral colour schemes.

Sea Green Pure Wool Throw

While you’re waiting for summer to arrive, stay warm (and bang on-trend) with this bright Sea Green pure wool throw. It’s large enough to use as a throw on a double bed too, so it’s the perfect blanket to use when you want to curl up and have a long weekend nap.  

Green Glass Pendant Light

If you love Danish design and great craftsmanship, you will adore this pale green hanging pendant light. Each light is lovingly handmade using recycled glass and comes complete with three metres of black fabric cable.

Inspirational homeware from Grace & Glory

If you are looking for more great ways to bring 2017’s best interior trends into your home, take a peek at Grace & Glory’s exclusive homeware collection. We’re certain you’ll find something you’ll love. Need it now? Next day delivery is available. Get in touch with our team for more information. 

If you’re a gift-wrapping novice but you still want your gifts to look fantastic, this blog post is for you. These creative (and easy) Christmas gift-wrapping tips are ideal for beginners. Happy wrapping!

1. Add an extra-special gift tag

No gift would be complete without a gift tag. But why settle for a plain and impersonal gift tag when you can go all out and make your gift tag a gift in itself?

Tiny Kiko Frames – Set of 3

These incredibly cute and tiny Kiko frames are perfect for adding to your wrapped gifts. What you choose to include in the frame is up to you, but they are perfect for displaying messages or amusing illustrations. This set of three frames is available in brass, zinc or copper.

Bell Decoration

Who says gift tags have to be boring? Certainly not us! These charming bell decorations come in a set of three and have a beautiful antique silver finish. When attached to the ribbon bow or tie of a gift, they’ll make a wonderful tinkling noise as the present is moved that’s guaranteed to make the recipient of your present smile. Attach a small gift tag, like the ones below, and add a name in a metallic silver marker for an eye-catching finish.

Winter Gift Tags

We love these super-simple yet super-stylish Scandinavian gift tag designs. Use in combination with the bell decorations above or alone for an understated look.

2. Include a special note

Part of the pleasure of receiving a Christmas present is in reading the note or card accompanying the gift. What will you write in yours? We love including poems, quotes and even photos taking during the year. It’s a great way to show how much you care (and also distract from your wrapping skills if you had to resort to tinfoil again!).

Petite Notes

If you would like to send a loved one a special message with their gift this year, these vintage-themed glittered folded note cards from Cavallini & Co will make the perfect addition to any present.

3. Make your gift stand out

If you want your present to stand out, here are a few cute additions you can make to guarantee your gift will be the first to be picked from underneath the tree on Christmas morning.

Vintage Christmas Stickers

Who doesn’t love a great sticker collection? This set of 100 Christmas stickers is fantastic to have on hand when you need to decorate gifts and cards in a hurry.

Vintage Santa Wrapping Paper  

A little goes a long way with this vintage Santa wrapping paper. The images can be cut out and used for decoupage or made into gift tags by adding a cardboard backing. There’s no limits to how creative you can get with this design.

Have an extra-special Christmas with Grace & Glory

We hope you have found our Christmas wrapping tips for beginners useful. Your gifts will look fantastic this year – we’re sure of it! If you’re looking for more Christmas gift inspiration, we’ve got a great selection of creative Christmas gifts for all the family at Grace & Glory Home. Can’t find what you’re searching for? Our friendly team are here to help.  

2016 is shaping up to be an exciting year for interiors. Rattan and bamboo are adding new textures, while brass and metallics continue to make a strong impression. Palms and ferns are bringing in a retro vibe, and greys, blues, pinks and greens are everywhere!

Adding to our existing range of homewares and accessories, our new collection offers some gorgeous pieces for your home. Here we share what’s hot and what’s new right now:

WHAT’S HOT

ASTON PENDANT LIGHT

A geometric delight to fill any living space with golden light, the brass Aston Pendant Light is a fabulous addition to any home whatever the time of year. Whether in the kitchen, living room or an alternative for the bedroom, this beautiful product from our vintage pendant lighting range will add impact to any space. Try grouping together in a set of three for the ultimate in stylish lighting.

BRASS CABINET KNOBS

Having featured recently in The Sun’s weekend supplement magazine, Fabulous, these are a lovely decorative addition to your door and cabinet furniture. The smart, gold-coloured brass-plated cabinet knobs with a hammered finish will add sophistication as well as a gorgeous metallic detail to any room.

WHAT’S NEW

BAMBOO PENDANT LIGHTSHADE

The slatted design of these Scandi-style Bamboo Pendant Lightshades gives a beautifully soft glow, while the combination of bamboo with a retro shape make them bang on trend. Perfect for hanging from an existing fitting, why not combine with one of our vintage lightbulbs or try hanging both sizes at different heights to create interest?

Our Dip Dye Storage Baskets are the ultimate in stylish storage. To be used for all manner of household items and duties, these natural woven baskets sit perfectly in any area of the house. Neutral colours allow them to blend in with different styles of soft furnishings and design, while their striking appearance makes them look more like ornaments than storage baskets! With a number of sizes available, these bang-on-trend Danish-designed baskets are a great addition to any home. 

Just when you thought it wasn’t possible for iPhones to be able to do anymore, it has been announced that Siri can now control the lighting in your home.

The Philips Hue lights are one of the first products on the market that are compatible with Apple’s HomeKit, which also allows users to do a number of things, such as open garage doors, lock front doors, and change thermostats.

The new Philips Hue Bridge 2.0 was recently launched on 6 October, which will need to be purchased by those hoping to use Siri to control their lighting, as well as Philips Hue bulbs. The latter has already been produced for a while, so those with existing Hue bulbs will not need replacements, although the Bridge 2.0 will be necessary in order to be compatible with HomeKit.

Making It Easy For People To Transform Living Spaces Via An App

Using a smart phone, lighting in the home will be able to be controlled in incredible detail, with Siri able to respond to commands such as “dim the table lamp to 30%” according to Mashable.

Lights can even be adjusted when out of town, which is perfect for those who like to give the illusion that their house is occupied. The system is also great for those with modern or vintage lighting who like to impress, as there are settings specifically for celebrations such as dinner parties.

Philips has even worked with films such as Sharknado and Twelve Monkeys so that the lighting system adjusts and changes colour dependent on the scenes that are being watched. It is also rumoured that they hope to team up with certain video game companies in order to apply the same effects to gaming.

Philips Hue’s smart lighting was originally launched three years ago, and since then the cost of bulbs has halved, and they last much longer. The concept took off due to its simplicity. All users have to do is replace their bulbs with the Hue bulbs at its most basic level.

Image Credit: Miranda Granche (flickr.com)

A visual feast for the eyes as well as creative inspiration in all directions, the London Design Festival will captivate audiences from all over the world. Held in some of the capital’s trendiest locations, the event will bring together the “greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to deliver an unmissable celebration of design.”

Held from 19-27 September, the London Design Festival offers interactive design installations, avant-garde displays, exhibits and workshops, and showcases the latest trends in modern interior and exterior design. Gathering for the celebration will be 440 designers, brands and installations from 29 countries.

The theme of this year’s event offers visitors the opportunity to explore The Future of Luxury. There will be displays of new furniture, lighting and accessories from more than 400 brands. Events will be hosted at the V&A, Somerset House and various design destinations and districts.

New innovative products will also be released at the event, the perfect inspiration for your own home decorating. Direct from Mumbai, The Lattu Light is inspired from children’s spinning tops. Crafted by reclaimed teakwood, each pendant light is shaped, turned, carved and sanded by local artisans. Japanese designers will also feature at the event, as well as designers incorporating reclaimed machines in the development of their interior design ideas.

For admirers of vintage lighting, Marianna Kennedy will present her impressive collection of sophisticated lamp designs. Produced in her Spitalfields studio, her lamps have garnered her a cult following over the last decade. Her most iconic and enduring design is the Spring Lamp. Created in a variety of colours, the lamp is crafted from hand-finished cast resin. It is inspired by bunches of flowers and emulates classic 18^th-century design motifs.

The London Design Festival was created by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans. They hoped to create an annual event that would shine a light on the city and country’s creativity and design heritage. Since the first London Design Festival in 2003, the event has grown into one of the largest design events in the world.

Image Credit: Justin Pickard (flickr.com)

Can you believe we’re in August already? Well, neither can we, but plenty of exciting products have been added to our online store during the last three months.

Here, you can browse through our top picks of what’s hot and what’s new, so you can keep in the loop of what is currently trending in the world of interiors.

What’s Hot

Vintage Style Bulbs

With beautiful filaments for the hanging bare bulb look, these look fantastic on their own, especially in rooms looking to capture the industrial interior design style. They also look great when used with vintage pendant lighting, which suit both modern and traditional homes.

Wire Storage Baskets

With so many uses, these attractive wire storage baskets look great in all rooms of the home, whether you decide to store towels, logs or children’s toys in them. They are also available in a variety of sizes, so you can mix and match, depending on your preferences.

Copper Cabinet Knobs

Copper is still very on trend and we can confirm this as our copper cabinet knobs are currently flying out the door! These are perfect for adding an element of class to your existing furniture and are much warmer than the silver tones of stainless steel, making them perfect for autumn.

What’s New

Hanging Brass Pendant Light

Make a statement with this beautifully stylish brass hanging light, which has only recently become available at Grace & Glory. Three metres of black cable mean that you can hang this light exactly where you see fit, so you can ensure your home décor is the envy of all your friends. For some subtle pairing, our brass door knobs would go perfectly with this lighting.

Brass And Copper Cup Hooks

Why hide your pretty crockery in cupboards when you can display it all on these brass and copper cup hooks? Place them in featured positions above your worktops, and let the detailing of the hooks compliment your cups and mugs.

Selection Of Cabinet Door Knobs

We’ve widened our selection of cabinet door knobs lately, giving you even more choice for your upcycling projects. Choose from ceramic, glass and hand painted door knobs to enhance an old piece of your furniture.

With the Great British Bake Off returning to our screens on Wednesday 5^th August, what better time to start thinking about revamping the kitchen? If florals, pastels and kitsch is your thing, it’ll be right up your street, and will give the cooking station of your home a quintessentially British theme.

Here is some interior design inspiration for those of you who wish to turn your kitchen into a room fit for Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.

Colour

When the Great British Bake Off set comes to mind, so do a variety of summery yet vintage colours. Think pale blues, yellows, greens and pinks, as well as patriotic colours, such as red, navy and white. Pastel colours make a great backdrop colour for kitchen walls, although for those that aren’t feeling as brave, just choose a feature wall to cover in this shade.

Furnishings 

Shabby chic and upcycling are certainly a theme for the inside of the Great British Bake Off tent, with chests of draws turned into flower pots, and tables and chairs with a chalk paint effect regular feature pieces in the studio. Each contestant’s cooking station has a modern twist, with wooden work tops and contemporary appliances, helping to keep the area looking fresh and clean. You could also add some vintage pendant lighting to brighten the kitchen even more.

Check out our upcycling guide for some expert tips to get started.

Accessories

This is where you can really get creative, and put your own personal stamp on your ‘Bake Off’ kitchen. Whether you’re a dab hand at sewing and can make your own bunting, or would prefer to add some famous Cath Kidston style florals, these are the final touches which will bring everything together.

You may also want to invest in a Smeg fridge, or KitchenAid mixer too, for a vintage yet modern feel. Think about how you can achieve two things at once by having baking essentials that fit in with your décor, such as these useful and classy measuring spoons, or scoops for larger quantities of ingredients.

Also, you won’t want to forget a retro cake stand, which is a necessity for any hopeful star baker, as you can display your very own sweet treat showstopper!

Image Credit: m.hawksey (Flickr.com)

Renting can be difficult, whichever side of the tenancy you are. For the tenants, the rules surrounding décor may seem unclear and for landlords it can be even harder, being torn between creating a neutral property that will appeal to most and choosing durable furnishing options that won’t cost the earth.

In this guide, we speak to experts in the field in the attempt to make such decisions a little lighter for the concerned landlord, from top to bottom.

Carpet

Unlike smaller accessories and finishing touches, such as throw pillows and door knobs that can help give a homely feel to the property without costing too much, the flooring is something that takes a great deal of consideration as a landlord. You want to choose something that will be durable, neutral, but without the need to replace every year.

When it comes to flooring you may be tempted to opt for laminate or tile flooring where possible, but for rooms such as the lounge or bedrooms this can put people off as is it can feel less homely and liveable. Here LandlordZONE, the landlord and property professionals information site, gives their advice on carpeting a rental property.

‘Always choose brown or darker grey for carpets as they do not show dirt easily and will therefore last longer in a rental. If you carpet this throughout you will be able to get a better price from the carpet supplier.’

– Tom Entwistle, Editor, LandlordZONE

Paint

Another vitally crucial element of decorating a rental property to consider is the paint. While it goes without saying that many experienced landlords recommend an off-white or cream for the colour choice so as to appear neutral and spacious, these colours are not very mark-proof.

Crown Paint may just have the answer to this dilemma with their Easyclean range of paint. Described as a ‘super scrubbable, tough and stain resistant matt emulsion with added Stainguard®’ it practically guarantees that you will only have to get the overalls out every few years to keep your home looking at its best. Easyclean is usable on walls, ceilings, wood and metal and is available is a range of colours, including the landlord-friendly warm cream, flawless fawn, lightest beige and milk white.

Furniture

When it comes to furnishings, this is an area that many property renters choose to avoid by offering their property non-furnished. While this may seem like a more affordable option, do not be fooled. A recent article found that landlords who offer a furnished property in towns and cities are more likely to secure a higher return, with furnished properties producing 35 percent more rent, with 8.1 per cent premium for furnished flats and 2.8 percent premium on furnished houses.

The most important item of furniture to get right? Arguably it is the sofa. Costly to be replaced, you want to choose something that will stand the test of time, whilst being comfortable and suiting a variety of lifestyle needs.

The English Sofa Company is the family-run business that makes beautifully designed furniture using traditional upholstery techniques. As is visible in the cover image of this post, their sofas look as though they will last, whilst being comfortable and always in fashion.

Here they provide their top tip for landlords.

‘When choosing a sofa to furnish your rental property, a corner leather sofa ticks all boxes. And remember, not all leathers are the same! For example, while our Premium Leather is much softer than our Full Grain Leather, the Full Grain Leather happens to be more durable and much cheaper in cost, yet still offers the luxurious look you’re after.’

The Room Dynamic

Finally, when it comes to the room, or even house, as a whole it can be difficult to make things work together. Small details such as the kitchen lighting can make a room but trying to match a statement piece with the rest of the setting doesn’t come naturally to everyone.

Here SpareRoom, the UK’s number one flatshare website, gives us their exclusive and experienced advice for creating a house that will attract happy renters.

Top tips for landlords decorating and furnishing a spare room, from SpareRoom.co.uk.

‘Size matters

Decorate according to the size of the room – bright colours and mirrors can make a room feel bigger and dark colours can often have the reverse effect.

When in doubt…

Go neutral. Neutral colours are calm and clean – who could complain about that? You can always add colour with curtains and cushions.

Flooring

Don’t go neutral when it comes to carpet. Cream carpets might look lovely when they’re new but a mascara or red wine-related accident won’t leave them like that for long. Instead, laminate is a good, long-term flooring option; it’s easy to clean and your tenant can add a rug of their choice.

Colour?

If you want to add colour, go for a featured wall, rather than the whole room. That way, even if your tenant doesn’t like the colour, it won’t dominate the room so they’ll be able to live with it.

What paint to buy?

It might be tempting but don’t buy cheap paint or water it down. If the tenant were to wipe the walls to remove a mark and you’ve used cheap or watered down paint, they’ll remove the paint too.

Wall art

Why not let the tenant accessorise the walls themselves? There are a range of removable wall hooks on the market – perfect for renters – so your walls won’t be covered in hooks and paint holes when they come to move out.

Storage, storage, storage!

Storage is a rare commodity in most households so the more wardrobe, drawer and cupboard space you can offer, the better.

Are you a landlord? Do you have any tips for others in the field? We’d love to hear them, share you experiences with us on the Grace & Glory Facebook and Twitter pages.

Image Credit: The English Sofa Company, LandlordZONE, SpareRoom.co.uk

Adult colouring books have slowly been creeping into our bookshops in recent years, with the trend picking up pace with news of a Game of Thrones-themed colouring book for adults said to be in production. The nostalgic trend is now even making its way into our homes as the world of interior design looks to welcome the craze.

In our contemporary working world where technology and offices seemingly overrun our daily lives, the idea of adult colouring books becoming so popular may not seem as unbelievable as you might first think. Now the trend is transpiring into room décor, with posters also coming to the market where individuals can effectively colour in their own wallpaper.

This idea has become so popular that the Tate has even got involved by teaming up with The School of Life to create a collection of A1 posters that can be coloured in and would not look out of place next to statement interior pieces such as geometric or brass kitchen pendant lighting.

‘Alleviate Anxiety’

The collection has been produced with the help of well-known illustrators such as Peter Judd and Jeffrey Bowman. The posters cost £12 each and, according to the School of Life in this article, colouring for adults “can help to alleviate anxiety, sharpen our concentration, and cultivate a deep sense of calm”.

Not only does colouring help relieve stress, but the patterns and sense of achievement that come from colouring in these works can also help rid anxiety. Hanging the finished posters in your study is not dissimilar from creating a painting for your home from scratch; the process of creating something that then can be hung in your home and admired can give a huge sense of satisfaction in addition to the therapeutic exercise of colouring itself.

George R.R. Martin is currently overseeing publication of a Game of Thrones colouring book for adults, while many other artists and illustrators create books purely for the adult market. Shop The School of Life collection to find a poster print for yourself, the beauty of the process being that you can create an artwork for your home that matches the room, from the statement emerald sofa to accents such as your wooden beehive door knobs.

Image Credit: Lea Latumahina (flickr.com)

Al Fresco – In the open air. Origin – Mid 18th century: Italian, literally ‘in the fresh (air)’.

Oxford Dictionary 

With the good weather upon us and the spring blossom fading to make room for vibrant summer hues, the home design focus may start to switch from sofa patterns and cosy throws to outdoor furniture and picnic blankets.

Here we cover al fresco dining décor ideas for every outdoor space. Whether you’re working with extensive grounds or a contemporary city balcony, there is no excuse not to take it outside this spring/summer. There are many DIY ideas you can turn your hands to ahead of a garden party and a few great products you will be eager to order.

Small Garden

Just because your garden space might not be the largest doesn’t mean you can’t make a really interesting al fresco dining space. In fact, sometimes the smaller spaces offer the opportunity for the most creativity, where space saving options and clever DIY tricks come into play. Outdoor wall lighting can work fantastically on the side of your house to illuminate the garden whilst taking up little space, while clever seating tricks can ensure your guests are comfortable without encroaching on the dining area.

Deck chairs are a great option for small garden areas. Their vintage seaside appeal means that they look fantastic in almost every setting and are right on trend for this summer. They also fold away to turn your garden from social hub to show garden in the blink of an eye.

These Homemade deck chairs by DIY blogger and project builder Ana White are fantastic and not nearly as difficult to make as they look professional. So long as you’re a bit handy with some simple carpentry tools and have the time, you can make chairs that really match your setting.

Or, if it all goes wrong, the Scandinavian deck chairs from Hen and Hammock are a great alternative. Their simple yet classic design ensure that they will make the perfect fit for any garden and their compact folding style means that they take up hardly any room.

Big Garden

Sometimes having a big space can prove a challenge in that you have so much room to work with and trying to bring the various design elements together to make a harmonious setting isn’t always as simple as it may first appear.

One of the perks of a big garden is that you can have a large dining area for entertaining. The outdoor table is among the best parts of al fresco dining and is something that, just like your dining room, you can alter to suit the occasion. Design blogger Amber Burrahm regularly posts fantastic al fresco dining ideas on her Snippets of Design blog, as illustrated in the cover image of this post. Her Brunch is in the Air article depicts the true art of table-scapes and shows how just a few different napkin designs can really transform an outdoor table. She has unlimited inspiration on her Decorating Al Fresco board on her incredibly active Pinterest account. Just try not to get so distracted that you spend more time browsing through her ideas than enjoying the sunshine!

Another great element you can incorporate in a big garden space is a fire bowl. While the summer may bring with it a warmer climate, the nights can be brisk. Instead of turning indoors, turn to lighting your own personal fire bowl. Outdoor living specialist Hen and Hammock offer a range of sizes to suit every space so that you never have to turn in early again, and you can even use it as a barbeque.

Decking

If decking is more your outdoor style, then there are plenty of al fresco dining ideas that suit this type of space too. Seating may seem like the first obvious hurdle, but with the geometric shape that decking normally creates this actually offers a great opportunity for sofa-style seating.

The Platform Outdoor Sectional project by Ana White is contemporary and simple whilst making for a great seating option that is effortlessly social. This project can be built for a fraction of the cost of regular outdoor furniture, whilst being both comfortable and stylish. Again, her project plan is thorough and simple, so just make sure to draft in some extra helping hands and you’ll be on your way.

While decking may not be enough room for a gazebo, parasols still make for a wonderful outdoor shading option. The Indonesian Parasol from Hen and Hammock offers a beautiful way of offering a bit of shade without taking up too much room. Made in Bali, their authentic design can set off the space and inspire additional accessories such as garden lanterns and vintage garden signage to make a real theme.

Balcony

A balcony definitely doesn’t offer much space to play with, but whatever the size it can still be made your own with a few touches. The Hanging chair from Hammock Heaven offers hammock-style furniture whilst taking up half the space. You can hang it from the door frame or similar and it folds away into a portable bag for when you’re done basking in your suntrap. Made in Columbia from 100 percent recycled cotton they are eco-friendly and beautiful.

Conservatory

A conservatory offers the chance to create a space that blends the outdoors with the indoors and there are countless options for al fresco decoration here. Lighting is key and introducing ambient kitchen pendant lights above the table will set off the space perfectly.

For the rest of the room, or for when you want to do a bit of stargazing, the rechargeable bottlelight from SUCK UK turns any empty bottle into a glowing light. Shaped like a cork that sits in the top of an empty wine bottle or similar, you can dot them around the conservatory to offer light without detracting from the view and still get that outdoors feeling.

Image Credits: Snippets of Design, Ana White, Hen and Hammock, Hammock Heaven, SUCK UK