Provence summer '12- Villa Bastide Oleander

Recently I've been back with some good friends to their villa in Provence, South of France. It is a beautiful part of the world. I have taken some snaps of the villa for you all to enjoy!

'The purple room' (as I named it) Ella and I stayed in..

View from our room over the pool and further landscape -

ENTER, THE MASTER BEDROOM:

Came across Ella and Henri looking at family photos along the stairway..

And downstairs..

Available to rent throughout the year, website - http://www.bastideoleander.com/

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Skull lighting

This is the perfect lighting design to have in a country home! As well as being a striking piece to hang on your wall but its also a practical lighting design. Now I know not everyone agrees with this sort of thing but I love it and can really at a fantastic dynamic to a room. 

Looking forward to another visit to Limewood country hotel..

Next month I am heading back to Limewood, a fairly new country hotel based near me just outside of Lyndhurst in the heart of the New Forest. I am heading there as part of my friends 21st birthday, The plan - Manicures and pedicures in the spa (which I haven't seen as of yet) and then some lovely afternoon tea in the main building with macaroons, sandwiches and maybe a glass or two of bubbly! Whenever I visit Limewood (designed by London based designer David Collins) I really love looking at all of the details throughout the design of the whole place, seeing how it all ties together so elegantly. Will take, and post more pictures after our visit in a few weeks!

http://www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/

Garden eating

Its so easy to jazz up a simple wooden table as we do at home! Last night we sat out and simply added some tea candles with some fresh flowers from the garden. Fill some small glass pots and place within small contained wicker baskets for an alternative to vases. This works really well with smaller flowers. And of course dont forget to add some wine glasses and food! 

Mix and match your stripes!

I love everything about stripes, I love wearing them and I love them in interiors. Mix and match your stripes as shown here using different shades sizes and tones of stripes. Beware: don't have stripes on both your walls and furniture! It can often look too much.

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2012-04/striped-rooms-slideshow#slide=10

Adding a splash of vivid colour

Add a splash of vivid colour to certain aspects of a room, for example here with the use of the velvet seat and the lampshade. This colour is so gorgeous and can work really well. Be aware not to mix up too many bright colours together as it can become too lurid and can become as I say 'yucky'. The violet colours within the frame on the wall break down the colours and tie together the wood with the bright pink. REMEMBER: don't be scared of something if it's too bright. Colour can really bring a room to life! 

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2012-09/jamie-drake-manhattan-apartment-slideshow#slide=1

Fur skin rugs to get your toes into..

Big sheepskin rugs are the perfect thing to get your toes into if you have a hard wood floor which at times can become quite nippy! Contrast dark fur/ wool with pale walls and soft cream/ white rugs with darker / stronger colored walls. place below your sofa and seats and enjoy with a cup of tea..

From: http://notmybeautifulhome.tumblr.com/

Outdoor summer seating

I really love this.. perfect for a summers evening drink, even better with a view!

Create seating that runs all the way around with comfy cushions, a simple table or two in the middle with some candles and lanterns, and hey presto! you've got the perfect place to spend with loved ones. 

From: http://notmybeautifulhome.tumblr.com/

Monochrome hallway..

These black and white tiles are really stunning, bring them out by playing along with the monochrome theme throughout. Maybe add a splash of colour here or there to direct your eye to certain areas of the room. 

This image is from the lovely tumblr blog: http://notmybeautifulhome.tumblr.com/

Picture & Frames displays

These images are from an another interiors blog 'vintage blackboard'. This piece is on springtime. Now I know its not Spring yet, and not remotely near but on the right image it displays a really great way (something I am in the process of doing in my London flat). My myself I am using darker frames to contrast with my lighter wall colour but here against the white wall pale frames and pastel images are used which work really well creating a fresh, springtime look.  

Check out this wonderful blog here : http://vintageblackboard.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/first-days-of-spring.html

You don't always need to hide your pipes..

Use your copper pipes as part of your bathroom feature. As you can see from below its a really great and interesting way instead of hiding them away. Watch out not to touch them if they're hot!

Don't forget about your shower curtain!

I have seen so many tragic shower curtains, many which are half plastic and with mildew - this is a no no! make sure you love your shower curtain as much as you love the rest of your bath room. I love this adorable curtain.

Glamping!

I have recently been camping with some friends, I brought an air mattress with me which was a lifesaver, I am much more a fan of glamping. Why not go glamping yourself? There are plenty of places you can go home and abroad or you can get creative yourself, add lanterns, a soft duvet and a big air mattress! 

Adding to comport to otherwise hard seats

If you want some extra warmth, comfort and some added glamour to your seating simply throw fur skins over your seating.. really great for when it starts to get cooler and work really well in contrasting with simplistic interiors.

A new way of staking books..

Stack up your books on your floor and use them as small tables for lighting and picture frames. Make sure you stack them up at different heights. This is a great, new way of using your books instead of them being put away!

Light bulb feature lighting!

I have always loved using light bulbs as a feature of lighting design within themselves.. here the golden light bulbs hang down  and across the ceiling almost like vines.. a really great different alternative to fairy lights. Careful to make sure you keep them away from anything flammable as in numbers exposed light bulbs can become very hot!

Vintage feature wall

Finding pages or images from vintage books and applying them to your wall and maybe adding a varnish or distressing them can really add great, interesting and defiantly a different dimension to a room! You can really become creative with this task and collage the images in any way! Are you brave enough to try it out?

Why not use a teacup instead of a vase..

I saw this image and thought it was a really great way of keeping smaller picked flowers fresh instead of using a vase which may be too big! I love new ways of using teacups as they can be so beautiful in themselves. Try and find unique and individual crockery which has much more personality!  

End of summer in peaceful Provence.

Every year I go and stay with my good friends at their chateau in Provence (the South of France). I am heading back off there next Sunday with Another friend from London. When I'm out there I really love soaking up, not only the rays but the French vintage 'feel' of the place from the bustling market in the town to the summer kitchen at the Chateau with the iron furniture and the thick worn stone walls and delicate creepers up the side, to the antique wooden furniture with lavender laid out though out.

We love to explore the area and always take pictures when we visit small towns, rivers and lakes.

From the water is one of the best ways of seeing towns from the outside as demonstrated from these pictures you can see the way the buildings have evolved along the waterfront almost like small french logo blocks!

There is a stunning use of pastel colours used on the outside of the buildings that only buildings on the med can seem to get away with - in the UK it can look tacky! Cannot WAIT to go back.