Sunday 26 October 2014

Halloween Style

It's that time of year again for ghouls, goblins and all things spooky, but here at Butterfly Lane we like to take a more grown up and stylish take on the traditional Halloween pumpkin and inject some seasonal pizazz in to your home.

Here are our ideas below: 

Deck your fireplace...


Trim your door...


A decorate your table for an autumnal feast...



A Halloween inspired floral display...
 








Friday 24 October 2014

For the Love of Fur (Faux)

Fur is one of the biggest trends this season for your wardrobe and for your home too.  There is something so luxurious, warm and wintery about this trend, whether it be faux or if you don't mind sporting the real deal, it is time to snuggle up! 
 

I love a fur style throw or rug thrown over a sofa or chair. 




Buy the below faux styles from Butterfly Lane.


Rosie Huntington-Whitely looks stunning in her fur gilet, and you can buy exactly the same one from Butterfly Lane.  Available in four gorgeous shades.





We also have some fabulous fashion accessories with a nod to this snuggly winter trend.  Here is a sample below...

Shop here:

Tuesday 7 October 2014

What to Buy This Week: Ceramic Lady Bust

My sitting room is a shell of a room at the moment, ready to be dressed and accessorised (the best bit!).  But one thing that has been given pride of place already is my ceramic lady bust - I love it!  Buy it here.
 
Buy the Lady Bust from Butterfly Lane, £19.95
This decorative accessory looks great in every room, in a bathroom, in a bedroom to hang jewellery from...or just placed on a sideboard as I have done here.  

Lamp from Laura Ashley, £160
The bare room and walls are ready to accessorise!


Wall colour:  Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball.

Monday 6 October 2014

Before & After: My Kitchen

After...

I thought I'd share a project of mine with you...our kitchen renovation at Beech House.  We transformed the rather fussy sitting room (below) in to a family friendly kitchen/diner (above).

 
Here is me making notes before we moved in!


After                
Before

After
After
After
We decluttered the fireplace and added a log burning stove, along with hanging my favourite wall plaque which is available to buy at Butterfly Lane.

Before
We kept the colour palette simple by using cool greys and Farrow & Ball's Wimborne White on the walls. 

Before

After
All we need now is the perfect dining table to fill this space...

Thursday 18 September 2014

My Greatest Achievement



I've been quiet on the blogging front over the last month, but for one very big reason.  Three weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful little daughter Emilia, or simply Millie to her friends. 


So inbetween sleepless nights, nappy changes and simply just staring at her, I haven't had much time to blog.  However, I am now back for the autumn and promise to start filling Butterfly Lane with new season inspiration, trends, recipes and fashion.  Watch this space...



Sunday 17 August 2014

Summer Gardens

It's the height of summer and therefore the time to enjoy your garden the most.  I have a typical country cottage garden, high maintenance, lots of roses and climbers that require constant pruning and training.  I do love it though and I think the gardening bug caught me as soon as I moved in to Beech House, it is a truly relaxing past time. 

However, the busier I become (and a baby daughter on the way) I'm focusing on down scaling everything in my life and making things as easy as possible - for the time being anyway!

With this in mind, I have fallen in love with simple and stylish garden design.  I'm thinking lots of simple topiary that looks super chic and tasteful, some potted, some not... 


Top tips to achieve this look:
  • Keep to a clean and classic style, with stylish and simple furniture 
  • Up-lighting is an absolute must
  • Choose a simple colour scheme to avoid that 'fussy' look, think simply green and white
  • Use an outdoor fire for a focal point.  Chimneys or firepits look equally as chic at a fraction of the price
  • Use lots of green!

 


 Lighting is so important and I just love candlelgiht on a summers evening.  Our fabulous lanterns look so chic.  They are £35 each - buy here. 



Monday 11 August 2014

Guest Post: Creating a Unique Design for Your Orangery

Owning an orangery can change your home in ways you've never known.  The space you'll gain is ideal for all kinds of home activities.

Whether it's somewhere for children to play or a home office
, an orangery provides an ideal environment for all environments.

Use Your Own Sense of Style:

To make the structure truly unique and comfortable experience it's vital that you have decor that represents your own personal style.

The common belief it that an orangery should be painted in a neutral colour such as magnolia or a solid cream white.  But while this makes for a setting with a natural mood, it doesn't necessarily capture the mood of the room, and can limit the creativity of having a unique space separate from the rest of your home.

Bright colours and a modern chic look is just as suitable as any other design, and can allow you to express yourself without following trends. 



Capturing the Tone of Your Home:

However, if you do want the tone of the orangery to be a continuation of the rest of your household, you can match the two by incorporating a shade or style that is already prevalent throughout your house. 

This is particularly useful if you want your orangery to act as more of an extension to your home rather than a separate entity for other uses.


Orangeries can be designed so that they support the build of the house.  For example timber conservatories are useful for capturing the appearance of older, traditional buildings as explained in this timber conservatory blog.

Matching Your Decor for an Intended Purpose:

If you have a specific use in mind for your orangery, it makes sense to cater your decor so that it supports the tone and stylistic intentions of such usage.

For example, if you plan for your orangery to act as a dining room, ensuring that there is space for a good quality table to serve your guests is essential.  If your orangery will function primarily as a children's playroom, it's good to make the room child-friendly through the use of bright colours and imagery that will appeal to child. 

If the structure is intended to be a working environment, a more formal tone might be advisable, especially if it is somewhere clients might be visiting.

If the intention of the orangery is to act as a relaxation room for quiet reading and other tranquil activities, a colour scheme of calming blues and greens will help set the peaceful tone. 

Cultivating Plants in an Orangery:

The original use of an orangery was to cultivate exotic plants in a European climate, a practice which continues today.

Many plants will prosper in an orangery environment, and citrus plants are a popular choice in modern British homes.  If tended to correctly they will produce delicious fruits such as oranges and lemons.

Complimenting Your Garden:

An orangery is also ideal to compliment the look an style of your garden to create an effective outdoor aesthetic inside your home.

One useful way to do this is to match the colour scheme of your plants that you cultivate in your orangery to those in your garden, therefore creating a timeless, beautiful look.

Furnishing with a Difference:

An orangery is a place where you can express yourself without conforming to furniture styles of the contemporary world.  Afterall orangeries have been a staple of British life throughout history.

An orangery is supposed to be a spacious area, so avoid cramming it full of large furnishings. Instead choose quaint coffee tables, vases and stools which make for a truly unique look.
Original furniture makes for an excellent topic of conversation when entertaining guests, and can be used to reflect your personality.
The ornaments you choose to include are made more striking if you match them with the colours you choose to decorate the orangery with.
What would you use an orangery for in your home? Comment and let us know.