Bloggers Judith and Igor, founders of the Urban Jungle Blog, have created a very inspiring book called "Urban Jungle" about how to bring nature indoors and care for your plants. The book features trips to green homes across Europe, with many tips and plants profiles, as well as plant styling ideas with the help of 18 Urban Jungle Bloggers. 

I have always loved having indoor plants, not only because they make our homes more beautiful and bring an element of nature inside, but because it fills my need of caring for something small that needs love and attention. Unfortunately I don't seem to have learned much over the years, as the poor plants in my house don't seem to last very long or look very healthy and happy.

To me this is not a trend - having a big collection of plants in the house - (I dislike this word VERY VERY much), but a going back to traditions and how we have always lived, at least in Spain. I remember living in our different houses and always having plenty of plants scattered around the house, in the patio, attic, corridors hanging from the ceiling, etc…Over the Summer I decided to take all the cactus/succulents outside in the garden, as they were looking pretty sad and were dying, and I am happy to report that they seem to have gained life again. They are now back inside as our Winters are too cold – I really hope they will continue to grow and keep me company.

Plants, flowers, pets, art, travel finds, family heirlooms, etc…make up for an unique home, it always surprises me when I enter a house that is just a plain space filled with the same colour and style range of furniture, nothing really stands up, as if there is not life in that space. A while ago I met someone who said, that she didn't like any of these things, specially house plants or pets as she didn't have time to care for them, too much fuss she said…Oh well, as much as I respect her views on how we choose to live in our homes, I still recommend a house filled with loved things, including plenty of greens and animals to look after, I am sure life is much richer and fulfilling this way! 

Looking forward to getting a copy of this book, you can order your copy in either English or German. Happy living with your jungle at home, and if you have any tips about how to keep your plants looking good and alive, and would like to share it with me and the others, please leave a comment, I will much appreciate it! 

Bespoke handles – Loft renovation

One of my customers, Delyth has sent me these images of her fab recent loft conversion and house renovation, where she has used a range of bespoke handles and wooden knobs to finish the cupboard doors, in the loft and the bathrooms. She came across my range of bespoke handles when she was looking for door knobs and handles to finish her project.
I really like the useful storage solution in the loft, and how she has used the wooden handles to finish the white cupboards.

Delyth has used the Bridge design in natural beech wood as door handles, we made them to meet her custom specification.

A selection of rectangular painted wooden knobs combined with natural square ones add and interesting design element to the bespoke bathroom cupboards.

The botanical print looking fab in her dining room.

Continuing with the practical bespoke built in cupboards through out the house and final touches from chocolate creative handles and wall hooks range.

Kitchen renovation – plywood top and cabinet knobs

Carlie, a customer of mine, has recently sent me some photos of her new kitchen. She chose the colorful plywood knobs from chocolate creative to create a contemporary and beautiful space where to cook and entertain. I love the plywood pale blue top that match perfectly the wooden knobs and grey cabinets.

A very practical layout with plenty of storage and work surface. I am of the opinion that open spaces are a must in our houses. Ideally an unique space for the whole family and visitors to enjoy.

Wooden knobs adding colour to the grey cabinets.

Photos by Carlie

BACK TO BASICS – LA CASA EN RUINAS

Lanzarote is the land of wind, sun and volcanos, rough, simple, peaceful and incredibly beautiful. Yesterday I was browsing AD online, and I came across this house "Esta casa es una ruina" (this is house is in ruins), and I immediately thought it was in Lanzarote, but no, its in the Azores islands, not far from us (Canary islands) though. I was so taken by its simplicity and beauty, what an amazing restoration job the architects and owners have done to this ruined forgotten house. It has always been a dream of mine to retire to my islands and get involved in a similar project. New buildings do not interest me as much as these old houses build to last and using local materials, still standing proudly after so many years…

Images above from Revista AD online, project renovations by SAMI Arquitectos

Casas cushion, lampshade, botanic print and wall hooks by chocolate creative 

Terrarium by London Terrariums

Photos of Cesar Manrique House and Foundation in Lanzarote

DECORATING A BEACH HUT

SUN is out, and all I can think of is spending some time by the beach, either here in England or back home in Gran Canaria. I fancy the idea of having a beach hut, somewhere not far from London, with an easy commute, of course this is not going to happen any time soon, but since I am free to dream, I have put together some mood boards for my future beach hut.

Paper napkins from papermash | Chopping board from John Lewis | towels by Lindsey Lang for John Lewis | wooden colourful knobs by chocolate creative available at my shop online. 

I find the colourful beach huts of the English coastline very charming, (we don't have them in Canary islands), they are like a miniature house, with very little space, so you have to be very creative to create a cosy and comfortable mini home. I like the idea of translating the outside colours into the indoors theme, using the faded pastels or sometimes bright reds, blues and yellows as the colour palette to decorate the inside space. In my beach hut, I would part away from the most obvious coastal look, and I will try some bold, pretty and colourful homewares, I will find practical solutions, like modern plastic chairs for the outdoor, plenty of wall hooks for hanging towels, kitchen-ware, clothes, etc…cosy blankets, cushions, and small and functional furniture, with plenty of storage. Do you own a beach hut? if so, where about?

Picture frame from Decorator's notebook | Wall wooden hooks from my shop online  

yellow and blue cushion from Kate Clarke London, 

Rocky beach cushion and wall hooks by chocolate creative | Pink dyed table cloth by Hazel Stark  Black and white throw from The Future Kept | 4 leggs Pink Vase from Room39
Outdoors white chair from Atlantic Shopping | Wood tray by Roddy & Ginger 

Hand dyed linens by Hazel Stark 

Photos by me 

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT DINING TABLE

Choices and more choices…I have started looking for a new dining table, as I am rearranging things at home, and I am going a bit crazy as I can't make a decision on which style to go for. The piece would be decided by budget, (quite reduced, almost none existing right now), and yes I know, all the ones I like are quite above my initial budget, but I rather wait, save and get what I really want. 

I am in two minds, I like the vintage look, I LOVE second hand pieces, wood that shows the past of time, etc…but as my mother alway says, "Marga, you got too many old things in your house"…I hope she is not referring to me!! and at the same time I would like to start getting more new contemporary pieces and mix them with my old ones. The search for that perfect table has started and I am even more confused, so many gorgeous pieces, by amazing brands, and makers. 

I don't spend much on clothes, but I do buy things for my home, I love furniture, specially chairs, lamps, and home-wares in general, so I never feel guilty when buying for the house. 

What is your favourite style? suggestions and ideas are welcome!

Muuto / Nest

ALDEN / Nest

Ercol / Nest

GALVIN BROTHERS

JENSON / MADE

Another Country

EBBE GEHL / John Lewis

Whitstable / HEAL'S

Links to all the vintage style photos and for more inspiration, see my pinterest board.  

NATURE | ROMANCE | INSPIRATION

Despite being sunny in London, (well it can rain anytime, I can spot the grey dense clouds from my window), I am in the mood for some mysterious English romance stories, Jane Eyre is one of my favourites novelists. I love the Victorian aesthetic, the drama and passion, the English landscapes and nature. I have been doing lots of walks through woodlands and forests in London and near by, these places have an energy difficult to resists, and are a great source of inspiration, it is in this themes that I have based my English romantic collection, (new designs coming soon). 

You can create some of this romanticism in your interiors, by adding some vintage paintings, old linens, plenty of wild flowers, pieces of furniture with character and some accessories such as cushions, hooks, knobs, bed panels, with interesting patterns and colours, don't be afraid of mixing colours, patterns and styles, create your very personal style, it is your home after all!

Photos by Piero Pierini | me | John Cullen | Melanie Molesworth | rest I can't find the credits

INSPIRED BY DANIEL LOBB'S WORK

Hello everybody, another week has gone by and we continue to have what seems to be, one of the best Summers in London in a long time...so not complaining!!  I have been wanted to show you the instalation called "As above, so below" of landscape designer Daniel Lobb for the Siobhan Davies Studios, where I go for my pilates classes with Laura Guarnera, (I totally recommend her classes).

Daniel Lobb creates a large-scale installation and internal water cycle which extracts the humidity generated from the sweat and breath of dancers in the Studios to sustain plant colonies within a suspended copper rill. Demonstrating that there are many ways to grow plants indoors, Lobb aims to match the ingenuity of plant systems, opening up new possibilities.

I have totally fallen in love with his work, so delicate and unusual, he has inspired me to grow my indoor plants collection, and play with the idea of hanging and using them in different ways, my problem is that I am not good with plants, the poor things give up on me very quickly...but I will keep trying. His work is worth seeing, and if you fancy some dance or pilates, Siobhan Davies is the place to go, it is amazing there. 

Photos by me and Gorminator