Dreamy Bedrooms ideas

Sunday mornings for me are my lazy time, its when I can officially stay in bed without any guilt whatsoever. Waking up slowly and leisurely is one of the sweetest pleasures of life and I like to prolong it as long as possible. And what better way to spend that time then curled up under the covers, sipping a cup of tea and browsing through pictures of dreamy bedrooms. Here is my selection of rooms which seem completely suited to Sunday morning sleep-ins. I am sure you will agree.

 Images via House to Home and IkeaFamily.

A space for sunny Saturdays

Outdoor areas like decks and gardens are just perfect to while away sunny Saturday afternoons. Specially when this space is as beautifully done up as Veronika and Mark's home in Surrey. The multi-functional family dining area and workspace has big glass doors opening out to the deck which makes it perfect for al-fresco dining and entertaining guests. At the same time the soothing color palette provides a sense of calm and relaxation.

All images courtesy A new home in a new country from Ikeafamily.

Urban trend - Knitting Grafitti

Love love love the trend of knitting grafitti or yarn bombing! It is such a sweet way to add color and warmth to a dull grey autumn cityscape. Walking along a big city street you would hardly expect to see electricity poles and telephone booths lovingly wrapped in knitting. It brings an instant smile to my face and not only brightens up spaces but makes them feel cozy and homely too. What's more it's completely legal, you cannot arrest me for knitting Mr.Policeman!

Phone box cozy in Parliament square and 8-metre handknitted giant squid, made from 160 plastic bags, with Darwin at London's Natural History Museum



Knit Graffiti inspired from Oranges and Lemons nursery rhyme at Shoreditch and a couple making a 'Tree Cozy'

All images from the new book Knit the City: A Whodunnknit Set in London published by Sommersdale and written by 'Yarn Corps' member Lauren. Check out their website www.knitthecity.com to find out more.

An Autumn inspired home

It’s autumn and I have this urge every evening to tuck my toes under me and curl up in a big armchair with a soft warm throw. Add to that a cup of hot chocolate and a good book and I am transported back to my childhood and Enid Blyton’s stories set in English cottages.

A traditional English room matches this mood perfectly. With its wood paneled walls, great stone fireplaces and cozy leather armchairs it is a perfect escape from cold weather. Cambridge University has many such beautiful rooms, which seem to be plucked straight out of Hogwarts castle. And it is simply wonderful to be able to wander in and sit next to the fireplace sometimes.

Recreating this look in our homes is simple too; we just need to deconstruct and understand its basic elements. Perhaps we can start by focussing on a single corner of the living room and make it cozy. Add an armchair, a stack of books, a tall lamp, throws and cushions in warm autumnal colors or a footstool to rest tired feet on, like this one made by Kiran Ravilious.

A heavy wooden chest of drawers can provide the same sense of backdrop as the wooden paneling in this Jonathan Adler designed room. A roaring fire is the perfect accessory to project all the myriad colors of autumn – orange, red, amber into your interiors. But if you don’t have a fireplace do not despair. Grouping candle stands together, or a chandelier in bronze or brass can instantly provide that golden glow to any room.  

Top Tip:  Displaying autumn fruits like apples and figs in a rough carved wooden platter is also a quick way to bring the seasonal theme into your room.

Mixing of Cultures

Moving to a new country has made me feel strangely disjointed. I am beginning to understand why people like me are labeled 'aliens', maybe because our internal landscape is in complete contrast to the external. I can struggle for ages and never be able to find the perfect words to explain my state of mind. Or I can just show you one image and you will know exactly how I feel. Like that in a split second!

Looking at photographer Gavin Fernandes’ work is as if somebody took a photograph inside my mind. Born in Kenya and originating from Goa in India, Gavin studied graphic design and photography in London and so the mixing of cultures is clearly visible in his work, specially his series – the Empire Line.

In Empire Line Gavin explores the powerful language of clothes and their ability to make political and cultural statements. He uses clothing to emphasize the conflict between class and caste in 19th century India ruled by the British Raj. And in the process successfully weaves the universal story of colonization into his images.

The images show women dressed in hybrid outfits with elements borrowed from both Victorian and native Indian styles. Conflict between the two sides is stark, with one style fighting to dominate the other. However, at another level, the styles blend and bleed into each other and you start looking beyond the clothing, and see the woman.

For more images from the collection visit http://www.gavinfernandes.com/