Snow White

We spend approximately a third of our lives sleeping so you want to make sure you have somewhere relaxing to retire to at the end of each day. I’ve long been a fan of white bedrooms and love the versatility of them. Not only are they timelessly chic but they also have an air of calm about them. Here are a few of my favourite white bedrooms.

Above: Add warmth and texture to crisp white bedding with a cosy grey throw. (Source - Holley & Gill)

Photography: Petra BindelAbove: If an all-white bedroom is too stark add in splashes of colour. I love the neon accents in this room.

via HouzzAbove: Pale grey walls and monochrome accessories compliment the white furniture in this bedroom. Source – Houzz

Photography © Rachel Whiting for Pure StyleAbove: A single pop of colour in a floor-to-ceiling white room creates a dramatic effect. 

Image: A Merry MishapAbove: Children’s bedrooms don’t have to be decorated in pastels or primary colours. The room that Jennifer from A Merry Mishap created for her son shows how a white scheme can work for all ages.

Frida Ramstedt via Stil inspirationAbove: Paint floorboards to continue the white theme from top to bottom.

by Colombo & SerboliAbove: A single striking photograph brings this space to life.

Photography © Sara LandstedtAbove: Bring natural colour and texture into your space by adding houseplants.

via Ellens AlbumAbove: Wooden floors and furniture compliment an all-white bedroom.

Home for Christmas - Decking the Halls

This week on Design Hunter we're cosying up the home for Christmas - lighting candles for advent, scenting the home with the fragrance of cinammon, cloves and orange and getting ready for family gatherings.

There's no need to eschew your design preferences when it comes to decorating your home for the festive season. Sparkle and glitter not your thing? How about a simpler, fuss free Christmas with this pared back but homely woodland look from John Lewis? Trim the tree with origami and laser cut decorations, layer up the living room with warm, tactile sheepskin rugs and add a natural pine cone wreath to the front door to greet visitors with a rustic welcome.

1. snow scene | 2. cinammon sticks | 3. honeycomb ball | 4. birch tealight holder | 5. white pine cone wreath | 6. laser cut decoration | 7. origami bird tree decoration | 8. christmas tree pot | 9. cedar pine tree | 10. sheepskin rug

10 handmade gifts to give this Christmas

One of the things I really enjoy about this time of year is all the great craft fairs and open studio events taking place. I popped along to this one yesterday and picked up a couple of gorgeous pieces.

This year I'm resolving to buy at least a couple of handmade gifts to give this Christmas. Here are 10 lovingly handcrafted pieces that have caught my eye.

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Articles of daily use - #5 Samurai sword kitchen knives

Based on the folded construction of Samurai swords, and forged in Seki City - the heart of Japan's Samurai sword making industry - TOG is a new range of elite kitchen knives.

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Bright lights for dark nights

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

I've been an admirer of Made.com's affordable, design led furniture for some time now. I have their Graphix desk in my office at home and I work on it every day, the minimalist in me appreciating its clean simple lines. This week Made.com invited me to be a guest pinner for their Pinterest page. The board I've put together for them looks at industrial style interiors (still hugely popular), and is based around some of the pieces in their new lighting range. Here are three of my favourite designs from the new collection along with some of the Pinterest images that inspired me to choose them.

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Five Things - #003 Pleats

paper sculpture | dress | building | glasses | lamp

Pen to Paper

The art of letter writing has certainly dwindled over the past decade but this Christmas, rather than sending a festive text or email to your loved ones, why not put pen to paper and send a card?

It’s much nicer to receive ‘fun’ post rather than the usual pile of bills and bank statements that land on your doormat. There is certainly a huge array of Christmas cards to choose from but with independent stationery brands and shops cropping up, it’s good to show your support for them.

I have an ever-growing pile of cards waiting to be framed and I think that if you send well-designed cards then they can be kept and transformed into artwork. Ok, so you’re not likely to have a Christmas tree hanging on your wall year-round but it could become a unique festive decoration that you dig out of the loft every year.

Here are some of my favourites to choose from this year.

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10 of the best sales this weekend

I took a day off yesterday and headed to Bicester Village to brave the crowds (and the traffic queues) and buy a few Christmas gifts. If you're planning on staying home and doing some online shopping this weekend, here's a round up of some the best sale offers running over the next few days.

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• 20% off everything at Anthropologie (Friday 29th November to Monday 2nd December only).

• Free UK express delivery at Toast. (Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd November).

• Molton Brown have 25% off everything until Sunday. (Enter code: SURPRISE6).

• 15% off at Astley Clarke until Monday 2nd December. (Enter ADVENT at checkout).

• M&S have 20% off all home furnishings this weekend only.

• Design Hunter readers can enjoy an exclusive 10% off all gift purchases at Heal's until 30 November. (Enter code DESIGN10).

• Spend £250 online at Reiss before 1st December and receive a £50 gift card to spend instore.

• Up to 30% off clothing, home and fragrance at The White Company.

• 15% off everything except sale items at Designers Guild on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd December. (Enter code: FESTIVETREAT).

• House of Fraser have a brand event with up to 40% off.
  

Image: Waxed canvas bags via Analogue Life