My house is in a book!

It seems strange to be beginning the year by telling you about something that actually happened back in 2015 but for one reason or another I didn’t get round to sharing the exciting news that interior stylist Selina Lake chose my home to be featured in a book she published last Spring, Botanical Style. It does kind of fit with the start of a new year as the book is full of gorgeous images, photographed by Rachel Whiting, of very inspiring homes overflowing with plants, flowers and botanical accessories and textiles and I always think there is nothing better than a house plant to breath a bit of life into a stale room at this time of year.

Here are a couple of the photographs of my home that are featured in the book but you can also find images of my sitting room, home office, dining area and hallway if you buy the book…

Botanical Style by Selina Lake | Apartment Apothecary

My bedroom styled by Selina Lake featuring botanical textiles – my grandmother’s quilt and one of my favourite cushions designed by Abigail Borg.

Botanical Style by Selina Lake | Apartment Apothecary

The other side of my bedroom with my ‘wardrobe plants’ as I like to call them, a hanging planter and more vintage botanical textiles covering my grandmother’s nursing chair.

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A hanging planter in my kitchen that I made from a vintage jelly mould filled with herbs – perfect if you have no outdoor space to grow plants.

Behind the scenes

I took a couple of snaps on the day that Selina and Rachel spent here of their props and set-ups. It was so wonderful to watch them at work and it felt such an honour for them to be styling and photographing my home!

Botanical Style

With Rachel Whiting’s brilliant images as well as all the tips and ideas for adding more green to your home this is one of Selina’s best books in my opinion (and not just because my home is in it!). Botanical Style by Selina Lake, published by Ryland Peters & Small, photography by Rachel Whiting ©Ryland Peters & Small.

Botanical Style by Selina Lake | Apartment Apothecary

You can buy the book directly through my blog, if you would like to. It would make a great coffee table book as well as a lovely present for a plant or interiors lover.

This is the perfect time of year to add more layers of green to your home to help freshen it up after all the festivities of the last month.

Katy x

A tour of our nursery

I really wanted to get the baby’s room ready before Christmas and I’ve just about made it. I have to say it has been the most difficult room that I have decorated to date and if I’m totally honest I’m not delighted with it because it has to serve as a nursery, guest room and work room so I never felt that I could create exactly what I wanted as there had to be so many compromises in terms of space and practical furniture choices, except the cot that I absolutely love. However, the most important thing is that it feels so lovely to spend time in this room as it’s warm, cosy and welcoming and it’s very, very practical with loads of storage and the space works well for the purpose.

I’m sure it will change loads once the baby is here and it begins to fill up with toys and baby stuff – I don’t even know what that stuff will be yet! There are lots of empty shelves and drawers waiting to be filled and a little baby’s character to discover so I will definitely keep you up to date on how the space evolves in the next few weeks and months. I thought it would also be nice to get some proper photos done once baby is here so we can show her off at the same time.

But for now, these pics will have to do…dark, dark days, a huge tummy and extreme tiredness are not conducive to good photos, I’m afraid! By the way, I have compiled a list of everything in the room so pop down to the end of the post to find out where everything is from.

Nursery tour | Sebra kili cot | Apartment Apothecary

As you come into the room we have put my desk tucked into the corner, a day bed on the right, the cot under the window as this was the only spot it would fit but I reckon we will move it once the baby starts sleeping in here in a few months time, and a large set of drawers running down the left side of the room. I have also added a rug to make the room feel cosy.

The only thing we have done to the room is re-paint the floor and touch up the walls (see that process in this post). We then painted all the woodwork including the skirting boards, window frame and ledge and the door in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue. I used that colour as a basis for the other muted colours including blue, green and pink.

Nursery tour | Pocket string shelf and reva changing basket | Pinch toys wooden toys | Apartment Apothecary

I needed a large chest of drawers in this room as there was no space for a wardrobe. I changed the knobs to white porcelain ones.

The large IKEA chest of drawers was a must for storage purposes. We did have the option of a beautiful vintage pine cupboard and I was soooo tempted but it just wasn’t practical. Jules, who doesn’t usually get very involved in choosing furniture, was adamant that I did two things in this room: add colour and choose practical furniture. Therefore, he won on the cupboard front and actually these drawers are ridiculously good for fitting loads in them. The top of the unit is perfect for a changing spot, too.

Nursery tour | Hemnes chest of drawers from IKEA | Apartment Apothecary

Drawer dividers are perfect for lots of cute little baby clothes.

I was going to try to do without any desk space but I quickly realised that whilst I could it would be silly not to take advantage of this corner of the room where the vintage school desk from our hallway fits perfectly. It’s actually a really nice spot to work from.

Nursery tour | Sebra kili cot | Apartment Apothecary

The wall facing the window was the perfect spot for a desk as it fits perfectly here. This vintage school desk used to be our hallway table. Again, we used Light Blue for the door and its frame.

Nursery tour | Sebra kili cot | Apartment Apothecary

I used a couple of spice racks for my stationery as the desk is so small and hung my favourite Double Merrick print over the desk.

It’s not ideal to have the cot under the window so we will probably have a shift around once the baby starts actually sleeping in this room. For now though the day bed takes priority as I’m pretty sure there are going to be nights where either I need to feed the baby in here or Jules needs to escape for a full night’s sleep. It’s also great to have space for family to come and stay.

Nursery tour | Sebra kili cot | Apartment Apothecary

The rug brings so much warmth to this room and it fits the space perfectly. Another favourite addition is the hot air balloon lampshade that diffuses the overhead light so beautifully.

Nursery tour | Muuto Dots coat hooks and Cable and Cotton lights | Apartment Apothecary

The Muuto Dot coat hooks are perfect for hanging the lights on.

Nursery tour | White paper doll house | Apartment Apothecary

I have bought a few toys, books and decorative objects for the baby that she won’t be able to play with for AGES but nice to have a bit of visual stimulation, I thought. But, as you can see, there is lots of space for more!

Nursery tour | Sebra kili cot | Apartment Apothecary

Nursery tour | Sebra kili cot | Apartment Apothecary

The cot is my absolute favourite thing about the room. I will tell you more about it when the baby starts using it but it cleverly extends to a toddler bed and a child’s bed that will last until she is 7 years old.

Nursery tour | Pocket string shelf and reva changing basket | Pinch toys wooden toys | Apartment Apothecary

I’m sure these shelves above the changing basket will fill up with cotton wool and nappies in no time at all and the pretty wooden toys will be banished to a drawer somewhere!

Nursery tour | Pocket string shelf and reva changing basket | Pinch toys wooden toys | Hemnes chest of drawers from IKEA | Apartment Apothecary

And that’s it!

So, nursery is done, baby’s clothes are washed and folded, pram and car seat have been bought and we have a crib ready in our bedroom. All that remains is for this baby to arrive in three weeks – we can not wait to meet her!

Katy x

Source list:

Furniture and paint

Paint – Light Blue estate eggshell on all wood work and All White floor paint, both c/o Farrow & Ball

Cot – Sebra Kili cot bed c/o Houseology

Day bed – Hemnes day bed from IKEA (with white porcelain knobs from John Lewis)

Drawers – Hemnes chest of 8 drawers from IKEA (with white porcelain knobs from John Lewis)

Large shelving unit – String shelving from Haus London

Small shelving unit – Pocket string from Haus London

Textiles

Rug – Kolong rug c/o Urbanara

Quilt – Chambray blue single hand quilted blanket from Camomile London

Grey throw in basket – Star throw c/o Baby Mori

Cushions – House cushions from Camomile London

Pillowcases  – Ticking stripe pillowcases from Toast

Muslins in changing basket – Pre-washed muslins in blush pink, white and grey c/o Baby Mori

Accessories

Changing basket – Reva oval changing basket from The Tipi

Lampshade – Hot air balloon lampshade from Modern Nursery

String of lights – Marshmallow Cable and Cotton lights from Houseology

Hooks – Muuto Dots coat hooks in oak from Houseology

Plant on windowsill – geo-fleur

Chalkboard – Blackboard with chalk and sponge from Labour and Wait

Toys

Elephant – Sebra elephant on wheels c/o Smallable

Soft bunny – Isla cuddle toy from Scandiborn

Sausage dog toy – Lazy puppy cushion from Scandiborn

Wooden cars and blocks – Handmade wooden toys from Pinch Toys

Doll house – White paper doll house from Sarah and Bendrix Kids

Whale – Ferm Living whale mobile c/o Smallable

Wall art

Print on small String shelf – Mother and Daughter illustration by Saar Manche from Tea and Kate

Print above desk – Screen print by Double Merrick (this particular print no longer available, I’m afraid)

Print next to drawers – Princess and the pea by Christian Jackson from Image Kind

*Do let me know if there is anything else that I haven’t mentioned that you would like to find out more about.

A fresh new year interior

Happy new year, all! I hope everyone celebrated well and has had a couple of days to recover from all the festivities.

As soon as Christmas is done I have an uncontrollable urge to completely strip out all of the decorations, get them all packed away, give the house a good clean and look at the space with brand new, fresh eyes. I want everything to be clean, bright and ready for a new year and new beginnings. I am the kind of person who can’t think straight unless my surroundings are in order and this controls me big time at this point of the year!

So, whilst I am ‘new year cleaning and sprucing’ here is a little inspiration of what I would love to achieve – a wonderful blank canvas on which to build during the coming year…

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalism | Apartment Apothecary |

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalist style | Apartment Apothecary

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalist style | Apartment Apothecary

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalist style | Apartment Apothecary

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalist style | Apartment Apothecary

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalist style | Apartment Apothecary

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalist style | Apartment Apothecary

Swedish apartment | Scandinavian interiors | Minimalist style | Apartment Apothecary

This Swedish apartment with all its light and airiness looks like heaven to me. No clutter, simple colour palette with hints of grey and tiny dots of pink and space to move and breathe. Deeeelightful. If you need me, I’ll be trying to achieve this in my home over the next couple of days. Anyone else trying to do the same?

Happy 2017!

Katy x

*All images via Fantastic Frank.

Favourite posts of 2016

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is feeling happy, full to the brim with food and drink and relaxed. As the new year approaches I have been reflecting on the year that has been and flicking through the blog posts I have written this year. It’s amazing the memories that come flooding back just by seeing a blog post title: events and days I had completely forgotten about. For me personally it is has been such an important year and so completely different to the last few years that were filled with angst and sadness as we spent four years battling infertility – and battle is the right word. This time last year I felt we had turned a corner and I could see a little light at the end of the tunnel as we had taken a break from IVF treatment and the haze that had surrounded me for so long cleared slightly. A few months later and in the Spring of 2016 we finally got the positive pregnancy test we had dreamed of for so long and as I type this we are just a couple of weeks from baby’s due date; it is still difficult to believe! 2017 looks to be a very exciting one for us and I have never felt so incredibly grateful as we move into the new year.

Here is a round up of my year via some of my favourite blog posts. I hope you’d like to go back to some of these old posts, too, especially if you missed them first time around.

Best DIY

Perhaps one of my best DIY projects ever because these leather handles that I made from bookmarks for our kitchen makeover that we completed in February have proven to be robust, effective and look great.

Best room makeover

We started 2016 by redecorating our living room and kitchen and it was such an enjoyable project that has made a huge difference to the feel of our whole home. It was the perfect way to start the year.

Best house tour

My favourite home that I featured on the blog in 2016 was the incredibly beautiful and unique Hampstead home of Celia, who is the founder of children’s clothing brand La Coqueta. Totally dreamy.

Best event

One of my favourite events of the year was a wonderful house tour organised by Function + Form and Houzz. I totally fell in love with this space…

Best trip

When I went through my 2016 posts I had completely forgotten about a trip that my sister organised for my mum’s 70th to Babington House. Someone take me back!

Best moment

And finally, my best moment of 2016 was finding out that our fifth round of IVF had worked. A mixture of absolute terror and extreme elevation has followed and I can’t wait to share news of baby’s arrival next month (please keep everything you own crossed that all goes well for us!).

I really hope 2016 has been a good year for you and that 2017 holds good things, too. Wishing everyone lots of love.

Katy x

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas everyone!

I hope the stockings have been ripped open and chocolates are already being eaten. I just wanted to drop in to really briefly wish you a happy day, whatever it is that you are up to and however it is that you celebrate. Wishing you all a belly full of food, lots of laughter, silly hats and a cosy evening with loved ones.

Lots of Christmas kisses to you all!

Katy xxx