Design ideas/tips – Page 27 – Apartment Apothecary

katy 10th March 2013

Design classics I want to get my hands on!

This is the first of my design classics posts. We can all dream (or be inspired and then come up with a cheaper, more realistic version)…

Desk lamps made from concrete. The attention to detail on the cord and switch turn this lamp into a beautiful piece of design. Benjamin Hubert.

Vitra Utensilo office organiser. This would work perfectly in my new work space but at £209 I might have to fashion my own solution. Heal’s.

Ercol nest of pebble tables. These are so versatile and the shape, the legs and finish are the best of Ercol design. John Lewis (to get the original 1960s tables buy from eBay).

I’ve been hankering after these vintage oak haberdashers’ drawers for ages. Peppermill Antiques £750 (I’d call that a bargain).

Dualit toaster to add a design classic to your kitchen because every detail counts. Dualit £78.50.

I have wanted this Ercol daybed for years, just need somewhere to put it. It not only looks beautiful but is very versatile. Give it to me! (To buy one you should bid on eBay for a bargain.)

This Conran Manilla armchair is so comfortable. This should be your priority when buying chairs, especially dining chairs, which is what I would use them for. Conran shop £275.

I have a navy blue Roberts radio and I am addicted to its dulcet tones. I now want the saffron version for my home office. Roberts £160.

katy 22nd February 2013

Shallow shelves

If you are the type of person who gets bored of their surroundings relatively quickly, shallow shelves could be for you; they allow you to display the pictures or objects that you love the most with the flexibility to change them with no effort at all. Also, if hanging pictures always seem far too much to cope with, shallow shelves are very easy to put up and don’t involve all the intricacies of hanging a piece of art. This type of shelf is also a great storage solution without eating up precious living space. Take a look at some examples to get inspiration:

Photographs on a stairwell. So much easier than hanging every single photograph on a difficult to reach area.

A simple, yet effective row of three prints. The shelf has been painted black to make this a feature and tie in with the rest of this gorgeous mid-century feel hallway.

Styled shelves look good in this monochrome work space.

Above a desk and used for a number of different objects: Pictures, signs, mirrors, prints etc. The over-lapping creates a modern, eclectic look.

Wow. This scares me a bit! Far too neat and tidy but I like the idea of storing small objects that you need on a regular basis on this type of shelf.

I like the idea of using this type of shelf to display work you have done with the ability to change it as you move on to different pieces of work. Could help with the creative process.

A very easy way of displaying plates and if you ever need to use one there is no hassle in taking it down and replacing it later.

If you ever wondered where to put all the random prints, pictures, framed photos (we have quite a few stuck under a bed) these shelves allow you to put everything together to create a point of interest.

Use shallow shelves with a lip to display books in a child’s room.

A real feature in this bathroom. Not sure I’d volunteer to dust this room…

Use for magazines and books, not just pictures.

Love the way these pieces of art are grouped together, but with the flexibility to move them around when you get bored.

A space to display toys in a child’s room.

This is the usually wasted space behind a door. Very clever.

This shallow shelf has been used to store cotton reels.

Are you inspired? If anyone has tried this please post a link in the comments section. Have a good week x

katy 22nd February 2013

What to do with a grain sack

Make a delightful French-style, no-sew curtain, that’s what. I’m excited about this because I have been trying to figure out a solution to the window dressing in our home office/craft room (Jules, would say it is his home office, whilst I would say it is my craft room) for a while. I don’t want to spend money on curtains and they would be too heavy for this room and I also want as much light to come in as possible, whilst blocking out just enough not to get glare on our computer. So, I have bought one grain sack on eBay for £20 and a curtain wire and clips from Ikea for £2.50. The challenge: To make a delightful cafe-style half-curtain. Here’s how I did it…

You will need:

1. Grain sack (just type grain sack into eBay search engine and choose the colour and design you like best but don’t pay more than about £20).

2. Curtain wire and clips (I bought mine from Ikea for £2.50 click here to view them)

3. Scissors

4. Drill

TUTORIAL:

1. Cut the sack open and cut off the excess fabric according to the measurements of your window. You don’t need to sew the resulting hems as the fabric is heavy duty but you can if you want a neater finish.

2. Put up your curtan wire following the enclosed instructions (this is the part you need the drill for). I put it about half way up the window.

3. Hang your fabric evenly with the clips.

4. And that is all there is to it!

How to make a no-sew grain sack cafe curtain | Quick and easy DIY project | No sew curtain | What to do with a grain sack | Apartment Apothecary

What could be easier?

Katy x

katy 20th February 2013

Hat wall

I’ve never created a hat wall myself simply because I’m not a ‘hat person’. However, I’ve seen others do it to great effect and what could be easier or cheaper? Hats have an instant impact and you can bargain that by the end of a party or dinner at your house everyone will have helped themselves and have turned it into a hat party. Before hanging hats you just need to consider what type of hats you intend to hang and in what formation. Have a look at the following examples for inspiration.

Hats, rather than art, add to the relaxed vibe of this readng nook.

Vertical line of overlapping hats hung on a gap between two doors in a hallway.

A single hat can make an impact.

These hats become ornaments in this hallway.

I love this simple, horizontal line of straw hats.

An eclectic mix hung in a planned formation adds interest to a blank wall.

Use hats to decorate a blank stairwell, hanging them in a random formation.

Hats can soften hard lines or dark furniture.

You can hang a row of hats on hooks.

Not quite hats but these baskets have the same effect.

I might need to buy myself some hats.

katy 19th February 2013

Plates

I love all types of crockery, porcelain and ceramics. Using beautiful plates to hang on walls means you can fully appreciate them and they can be hung anywhere in your home. Best of all, you can pick up the prettiest and cheapest of plates from charity shops, antique fairs and eBay.

Here are some ideas for hanging plates in your home.

Burleigh and Shelley plates hanging in kitchen

Collection of antique Burleigh and Shelley plates hanging on kitchen beam. All plates were bought on ebay for between £2 and £10. eBay is a good place to get a bargain.

Combine antique and new plates for an eclectic look.

These plates make a feature out of the chimney breast.

Solid, coloured plates make a design statement, almost like polka dots.

Vintage plates add inspiration to this work space.

Choose plates based on their colour like this bue and white collection.

A collection of plates in all different sizes and shapes that are drawn together by similar illustrations.

Hang pretty mis-matching floral plates together.

Overlap plates for an interesting display.

A vertical display of plates is a good option for long slim wall spaces like this.

Hang plates in a symmetrical display.

A black and white tableau of Fornasetti plates makes a bold statement.

Make your plate wall humorous, definitely a generator for conversation.

BUY YOUR OWN:

If you would like to begin your own plate collection have a look at some of these relatively inexpensive options:

Set of four art deco tea plates. Buy online from Not On The High Street for £24.99.

Bohemian set of four plates. Buy online from Not On The High Street for £45.

Set of four vintage art deco plates. Buy online from Not On The High Street for £25.

Burleigh pottery Asiatic Pheasants collection. Buy online for £5.85.

Retro plates featuring Royal festival Hall image

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain Mini Moderns has designed a range of porcelain plates featuring icons and motifs from the original Festival of Britain in 1951. A bargain at £18, I’d say.

1950 Festival cake plate. Buy online from Liberty £27.50 (treat yourself!)

Natural World plates from Anthropologie. Buy online from Anthropologie for £16.

Artist Tom Frost’s wildlife plate set £20.

Francophile dinner plate, one of a collection from Anthropologie. Buy online for £24.

HOW TO HANG:

An alternative to plate wires, disc plate hangers are ideal for hanging plates and have been successfully used in England for many decades. They are easy to use and will not damage your plates. Click on the picture to buy these online for a couple of pounds.

White wire rack allowing a plate to be mounted to the wall using an existing hook. The wire is sprung to ensure the plate is firmly gripped. Click on the picture to buy these online for less than £1.