ON-TREND: Pink Ombré

Pink ombré is everywhere at the minute. The lovely design can be found on tablecloths, curtains, furniture, cushions, crockery and even cake! Yes, the graduated colour design has taken us by storm. Despite the intensity of the shocking-pink colour, this trend is actually very user-friendly and can be used quite subtly in a living space. I love this trend and can see it sticking around for a long time. A look that I really love, and one that is really simple to do yourself, is this wall hanging below.

I love how the simply dyed sheet looks like a piece of art. It's a very cheap to create and is easily changeable too. If you were after something a little subtler though, how about these accessories?

The storage container is from Varpunen, the wooden kitchen utensils are from Shelter Black, the cushion and curtains are from Esprit and the wicker planter is from Ikea.

What a gorgeous trend! The pretty pastel styling above is by Charlotte Love and you can see more images from this shoot on her blog. Her theme for the shoot was Pastel and Ice Cream and I think the images are LOVELY.

{Images: image one via my Pinterest boards; image three via Charlotte Love}

ON TREND: Kilim

My, it has been a while since I was last here! Thank you all so much for sticking around, it's so nice to know you are all still here. The OH and I have been looking for our new home and it's taking up every free second that we have! Exhausting work, but hopefully it will all be worth it in the end and I'll be able to share our new pad with you! But back to business and today I want to share with you the latest trend in interior decoration, and one that I like a LOT: the kilim.

Kilims, pile-less woven rugs, have been used in households in the Middle East and southern Europe for centuries. Now, these beautiful textiles seem to be the latest 'must-have' in western interiors. Not only are they great for adding a splash of colour and texture to a room, they are also really versatile and can fit in almost any room in the house. The photo below is of Refinery29's office space.

The mixed-matched cushions look fantastic together don't they?

Kilims also look great in the home environment and this highly decorative rug below adds interest to a fairly plain room.

Again, in this hallway below, the kilim rug just completely makes the room. It's also a lovely neutral version compared to the red, burgundy and maroons ones we are used to seeing.

The kilim also works in the kitchen environment, an area that is normally a no-go area for rugs and textiles. This beautiful white, industrial-style kitchen instantly feels more homely with the addition of the rug. It brings a bit of softness to a harsh colour palette.

Kilims even work outside and can help create a cosy little snug in a conservatory or porch area, as seen in the photo on the left. Also, an original idea I came across on Design*Sponge this week was to use a beautiful rug as a tablecloth and this kilim looks GORGEOUS as a table-runner for a little al-fresco dining.

Owning an original kilim will set you back a good few hundred pounds and should be bought from specialists in this craft. However Anthropologie do a great selection of decorative rugs if you want the look for less.

1. Vilcanota rug, Anthropologie; 2. Agadir twist rug, Anthropologie.

Kilim cushions are more readily available than the rugs and this selection below, along with a whole lot more, can be found on Etsy.

1. Turkish kilim cushion cover, Etsy; 2. Handwoven cushion cover, Etsy; 3. Turkish Anadolu cushion cover, Etsy; 4. Handwoven cushion cover, Etsy.

{Images: Design*Sponge; Apartment Therapy; Pinterest: Poppytalk; Style Files; Design*Sponge, Anthropologie; Etsy}

Oh, I do like to be beside the sea!

Imagine the scene: there's a log fire crackling away, you can hear the crashing of waves outside and the blustery wind is blowing through the beach hut; John Lewis have gone all nautical and I approve! The new collection for Spring showcases the best in rustic seaside charm and includes hurricane lanterns, glassware, anchor cushions, driftwood photo frames and lots of wicker accessories. My favourite pieces are the Bastille lamp, numbered glass jars and wooden utility draws, all of which give a nod to the trend without being gimmicky.

Head over to your nearest John Lewis store or check out their website for some sea-themed inspiration.

{Image: John Lewis}

My First Post! Trends for the New Season

For 2011 I told myself I'd do something I've wanted to do for a long time: create my own homeware blog. And here it is! Welcome to High Street Home, and my first post.

As it's the beginning of the year I thought I'd begin with showcasing some key trends for Spring/Summer 2011.

Look One: Industrial Apartment

Think studio apartment in the Big Smoke. Key themes are exposed brickwork, simple pendant lighting, quirky artwork and bold, brassy colours. Get the look on the high street from Habitat and Muji.

Image Credit: Apartment therapy

Look Two: Folk

This look is great for the Spring/Summer season as this trend focuses on pretty florals, girly prints and vintage-inspired pieces, alongside natural wooden furniture. Find great high street pieces at John Lewis and Marks & Spencer.

Image credit: John Lewis

Look Three: Simplicity

A timeless classic trend that works in any living space. Think white-washed walls, wood, wicker, church candles and glassware. Simple, clean-cut and classy. Create the look using high street shops The White Company and Toast.

All available from The White Company. Gorgeous!

These are just a few trends, and there will be many more as the season progresses but happy shopping until then!