Hygge Nook

Party planning - what's on your table?

Party planning is on my mind right now. I managed to go to two birthday parties last night, both quite informal affairs. One was in one of my favourite pubs, the other in a new friend's home and she had really gone to town on the presentation with a delicate cake stand piled with petit fours and smart serveware. Naturally that made me think of my own humble shindigs and, of course, the upcoming party season. Personally I feel you can never go wrong with some crisp white serveware. It should never date but you can shake things up with pretty shapes and colourful detailing -

Clockwise from top left: These four jigsaw dishes would make a nice gift and be great for serving up nuts and sweets (£15 Next), I spotted this porcelain square bowl on a trip to Homebase and I think they're really stylish and suitable for hot 'n' cold snacks (£2.99 each Homebase - the plates would make a great accompaniment for larger tasty items), I like the delicate waves of colour on this 365+ Drom bowl, and as they aren't Christmas-themed, you can definitely use them all year round (£2.59 Ikea) and finally, this wooden chip 'n' dip trio makes a great gift for yourself too and doesn't that crisp white ceramic look fab against the natural wood? (£10 BHS).

All the pretty things at Laura Ashley

After writing the last post, I had to take a look through the rest of the online Laura Ashley store. Of course, I couldn't help but fall in love with many of the items, particularly these four. Aren't the blue tones of the glassware lovely and wouldn't this enamel butterfly windchime like beautiful dangling from a tree in a country garden? I'd certainly like to give my dresser an elegant update with these glass and mirrored trinkets.

Clockwise from top left: Cream enamel wind chime with butterfly details ~ small optic glass jar ~ set of two mirrored trinket boxes ~ Blue pressed wine glass.

If you like polka dots, butterflies and bunting, there are plenty of homewares with these themes and it certainly helps (my bank balance) that there is a sale on!

Concetta Gallo dinnerware for Habitat

I've been thinking about these plates all week. I can't decide if I'd want them on my dining table (are they too beautiful to actually use?) or on my wall. They play up to my childhood desires for a beautiful black horse... scratch that, still want one! The blurb says, "This distinctively beautiful yet odd aesthetic is all about contrast and juxtaposition" and yes, it is oddly beautiful. It's £11 for a dinner plate, £8 for a side plate and £95 for the vase.

Beautiful products from Danish brand Rice

I've mentioned before that I love Rice and as I'm in Denmark this week, I thought it would be nice to talk abotu a few Danish brands that have caught my eye. No, I didn't come to Denmark to blog btw, this was set up in advance and I'm out having a lovely time! (shameless plug alert).

What I particularly like about the brand is the beautiful range of colours, that most of the melamine products are very child friendly without falling into the nasty plastic tat category. There's something so very pretty about Rice and they are steadily attracting a following. It's just a shame that the products aren't so easy to get hold of though more and more shops are carrying the goods - there's a shopfinder for Rice here. I hope I have enough space to bring home a bunch of stuff!

 

Have you noticed an upsurge in patchwork and crochet blankets? I have and I think they bring a wonderful homely touch to the abode.

Their designs really know how much pattern to add without getting too chintzy or corny.

Apparently this year their mantra is "yellow is the new pink" hence all those pops of yellow. I didn't use to be much of a yella gal but I think they've converted me. It's such a happy colour.

 

The yellow really perks up this vintage jug. Do you like the birds on the plate stand? What a pretty way to dress up a useful kitchen item.

Have you discovered Bouf yet?

It's a marketplace for emerging homeware designers and it's one of the most addictive sites I've ever found. So many beautiful products... so hard to stop clicking.

There's an excellent range of products - from teacups to, er, chairs made of cutlery. The price range is pretty wide too (teacup: £8.00; cutlery chair: £4,500).

I'm currently OBSESSED with Esther Coombs's phenomenally gorgeous and creative cake stands, made from "found and unloved glass and china in every place from charity shops of other people’s attics" and decorated with Esther's hand drawings (this one features Bourbon biscuits, Custard Creams and teabags). This one costs £60 and would make an incredible gift. (My birthday's this Monday.)

Pretty pink bistro table set at Bombay Duck

 

Even if your outside space is very small, it should still be used and this candy pink striped bistro table (measuring a cosy 60x60cm) and two chair set would look very summery perched on a balcony or a patio. It also comes in a stripy blue colourway if you're digging the seaside look (£137.02) The spotty tumblers are lovely too - perfect for picnicing - they're £14.68 for four.

Elspeth Gibson 'antique-chic' homewares at Tesco

Fashion designer Elspeth Gibson has launched a range of homewares this month with Tesco Direct with some rather bargainous prices attached to the pretty vintage-style designs. Pillows are less than £10, duvet sets around £20-35 or a blossom teapot for £15. The blossom print features on several items throughout - on tableware and bed linen - and is quite lovely.

 

Some might quibble on the quality - the cushion, for example is 65% polyester but for £9.79, it's to be expected. The cake stand and teapot make me want to immediately throw a girly tea party with petit fours and other treats. Find the range online here.

Fishs Eddy milk glasses

If I knew anyone who was going to New York in the next few weeks, I'd definitely be asking them to bring me back a set of these milk glasses from US dishware store, Fishs Eddy.

Reduced from $6 to $2/$2.40 (each), they'd look fantastic lined up on a windowsill, used as stem vases or for, you know, drinking milk out of!

Cheap vs Chic: Printed dinnerware

The prints on these tableware items are so similar that it's not hard to guess who has copied whom. Seasoned Orla Kiely fans will instantly recognise the cross hatch stem mug on the left, which comes in brown or blue at £7.85 each. However, if you want a 12-piece set of dinner plates, side plates and bowls for £28 or a set of four mugs for £6, head over to Next.

Like this? More Cheap vs Chic

Stylish budget finds at the supermarket

It's amazing what finds its way into the trolley, isn't it? Nip out for a baguette and some cheese and come home with two cushions and a vase... I've rounded up a few pretty things from the supermarkets homewares aisles.

From top left, Jeff Banks 12 piece dinner service, £9.79 at Asda Direct. Gold scratched-effect vase, £5 Tesco Direct. Manor teapot, £25, M&S. Cushions, each £5.99, and chenille throw £14.99, Sainsburys. Cream waffle jersey cotton bedset, £49.50 M&S.