Hygge Nook

Little fish, little fish: Normann Copenhagen cristal carafe

I'm trying to harmonise beauty and function in my house, after all, why have things that you don't truly love? And if they amuse you too, well, all the better! And that's why this carafe and cups set caught my eye. See the fish? Wouldn't it be to see it bobbing around once the carafe is filled.

I don't think it would work out as a picnic item (too heavy I imagine) but stockists Bodie & Fou suggest keeping it in the guest room for night time thirst. It comes with five plastic cups too, all for £39.50.

Do this! Frame an Eiffel Tower tea towel

Even functional things should be beautiful, shouldn't they? This tea towel is so pretty that one blogger has even popped it in an Ikea frame for a super cute picture update at Her Little Place.

Want it? £8.50 at What A Girl Needs.

Anthropologie to open UK stores - what's on your wishlist?

I'm seriously excited about the opening of Anthropologie stores here in the UK, one will be in London's Regent Street with another elsewhere in the city. We've been able to order things from the gorgeous store online for a while but there's nothing quite like picking up a platter, or spying a vase on a shelf that you may not have looked at otherwise or feeling the quality of the bedlinen, is there? I have a few things that are on my immediate radar so will be saving for the Autumn opening. What's on your wish list?

Celladon Trellis Bedding £36.51-£156.11, atom art bowl £5.04 (I'm thinking of using this as somewhere to drop jewellery rather than as a food bowl), Puffer bird measuring cups £22.66, Sui Generis photo frame £23.92, I spotted an egg crate similar to this being used as a jewellery holder over at This Young House and it's such a cute re-use of a simple product £7.55.

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.

Colourful Guzzini salad bowls and servers

I spotted a brilliant orange salad bowl by Guzzini in a magazine and whilst I haven't been able to find the same one online, I have fallen a little in love with several of their other kitchenware products. This purple (though the blurb says fuchsia) salad bowl for instance is so vibrant and colourful, can you imagine it in the centre of the table against a backdrop of white crockery? Lovely, bright and fun. The salad bowl is £16.10 and the servers £7.90. Other colours are acid green, clear orange and clear red and as they're plastic they can be used outdoors on the garden table too.

 

Cheap Vs. Chic: Polka dot mugs

 

I have polka dot mugs in my own kitchen in pink, blue and black and whilst I desperately wanted the Cath Kidston ones, I knew my own near identical mugs at £1 were too good a bargain to miss. They aren't available anymore but I have found some competively priced mugs in Sainsbury's Tu range at £1.49 each in pink or chocolate. This Cath Kidson set with a curved lip sells for £20 for four or a single mug costs £7.

Like this? More Cheap Vs. Chic

Ceramics at Berry Red

The vintage quality to these gorgeous ceramics - not to mention the subtle colours - are really appealing to the eye. The print on the seedhead vase  (£22.50), top left, reminds me a little of the Nelson repro clocks whilst the apple print 50's vase is a touch Orla Kiely (£13). The mint baking dish is super cute with fluted edges (£44) and I can imagine lots of other uses for the utensil jars, £8-£15. They're all at Berry Red who stock lots of other vintage home accessories (stumbled across via Decor8).

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.

'More tea vicar?' teapot from the V&A

I don't know why it's funny to say 'more tea vicar?'. It just is. So you might as well save everyone the trouble of trying to say it first by having it printed on a traditional teapot. Also it would be particularly useful if you have laryngitis and a member of the clergy drops in and you just know that is going to happen when you least suspect it. £32 at the V&A shop.