Big Ideas: An Oriental spa bathroom

This bathroom definitely has the wow factor, and while I’m not usually drawn to Oriental decor I’d happily make an exception for a bathroom like this. I’m not sure I’d spend much time anywhere else though. It’s a very well put together roomset, but has one element that i think is completely impractical, no matter how pretty it looks. I think you’ll spot what I mean fairly quickly…

The Big Ideas for this bathroom are:

1. A sunken fish tank - yeap - the impractical element. It does provide a focal point, but most of us only have an indoor water feature when something’s leaking, right?

2. Japanese screens: the frosted screens provide diffused light, and their sliding design would also work well to divide a room.

3. A modern bath: another standalone bath, and a shape that works for me. I’m much more of a simple clean lines kind of girl, rather than the fancy, twirly approach.

4. Zoned floor: it works here, I think because the space is big enough. In a smaller space I’m not sure it would have quite the same impact.

5. The white suite: I’m in the “why would you have another colour suite” gang, but then again I’ve replaced a couple of avocado baths…

I like the flowers in the sunken stream, but I’m clumsy enough to fall into it regularly. So even if it was feasible, I’m still not convinced on the practical side. And don’t even mention pets or children. Or coming home a little bit tiddly.

I do love the screen though, isn’t it fabulous? Although I think I’d need the bath facing the other way so I could spend my time in the tub imagining the fish swimming about, how relaxing would that be?

The other thing that’s pleasing is the grouting and its straight lines, which are also calming and another thing to let your eye wander over while relaxing. I know that sometimes if I let my mind wander on things like this, then suddenly whatever my mind has been wondering and pondering over becomes clear. I think this bathroom would be the perfect antidote.

But maybe not the stream…

Although I do have to admit it does look pretty. Just, as I said before, not very practical!

Plant Life Girl: the print that called my name

* This item was gifted by Mode Prints

Artwork is a funny thing, isn’t it? We know it’s one of the ways we can add our personality to our homes, but often it’s a tricky thing to get right, because it’s such a personal thing.  Well, I think that if you’re doing it right it’s a personal thing, the right artwork should reflect your personality, you should like it and you should be proud to hang it on your wall, as if you’re like me it’s not something you’ll change that often. 

It can be tricky when you have different ideas and tastes on decor though.  My style is more modern, whereas MOH’s is on the traditional side, and so often we’ll end up With different ideas.  I’ve written before how MOH and I have found it hard to find artwork we both like and agree on, and how it involves finding a compromise on both sides, as well as some luck actually finding something we can both live with.  I mean, there’s no point having something on the wall that one of you really dislikes, is there?

But sometimes a print just speaks to you and you know it’s meant to be.  And that’s how it was for me with this Plant Life Girl Poster by Mode Prints. 

Yes, it’s yellow. Yes, it features a girl.  And yes, it has plants.

I think that’s a fairly good summary of me.

It’s also quirky, matches our decor, and I knew it would look perfect on our gallery wall in our craft-room-cum-study.

And yes, we’re still having that debate, not actively of course, but at times MOH tries to reclaim the room to work from home in, but then remembers it’s full of stuff (you know, books, craft items and such like) and ends up graciously retreating again.  As an aside, having a place for ourselves is something we’ve realised we need, and something we’re contemplating as an essential for our next house, whenever that might me.  I’m hoping that our list  won’t end up being so long we become one of those demanding and uncompromising couples you see on those property programmes…

It’s the type of print that I can’t help but look at.

It’s one that makes me smile and is a beautiful illustration that provokes your imagination.  I mean, is that one of those traditional souwesters that the girl is wearing, and given the weather this weekend that would be entirely sensible.  And why is she hiding behind the plant?  There’s so many stories and interpretations that each of us could have, and I’m sure that if pressed, each of us would come up with something different. 

To me that’s the beauty of good artwork, we can interpret it ourselves, and as our mood sees fit, and it means something to each of us.

It’s entirely coincidental that this weekend, when I took these photos, was the first weekend I’ve had daffodils in the house.  But a happy coincidence, and once I’d spotted how good they looked together, they were always going to appear side by side in this post. 

The art and stationery at Mode Prints has a simplicity about it that I’m sure will prove popular.  They’re London based but ship internationally; formed in 2017 their collections feature botanical prints, children’s decor, greeting cards and stationery as well as personalised gifts and homeware.

A look at their website quickly confirms what I already suspected, that they

“love Scandinavian and nordic styles and are passionate about design”

If you’re after some beautiful and modern artwork then do take a look at their website, I think you’ll be pleased with what you discover.

The prints come in a range of sizes, and are available framed or undreamed. My print is the A4 size, framed in black. It’s worth noting that the print is A4, the frame larger.  

While, this print was always destined for our gallery wall I was keen to get it on the wall and start the admiration.  So for the past week or so, it’s been the first thing we see as we head up our stairs.

If you’re keen on creating a gallery wall of your own, but aren’t sure where to start I’ve seen that Mode Prints have a section on their site dedicated to Gallery Walls, where you can buy sets of prints that complement each other.

I also realised that where I’ve had it hanging is a particularly hard space to photograph, as it has little natural light and when it does the metalwork of the stairs reflect in the picture. 

So to show this off at its best, and to do it justice, some staging was needed and the conservatory made the ideal spot as that has similar colours as the decor in the room at the top of our house, which as you can see has a space just ready and waiting for a new picture. 

MOH wasn’t consulted about this piece, and while it’s not his usual style, he agrees it’s a perfect addition to our space.  The wall is one of our sloping walls, so we’ll need to add fixings to the frame to secure the picture both top and bottom.  And yes, why wouldn’t we have a gallery wall on a sloping wall, it looks great and adds interest and momentoes to the room, although I’ll admit MOH took some persuading to start with too.

And it’s just perfect as I thought it would be, what do you think?

* This print was gifted by Mode Prints for the purposes of this review, however all views and opinions are my own.

Blackbirds or a mossy throne

I’m sharing another Norfolk post today, this one’s also from the shops at Creake Abbey and is more of a sculpture than anything else. When I first saw it I assumed the seat was succulents, but it’s not, it’s moss.

But look closer.

It’s easy to see the wire bird on the seat cushion, but what’s it up to? I think it’s feeding the blackbirds with their beaks open, what do you think?