Dreaming away to a fantastic garden

As winter is here we may not spend as much time in our gardens, but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming about how we could use the garden in the summer!

When it comes to decorating your garden most of us think in the lines of plants and garden furniture, but if space allows – why not think bigger and outside the box?

Below are some great and creative ideas for the lucky ones with bigger gardens (and bigger bank accounts). But the rest of us can always appreciate the sights and still dream, right?

Outdoor fireplaces
Installing an outdoor fireplace creates a natural meeting point in your garden, where you can spend time both summer and winter. Why not get some friends around or get the kids to go outside by gathering around the roaring fire and barbequing some hotdogs on sticks, for an all old fashioned cosy time?

 

Treehouses

A treehouse is every kid’s dream! But it’s also a great investment for the ones that are young at heart. Nothing stops you from building a treehouse as a grown up. You can always use it as an office. You’ll be sure to have some peace and quiet around you.

Garden pods

And talking about offices… Do you work at home but find that you lack space or that you always get disturbed. Or do you simply need to feel as if you’re leaving home for work even though you’re not? Why not get a garden pod? These can easily be placed in your garden, and comes in a range of different shapes and sizes. If an office isn’t what you need, then why not use it as a guest room, or perhaps a second living room? The pod in this particular photo is from Podspace.

 

Greenhouses

Have you got green fingers but the cold weather is stopping you from doing gardening in the winter? There are all sorts of greenhouses you could invest in, or even build yourself, in all sizes you could imagine. Have a browse around Houzz for more inspiration of great greenhouses.

Winding paths

Tired of that old lawn, and want to make your garden look more interesting? Then paths is the answer! A winding path around the house creates a feeling of creativity and will definitely get people curious.

Waterfalls

When it comes to creative gardens there’s nothing more beautiful than decorating with water. And even though this waterfall piano is extremely creative and simply stunning, and simple waterfall or a little creek running through your garden can add so much to the aesthetics of your home. I found this great picture on Pinterest. Remember - with some handy skills you could create this too!

Ponds

A pretty pond with a couple of goldfish is a pretty sight and will definitely be a conversation starter for any guests you may bring around. Water also adds a calming effect to you, so a stroll around your garden pond can help relieve stress.

Gorgeous console tables

My latest furniture crush? Console tables!

We're just in the middle of DIY-ing at home, and have ended up with a small wall where there was formerly a door. What to do with this space?

Initially, I wanted to put up a massive baroque mirror to fill this space and making our landing look bigger, but my boyfriend doesn't trust in the thin wall being able to handle the weight of that. Therefore, I'm now thinking in the line of a console table.

So what is a console table? It's one of those small and very narrow tables that you place along a wall, usually in the hallway or in the livingroom where you're lacking space. Sometimes they have 4 legs, but other times only 2, in which cases you have to secure the back of the table to the wall. It's a table on which you place decorative items such as lamps or candle holders. Pointless, some might say, but these tables really adds a nice feel to a room. 

For example, I've seen people place them behind the sofa in the livingroom when the sofa is placed in the middle of the room. That way, the table hides the less attractive back of the sofa, and it makes your livingroom more cosy.

I recently spotted the below console table at Rodgers of York, and I'm in love! It's just the perfect amount of shabby chic with its white legs and wooden surface. I really love it! It would either go really nice by my new wall-addition, or in my future dining room that we're still planning to build.

Nostalgic designer fabrics

When I first saw the new collection by fabric designer Julia Brendel I thought of home, and home being Sweden. The patterns just really remind me of old-time Sweden, and the table cloths and kitchen towels my dear grandma used to weave.

However, this collection is not inspired by Scandinavia, but of the traditional 19^th century Hungary. The range is very nostalgic and folk-inspired with its lovely muted hues and soft patterns, and would be a  perfect addition to a more traditional kitchen. The fabrics just give that lovely homely feeling to a room, and creates a really chic character.

The Hungarica collection is woven by highest standards and is infused with top quality craftsmanship such as lace and cross stitch, which along with the soft pastel colours of lavender and sky blue makes a perfect composition. 

What do you think of Hungarica by Julia Brendel?

Uplift an interior with vibrant lamps

I’m a big fan of lamps. I believe that lamps really do shape a room and give it its personality.

The right lamp uplifts an interior and creates that cosy atmosphere that make you feel comfortable and at home.

The latest styles in my lamp wish-list come from Heathfield & Co’s new 2014 collection. They’ve created a range of vibrant and decorative lamps that are bang on trend, and at the same time very luxurious. Just have a look at the beauties below in all the pretty hues and shapes. 

I must say I’ve got a sore spot for the gorgeous blue lamp with the bottle stand.

Which one is your favourite?