All posts filed under: Trends

Sharing the love

Published by Karen Knox

It’s only Wednesday but it’s been a tough week for everyone. I think it’s fair to say we’re all feeling it. Personally, I found it hard to focus on any work at all yesterday, sensing myself getting angrier and more frustrated in the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karen Knox – Making Spaces (@makingspacesnet) I’m not a political person really, mainly because I don’t really understand the intricacies of religion, history and world politics. I just have to keep reminding myself to stay open, focus on my family, be wiser, better and stronger and most importantly love more. And continue to share that love. So i’ve literally focused on that message; “Share the love”. I’m not normally a sentimental, soppy kinda gal. I don’t have family photos on the walls, I hate plaques with the word “family” or “home” on. But you know how some people like to light a candle in memory of someone or to celebrate or reflect on an event? Maybe lighting up “love” at home could …

My Top 10 Mid Century Planters

Published by Karen Knox

Plants plants plants!! They are everywhere. And I love it. I can’t actually get enough of them. Combine my love of plants, styling and all things mid-century, this inevitably makes mid-century planters right up there with one of my fave things to add to interiors right now. Turned, tapered wooden legs? Elevated greenery? Yes please! Let me show you my top 10 picks . Tall Concrete Planter with Wooden Legs, £55 – Next Yes, you read right, Next! Wide Concrete Planter with Wooden Legs, £55 – Next Concrete and wood, super versatile materials to fit right into industrial, Scandi, vintage, mid-century and contemporary interiors. Modern Wood Leg Planter, £89 – West Elm “With their simple ceramic bowls and solid wood legs, our Modern Wood Leg Planters create an industrial look for your greenery. Even better? Their oak-finished legs have been treated to be used either inside or out.” A good choice for those of you looking to take the concrete look into the great outdoors. Turned Leg Tabletop Planters, from £24 – Westelm “Inspired by the clean silhouettes …

Living Room Update – Pt 2 #styleitdark

Published by Karen Knox

Ok, if you didn’t read Part I, then this post might not make that much sense. So you might want to pop back a couple of posts and catch up so you know what the heck i’m going on about today. Or just keep reading… you’re in charge. I think it’s fair to say I wasted spent a week painting various sections of this room. This bit that colour, that bit this colour. There are some sections of wall that have been painted four times over the space of a fortnight, I swear the room is smaller. https://www.instagram.com/p/BTRQx3RA0GD/?taken-by=makingspacesnet As much as I loved the tone of Dulux’s Rich Praline 3, it just did not work with our oak furniture or pine door. It was also a perfect match for the carpet (which I don’t like) making the room feel a bit “blah”. Not exactly the look I was going for when I started this room update. So after, repeatedly telling my hubster how the room would’t work unless I painted the door in with the …

Let’s talk about Next…

Published by Karen Knox

I tend to dip in and out of Next. They have had bursts of genius in their homeware department… which tends to come and go, so it’s always pot luck whether i’d find something of interest. Antler Light from Next used in my Eclectic Living Room Project Next have certainly stormed into 2017 wearing their best pants, giving us some SERIOUSLY good interiors inspiration. Some of it I want right this minute. And I think you might too. Come see. Spheres 6 Light Brass Pendant Light – £130 Oh my actually bloody hell what??? Can you see this? Yes, it’s from Next. And it will sell out. So if you like it, flipping buy it now. At £130, this is a steal when similar chandelier/multi-arm lights are selling for £500+. Palm Tree Table Lamp – £60 It’s so cool. Not too crazy. A great way of adding a subtle touch of personality and fun to your bedroom or living room. Evelyn Pendant – £35 Oh this is just ridiculous. £35? They may as well be giving them away. How …

Ikea 2017. What’s caught my eye?

Published by Karen Knox

Ikea have a habit of dropping little gems into their range without you even noticing. Some pop in and out of stock before you can say Billy Bookcase. I remember tweeting Ikea ages ago asking why they didn’t have a “What’s New” tab on their website. A page you could jump straight onto to see what treasures had arrived recently. And do you know what? They’ve flippin’ well got one now, so i’m taking full credit, everyone. You can thank me later. It’s here: New So here are some of my fave pieces that are indeed new for 2017. Stuff I would quite like to have for myself or put into projects. Come see… LIXHULT cabinet, £29 I actually already have one of these at home. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRF7JOuAeRT/?taken-by=makingspacesnet That didn’t take long did it? PS 2017 Storage Cabinet, £55 and Table Lamp, £25 More from that range below… PS 2017 lighting range from £19 – £69 FJALLBO Shelving Unit, £75 with the new HEKTAR Floor Lamp with 3 Spots, £49 GRENO Outdoor Cushion, £9 OSTLIG Plant Pot, …

Let’s talk about “Colour of the Year”

Published by Karen Knox

This post isn’t going to tell you anything you don’t already know. If you follow anything remotely interiors/fashion/media related, then you’ll already know what this year’s official “Colour of the Year” is. Ya know, by Pantone. Today’s post is to question what “Colour of the Year” actually means (and for me to have a little moan about it) because, although my husband is the most wonderful person I know, even he would struggle listening to me grumble on about this kind of stuff. But I know you guys will get it… Last September, Dulux UK released their chosen hue for 2017, “Denim Drift”. “Denim Drift is the must-have color of 2017. It is truly adaptable, fitting into all life and interior styles, making it the perfect choice for reflecting our new perspective for 2017.” Blue and grey are hardly new but I do like “Denim Drift”, a grey-er, more versatile shade similar to Pantone’s release last year, “Serenity”. Remember that one? At the same time as Denim Drift’s release came “Starry Sky” from Dulux Canada. A …

Faffing with furnishings

Published by Karen Knox

Since my last post, where I gave you a little peep at the pre- final reveal for the loft extension, quite a few of you asked where the throw on the bed was from. Nice init? Twas my Christmas pressie from the brother and sis in law. At £39.99 from Maisons Du Monde it was a steal, however, i’m afraid to say it’s now sold out. And i’m not surprised, as all things Moroccan, ethnic or tribal are hot to trot this year. EVORA blanket – Maisons Du Monde At 160 x 210cm it’s plenty big enough to sit across the entire width of the bed and hang over the sides. Really don’t like it when they come up too short and simply rest over the top. But that’s me, being fussy. They had (yes, past tense) matching cushion covers too. Also now sold out. Gah! Although they do still have the MAKASSAR black and white blanket available at £34.99 if you’re looking for a similar style and size. MAKASSAR blanket from Maisons Du Monde As i’m gassing on …

The elusive black tap

Published by Karen Knox

As you may have twigged by now, we’re currently in the middle of our loft conversion. The design of the two new spaces are a mix of Scandinavian and industrial design. Simple, raw materials, paired back with mainly a monochrome scheme. It was easy to add black to the bedroom. Sliding timber doors, furniture, window frames, bedsides… but it was more difficult to add it to the bathroom. Bathrooms by their very nature have a lot white in, what with 99% of ceramic sinks, loos, shower trays and baths being white (why is that?). Pair that with the chrome finish of nearly all taps, bottle traps, wastes, showers etc. and you’ve got a pretty restrictive palette to work around. I knew I wanted a black bathroom tap, but man, they’re not an easy find. And the more difficult it was for me to find one, it just made me want one more. I WILL FIND A BLACK TAP (and waste, and bottle trap). Around the same time as I was on Tap Hunt, one of my …

Lighting at M&S – A/W 2016

Published by Karen Knox

A little interiors inspo for you today. All visual. No chit chat. Well not much. Whenever I say no chit chat, I normally managed to chuck a few words together and ramble on more than expected. See, i’ve already started. Let me show you my fave finds from M&S lighting department for this A/W 2016. I think you’re gonna like ’em. Madison Cluster Light Beautifully simple way of adding a touch of “boho glam” to your ethnic interior scheme. Doesn’t come with bulbs so don’t get caught out with that one. Add some to your basket. Mila Chandelier Wanting to channel your inner Abigail Ahern with an oversized beaded chandelier, but can’t quite afford the price tags? M&S are onto a “winner winner chicken dinner” with the Mila chandelier. At £299 it’s just about do-able, but obviously wait until one of their discount weekends where they offer 20% off. Don’t forget Topcashback too. If you’re savvy you might be able to own this corker of a light for about £220. Paloma Pendant Coming in three distinctive shapes …

The 5th Wall – Conclusion

Published by Karen Knox

I finished it. What? Painting our ceiling in with the walls. Oh right, yeah I remember now, you wrote about starting that a couple of weeks ago didn’t you? Yeah. You can catch up here. We’ve now lived with it for a couple of weeks and i’m ready to give my honest (as ever) opinion on it. It’s changed the feel of the room, a lot. Conclusion 1. It’s a marmite design decision. Nobody is going to walk in and go, ooh i’m not sure. It’s either, “what on earth have you done?” or “wow, I love it.” Conclusion 2. It doesn’t actually make the ceiling feel lower, it did when it was half done, but once it was all done it was back to normal again. So if you’re thinking of trying it at home, DO NOT make any decisions until you’ve finished what you started. Commit! Conclusion 3. It’s definitely made the room darker. Not just feel darker, but actually darker. So it does make things, like doing the ole face paint a little …