Beautiful bookshelves … working with colour

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Since my last post I am noticing bookshelves and bookcases everywhere and the ones that work really leap out.  The bookshelves above are my idea of perfection.  Such an interesting combination of colours, both books and decorative items.

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One could call this styling … the ability to put together bits and pieces that work … and it is all about having an eye for colour.  It is the combination of colours that pull it all together … or to be quite specific, always work with a complimentary palette of colours.

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Apply this principle to any collection whether it be bookshelves or dressing table. There is nothing as elegant as white or cream with a hint of soft metallic. Have a play and see what you can achieve.

Creative walls … just when I needed help

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I had spent days fluffing around redoing the bookshelves, rearranging ornaments and nic nacs and changing our artwork … over and over, never quite happy with the end result  !!  You can imagine how thrilled I was to receive for Mother’s Day, Creative Walls – how to display and enjoy your treasured collections, by Geraldine James.

And I am supposed to be good at this sort of thing.  I do love it … the fluffing around bit … but to be able to flick through endless images of other people’s creativity does give you the added confidence to go with your own eye and instinct.  Sometimes you need to just walk away and come back with fresh eyes.

I did resist the urge to colour group the books in the library … mainly because there are just far too many books to start again.  However, quite some time was wasted repositioning a few according to subject matter.  I just had to put all our books on Churchill together, if nothing else.  I am absolutely fascinated by him since reading A Daughter Tale by Mary Soames … if only I had the time to read more.

Whether it is creating a monochrome, neutral or bold statement with your artwork or artefacts, I feel it all comes down to working with colour.  Play around with different groupings and your eye will tell you which colours just work.

A word of warning … hours will be lost in the process but the end result will be worth it.

Neutral palette with a splash of colour

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Any neutral palette will come alive with the introduction of a little colour !

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It could be anything from muted dusty shades to vibrant colour !

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A black and white scheme looks sensational with a splash of … well, any colour really … hot pink, soft pink, bright orange, brilliant yellow or cobalt blue …

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Refer to previous posts for tips on how to introduce colour into a neutral palette but it can be as simple as fresh flowers or a bookcase full of books.

5 sleep essentials

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Of all the rooms in a house the bedroom is possibly the most important … it is where we spend half our life !!!

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1.  A good mattress is essential to ensure a restful night’s sleep.  The very best mattresses support our spines in their natural, neutral position.  The latest technology allows the mattress springs to mould to the shape of our body.

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2.  Mattress toppers are becoming extremely popular … they add an additional layer of padding and comfort, particularly good where the mattress itself is too firm.  Reversible toppers with wool fleece for autumn and winter … and cotton percale to keep you cool in spring and summer, are the ultimate.

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3.  Choice of pillow is critical to a good night’s sleep.  The right choice depends on a number of factors including neck problems, allergies (non allergenic filling choices)and preference for firm or soft, one or two pillows. How soft or firm your pillow feels is determined by the ratio of feather to down used … feather being firm and down being soft.

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4.  Beautiful bedlinen is a luxury and you really do get what you pay for.  Thread count (number of threads in a square inch of fabric) isn’t everything and other factors such as the quality of the raw cotton (firmness of yarn) and the way threads are woven comes into play.  I love the softness and elegance of Cotton Sateen without the expense of Egyptian Cotton.

5.  Your choice of Doona/Duvet is all to do with weight and seasons/climate,  however your first choice is natural or non allergenic filling.  The right choice of doona weight for your particular climate is essential to a good nights sleep.  The weight of doona for a cool climate will be vastly different to that where winters are mild.  Down doonas trap more air between clusters than feather fillings and are therefore warmer and incredibly light.  The greater the percentage of down and the higher the quality of the down, the more you pay.

Yes, lots to think about … however worth spending a little time to get it right.

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