A potpourri of modern but cozy interiors

I've put together a little collection here of some interiors that I thought were modern, but still felt like home. They are peaceful, light-filled, and lovely. What do you think?



I like the shelf above the bed

a nice, bright work space

very french chic with an industrial twist


the rug is a bit much for me, but I like that this room isn't over-staged.




via Marie Claire Maison

The benefits of built-ins and fitted furniture done right

There are many advantages to choosing fitted home furniture. One of the biggest advantages of this type of furniture is the amount of space that you can access compared with free-standing furniture. Many people are increasingly pressed for space in their homes, with items of furniture that are full to the brim. This means that any extra items that need to be stored often end up causing clutter on the floor or being left on the top of wardrobes and desks, getting covered in dust. This is of course impractical, as it leaves you with less surface area and also negatively impacts on the appearance of your home, making it look messy and uninviting.

A Real Transformation
Fitted furniture, however, transforms the look of your home, making use of every inch of your room for storage, unlike free-standing furniture which will almost always leave huge, wasted spaces in comparison. With fitted home furniture, not only do you get to eliminate the excess clutter for a much cleaner, tidier appearance, but the furniture itself also makes your home look more seamless, with wardrobes that stretch from floor to ceiling. You benefit from furniture with smooth lines and no ugly gaps. This can be a particular issue when you are looking for furniture for a room that is of an awkward shape, for example one that has tricky alcoves or that is impeded by a sloping ceiling, the latter obviously a frequent issue for renovated attics.

Since I work from home, a nice home office is a must. When I finally settle down and decide to live somewhere for more than one year, I will definitely be investing in an awesome desk and shelf system. I LOVE built in bookshelves.

What a gorgeous entertainment room - rooms which are often so hard to make gorgeous!

If my closet were half this orderly and efficient I'd be a happy girl.



Versatile Furniture
Fitted furniture can also be incredibly versatile. Remember that this type of furniture can be made to measure, meaning that you do not have to settle for the shape of furniture that you see on the manufacturer’s website! There are many fitted home furniture designers who can create ingenious solutions for your room so that space can be freed up in ways you never thought possible. This allows you to create a solution for each room so that not an inch of space is ever wasted in any part of your house. The space that becomes available as a result actually makes each room look bigger, along with being much more appealing due to the outstanding individual designs you can request on custom-made furniture.

A wide range of fitted furniture can be purchased, meaning that you can make your home look truly seamless by introducing the same style to different areas of your house, from bedrooms and box rooms to loft conversions and guest rooms.

disclosure: this post is sponsored by Neville Johnson

Check out this Chinatown work/live loft.

While I don't know if I could live in a loft, or in a space this sparse. I can still appreciate the good clean design and serene environment. What do you think?

I love the modern retro, wood furnishings used throughout the loft.





Great workspace, great light






via Loft Life Mag

Using interior design to increase your home's value

Put simply, yes it can! Interior design projects are great for making your house look the way you want it to and feel like home, but new interior design is also a great way to boost your home’s value.

Obviously a new kitchen or bathroom suite will increase your property value, as modern fixtures and fittings are always more desirable than used, old ones. But the changes don’t have to be as extreme or as costly as this.

Making your home look more appealing can be as simple as adding a fresh coat of paint, cleaning the carpets or just getting new curtains. The more aesthetically pleasing your home is the more interest it will attract from potential buyers and therefore will increase in value.

However, although new decor will usually increase a property’s value there can be cases in which it doesn’t. When prospective buyers view a house they want to see a blank canvas to put their own mark on, so make sure to decorate with natural tones and universally appealing fixtures. You may think bright yellow with orange spots is beautiful but there are those who would disagree!







All of these images demonstrate homes that would show well. Keep personal or quirky items out of sight so potential buyers can see themselves living there.
via LivingEtc.

You should also weigh up the increase in value with the initial design costs. A new kitchen or bathroom may increase the property’s value but the increase could be less than the cost of the new fixtures! What’s more, you will also have to think about the cost of labour and the impact on your home insurance cover.

My advice would be, if you are staying put for a while and will get to enjoy the new decor than go for it! You will get use out of it and in the long term the value of your property will be healthier because of it. If however you are looking for a quick bump up in value before you move, stick to small improvements that won’t cost an arm and a leg but will still have a slight impact.

disclosure: this post is sponsored by fresh! home insurance

Making industrial style furnishings work for you

So a reader wrote me recently with a great find - this industrial metal and leather chair - but she needed some inspiration on how to balance it in her space. So I've rounded up a collection of spaces that are either very industrial or nod to the industrial style, so she can get some ideas on how to successfully incorporate it into her space. Any ideas/tips for her?

Here is the chair

Industrial interiors are often characterized by minimalist decor, a cool palette - a lot of grays, and materials such as brick, stone, metal, and glass. I think the key here would be to introduce the chair in a room where one or all of these characteristics are present. It doesn't need to be completely industrial, but add a few industrial elements to balance out the chair. Whether it be a metal lamp, a steel file cabinet, or bare floors.


Plants and a gilt mirror cozy up this space.
via Willow Decor

This interior is very industrial and takes it's inspiration from a lab. There are lots of objects that could be paired with the chair to balance it in the space.
via Taddie Tales


The palette in this dining room is very industrial - browns and grays, which visually supports the metal industrial lighting fixture.
via Sarah's Fab Day

Metal bins and open shelves ad an industrial touch.
via Poppytalk

The chair would look great in this workspace decorated with old wire hangers and baskets.
via NSK Wood

The chair would also look at home behind this antique industrial table used as a desk.
via Great Oak Circle

via Frugal Mom


All of the above work spaces would be great fits for the chair.
two above via The New Victorian Ruralist

Metal lighting fixtures and an industrial cupboard used as a credenza - all in cool grays, create a factory atmosphere.
via The City Sage

This dining room is a good example of how to mix industrial furnishings in with other styles. The metal chairs and traditional wood pedestal table work together because decor is kept spare and minimal.



More environments where I could see the chair working.
4 above via Apartment Therapy

This space is not very industrial, but the minimal coffee table and bare floors would balance out the metal and leather of the chair.
via You've Got to See This

Any other ideas for Nikki?

Really great modern classic furniture for super cheap!

Some of the classic favorites at really great prices. The sale is going on at HauteLook, which is a members only shopping site - but I have your free and fast sign up code for you - http://www.hautelook.com/invite/AWhite564

Most of the chairs are under $125 - so get what you like before it sells out!


















Here's your code again - http://www.hautelook.com/invite/AWhite564