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Blooming in Bloomsbury: A period mansion apartment in London receives the LLI Design treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Wed, 17 May 2023 17:06:00 +0000

It's been a while since the Brit Decor tribe has taken a house tour around a swoon-worthy abode, but with the gorgeous shades of Summer beginning to bloom outdoors, it seems the perfect time to take a peek inside this charming Bloomsbury apartment with it's interior sympathetically revised by design studio

LLI Design.

Remaining true to the brief, LLI Design has successfully retained and enhanced the stunning period details of this London mansion apartment, whilst incorporating pops of contemporary colour and detailing fit for a 21st century home.

Let's explore...

In order to maximise the space for their clients, LLI Design set about re-working the dark and tired layout by knocking through two reception rooms to create one large, elegant and light-filled open-plan library and dining room.

Meanwhile the south side reception room was transformed into a music room, complete with feature baby grand piano, which sits effortlessly alongside bespoke storage and a bold geometric wow-factor rug.

The master bedroom was re-located to a bedroom on the south side of the property, benefitting from the dreamy southerly light and the view of a majestic tree outside, this room (with en-suite) has become an oasis of calm with a subtle palette of bruised pinks, greys and taupes.

All Photographs property of LLI Design

The brilliance of bespoke is clear to see with this project, perfectly slotted into each space and given contemporary and uplifting paint treatments for the ultimate in unique home-scapes.

Overall my favourite space is...

...the kitchen gets the biggest thumbs-up from me with its cheerful cabinetry treated in a beautiful pale lilac lacquer and adorned with gold accessories. Surely it would be virtually impossible to enter this uplifting space without a breaking into a warm smile?

Let me know your thoughts!

Mike

Downtime with Denby Pottery

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Downtime, computer sleeping, phone switched to Airplane Mode...

You don't have to ask me twice to take some mindful time out, in fact, this is now an established feature of my daily routine - call it 'medicinal rituals' if you will. This doesn't necessarily mean you'll find me contorted into a sequence of tricky Yoga poses every day (although it has been known), merely it's about enjoying the simple things for periods of time each day.

As a professional collector and curator of 'things' my downtime will usually feature a cup of something warm and comforting whilst I potter, rearrange or 'faff' with some of my favourite homeware, because this is my 'thing' and it calms me. I guess you could say that my years spent working as an Interior Stylist has been a therapy of sorts.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to get my hands on some quintessential British homeware to incorporate into my homely meditations courtesy of Denby, a British brand steeped in history and currently writing a new chapter with a handcrafted Porcelain collection lovingly made in England and designed to last.

I've been reading up and the Denby Porcelain Collection includes four designs featuring Denby's unique glazing techniques. The subtly textured mugs and highly versatile serving platter featured here on Brit Decor are from the Arc White range. There's something about a tactile & textural mug which I cannot resist - is anyone else with me on this? I also love the way the light gently captures the arc texture of the platter, especially good when adorned with my homemade nut butter cookies, but enough of those.

Downtime gently placed to one side, it's now time to switch things up as I head back to my cosy desk 'nook' which is set within a very old fireplace in our hallway - I definitely opted out of a 'standard' office space here! This isn't to say the creative fun is over, I've merely switched things up with the help of my new Denby accessories...

The Arc White platter has now become a textural desk tidy with the addition of a Modern Deco tumbler, also by Denby, which adds a moody blue accent to my desk-scape in the form of a pen/pencil tidy, along with another obligatory coffee in my Arc White mug.

I guess the underlying point here is that how we utilise our time can be just as versatile as the objects we incorporate into our work and play routines.

For more info about this beautiful range of versatile porcelain homeware you can visit www.denbypottery.com and there will be a very special giveaway over on my Instagram page!

All images property of Studio Mike Ahern

2022 is looking colour-rich

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 15:23:00 +0000

Top right, Betsy Smith, Graphenstone Colour Consultant

In my line of work I frequently use the term 'hues make a home' because in the same way in which we might choose a particular colour or style of clothing to express who we are, dressing our homes in colour can serve as a very personal mirror reflection. An informed choice of paint colour will make an impactful personal statement.

As someone who not only works in the interior design industry but is also openly obsessed with paint as a past-time, I often find myself pouring over (did you see what I did there!?) the latest paint collections for on-point trends, inspiration and new colour concoctions.

Despite the growing multitude of paint brands available today, choosing one doesn't have to be complicated...I tend to only seek out those companies who can demonstrate a high quality product (trust me these are so much easier to apply to your walls and really do give a superior finish) and of course sustainability is also key. Graphenstone is definitely one of those brands with some rather impressive credentials - made from natural elements without any nasty chemicals and all packaging is 100% recyclable.

Graphenstone's colour consultant, the talented Betsy Smith, adds her take on meaningful interior decorating. "A successful interior should have soul and personality. Environments are becoming increasingly multi-sensory as we long for and embrace the restorative properties of nature - natural textures and strong colours that reduce stress and create calmness and clarity of thought".

The Spring / Summer collection of hues by Graphenstone are intended to easily partner with the 'beauty and honesty' of natural materials and enhance our experience of home through their earthy affinity with natural materials.

Betsy has compiled some beautiful key colour combinations 'below' and I would love to know if you have a favourite? I'm particularly smitten with Bengal!

Whisper (walls) and Duck Egg (panelling) chairs from The Conran Shop

Walls in Dijon and door in Grape

Damask (wall) and Persimmon (square)

Lovat (walls) and Bengal (doors)

*This is not a sponsored post. All images Graphenstone / Byrne Comms

Festive Forage

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 12:05:00 +0000

Festive Forage has an 'easy' tone doesn't it? It also aptly captures the gentler approach I've opted for this Christmas along with other fellow advocates of the 'slow living' movement.

Rather than expend a load of energy battling crowds of shoppers and spending unnecessary £££ on off-the-shelf decorations I may or may not need, this year I chose to head out into the great outdoors and forage for our Christmas decor here at the cottage. What I couldn't find outside I either made (cue the faithful 3D paper gems) or rummaged through our existing decorations.

This time last year we were sitting on a knife edge of 'will we, won't we' complete on our house sale and purchase so there was little time or headspace for Christmas decoration, especially as we eventually moved one week before the big day.

I knew I wanted our fireplace to play a starring role in this year's festive styling (every cosy cottage stereotype intended) but I also wished to avoid the temptation to go for a classic mantel garland, this year at least, and so I looked to our Farrow & Ball adorned beams for inspiration.

Surrounded by countryside it didn't take long for my forage to bear fruit, or a branch at least, which I suspended from the ceiling using some nordic inspired decorative twine. I then began the easy construction of some 3D paper gems in copper, silver and pearl finishes - I love how these appear to serenely float in mid-air.

A few more foraged twigs be-jewelled with the same decorations and dotted around the house in earth toned vases, plus some Holly sprigs freshly cut from the garden, and we're good to go.

Here's to an easier Christmas.

All photography property of Mike Ahern

New Artwork Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 10:02:00 +0000

It feels a little like a 'Transformation Tuesday' moment here at our Welsh hilltop home today. We've been here for 10 months and the white washed stone wall in our dining room has been crying out for a focal point, but you just can't rush these things, right?

My initial design priorities for this space was to create some banquette seating (for seating and storage) and then whipping up some made-to-measure cushions and choosing wall paint treatments, whilst keeping an eye out for the perfect artwork.

This is the point at which The Future Mapping Company came onto my creative radar. Who knew that maps could be so beautiful? To confess I've always been rather obsessed with horoscopes, "which star sign are you?" is a question you'll often hear me ask - so it seemed only fitting to opt for The Constellations.

Intricately illustrated with original 17th Century illustrations by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius, the artwork depicts all of the creatures and characters that inspired us to identify the constellations. Add into the mix some striking fluoro detailing for a contemporary twist, midnight blue and shimmering metallics, and we now have a stunning focal point for our dining space, not to mention a prime talking point too.

Warning: Now I have the perfect excuse to quiz dinner guests over their star sign!

All images / Mike Ahern / This is not a sponsored post

New Project: Coastal Airbnb

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 05:30:00 +0000

It seems a smidgen strange to be writing about holidays on a stormy Autumnal day. However, there's no skirting around the subject for today's post so I'm just going to go for it!

For those of you who don't know about my work outside of Brit Decor, I've been busily launching a new service under my Studio Mike Ahern business after relocating to the West coast of Wales and dealing with all of those initial 'nesting' issues, to put it mildly!

Since settling in and exploring, one of the key observations I've made is a.) the key importance of tourism in the area and b.) the lack of holiday lets suited to the interiors savvy tourist *deep sigh*.

I'm sure many of us would confess to at least one holiday where we settled for less than ideal decor just to secure a sea view? In reality we shouldn't have to compromise aesthetic over location, but we do, despite soaring holiday rental costs.

As well as my 'regular' interior design clients, I've been reaching out to holiday let owners to see if we can work a little interiors magic to enable their accommodation to stand out for all of the right reasons. (A little side note, I also offer a social media and photography staging service for maximising the holiday 'brand').

So without further faffing, I'm really thrilled to share a completed guest Airbnb scheme which I've been working on recently.

I consulted with the client in detail about including all of those important coastal references but without a glaringly clichéd result, instead something more relaxed and subtle, focussing on mood and the finer details.

Farrow & Ball's Purbeck Stone, a calming and easy neutral seemed the perfect choice as the base colour for this room. Wishing to put a more memorable stamp on the scheme, I opted for a feature wallpaper with calming waves which elevates the space. White washed floorboards topped with a cosy pure wool rug radiate cosy coastal vibes, whilst locally sourced coastal lino print artworks add authenticity.

For this project I kept pops of colour to an absolute minimum for an ultimately restful escape, with the exception of a gorgeous two-tone throw to evoke a sense of the nearby ocean.

I hope you've enjoyed today's little share!

Brit Decor: Master Bedroom Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 14:10:00 +0000

Hands up if you are currently locked-down and lusting after home decor + DIY projects that you never thought you'd have the time for? *Both hands raised here*

Approximately two and a half years ago, as part of a sponsored collaboration, I applied a feature mural to our master bedroom wall, which I've loved ever since. However, there was always going to be a 'shelf life' to the mural as the bedroom is south facing with two windows which allows the sun to pour in from multiple angles (south & west) with an inevitable bleaching effect. As a result the mural had recently begun to look a little tired, and the once gorgeous grey tones had taken on a slightly faded and greener shade - cue a lockdown inspired re-think!

For this totally inexpensive makeover I wanted to incorporate a new hue from our extensive collection of opened paint tins in the garage (are you one of those people too?) for a pop of colour to lift the existing grey scheme without re-painting the entire room. The final colour choice would have to either pair or 'pop' with our cobalt blue HAY chair, situated to the right of the bed.

After painting a handful of cardboard sample squares, including Black Heron and School House White, I opted for Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball. It's a rich pink grey/brown otherwise known as a 'buff neutral' which already blankets our living room in a dreamy calm hug of warmth. As the bedroom is a much lighter space, I wanted to accentuate the light further with a half-painted feature wall pairing Dead Salmon with a crisp white.

The neutral components of Dead Salmon work beautifully with the surrounding grey walls and the pinky tone empowers the HAY chair to provide a contrasting twist. During the midday sun the feature wall takes on an elevated warmth whilst the evenings sees it transformed into a more tranquil space.

Mission makeover complete!

All images / Copyright Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Lockdown First Aid

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:14:00 +0000

If, before recent world events unfolded, anyone had suggested to me that we would all be asked to remain at home for several weeks, possibly months, I probably would have whooped at the idea of all those hours of quality nesting time, and trust me I am one hell of a nester! However, skip forward to the very real present and it all seems a little different...

It's clear that many of us will be searching for, or will have already found, our own tools to deal with this surreal situation. Like millions of other stranded human beings I was very quick to engage with video calls to family & friends, despite it being a medium I've always shied away from. Again, to my surprise this has proved to be a major source of comfort and connection in what became a physically disconnected world almost overnight.

But away from the tech I still found myself missing some kind of connection with reality, perhaps anxious thoughts were clouding my usually grounded nature? So I began to think of simple ways to distract & comfort.

After rummaging through some of my many 'bits 'n bobs' packed away in cupboards and nooks I decided to piece together a capsule collection of useful but also mindful objects, easily accessible and able to administer instant calm.

My handy little quilted HAY zipper case is very soft and tactile and seemed like the perfect starting point to house my lockdown goodies. Part of my stay at home therapy has included lots of 'making' and so I've whipped up a completely natural scented balm to promote calm & uplift the senses at the same time. There is also a very handy little bottle of hand sanitiser made with essential oils and Aloe Vera, with a dash of Vodka!

Ever the organised geek, I'm always making to-do lists on my phone, but for the purpose of mindfulness and the temptation to look at the BBC news App, I'm using this Greek notebook I picked up in Crete, a trip which holds many happy memories and, personally, I find the process of scribbling away to-do notes onto paper very therapeutic - in comes the HAY pencil with gold lid for a touch of luxury!

With all this extra time on my hands I have also found myself reading up on various topics a lot more, so handy mini post-it notes are a must-have tool for me to bookmark recipes, articles etc. And if I need to relax a little more, I keep a constantly updated art postcard to remind me of my creative roots.

I've no doubt that the entire contents of my lockdown First Aid kit, even the HAY case, will soon be switched in order to keep up my interest levels!

All photos / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Tools of the Trade / ColoReader Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 13:23:00 +0000

Boy is it frustrating when you just have to know the official colour of a particular hue, but no amount of colour cards from your favourite purveyors of paint can identify a true match!? Well I have been there and it's not a happy place - Cue a welcome email from from the folk at datacolor, asking me if I would like to review their professional colour matching tool which goes by the name of ColoReader.

Whilst I've learned to live in this predominantly technical world, I would not describe myself as being particularly adept when it comes to gadgets, but nonetheless I braced myself for a mind boggling learning curve when this neat little package arrived in the post...

How wrong was I!? The ColoReader (just under 7cm in length) is stupendously easy to use - I literally downloaded the app onto my iPhone, switched on the reader and laid it on top of my first colour surface. Within seconds an exact colour match, along with some near matches, appeared on my phone screen.

From there the App allowed me to co-ordinate colours, suggesting complimentary shades and it also enabled me to name and build my own palettes, complete with note-making facility. You can view the easy steps to identifying colour via the photos & screen shots below.

This is actually quite the perfect little pocket tool for accompanying me on my travels and from now on, I won't be wasting time scrambling for those colour charts. If you would like to find out more about the ColoReader, you can visit the website by clicking here.

All images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Achieve your goals

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 16:49:00 +0000

Did you know you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down?

It’s easy to think you know what your goals are, but consider your latest new year’s resolutions – how long did they last? If you’re anything like me, not long! Writing your goals down gives you focus. Having them written down and looking at them regularly helps to make them happen.

Setting goals is something that has become particularly important to me in recent years and I love nothing more than to set aside some time for blue-sky thinking sessions. I always try to write down the resulting goals from these sessions too, so that I don’t lose sight of the bigger picture in the day to day chaos of life.

Couple this approach to goal setting with my ongoing stationery crush and you can see why I love these stylish Daily Goal Setter planners from Mål Paper.

With a faux leather hardback cover the Daily Goal Setter is tactile as well as aesthetically pleasing. The pages have been designed to help us identify goals on a daily basis and structure our days in a way that helps us focus on the positives and become more mindful through daily affirmations.

From a styling perspective, stationery is a great decorative filler for any desktop or shelf, satisfying a love of aesthetics with a need to be organised. These stylish planners from Mål Paper fulfil all the requirements to make a great addition to any home or work space.

The word Mål, pronounced 'mo-l', means goal in Swedish. Taking inspiration from the Scandinavian clean and clutter-free way of living, Mål Paper designs and produces stylish, simplistic and effective stationery that helps focus the mind and improve productivity.

If you want to check out this stunning range of stationery from this exciting new company, take a look at their website or follow them on Instagram @malpaper

Text / Helen Savage / Images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Merits of a good Shelfie

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 17:45:00 +0000

With all of our favourite social media platforms well and truly bedded-in for the duration, for better or for worse (today I'm honing in on the 'better'), it seems that everyone and their dog, literally, and even the odd guinea pig, is now the curator of their own window to the world. I can't complain though, as both of my cats are a regular feature on my feeds - gotta love 'em!

It's exciting, right? You've just created your very own cute corner piecing together some of your favourite homewares and props, and you want to release it into the world. Post and wait for the feedback!

The 'Shelfie' might be a relatively new phenomenon but it's basically another version of what proud homeowners have been doing for hundreds of years: showing off. Putting together a composition on a shelf is also one of the easiest styling tricks in the book for adding an extra layer of background detail to a room, or it can make a strong standalone feature. Personally I'm a fan of both the 'less is more' and the 'maximalist' approaches to interior styling, (cautionary note): just be mindful of overcrowding with the latter 'look'.

Having completed our home renovations indoors and with just the front garden remaining, I've increasingly found myself in the indulgent position of now being able to add layers of decor detail to newly decorated rooms, and a simple shelfie is definitely the way to go for me.

Our largest guest bedroom also doubles as a workspace (we didn't want to give over an entire room for work) and whilst Farrow & Ball's Dix Blue adds a nice mid-depth of colour, I wanted to elevate the room with additional details. IKEA's Mosslanda picture ledge came to the rescue by offering a crisp white contrast to the wall colour and helping to zone this part of the room into a study area.

However, I've ditched the opportunity to use these two ledges for practical reasons and opted for a more aesthetic curation of objects, plants and artwork instead. The Creative in me couldn't resist working-in corresponding greens and blues with a pop of trending yellow but I know that in an instant I can switch things around and have a brand new shelfie - it's as easy as that!

All Images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Memory Lane Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 08:30:00 +0000

Until about a week before Christmas I had been basking in the glorious knowledge that after almost exactly two years in the making, our home was complete - no more renovations, no more upheaval, no more furniture changes (at least for a while)...that was until I received a phone call from a close relative to say that her beautiful Wiltshire cottage was in need of a de-clutter (we've all been there, right?).

The moral sticking point in my Aunt's early Spring clean was a particular sideboard which had belonged to my great-grandparents, but this needed to be gone, to clear some much needed space. Had I not been able to recall the sideboard in question, in-situ in my great-grandfolk's home, I may not have given it another thought, but when the question was put to me if I'd like to take on this heirloom, my sentimental side well and truly kicked into play.

Almost without thinking, my reply was 'yes'! You see, I'm a firm believer in making things work, even against the odds. Prior to my Aunt's offer, apart from a couple of mid-century pieces (it is a 1960's built home after all) - our home didn't contain any antique / vintage pieces, and I was concerned about how an early 1900's sideboard would sit within in such a contemporary context.

Thankfully, as soon as the sideboard was welcomed in through the front door, it seemed to change the whole dynamic and rather than sit at odds with everything, it actually enriches our home with character - the sort you just can't buy at IKEA!

Apart from the vintage teal/brown speckle jug, which also belonged to my great grandparents, I've embellished the sideboard with contemporary accessories, including a newly purchased notebook from HAY, which helps to give this cherished piece of furniture a context in the 'now' and not just the past. In short, I love it!

All Images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: World Stationery Competition with Old English Company

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 20:30:00 +0000

Only recently I was thinking that it's been an eternity since I posted a competition on Brit Decor, so there's no time like the present to remedy this, right?

This particular opportunity coincides with World Stationery Day on the 25th April 2018, which means that one lucky person will get to win a set of four rather swish planners from one of my favourite go-to stationers, Old English Company.

Click here to visit the Old English Company competition page and submit your entry, and if you're inspired by these gorge planners, you can check out their full range by clicking through here.

Good luck folks!

Brit Decor Home:

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 13:02:00 +0000

I realise it's been a very long while since I last posted an update on here about living in a renovation project. In all honesty very little has happened over the last ten months in terms of major building works - as real life pretty much got in the way and our focus had to switch to a family crisis and eventually losing a loved one.

All being well, works are planned to resume again late Summer and, fingers crossed, we can finally think about some nice new flooring once all of the knocking down of walls and re-plastering is complete (walking around on old underlay and temporary flooring is so un-glamorous!)

If I rewind ten months, when our living room ceiling and walls were re-plastered, I was keen to get a basic scheme completed to make at least a couple of rooms in the house feel a little more like 'home'. Without the time to devote to a full design process, I opted for a dreamy pale grey nicely juxtaposed with a warmer dusty pink.

Over the time that we've been living here, I have been wowed by the amount of bright south-westerly light which floods our home every day. This also means that paler colours such as those in our living room, frequently appear bleached. With this in mind I'm now experimenting with darker and richer hues (similar to those of our velvet sofa cushions pictured 'below') in a quest for a cosier and more dramatic scheme.

Watch this space...

All images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: On the road / White Horse, Dorking

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 06:30:00 +0000

Lately it seems as though I'm away from dear home sweet home more often than not, but on the plus-side there are two major consolations; one, 'home' becomes even more precious, and two, I get to sample some #interiorforinspo hotel decor (and three, if I include zero house chores!).

On a recent working trip to Dorking in Surrey (UK) I grabbed a one night whistle-stop stay at the impressive White Horse Hotel, which proved to be a feast for the eyes, and my stomach. I thought I'd share my time there with you...

Whilst the quintessentially 'ye olde' 18th Century British monochrome exterior, complete with slightly wonky sash windows, is echoed indoors within pockets of carefully respected original architectural details, the interiors have been extensively re-designed to a high spec (£4 million if we're talking figures) to accommodate us style-savvy travellers.

My room immediately embraced me with a calm palette of oatmeal, heavenly pastel blue, forest green and warming tan leather, adorned with on-point brass wall lights. Despite the very British setting, I couldn't help but feel, at times, as though I had been posted in a chic hotel in the heart of Stockholm or Paris, but my imagination always did run wild...

The design-led decor didn't end with my room - the ground floor restaurant, Deli and bar areas each offered their own unique bubble of unpretentious charm, again with a hint of 'Scandi' referenced throughout, and all delivered by some of the most welcoming hotel staff I have encountered in a while.

You can find out more info by visiting the White Horse Hotel website (click here).

All Images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Mastering Murals / Master Bedroom Makeover!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 15:25:00 +0000

It's been a very long and trying journey since we moved into our dilapidated and unloved 1960s home almost one year ago, and like many renovators we've definitely had some steep learning curves to navigate along the way, including a major plumbing nightmare, which ate a considerable chunk out of our budget - twice!

Thankfully there are now more positive moments where I can concentrate on rolling up my creative sleeves and focus on making those all important stylistic statements.

Although our master bedroom was one of the first rooms in the house to be painted (we wanted at least one room to resemble something in tune with our own tastes), it's only recently that I've been thinking about adding a feature wall - akin to the icing on a cake...

For some time I'd been toying with the idea of including a mural wall in our home, but I kept 'parking' the idea until I narrowed my choice of location down to our master bedroom. It was then that I stumbled across the Designer Wallpaper category over at Murals Wallpaper where I totally fell in love with the Grey Painted Tree Tops design - I knew that this dreamy illustration would perfectly suit a bedroom setting and compliment our Scandi-grey scheme, with more energetic pops of cobalt blue.

A little nervous at first, clearly wanting to avoid a DIY disaster, I followed the easy-peasy instruction guide and cut-out each numbered panel (see below). After gently sponging the panels and leaving to soak for 10 minutes, I was ready to hang these onto the pre-pasted wall.

The folk at Murals Wallpaper cleverly include an overlap on each panel, which allowed me to trim down with a sharp knife after each piece had been hung. Another point to mention is the thickness and, in-turn, quality of the paper, which enabled the mural to go up with zero hassle.

To say I'm thrilled with the final result is a major understatement!

All Images / Mike Ahern

This a sponsored post.

Brit Decor: All stitched up/ The Finishing Room

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 15:41:00 +0000

It would appear that Upholsterer, Jon Sanderson, literally has his life all 'stitched up' after a recent move to a brand new studio space at the iconic Red House Cone in Stourbridge.

If I briefly take us back to 2013 when I first interviewed Jon about his work under the former working name of The Cantin' Patch, it was clear back then that his passion and drive would take Jon a long way...and it has!

In the four years that I've known him, it's been all systems go, culminating with an exciting opportunity for Jon to move his upholstery business to the Red House Cone. In recognition of the history of his new working home, Jon couldn't resist renaming the business to The Finishing Room, which was formerly used as a finishing room for the hand blown glass, also made on the same site.

Housed within his studio, Jon has also taken the long awaited step of opening a small shop, which sells some of his own creations as well as homeware pieces from other local creatives. Naturally I couldn't help myself and eagerly snapped up two of his totally gorgeous cushions! (see the final pic, below).

You can find out more about The Finishing Room by clicking here.

Brit Decor: New Boy on The Block

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 20:01:00 +0000

Oddly enough, only a few days before excitedly receiving a copy of one of the UK's hottest new magazines, I found myself engrossed in a radio debate which asked if 'print is dead'. Thankfully the conclusion was that the good old fashioned hard copy is still holding it's own with strong sales stats to prove it.

The hot new print delivery in question is charmingly named Dear Boy - a graphic rich creative journal which playfully explores colour in menswear and yes you guessed it, the first edition is dressed in trending pink!

With worldwide contributions and some eye candy to boot, this tri-yearly journal is sure to become a coffee table collectible. You can find out more by visiting the folks at Dear Boy by clicking here.

All Images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Golden Hour / Styling metallic accents for a 'luxe look'

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 14 May 2017 09:46:00 +0000

Did I mention that I love styling (or more aptly, re-styling) my home every five minutes, literally? Fortunately for my bank balance I'm not talking about major redecoration projects, but merely playing around with accessories (new and old) and creating new compositions in my favourite spots around the house.

This rather therapeutic exercise often occurs on weekends, when I tend to have more time. Styling and playing around with decorative objects is my creative outlet and a way of de-stressing from the frantic week behind me.

This weekend's re-vamp was prompted by my latest find - the Nevis polished brass tissue box cover from The London Homeware Company, who also happen to stock an incredible range of designs (click here). Lately I have been lapping up the current trend for shiny metallics like a magpie on heat, and I simply couldn't resist the high-sheen reflective surfaces of this luxe-look tissue box!

Like many materials, I find that grouping several 'finds' together delivers a powerful statement and creates a more interesting composition. Here I've added other shiny metallics, including my vintage C-3PO, for some retro fun, and my latest coffee tabletop book, The Maker (a cherished Birthday gift from one of my besties, Cath).

Suddenly our living room has taken a luxurious turn and I love it!

All images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: A date with Trinité Haussmann / Paris

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Mon, 08 May 2017 12:08:00 +0000

What to do when you hit a milestone birthday...and more importantly, where do you go and with who? Fortunately these were all questions that I could easily answer. I hadn't been to Paris for over a decade so another visit was long overdue, and my beau Simon had never been, which only added to the excitement of the trip.

When planning a break, for me it's all about design. I tend to seek out hotels with decor that I know will inspire me and as I'm currently channelling lashings of minimal-luxe decor, hotel Trinité Haussmann seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

Just a short stroll from the Opera Garnier and famous department store Galeries Lafayette, this newly refurbished hotel was designed by Laurent Maugoust, with simple yet indulgently chic interiors.

Marble chevron floor tiles, meet corresponding pale ash flooring with pale chalky grey wall paint, which contrasts beautifully with the charcoal grey panelled corridors - this put me in mind of luxuriously dark labyrinths leading to suites of uncomplicated calm, or something like that.

The crowning glory of our stunning suite was the oval gold-tinted mirror which sits proudly above the crisp white leather bed, and I'm still swooning over this right now as I sit at my desk back at home. And despite the damp weather outside, this was my ray of sunshine for the entire weekend!

All Images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Cobalt Cool

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 14:30:00 +0000

In my mind there's something about a vivid blue that just air punches 'cool', particularly during the warmer months when we often associate blue & white colour combos with all things coastal & nautical. Perhaps this duo evokes images of fluffy white clouds dancing against heavenly blue skies...or maybe it's simply because this pairing of hues really works?

Colour philosophy to one side, back at the new home project I had been toying with the idea of injecting some high-energy blue accents into our new master bedroom, and when I stumbled across this colour rich HAY Baby Dot quilt from one of my favourite go-to interiors sources, Connox, my decorative vision immediately fell into place in one of those creative high-fives moments.

The overall scheme of this room is a mid-grey nod to Scandi styling (mid-to darker tones of grey can have a warming effect) with simple white detailing for a freshening feel. I chose crisp white cotton bedding to accentuate the contrast between the blue accents and greys, and opted for plenty of pillows for a luxurious feel. I also love the versatility of the Baby Dot quilt with it's double sided / two-tone palette of navy versus cobalt blue - here I've folded the quilt over for added depth of colour.

To complete the cobalt cool 'look' I added a collection of cobalt and navy accented accessories, such as prints, ceramics and a striking copper-meets-cobalt light shade. The final infusion of rich pops of colour standing proudly against embracing neutrals, makes it very difficult to leave this room on a morning!

For more furniture and accessories inspiration from some of the most on-trend designers & brands out there right now, please take a moment to check out my friends over at Connox (click here). I'd love to know what you think of their store...

All Images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Love Letters/ ByALEX

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 17:13:00 +0000

Don't you just love it when one of your favourite designers is in full creative swing?

I first became aware of the ByALEX brand back in 2016 (a little late to the party on this one) and have been coveting the product range ever since. Founded by Brit designer, Alex Swain, his 'cool as a cucumber' range combines some of my favourite design elements (typography and furniture) with a distinctly clean and minimalistic aesthetic.

Things have just become even more interesting for Alex with the launch of ByALEX's 'SPOT' graphic greetings card range, inspired by Dutch Graphic designers such as Wim Crouwell. The super-cool twist to this eye-popping range is the perforated dot grid layout, which allows you & me to punch out our very own design

My own attempt at perforated perfection is intended to spread the message of 'love' just in time for the week ahead...

You can check out the full ByALEX range by clicking here.

All images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Curating Calm with Herald Black

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

With the house project continuing at a snail's pace, and without heating this week, rather than waiting for calm to come to me - I've been seeking out ways of creating my own oasis, or 'bubble' as I like to call it.

I recently treated myself to a second artwork from Hackney based printmaker & artist Stephen Dow, aka HeraldBLACK, entitled Midnight Garden II, along with three corresponding stationery cards from the same range and in a delicious palette of charcoals and teals for some #paletteperfection.

Regular readers of the blog may already be familiar with my first piece from Stephen, Arches III, which has regularly featured on my instagram account.

This latest purchase wasn't just an indulgence, it was also a good excuse for some art therapy. I always find the process of selecting artwork for my walls at home such a therapeutic one, as I carefully layout each piece side-by-side and in various combinations to make sure everything 'flows'. Then there's the process of choosing a frame - the wrong decision can instantly detract from the very artwork that you are trying to showcase, so I allow myself plenty of time to make the right choice.

Finally there's the positioning and hanging of the art, which is the really fun part as you get to see the impact that the piece(s) have on the rest of the room. In this case, the spectrum of sophisticated greys and teal, added a restful element to my living room - the perfect antidote to a stressful week.

You can find out more about Stephen and his work via his website www.heraldblack.co.uk

All images / Mike Ahern

Brit Decor: Time for coffee & some slow living

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 16:30:00 +0000

Writing blog posts is not only one of my favourite things to do, it's also a must-have therapy which keeps me rooted to, well, me...and my own creativity. With the in-frequent posting of late, it's simple to see why I've been feeling a little anxious and disconnected - distracted by work projects and the bump & grind of daily life. It's so easy to allow ourselves to be pulled in a dozen different directions at once, right?

Sometimes it takes just one little 'thing' to break the cycle of work and in this instance it was a deliberately long coffee break at home (still a building site in progress, by the way). With my Cafetiere to the ready, I decided to sample a limited edition coffee - an exciting collaboration between Taylors of Harrogate and the William Morris Society.

The resulting warm & comforting coffee was a beautifully blended mix of lemon, caramel and chocolate - perfect for that little pick-me-up I was searching for! My little 'pit-stop' was in fact so enticing that I decided to allow myself some extra time out to indulge in a William Morris arts & crafts colouring book.

Here's to more slow living, even if we sometimes have to coerce ourselves into taking that well-earned break...

All Images: Copyright Mike Ahern / Brit Decor

Brit Decor: Weekend Wandering/ Frome

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Ahern) — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 14:30:00 +0000

Indie lifestyle stores are definitely on the Up!

Having had a couple of weeks away from the hustle and bustle of busy work schedules and easing off the gas pedal to bring my body's engine down to a gentle purr, we managed to take several road trips to help blow away the cobwebs and distract ourselves from the stresses of selling our cottage and buying a new home (aka 'The Project').

Whenever time permits me, I love to take the short drive east across the Somerset countryside to the small market town of Frome. Here, I always feel at home mooching around the independent shops with a freshly made coffee, each store is like a treasure trove filled with goodies.

One day I will make a more comprehensive list of notable stores to visit in Frome, but today I couldn't resist sharing some pics of my visit to menswear and homeware store, Assembly, and the newly opened Resident.

Owner of Assembly, Anthony, is a gent with an acute eye for style and always dresses the store to perfection, currently adorned in a gorgeous blue/grey, which immediately feels very welcoming and cocooning with some added industrial twists.

Resident is the sister store of the incredible Electrical Shop, and this gem of a homeware & lifestyle shop, is filled with a wealth of must-have accessories for the home, stylishly curated by owners James & Greg.

Naturally I couldn't walk away from either store empty handed, so I picked up several really cool items for our new home, just as soon as we are able to move in!

www.residentstore.co.uk

www.shopassembly.com

All Images / Mike Ahern