Pallet for Home

Nina's Apartment is now open every Saturday from 10am - 2pm, thanks to the help from the ladies of Willow Cottage, a fellow local business with a shared love for vintage and upcycled furniture. Lisa and Debra from Willow Cottage are big Annie Sloan chalk paint fans and are regularly bringing beautifully upcycled pieces of furniture in - from cute little chairs to full-size kitchen dressers. I am delighted to have their items in my shop, adding that bit of classic 'Country Living' flair to my more continental, eclectic, colourful 'Elle Decoration' style! Come and see for yourself, we'll be happy to help you find something you love.

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Using words in home decor has been popular for a while now, with most high street stores selling decor items to go along with this trend.

Personally I find the use of single letters or the words 'Love', 'Home', 'Welcome' and 'Eat' becoming a bit tiresome by now, especially when done in a faux-vintage style, but I do like the use of text in interior design. As usual I have been pinning myself silly on Pinterest lately, so today I will share some text-based styling ideas with you around ways to use words, letters and complete articles in your house without becoming boring.

Here we go!







Write your favourite quotes or inspirational words on found pebble stones and display them around your house or in a bowl.  Love this idea.

http://pinterest.com/pin/259027416038835870/

Reading newspapers in bed gets a whole different meaning with this wall! Using newspaper as wallpaper creates a great graphic effect:

http://pinterest.com/pin/259027416038835999/

The use of blackboard paint has also been popular in home decor for a while and a great way to introduce text in your interior. Good thing is, you can alter it if you get bored with the words ;-). Use it on walls or cupboard like done here:

http://pinterest.com/pin/259027416038835964/

You could be bold and write your house rules on the wall. Bit intimidating perhaps? Or pretty cool?

http://pinterest.com/pin/158611218097275660/

And why just use paint or chalk? Here's a wall with words made with thumb tacks / push pins. Not sure what it says, but the effect is good.



If you can't decide what words or text to use, just chalk single letters on your wall!

http://pinterest.com/pin/163607398932548132/

This idea takes a bit of time to gather so many wooden printers block letters, let alone putting them all together on the wall, but the effect is great:

http://pinterest.com/pin/7036943138327305/

Who says to use words exclusively indoors? Paint words on or create text out of metal and attach to a wall in your garden:

http://pinterest.com/pin/45247171226773159/

I already mentioned the over-usage of words like 'Home', 'Love' and 'Eat' in homes, so I thought I include this image! You can be as bold as you want and the possibilities with words, text and languages are endless. So why limit yourself...? Have fun!

http://pinterest.com/pin/234679830552744587/

I always keep my eyes and ears open on the hunt for great vintage treasures. Last week I decided to randomly type in the words 'bentwood chair' in the search box of our local Gumtree and in the listings I found something that immediately caught my eye. I contacted the owner to arrange a viewing and in his back garden I found five battered, dirty, damaged chairs - but of an unmistakable design and the leftovers of the labels on the bottom made me smile from ear to ear: here I had no less than five original Hans Wegner wishbone chairs. He got them from a house-clearing somewhere, some time. I couldn't believe my eyes - nor the price: £60 for the lot! They do need complete re-lacquering and seat replacement at some point, but for now I am the proud owner of a beautiful set of salvaged Danish designer classics.

Looking good around our beech dining table!

I added cushions...to prevent my cats from getting their claws into those vintage paper cord seats!

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I am so excited to share this news with you all... Not just a little bit... but UBER excited! I will be partnering up very soon with one of the best booksellers in the UK; Yeadons Booksellers in Elgin, north Scotland. This shop, one of the oldest continuously trading bookshops in Scotland - already established in 1887 - will be the perfect environment for my eclectic mix of vintage, handmade and upcycled homeware. It is a beautiful 1930s building, tastefully decorated with custom made shelving and vintage furniture and stocked with a carefully chosen, eclectic selection of books.

Recently Yeadons started selling vintage homeware alongside their books, which went down a treat with the customers, complimenting the great mix of books and stationary and the friendly shopping atmosphere. From next month Nina's Apartment will be 'moving in' with them adding to the selection of wares with vintage treasures, handmade cushions and revamped furniture. I can't wait!

In the meantime, have a look at this Vintage Inspiration board on Pinterest, to get you in the mood for for what's to come...

So we are having some freakish weather up here in Scotland. Barbecues and sun hats one day, 10cm of snow the next. What's going on?! Anyway, nothing we can do about it but go with the flow (or snow for that matter). I had to get an extra blanket out the cupboard the past few days to keep warm and got the idea to actually go and stock up on beautiful hand crocheted 'granny' blankets for my etsy shop too.
Really beautiful ones (in up to date rather colours than seventies ones) are hard to come by though. Maybe I should find a local granny to make me some. Or learn to crochet myself...!

Here are some nice blankets I sold recently and one that I have just added to my shop.

http://pinterest.com/pin/43347215132919215/

I can't believe how great the weather has been this week. It's only March, but today the temperature went up to 20 degrees Celsius at least. It's the North East of Scotland here, folks, so that IS extraordinary. July last year saw temperatures drop closer to 10 degrees. Climate change? It might be - which is bad - but I can't help but having really enjoyed a bit of warmth and the idea of living somewhere hot for once.

All this sunshine has really got me in the mood for outdoor living, picnics and generally lounging about in the garden, beach or park. I thought therefore today I collect some great images that give us some ideas to do it in style. Think lanterns...vintage picnic cases, retro table cloths...lovely tea sets.

I love these lanterns in the tree... http://thevintagehome.net/2012/03/02/its-picnic-time

Some great colourful vintage tablecloths...would love those in my drawer! http://www.flickriver.com/groups/51414710@N00/pool/interesting/

http://pinterest.com/pin/187251296976263865/

Pies in vintage scarves! http://pinterest.com/pin/133700682657613381/

No picnic without a proper blanket  http://pinterest.com/pin/269582727664674991/

http://pinterest.com/pin/32862272250457298/

All I can say is...aaaaahhhhhh.... http://pinterest.com/pin/166562886188014802/

http://pinterest.com/pin/8092474299919640/

Urban picnic http://pinterest.com/pin/244812929713570983/

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Long may it last... Enjoy the weather everyone!

I have been doing some treasure hunting for my little Etsy business lately and have gathered a wonderful collection of coffeepots and teapots on the way. Some didn't even make it to the shop and got snapped up by friends already! Here's the beauties that are now available and ready to go to a good home. They're all in superb condition, clean and sound. If you buy any of them I'll of course make sure they are securely packaged so they'll arrive safely at your door, wherever in the world you live.  Thanks for looking! Nx

J & G Meakin Studio England coffeepot Buy here

J & G Meakin Studio England coffeepot Buy here

Japanese inspired teapot Buy here

Retro coffeepot Buy here

http://pinterest.com/pin/259027416037518052/

I'm not big on Valentines Day myself, but I do love a bit of red! I have gathered some inspirational images of interiors with red furniture, red artwork, red fridges, red walls, red doors and red anything else.

Hope you like it. Spread the LOVE.

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http://img4.coastalliving.com/i/2009/06/redwhiteblue-9-l.jpg

http://pinterest.com/pin/259027416037848140/

http://spookyhome.tumblr.com/post/4108147260

http://designismine.blogspot.com/2010/05/interior-inspiration-random-rooms.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88092887/patchwork-cushion-cover-red-apples-and

http://pinterest.com/pin/259027416037848153/