How To Create A Moodboard

Yesterday I presented my first moodboard ever on my Facebook page and Instagram account. It was a little collaboration with Farrow & Ball including a giveaway - so if you need 10 liters of good Farrow & Ball paint of your choice, make sure to leave a comment HERE. When I was asked to do the moodboard I felt challenged - because I have never done a moodboard but I admire all the talented people out there who manage to pin down their ideas in a visual and inspiring moodboard. So this was reason enough to take on the challenge!

The starting point was quickly set - I had a certain collection of images in mind that I had pinned over the past few weeks on my Pinterest account. I recalled that they all had a similar vibe - an earthy, slightly moody, slightly boho touch. The dominating colours were darker hues of blue and earthy tones like terracotta, clay and raw leather. These images also symbolized my love for ceramics, for handmade pieces, the perfection in the imperfection. I had a story in mind of a life we create with our hands, made from the soil we walk on. It is a feeling of being rooted, belonging to where you are, and creating with your hands. This story unfolded in my mind when I settled down to start the moodboard.

Then I started collecting pieces that I had at home. Images, ceramics, stones, felt swatches, dried flowers, driftwood, twine, bowls and a the lids of three little paint pots by Farrow & Ball - I opted for the colours Stiffkey Blue, Cook's Blue and Book Room Red. I laid out everything on a white cardboard and started shuffling and removing pieces. This is the really fun and interesting part. I felt challenged and that was the point when I asked for some professional advice by my dear friend, fellow blogger, trend expert and moodboard genius Gudy Herder of Eclectic Trends.

She was a wonderful mentor giving me helpful advice how to bring my moodboard to life. I worked on and voilà - I felt I accomplished the task. It is not perfect but my perfection lies in life's imperfections. And I am happy about it!

If you like moodboards too and feel inspired, I have great news: Gudy is sharing her knowledge in an e-course as of June 2015. I have already enrolled to follow the e-course and master my moodboard skills. You can find all relevant information HERE. And if you sign up for the Eclectic Trends newsletter, you might get the chance of a discount for the e-course - sign up HERE.

See you in the e-course!!

Photography: First image by Igor Josifovic, others by Gudy Herder

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Happy Interior Blog Recommends...

As an interior design blogger I am always pondering various options when it comes to interiors - obviously, right? One of those options are wallpapers. Some like them. Some hate them. Some say they are old-fashioned. Others say they are trending and cool. No matter what stance we take, they are out there - and if it anything to go by the current wallpaper designs on the market, I'd rather believe the latter crowd. 

I think wallpaper come in beautiful designs, qualities and textures today. They are a great way to add visual impact in interiors though they have to be carefully selected and considered. And long gone are the days when it was a social duty to plaster every single wall in the home with wallpaper. Today many opt for striking feature walls - a great way to emphasize or visually structure a room.

One of my favorite paint brands, Farrow & Ball, have launched a brand new range of four Japanese inspired wallpaper designs. I assume you will agree with me if I say these designs are not vibrant, not flashy, not dominant. Instead these designs seem to root in history, Japanese craftsmanship to be precise, they seem to be soothing and calming. They sort of go with the current season. They unveil a richness in pattern and structure when viewed close-by, they seem to blur and balance when looked at from afar. 

So if you happen to look for wallpaper designs for any upcoming interior or DIY project, you might want to have a closer look at the latest Farrow & Ball wallpaper selection. 

Photography via Farrow & Ball

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Colour Trends 2014

Day by day we are reaching the end of 2013. There is a good bunch of festive days in between, but soon we will all greet a new and hopefully prosperous new year 2014. Inevitably we are thinking of new beginnings, new resolutions, new design projects. And probably of new colours. Now luckily there are colour experts out there on the market who spent more time and energy on thinking about the color trends for 2014. So did one of my favorite paint brand, Farrow & Ball.

Farrow & Ball's colour trend predictions for 2014 are very calm, soothing and balancing. They are inspired by the countryside as well as by the seaside with muted hues and discreet shades. Even the colour names reflect that calmness: Cooking Apple Green, Stiffkey Blue, Purbeck Stone and Mole's Breath. Do I need to mention that Stiffkey Blue is my secret favorite?

I have only recently painted some of my walls in different grey shades by Farrow & Ball and blogged about it HERE. I love the calm and neutralizing power of a grey wall. It creates a very cosy feeling and makes colours pop. And I have convinced myself: You don't have to be afraid of a grey wall in a small apartment. It works perfectly!

What is your color trend prediction for 2014? Have you seen anything special that is coming up next year? Please let me know!

Photography by Farrow & Ball

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Wall Painting Project With Farrow & Ball

A few weeks ago I was tweeting in desperation that I am getting my walls painted in my apartment. In the middle of it all I was really saying to myself: Why, oh why did I start all of this!? Everything was moved out of my apartment or shuffled around, I had to clean it and reorganize everything. But then, then came the moment: When I sat down and looked at my freshly painted walls. The sigh of relieve and happiness!

Everything started with the rough idea of painting my pitched roof walls in a shade of grey and maybe going for another feature wall in grey. Next I know I had two canisters of exquisite Farrow & Ball paint at home. Ok, ok, before that I got the colour chart and went through various shades of grey (not 50 though) until I came to a final decision: I wanted the velvety and dark 'Down Pipe' for my pitched walls and the smooth and light 'Plummet' for a feature wall in my living room. Plus, I decided to paint the arch between my living room and bedroom in 'Down Pipe'. 

The result is just the way I expected it. I wanted to create visual depth when you enter the apartment. Since my rooftop apartment is rather small and compact, you have a long view from the entrance door to the opposite end of the flat. That is where the pitched roofs are to be found and the arch in between. Thus, the eye beholds the dark grey ends framed by bright white walls and one mid-grey feature wall. All this is (or better will) be embellished with various colour accents for decoration. Moreover, I love the changing effects of the wall colour with the changing light situation - from brighter tones to velvety dark ones.

As you see with my pics, I am still in the middle of redoing my living room. The new sofa arrived, but I had no time whatsoever to embark on the final decoration project. I have a rough colour scheme in mind but way too many trips in my schedule to get it done. Thus, more home redo posts will follow later this autumn. 

What did I learn from this experience? I learned that coloured walls, even dark walls, are not necessarily a no-go for small apartments. Even in smaller places you can create a great visual effect and drama without creating a feeling of visual constriction. And I learned that it is smart to opt for high-quality paint as you want your walls to have the desired colour and last for as long as you wish. You can't go wrong with Farrow & Ball!

This post was kindly sponsored by Farrow & Ball. Thank you!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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