Royals around the world: Who’s style are we searching to steal?*

It’s a well-known fact that the British royals have been stealing the spotlight lately when it comes to fashion – but there are a few other royal ladies who are ramping up the style stakes in other countries. From princesses to duchesses, these royal ladies look regally stunning no matter the occasion.

Photo by Jared Subia on Unsplash

Queen Letizia, Spain

Renowned for her enviable wardrobe with it’s designer items and high-street finds, Queen Letizia of Spain is always on point.
Take it back to King Willem-Alexander’s 50th birthday in The Netherlands for example when she wore a red one-shoulder Stella McCartney cape gown with matching heels. She opted for red again when she attended the state banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2017, turning heads as always.
Also as part of her state visit, Letizia wore a beautiful floral skirt from one of her favourite designers, Carolina Herrera. After this appearance, searches for the term ‘Carolina Herrera skirt’ rose by 50% from June to July of the same year.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, England

Research revealed that she was the most likely to convince American shoppers to purchase a UK brand. The Duchess of Cambridge has built up a loyal fashion following over the years, in fact, her influence on fashion even has its own name — ‘the Kate effect’.
It’s not only the UK nation that appreciate her either, when she wears an item of clothing or an accessory it reportedly increases the desirability among 38% of US shoppers. In October 2018, she rocked up to the Victoria and Albert museum wearing a cute tweed dress. After this appearance everyone wanted a similar garment! In fact search volume between September and October for the term ‘tweed dress’ rose by 50%.

Crown Princess Victoria, Sweden

There’s no denying that Crown Princess Victoria has her own style, but even she has succumbed to “the Kate effect”. Victoria was photographed in a mini navy pleated dress in 2015, the same one that the Duchess of Cambridge had worn a year prior.
Her wardrobe is recognisable by the vibrant colours and bright prints. At a sustainability awards in August 2017, Princess Victoria decided to wear a cocktail dress from designer Maxjenny. Not only did people want to take her picture, but they wanted a similar dress for their own it seems. Searches of the designer rose by 222% from July to August of the same year.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, England

There are 22,000 monthly global searches of the term “Meghan Markle style” — it seems that she’s made some global fashion fans! And of course, we’re all eager to copy her look.
Understandably, one of her most memorable looks to date was her stunning silk gown that she wore following the luncheon after her wedding. After she was photographed in this look, high-street designers began to replicate the look knowing that she’d be setting the next trends. Research revealed searches for ‘halter neck dresses’ were up 40% following the royal wedding and the term ‘halter neck tops’ increased 21% week on week as people tried to replicate her look on the special day.
It’s not only her outfits that have caused a storm either. When her stunning diamond ring was making headlines everyone else wanted to feel like a duchess too. In fact, global search engine data reveals a 50% increase in searches for ‘three stone ring’ from October to November 2017.
Following her official engagement announcement, Meghan showed up at a Nottingham event with a tote bag from brand Strathberry. Following this appearance a 398% increase in searches for ‘Strathberry’ occurred from November to December 2017.

Crown Princess Mary, Denmark

Following her picturesque wedding to Prince Frederik in 2004, Princess Mary has been thrown into the spotlight.
Princess Mary is known for her fairy tale dresses, statement dress coats and pillbox hat — often being compared to Jackie Kennedy. Due to her love of fashion, it’s no surprise that other women want to channel her look too. In May 2018, she attended the Copenhagen Concert Hall in Denmark wearing a blouse and pleated skirt by designer Charlotte Eskildsen. The designer would’ve been pleased for this exposure — searches for ‘Charlotte Eskilden’ rose 51% after Princess Mary was spotted wearing the brand.

How to Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring for Your Beach House*

When it comes to your beach house, some would argue that hardwood flooring is the superior choice. When properly installed it looks good against all decor, it’s colour doesn’t fade and it is also long-lasting and cost-effective. This may be the reason why it is the most popular floor choice, however, many people have questions around how to choose and install it well.

Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash

1. Consider installing engineered wood.

Whilst centuries old houses will have floors made of solid wood, engineered wood is composed of a centre of plywood topped with a layer of hardwood. This flooring is more immune to, and provides tighter protection against the ever-present moisture in the coastal areas and won’t suffer the contracting or warping that a solid wood floor will. In addition to this, the wood that is used will remain in excellent condition, whilst maintaining the overall appearance of solid wood flooring.

Photo by Bette Jane Camp on Unsplash

2. Choose a lighter colour.

Choosing a lighter colour will hide scratches and general wear and tear making it a better option for family beach houses. This should be a place to relax and create happy memories and a lighter floor will age better and provide less stress and maintenance than picking a darker tone.

3. Pick a textured finish.

A textured finish not only looks unique, but will hide dents and scuffs better than a smooth surface. It is much more forgiving and you can customise it yourself with a wire brushed, low gloss finish.

4. Get creative with colour.

You should not be scared to experiment with colour and texture. Try embracing the sea vibes with a faded blue textured surface, or even a bold aqua tone to really stand out. It will add to the seaside vibes and provide a focal point that lends itself to simple, casual decor.

Having solid wood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring can really add to your beach front retreat. It makes the house looks clean and fresh, and makes cleaning up sandy footprints much easier. Whether it be engineered or solid, do some research and get experimenting for a unique escape that is set to stand the test of time.

Building the perfect gift*

With Mother’s Day creeping up on us (here in the UK at least), and the seemingly never-ending arrival of Birthdays and other gift-giving occasions there’s never a bad time to do a gift guide kind of post, especially not when it’s one where you can really give the personal touch. Nomination Bracelets are one such perfect gift, you can buy it for one celebration and then add to it for years to come; from Zodiac Charms to birthstones, quirky slogans and pretty prints, there is a something for everyone and every occasion- tell someone you love them, celebrate a special holiday or just let someone know you are thinking of them. I think these are perhaps more wearable than traditional charm bracelets as they sit flat on the wrist, some of my favourite picks for a Mother’s Day bracelet are below:
I’m really enjoying the Birthstone range as a starting point for any bracelet. Your birthstone is said to bring you luck, and each stone has a unique positive energy which is supposed to be transmitted to its wearer. I think it’s a lovely place to start. I’ve surrounded the Birthstone with other charms that represent my Mum and what she means to be; I’ve also included her zodiac sign, a cat (I inherited her crazy cat lady genes!), a couple of little reminders of what she means to be as well as some cute and quirky disc charms to give the bracelet some texture and provide random reminders of stupid conversations we’ve had and things we’ve experienced together.

I’m a firm believer in giving gifts with a personal touch and this is the perfect way in which to do. Every item is made in Italy, where the brand originates from and is made to the highest standards. Who would you build a bracelet for? Head over the website to discover more!

Does the Scandinavian style have a place in the garden?*

The Scandinavian style takes a minimalist approach and blends calm colours such as pale blue, cool grey, white and cream with simple but effective designs. The Scandinavian or ‘Hygge’ way of life is to create a mood of cosiness throughout your home and to have a feeling of wellness and content.

If you’re a social media user or a Netflix subscriber then the chances are you’ve at least heard of Marie Kondo and her now-famous KonMari method. KonMari is the latest trend buzzing around the internet, and it’s a delightful one.
By the end of a long session of KonMari-ing, you will have no doubt picked up items you haven’t seen in years, eBayed a huge portion of clutter, and discovered a suddenly much more minimalist look to the home. Which, in turn, makes it a lot less daunting to tidy up in the future.

So, once our homes are suitably minimalist, clean, tranquil, tidy, hygge’d and KonMari’d, what’s left for these de-cluttering trends? Well, we reckon these useful concepts certainly have a place in the gardens of 2019, and now is the perfect time to get planning!

Photo by Jason Abdilla on Unsplash

Top 2019 garden trends
The low-maintenance, calm culture of hygge is still appealing to people in 2019. In fact, Garden Design is touting low-maintenance gardens with cosy retreat-spots nestled within as the top trend for 2019 — it has Scandinavian style written all over it!

But before you create your own little cosy garden space you’re going to need a clean canvas. It’s time to embrace the internet-and-Netflix sensation and KonMari your garden.

How can you adopt KonMari in your garden

Firstly, for those who haven’t heard of it, KonMari is essentially tidying by category rather than by room. The aim is to look through all your things and consider if it ‘sparks joy’, and if it doesn’t, discard it. Whatever is left is truly needed and you can tidy it away. The method runs through five categories: clothing, books, papers, komono, and sentimental items.

As we are heading out into the garden, we’re sitting in the komono category really- and that’s described as miscellaneous items. So, gather up all your garden items from the shed, around the lawn/wherever your store it, pile it up and give it all a good tidy! Keep what sparks joy and discard what doesn’t…simple! You’ll be left with the minimum you need and your garden with be thoroughly decluttered. Take this opportunity to tidy up the lawn itself and any pathways too.

With this canvas to work on, let’s set about planning out a Scandinavian, hygge-worthy garden for 2019!

Giving your garden a little Scandinavian twist

One of the main trends for gardens in 2019 is low-maintenance; everlasting plants that don’t take a lot of looking after but still bloom and keep your garden looking colourful. If your garden has large pathways then stones that don’t need repairing constantly could be a great asset to your Scandinavian style as the neutral tone of stone is heavily used.

Patio fruits have also became another trend for 2019; with the idea of growing your own fruit and veg really taking off last year, this trend is set to carry on into 2019 with more focus on fruits. Patio fruits like strawberries, goji berries and raspberries take up hardly any space and are very easy to care for so don’t shy away from trying to grow your own, even if your track record isn’t great!

Building ‘hygge’ into your garden

This year’s main trend for outdoor spaces is secluded retreats within the garden. These can be anything from ‘she-sheds’, a small fire pit and seating area in the corner of the garden or a mini staycation inspired hideaway.

With low-maintenance still being the main focus of your garden, you might want to take a look at quality-timber Log Cabins when investing in a retreat spot for your garden. To keep your cabin looking pristine you should only need to apply treatment every now and again, the higher quality it is then the less you need to treat it.

Try to refrain from using the Cabin as storage! Remember all your hard work tidying up the garden? Don’t waste all of your hard work by putting your gardening equipment in your cabin. On the other hand, you could invest in a small shed to store these items, but for your main structure you’ll want to embrace the sense of hygge with some minimalist furniture and some cosy throws and rugs. The Cabin should be used as a getaway for all the family to use, whether it is used as a chic she-shed, or just a snug little reading nook at the bottom of the garden. Keep digital items for in the house and reserve your garden retreat as a digital-detox zone.

Furnishings
As mentioned, we don’t want or need to fill our gardens with furnishings. Be selective and make sure it has a purpose. If you have furniture in the house that you’re thinking of getting rid of, why not repurpose it for the garden? It’s amazing what a spot of wax or a lick of paint can do to create rustic chairs for your retreat-spot; or get creative and turn an old wooden ladder into a wall-leaning shelf by the shed or a stand for a scattering of potted plants or a climbing plant.

With your garden de-cluttered and an enviable, minimalist retreat created, your outdoor space should be a beautifully low-maintenance, Scandinavian-inspired dream! Perfect for matching your hygge-life in the home…

5 Fun Ways To Create Wild and Wonderful Wedding Day Memories*

You’ve probably been to quite a lot of weddings in your time, and not all of them have been memorable for the right reasons. You wouldn’t want your guests to leave with negative comments muttered under their breath, you want to make a hugely positive impact right away. Whether you’re dreaming of the perfect wedding video to take home after the day is over, or you’re thinking about a unique source of entertainment there are so many different options you can explore. Creating wild and wonderful wedding day memories might be at the very top of your priority list right now, so let’s explore all of your options here.
1.Stunning Singers

There is nothing more amazing than listening to stunning singers during the ceremony, at the wedding breakfast and at the evening reception. You could hire a gospel choir or a quirky band that will really leave their mark on your big day. Instead of opting for something that has been done a million times before you could truly make your special day completely unique. Not only will this create wonderful memories for you, but it will also ensure your guests have the most amazing time.

2. A Photo Booth

One of the best ways to collect unbeatable memories is to hire a photobooth for your evening reception. As soon as your guests have had a few drinks they will want to leave you a special picture to commemorate such a fabulous evening.

3. A Quirky Guest Book

Instead of your traditional guest book, why not opt for something a little unique for your big day? You can purchase jigsaws, where each guest write their own personal message for the bride and groom. Or you could invest in a small tree where guests can hang their message to you. Not only does this serve as an amazing decorative item, but it also gives you a different guest book option.

4. Vibrant Video

A wedding video will ensure you never miss any special moment of your big day. From the moment you walk down the aisle, to the funny best man’s speech, there are so many wonderful things it will capture. Look for a videographer that fits within your price range and you will be able to collect some wild and wonderful memories to last a lifetime.

5. Fabulous Photography

When it comes to choosing your perfect photographer, you need to make sure you’re truly on the same page. When you share a vision with the person on the other side of the lense, your photos are bound to come to life right away. Make sure you outline every shot you want to achieve from the big day so that you aren’t left disappointed when you get your prints back.

You have always been a huge fan of making memories, especially when it comes to planning your special day. You want to ensure that everybody on your guest list has the best time ever, without forgetting a single moment. There are many ways in which you can achieve this so consider all of the ideas above and you will have the picture perfect wedding bursting with memories.