Eclectic favourites from the Home Sense A/W 15 collection

I've been eyeing up Home Sense's Autumn / Winter collection today. It certainly caught my eye. 

Think cottages, cosy fires, blankets + eclectic, mismatched (but in a cool way) patterns, and you're on to a winner. 

In my world, nothing beats winter interior styling. Layers, cosiness and autumnal colour are so inviting and homely. 

When I was creating my Define your interior style class, I worked on a number of different exercises to find the best way to come up with your unique, individual style. During the process, I discovered it largely came down to interests and passions. If you take a look around a home, it has to speak volumes about the way you live life and the things you love to do. Without that, a room feels clinical and empty. 

When I worked through the class (which you're welcome to download for free by the way) I discovered my style had a strong folk feel to it. I was drawn to autumnal shades, furs, small herringbone prints and thick knitted textures. Very similar to the route Home Sense have taken with their new collection this Autumn, hence me sharing it with you right now. 

A few favourites in particular:

- that embroidered stool, £39.99

- those traditional printed storage tins, from £4.99

- that red wicker chair, £24.99

I've heard there will be lots of Russian inspired Eastern folk prints and textures hitting the stores come September, so make sure you stop in for a look, I know I will be.

Spotlight on... FOLDS (& epic Interior tips from Founder Emma Gurner)

Pssst. It's a new feature around these parts. Getting your hands on unique interior finds, whether as a gift or to give your home the wow factor, can be tough to come by with all this crazy competition in the online world. High street stores are an option, but never provide that real unique gem that people instantly compliment.

I'm on a mission to introduce to my readers some of the chicest online interior stores out there, the stores that aren't on the highstreet, that will provide you with go-to outlets for lovely things for your home, christmas gifts or simply somewhere to click for inspiration.

This week, I'm introducing FOLDS and chat to their delightful Style Director Emma Gurner :)

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Fluffy cushions, Folds

Online interior boutiques that have a strong focus on your lifestyle tick boxes for me. When you visit a site where page after page is stocked with beautiful collections you can work into your home and the way you live, browsing accessories that are easily styled and are sure to be loved, that's what I look for when shopping online for interior bits, and Folds thrive in this. With designs sourced from all around the world, there's a strong mix of patterns, textures and products on offer to suit every lifestyle. 

Whether you're looking for cosy layers this winter, or detailed patterns to add a focal point to your rooms, Folds' cushion offerings in particular catch my eye on every visit. Remember I told you about my cushion obsession? Well, Folds are experts in sourcing intricate detailed, geometric & cosy designs to fit your lifestyle and look. Just check out the stunning watercolour-esque  hand ilustrated Sky Siouki prints. 

Whilst items might not seem cheap from the outset, once you meet the designers, hear about their intricate approach and all the hours gone in to crafting you the perfect cushion to suit your room, you realise what a bargain they are. And what a stunning gift they would make. 

With the chilly Christmas around the corner, Neil & I are loving thick knits, heavy fur and herringbone for ultra cosy times, and when 2 of Folds' sumptuous fluffy pillows arrived on our doorstep, packed with warm duck feathers, we couldn't wait to chill out with them on our Chesterfield. 

But of course, textiles aren't the only things Folds excel at sourcing. They sell some of the quirkiest lamps and lighting, for that sought after 'industrial chic' look. I simply LOVE this simple iron table lamp, that would look great with a quad loop lightbulb. As well as their strong collection of quirky furniture sourced from all across the globe.

I was delighted that Emma Gurner, Folds' Style Director and interior design consultant took the time to answer a few of my burning questions about her love for homeware. I was so inspired by Emma's (and her business partner Suzi's) approach in building their business, and the passion that drives their decisions. 

Here she is :)...

Hi Emma! Tell us a little bit more about you and your passion for all things interior

My passion for all things interior began about 15 years ago when I landed a job working at BBC Good Homes magazine. My career continued as an interior stylist from then onwards. Now 15 years and 2 children later, I felt it was time to begin my own company and so Folds was born!

How did you come to start your own online store?

I met my business partner Suzi through our children at nursery. With her knowledge of running a business and my creative input we were able to begin our exciting new venture. The website came about after almost a year of private sales and market research. Despite having a low budget we were able to build our own website using a template and are slowly adding to the website as our business grows.

What's your most loved interior possession?

My most loved interior possession is my copper unit. I designed it myself and painstakingly treated copper sheeting to give it a weathered look. The unit provides a wow factor to the space as well as being a very practical piece of furniture!

What tips would you give for readers just starting out in decorating their home?

I think pinterest is a wonderful tool now available to collect images that you love and to create mood boards. It is a great starting point for getting inspired.

What's your favourite home look this season? 

I love feature lighting and the multi-arm pendant lights are big news at the moment! Like this Five light adjustable pendant, £230. 

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If you haven't yet paid Folds a visit, I strongly urge you to take a peek at the collections and start a house-piration pinterest board right away! 

www.foldsinside.com

Also follow Emma's journey with Folds on her twitter (she has just got the most adorable little puppy, I can't keep my eyes off her tweets!) 

Can I have all of these for my house please?

Inspiration time :)

I've been pinning all hell out of life these past two days, pulling together a visual mood board of what Neil & I (okay... just I) want our home to look like once we've saved enough deposit. Having a clear visual to look at when you're making so many financial sacrifices is a great approach to keeping spirits high, I always think.

What better way to curb spending than to spend the weekend dreaming up all the bits and bobs you want, like money isn't an object, in one big online scrapbook. I sat back and pretended I clicked 'buy it now' and felt the same fulfilment I feel when I hit up the Primark sale.

Anyway. I thought I'd share a few pieces on here. My vision is a mish-mash between vintage-chic and quirky statement pieces. I just hope this lot will still be available to buy come the big day ;)

Julian Bowen Katarina king size bed frame

The Range, £129.99

This bad boy is similar to my current bed frame but has a more new-vintage vibe (and is much roomier!) I just know that places like

The Range

are going to be on my radar once it's time to buy a bed, given the value for money. I imagine lots of lights entwined through the gaps for that coveted "blogger bedroom" look.

Zig Zag rug in grey

Urban Outfitters, £14

Have you seen these all over pinterest yet? Interior designers are going mad over chevron prints, from cushions to rugs, and I'm no exception. These rugs will probably be completely out of fashion by the time we move, but it comes in every colour and gives an extra focal point to a room that will make me still love it.

Double ended freestanding bath

Cheap Suites, £339

Bit of an odd one to include in the wish list, but alongside a fireplace, I've always dreamed of having a claw foot bath, freestanding in the middle of a wooden Parisian-style bathroom. One day, one day!

Primular cushion covers

Dunelm Mill, £6.99

Aren't these country-bumpkin cushions sweet? And a steal at only £7. I imagine having lots of these, some mis-matched, dotted all over a Chesterfield sofa positioned in front of the fire with a little cat curled up into one. N'aww!

Cath Kidston Sprig teapot

Amazon, £23.53

If I want to channel country living as realistically as possible, a cute tea set is a must. This Cath Kidston teapot is just the ticket. I've never been too fussed about Cath Kidston designs in the past, I always found items to be overpriced and easily duped, but after spending a few years saving, it's worth splashing out on a set that will be timeless forever :)

Yay! Biscuits! biscuit barrel

Edited, £14.95

Want. Want. Want. This biscuit tin is from one of my favourite shops in Brighton, Edited. They sell lots of quirky interior bits, the perfect place to find 'out-there' items for the home. I love having one or two pieces that make people instantly say "oh wow, this is cute, where's it from?" as soon as they walk into a room, and this cheeky tin stands out from the crowd!

Smeg fridge

John Lewis, £1,1...let's not look at the price

Ok. Hands up who wants their own Smeg fridge. These are about the only heavy duty home appliance my heart starts fluttering for (bar Henry hoovers... don't get jealous Henry!) It's more popular to go for the retro pastel shades but I think this lime green is the best colour of the whole bunch. Best keep saving eh?

That's it for now. I have a whole pinterest board dedicated to "housepiration", come see. And let me know what your favourites are. Do you fall head over heels for smeg fridges too?