I've been shopping #7

Just a little post to show you what I bought in Copenhagen - The shopping over there was brilliant.. particularly If you like a more simple, relaxed kind of style. Lucky for me, I was in heaven and thankfully it was my Birthday a few weeks prior to my trip, which I was kindly given some Danish Krone. My only downside to the Copenhagen shopping experience is there's no middle ground. You either have expensive designer boutiques or high street stores like H&M, Zara and Monki, which goes against my one holiday shopping rule - Don't buy things you can get at home.

The first item I picked up was a pair of Acne jeans. I live in black jeans, pretty much wearing them everyday, so I saw this purchase as a bit of an investment. The pair I chose are the skinny, ankle length cut. They fit me perfectly and have kept their shape so far. I found the sizes came up quite small, so if you're thinking about buying a pair definitely try them on.

Whilst browsing in one of the department stores Illum, I came across this lovely illustration book. I'd say it's comes under the genre of an "adult's colouring book", I fell in love with all the hand drawn doodles and scribbles that fill each page. I love having these types of books around the house, as they always come in handy for inspiration.

I "ummed and ahhhed" over these Whyred boots the duration of my trip. They were a bit of a bargain with 70% of the original price, so it brought the price down to around the same as a pair of boots from Topshop. They have a really cool heal and I look the navy blue suede, they makes a change from my usual black staple boot.

I could have spent hours looking in the book section of Illum finding the perfect housey/lifestyle magazine to bring home. After a good half hour mulling over a good selection I chose Vakre. The magazine has a great Scandinavian aesthetic with a "find something different every time you flick" type of quality.

Last but not least, I bought Matt a little gift. This long sleeved tee is from a really cool store called Norgaard. I love anything stripy with a nautical influence, I think it always looks great for spring summer and the bright orange made it a little more different to anything I had seen at home. I think he likes it!

Do you guys like Scandinavian style? Have you ever been shopping in Copenhagen?

I'd love to know...

Harri xxx

Back to University: Decorative Bookcase

Like many other over eighteens across the UK, I went back to University this week, me being in my second year, I moved out of halls and into a house with 4 other people. I had only seen my future home once, way back in March, but had never actually had a mooch around my new bedroom - it was just like playing furniture roulette. Was I going to have a desk? will I have enough space for all my clothes? Luckily enough, my room was kitted out... not with the most attractive four piece IKEA bedroom set, dark 80's wood, a little bit of wear and tear, but it was what I expected.
Much to my joy, I had a bookcase in my room (sad excited bookcase girl). I study Fashion, so when I make my annual trip back to my University home, along follows the 100+ books and magazines. I really do treasure my books, a lot of them were gifts from Christmas's and Birthday's past and magazine that I'd bought way back in 2008, so I've always liked to have them where I can see them.

I think books and magazines make for great decoration in a room, especially when you're at University. It's hard working with what you've been given in your accommodation to make it feel homely and comfortable, especially when it seams nothing matches or theres not enough space for things.

I've used my bookcase as a place to store things, looking at it more decoratively to brighten up my room and make use of the space. I've stacked books and leant magazines against old tins, creating boxed off sections. Don't see you're storage as a place to only store books, place a fancy pair of shoes onto of your favourite magazine, really utilise it creatively.

I hope this is helpful to any newbies that are starting University, or for anyone else that wants to make their bookcase look a little more exciting. If you give this a go tweet me a picture to @HarrietRDavison, I'd love to see how you've adapted it.

Have you guys got any decorative storage methods? I'd love to know...

Harri xxx

Book Review : NOMAD, A global approach to interior style

Whilst I was sending some emails earlier, I decided to flick through my favourite book - Nomad. It's possibly the 150th time I've picked it up and gawped longingly at every page, engulfing all the inspiration...

I bought "Nomad, a global approach to interior style" back in February as a gift for my mum whilst I was in New York. At the time I was in Brooklyn, which soon became one of my favourite places in the city - I was dreamily searching through all the jam packed book stores, trying to find something a little unusual to take back as my mum loves books, especially of the interiors genre.

Author of Nomad, designer Sibella Court explores interior styling from across the world, with the likes of Japan offering exquisite textiles mixed with contemporary lighting to Mexico giving us neon brights and the coolest hand printed wallpaper. This book is full to the rafters with imaginative clusters of items, some of the most amazing styled rooms I have ever seen and luxurious photography, along with ways how to incorporate all these unique styles in to your own home. It's definitely one of those books that never stops giving, you will find something new every time you look at it.

I would recommend Nomad to anyone who has a love of interior styling or even someone that has a passion for travel. It truly is a stunning book to have. I've left a link here so you can find the book on Amazon, there's also another book in the Nomad series that I will link here too. Happy Shopping!

xxx

I've Been Shopping #1

Yesterday I took a shopping trip with my Ma and Grandma - I can't say my local town is comparable to Covent Garden, but now and again I find some little gems. Here's what I picked up...

I found this book in TK Maxx. If you've never looked in the book section of TK Maxx your missing out - Often I've found brilliant Art, Design and Fashion books for a margin of their original cost. I picked up "The Vintage Tea Party" to show my mum as she and my dad are taking part in "Come Dine With Me" with their friends. The front cover is what really attracted me, it's beautifully illustrated. The recipes are traditional, but each have quirky little tweaks, coincided with images of interesting ways of presenting the food. I like this book as it's not as twee as the title would make it seem, it's actually pretty cool and even if your no Nigella Lawson (me included), it's one of those books that's nice to flick through and a bargain at £7.99.

Essie Polishes L-R Infatuation, E-Nuff is E-Nuff, Adore-A-Ball and Grow Richer

Another TK Maxx find much to my surprise were these Essie nail polish. The three coloured polishes came in a set for £9.99, which is an absolute steel seeing as I think I paid that price for one in Boots. I'm not sure if they're discontinued colours or last seasons range or something, but they pretty much suit my nail polish needs, especially "E-Nuff is E-Nuff" it's the perfect coral for summer. I also picked up a "Grow Richer" for about £2.99, as a serial nail biter anything that claims to speed up nail growth is my friend.

I found this little white smock dress in a YMCA down the dodgy end of town - I've been looking for something like this for about two months now after seeing a gorgeous one in All Saints. It cost me £4.99, possibly one eighth of the price of the All Saints dress, however my YMCA version is still great quality, weighty and has pretty embroidered detailing all over it. I'm not taken with the buttons, but those can easily be changed. I'm planning on wearing it this weekend (fingers crossed the weather stays nice) so I'll get some pics of it being warn as I don't think my photos show it's full potential.

Last thing I bought was completely a frivolous purchase on my part. This little coin purse cost me £1 from good ol' Primark. I'm a bit obsessed with anything sailor or nautical related (hence the ship on my header) so this just completely sucked me in, it had a red and white bow on, but I quickly got it removed. I don't know what I'll use it for as I rarely have change.. maybe I'll put receipts in it or something. It's fulfilled my maritime needs anyways!

Hope you liked what I bought :)

 Shed.

I wish I could take the credit for my little hideout, but it was completely the brain child of my mother. In no time at all she renovated B&Q's best, into a girly, relaxing retreat, filled with clever uses of vintage finds. It has been perfect for summer nights with a group of my best friends, too rainy days spent editing photos... I hope you enjoy.

These are vintage chairs we've had around the garden for a while, they're pretty rusty, but I love the aesthetic it gives to the shed. The little table was a little cabinet found in a charity shop, with an old trey simply placed on top coated with some basic white paint - This makes a great little storage unit for bits of magazines I cut up and things that I'm working on, also super for resting my candles and joss sticks on. 

We found this mirror in a charity shop in a local town, it cost under £10 which is an absolute steal, as we've seen them being sold in interiors stores for £40 and more. I absolutely love it, so feminine and glamorous, but also adds light to the shed. The fairy lights are solar, so they only come on at night, they make the shed super cosy, I shall try and get a night time snap! .. and as for they lovely Gentleman on the wall, that's my late Grandfather Janik - Isn't he a treat?!

Just some shed essentials - A radio, some cute paper plates (no one likes washing up)...

... a cwtchy blanket and some pretty vintage tins to keep small bits of clutter in.

As well as the two vintage chairs, my mum created these little cushiony lounge spots (with me giving you a demonstration) with poofs. My brother found this Lacoste one for his flat in TK Maxx, it had been lurking round our house for ages, but it fits perfectly in the shed. My mum has also added bulldog clips to the walls, simple and effective. I can change the pictures or bits I want to hang up whenever - currently I have a birthday card I bought for my dad (it's that famous pic of Picasso swearing) and some fresh lavender. The antlers were bought in an amazing junk shop in Paris called Objet qui Parle. 

This white kitchen chair is one of my mums household rejects that's made its way to my shed - I bet your thinking how the hell are fitting all this in a tiny shed, but it is surprisingly roomy and with the furniture and walls painted the same colour, it gives the illusion of a bigger space as everything blends together, which works really well. I found the book "My Cool Shed" when scouring interior blogs the other week, I bought it for my mums birthday of Amazon for about £8, it's a great little read if your looking for some "Shedspiration". 

On that note, I hope you enjoyed an introduction to my little hideout. If you have any questions about anything else I've photographed, feel free to leave me a message, would love to hear from you xxx