For many of us, a bathroom is our own private haven, a place to switch off completely. Between layout choices and decorative details, a crucial creative step to the perfect aesthetic is the right selection of tiles. Functionality doesn’t have to be boring, and with a few original ideas and impressive details, your bathroom can... Read more »
Jotun Lady just released their new color chart and just like every year, they have mastered their catalog styling and photography. Looking at these inspiring images showcasing their new colors just makes me want to paint my entire apartment in these earthy or cool blue colors. I’m a bit afraid of painting, because I live in a rental, so I end up overthinking it most of the time, especially with the more daring colors. I can get on board with these natural tints in the first few pictures though, or maybe once I paint my first wall in a deep color, I won’t be afraid anymore.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Brian started looking for a dog. Notice that I didn’t say “Brian and I” or “we”. We were not on the same page regarding this situation because A. He was ready and I wasn’t and B. He specifically wanted some sort of “oodle” to avoid shedding, be kid-friendly, trauma-free and I wanted a rescue. He was scared of the unpredictability of a rescue dog and I was set on rescuing. I was literally a dog walker in New York when I was 23 because I loved dogs so much. But I was pretty afraid of adding chaos to our life and while I love animals, I don’t want every animal as a pet in my house, under my responsibility and obligation to love, and getting the wrong dog just for the sake of having a pet sounded very stressful to me.
So I did the obvious and texted Kristen Bell. I had met her and her rescue pups last year and as we were chatting about the idea of rescuing she said “When you are ready, text me. I know where to do go and how to pick the right one for your family”. So on a random Saturday morning during quarantine, I did. She seemed genuinely excited and gave me a ton of good advice (yes, she is extremely lovely and just as generous as she seems – and yes, she reads this blog).
She emailed her favorite rescue organizations, helped introduce us, and asked me a ton of questions about size, demeanor, age, expectations, etc. and followed up with advice. I took her advice and we started looking. But we weren’t the only people looking for rescues during the pandemic as you’ve probably heard. Like most people, Brian’s argument was that since we never left the house we actually had the time to put into training one right now (HAHAHA) and I couldn’t argue with that. We live in the country with a ton of space. We both work from home. The kids are almost 5 and 7. He’s currently working way less (video production has shut down and no theater work) so he said he would do the bulk of the annoying stuff. He promised. I also knew that he really needed the pick me up that dogs can give humans. Ok. I’d just look.
Now the rescue organizations that Kristen recommended (Mutt Match LA, Wagmor, and The Dog Cafe) had so few dogs, but by looking at their faces online Brian fell in love with the idea of a rescue pup. Not to shame anyone who adopts a bred dog, AT ALL, I just felt that it was what our family should do. I grew up with rescue dogs that we literally found on the side of the road on a road trip. And one of the things that changed Brian’s mind re rescues was that Kristen said with a rescue dog (versus new puppy) is you actually DO know more what type of dog you are going to get, rather than a puppy whose personality you can’t even see yet.
So he started shopping every. single. day and they were getting adopted so fast we kept missing them. We went to an adoption fair (drove 2 hours back to LA near LAX) only to be told that they were all spoken for despite having an appointment. The kids were devastated and confused, obviously, but it was a good lesson for them, too. Those kids need more rejection in their life anyway. The other fair was similar – none left that were good for kids (by the nature of being rescued a lot of them need rehabilitation and training and yes, could still be traumatized and be aggressive).
We were pretty open about breed, size, and age. Our main requirements weren’t small though – we wanted calm, affectionate, not jumpy, not loud and barky, happy energy, and most importantly for the kids, not aggressive. It took months…
So we found a couple of shepherd mixes still available at a rescue in San Bernardino and took the kids down to check them out. It was a situation out of the movies. We saw these two dogs on our way in, but we weren’t there to see them and were guided to keep walking while looking back. As we walked past the rest of the dogs, they were all barking and jumping at the site of people, but those first two… they were chilling.
The guy led us into the meeting area and brought the first shepherd mix over and while super sweet even the guy that worked at the rescue was like, “oh no, he’s not for your kids” as he jumped all over them and knocked them down. We asked about the other dog and he said, “no, he’s even bigger and can’t stop jumping”. The kids were disappointed but, like the feel-good family movie that we were apparently acting in, Brian and I looked at each other and said “What about those two?” The man replied, “Oh those? Yah, they came from a litter of 7 puppies that were bred for Christmas money but were born too late. They are the last two left”. I didn’t know that was a thing which is sad on many levels, obviously. He said this happens every year:( Christmas puppy rejects? Born too late? Or maybe born exactly when they should have been?? Perhaps this is more a hallmark holiday movie than Disney movie and by golly will we have a happy ending??????
So they brought the rejected “Christmas” pups over and it was like a DISNEY and HALLMARK “meet cute” moment. They didn’t jump but were so excited and happy and sweet. It was a big sweet love fest and the kids were so excited. They were brother and sister of the same litter (twins!). They had been there for a while (I have no idea how they were still available) and we obviously couldn’t just adopt one and leave the sibling. They were 8 months old (Kristen told me to not get under a year, sorry KB) and the rescue said they were full-grown (not true). We don’t know what they are but they said “husky poodle mix”. We immediately said we would foster and see if they were the right fit for our family (thus staying quiet for a bit). I was still nervous about making sure that these pups were right for us and wanted to live with them for a bit. People give back rescue dogs frequently when they aren’t the right fit (especially with kids involved) so I was nervous and didn’t want to tell the world until we KNEW.
Well, the dogs out the bag, and I can solidly tell you that these two pups are indeed HOME. And not because they have the same hair color as their human siblings and match the wood flooring in our home (it’s actually ridiculous). No, it’s because they are so sweet, so affectionate and cuddly, they love the kids, love each other, are obsessed with Brian (and me) and have indeed added so much joy to our lives in the short time they’ve been with us. They have the exact right chemistry of energy for us – enough to want to play with the kids, but then they come inside and nap and chill. Or maybe dogs just match the energy needed by their parents. They are achingly cute. The fact that they were the last two left of the 7 pup litter begs the question – If these were the rejects, what did the other 5 look like??? We’ll never know and I don’t care. These are OUR PUPS!!!!!!!!
So, world, I’d love to introduce you to Oscar and Buttercup Henderson – named by the kids, obviously. Oscar has the black tips on his ears and Butter looks like a stick of butter. We have thought about renaming him Ralph because he throws up every time he gets in a car. And she came to us with two large ticks (the rescue isn’t one that I’d recommend if you know what I mean – more of a pound). We are still training them to walk on a leash and to not treat our home like a two-story litter box. But all in all, they are actually such great dogs. I don’t know how it happened. But maybe it’s like having kids – once you are in love, once they are part of you, every parent looks at their kid and thinks, “I can’t believe how special you are and how much I love you”. That’s what love does to you, and thank god because the 5 am barking to go out and the pile of dog shit on top of the pile of clean clothes ON TOP of the guest bed can only be tolerated once in love. We took them on a hike the other day in the car and I prepped my lap with two towels. As Oscar ralphed multiple times in the 15-minute drive I just quietly kept scooping it up, and making him more comfortable by blasting the AC.
Listen, “not pukey” wasn’t on my requirement list and you can’t have everything. Is it strange that I can handle lap puke so much more than a dog that barks all the time? We all have our things.
So get prepared to get to know them and see them on social and here now and again. And if you are on the fence about rescuing or adopting, just give rescuing a whirl first – it can work out! If you have your heart set on a purebred or a designer mixed dog there are a ton of rescue agencies that take the “rejects” and find them homes. So with a bit of research, you might be able to rescue a pup that is actually the best fit for you and your family.
We did.
Ok, one more – INTRODUCING OSCAR AND BUTTERCUP HENDERSON!!!!!!!
Ideal Home spoke exclusively with Zoe Sugg, better known as her online alter ego Zoella. You can see from Zoe’s Instagram feed that her Brighton home, is stunning, boasting serious style credentials with brooding dark paint colours and bold tiles.
‘The one thing I often tell people when they’re doing up their house is to be a bit more brave with colour and tile choices. Because that’s one thing that I was pushed out of my comfort zone with a little bit,’ Zoe exclusively tells us, as she talks about when she moved into her new home with partner Alfie Deyes.
As we chat to Zoe about her exciting new collaboration with Etsy, the conversation turns to home trends. When asked what she’s not a fan of Zoe replies, ‘I’m not a fan of a house full of white walls’
What is it that you don’t like about white walls?
‘I feel like sometimes, unless you have a lot of colour in the room through other elements like cushions, plants and things like that, white can seem quite stark and cold. I’m definitely the sort of person – and doing this house made me realise – whose mood is really affected by the warmth and colour of things.’
So much so that lighting was a key thing. ’When we were choosing our lightbulbs, I wanted to make sure they were all very warm – as opposed to the bulbs you can get that are more blue or bright white.’
Speaking of the colour palette throughout her and Alfie’s home (which doesn’t include white) Zoe explains, ‘We’ve got light grey, dark grey, medium grey and we’ve got dark turquoise in the bathroom, and one of the guest rooms as well.’
‘I thought I could keep it quite safe and go light or white all over but there were certain rooms where I was just like ‘no, I’m just going to do it’. So we do have a really dark colour in the dining room,’ she says.
Speaking about the dramatic makeover in this room Zoe recalls, ‘We also painted the ceiling dark as well which you don’t often see that much but I actually really like it and it makes it quite cosy as well’.
‘For the bathroom we went for 3D-effect tiles. Which I have put up on my Instagram a few times and everyone asks “how do you not feel drunk when you’re showering in that bathroom?”,’ she jokingly tells us. ‘But I really like that we took the risk with that. So that is one thing I do always say to people, don’t always play it safe’.
The two rooms where Zoe took the biggest risks with design turned out to be her favourite in the whole house – the dining room and this dreamy turquoise bathroom.
Even in rooms where the colour palette is neutral, such as the master bedroom, the tones are those of grey rather than white. And as Zoe has suggested the addition of colourful accessories helps to add an element of warmth.
‘My house has a lot of grey tones with bright pops of colour throughout, in things like art, cushions, bedding! I’ve always loved interior design and home styling and believe that with these things you can really customise a space in your home,’ Zoe explains.
Speaking of her braveness with colour Zoe remarks, ‘It’s paint at the end of the day. If you really hate it you can just go back over it’. Wise words by Zoe there. Just don’t say it so casually to a painter and decorator if you’ve chosen a really dark colour… five coats of white later and all that!
We still have a few days of summer left, but with autumn just around the corner, it is a perfect time to get started on your autumn cleaning checklist.
Giving your home a deep clean ahead of autumn is crucial. As soon as those radiators are turned on and it becomes too chilly to open the windows, your home can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mould.
Image credit: Polly Eltes
Here is your autumn cleaning checklist to make sure your home is in order and ready for you to cosy up in as the leaves start to change.
Autumn cleaning checklist
1. Check your boiler and other appliances
‘By doing some small checks around your home now, you can avoid nasty shocks later down the line as winter rolls around,’ Lucy Askew, interiors expert at Hillarys tells the Express.
Make sure your boiler is in working order, and your drains and guttering are clear. It is also worth giving your roof tiles a once over to preempt any leaks or flooding. That way you can fix any issues before the cold weather sets in.
2. Swap in your autumn home accessories
Image credit: Simon Whitmore
‘You don’t have to spend a fortune to give your home a different feel through the autumn and winter months,’ says Lucy. ‘Dig out your blankets, light a few candles and dim the lights for that cosy, warm atmosphere.’
3. Tackle the big jobs you’ve been putting off
This is the perfect time to tackle any lingering cleaning jobs you’ve been putting off around the home. Whether that is cleaning your fridge, deep cleaning the oven or organising your wardrobe.
These can be tedious jobs, but we have plenty of tips to make short work of them on our care and cleaning page.
4. Get any outdoor jobs done before it gets too cold
Image credit: David Brittain
Now is the time to get any outdoor jobs done, from giving your house a lick of paint to tiding-up the garden, before the cold weather sets in.
5. Schedule a set day and time each week to do small jobs
You can’t rely on a couple of big monthly cleans to keep your home in order. Little and often is the best way to make sure your home is a place you are happy to cosy up in during the autumn.
‘Set a day and time in your diary each week to do small jobs,’ suggests Lucy. ‘They won’t take you long at all and your home will always be up to the cleaning standards of Kim and Aggie.’
I think this bedroom looks so cozy, inviting and characterful and it’s mainly because of the big gallery wall above the bed I think. I love the little bench behind the bed for keeping extra pillows at night and a wall shelf has been turned into a little desk, which is very creative. Adding a wall lamp and a little art print makes this desk into its own little area as well.
The peg rail combined with the mirror on the other side of the bed reflects the gallery wall, which is a nice touch.
So what are the best-selling shades since Wilko paint launched? And what were the influences? Analysing sales of its paint range from the last 20 years Wilko have revealed how trends have developed over time.
While shades of grey take a number of the top-spots many Brits have been opting for more adventurous colours over the years, including uplifting citrus yellow and warming red tones.
1.Grey Whisper
Grey tops the charts, that’s no real surprise is it? A modern classic paint choice,grey living roomsand more have become the go-to when it comes to neutral colour schemes.
Wilko suggest it’s the ‘Mrs Hinch’ effect. With shoppers going ‘grey crazy’, inspired by the home of the cleaning influencer, as seen on her Instagram feed packed with shots of the muted shades she uses to decorate her home.
This popular grey tone has a hint of lilac to it, which incidentally is very of the now in terms of fashion colour palettes. Could be a reason behind it’s popularity as a paint shade of choice?
To keep it fresh over the years the faithful hue has been reimagined, painted alongside bolder accent colours of cerise pink and burnt orange to give it another dimension.
This creamy neutral shade wasthetone of the early noughties, when it came to interior decor. No doubt the popularity of makeover TV shows such as Changing Rooms meant that magnolia and cream were the most popular shades at the start of the century.
Watch this space because these such warm neutrals are due to make an imminent comeback.
There’s nothing neutral about this bold shade. Surely sales were inspired by the days of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on Changing Rooms, with his fearless colour choices.
Pink is always a popular decorating choice, especially for bedrooms so it’s no surprise it features in the top 10. This Wilko shade of pink is less peachy than on-trend Millennial Pink, giving an indication that it’s a longstanding favourite.
Which of the best-selling shades is your favourite?
Wilko paint first launched back in 1973, as one of the retailer’s original own-brand products – now one of its most popular products. In-house innovation teams have worked hard ever since to create trend-driven shades of paints for all our decorating needs.
Besides spending the morning watching 2 episodes of “normal people” (absolutely obsessed, watch immediately) I’ve actually done the opposite of slow down today and decided I’d do the sort of tidying & organising that involves pulling everything out of every draw & going from room to room like a tornado leaving a trail of destruction around me. Excited for bath time though! And I’ve also decided I’m going to paint my nails (even though it will last all of 3 hours before it chips no doubt haha) How have you spent your Sunday? #comewhatmay
or if you’re not, tell me your lovely plans and I’ll live vicariously through those instead 
(I also have A LOT of photos I want to post on insta, so there might be a bit of an overload this weekend, hope you enjoy haha) 
Are you a plant parent or have you given up after multiple plant fatalities? 
