Office space of the day // 111012

A great office space can boost your creativity, especially when you're a writer,  a graphic designer,  an artist and of course: a blogger. Each time I place my laptop on a messy desk, I end up procrastinating and doing nothing from all the things I have on my to-do list. This office space inspired me from the first moment I saw it on 79ideas blog and so I decided to share it with you. This rustic color palette reminds me of my apartment back in Athens, I have a similar desk and chair and the colors look the same, white combined with black and wooden accents. So cozy and stylish at the same time. 

1. West Elm throw // £33
2. K and Co drawer chest // £169
3. West Elm storage bin // £10
4.  Cornell desk // *On sale £249
5. Habitat lighting pendant // £65
6. Gallery frames // £22 , £10
7. Cordless telephone // £69
8. Cornell office chair // *On sale £149

The owner of the office space above {The Veda House} said that she has collected most of the pieces from antique markets and the rest of them are handmade. If this office space looks like a place you would like to work in, this 'steal the look' board will help you copy the aesthetics of today's office space. 

Do you like this color palette or do you prefer brighter colors?

Maria

Images via // Edited by me

DIY Monday: Make your own tea bags

Photos taken by me with a NIKON D3100

Happy DIY Monday! It's my second year in London and I'm trying to get used to the fact that everybody is drinking tea instead of coffee. I'm such a coffee person but I really try to add tea to my daily routine because it's so much healthier. I got inspired from this project by Elsie & Amanda from 'A beautiful mess' and decided to try it. I've bought some loose tea bags (you can also buy loose tea and use coffee filters as bags) and created custom cute tea bags for our apartment. My boyfriend was feeling sick over the weekend so we used these tea bags a lot! I've also printed tiny cute little messages to make them feel more personal.

Instructions
1. If you have loose tea (I suggest this one  and this one from Harrods) cut a coffee filter into two square pieces, fill them with your loose tea and stick them together. (You can mix flavors and smells if you like!) If you just bought tea bags without the hanging thread follow the instructions after this step.
2. Fold down the top corners and hold them with a stapler, leave some loose thread and staple them together.
3. Cut papers tags in your favorite shapes and colors or print them in your computer and write cute little messages on them and glue them together at the end of the embroidery thread.
4. Add a cup of hot water and a spoon of honey and voila! Your unique tea bags are ready!
5. Enjoy!

What do you think? Wouldn't this make an amazing gift for friends?

Take a look at my Pinterest folder 'DIY Projects'

Maria

Things that made me smile this week {31/09-07/10}

Lately I feel like time flies. I can't believe how fast September went by and the first week of October is already gone! London is so beautiful during this season of the year, colors change, it's raining (like always) and there's this dusty brown-green color everywhere. Last weekend I went to central London with John for some window shopping and couldn't stop starring at the window displays at Alexander McQueen's ( images 1&2) and a sparkly little key at Tiffany's. While browsing the internet, I've discovered the cutest necklace with the most amazing name 'Archipelago' (image 4), which is a Greek word, I guess they named it like that because of its bright colors that look like the colors of the sea and nature of Greece. (Have I mentioned lately how much I miss Greece?)

Image number 5 is one of my favorite photos, a naked tree, London eye and a clear British sky. I'm also really proud of these two discoveries from dotcomgiftshop, the cutest vintage  kitchen scale that comes  in creamy white and pink (£19 from dotcomgiftshop) and a  rustic stool with the quote 'Home sweet home' (£29 from dotcomgiftshop). Image 8 doesn't need an explanation, I love anything that comes in pastel colors!

I took photo 12 while John was driving, the weather was lovely, the sun was out after a long time and I couldn't stop smiling. Bright sun always makes people happy, exactly like bright colors. If you'd like to brighten up your kitchen, this group of red geometrical dinnerware(image 9) from Kate Spade is one of the best around the internet world. That's it for this week, I hope you'll have a lovely time and enjoy your loved ones, I'm planning on spending it with a lot of friends in warm, cozy outfits!


Products and links // 4. Archipelago statement necklace £98 // 6. Vintage pink kitchen scale £19 // 7. Home sweet home stool £29 // 9 .Geometrical dinnerware £68 //10. Cat print cardigan £32//11. Brown leather Booties £80 

Styling recipe : Peach baby nursery inspiration board

1. Ivory honeycomb paper boll // £5.95

2. Peach rabbit knickers // £37

3. Wooden 'family' sign // £35

4. Three drawer wood cabinet // £24

5. Eames rocking chair // £424

6. Kids ruffle play tent //  $199

7. Sophie Moses basket // £30

8. Mr. Fox soft doll // $16

9. 10 pack of heart paper lanterns // £6.95

Last weekend I received an email from a lovely reader from Greece, asking some tips about decorating a nursery for a baby girl. I replied immediately that I'd love to help her (nurseries are always the most amazing part of decorating an apartment!) and this post is dedicated to her lovely family. I got inspired by this beautiful nursery and loved this color scheme. Peach, grey and white is one of the cutest color combinations you can use for a nursery. Add a comfortable rocking chair, a simple changing table, a couple of cute quotes and frames on the wall and if you want make a statement, add some pom poms hanging from your ceiling! I'm also a huge fan of initials, so if you've decided the name of your baby already add the first letter of her name on the wall. Don't forget the most important part of  a nursery is that you fill it with love. 

Do you like this color scheme? Or do you prefer more vibrant colors?

Maria

Images via // Edited by me.

House tour: A small apartment in Stockholm

This modern studio apartment is located in Vasastan, Stockholm and it's designed by Alvhem Makleri & Interior. It looks really spacious but it's just 44 square meters and so bright! I live in a big studio apartment as well and I know how important light is, these windows create an amazing atmosphere that exude peace and tranquility. If you live in an one space home you already know how precious an idea like this 'curtain divider' is, just like the colors of the apartment. If you space is limited choose bright colors and add some dashes of vivid or darker accents. 

Images via // Edited by me

If you fancy the look of this apartment, I've collected a couple of items that you could use to create the same look in your house. I hope you'll find this list useful and interesting! 

1. Geometrical low coffee table // £300
2. Cream vintage chair // £125
3. Gray cozy throw // £38
4. Pendant shade // £20
5. Black floor lamp // £94
6. Eames Mauve Grey chair // £320
7. Black tea pot // £30

Trendspotting: the owl effect

The cutest Owl cookie jar - £22

Black and white owl wallpaper - Myowlbarn

If you have an eye for trends you must have noticed all of the animal patterned clothes and decorations that are everywhere this season. I'm a huge fan of them, they always make a room look pretty and fun. Today I've spotted a couple of rooms and some decorations with one of my favorite birds: the nerdy owl.

This wallpaper is one of the best wallpapers I've ever seen. Colorful, happy and present in a modern pixelated way. How can you resist it? ( Image from myowlbarn.com). Owl patterned cushions are a really popular choice right now, this one is the 'Owl collection' by 'Jade Devall' and it costs around £58 but you also this blue one from BHS for less (£20), use it as a color inspiration and make it pop by combining it with some monochromatic cushions. 

With the simple excuse that one owl is never enough, add more! If you want to go bold, add an 0wl ceramic decorative in front of an owl patterned wallpaper! Seriously, how cute will that be? Maybe not as cute as the Bea-tea-ful surprise coffee-mug (£14) from Modcloth but still. If you don't like wallpapers but you still want to add this nerdy cool bird in your home decor choose a couple of these West Elm plates (around £4.56 each).
I'm definitely going to add a group of owls in my apartment, I only hope that the boyfriend will be friendly to them and accept them as our new pets!

What do you think of this trend? Do you have any owl inspired decorations in your home? I'd love to know!

Maria

Image sources  1/2/3/4/5 - Edited by me.