Inspiration: Five Quick Questions With...

We have had a busy week here at Butterfly Lane HQ.  We have surrounded ourselves with lovely creative people to inspire us and they have generously shared some of their design flair and fabulousness for the Butterfly Lane reader.  Enjoy!  X

Natalie Bulmer, Features Editor for my-wardrobe.com 

Stylist turned fashion writer Natalie, has an eye for all things beautiful and here are her thoughts on home design, country living and her passion in life...

Who and what inspires you?

I'm constantly inspired by the people closest to me, particularly my mum but also get lots of inspiration from one of my biggest passions - films. 

Are you a country or city person?

I adore living in the city and could never imagine being far from one but am equally at home in the country.  The best of both worlds is where I'd be happiest with easy access to either way of life!

How would you describe your own home's style? 

     

Feminine and cluttered!  I'm an innate hoarder and enjoy girly flourishes like chandeliers and   Toile de Jouy.

Images from John Lewis and Cabbages and Roses

What do you think will be a big trend for this summer?

We won't be able to see for a plethora of print come summer and I can't wait as it's one of my favourite looks.

Image from my-wardrobe.com

Can you leave us with your top interior design tip?

I think the best thing is to fill your home with things that say something about you and what you love.


.................................................................................................................................

Ashley White, Interior Design Blogger for Decorology

American blogger Ashley has a truly inspiring interior design blog that showcases her love of all things beautiful.  Her creative flair makes her a must read and here at Butterfly Lane we are hooked.  Here is Ashley on her inspiration and how to ease yourself in to new trends...


Are you a country girl or city girl?  


I am at heart, a country girl.  I grew up on 200 acres on the Chesapeake Bay, and I lived in NYC for a few years.  I loved the culture and inspiration the city had to offer, but now that I’m back near the country, I don’t know if I would live in the city again.

Who and what inspires you?  

My parents inspire me.  They are the ones who gave me my work ethic, and appreciation of nature.  Nature is also my biggest inspiration.  The variety of patterns, colors, and shapes found in nature is staggering.

What do you think will be a big trend for this summer?  

I think we’re going to continue to see a lot of ethnic and tribal prints, such as Ikat and Moroccan motifs.


How would you describe your own home's style?
  
I would say it is a mix of new traditional and eclectic.  I like a mix of styles, but always tend to favor clean design over a lot of bells and whistles.  I also try to decorate primarily with objects that have sentimental value or significance to me.

Can you leave us with your top interior design tip?  

Before making a big purchase – always step back and ask yourself if the product is true to you.  You may like a current trend or style, but make sure it’s something you can live with a long time.  If you want to test out a new trend, buy a small accent of accessory in that style before purchasing a big-ticket item in that style.  I’ve learned this the hard way a couple of times.

.................................................................................................................................

Lucy Bannister, Founder and Designer of Shu & Me Jewellery

The ever so stylish Lucy creates the most beautiful jewellery from vintage finds from Paris and the UK.  Every piece is handmade and one of a kind and we couldn't recommend her designs highly enough!  Here at Butterfly Lane we are in love with her Emilie and Jemima bracelets, they are perfect finishing touch to any outfit.  

Here is Lucy on her style, inspirations and top tips for spring/summer 2012...

How would you describe your own home's style?

Well I'm currently still at home - poor mum and dad!  I have however had free reign on my room and I always use that 'when I have my own house...' line, so with that in mind I'd say - I love all things vintage (probably an obvious one considering the jewellery I make!), but combined with a modern edge too.  I like furniture/objects around the house that have a story to tell and are full of character, my nana just doesn't understand my fascination with stuff she has in her house that to her is just old but to me is 100% treasure!  I also love to be surrounded by photographs, old and new, so I reckon pictures in lots of different kind of frames would feature heavily too in my (imaginary) house!  I think it would be full of lots of bits and bobs but in an organised fashion!  A friend recently sent me a link to this and said this had me written all over it -  Jessica Barensfeld and Simon Howell 

Images from Jessica Barenfeld and Simon Howell's apartment

Are you a country or city person?

With this one I'd say I'm totally split down the middle, I love the countryside and was brought up going for long walks when I was younger, which I probably made out I hated at the time but secretly loved deep down!  At the same time I love the buzz of the city, with so much going on and it always inspires me to want to do more and encourages me.  As long as I can have a balanced life with a  bit of both, I'm happy!

Who and what inspires you?

I take a lot of inspiration from just everyday people watching and the events going on around me, I love 'street style' features in magazines and online, also blogs like The Sartorialist.  I also think blogs like this one are always brilliant too to find out hidden gems of info, finding new places, ideas for interiors, fashion inspiration etc.  If I had to pick a person who's style I like I think Olivia Palermo's style is always quite effortlessly chic.  

The gorgeous Miss Palermo.  Image: FabSugar

What do you think will be a big trend for this summer?

I think the whole colour blocking trend will be big this summer, I'm a massive fan already and it's nice to see some colour on the catwalk whether it's the more subtle pastel shades or the bolder brights, I think if done properly it's a lovely trend and has encouraged me to step away from the safer dark side!

Can you leave us with your top interior design tip?

If you're like me and love 'stuff' but don't necessarily have the space I think stylish storage when it come to interior design is key!  To make a small room feel big use clever ways of storing things, I love quirky items liked stacked vintage suitcases, they make a great feature and also somewhere to store all of your things! 

...............................................................................................................................

Rebecca Woodrow, Pretty Polly

Creating all your hosiery needs from the fabulous and fashion forward to everyones favourite tummy tucking opaques, Rebecca works for the likes of Henry Holland and many more. Here are her design tips for a very stylish home...

Are you a country or a city person? 

I would say I'm more of a town girl.  I love being close to the city looking at fast fashion and life styles. Yet I love stepping back and escaping into the scenery and my thoughts with long country walks with the dog.

How would you describe your own home's style?

I would like to call it shabby grandeur, though sometimes the shabby comes across more than the grandeur I'm sure!  Guess I will spend my life evolving & tweaking to get the desired look.

Who and what inspires you?

Eras inspire me from Edwardian times to the decadent 30's.

What do you think will be a big trend for this summer?

Popping rainbow colours of club tropicana to soft subtle shade of nude/white in textured knit wear. However with the Jubilee and the Olympics there will be a love of all this British .... think bunting and street parties.

Can you leave us with your top interior design tip?

To trust yourself in judgment and decisions, taste is a personal opinion.

All images from Rebecca Woodrow


A big thank you from Butterfly Lane to everyone who took part in this feature!  X

A New Gardening World

The sun is shining and the birds are singing and rather uncharacteristically I’m thinking about…gardening!  Albeit, my house still needs a lot of work on the inside, but equally it needs transforming on the outside too and as the weather turns in to hazy sunny days it makes me want to create a charming, relaxing space to kick back with a magazine or two, along with a chilled glass of pinot, whilst listening to the birds chirp away.  Obviously, if the boyfriend is reading this, only after spending a full day painting, sanding and demolishing of course.  A girl needs a sanctuary of calm away from the noise of drills and hammers!  So my new project for the Easter break is to renovate the garden. 

I would also love do some summertime entertaining, so I will be able to usher my friends and family through the chaos that is Beech House and guide them to a relaxing, tranquil garden for me to entertain them in.  Well this is the plan, but I am under no illusions here, I am no Monty Don!  I have gathered lots of images from magazines and from the internet that will hopefully guide me on my way.  However, as I don’t know the difference between a weed and a plant about to burst in to life, I have enlisted my secret weapon, my mother, a veteran at all things green and floral.  Here are a few images that I have found to inspire my garden redesign…

Images:  Pinterest


I might sound harsh here, but I hate a madly colourful garden, to be frank I find the mixture of bright colours somewhat gaudy and oppressive, so I will be focusing on a simple and soft colour palette for the flowers; whites, lilacs, soft pinks and pale yellows and the obligatory green of course.  Hydrangeas are my utmost favourite of all flowers, whether they be in vases in my home, or pots in my garden, they are a must for my redesign.  We are very lucky to have a huge variety of climbing roses at our house (my fabulously floral gardening gloves came in very handy whilst untangling them!).  Roses of all colours dominate the cobbled wall on my driveway and even form an arch around my front door!  Idyllic to say the least.  Roll on the summer so they will all be in full bloom, the scent is just divine.  



Due to my cookery obsession I think a herb garden is a must, and whilst pottering around the garden I have realised that we are already pretty well stocked…parsley, thyme, rosemary, bay, the options are endless!  So they just need rearranging and tagging.  I often get confused as to what herb is which, so if you are like me I have found these cute copper signs so pop in to the soil next to each herb so everything is easily identified!  Very helpful indeed. 

My outdoor space is a small, walled country garden.  Due to its limited size we will have to make the most of the space that we have and use clever tricks to play with the eye to make it appear larger than it actually is.  I am currently designing the lighting concept that will hopefully elongate the garden further by shining soft lights up against the cobbled wall.  I’m also going to use a lot of pots to fill with flowers to put on the courtyard itself, and here are my top picks of garden planters and pots this spring.

Images:  John Lewis and The Worm That Turned


To help me along my new gardening path in style, I have fallen in love with a few gardening accessoires.  I am a huge fan of Sophie Conran, I have her Portmeirion tableware range and I was thrilled to hear that she has teamed up with master gardeners Burgon and Ball to create a beautiful range of gardening tools that are almost too stylish to get dirty!  I also love the V&A range of garden accessories, they are super chic and stylish.  Finally the Cath Kidston gardening gloves are so lovely and come in a variety of prints and patterns, and will protect your hands from nasty thorny roses.  A real must have!  
Image:  Sophie Conran by Burgon and Ball 

Images:  V&A Gardening Tools

Image:  Cath Kidson Gardening Gloves

After trawling the shops, garden centres and online for the perfect patio furniture, I have found ‘the one’ at last.  I really think that good quality patio furniture is a great investment, and if looked after properly (put away/covered over in the winter months) it will last a life time!  We have settled on this circular limestone beauty by Neptune, with the Lloyd Loom chairs to match. 

Image:  Neptune Garden Furniture, John Lewis


Here at Butterfly Lane we have discovered the most elegant al fresco tableware ever!  These beauties look like your most prized glass collection but in fact they are made out of very sturdy, sparkly plastic.  So you can rest with ease as you have a dinner party al fresco style, this range will not smash!  The whole collection from salad bowl and servers, to plates and cutlery will be available to buy at Butterfly Lane soon.  I’ve just placed an order for myself too!

Happy gardening everyone…X