Friday 6 March 2015

Top 3: bath towels

Fluffy white towels are an enticing proposition - all fresh and clean, radiating hotel-like luxury. Until you use them a couple of times and realise that they're a magnet for makeup stains, and depending on your bathroom, may look a little bit bland. Up until recently, white towels were the height of bathroom style, but today, the design gods are showering us with seriously striking, colour-soaked options. Here are our top 3 finds...



Why? Designed by Melbourne artist Antoinette Ferwerda, this graphic design is so of-the-moment that you'll probably want to take it to the beach. Will pop against white or charcoal tiles.




Why? A Turkish hammam towel is the interiors equivalent of a crisp linen shirt - effortless and elegant (although due to its flatwoven, lightweight form, it won't be for everyone, and may take some getting used to).




Why? Seriously, do we even need to justify this one? Readers of this blog will know that when the colour palette involves charcoal and mint, we're pretty much sold. Stepping out of a long hot shower never looked so good.





Sunday 1 March 2015

In the nook

Go on, have a giggle - the word nook is a funny one. Devotees of Sex and the City will define it as that sacred little space between Aidan's neck and shoulder that Carrie nestled into at night (before she broke his poor, innocent heart, but that's a story for another day). Here at The Apartment, we classify a nook as a cosy niche or hideaway, a space to crawl into and while away the afternoon with the Sunday papers or a good book. And with the onset of autumn, we're calling it: a nook's as essential to your home as a pair of pony hair loafers is to your wardrobe. Here's how to create one in three easy steps.

Image via thefrisky.com

1. Stake your turf
First things first, a nook is all about me time. It's a space to retreat to for some time-out from your boyfriend/girlfriend/housemate and her weird affinity for watching Embarrassing Bodies, and by definition, it should be small and snug. Search your apartment for potential spots - an enclave by a window, an unused pocket under the stairs or a corner of your balcony or deck.

Image via expensivelife.tumblr.com

Image via christinasadventures.com

Image via uncovet.hardpin.com

Image via lolitasaysso.blogspot.co.uk


2. Layer (un)like a pro
You know those street-style stars who make an art form out of layering their look? Well luckily, you don't have to, because the nook is one spot where you can throw away the rule book and layer textiles with fearless abandon. Floor cushions, chunky knitted throws and piles of plush pillows are what turn a bare alcove into a warm and beckoning hideaway.

Image via buzzfeed.com

Image via retreatbyrandomhouse.ca

Image via flickr.com


3. Indulge your inner six year old
Remember when you used to build cubbyhouses as a child? Channel that kid. In fact, if there's one space in your home where you can embrace a bit of whimsy - it's the nook. Anything goes, from a hanging chair to a hammock or - if you're feeling really adventurous - a teepee (check out the range at My Little Teepee). Then string some fairy lights and bring in some fresh blooms or a house plant to make it homely. Crawl in and you may never want to come out - don't say we didn't warn you.

Image via etsy.com


Image via emmas.blogg.se

Image via harmonyanddesign.com


Image via style-files.com


Image via sfgirlbybay.com


{SHOP THE STYLE}








Thursday 19 February 2015

New leif

We may struggle with directions and working out percentages (well, at least one of us does), but boy, can we shop online. Our sheer skill can take us to the cobbled streets of Paris' 7th arrondissement to downtown Manhattan, via Tokyo, in less time than it takes to polish off a bowl of Ben & Jerry's. And it frequently does.

One of our absolute favourite sites for picking up style-savvy souvenirs, no actual travelling necessary, is the Brooklyn-based Leif. From whimsical ribbon-print textiles to ombre table runners, pastel-hued plant pots to glittering agate objet d'art and fine jewellery encrusted with rough-hewn gems, it's truly a one-stop shop for one-of-a-kind treasures. We've picked some of our current must-haves below...









Happy shopping!

Sunday 15 February 2015

Thirsty work

Nine to five getting you down? It could be that your desk just isn't pretty enough (we suppose it could also be a nightmare workload or horrible boss - but it's probably best not to seek advice for those issues here). A festering collection of old takeaway coffee cups and lipstick-stained mount franklin water bottles does nothing for office feng shui, so as we wrap up the weekend and head back to work, we've compiled some of our top mugs and water jugs that you'll soon value as highly as your morning coffee fix. Ready to meet your new desk buddies?

 Image via notyourstandard.com








Glass carafe, $9.99, Ikea (also available in matching glasses, here).

Our other tips for prettying up a desk space? Try an indoor plant in a cute pot (miniature orchids, agave succulents or peace lilies do the trick nicely), an inspiring mood board and beautifully packaged hand cream on display. Oh, and a secret stash of chocolates to go with that 3pm cup of tea. We'll drink to that. 

Friday 13 February 2015

Friday find: They All Hate Us candles

Call us crazy, but we think that Valentine's Day is an invitation to gift yourself something special (flowers and chocolates from a significant other or secret admirer also accepted). This year we're coveting these super stylish candles, which put a little love in the air without so much as a hint of sap. They're created by the candle connoisseurs at Palm Beach Collection, along with Tash Sefton and Elle Ferguson from wildly successful fashion blog They All Hate Us.






             


Choose between five chic monochrome designs featuring on-trend typography.
Light one by day to fill your home with a sweet daisy scent, or at night accompanied
by a glass of red and some sultry tunes. Burn baby burn. 

Images via theyallhateus.com.



Sunday 8 February 2015

7 Ikea products your apartment needs now

Screaming kids. Fighting couples. An endless maze of flat-packed furniture. A weekend expedition to Ikea can be something of an undertaking, and if you're going to make the trek, you want it to be worth your while. As such, we've scoured the aisles of the superstore for its smartest and most stylish buys - so that you can be in and out of there faster than you can say "Swedish meatballs."


1. 'Hemnes' shoe cabinet, $179.


Why is it that no matter how much wardrobe space you have, there never seems to be enough room for your shoes? Supplement your robe with this specially designed shoe cabinet, available in a few sizes and configurations. It's super slimline, making it perfect for an entry or hallway.





Ikea's upping the style stakes with these mini hexagonal mirrors, which can be laid in any configuration you choose. Install them with removable 3M strips to glam up a rental property.

Image via planete-deco.fr



Ok, they're not sexy, but what these clips lack in good looks, they make up for in practicality - we've heard more than one convert proclaim: "They changed my life!" They're super handy for sealing food bags when you're short on storage jars, and will probably soon have you wondering how you ever survived without them.



This seemingly simple rail has myriad uses, but really comes into its own in a small kitchen - use it to hang utensils and herb pots, therefore maximising your bench and drawer space. For an industrial look, try it as a magazine stand or shoe rack, as pictured below.



Image via remodelista.com.


Image via stilinspiration.blogspot.nl




At first glance, the 'Kallax' unit appears modest, until you see it insitu and and realise it's just what you need to create an uber-chic shelf display - the kind that's usually the sole domain of super-styled Pinterest pics.

Image via nordicdays.blogspot.nl





A mainstay of Scandinavian spaces, a sheepskin (choose between real and faux options in-store) does its best work draped nonchalantly over a chair. It may be hard to entertain the idea in this heat, but come winter, you'll be loving it more than bacon. 

Image via frichic.com




Didn't we say we'd make your trip worthwhile?