Danish Living ....

It seems to me that the Danes know how to live. How to live calmly, how to live stylishly and how to live simply. I know this, not because I have been to Denmark, or that I even know any Danes, because neither are true, but from all the images I have ever seen of Danish houses. The interiors press are constantly highlighting Danish living to us. Every single feature, without fail, makes me want to move in without a second thought. Danish living inspires me to live calmly, all that white is so soothing and relaxing. It's fresh, it's summery, it's light and quite simply, it's cool. What's not to like? The rawness of materials, lots of stripped-down wood, with natural finishes reminds me of nature (and not city madness) and the distressed finishes evoke a sense that not everything has to be perfect to be beautiful. I like that philosophy, a lot. We have a new supplier here at lavender/room who is bringing some Danish charm into our homes right now and you don't need to have a whole lot of new stuff to make a difference, often a few small accessories are just enough for some fresh inspiration. Check out these gorgeous hooks which work in kitchens, bathrooms or hallways (depending on the colour) and some great new photo frames which look uber-stylish displayed randomly on walls. Get the Danish look ... your home is worth it.

For the Teachers ....

It's that time of year again when we're going to Sports Days, end of term concerts, finding out which class we're in next year, and worrying about how we're going to juggle childcare through the holidays! And throughout all of this excitement and panic we have to remember our lovely (hopefully!) teacher who has guided and nurtured our little treasures through the past year. Teachers work incredibly hard and spend more time throughout the week with our children than we do, and are responsible for the majority of educational development over the past year. For that, they deserve some serious gratitude. So, how to say thank you and what to buy? A usual budget would be around £10, but perhaps less if you've got more than one to buy for. We have a large and varied selection of gifts for £10 and under. We also have quite a bit more choice of gifts in our Brighton store - our ceramic planters are going to be top of my list this year. Have a browse here, or pop down to the shop. Spoil your teacher, they do deserve it.

Perfect lighting for summer garden parties ....

This has to be the best time of the year doesn't it? When the sunshine is warm, our gardens are in bloom and everything just seems bright and cheery. Ok granted, we do have to wait a while for those moments and they may be few and far between in our 'English Summer', but when they come along we absolutely must catch them, and take full advantage of the joy that they can bring. Sitting in the garden after a busy day, once the kids are in bed, is one of life's simple pleasures, especially as the sun is going down and the light warrants some tender lighting ... a few pretty tealights to see you into the night. Tealights and votives come into their own in the summer don't they, because they truly do look better lit outside, rather than on a mantlepiece. And for summer garden parties they really are the pièce de résistance! And with so much choice of garden decorations now available our great tealight collection at lavender/room are all suitable for outdoor use. My favourites are our ceramic ones, with little tiny holes which give a wonderful glow in the dark. We also have a couple of styles which can be hung - on walls or in trees. Take a look here and choose something pretty that will help our Summer evenings feel a little bit more special.

We love Independent Retailers, do you?

Well, it's Friday again.. how did that happen so fast?

We've had a busy week in Brighton & finally the sun has graced us with its presence. There's always a buzz in town when the sun shines - we Brightonians just love the summer! With our fantastic selection of independent shops and cafes, the North Laine is just great for pottering around on a warm weekend. With so many independent businesses who are really passionate about what they do (us included!), it beats the high street. Brighton is so lucky to have such a strong sense of individuality & creative people doing the things they love. That's enough gushing about Brighton!

Monday is Independents' Day - supporting independent retailers & encouraging everyone to buy at least one thing from an independent shop. I hope we can all find time on Monday to support this and lend a helping hand to all our brilliant shopkeepers, whose tasks are wide and varied - from Buyer, Designer, Marketeer and Book-Keeper to Sales Assistant, Finance Director and general Jack of all Trades! Buy something, however small, and show your support. You can find out more by clicking on the link to the right.

Well, I need to begin preparing for our summer sale which starts tomorrow - lots to be done before the morning. So I must get busy. No time to sit on the computer chatting!

Have a great weekend. Fingers crossed for more warm weather.

Jenny x