Tag: kingstonlaffertydesign

Add some reflective surfaces for depth and light within your garden…..

If your feeling like spending the weekend outdoors we have some great garden DIY inspiration for the sunny weekend ahead.

Mirrors are a fantastic way to brighten up any garden space. Adding large or small mirrors to your garden creates extra dimension to the space.

Adding mirrors to your garden not only creates extra dimension to the space but it also increases the light in the space as the sun moves throughout the day. It also reflects the planting that you have within the garden, making the garden feel much fuller and giving the garden more depth. This idea works particularly well with small gardens making the garden feel twice the size.

We here at KLD did some of our own garden mirror DIY during the week, and here is how it is done.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. Mirror with decorative feature or frame
2. Paint – We prefer to use bright fun colours to brighten up your garden space.
3. Paintbrush
4. Metal Wire

HOW TO:

1. Select a mirror in which you would like to revive. This can be an existing old mirror which you have in your house which you no longer use or a new one. We chose the ‘UNG DRILL’ mirror from IKEA.
2. Take the paint colour that you wish to use on your mirror. We chose the colour ‘Secret Lagoon’ from the Cuprinol ‘HAMMERITE’ range.
3. Paint your mirror and wait for it to dry, it may need two coats if the mirror was a dark colour to begin with.
4. Use the metal wire to hang your mirror on your garden fence or wall.

OUR FAVOURITES:

1. CUPRINOL do a great range of garden paints for all your garden DIY.
2. IKEA have a great selection of affordable mirrors if you don’t have one at home.

Create a beautiful in season Irish wild flower bouquet…

We are thinking all things flowers this week with the sunny weather (spells) and the launch of Super Garden on RTE1.

We here at KLD adore wild flower bouquets,  with each bouquet unique with it’s natural beauty and a touch of rustic elegance.

The experts at Appassionata flowers recently created a stunning wild flower bouquet for us for a photoshoot and it got us thinking on how to recreate this using in season Irish wild flowers which are right on our doorsteps.

The gorgeous wild flower bouquet from Appassionata Flowers.

There is a great website called wild flowers of Ireland which keeps you up to date on flowers which are in season at the moment. We have picked some of our favourites from here  that are currently in season to create your own wild flower bouquet.

OUR FAVOURITES

Cowslip – A yellow-orange flower which has been noticeably absent for sometime but thankfully is making a come back. It can be found on roadsides and pastures.

Bluebell – Purple-blue in colour these are one of the most beautiful sights we see in our woodlands and over grassy banks. They can be found from April onwards each year.

Fringe Cups – These greenish-white flowers are beautiful fragrant flowers which flower in April and May. They are most unusual long steamed flowers which can grow up to 800mm high.

Fumaria Muralis – A tubular pink flower which is commonly found and seen as a garden weed. These flowers are a beautiful shade of pink with deep purple tips.

Summer Snowflake – A snow-white bell shaped flower which seems to hide in clusters in the shade of damp, riverside meadows. The summer snowflake flowers in April – May.

Marsh Violet – A five  heart-shaped petaled flower which is lilac in colour blooms in Ireland from April through to July. It can grow up to 150mm high and can be found throughout Ireland in acid blogs, marshy ground and damp woodlands.

Common Mouse-ear – A small white flower with a green stem which flowers from April to November. The Common Mouse-ear is frequently found on roadsides, disturbed ground and gardens.

TOPTIPS

• Choose a range of weedy long steamed greens to mix in with the flowers, this will bulk out the bouquet and give it that wild unique look.
• Try to find nice bright coloured flowers like yellows and pinks, this will make the bouquet pop with colour.
• If you prefer to leave it up to the experts we would highly recommend Appassionata flowers for all your flowering needs

Dip Dying Inspiration….

I love seeing new and interesting ways to up-cycle old furniture and dip dying is my current favourite. Its such a simple way to give that old tired furniture the fresh lift it needs!

Keep the dip-dyed trend bright and fresh with adding a neon leg to a stool or chair, you can be as playful as you like with this trend by using dark colours for a more subtle impact or go for a bright neon pink or yellow for that wow factor!

We here at KLD are loving this new trend, have a look at our Pinterest board for some of our favourite dip died chair inspiration.

Follow Kingston Lafferty Design’s board Dip Dying on Pinterest.

‘Simple Geometrics Shapes and Reflective Materials’ Lighting by Michael Anastassiades

Bringing some light to your Monday blues….

I have recently been introduced to the lighting works by Michael Anastassiades and I have been in complete awe and slightly (madly) obsessed ever since.

Michael Anastassiades launched his studio in 1994 with intentions to explore notions and aesthetics through a mixture of product, furniture and environmental design. His work mainly aims to combine dialogue, participation and interaction. Michael is inspired by action, observation social codes, nature, rawness, recreation, people and art, he also says that design doesn’t inspire him – that he just creates it.

The style of lighting that he produces are minimal and uncomplicated, yet they create an intensity that one might not expect. The subtle use of simple, geometric shapes and reflective materials create dreamy eye-catching, timeless signature pieces.

Michael Anastassiades says that when working with light what interests him most is that you are addressing an object that must work in two scenarios: When the light is on and when the light is off. Michael believes that lighting is fundamental in our lives, that no light means no architecture, no shadow, no perspective, no depth, no plants, no ambiance, no spirituality, no vision, no security and no communication.

Michael Anastassiades creations without doubt create all of the above.

Check out our Pinterest board for inspiration on some of our favourite Michael Anastassiades lighting.

Follow Kingston Lafferty Design’s board Michael Anastassiades on Pinterest.

Follow Kingston Lafferty Design’s board Valentine’s on Pinterest.

What better way to relax in this cold weather then unwinding in a steaming hot bath?

Beautiful baths are the way forward, and have been making a move back into interiors of late. There was a time when all people wanted in bathrooms was a luxurious shower but the bath is making a come back! And it’s not surprising when you see the stunning baths that are available.

When it comes to baths the options are endless from marble to concrete, brass and copper finishes to colour pops and not forgetting the beautiful reclaimed tubs that really are a stand along focal point in any space.

Why not create the perfect relaxation space in your home and position your bath in front of a window with a beautiful view? Or surround yourself with planting so if feels like the perfect escape? Take a look at some of our favorites on our pinterest page for more inspiration.

Follow Kingston Lafferty Design’s board Beautiful Baths on Pinterest.