Choosing the right rug for your space

I have been on the hunt recently for the perfect rug for my new home. A rug is a great way to add character and an element of coziness to a space and it is definitely one of my must haves in a living room. There are a couple factors to take into consideration when purchasing a rug and while I have been tempted to purchase one solely on appearance alone I have had to take a few things into consideration. See below my tips in choosing the right rug for your space and visit Archers Hall to see their many customisation options.

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Coastal Living: Decorating with Driftwood

Coastal Decor has always been a favourite of mine and actually acted as the inspiration for the new look of the blog when I re launched last year. This space which was featured on Coastal Living many years ago has since been on my radar and I even blogged about it back in 2011. I love the colour palette, the layering of textures, driftwood coffee table and of course the view! I have always appreciated using natural elements when designing and any type of driftwood furniture is a success in my books. Driftwood furniture or accessories can merge with almost any design style and are definitely not limited only to coastal. Shop the look and some of my driftwood picks below. 

Life as I know it : Dinner Date at The Mews Restaurant

I am a big lover of food and eating out at nice restaurants. However like many others I have been trying to cut back on certain luxuries such as eating out. Recently I became aware of The Re-Discover Barbados menu available at premier restaurants such as L'Azure, Tapas, Nishi, Waterside and The Mews. I was automatically drawn to the value for money and as a result I visited The Mews last night to experience the special menu. The customer service was fantastic, the food was beyond delicious and of course being an interior decorator I loved the interior which was designed by Stephanie Barnes.

Phone snaps from my evening. Collage created with Photo Visi. 

See more by following @ lovedesignbdos on IG 

The Ferragamo Buckle Collection

I love fashion and I have a great appreciation for innovative designers whose designs are still relevant and classic years later. This is the case with designer Salvatore Ferragamo who grew his modest shoe company into one of the most renowned fashion houses in the world. He started as an Italian shoe designer, working with many Hollywood stars in the 1920s, before returning to Italy where he founded his company and namesake brand in 1927. His scientific and creative approach to shoes spawned many innovations such as the wedge heel and cage heel. Film stars and celebrities continue to patronize his company, which has evolved into a luxury goods empire spanning the world. The latest collection by Salvatore Ferragamo is The Buckle Collection and after seeing a pair of the sunnies at The Sun Collection Boutique in Limegrove I was smitten. I then saw a spread in one of my favourite fashion blogs; Fake Leather and knew I wanted to share it with my LDB readers. 

Sunglasses and watch seen here, sunnies available at Sun Collection. Image via Fake Leather blog.

The collection, known as the Ferragamo Buckle Collection is a modern reinterpretation of the concept of the buckle taken from its accessories collections, highlighting not only its aesthetic role but its functional importance and cutting-edge technology. See more about this collection here and shop the sunnies at Sun Collection.

Gallery Wall Tips

I love a good gallery wall and have posted about them a few times before but never had I actually attempted to create one myself. One thing I have learnt is nothing is as easy as it looks on the DIY blogs. In creating my gallery wall the first thing I had to do was decide on a look. There are many options when creating gallery walls and today I have outlined three gallery wall ideas and tips to create them. I decided on a more eclectic style for myself and have incorporated pieces such as original artwork from friends and family, framed letters and fun prints from Walkers World. The last item on my wish list is also from Walkers World and is a stunning Starburst mirror which will bring an element of glam and surprise. Stay tuned on the blog to see my completed gallery wall and visit Walkers World on Facebook or their website to Wake up your walls! 

1. Part eclectic / Part uniform.

This style is the perfect balance in my opinion. Mix up your gallery wall with different prints and photos but keep it streamlined in the placement and frame selection.  The beauty of this is that you are not tied to any one shape, colour or layout but  there is still a sense of cohesion.

Upper East Side NYC Townhouse

I love NYC and am a fan of quintessential New York movies (chick flicks) such as  Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Devil wears Prada and Sex and The City. Upon seeing this Upper East Side NYC Townhouse on one of my favourite blogs Coco Cozy, I instantly fell in love, not to mention it looks worthy of Carrie or Miranda Priestly. Square footage in a location such as this one is a hot commodity in NYC and it comes at a price - $13,250,000 to be exact. 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and an unheard of 1,100 square feet of terrace space are just some of the highlights of this Upper East Side NYC Townhouse. The elevator, herringbone wood floors, custom floor length mahogany windows and a calcutta marble kitchen are some of the details that make it special. See more of this stunning gem on Coco Cozy or see the whole listing at Sotheby's. 

Fashion Week on LDB: My favourite looks from NYFW (Part 2)

Mercedes Benz New York Fashion week has come to a close. Fashion Week happens twice a year and NYFW is one of five major fashion weeks in the world, along with those in Paris, London, Berlin, and Milan. Though NYFW has concluded we can continue the swooning at the upcoming London and Paris Fashion Weeks. I posted on Monday some of my fave looks from days 1 through 6 and today I am sharing my favourite looks from standout shows such as  Oscar de La Renta, Badgley Mischka and Naeem Khan. Be sure to also take a look at my blog post on Michael Kors 2015 Spring runway show which was by far one of my New York Fashion Week Spring 2015 highlights. 

Oscar De La Renta

Fashion Week on LDB : Michael Kors Spring 2015

I was working on my final fashion week post today showcasing my favourite looks from the last four days and could not help but be distracted by the Michael Kors Spring 2015 Runway. This show was by far one of my favourites and every look was classic yet fresh. Spring Studios was illuminated by the morning sun and celebrities such as Jessiac Chastain, Olivia Munn and Mary J. Blige watched as fresh faced models bounced down the runway to upbeat music. Michael Kors Spring collection was full of daffodils, wisteria and geraniums which were picked out in sequins on tulle dancer skirts, embroidered on strappy sundress, or printed on a breezy natural linen skirt. While navy and yellow were the predominant colours, the end of the show brought simplicity with black and white as well all black skirt and top combos. It was hard for me to choose favourites and while the pieces were all different there was an obvious connection between the clothes. See my other favourites from Fashion Week here and stay tuned for more of my NYFW Fashion picks.  

Fashion Week on LDB: Kate Spade Spring Summer 2015

In honour of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, LDB is having our own week of fashion. It has been very hard to choose my favourites as each runway show seems to come with something incredible. Not to mention the fashionsita's are out in full form, the street style looks have been equally blog worthy and front row fashion icons have been rocking some major looks! One of the more safe runways in my opinion was Kate Spade but in saying that every look was stunning and the bags made heads turn. The Kate Spade spring/summer 2015 collection was an obvious nod to the ‘60s; it was playful and original. The color palette went from simple black and white to red, then to beige, green, blue and finally, to a mixture of them all. The outfits were alluring; they looked effortless but exquisitely detailed. Big floral prints and bow ties around necklines of the dresses oozed elegance and femininity. The range of dresses went from cotton sundresses to more formal ones and to race wear.

Fashion Week on LDB: My Favourite looks from NYFW

Mercedes Benz New York Fashion week is in full swing and as to be expected the runways have been filled with an overwhelming amount of blog worthy looks. Celebrities, magazine editors and the fashion elite have graced the front rows showcasing equally impressive fashions. Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, Who What Wear and numerous other fashion websites have been my best friend the last couple days as I follow along from much less glamourous surroundings. Some of my favourite New York Fashion Week Spring 2015 shows thus far have been Dianne Von Furstenburg, Prabal Gurung, Alexander Wang and Kate Spade. See some of my fave looks below and stay tuned for a week full of fashion on LDB! 

Dianne Von Furstenburg

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Foodie Friday: Canapes

The term "foodie" gets thrown around loosely and I often think to myself, " Am I a foodie?" and "What exactly qualifies one to be a foodie?" Today before posting I looked up the term and came up with this description : A foodie is a gourmet, or a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food and alcoholic beverages.^[1] A foodie seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out of convenience or hunger. Now whether or not I can be considered a foodie, one thing is for sure - I love food! Canapes and hors d'oeuvres are high on my list and I would happily substitute dinner for an assortment of fancy yummies on a tray. Below are some of my canapé picks from various food blogs and websites. Comment below and let me know if you are a foodie and what your fave foods are. Enjoy! 

Assorted canapés on a french baguette. Looking a little like heaven to me! Dying to try the smoked salmon creations, cherry tomato and boiled egg delectables.

Home Offices: Balancing Practicality and Pretty

While I am a big fan of desk organisation and practicality I admit I find it hard to eliminate the "pretty". I've been trying to strike a balance in my own home office and would say it's been quite effective thus far. I believe it's important to have things that inspire you and at the same time have important everyday items at arms length. See a few of my tips below to keep both inspired and organised and shop some of my desk top picks for keeping organised in style. 

Home office of Erika Brechtel. See the full post here

Vintage Treasures Country House

My design style varies and while I'm partial to a simple island chic vibe in my own home I can appreciate both traditional, contemporary and rustic spaces. Essentially it is about what speaks to me and this country house did just that. I was visiting on of my favourite resources for interiors: Apartment Therapy and I came across the country house of Marnie and Ryan Hawson in Australia. I love the simplicity of the white panelled walls and the mixture of industrial, vintage and scandinavian design. See the whole story here