June 17, 2016

Persimmon And Fennel Tomato Salad

It doesn’t seem like summer is about to show up in London just yet, but as it always looks and feels like summer in my home, now is as good a time as any to create a few quick and easy salad recipes to enjoy as light snacks and starters over the season. First up is the persimmon and fennel tomato salad.

As I strolled through the fruits and vegetables isle at my local Waitrose recently, I was a little surprised (but very happy) to see that persimmons were back in stock, because I’m more familiar with seeing them in abundance at winter time. I love persimmons, particularly in a salad, and if the salad includes fennel, that’s even better. I can’t really explain it, but there’s just something about the delicate sweet taste of persimmon combined with the unique aromatic flavour of fennel that totally pleases my palate. I’m always thinking of different fruits and veggies to add to my persimmon + fennel salads, and this time I’ve added radish and yellow cherry tomatoes to the mix. Honestly, there’s no highfalutin gastronomical theory behind my choice; I just had lots of them and I thought they’d look rather lovely on my plate together (and they really do!). This fun little foodie experiment turned out to be a pretty tasty snack, so here’s the recipe if you’d like to try it.

INGREDIENTS:

3 ripe fuyu persimmons
1 small fennel bulb
6 yellow cherry tomatoes
5 radishes
Fresh lemon juice (from half lemon)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Himalayan rose pink crystal salt to taste (optional)
a few fresh mint leaves to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

Using a mandoline (or a sharp knife if your skills are up to par), thinly slice the fennel bulbs, radishes, and tomatoes (I’ve spiralised 3 of the radishes and kept a few tomatoes whole for styling purposes)
Cut the persimmons into even chunks
Place half the sliced fennel on chilled salad plates, followed by most of the radishes and tomatoes
Add all the persimmon, then scatter the remaining fennel, radish and tomatoes on top
Add salt crystals to taste, and garnish with mint leaves
Combine lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, shake well and drizzle over salad

Bon appétit!

June 15, 2016

Hey, I’m Back At My Desk!

Hey, I’m back at my desk!

It’s been six months since I’ve written anything here. Apologies for dashing off without prior notice but I’m sure you all know that life has a tendency to get in the way sometimes. Despite the radio silence right here on the blog, I’ve had quite a few things happening. Some more exciting than others, but all very interesting nonetheless. If you’re following me on Instagram and AtMine, then you may have noticed that I’ve become more focussed on developing my skills as an interior and prop stylist. I’ve been doing plenty of styling and photography behind the scenes, and as I was having so much fun, I decided to take a little break from writing so I could devote more time to that for a while.

As if by magic, all this styling I’ve been doing already earned me a few rewards, one of which I will now share with you here. So, earlier this year I received an email from the Deputy Editor of an interiors magazine, requesting to do a tour of my home for one of their upcoming issues! I was most excited, especially because this was no industry ‘hook-up’! She had just found images of my home on AtMine.com, liked what she saw and decided to get in touch. After doing Google searches of her name a few times to be quite sure this wasn’t a hoax (I just couldn’t believe this was really happening), I replied to her with a resounding YES! Those who know me personally are fully aware of how I am about this stuff, so of course she didn’t escape me gushing about how I’ve wanted my home featured in a magazine since I was a little girl. Ha-ha! After a few email exchanges and telephone conversations, we agreed on a date for the photoshoot and which month’s issue I will appear in. It turns out I got the August issue which comes out next month; fingers-crossed I’ll get the cover! 😉 I’ll let you all know when it hits the shelves.

18chelseamews - on my desk

The photoshoot itself was quite an amazing learning experience! They sent a professional photographer who has over 16 years of industry experience, and let me just say, I was like a sponge, soaking up all the wealth of knowledge he was unknowingly spilling everywhere around my home with every word he said and every move he made! Nothing I could ever learn on a course! I did ALL the styling for the entire shoot, and it was my perfect ‘A full day in the life of a stylist’ experience. It’s not nearly as glamorous as it sounds, and it’s certainly not for those who are ‘on the fence’ about this stuff, but I would do it again, everyday, all day from now on, if given half the chance. That’s how passionate I am about it, and that how much I enjoyed it. We were both responsible for postponing lunch break a good few times…you know when you get to that ‘sweet spot’ where you just want to finish before taking a break? Apparently I was the record breaker, as he’d never spent such a long time on a shoot for a home tour! Yep, That’s what you get when the photographer are the stylists are both stickler for details I guess! 🙂 I sometimes annoy myself with how meticulous I can be about these things! I’m working on that too…

Now, before all that fun and exciting stuff, I received a big pink letter from HM Court Services…JURY SUMMONS! Yes, I had to do it. I got a pretty serious case that lasted a whole week and I’m pleased to say that justice was served thanks in part to me fulfilling my civic duty. I was fortunate enough to see how things work with both outcomes as we arrived at different verdicts for the two on trial. Goodness me, it’s no joke to watch! It got pretty intense when the verdicts and sentencing were being given! Ah well, if you do the crime you’ve got to be prepared to do the time…right? Overall I found this stuff quite traumatising really, and I sincerely hope that I’ll never be summoned for jury service ever again.

To end on a more positive note, I’m very excited to be back here blogging again and I look forward to sharing interesting and useful content with you as I have done in the past. Thanks a million for your patience with me while I took a break!

November 28, 2015

Urban Jungle Bloggers: The Plant Shelfie

I love taking shelfies! Which is just great as I never take selfies…it’s just not my thing. Lucky for me, the avid shelfie snapper, November’s Urban Jungle Bloggers focus is the ‘Plant Shelfie’. This couldn’t be more perfectly timed because my houseplant count has increased significantly over the past month as a result of two gifts and a few purchases. So what better way to show off a few of them than with a few shelfies?

Of course, the perfect little green newcomers to the Mews deserve an equally perfect spot to thrive and stay healthy here, so I’ve been changing things around a bit, much to my own delight. My current favourite newcomer is this cutesy little terrarium I made two days ago at the Heal’s Store Christmas Party, under the supervision of Emma & Tom from London Terrariums. I think I did pretty well, considering it’s my first, and I made it after having a few glasses of Processo and Sipsmith Damson Vodka! Given my obsession with ribbons and bows, I’m sure it isn’t surprising that I’ve since dressed up the little gem with pink and green velvet ribbons and turned it into the first sign of Christmas in my living room.

Plant Shelfie - terrarium bauble - 18chelseamews - urbanjunglebloggers.com.4

Plant Shelfie - 18chelseamews.com - urbanjunglebloggers.5

You may have noticed in the images I’ve shown of my living room previously, that the windows are in alcoves/recesses, and are also quite generous in size, making them the perfect little stage for shelfies of all sorts. The arrival of my new plants triggered some lovely ideas of how I could jazz-up my windows with a colourful display.

In the early summer of this year, I bought a few MT Casa products including a 200mm wide roll of pretty pink stripe Washi Tape without having a clue what I was going to use it for. Then 2 weeks ago I decided to use it as a backdrop for my window shelfie, which turned out to be quite a satisfying little styling session. I usually change things around at home very often but I’m thinking these shelves might stay this way for a while, at least until Christmas decor comes rushing in.

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Plant Shelfie - 18chelseamews.com - urban jungle bloggers..3

This is my second Urban Jungle Bloggers submission (see my first here), and I thoroughly enjoyed styling and photographing my plants, even the ones that didn’t make the cut for this post. I hope you like my plant shelfies as much as I do, and be sure to look out for future posts with other fabulous shelfie ideas for your home.

Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series run by Igor of Happy Interior Blog and Judith of JOELIX.com, with the aim of highlighting the beauty and benefits of houseplants and other greeneries in urban spaces. To find out more, visit the website or search #urbanjunglebloggers.

October 31, 2015

Houseplant Love

Remember the blog post in which I resolved to add some greenery to my home and care for them like a true green thumb? Well, I have some very good news for you! I am now the very proud owner of 6 potted plants, and they’re all thriving beautifully in my care. If you know me personally, you might be pretty shocked they’re all still alive. The truth is, I’d be shocked too if I maintained my previous mindset about plant care. As if by fate, just a few months after making my resolution, I met the lovely founders of Urban Jungle Bloggers, Igor and Judith at the 2015 Blogtacular conference. During a few brief and friendly conversations with them throughout the afternoon, Igor managed to convince me that “green-thumb is just a myth” and the bright and cheerful images of Judith’s plant filled home on her blog inspired me to banish the green thumb myth from my mind, and focus on caring for my plants in a similar manner to the way I take care of myself. That’s lovingly fed, watered, and beautifully groomed by the way. 😉

Houseplant Love.1 - 18chelseamews.com

Now, with living proof that I’m capable of caring for houseplants, I’m very keen on adding a small tree and perhaps a few other small plants to my collection. I’m currently in search of a middle sized Fiddle Leaf Fig tree, a small Hawaiian Palm, a Jasmine plant and perhaps a few additional ferns and miniature succulents. Yep, you can call me the crazy happy plant lady… Of course I’m okay with that! Had I known that caring for plants could have made me feel this relaxed and happy, I would have started a collection years ago. They truly add a different vibration to the atmosphere of my home and it feels so damn good! All this time I relied on fresh flowers for this feeling, whilst having no clue that living plants could truly magnify the experience. Of course I still buy fresh flowers (it’s just not something I can resist!), and in my opinion the blooms often look even more exquisite when displayed beside houseplants. What an awesome feeling, having the responsibility of nurturing something and having the opportunity to watch it grow beautifully day by day, right before your very eyes. If you could ever see how excited I get when I discover a delicate and shiny new shoot on Michiko, my Ficus Ginseng Bonsai. Oh, and let’s not even mention my reaction to the appearance of new fronds on my Asparagus Fern or this cutesy little hanging Kokedama I made using a Maidenhair Fern. The new fronds are a lovely lime green colour that commands your attention by instantly brightening the space around them.

Houseplant Love - 18chelseamews.com

Houseplant Love.5 - 18chelseamews.com

So what have I gained from keeping up with my first real New Year’s resolution? A happier home with a lighter and far more relaxing atmosphere. For some, keeping houseplants alive and healthy might be the norm, or even like second nature. However, given my track record, this is a huge achievement and definitely something to write home about! Hence the reason I’m writing about my houseplant love, and sharing these photos of my gorgeous green friends. Yes, I’m quite proud of myself, but my next step is to figure out how to prune my bonsai like a pro as I’m worried it’s at risk of becoming overgrown.

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Houseplant Love.4 - 18chelseamews.com

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Do you have houseplants? What are your favourite plants, and what do you enjoy most about your experience of caring for them? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. #houseplantlove

Thanks for stopping by!

Nova xo

October 28, 2015

Raw Kale and Pistachio Pesto

I love pesto, I always have. However recently I’ve found that I no longer enjoy the pesto I buy from the supermarket. I’m not entirely sure, but this could be partly because I’ve become a little bored of how ‘samey’ the store bought pesto tastes nowadays. About a year ago, I bought a jar of small batch pesto at a farmers’ market and fell madly in love with pesto again. Sadly the seller no longer makes pesto, and I was unable to get more jars after quickly going through my first. Since then, I decided to start making my own pesto freshly when needed, and I haven’t looked back since. They say variety is the spice of life, and I do love me some spice, so you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve been making my own small batches with a myriad of delicious and healthy combined greens.

My absolute favourite of all the pesto I’ve made over the past months, is this delectable raw kale and pistachio pesto. It is great with pasta, but oh so divine as a dip/paste for crispbreads and other snacks and starters. I made a batch last night for the umpteenth time and I’m enjoying it just like I did my first. I’ve mostly been having it with these delicious Organic Intensely Italian Crispbreads from Raw Health. Seriously, this combination is nothing short of a party on my palate!

As sharing is caring, I decided to post the recipe here today.

INGREDIENTS:

6 ounces kale
⅓ cup unsalted pistachios
⅓ cup fresh basil
⅓ cup olive oil
⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
⅓ cup Rawmesan (this is an all-natural, wholesome alternative to Parmesan cheese)
2 garlic cloves
¾ teaspoon Himalayan rose pink crystal salt (any salt of your choice will do)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy
Serve with food of choice

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Thanks for stopping by!

Nova xo

October 15, 2015

Light a Candle Today for International Wave of Light

Once upon a time, I welcomed the month of October purely for its natural beauty. The enchanting splendour of autumn leaves, atop the trees, floating weightlessly through the air and scattered all around us like golden confetti. Of course I still appreciate its beauty, but the significance of October is forever changed for me now. If fate had been more kind to me, October 2012 would have been the month I welcomed my precious daughter, Robyn Reese, into this world as a healthy, happy and beautiful baby girl… But sadly, she came silently, 3 months before. Now, October is the month I join the millions of families across the globe, participating in International Wave of Light, a worldwide lighting of candles in observation of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

PAIL RD International Wave Of Light - 18chelseamews.com

October 15^th, is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (PAILRD). In observation of PAILRD, everyone is invited to participate in the International Wave of Light, by lighting a candle at 7pm on October 15^th in their respective time-zones, and keep it burning for at least one hour. This will result in a continuous chain of light around the world for at least 24 hours in honour and remembrance of the babies who died before, during or shortly after birth.

Thanks to 3 American women, Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown and Tammy Novak, who petitioned the Federal Government and governors across the 50 States, National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, is now observed annually on October 15^th in The USA, Canada, the UK, Italy and parts of Australia. Through the legislative campaigns of individuals worldwide, it’s only a matter of time before PAILRD becomes an international day of observation.

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?” Here I am reflecting on the words of Anne of Green Gables, as I saunter along this magnificent golden avenue in the park. Thoughts of my precious little love make all my Octobers much more special. Although I appear to walk alone, she’s always with me…IN MY HEART.

Visit the the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death (SANDS) Charity website for useful information on how best to support someone dealing with baby loss.

September 5, 2015

PINK GRAPEFRUIT AND BUTTERSCOTCH CHAMPAGNE SORBET

It’s hard to believe that summer is already coming to an end, as it seemed to have side-stepped the UK this year. Oh well, given the reputation of ‘Great British Summer’, I kinda knew that my trip to Antigua & Barbuda for Sailing Week earlier this year was going to be my only decent dose of sunshine before I set off again for another holiday away from the UK. So really, I’m not that surprised.

Although the sunshine has been a little scarce around here, it hasn’t stopped me making and serving up summery cocktails and desserts throughout the season. I made a few old favourites, and I’ve added my own touches and tastes to classic recipes to create new things. Overall, it’s been fun a whole lot of fun, and I’m pretty pleased with the feedback I’ve been getting too! My Pink Grapefruit and Butterscotch Champagne Sorbet has been a firm favourite among my friends, so I’ve decided to share the recipe here today. Have fun making it, and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do!

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups champagne or sparkling wine (divide and set aside 1/2 cup for adding later in step 3 below)
1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp butterscotch syrup
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon grapefruit zest

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add 1 1/2 cups champagne, sugar, butterscotch syrup and citrus zest to a saucepan, and boil until the sugar dissolves.
Strain the mixture into a bowl and let stand to cool.
Add grapefruit juice, lemon juice and the remaining 1/2 cup champagne to the mixture.
Transfer to a freezer-safe glass or metal container, cover and freeze until firm.
For a creamier, less icy texture scoop the whole container of sorbet after initial freezing (do not allow to melt completely), then refreeze before serving.
Serve in stylish glassware and garnish as desired.
Consume any remaining portion within a week to enjoy at it’s best.

Thanks for reading; stop by again soon!

Nova

August 29, 2015

DIY: HOW TO MAKE A PRETTY WILDFLOWER WREATH

So last weekend I had the pleasure of being a welcomed guest at what I can only refer to as the happiest, sunniest, most tear-jerking wedding ever! It was the wedding of my gorgeous friend Anna and her rather debonair fiancé Ben. I affectionately refer to them as BenAnna, and have found over time that many other friends do too! No surprises there, I’m sure, it’s really just too easy!

Now, you’re probably wondering, “What’s all that got to do with the title of this post?” Quite a lot actually! Having seen a few wreaths I made in the past, Anna requested that I created a special one for her big day! Needless to say, I was most honoured by her request, for a few reasons other than being her friend. Namely, it’s for her wedding day, the day EVERYONE wants to ‘get it ALL RIGHT’, and I’m not a professional florist by any stretch of the imagination… just a crazy lady who loves flowers so much I’d be more than happy to spend my very last penny on fresh flowers for my home, then sit pretty with them and drink water in unison. I digress… I excitedly agreed to make something beautiful for my friend’s wedding, despite not having a clue where to begin. “Yes, of course, I’d be happy to do that for you”, while an amazing whimsical masterpiece of a wildflower wreath floats about in my mind’s eye.

DIY wildflower wreath.www.18chelseamews.com

Why a wildflower wreath? I chose flowers that (in my opinion) reflected Anna’s personality and demeanour, and by extension, the vision she expressed for her wedding. Anna is one of the most calm, relaxed and caring persons I know; she enjoys and celebrates the simpler things in life. She’s that girl you’d imagine ambling curiously in a meadow interspersed with dainty blooms and butterflies, enjoying elements of nature and just being. Unsurprisingly, Anna & Ben’s wedding reception took the form of a beautiful, relaxed at-home Garden Summer Party, attended by lovely friends and family, following a tear-jerking ceremony in a quaint and cosy little Church in Chelsfield aged over 900 years. All this magical goodness on what turned out to be the most beautiful day of the year so far in the UK, it really couldn’t get any better!

It turns out, my idea to create a whimsical wildflower wreath was most fitting after all. I was so pleased with the outcome that I decided to share this post about how I made it. Incidentally, my choice of flowers included some of my favourite blooms, so that made it an even more enjoyable creative process for me.

Without further ado, here’s how to make a pretty wildflower wreath.

DIY wildflower wreath.9.www.18chelseamews.com

WHAT YOU NEED:

Variety of blooms (Here I’ve used 10 stems of Camomile, 3 stems of Blue Scabiosa, 5 stems of Bupleurum, 5 stems of Craspedia, and a single Yves Piaget Garden Rose)
Scissors
Green florist tape
Covered medium gauge florist wire (for the frame)
Fine gauge florist wires (for affixing flowers)
Wire cutter (if your wires aren’t pre-cut)
Ribbon
A keen eye for detail
Tons of enthusiasm

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use 2 covered medium gauge florist wires to form the frame for your wreath, bend the ends to form a hook and eye for the closure.

Useful tip: To cover wires with green florist tape as I’ve done, simply adhere the tape to one end of the wire, then roll the wire continuously between your index finger and thumb, allowing the tape to wrap around diagonally until you get to the end of the wire. This will ensure the colour of your wire frame blends in better with the base foliage of your wreath.

2. Select a few sprigs of 6 to 8-inch Bupleurum greenery with long stems and affix the stems onto your frame with florist tape.

3. Wrap the branches of Bupleurum greenery around the wire following the natural curves and overall shape of the greenery. This makes overall coverage of your wreath frame easier.

DIY wildflower wreath.4.www.18chelseamews.com

4. Repeat the process, adding greenery in the same direction around the wreath. Tuck the last branch of greenery underneath the starting piece and check for desired distribution of greenery. Trim as needed.

5. Add your first layer of camomile flowers in a similar fashion as you did the greenery in step 3, only this time using the fine gauge florist wire instead of tape.

6. Repeat step 4 with camomile flowers, securing each stem with thin florist wire until you are happy with the density of the wreath. Trim as needed.

Useful tip: To help your wreath maintain a more natural, wild and free character, go easy on the trimming and allow foliage and flowers to protrude from the frame organically.

7. Wrap fine florist wire around a few gathered bunches of camomile flowers lengthwise (as done with scabiosas in image 9), and redirect the flower heads so they’re frontal facing on the wreath.

DIY wildflower wreath.5.www.18chelseamews.com

8. Insert florist wire in the blue scabiosa flower head, make a small loop at one end and pull towards the center of the bloom, conceal the wire.

9. Wrap the rest of the wire around the flower stem lengthwise. This will allow you to position the blooms in your desired direction once on they’ve been added to the wreath.

DIY wildflower wreath.6.www.18chelseamews.com

10. Secure focal flower stems to the wreath and position flower heads as desired. I’ve added some stems of dried Craspedia (billy balls) here to boldly echo the yellow from the dainty camomile flowers.

Useful tip: To keep your wreath looking fresh, spritz your finished wreath with water and place in the refrigerator in an airtight plastic bag until it’s time for use.

11. Add ribbon to wreath before hanging.

DIY wildflower wreath.7.www.18chelseamews.com

DIY wildflower wreath.2.www.18chelseamews.com

As I mentioned earlier, last Saturday was a very warm and sunny day and whilst that made me extremely happy, it made keeping this pretty wreath fresh throughout the journey a bit challenging. Of course, I’m always up for a challenge and was rather pleased with myself when I came up with this brilliant solution at the last minute.

I placed the wreath in one of my craft boxes (it fit like a glove!), and turned it into a make-shift cooler box for the journey by taping this pretty pink freezer pack to the lid of the box. I reserved a few stems of camomile which I transported in a small zippy plastic bag with a bit of water. These stems were later added to the wreath once it was secured in it’s final position at the reception. This is optional but I wanted to add more forward facing camomile blooms after installation for a fuller look.

I’m pleased to announce that, thanks to my little ‘cooler box’, the wreath arrived wilt free and was still looking very fresh up until I left the party about an hour before midnight!

DIY wildflower wreath.8.www.18chelseamews.com

DIY wildflower wreath.1.www.18chelseamews.com

Anna loved her wreath, and so did her guests. Needless to say, that made me very happy! 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a great weekend!

Nova xo

All images in this post are property of Nova Williams at 18chelseamews.com.

August 16, 2015

HOW TO MAKE CHILI-INFUSED OLIVE OIL

I love infused oils for three main reasons. They’re delicious, they’re versatile, and they often look very beautiful when presented in nicely shaped glass bottles. Many of you know that I love spicy foods, so it may not come as a surprise that chili-infused olive oil is one of my favourites of all infused oils. Having tried many store-bought versions, I have to admit that I’m often unimpressed with their pungency, or lack thereof. I prefer my chili-infused oil to score at least midrange on the Scoville scale, so I’ve now taken to making my own at home.

You can make your own chili-infused olive oil by using hot or cold infusion methods. I prefer the cold method as I’ve never liked the idea of heating any oil then storing for later use. Of course it takes a longer time for the oil to absorb the full flavours of the chilis with the cold infusion method but I really think it’s worth the wait.

Here’s how to make chili-infused olive oil at home using this easy cold infusion method.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dried whole chili peppers (stems removed)
Extra-virgin Olive Oil
Sterilised Glass Bottle (with cap)
Funnel
Kitchen Scissors
Knife

INSTRUCTIONS:

Set aside a few whole chili peppers and chop the rest finely. Here I’ve used my nifty little multi-blade herb scissors which cuts many pieces at once
Add chopped chilis to sterilised glass bottle
Use your knife to slice the sides of the remaining whole chilis lengthwise, to allow the flavours to meld with oil
Pour olive oil into the bottle, using funnel to avoid spillage
Replace the bottle cap tightly and shake well
Store in a cool, dry & dark place, allowing at least 1 week for the flavour to develop
Enjoy your chili-infused oil by drizzling over salads, vegetables, breads and pizzas, or even as an addition to your homemade salad dressings

DISCLAIMER:

Please do your own additional research regarding the risk of foodborne botulism when making and consuming homemade oil infusions. Although I have made many batches of infused oils with a variety of herbs and spices as described above, and they’ve all been fine for consumption, please note that you are 100% responsible for ensuring you are not at risk of foodborne botulism while following this recipe.

All images in this post are property of Nova Williams at 18chelseamews.com

July 26, 2015

6 Easy Ways To Style The Entryway To Your Home

We all know what they say about first impressions, right? Well, I do! This is why I find it rather disappointing when I’m greeted by the dull and neglected entryway of an otherwise beautifully styled home. I’ve had a few conversations about this recently and have arrived at the conclusion that, because we spend so little time in the hallway, naturally it gets the least attention when you think of decorating. However, being the first place everyone sees when they enter your home, your entryway should be just a beautifully styled as every other room in the house. To ensure you’ll always make a good first impression, follow these 6 easy ways to style the entryway to your home.

1. Create an eye-catching wall display that will engage your visitors immediately

Show off your personality with a beautifully curated gallery wall. Your display doesn’t have to be limited to framed artwork, it can include shadow boxes, mirrors, stylish hats, clocks or any other items you have collected over a period of time.

Top tip: Use items with which you have a genuine connection. Draw on your hobbies, favourite holidays, artists you admire most or simply the colours you love. For example, if you are really into rowing, it would be nice to incorporate a few decorated oars or good quality printed images of some rowing action. If a gallery wall and collection displays are not your thing, simply invest in stylish wallpaper. The one pictured below is a bold and beautiful choice.

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2. Add a table and seating for a cosy and relaxed feel

If the space allows, add a table and a chair or bench. A console table is great for holding a pretty vignette consisting of flowers, home fragrances, small sculptures or other items of your choice. It’s also a good place to have a small catch-all basket for your keys and other useful small items you may need to grab on your way out the door. Chairs and benches make the perfect perch while getting your shoes on, and they’re an absolute winner if there’s storage below.

Top tip: Pay close attention to scale when choosing furniture for your entryway. You don’t want to be tripping over and bumping into furniture in a small entryway, but by the same token, if your entryway is very spacious, smaller furniture might have little or no impact and can look rather awkward in the space.

entryway2.18chelseamews.com

3. Plants and flowers are always a good idea

Nothing breathes life into a space quite like plants do. While it’s commonplace to decorate your entryway with flowers, beautiful house plants are a great substitute and a less expensive option. You can get very creative with plants and flowers as there are so many types to choose from. Always have a play around with quantity and scale to get your desired effect. Will you go for an oversized bouquet/houseplant or a cluster of tiny ones? What works best in your entryway?

Top tip: Your choice of vase or plant pot could make or break your display, so whether you choose one big plant or a collection of smaller ones, be sure to choose your plant pots wisely. Think colour, texture and size.

entryway3.18chelseamews.com

4. Good lighting is everything

Good lighting is essential to setting the mood of any room in the house, and the entryway is no exception. Get creative with your choice of lighting, use fairy lights, table lamps, floor lamps, pendant lamps or a even a combination of these to set the tone.

Top tip: Whatever your light source, it is important to choose your placement carefully to get the best glow. If you’re working with a small space, avoid using lamps with bulky bases as they can be a bit overwhelming, but feel free to scale up and make it make it magnificent if space is not a problem. Remember, a stunning lampshade can make quite a statement in your decor.

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5. Insert stylish storage here

Entryways are quite often treated as ‘dead-space’ within a home, more like just a throughway to the nicer, more interesting spaces. With not much likely to take place there, entryways are ideal for using as additional storage space. It goes without saying, that for this location, ONLY stylish storage will do of course! Think chest of drawers with stylish knobs of handle pulls, beautifully crafted baskets and cleverly designed cupboards.

Top tip: It’s best to choose storage solutions with lids and doors as they’ll keep things looking tidy. As for coat racks and shoe stands, the trick to keep them from looking messy and overcrowded, is to store only a few items at a time, like perhaps the ones you’ll be wearing in that week.

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6. Don’t ignore the ceiling and floor

Of course it’s great to have the option of a gallery wall, cosy seating and gorgeous vignettes displayed on stylish tables, but not everyone has the space to accommodate all that lovely stuff. If that’s your dilemma, styling the ceiling and the floor is just the ticket! Paint the ceiling in a contrasting colour or pattern, use runner rugs in bold geometric colours or kitschy prints if that’s your thing, paint the floor boards, opt for decorated tiles, the possibilities are endless.

Top tip: This approach works equally well in large spaces. Paint is not your only rescue remedy, try drawing attention to the floor and ceiling with glamorous lighting fixtures too. Hey, even a simple collection of coloured glass bottles placed on the floor against the wall could spark the curiosity of your guests.

Are you happy with the current state of your entryway? What do you like or dislike most about the entryway to your home right now?

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All images: via Pinterest

©ALL CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG ARE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY ME, NOVA WILLIAMS OF 18 CHELSEA MEWS LTD, AND ARE MY PERSONAL OPINIONS AND VIEWS, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.