moodboard monday

Today's challenge was to create a 'Beauty Spa' . I invisage tranquilty & peace when I think of a beauty spa & I have to say both Laura & Jessie have totally captured this with fabulous inspiration.

Moodboard Designer - (me) Sarah at Finishing Touch Interiors

Moodboard Designer - Jessie from Mix and chic

Moodboard Designer - Laura from Dreambox Interior Design

This beautiful bathroom is incredibly elegant & sophisticated. The pops of red look stunning against the black, white & grey. Its designed with a very luxurious feel. The dark wood flooring & red accesories add some warmth to the room & I adore the gorgeous bath tube.

Friends Feature Friday

Happy Friday all & I am pleased to welcome the gorgeous Laura from dreamboxinteriordesign. as a new feature writer for 'Friends Feature Friday'. The lovely Laura one of the talented designers from The Moodboard Monday Challenge will be joining me here every month to talk about Colour Psychology. Its an exciting series so Ill leave you in the hands of Laura herself........

Colour Psychology - Blue

Hello my design lovelies, thank you for letting me invade this wonderful blog
for the day and share with you some of my interior design tips.
As an interior designer, colour psychology is one of the main factors we look at
during a client consultation and should be the first thing you think about when
designing your own home. What colours do you love? which colours do you dislike?
How do you want to feel when you enter the room? Every colour can impact your
mood and emotions and this week we are going to start with the colour blue and
how this colour can enhance your home.

Blue calms the mind, represents the ocean and the sky stirring feelings
of tranquility, peace and even security. This would explain why blue is a hugely
popular colour in livings rooms, at the end of a hard day you want to relax in a
calm haven, a place to unwind. This colour can work with any design, if you want
a modern decor then look towards a dark navy or if you are a lover of shabby
chic like I am then you will want a soft feminine blue hue similar to the images
above.

I hope you'll join me next month for our next colour in the colour psychology

series.

Laura @Dream Box Interior Design

Real Homes Tour

A fun 80's north london home.
Living room | Playful Eighties house tour

I love the colour palette of chocolate & lilac used for the Living room. Its a beautiful mix of colours. The unusual coffee table on the animal print rug are an eye catching statement against the pretty & feminine sofa & other accessories. Its a fun twist. The rest of the downstairs consists of an open plan kitchen-diner. Its a stylish space that is all about being practical.

Kitchen-diner | Playful Eighties house tour

Kitchen-diner | Playful Eighties house tour

On the top floor there is a sleek office area. Its a very cool space to work.

.

Even the cloakroom has a fun vibe with the quirky wall mural

The bedroom here has a real feminine touch to it with the soft colours & delicate fringe curtains teamed with some black contrasting accessories. The mirrored cupboards create light & space. I adore the black chandelier.

Bedroom storage | Playful Eighties house tour

The guest bedroom really brings out the fun factor with a leafy mural which brings the outdoors in to create the feeling of sleeping in the great outdoors. This house really does have a character all of its own, its fun & quirky & beautifully designed. A stunning home.

Master bedroom | Playful Eighties house tour

Moodboards Monday - Shabby Chic Bedroom

Hello & welcome to another Moodboard Monday Challenge. Todays challenge was for a shabby chic bedroom so I enjoyed this challenge being a huge fan of all thats shabby chic & you will not be disapointed with the inspirational boards the girls have put together for you today some gorgeous ideas from the very lovely ladies,
Laura at http://dreamboxinteriordesign.blogspot.com/
& Jessie at http://www.mixandchic.com/

Moodboard Designer - (me) Sarah at Finishing Touch Interiors

Moodboard Designer - Laura from Dreambox Interior Design

Moodboard Designer - Jessie from Mix & Chic

Thank you once again to the lovely Laura & Jessie for stopping by with thier inspiration.

If you want to be inspired a little more with all that is shabby chic check out the shabby chic page by clicking the tab at the top of the blog.

Thanks

Sarah xx

This beautiful & very spacious kitchen mixes shades of white & grey for a gorgeous & chic feel. With glossy white cabinets teamed with stunning marble worktops its contemporary yet with a classic eleganance. I am loving the crystal beaded pendant lamps.

Looking for a beautiful kitchen visit http://www.premierinteriors.co.uk/

Friends Feature Friday

Hannah's Buns
Raspberry Cupcakes With White Chocolate

I have to say I think these are the best tasting cakes I have ever made. Which really shocked me as I'm not normally keen on white chocolate but these cake not only look beautiful but they taste wonderful too. Of course the main thing with cakes is the taste because the reason you make them are to eat so its always my number one goal to get the taste perfect. I have found through my years of cooking that people eat with their eyes too, So of course they should look as good as possible. I think people are learning a bit more about my cakes. When I first started making cakes for the salons their customers didn't think they were real and I thought it was quite a nice comment about my cakes. Also many people that I have made cakes for have not wanted to eat them as they didn't want to spoil all my work but this would be a crime to any chef who just wants people to try and enjoy the food they have made.

The lovely Hannah Jones is now a weekly feature writer on my new cookery blog

http://sarahjosephscookerycorner.blogspot.com/

Read her weekly column every friday 'Hannah's Kitchen'

where she will share her recipes & tips or why not visit our new facebook group

Kids Cookery Corner to share your own recipes with us

http://www.facebook.com/groups/329312263756718/

I have become more & more drawn to Swedish design lately & this beautiful Swedish home belonging to interior designer Marie Olsson Nylander has the eccelctic & homely feel that I love. This gorgeous space has a real rustic, shabby chic vibe. The lively pops of colour in the accessories make a statement set against the crisp, white walls & floor. A mix of timeless furniture pieces with old worn items have been put together well with a blend of styles. Its a breath takingly beautiful home.

swedish-apartment-timeless-pieces-old-worn-items-10.jpg

Moodboard Monday - Retro hotel Room

Good morning all & welcome to the second of our Moodboard Monday challenges. Welcome again to Laura from dreamboxinteriordesign. & Jessie from .mixandchic.who join me in the challenge. Also a very warm welcome to the lovely Allie from desiredesigndelight.
who also joins us today for the Retro hotel room challenge. A huge thank you to all the girls for thier hard work on this project. So lets take a look at the inspiration now!

Moodboard Designer -(me) Sarah from Finishing Touch Interiors
http://www.finishingtouchinteriors.co.uk/

Moodboard Designer - Laura Adkin from Dreambox Interior Design

http://dreamboxinteriordesign.blogspot.com/

Moodboard Designer - Jessie Kok from Mix & Chic
http://www.mixandchic.com/

Moodboard Designer - Allie McWatters from Desire*Design*Delight

http://desiredesigndelight.blogspot.com/

Hope you enjoyed our inspiration today

xxx

There is something sensual & yet classy about this stunning black & gold bedroom. This colour palette is always a winner & with the fabulous choice of interiors here it has a very luxurious feel. I adore the wallpaper & the chaise lounge with that rather lushious black throw. The lamps are beautiful & as for the cushions totally swoon worthy.
Have a great weekend & dont forget to stop by Monday for the moodboard challenge.
Sarah xx

Friends Feature Friday

Well here it is once again 'Friends Feature Friday' is back in full swing for 2012 starting with the very talented
Kristy @ 4 the love of
WOOD

I'm glad to be back at Finishing Touches in 2012.

One very popular question I get asked on my blog 4 the love of WOOD

is about the legs I add to many of my project pieces.

So I thought I would share some of these projects so you can see

how dramatic adding a set of legs can be.