In recent months there has been a real surge for raw, imaginative and free illustrations, and in my eyes, one of the leading designers in this category is James Ward of Jimbob Art. Ward honed his skills in illustration whilst studying at Westminster University, London, where he developed a love for working in pen and ink. After a recent vacation to Sweden, Ward came back to England truly inspired; inspired by their use of natural history design and the range of products or surfaces that features them. It’s from this point that Ward began using ceramics as a medium to display his range of animal characters.

‘I feel drawing anthropomorphic characters can describe so much about human emotions and personalities with the juxtaposition of the animal’s expression against his clothing, an item or text.’ – James Ward

I am enchanted with Jimbob Art’s selection of ceramics and the beautiful illustrations that cover them; they’re so playful and humorous. The bright pops of colour on the monochromatic designs bring the illustrations to life and add to their charming nature. Each individual illustration is hand-drawn with on-glaze ink on to dishwasher proof white porcelain. All of the ceramics will look not only brilliant as a table setting, but great on display; perhaps on a welsh dresser or kitchen shelving. My personal favourites have to be the El Guapo plate, The Dominator plate, the Owl in Pants teapot, and the Tea Defender Mug. It’s probably too early to be writing a ‘Christmas Wish List’, but these will definitely be going on it!

Bins, trash cans, garbage… it’s not glamourous, but bins provide a fundamental part of any household, yet they frequently get over looked & ignored.

Over the years I have been at war with my bin; or I should say, bins! I seem to go through them quicker than the garbage that fills them. I’ve tried almost every style of bin, from the ones hidden behind cupboard doors, to metal American trash cans, peddle operated & manual slide lids. All of them eventually ending up with broken lid mechanisms or worst of all, so poorly designed that bin bags are impossible to remove and often tare.

My main grievance I’ve had with bins is how unsightly they are; fed up with streaky chrome, I’ve been on the hunt for something different & felt compelled to share my findings with you…

Through Tesco’s Direct I’ve found the solution – my knight in black matt stainless steel armour! The Brabantia 30L Touch Bin is a sturdy construction of stainless steel, with a lid that gently & smoothly opens when touched. There’s also concealed handles that make it easy to remove trash from the inner bucket – making light work of a nasty job… plus this feature makes it easy to clean. It also comes with a fabulous 10 year guarantee for just £70.

The black matt steel finish is very sleek and I can see it fitting in perfectly with the grey Indian slate flooring, French green cupboards & black riven slate work-surfaces I have in my kitchen. I’m sold.

Going green at home is now easier than ever with more and more eco orientated stores popping up. Although opinions differ on exactly what the term ‘eco-friendly’ actually means, generally speaking eco-friendly products are those which have been made or can be used with minimal impact on the environment. So, for all green decorators amongst you, here’s a taster of what’s on offer this month from some of the best online eco stores.Biome lifestyle is an online store for ethical home furnishings, providing a green alternative to high street home-ware and gift shops. Every product is chosen for its style, design and overall ethical credentials. Many products are handcrafted, and where possible, are sourced from small and co-operative businesses. Here you’ll see home furnishings and gift ideas with a traceable story, ranging from beautiful organic bed linen to dazzling recycled glass tableware, from unique lighting to fair trade toys and ethical handmade cushions. http://www.biomelifestyle.com/

A selection of the best in sustainable design. Your one-stop shop for gorgeous eco homewares, the best eco friendly paints, special eco products, and lovely green and eco gifts for all occasions.

http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/index.html

Based in the Derbyshire Peak District, Eco Eco makes green living easier by providing sustainable, eco-friendly and non-toxic products. They stock beautiful things for the home and garden alongside organic and ethical clothes for men, women and children.

http://www.eco-eco.co.uk/

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After much deliberation we have finally decided to update our kitchen but rather than spending thousands on a new refit; we will simply make some small changes that will give the impression of a totally new design.

The blue cupboard doors are now white white gloss, the tatty vinyl floor has been exchanged for large stone tiles and the very chintzy wall tiles have been replaced with ‘old school’ white rectangular ones.  The image on the right shows them in a bathroom, and they are often seen in industrial kitchens, schools and cafés.  I chose this particular style as the design is timeless; I know that in five years time the they will still work within our scheme.

We are also thinking about a glass splashback (image on the left) but can’t decide on the colour? I am tempted to go for a clear glass as I am not a big fan of colour in kitchens.  The tiles and Splashback are both from The Tile Depot (one of the UK’s largest tile and wooden floor companies).   If you are thinking about a new kitchen or bathroom take a look at their website as they are surprisingly affordable.  My tiles were just 59 pence each!  I will post you more updates as we go along, including a before and after pic…

Nestled well off the beaten track on the Isle of Jura {west coast of Scotland}, Jura Lodge is a luxury retreat for whiskey aficionados, writers & guests alike. Not the easiest of destinations to reach; it will take a minimum of two planes and a ferry, but once you land on this small Hebridean island, you’ll realize why authors such as George Orwell came here to write.

Jura Lodge – originally The Old Distiller’s house – has been transformed by Paris based, American interior specialist; Bambi Sloan, into a shabby chic, vintage inspired luxurious getaway. Sloan’s quirky display of colour, décor and stylistic touches runs throughout the house; from the curios filled glass cabinets, to the white suit of armour & relics from the past. The White Room {the biggest bedroom} has fresh white walls, antique French linens & lace, ornate mirrors & a central Victorian roll top bath with panoramic sea views. Each room is decorated in it’s own unique style; but ultimately following in Sloan’s creative, eccentric manner.

From the pictures you can see that the decadent interior offers a playful & humerous touch with the collection of trinkets and vast collection of deer antlers. The attention to details is exquisite & appropriate to the rich history on the Isle of Jura, which Sloan took great inspiration from. Unique features include a writers chair made entirely from deer antlers, the kitchen fridge that originated from a Brazilian cafe in the 1950s, and a large bass drum coffee table in the sitting room.

Activities such as shooting, hunting, fishing, fell walking, lobster eating, sailing and whiskey drinking can all be organised upon request.

You can hire on a room-by-room basis but availability is limited – costs start at £625 per room per night for a minimum of three nights. “Trust us, it’s worth every penny” – Jura Lodge Diurachs. For further booking information please visit the Jura Lodge Website.