App World

This week I have been scouring high and low for the latest (and best) Apps for you Interior Design junkie’s.

Ok so here goes (in no particular order..)

       1) Dream Home

Click here for App

A wonderful, easy to use, bit of technology. To simplify, it’s a library of beautiful images. You can browse by colour, style or popular designs. You can also save your favourites so that you can quickly and easily revert back. 

Quite basic in its entirety but it gives you lots of ideas to get those creative juices going. 

       2) Houzz

Click here for App

Seems to have a library much bigger than ‘Dream Home’ (est over 350k images). Its best feature is that on many images, green interactive tags dangle off items such as on the chair, the lamp etc. With just one click on the tag and your connected to that suppliers webpage! 

It would be great if I lived in the USA. Note to Houzz- Please can we have a UK edition!

3) Mark on Call

Click here for App

Ok I’m not going to lie, on initial download I was a little scared by this App. Looked far too complicated for me. However after exploring their website and viewing the tutorial, I realised what it can do is exceptional. 

You can design your own bespoke floorplans, measure distances between furniture and quite literally design your room before spending lots of money with colours that just don’t cohabit and furniture that just does not fit. This App  really is amazing! Well done Mark!

4) Dulux 

Click here for App

There is a mighty little tool in this App. Ok so picture this...your out shopping, maybe clothes shopping (maybe in a garden centre) and you see something you like…maybe a pastel blue dress (or a Pansy blowing in the breeze)... you love it, but not to wear it...you would love to see it on your kitchen wall...


If only there was a tool where you can take a picture with your camera phone and it automatically matches it to a colour available in their magnificent range. Well, Ta Da..I say ‘genius!’. 


It gets better…you can then order a sample of the said paint, and it is delivered to your door in a matter of days. Hang on...it gets even better...You love that colour so much you just want to get it home and rip off its lid, but your thinking I want a different colour on the adjacent wall…fear not...the App suggests these colours too! Next they will be offering a play with the Dulux dog. 

So there we have it. My top Interior Design little friends…allows your personal productivity to rocket and a lot cheaper than hiring an Interior Designer...(sorry to all you professionals out there.)

MagpieBlu. 

Nautical Living

Ok so you must have been living in hibernation or working on an oil rig to not realise that today…tomorrow, is the centenary of the Titanic. With the new footage of underwater imagery being ‘just’ released (good timing eh) and the launch of the new ITV drama series ‘Titanic’ (suitably named) the world has, quite rightly, gone Nautical mad.

YSL Spring/Summer 2012. Courtesy of blog.myfdb.com

As the preview collections for Spring/ Summer 12 were being strutted down the runways, Interior Designers were busy ‘weathering’ pieces of wood, and blasting floorboards. I might sound sarcastic but I absolutely love this trend. However, lets be honest can we actually call it a ‘ trend’. For as far as I can remember, every summer those blue and white stripes flood the clothes rails and the new take on deck shoes are released.

Just maybe we could say it’s adjusted slightly each year. And what definitely is hot right now is ‘Shabby Chic’ (thank you Rachel Ashwell), so I think its more suitable to call this phase ‘Shabby Coastal Chic.’

So this blog today, I am going to pull together my top 5 interior inspirations to help you create this ‘Spring/Summer 2012 edition’ of nautical living at home.  


1) Natural Touch:

iamjulieb.com

Choose natural materials and fabrics such as wood and cotton. I love the introduction of the monochrome pieces to curtail the shabby look.

2) Centre Piece:

Coastalliving.com 

One center purchase to this room and the whole look becomes ‘Coastal Chic’. The driftwood coffee table, though I doubt ‘economically priced,’ becomes the talking point in this room. Oh and maybe the view…

3) Elegance:

abeachcottage.com

Layering white upon white creates coastal beach elegance. The painted suitcase is a novel idea to add some quirky character, which in comparison to the last table idea ...I bet this IS economically priced. 

4) 'Bringing Outdoors In:'

contemporarystyle.net

The use of bringing ‘the outdoors in’ is created beautifully with the wooden paddle fixed to the wall, in addition to the weathered wooden reclining chair as if it has spent many a homely nights on the beachfront. Shabby coastal chic at its finest.

5) ...

home-designing.com

Well what can I say..it is neither shabby nor chic, but ‘extreme,' I’ll give it that!

As I now go off in search of my own coastal treasures, il say Ahoy me hearty.. and I wish you luck in capturing this seasons ‘trend.’

MagpieBlu.

Hello World!

Hello All. Welcome to MagpieBlu…!

I’m very excited to be launching this – it’s been on my mind for months, in fact years. And now I have finally bit the bullet (and kicked my a*s into gear!)

Through my blog and social media I will be ‘finding you those little gems across the web’. My main focus will be Interior Design and gifts for you, me and thee. So, if I’m honest that means anything shopping related…

Ok so, where did all this start? It was June the 17^th 1983, 3pm and first contractions started…no its ok, you don’t need every detail. Fast forward – very quickly 28 ¾ years, and here I am. At a point in my life where I realize now is the time to do something for me; not for mum, not for dad, not for friends, not because it looks impressive or good on paper. This is for me. (and you).

I have one regret in life that I never followed through my passion for design, more specifically, Interior Design. At an age where I was slightly lost and hence very influenced by others, I halted my path for Art and Design and pursued a degree in Psychology (Random.)  However, I have never stopped buying ‘Homes and Gardens’, ‘ Country Homes’, ‘Real Homes’ the list is endless. Since a young age before I even understood what a mortgage was I’d prefer to browse the Ikea catalogue (I’ve learnt a lot since then may I add), or take a wander around Next Interiors while my sister was trying on endless dresses round the corner.

I was a very creative child. I think I saw on Blue Peter once ‘How to design a playhouse from a Shoe box’. That was it I was hooked. As soon as my mum was home with a new pair of shoes I’d grab the box and start designing bedrooms, lounges, kitchens…I was crazy. I worked faster than Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen in Changing Rooms. There was wrapping paper for the walls, matchboxes covered in old tea towels for beds. My mother was just happy I was just not slicing and dicing her shoes.

Now (as of November 2011) I am an ‘Official Homeowner’ – and bride-to-be but that’s another story. We bought a project and it’s the best thing EVER! I can now finally put all I’ve learnt (from the shoe boxes) and those monthly publications into practice. Internet shopping is my new best friend. My day job means I’m at the computer all day so I grab hours here and there scouring the sites for bargains, innovative ideas, and anything unique.

So this is where I am. And now I want to share my knowledge and love for interiors; and gifts (that I ‘happen’ (*ahem) to stumble upon when looking for those gems..!

I look forward to meeting you. And if you know of any great websites or blogs you think I need to discover…then let me know at MagpieBlu.

You can follow me on Twitter (@MagpieBlu), Facebook, or even Scoopit http://www.scoop.it/t/gifts-and-interiors