Christmas day table styling

christmas table dressing

Christmas decoration isn’t just all about the tree!  Here are my three different ideas for your Christmas Day table arrangement!  🎄 scandi noir Christmas table  This table arrangement is about borrowing from nature and utilising the seasonal palette.   As a centrepiece, place a layer of green moss down the middle of a bare wood…

Sparkly Christmas decorartions

my styling tips for a cool Christmas ☃️

Christmas is the perfect excuse to embrace glamour, glitter and all things shiny.   Although we can have fun filling our homes with fairy lights and tinsel, it doesn’t have to mean a sacrifice of style…  When it comes to Christmas colour schemes, gold and silver are everywhere this year, which looks sophisticated, stylish &…

chandelier in contemporary kitchen

choosing a chandelier to suit your room

I love a chandelier💡 They add drama and a real ‘wow!’ to your room – the ultimate statement piece. I’m lucky to have worked in some beautiful period homes with grand features and super-high ceilings which cry out for a chandelier!  Also, there are some awesome contemporary chandeliers which will look great in more modern…

basement bedroom with pastel colours

decorating a basement bedroom

Decorating a basement bedroom can sometimes be a challenge. Your bedroom is where you sleep, relax and unwind from your day, so you wake up refreshed and recharged for the new day ahead.  It’s your sanctuary and a place to feel completely at ease.  This can be hard to achieve in an airless basement room…

green velvet sofa bed

choosing the perfect sofa bed

With Christmas around the corner, you may be getting ready to welcome overnight guests into your home.  Its time for the humble sofa bed to get to work and earn its keep!! Sofa beds often get a bad rap.  We know they’re unlikely to match the comfort of a real bed (though special shout out…

houseplants

how houseplants make a home 🌱

Our continued love of houseplants is one of my favourite interior trends and it shows no signs of waning.  Here’s why I always encourage clients to accessorise their homes with a few of our potted friends: houseplants improve our daytime air quality 🪴 Houseplants play a pivotal role in improving indoor air quality by absorbing…

Melanie Barnes Elixir Interior Design

why hire an interior designer?

If you thought hiring an interior designer is hugely expensive and only reserved for the elite well think again!  Interior design is more accessible than ever, thanks to online interior design services. Click here! Or perhaps you would like to meet with an industry pro to kickstart your project or get some ideas and inspiration?…

pattern combing in room design

maximalism: the art of combining pattern

The trend for maximalist interior design has seen an increase in our love of patterns.  In particular combining pattern and different colours / designs together.  Are you a fan?  Or do you prefer to keep things simple? 🤔 combining patterns in your room Combining patterns can make a stunning visual impact which looks both opulent…

table and floor light

layering lighting in a room design

When designing a space, the lighting can sometimes seem a bit of an afterthought.  Until the sun goes down, its easy to forget how the lighting in your room dictates the feel and your mood. different types of room lighting You need light for different things, for example, functional task lighting in the office/kitchen, stunning…