Joanne Thelwell

7 April 2019

interior, Flowers

Styling Flowers Through The Seasons

Joanne Thelwell

7 April 2019

interior, Flowers

In September 2018 I entered The Flower Lounge’s competition to win six months of flowers. The competition was open to anyone local who could pop in to pick up some free flowers and take them home to style. I actually found out I had won on holiday in Crete where I had also just gotten engaged so September was a fabulous month for me! I thought I’d show you how I styled the bouquets through the seasons.

The Flower Lounge, Didsbury. Featuring board design from Indigo Impressions.

The Flower Lounge is a gorgeous award winning florist which is round the corner from my house. Ran by Siân and her wonderful team, I have bought various flowers from them in the past from my Dad’s funeral flowers to my upcoming wedding. They do regular workshops and sell other little trinkets such as vases, plants and candles so it’s the perfect “one stop shop” for presents. I love this little shop and was delighted when I won the competition. Who doesn’t like free flowers every month?

October is all about pumpkins, deep oranges and reds with pops of green. It’s my favourite month, and the month I will be saying “I do” this year.

The long winter nights call for candlelight and hearty dinners. A bouquet on the table is my perfect centrepiece all year round whether we eat at the table or not.

Fairylights, candles and mini wreaths spell Christmas in our house. In the winter we retreat more into the lounge as it’s a smaller space and feels more cosy especially with the fire going. Bringing the bouquet into the space with us and curling up with blankets whilst the weather rages outside is my perfect way to hibernate.

Christmas is over and it’s a time for fresh starts. All the decorations have gone and the house feels a lot simpler. I never normally have flowers in the bedroom but they were lovely to wake up to each morning.

The month of love! I love creating photos of flowers in the belfast sink. Something about the crisp white ceramic and the gorgeous colours of the bouquet make me imagine living in a gorgeous countryside property having foraged flowers from the my massive garden!

So those were my take on styling flowers through the seasons. If you are local to Manchester or just passing through, I would highly recommend The Flower Lounge for all your floral needs.

This content was not sponsored in any way, all thoughts are my own although Siân helped me with the naming of the flowers!

Joanne Thelwell

2 March 2019

Tile Giant's Victoria Bath Collection

Joanne Thelwell

2 March 2019

Paid Collaboration with Tile Giant

I was recently asked to design moodboards for Tile Giant’s new collection that has been inspired by Manchester’s Victoria Baths. This is an institution in Manchester and I was keen to get involved with the fabulous new range. All tiles are Edwardian in style with traditional undertones but the vibrant colours make them ideal for any modern day home.

First up I chose the Crackle Bevel Vintage Green tile because I felt it was the most iconic representation of Victoria Baths. The vivid green tiles cover the changing rooms and the stairways in the 1906 building, making them the perfect tile for a bathroom moodboard.

Victoria Baths, picture via Trip Advisor

Inspired by this Divine Savages image below, I went with a nod towards Art Deco with the Crackle Bevel Vintage Green metro tile. Combining with a statement wallpaper like this Gatsby Gold Geometric Metallic Wallpaper from B&Q and adding accents of brass accessories that pop against the deep greens, it would look perfect in a small bathroom or cloakroom.

The tile would also work equally well as a kitchen backsplash as seen here in this gorgeous Devol Kitchen showroom. That is why I added in Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink to my moodboard because the pink instantly gives a fresher feel to the scheme.

Don’t forget the bee print which is symbolic of Manchester history, past and present!

Bathroom flatlay using Crackle Bevel Vintage Green tile

Next up I chose the Crackle Bevel Mustard tile because of my love of all things linked to the current New Neutral trend. You can read all about the trend here in my previous blog post. I decided to use this in a kitchen environment with lots of rich wood tones and hand painted ceramics. Think warm and spicy colours - this colour palette is definitely enjoying a moment in the spotlight this year and I am fully embracing it.

Victoria Baths, Manchester. Photo via INews

Lastly I chose to style the Victoria Baths Terrazzo Floor tile in line with the Maximalist trend of 2019. This is all about embracing your personality and clashing prints and colours. I picked up a lot of wallpaper samples on my travels whilst prop shopping and was pleasantly surprised at how well this Trellis Navy Metallic Wallpaper went with the terrazzo. Picking up on the terracotta tones of the tile, adding in pots and candles bring the scheme to life. Farrow & Ball’s Preference Red also adds another dimension to the moodboard and can be used in small doses to create that “purposeful clash”.

I also added in a Lowry postcard which I think works perfectly here as another nod to the Manchester heritage.

I hope this has inspired you to go and check out the collection at Tile Giant - there are loads more gorgeous colours and designs in this range.

Joanne Thelwell

4 February 2019

New Trend Alert : Spiced Amber

Joanne Thelwell

4 February 2019

2019 has started with the most loveliest of colour palettes in the interior world. The Amber, Umber & Ginger tones remind me of spices and earthly vibes which can keep us grounded in times of uncertainty. Inspired by the new look Homes & Gardens magazine, I thought I’d share with you some inspiring images I have found along the way as well as ideas to bring this trend into your own homes.

**First up, can we talk about Spiced Honey?**

When Dulux first released their colour of the year, I’ll be honest I was extremely nervous. I thought we’d all be suddenly thrown into a world of beige and clients would be forever requesting beige kitchens and bathrooms. But the more I see imagery of this colour, the more I have fallen in love with it. It’s the “New Neutral”. More interesting that white and warmer than grey, Spiced Honey creates a real Earthly colour palette especially when combined with auburns and oranges.

Dulux says “Spiced Honey is a warm amber tone, inspired by the beauty and versatility of honey itself. Spiced Honey can be soothing or calming, cosy or vibrant, depending on the palette you pair it with.”

Textiles are a really easy way to incorporate the colours in the bedroom. Bedding, cushions and throws can all mix well together.

H&M - Washed linen duvet cover set - Light Brown

The Future Kept - British Made Herringbone Throw Ochre

Wooden kitchens are massive right now but if you can’t afford a brand new Nordiska Kök kitchen, maybe one day - a girl can keep dreaming, here are some accessories which can do just the trick incorporating all the spiced tones into your space.