Ode to a Bench

Maybe it’s a consequence of me being an old-fashioned kind of girl, but when I think of bathroom furniture aside from the main staples of a bath tub, shower, sink, and toilet the list isn’t that long. A bathroom isn't a room in which you spend much time so it needs to be clean and that's about it really. If ever there was a room where pragmatism is the overriding requirement then it's this one. There is a need for a cabinet to store toiletries, a few hooks to hang robes and towels, and possibly a shelf if you’d rather lie your towels flat. And in my prior world that was it. The add-on (and not always required) peripherals being a laundry basket, weighing scales, toilet brush, bin, a mat, soap dish and dispenser.

But then I discovered the joys of the bench. Such a lovely thing to behold. Just looking at it triggers a satisfied nod to it, no matter how many times I enter the bathroom. The bench has it all - form, function, style and the je ne sais quoi. Yes! I can have a two tier bench in my bathroom fill in the surfaces to the max plus use the space at the bottom as storage. And oddly enough it doesn't seem to take up too much space.

I'm definitely not the first to identify Ikea as a great place to pick up basics but they've really thought of everything haven't they?

Now below I am going to bravely show you my bench in all its disheveled glory - this is not a stylish blog post because really we're talking about the bathroom here but the next one will be back to regular programming; promise.

who's a good little bench? you are!

who's a good little bench? you are!

You might have spotted a few things that will betray me as the collector of things that I am and someone who never leaves a Boots empty-handed (and makes almost weekly trips to said Boots). For example, not one, but two weighing scales, a whole host of bottles (too many) filled with cosmetic goo, face towels and face cloths, an inflatable pillow that I use when soaking in the tub, more cosmetic goo, and latex gloves. This bench may not look pretty to the casual observer but I literally have heart eyes every time I step into my bathroom because of it. It holds ev-e-ry-thing and, in my eyes at least, still keeps the room looking orderly. The bench itself is a lovely bit of furniture and so much more organic that a nondescript plastic utility console contraption.

I kind of didn't know I needed it, or was looking until I found it, you know? I can no longer imagine my bathroom without it; I mean where did I keep my stuff B.B. (before bench)? it's a time not worth remembering surely.

So, as I have subjected you to my unruly bench I've popped some lovelier images of bathroom storage furniture below for you to have a think about adopting your own because really, mine is practically part of the family.

 

Find them here...

http://soak.com

http://www.wilko.com

www.habitat.co.uk

https://www.homebase.co.uk

http://www.next.co.uk/

Scented Spaces

One of the most, in my opinion, important aspects of creating a pleasing interior space is not the things you put inside and where you place them or even the colour pallette you choose for the walls and floors. It is the sensory landscape that you define. Scent can transform a simply nice room, into a room that makes you feel any numbers of ways – relaxed, energized, artistic, inspired.

In my bite-sized flat I’ve managed to cultivate a sensory landscape that varies by room. I’ve tried to do this as organically as possible, by avoiding overly pungent and artificial smells that intrusively overwhelm.

My home consists of four complementary scent profiles that provide a pleasing olfactory experience in each individual space, created with simple reed diffusers; some of which I get from my local eco shop. I’m an avid fan of reed diffusers because they strike a good balance and allow the scent to filter through the air gradually. It is a much nicer way to experience fragrance than being assaulted with a wall of scent. The scents I’ve chosen work well together in a small space.

My Bedroom – Vintage Rose; I love this. The diffuser is close to my bed so this pleasing floral scent is the first thing I smell in the morning. At night it has a warmer; heavier character.

My Kitchen – Wild Fig; a full Mediterranean scent like the savoury meals I enjoy and try to replicate in my kitchen (with very little success).

My Bathroom – Mandarin & Lime; a clean and sort of astringent scent; yet very refreshing and non-toxic, the zestyness bursts throughout the room.

Landing area – Moroccan Rose; a huskier rose, equally as heady as the vintage.

 

Bonus scent

I love scented candles too but find them to be less effective. Oil burning; however, is a great way to get intense scent but I don’t like using oil burners. So I divised a makeshift method of obtaining the soothing presence of a burning candle with the scent intensity of oil – I do this rarely; just when I want to temporarily inject another scent profile into the room. I take a few simple, non-fragranced tea lights; a mixture of brand new and pre-burnt and drip scented oil on to the wax, going around the candle wick. When it burns it gives off an intense scent that I find to be more soothing than a scented candle, maybe because the fragrance is slightly indirect it feels to be intense but softer as well. I’m currently using a Rain fragrance oil with this method. It’s like mimicking a sudden shower on a spring day and it really freshens up the room with a burst of intensity.   

Other options

I used to be a big fan of incense but I now prefer a lighter, more clean fragrance so I no longer burn it. However, if you’re a fan of heavy scents with a lot of punch then you can’t go wrong with incense. I’ve also recently discovered burning papers and picked up a box of Papier d'Armenie a few weeks ago. Whilst the Rose scent is not conducive to burning as, in my opinion, it gives off a pungent, sickly sweet perfume aroma; the Armenie is fantastic and perfect, as prescribed, for burning after cooking or generally more for the removal of unwanted odors. I generally don’t like room sprays but the Forest Essentials Bengal Tuberose manages to be strong but pleasant and somehow dissipates in an organic way so it doesn’t seem to hang in the air unceremoniously. I discovered this Ayurveda brand whilst in India and am happy to have done so.  

Although I have my preferred methods of adding fragrance to the home there are many to experiment with. You’ll notice that nowhere have I mentioned supermarket spray air freshener or plug-in air freshener because I find anything that is wholly artificial and too intense is off-putting and I feel that they do more damage than good in terms of air quality. I would always suggest as organic an option as you can find within budget that you will not tire of easily; because one of the great features of reed diffusers for example is that they last for many months so they are actually a cost effective way of fragrancing the home.    

 

In or Out

The weather has taken a turn for the (wet)ter after a summer heatwave that caught me off guard, leaving me in no way prepared for the heat and humidity that swelled up out of nowhere. Struggling as I practically dissolved into a puddle whilst putting off purchasing a fan because "no way can this last much longer". So just when I was about to get my act together and arrange a sun-worthy set-up on the roof terrace I was stopped in my tracks by the arrival of the wet stuff; ever reliable! From one week to the next the invitingly sun kissed patch of so much alfresco potential was replaced with a damp, bare, grey platform hosting a half-full bag of plant fertilizer and not much else. Too soon to give up?

So I'm now turning my attention to the space on the inside of the glass. The landing area at the top of the stairs. It's this small space that leads out to the roof terrace and because there is a floor to ceiling window of sorts it receives maximum light. I had planned on doing something with it to make it cosy for autumn in order to enjoy the fading light under a throw or two. The view of Canary Wharf is less romantic than this image would suggest but that's why I'll need to ensure the books on my reading list are close to hand. So, it's seems decided that I'm transforming this little nook into an autumn/winter reading area, now - when summer is still not quite over. Turning my thoughts away from garden furniture to interior items that will fit in a small space without sacrificing comfort. I'm thinking of colours complimenting the bamboo floor and off-white paint of the prominent window frame. But I'm also thinking of the orange/brown/burgundy palette of autumn. Yes, already.

However, I still can't quite let go of the idea of the outdoor set-up that could have been if only I'd been a bit quicker off the mark.

Take a look at my two mood boards below. Which one do you find more appealing?

If only it would stay dry outside...

Autumn reading nook - *Summer edition

Plants (in lieu of curtains)

I’m not a fan of the emergence and overuse of the word ‘hack’ to describe a tip, or best practice, or a helpful hint on how to do something typical in an uncommon way; so I’ll not deploy it in this piece. But, given the nature of what I’m about to write about and the fact that I’m publishing this on the web; it would seem fitting if I were more inclined to speaking in jargon.

I’m always thinking of ways to add a flourish to my flat that don’t necessarily take up a lot of space but add texture to make my living space more dynamic. One such discovery I made is in the title of this blog post and that is to use plants on the window in my kitchen and bedroom to create some privacy, as you would typically get with curtains. Why, you may ask. Well firstly, and unoriginally, why not? Curtains and blinds are so common so why not try something different. Now that the cliché bit is out of the way; I’ll expand. If, like, me you haven’t invested in a pair of curtains because you live in rented accommodation/ are cheap/ think of them as old-fashioned/ were born in the eighties or later/ live alone and are not that handy with light tools/ again, cheap - as in can’t be bothered to pay for a handyman then you are reading the right person to make you a) feel better about your choices and b) impart reasons why you should do this that put you in a better, more creative light when receiving visitors and not wanting to admit to any of the aforementioned characteristics (admittedly, as one decade is the ‘new’ earlier decade nowadays (see 30s are the new 20s and all of that) we’re no longer inclined to have to lie about our age so you can keep that one). Let me just add the caveat that if you instead utilize blinds as a consequence of all of the above then you can also use this method if, again like me, you worry that they are prone to being broken by your clumsy maneuverings.  

So, using plants as window dressing and in lieu of curtains with your blinds pulled firmly and permanently all the way up is a creative way to allow for a measure of privacy and to improve the air quality of your tiny flat (just me?, ok). Practicality and science on a budget! Plants look beautiful and picking them according to the height of your window can increase or decrease your privacy in line with your preferences. Plants can be arranged in any order of assortments – they generally play nice with each other, so you don’t have to have an unbroken line of identical plants of equal height. In fact I encourage you to favour creativity over, admittedly modest, privacy.

Let me fertilize this idea with some facts. Indoor plants benefit the air quality of your home and your body and mind. They do this by:

  • Reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the air which is known to negatively affect cognitive function
  • *Certain plants actually increase oxygen in the air which is beneficial for the body
  • Reducing airborne dust which helps you maintain your cherished furnishings as dust is minimised.
  • Helps you to relax and de-stress

What could be a lovelier alternative to heavy, fussy floral curtains requiring periodic professional cleaning than the real deal? A row of potted plants of varying heights and colours. And don’t forget to mix it up with an assortment of plants pots as well. If you find it challenging to take care of live plants, I promise you; if you do your research you can find the most low-maintenance plant breed that you can easily handle. But also feel free to find a gorgeous fake plant or two if it’s easier and you’re happy to miss out on the health benefits.  

This is a fantastic way to add some vibrancy to your interior space on a modest budget but that makes a big impact. Take a look at my mood board below to give you some ideas of how you can go about windowscaping.  

LOOA loves to...

Welcome to LOOA; an interior brand with a difference. I love the furniture, angles and textile flourishes that give a space character and make it look good, so I wanted to create my own homewares product. I thought about what I like about being at home, and it’s a non-tangible thing. It’s the feeling of being comfortable; fully at ease and relaxed and I’m able to feel this way when I’m actually doing things that I love.

I love to –

 

Curl up in a comfortable chair and read a book or magazine.

Read a few chapters of a book on my kindle app in bed before falling asleep.  

Scroll through the news on my phone first thing in the morning (from my comfortable bed).

Lounge in bed long after the natural light of a new day has woken me up. 

 

So there is a theme. I am unashamedly lazy in that I love nothing better than to be reclined (at varying degrees) while indulging a healthy love for the written word be it on paper or a mobile screen.

I love other things too; although do them less frequently. Sketching, knitting, writing, and crossword puzzles - all from the comfort of my bed.

So clearly I designed a product that would be compatible with my bed/chair reading habits; accommodate my sporadic hobbyist tendencies, and, as I’m no carpenter but absolutely love fabric and patterns, I went with textile for the material.

My Home Storage Sleeve is a twist on a basic concept. A mobile storage solution that is versatile, and also looks lovely.   

Take a look at the portfolio to get some ideas on how you can use my Home Storage Sleeve for the things you love.