Willows Wardrobe

So what do us Mums really want for Mothers Day this Sunday? Us girls in the office sat down together and had a think about what we’d actually like this year for Mother’s Day – these are just a few of the hundreds of things we could think of… well a girl can dream!

More time would be nice, more time to finish at least half of the 100 things we’re trying to get done in one day. But seeing as Dr. Who and his Tardis have yet to appear and help us get the ironing done with with a spot of time travel – the Rectangular Roman Mantel Clock is the perfect solution!

Flowers are great too. Ones that don’t need watering or arranging, flowers that do not need the water changing when it gets smelly that is! Flowers that will last forever and always look fabulous, just like the Everlasting Orchid – it just gives us one less thing to worry/forget about.

How about a dog? A new addition to the family which will not need walking come rain or shine. Never leave muddy footprints on the kitchen floor from the garden. Who will sit on the sofa with you and never, ever moult whilst looking fabulous and decidedly not smelly. An impossible dream you might be thinking? Not any more! With our brand new fabulous range of cushions, pick a character who suits you best!

Smellies are always a firm favourite. Mind you they have to be the ones that last more than one bath, like our Kenneth Turner Indian Spice 3 Wick Candles. These are smellies that will infuse your home with a sense of calm amidst the ongoing chaos that is family life and perhaps, when used during a relaxing bath, sooth away frazzled nerves.

There’s always the lure of a nice sit down.  From a little bit of luxury in a ridiculously gorgeous colour to a calm nursing chair for that very first Mother’s Day.  Taking a few minutes out of your day to take a seat can be bliss, especially in our Rosie Posey Chair.

Then there is breakfast in bed of course ….

Tea and toast on a Savoy Rectangular Nikel/Glass Tray with smart china and at least two types of jam.

Sumptous bed linen in soft silks or velvets. Gorgeous silk pyjamas and dressing gown and all served up in the bed of your dreams.

What more could any of us want to make our Mother’s Day perfect?  Maybe Brad…?

Gold Gilt Emmanuel Chaise Longue

After a hard day at work all you can think about it is coming home and relaxing with your feet up, and what better place to do it on than on a classic piece of French furniture, the chaise longue? Popular in France since the 18th century, chaise longue literally means “long chair”, an armchair with an extended seat, long enough to stretch out your legs.

Belgravia Silver Chaise Longue

French furniture is guaranteed to add a touch of elegance and class to any room, as it transforms the ordinary into an evocative vision of style and history. The chaise longue is quintessentially French and as such is often made from luxurious materials such as gilded carved mahogany and covered in silk or velvet. But perhaps you might not want such extravagance in your home and would prefer a simpler, more neutral look with natural calico or linen.

Clarence Linen Chaise Longue

This next piece is not strictly a chaise longue but rather a day bed as it has two ends! However, we couldn’t resist adding it here as the Classical White Princess Day Bed is absolutely one of our all-time favourite pieces of French furniture here at Sweetpea & Willow – it really does epitomise everything we stand for – style, elegance, restraint, delicacy and beauty. That’s a lot to ask of one piece of furniture but this one certainly delivers it all!

Classical White Princess Day Bed

The classic chaise longue has also been modernised and waterproofed for use outdoors in the garden or around a swimming pool, if you are lucky enough to have one. It’s certainly a step up from a standard sun lounger! After all, there’s no reason your garden should have to suffer in the style stakes!

Sublime Atoll Chaise Longue

Kenneth Turner Stag Tealight Holder

There’s no escaping it, Christmas is just around the corner. Time to open the advent calendar windows and get cracking on the Christmas shopping! Here at Sweetpea & Willow we may be best known for our wonderfully ornate French style shabby chic beds, armoires and chaise longues but we’re also a dab hand at bringing together wonderful items just perfect to give to your loved ones for Christmas. To make it easy for you we’ve created a Christmas Gift section and sections on Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him or Gifts for Little Ones.

Black silk pyjamas

Why not choose some gorgeous silk pyjamas in place of another bottle of perfume or underwear that doesn’t fit properly? They’ll last forever and will make every bedtime feel supremely luxurious. A mirror is a wonderful gift to give – we have so many styles and sizes to choose from – we adore this three-section dressing table mirror, it’s the ultimate glamorous addition to any boudoir!

Lily Curved Dressing Table Mirror

Men can be notoriously difficult to buy for but we believe that we’ve found some really stylish pieces that any man would covet. This unusual watch-shaped clock brings a touch of class to any desktop (we also have two other designs available). Bookends can be wonderfully quirky as well as extremely useful – and somehow so much nicer to receive as a present than to buy for yourself!

Qourum Desk Clock

Scents for the home make wonderful gifts for anyone – we now stock a large range of Kenneth Turner home fragrances and candleholders and candelabras. In candles or room cologne, choose your favourite from Winter Berries, White Forest, Citrus Bergamia, Indian Spice and Nature Nurture.

Kenneth Turner Winter Berries Candle

For the kids, if you want to splash out on a true family heirloom then look no further than this wonderful rocking horse. Made from solid waxed pine and with genuine horse hair, this beautiful specimen will be entertaining the children in your family for many decades to come.

Rosie Rocking Horse

But if your finances can’t quite stretch to that this year, we also have this gorgeous pink hobby horse (now half price at only £40) which will be a dead cert to win the heart of any little girl!

Pink Hobbyhorse

There are few items of furniture that evoke the spirit of lazy afternoons in a bygone era than the chaise longue. It’s been around in one form or another for a very long time and was originally created in Egypt. These early day-beds were very simplistic and made of beautifully carved wood. However, interest grew beyond its origins, it’s also depicted in ancient Grecian artwork and perhaps reached the pinnacle of its popularity in France during the eighteenth century. Indeed the name comes from the French which taken literally means ‘long chair’. It’s the typical French chaise longue which most of us think of when considering this piece of furniture.

Classical White Chaise Longue

The traditional chaise longue is very much associated with the French Rococo style of the eighteenth century which much of the French furniture of the time reflected. The French day-beds of the time, as well as French chairs and sofas, were very much a status symbol and accordingly, were covered in luxurious fabrics with ornately carved feet and arm rests. This style of French chaise longue soon became popular in America and England, as its elaborate style was associated with status and wealth.

A French chaise longue will particularly enhance a more spacious, period property where it can take pride of place in the room. Combined with other kinds of French furniture, such as French chairs and sofas, it can transform a home into a luxurious and comfortable space that is incredibly inviting.

Many boutique hotels these days use French style furniture to project the image of ultimate lavishness and comfort to their guests – and it works. There are few of us who are not impressed and captivated by the charms of French furniture and the romance that it seems to emulate. The beautiful carvings and opulent feel of a French chaise longue, and French chairs and sofas, make us feel like we’re immersed in luxury.

Although this type of furniture looks stunning in larger houses, or hotels, and has glamour oozing from every inch, it can also look really effective in a more modest home. It’s difficult not to be seduced by the wonderful look of a chaise longue at the end of a bed or in a conservatory. As well as making the room look incredibly well-appointed, this type of French furniture is so classical that it will suit any size of property or style of decoration.

Embassy Sofa and Ottoman

We are very proud to announce the launch of our new website, Beautiful Modern Thing. While the Sweetpea & Willow aesthetic is primarily aimed towards elegant and glamorous French furniture and Shabby Chic, we decided to indulge our passion for modern design in this new venture. If you want cutting-edge design, sharp shapes and quirky colours, Beautiful Modern Thing is the place to visit!

Wire Frame Dining Chair

Whether you are looking for striking furniture or stylish accessories, we have a wealth of wonderful things to choose from, something for every taste and budget. This iconic wire frame chair is just £95.

Cruz Chrome Side Table

Whether you want to add a little Art Deco glamour to your bedroom, some cool 60′s retro style to your dining room or create a minimalist modern living room, you will find a vast array of items to tempt you.

And if you’re looking for wild and wacky colours, textures, shapes and patterns, we’ve got that too! This Jacobsen-inspired chair will create an instant style statement (it might also induce a craving for a certain well-known chocolate bar!) Please browse yourself silly on our lovely new website and we guarantee that you will be spoilt for choice! Enjoy!

Jacobsen Swan Styled Chair

To celebrate the launch of Beautiful Modern Thing we are running a fabulous competition to win an iconic black Barcelona Chair. Just sign up to receive the Beautiful Modern Thing e-newsletter. You can also enter on Facebook or Twitter.

If you find modern day furnishings and interior decor a little bland, shabby chic can provide the perfect antidote. By decorating your home in this charismatic style and using key pieces of furniture, you can add warmth, elegance and some real rustic charm into your living space – and the look is easy to achieve through a bit of clever shopping and a touch of imagination.

Shabby Chic - Aqua Marine 3 Drawer Bombe Chest

If you’ve just moved into a new house, or you’re looking to reinvent your current home, you can slowly put your own individual stamp on it with shabby chic furniture and accessories. Shabby chic is devoid of the usual restrictions that you can face when opting for a ‘contemporary’ feel, and gives you a lot more scope for freedom of expression and personality. In essence, it’s all about weatherworn items that look like they’ve been loved for many years – and if you choose genuine antique pieces of furniture, this is more often than not the case anyway! However, you can also produce homemade shabby chic yourself, if you have the time and inclination to treat your chosen furniture items to some layers of paint and some sanding paper.

The problem with modern styling is that a room can quickly feel soulless – plain walls, matching flat-packed furniture and an absence of trinkets make for a clinical environment. This is fine if you don’t like fussy, but for many people, this lack of atmosphere can steal the heartbeat out of a home. So if shabby chic seems the ideal solution for you to reclaim your space, what does it entail?

Shabby chic furniture is often influenced by French country design – think chunky tables and beds, lace and soft fabrics in rich, warm colours. You can also look out for more feminine pieces of furniture; slim curved legs on tables and chairs, or heart shaped cut-outs or similar, but in leaf or other natural shapes. Old classically French pieces such as a chaise longue or armoire are fabulous additions to your shabby chic collection too, so look out for original items online or in antique shops.

When looking for suitable pieces for your home, remember that the whole point is to find items that look well used. Scuffed paint showing previous colours or exposed wood are indicative of this style and any knocks or scratches are to be cherished, not rejected. To complement your furniture you can add beautiful old picture frames, chandeliers, floral cushions and old linen tablecloths or antimacassars – just make sure your fabrics have that quintessential aged tinge!

Our gorgeous new showroom in Isleworth, West London is now open and (even if we do say it ourselves) it is simply amazing. Walking around the new showroom is a completely novel experience. Our fabulous furniture and accessories are displayed in real room settings complete with stylish wallpaper, fireplaces, candles and romantic music!

For a limited time only we are offering you 10% OFF all purchases made at the showroom. Just click here to print out your 10% off voucher and then click here to book your appointment. But hurry, this offer is only valid until 9th September. To make your visit even more pleasant we will greet you with a nice, cold glass of bubbly!

We have given each room setting a completely different ambience that we hope will provide wonderful styling tips and inspiration to take back home with you. Our showroom is a complete feast for the eyes and like nothing you will have ever seen in any high street store. At Sweetpea & Willow we really are obsessed with our work and this new venture is a true testament to this, to our passion for our products and also for interior design and how it can improve your home and your mood. We hope that you will be inspired to mix and match items from different eras and different styles, to add a splash of bright colour or to be brave and risk an all white room! The choice is yours!

So do please come and visit us in our new home – you really will receive the royal treatment! We look forward to welcoming you soon – and we promise to chill the wine in plenty of time for your arrival!

Drum roll and fanfare please! We have some very exciting news to share
with you. Thanks to your ongoing support of our business, Sweetpea &
Willow has moved to a bigger and better abode that allows us to
show you much more of our lovely furniture and home accessories.

Classical White Marianne Rattan Bed

Our new showroom is a completely novel experience. Furniture and
accessories are displayed in real room settings with wallpaper,
fireplaces, romantic music and candles! Each one has a
completely different ambience – providing wonderful styling tips and
inspiration to take back home with you. It is a complete feast
for the eyes and like nothing you will have ever seen in any high
street store or showroom. As you know, we always pride ourselves on
giving everything we do the personal touch, from styling to customer
services and quality control. Our new home is no exception.

To make the experience even more special, a cold glass of bubbly or
Sauvignon will await you on your pre-booked visit to our new Isleworth
showroom. Don’t judge a book by its cover – our new abode may look like a normal warehouse from the outside but inside it’s a veritable treasure chest of luxury and elegance.

We are also launching many fabulous new lines of furniture, so be sure
to keep checking our website for exciting new arrivals! To make it easier, we have created a Lovely New Arrivals category which is updated regularly. From delicate lamps to something as substantial as a fire surround, we have plenty of exciting new goodies to enrich your home.

Small Spectre Table Lamp

Elise Fire Surround

We also have a wonderful Warehouse Clearance section with incredible reductions on some of our bestselling items. Whether you want to invest in a classic sofa or bring a little glamour to your boudoir with an elegant dressing table, we have something to tempt you at a completely irresistible price! We have limited stock of these sale items and they are going fast, so get them while you can!

Jose Stone Buttoned Back Sofa - Reduced by £310

Adele Dressing Table - Reduced by £125