Please don’t tell me you thought I was about to do some gardening?  I climb a tree at the mere mention of a worm and wouldn’t know a hydrangea from the Lone Ranger but I know my garden chair from a hammock right enough!  Give me a comfy chair to sit in the shade on or a recliner to sunbathe on and I am a happy bunny.

Add to that a table to sit out and each breakfast/lunch/cake at with either benches or pretty metal chairs to sit on. It just encourages you to spend time with the family in the small outdoors. Give me a fire pit for food and planters for strawberries and tomatoes and summer is sorted.

Below L-R Corinthian Round Dining Table and Corinthian Curved Bench and Vincenza outdoor Bench

Below L-R   Large Rectangle Chrome Lantern, Metal Round Firepit and Nickel Planter

Below Left and far right Metal Folding Chair and centre Metal Oval Table – Grey

Below L-R Rope Hammock, Cream Garden Swing, and Teak 3 Seater Bench

There is no doubt we are expecting interiors oozing opulence and glamour! We’ve collated the most glamorous 20′s Sweetpea & Willow products to inspire some Gatsby fever. It’s time to shake your tail feather…

Above (L-R): Adele Shagreen Bedside Table, Adele Shagreen Dressing Table and La Josephine Pearl Writing Desk

Above (L-R): Eichholtz Arlington Side Lamp, Stowaway Dressing Table With Chair and The Jellyfish Chandelier

Above (L-R): Rectangular Roman Mantel Clock, Cherbourg Glass Side Table and Cherbourg Antiqued Glass Cupboard

Above (L-R): Davidoff Armchair – Taupe, Deco Fan Console Table and Art Deco Chrysler Cushion

The warmer weather with its patches of sunlight and scurrying clouds prompted an ocean voyage in our back garden this week with a laundry basket, broom and tea towel for a sail.  It reminded me of a look I have long wanted for my house of the blue and white of Maine with that New England pallet.  It also reminded me how hard it is to get grass stains out of a tea towel.

I would start with a big sofa in white like the Arundel two seater sofa and have that draped in a nautical throw such as the Maritime Throw or even get the white sofa covered in a broad navy and white stripe for only an additional £145 and I could always go on-line for the fabric, there are so many to choose from.

I would carry the blue look through the lounge with a pair of the gorgeous Edward Armchairs.

With all that voyaging and exploring going on in the back garden then naturally there will be souvenirs and where better to keep them that the Vintage Blue Merchants chest and to show how lovely they look but keeping with the maritime theme have either the Driftwood Dream Light centred upon it or an Anchor Maritime Table Lamp at either end of it.

Put a couple of yacht pictures up on the walls and an aged sandtimer on the window sill and we are all set.

Hm, lovely but enough daydreams, I hear the stirrings of mutiny in the back garden so time to break out the fish fingers.  Yo Ho me heartys!

Madison Butterfly Cushion

Eichholtz Lamp Library

Madison Bee Print Cushion

Chair Baroque – Black and White Striped

All the roast lamb has been eaten and hot cross buns inhaled, bits of chocolate Easter egg picked out of the carpet, chairs relocated back to whichever part of the house I have borrowed them from and order restored.

We played some very complicated card game that involved only three cards and I still have no idea what I was doing but am adamant that I should have won at least once. We played for bits of Easter egg and mini eggs and I did not do that well out of it! My waist says thank you. Now with the longer evenings and yesterdays sun shining in I realize just how shabby my home looks, especially with all the odd chairs I used to seat everyone. I think it may have been a mistake to clean the windows too!

I think I should start with things for entertaining. The mishmash of assorted mugs reminded me that a matching set would look lovely like the Gone Dotty Pink Mugs and matching glasses, apologies to whomever had to drink out of a jam jar, would be nice too like the Zip Deco Wine Small Glasses (set of 4) for everyday and the Gold Ring Luxury Wine Glasses for parties and special occasions.

Going back to the chairs, the Classical White Dining Chair would look good in the dining room but also in bedrooms and on landings so that would be a good option to tie this all in. A couple of the carvers to match would be good as well such as the Classical White Armchair for sinking into with a glass of wine in one of my new glasses.

Maybe a bigger table so that everyone could sit together without battling elbows for eating room should be added to my wish list. I fancy the Carlo Carved Dining Table.

I think we could all fit round that and when it is just us then we will have more room, we tend to do homework, online shopping, coffee and gossip at the dining table so this way we can do in style.

This very welcome sunshine that crept through the window did make my sofa look a little worn and I most definitely want to add a new one to my wish list here. I love, love, love the Cote Three Seater Sofa!

but with children and dogs and takeaways I think that I might plump for the Leather 3 Seater Chesterfield. We could fit on that en masse and watch films and eat cake. That reminds me, got a cake in the oven!

A little fun fact for you – the idea of daylight savings was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but the idea failed to see the light of day until the First World War when it was introduced to conserve energy!

This Sunday the clocks are springing forward ready to welcome in what we hope to be a lovely warm season, with the hours of daylight get longer and longer until our favourite time of year – summer! Outdoors, things are changing; lambs and calves are arriving, birds are nesting, hedgehogs are venturing out from hibernation and trees are blooming and blossoming.

So why not change up your interior ready for this new season with one of our gorgeous clocks? They’re a relatively inexpensive way to transform an interior!

We know you’ll absolutely love our shiniest new arrivals, the Latham and Fob Aluminium clocks, or, for those wanting to add a little vintage chic, why not invest in our Chateau Noir or Victorian Station clocks?

Latham Aluminium Clock

Fob Aluminium Clock with Easel Back

Chateau Noir Round Clock

Victoria Station Clock

Go on, treat yourself this bank holiday weekend!

It is that time again. It is time for us to dust off our posh frocks and high heels and don our best jewels for the F’Oscars.

The competition is fierce for ‘best of’ categories and I think you’ll find that we have a few surprises in store.

The Nominations for best supporting role in a lounge or sitting room:

Eichholtz Hyde Park Chaise Longue – Grey Linen for ‘Recline of the Roman Empire’

Joelle Armchair for ‘The Big Chill’

Eichholtz Sofa Richard Gere – Grey Blend for the role of Cool in ‘Lounge Lizard Express’

The Marilyn Studded Chair & Footstool for ‘Colour Me Velvet’

Nominations best Foreign Entry in house or home:

Bohemian Paris Solicitor Cabinet for the ‘Left Bank’

Extra Large Etienne Mirror for ‘Jewel in the Nile’

Classical White Carved Acorn Mirror ‘Reflections’

Nominations for best Lighting:

Elegant Orb Chandelier 5 Light for ‘Starwars XXV’

Antler Chandelier for ‘Stag Weekend’

Sir Alfred Showdown Lamp for ‘Hitch’

Skyline Driftwood Lamp for the ‘Life and Times of Woody Allen’

Lifetime achievement award:

Carlo Carved Dining Table for its role in ‘Twelve Hungry Men’

Nominations for Best Newcomer:

Exclusive – Riviera Beaten Metal Scroll Bed in for its role in ‘a Good Night’s Sleep’

Vintage Blue Merchants Chest for in ‘The Hall’

One to Watch:
This year this prestigious award goes to two newcomers, this is unprecedented but we cannot choose between them.

Petite Parisian Bombe Chest – Antique Dark

Petite Parisian Bombe Chest – Antique Light

We’re sure that tonight, everyone who’s anyone will be tuning into ITV to check out which gorgeous garments adorn the red carpet and to see which artists are lucky enough to be crowned the winners at the UK’s biggest awards ceremony. We’re definitely looking to be inspired so we can ensure our showroom is bang on trend for the spring season. The Brits were one step ahead with their newly designed colourful spotty awards, as polka-dots are tipped to be top of the fashion stakes this spring/summer.

Back to the music, we wonder who will impress us most – the gorgeous Justin Timberlake, charismatic Robbie Williams, beautiful Taylor Swift, or ever so charming One Direction? Who do you predict will steal the show? Here at SPW HQ we’ve blanked out Wednesday from 7pm, as we cannot think of a better way to spend the evening then watching the action as it unfolds, whilst dining on the best of British cuisine, whether that be cod and chips from the local chippie, a shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, or, for those lucky enough to have a master chef in their midst, a roast dinner complete with scrummy Yorkshire puds. We hope you’re looking forward to doing the same!

Ask any of us in the office what our most loved item is and we instantly start arguing over the best or favourite piece that Sweetpea and Willow offer and as usual we do not agree on anything.
So here are a few of the things that we love and as you can see we all have very different choices.

Natasha.
I really struggled with this as I have yet to decide which products are my favourites (I actually love them all!).
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/very-british-bombe-chest
Very British Bombe Chest:
When I popped into London for the first time after returning from my travelling adventure, I remembered all of the things that made it so good to be home! Vintage markets, quirky side streets, afternoon tea for two, a typical Sunday lunch and of course being reunited with all of my family and friends. That’s what the union jack on this piece conjures images of in my mind – everything brilliant about being British! I’ve always had a huge soft spot for classic French design and I feel the beautifully curvaceous shape of this bombe chest is the epitome of this! So, for me, the design fusion showcased by this piece is a match made in heaven!

Wayne.
One of my favourite products would have to be the Marine Master Desk Clock.
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/marine-master-desk-clock

Not only is it great having a giant watch on your desk so you can keep an eye on time while you’re working but it also looks great on your wrist!

Aaron.
My favourite Sweetpea & Willow piece has to be the Classical White Taupe Bed.
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/classical-white-taupe-silk-bed
Every day I walk in the showroom, thinking “if only I had woken up in that bed”!
In my opinion it has the balance of looking stylish as well as comfortable. This bed is guaranteed to get comments. Good comments, I’m sure! I’ve yet to see a person who doesn’t like this bed.
One of the key features of this bed, which sets it apart from the other beds, is the fact it doesn’t have a footboard. This really opens up the room, so while the bed is eye catching, it’s not overpowering. This characteristic is especially important in smaller bedrooms.
However, the bed is only as good as the mattress on it, so of course it would have to have a St. Tropez Hypnos mattress. I’m already dreaming about the endless hours of sleep on this bed!
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/st-tropez-1800-mattress

Natalie.
I adore the Pure Silk Dimple Bedspread and cushions!
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/pure-silk-dimple-bedspread
Sumptuous snugly silk you really can’t go wrong! The epitome of luxury, these beautiful bedspreads can adorn any bed and always add a splash of glamour (and make you feel like a Hollywood starlet). The easiest way to give your bedroom a facelift, after all a beautifully dressed bed will become the focus of any bedroom! This beautiful ivory bedspread is the icing on the cake of my ultimate dream bedroom!

Mike.
Well, this has to be the Eames chair and footstool and not just any Eames chair and footstool but the white one.
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/white-eames-style-chair-footstool
This may not be an obvious choice for a cool, urbane man about town but actually it really is.  This is the ultimate gaming chair, it is comfy, stylish and a design classic. Oh and there is a footstool which when not supporting my feet acts as a coffee/beer/wine and snacks table to sustain me whilst I’m shooting or playing footie!

Mary.
Has it got to be just one?
How can I possibly wander through the showroom on the way into the office everyday and not fall in love with most of it?  I cannot choose between the following two, they hold equal place in my heart and on my wish list.
Firstly I am totally in love with the Numbers Up Bombe chest.
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/numbers-up-bombe-chest
If I could have one of these I would change the number to something relevant to me like a birth date or a lucky number and keep the background colour as dark green so it looked like the side of a racing car.  I would then put it in pride of place.  It is so beautifully made and tactile that I would probably pull up a chair and just sit and gaze at it in rapture! As for what I would put in it, everything and nothing, what does it matter?
Secondly it has to be the Antiqued Glass Three Drawer Chest.
http://www.sweetpeaandwillow.com/antiqued-glass-3-drawer-chest
On my very first day with Sweetpea and Willow I took a call about this and went into our showroom to have a look at it. Wow, it was love at first sight.  This is a heady mix of retro and modern that would look good in my sitting room or my bedroom or my bathroom.  Its’ very simplicity means it is not limited to one room or one style so as a standalone piece it would be perfect but would look equally good as part of a range.

The song writer has got to be kidding or perhaps he never had to get children to school?

Having ventured out into the park with children, an over excited dog and sledge I can honestly say that snow is not all it is cracked up to be!  Actually it was fun but not as much fun as getting into dry warm clothes and settling into the sofa with big mugs of hot chocolate and the biggest furry throw over us all ready to watch a film. I love the Chamonix Velvet Chocolate 2 Seater Sofa and the Bernard Cappuccino 2 Seater and for kids and dogs the Vintage Leather 2 or 3 Seater Sofas

Huge debate in the office as to what is the best thing to watch when curled up on the sofa and it is between Die Hard and Love Actually depending on the gender of who you ask. These gorgeous throws are all snugly and perfect for curling up under. Genoa Cream Fur Throw and Snuggle Me faux Fur Throw

A real fire is such a lovely luxury considering this was what you had if you did not have central-heating.  Keep it stoked and toasty with fire tools and keep it in check with a lovely fire guard. Eichholtz Nickel Fire Screen with the Fire Tools – Pokers and just to complete the look Chelsea Curl Fire Surround

These long winter nights do mean that during the week you never see your home in daylight and it is only at the weekends you see the outside of your house.  Although the gardens and parks looked so pretty all snow and frosting those poor birds are having a bit of a tough time of it.  Spare a thought and some seeds and bacon rind for our feathered friends out there.