Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays indeed...I started to write this post at the beginning of the August holidays and I can't believe it,  here I am at the end of August, literally the last day, re-writing it & trying to get it posted. Cripes, where did the time go?!
Well I can tell you what I haven't been busy doing! Renovating & re-decorating is a no-go zone at this time of year. Virtually all of France is 'closed' during the month of August so although for alot of people, the holidays are the only time to get things done, any DIY projects need to be well planned in advance especially if you have equipment to hire, tradesmen to book, anything at all that needs to be ordered from flooring to soft furnishings!!! If you haven't ordered it by July, forget it until September...late September at that. 
I have been busy putting mood boards together for a chalet renovation in a nearby ski resort. The project has already started with new walls, floors and staircase in the main living area and a brand spanking new kitchen installed in the open plan kitchen dining area . Now there's just the small problem of removing the beige palm print wallpaper, yes I did say "palm print" and I seem to remember it being slightly textured.Then there are the huge photo murals in the bedrooms, old net curtains and faded carpet.
 All this good stuff from the 80's will go and be replaced with a beautiful color palette inspired by the chalet name. Bedrooms will be a mix of muted calming tones and lush rich colors; deep teal & taupe, slate grey & mustard, sage green & aubergine and for the kids bunk room a chocolate & orange mix.
Modern lighting, lush floor rugs and lots of rich throws and cushions will bring it all together making 4* chalet chic-ness. 
If my vison is executed fully, there won't be a single alpine wooden heart anywhere in sight!  I am however quite partial to the odd stag or moose head popping out of the wall but only if they're the card or wood type and only if they say something really funny!


Jx

Pinteresting...

In the lead up to the summer holiday season, I've recently been refreshing & re-arranging a lot of furnishings in a group of self-catered holiday apartments located in le Grand Bornand. The apartments are spacious and light and comfortable; they just needed a spot of re-vamping and with next to no budget I've had to get inventive. I've found lots of inspiring stuff on the web & as it's sale time at the moment, lots of bargains to be had online also. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration; basically it's an online pin-board/mood board and a bit like flicking through your favorite magazines. It's also very dangerous as I do find I can waste hours looking at other people's pin-boards and adding images to my own. Each board is saved under a category and you then give your board a name; It's a brilliant way to keep all the stuff you see and like and want to keep 'on file' as it were, all in 1 place and neatly ordered to boot. 


While you're waiting to be invited to join Pinterest , have a look at these in the meantime. These are just a few of my favorites...

birdy on a branch by miho unexpected things

http://www.mihounexpected.it/ 
for beautiful silk birds (see pic)as wall deco, decolletage print moose heads, storage boxes etc

http://www.bungalowgraphics.com
for retro style graphics & funky prints

http://www.hu2.com/store/
for very cool & original stickers with an eco message

http://www.designsponge.com/
for general all round inspiration- love the 'sneek peeks'









enjoy shopping!
Jx

Stella Humungous lives!

First blog post...ever! Thought I'd get it online in tandem with publishing my 'did it over the weekend' website : http://stellahumungous.yolasite.com/ which I'm using to showcase some of the interiors I've been lucky to have helped create, style & work in over many years spent in the French Alps. 
Luxury ski chalets seem to be everywhere these days but the ones that do the best business are the ones that have guests who come back year on year. Why?...usually because the chalet is so bloody nice, you wouldn't dream of looking elsewhere! (It helps if your hosts are super lovely as well but more about that perhaps in another post) What makes a great chalet apart from amenities & location? The homely touches, warming textures, soft linens, fire light, cosy corners, a good library or a stack of magazines, tissues! Honestly the list is long & everyone has different criteria according to the kind of holiday they're on & with whom but I think it is the little things that matter most no matter what. The fact that someone has thought of you in many little ways adds up to big happiness & that's what will take you back each time.

So I hope to share some of the ways we can enjoy our spaces, environment & homes on this blog along with updates from the frontline & obviously some random stuff from time to time. Hope you enjoy, tell me if you do & at least be kind if you don't. 
Be seeing you soon!
Jx