Paperless Post - beautiful illustrations for customisable online stationery

I'm really into illustration work, each week I pore over my Pinterest boards looking at watercolour and vector designs, then I look at designers showcasing their work on both You Tube and Instagram. It's interesting to see trends like the unicorn craze still ongoing and geometric and botanical patterns. These designs are great for inspiring party invitations, wedding invites and all kinds of cards but where can you find such current on-trend work to use for your own stationery requirements? Also, with everything being so much online, the ability to create invites and send them out by easily is solved by the customisable stationery company Paperless Post.

You can create a personal element with Paperless Post's categories that enable you to quickly and easily have invites sent out for a party or send a cool greeting card to say thank you or Happy Birthday or just I'm thinking of you...... All you do is purchase digital coins and then use them to go create, you even can choose the most perfect online envelope design complete with stamp.

Every step of the way is full of choices with Paperless Post. You can select the font type, add your own photos to some designs and choose the background colour to your invite/card. I love this one for my son's birthday party with cheery colourful animals. 

Paperless Post has partnered with several world-famous designers and lifestyle brands, including kate spade new york, Oscar de la Renta, Jonathan Adler, and Rifle Paper Co to provide you with beautiful designs that you will be spoilt for choice over. As well as designing an invite for my son's birthday, I looked at a card for moving address (eeeek!)  and as you know I love Halloween so I was really excited to see some exciting cards for me to send later this year to my fellow pumpkin loving enthusiasts. Doesn't this one look cute with the candy corn design and really striking against the black and yellow envelope. 

Paperless Post has delivered over 85 million cards to date and what a environmentally friendly way to send cards and invites. The process is an easy one that you choose all the elements that you like and then select the recipient(s) and off it goes..... There is a simple RSVP service too to make organising events super easy.

The illustrations are very very varied and current with that cool independent vibe. To help with the design process you can run through a test sending of the card - a very smart user interface indeed.
Great thing is that the reply card option offers an RSVP tool to manage replies, has an attendee list and a comment wall for their replies. It's a great way to assist with your events.  I like the service from Paperless Post very much and I have to admit that I hate sending actual cards quite bothersome so this suits me completely and the designs were a big hit for me in comparison with what I see in card shops, much more design led and exciting.

I received credits for the purpose of the review, opinions are my own honest experience and thoughts.

Summer home benefits of a wooden floor

What will summer be like in the happy homebird house....Early June and I'll be at the allotment several times a week, coming home and traipsing soil on my boots through the house carrying fresh goodies under my arm.

By July, school holidays will be here and a messy eight year old will be in and out the garden, eating snacks all day, dropping crumbs mixed in with leaves, bits of crayon and other assorted dirt on the floors.

Did I say I also have three dogs..... twelve paws worth of mud, dirt and vegetation. Oh and water....bubbles, paddling pools, splashing, water guns and water balloons from all that childhood summer fun. Between us we really know how to make a lovely messy state of the floors and I despair as I want my house to look tidy too.

The best thing I ever did was get a wood flooring as it is easy to clean and therefore hygienic. So in no time at all I can clean it and it's looking bright and smart again. The flooring I have is a nice oak shade but then I painted it white years later for a Scandinavian feel and to give it a revamp. However, you can buy whatever shade you like from the experts Nexus Flooring, from white washed to grey and mocha, long lasting engineered wood planks which are durable and affordable for the home. Such a practical option for living areas, especially with family and pets milling about. The range of colours makes it a easy solution to fit any scheme, smoked tobacco is a particularly nice shade that lends itself to suiting both contemporary and traditional homes and would give a seamless look to downstairs living space. There is also the option of durable solid wood planks for hard-wearing, warm and sophisticated flooring. An instant boost to any home and one that would be a valuable investment.

Image source Nexus Flooring

Being so easy to clean a wooden floor is a bonus and the style suits any home and goes with any decorating scheme. Throughout the summer I like to update a little in each of the rooms to give a summery feel with new cushions, decorative pieces and seasonal items. Even just adding some seashells we have collected on the beach onto a shelf adds some cheer and sweetpeas from the allotments are always a perfect scented touch to my bedroom.

The beauty of wooden flooring is that the natural element is cohesive with whatever look you prefer and the changing of seasonal looks and of course the changing needs of a family. A wood floor has been great since getting the pups as any accidents are easily mopped up and moulting hair brushed away. I can't imagine the mess if I'd have had carpet and the expense of cleaning it, as long as I keep the dog's claws trimmed they are fine on the floor and there is no skating around.

Whilst the sunny days are here, a wooden floor is cooling in the home, it feels fresh and soft underfoot, a clean at the end of the day keeps it feeling nice for my me time in the evening. Thinking forward to the latter half of the year, wooden floors are also warm and cosy, it's the best solution for any home in my opinion. And so not to wish the sun away and enjoy it whilst we can, I'm off into the garden with my son and the dogs, all leaving a trail of chaos but that's all good fun.

1940's Tea Room

Weekend, a little spring sunshine in Stratford-upon-Avon and a rumbling of tummies. Into The Four Teas tearoom, sweet notes of Somewhere Over the Rainbow like jam on warm scones and fragrant sips of rose tea. Chatter and clatter, freshly baked bread and blends of tea brewing in fat jolly teapots, shelves of vintage tins and cakes sugar glistening under glass domes....a setting to set off the bunting union jack version of me that likes to drink from teacups stored in parish church cupboards and pop flowers into pressed glass vases.

Inspired by a visit to The Four Teas,........a little selection of items.....

Union Jack bunting, Etsy, £15// Kilner red enamel jam pan, Wares of Knutsford, £49// Woodsware 'Beryl' teacups and saucers - see ebay for similar// Retro glass sugar pourer, Rex, £3.95// Ration book postcards and posters, Etsy, from £4 /// Akai Cream Vintage DAB radio, Very, £39.99// Spotty red PVC tablecloth, Dunelm, £10 // Personalised Union Jack print, Giddy Kipper at Not on the High Street, £13//

10 benefits of vintage furniture

These days we’re drawn to modern convenience, but what are the benefits of going down a more traditional interior design route?

For a long time, vintage furniture has been overlooked in favour of modern alternatives like flatpack, easy-to-assemble seating and surfaces. But it seems like the popularity of vintage and antique décor is starting to rise once more, as these beautiful furniture options begin to get the recognition they deserve.

So why is it that we can’t seem to ever truly let go of our desire for vintage décor in our homes? There are plenty of benefits for going down the antique route, so we’ve decided to put them all in one place to show you why vintage never goes out of style! Here are ten key benefits to filling your home with vintage furniture.

Image source Vinterior

Your furniture tells a story

When you invest in vintage furniture, you’re buying into a long and rich history just waiting to be discovered. Who knows what events that wardrobe or sideboard has seen? Who else has sat in this exact chair, eating at this exact dining table? There are hundreds of stories to be discovered with every item of vintage furniture, and that is one of the most exciting things about such an investment.

Furnishing your homes with antique furniture and décor is a great way to spark up a conversation when you have guests over to visit. These items remind us of long gone eras which are endlessly fascinating, giving us a world of conversation and speculation to enjoy and discuss. 

You are opting for quality

Vintage furniture is, as a rule, very well made. These are items which have been lovingly crafted as a one-of-a-kind treasure which stands the test of time, and if it has lasted this long then it’s pretty much guaranteed to stand sturdily in your home for many years to come.

The other aspect of vintage furniture that makes it stand the test of time is the fact that imperfections and wear can be embraced. Unlike more modern alternatives — where a mug ring or a scuff mark is often thought to be nothing short of a disaster — the scuffs and scrapes we find on vintage furniture can be enjoyed as signs of its long and fascinating life up until this point. 

Image source: Vinterior

There is a lot of choice out there

Vintage doesn’t have to just mean one thing. It could mean a Victorian item with all the bells and whistles, or a 1920s art deco statement piece. History is an expansive and diverse subject, and with so many items from so many eras there is bound to be an item of vintage furniture which fits perfectly into your home. 

Vintage is a green option

Opting for vintage furniture is a delightful way to treat your home and do your bit for the environment. By their very nature, antiques are recycled and reused time and time again. They are built to last and to thrive, meaning they won’t need replacing any time soon.

So by purchasing a piece of vintage furniture, you are carrying on the life cycle of an item with a long and (perhaps) illustrious history. 

You can create contrast

You might think that the option of vintage furniture is off the table unless your home itself is old and grand, but this simply isn’t the case. Contrast is always a good thing when it comes to interior design, because it makes people sit up and take notice of the effort you’ve put into decorating your home. So even the most contemporary space can benefit from a touch of something more traditional.

Antique furniture brings its own energy and personality to any part of your home, with a unique design and texture you can play off in the rest of your décor. Choosing furniture from various periods of time will allow your items to balance each other, coming together to create something interesting, fun and truly original. 

Image source: Vinterior

Vintage pieces are above trends

Vintage furniture may be less likely to be the trendiest item on the market, but these pieces are also unlikely to go completely out of fashion too. There is a reason why vintage furniture has lasted so long — it is always welcome and showcases the very best of design from a particular era. Vintage furniture is by definition a classic, meaning you can never really go wrong with it.

So when you invest in a piece of vintage furniture, you never have to worry about updating your décor in a few years’ time to fall in line with current trends. A stylish, stunning piece of furniture with a long history behind it is always a fashionable choice. Just be sure to source your furniture from trusted and experienced marketplaces like Vinterior. 

They will increase in value

They say that when you buy a new car, the value starts to decrease as soon as you take it off the forecourt. The same rule can be applied to new furniture. As soon as you get it home and start to actually use your new dining table or armchair, the value begins to fall rapidly. But this isn’t the case when you decide to go vintage.

Antique furniture is a good decision when investing for the long haul. Vintage furniture which is well-cared for can even increase in value as time goes on and it gets older, meaning if you do decide to sell it on you may be looking at a tidy profit.
They are also surprisingly cost effective

One thing which often puts people off investing in vintage furniture is the perception that it’s going to cost an arm and a leg. But you may be surprised to learn that, more often than not, going vintage can be an extremely cost effective decision to make.

While the rise of big brands has led to firm favourites for new furniture increasing their prices (like IKEA’s infamous price hike in late 2017), you can take advantage of the situation by snapping up some stunning antique items for less than you might have thought. 

Image source: Vinterior

You are making a statement

Having one or two vintage items will help them act as centrepieces in your home, whether it’s a dining room table, a bedroom wardrobe or a living room armchair. These are the kinds of items which command attention from both you and your guests, helping your interior design flourish.

The details you find on vintage furniture items mean they are guaranteed to make a statement, and you can use this as inspiration in the rest of your wider décor. 

Vintage furniture is truly unique

The final and best benefit of vintage furniture is that you know you are getting something which is unique to your home. No two pieces of vintage furniture are exactly the same, meaning your home is the only place to find an item which is as stunning and eye-catching as the one you have chosen. 

Image source: Vinterior

Down by the River Weaver in Cheshire & inspired homeware

Up through new houses of pottering suburbia and down to the river bank, plopping down the hill like little water voles to the pathway. A beautiful day for watching the boats, smiling at dogs sniffing and the swans keeping a keen eye on them. Time for the joggers and the cyclists to come out and general river life busyness is restored in spring warmth.

A cormorant with a dipping dive resurfaces by an overhanging blackthorn, frosted with blossom now and joined by egg dipping yellow celandine, starryeyed spring riverbanks.

Further on by the bridge is a contrast of delicate powdery forget-me-nots against steel and bold graffiti, all part of the ambiance, river life good with the bad. Slight sludgyness of water here but clearing to waters by the riverside cottage where a dog barks by daffodils and a greenhouse shows signs of recent enthusiasm for the new season with rows of pots filled with who knows what, beans, peas or sweetpeas....

Rusty old boats overlook a skyline of a white college cupola, fretwork and a non moving no gusts today weathervane in a clear blue sky. A world of contrasts here, silent forgotten dull river craft and the chug of a brightly painted canal boat, tarnished metal against puff ball pink blossom, running against peaceful bench resting wanders.

River walking inspired items based on the things I saw - cormorants, rust, forget-me-nots, jolly boats, gardening, modern art, blossom pink and cheerful yellow.

Cormorant tea towel, Black Bough £7.50// Metallic rust tealight holder, Abode Living £12//Seed wedding favours, Etsy £1.45//Narrowboat bird box, NotHS £59//
Gardeners Mug, Laura Ashley £5.04// Banksy Flying Balloon Girl doormat, Etsy £24.99// Ronseal Cherry Blossom garden paint, Amazon £4// Cheery Plastic Cup, Debenhams £6//