Adding a few decorative touches back to my flat with Fox and Ivy

I can not quite believe that Mimi is now nine months old – nine months in, nine months out. In some ways it feels like she has been with us forever but in other ways it feels like yesterday that I was waiting for her to arrive. A lot has changed in the last nine months and it has been a bit like learning a whole new way to live; new routines, new priorities, new levels of tiredness! One of the things that I lost control over whilst Mimi was a newborn was keeping the flat looking nice. Dreaded piles of ‘stuff’ started to build up and there was never enough time or inclination to sort them out. Now that she is toddling around and claiming a bit of independence I suddenly have more time and a bit more head space to get things looking good again. Therefore, the other day I simply went around the flat with a big shopping bag and threw every pile of stuff I came across into it to be sorted out in one go (or not!) – it felt so good.

With lots of clear space free of piles and baby stuff I am collaborating with Tesco to add a few new bits to the flat to make the space feel a bit more ‘me’ again. I have chosen a few pieces from their new Fox & Ivy homewares collection (click through and check out the prices, people!) that may surprise you as they are beautifully designed and work really well with the vintage pieces in my home. It can be frustrating to see so many gorgeous homewares in magazines or on Pinterest and know that either they are completely unaffordable or you have no way of finding out where to buy them from or both these problems! Therefore, I hope you find these pieces and ideas the opposite of that…

The first surface I cleared was my bedside table as it had become a complete dumping ground. It feels so good to have got rid of all that rubbish. And do you know what? I went and bought myself some flowers to celebrate reclaiming this space as my own. The ceramic vase is part of the Fox & Ivy collection and the delicate lace cut out design is so pretty and adds a touch of femininity to my bed side. I always tend to add a small vase or bottle of flowers on my bedside table but actually using such a big vase makes a real statement to the point where you don’t really need much else. It would also work really well on a hallway table or in an unused fireplace.

One of the pieces I love most from the collection is this vintage inspired mirror. Adding new to old (the bedside table is an antique one that I got very cheaply on eBay – I always get questions about it so just search ‘antique Victorian wash stand’ if you are interested in one similar) works so well and I don’t think you’d ever tell that this mirror isn’t vintage. Isn’t it a pretty shape? I love the cottage-like feel of the combination of the mirror and flowers.

The other thing I have finally had time to do is to print out some baby photos. This has been on my to do list for nine months! I find the faff of printing photographs is not so much the printing process but more sorting out what to do with the photos themselves – finding frames and then hanging them. This is why I adore these glass hanging frames (great price too!). You can easily slip the photos in and out as you please (or add dried flowers, mementoes etc) and then hang them on a hook or a cupboard door handle, wherever you fancy really. Also, I removed the chain from mine to add some natural twine to personalise it but you could also use ribbon or a special piece of fabric.

I printed out this pic of Mimi and Otto that just melts my heart and hung it on the vintage shelves in Mimi’s room.

I used to have a plant and a vase of flowers on my coffee table but the moment Mimi started pulling herself up there a couple of months ago it all had to go. However, I noticed this little vase of faux peonies and hydrangeas in the collection and thought that perhaps it could withstand cheeky little baby hands and swishing dog tails for that matter.

I always like a few faux plants and flowers – so much cheaper and less hassle than buying and looking after all fresh.

I have another little project to do to help us adjust our space to having a baby; we basically need an office space so all these nasty piles stop accruing here, there and everywhere. I will keep you updated on that one. For now I am happy to have added a few new bits to the flat to make it feel a bit more loved. A thank you to Tesco for collaborating with me on this post and do make sure to check out the full Fox & Ivy collection.

Katy x

*This post was written in collaboration with Tesco.