To win, go to our Gifts for Alice page and look for the item with the ‘we love’ logo. Then, hunt for that prize in one of our amazing Alice in Wonderland images on mydeco’s Facebook Fan page . When you find the hidden prize, just tag the image with your name.

Get hunting and good luck!

Image credit: Dominic Blackmore

I write for two fabulous magazines: Junior, for whom I have been doing the yummy food pages for about 3 years, and more recently House Beautiful, which is really great fun – check out the current issue for some special Mother’s Day ideas.

One simple gift idea is to group together a collection of white vases and jugs and fill them with irises and daffodils – the bulbs are really easy to plant and the colours look stunning. For something more subtle, try filling them with white narcissus and hydrangeas. Have a look at Candida’s blog on my spring bulb workshop for more tips and inspiration.

As well as writing, I also work with a number of businesses as a designer. I have created a range of tableware with Portmeirion, some wonderful wallpaper with Arthouse and a range of elegant cutlery with Arthur Price, soon to be launched at John Lewis:

Image credit: Sophie Conran

I’ve been working closely with Tony and Simon for the past few months and am really excited about the launch.

Next week, I will be talking about my countryside retreats, so watch this space!

Image credit: Candida Balfour

To herald the arrival of Spring,  and prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, myself and a handful of keen florists joined Sophie Conran at the Clifton Nurseries for a crash course in using bulbs, courtesy of The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Centre.

Image credit: Candida Balfour

Having the least green fingers of anyone I know, I was dreading falling behind at the first hurdle. Luckily, Sophie was the perfect teacher, and for once I saw gardening and planting bulbs not as rocket science, but as a hobby I could really see myself getting into… Aided, I am sure, by miniature Hummingbird cupcakes and champagne before midday.

Image credit: Candida Balfour

The ideas Sophie presented were pretty much foolproof: take some bulbs, untangle the roots, plant them in soil or gravel in your container of choice and watch them bloom.

If you are using a transparent container, gravel is a great alternative to soil. I for one had no idea that bulbs could grow without soil, but apparently they do just as well in gravel.

If you are using a basket or china pot (my favourite suggestions were a souffle dish or tea cup – a wellington boot was even proposed) normal potting soil will do.

Sophie’s top tips: use the firmest bulbs, cover soil with moss for a stunning final touch, and use old tea bags or gravel to keep moisture in.

The end results were very encouraging. My irises, surrounding a centrepiece of white tulips, bloomed just as they should have, surrounded by green, bouncy moss.

I can now officially garden!

Image credit: Candida Balfour

To win, go to our Gifts for Alice page and look for the item with the ‘we love’ logo. Then, hunt for that prize in one of our amazing Alice in Wonderland images on mydeco’s Facebook Fan page . When you find the hidden prize, just tag the image with your name.

Get hunting and good luck!

To win, go to our Gifts for Alice page and look for the item with the ‘we love’ logo. Then, hunt for that prize in one of our amazing Alice in Wonderland images on mydeco’s Facebook Fan page . When you find the hidden prize, just tag the image with your name.

Get hunting and good luck!

1.      Ruffles

Image credit: Very Magazine

Playful label Moschino’s A/W collection rocked the ruffles trend with a Western vibe. The good news is, ornate textures are actually easier to work into the home than into one’s wardrobe, and eliminates the rather large risk of looking like you’ve joined the circus.

Cushions are one of the safest ways of channelling romantic textures, and 3D ruffled flower designs are big this season. We particularly like this rose cushion from John Lewis:

Image credit: mydeco

For a little more luxe, a bold but stylish option is a textured wall panel. This set of four by Batali will add a touch of the ornate to any colour scheme.

Buy the complete Ruffles look, curated by our stylist Jenny, here.

2)      Sequins

They’ve been around for a while and judging by Roberto Cavalli’s A/W collection, they’re in it for the long run. But remember, sequins and metallics don’t have to be about head-to-toe, wall-to-floor bling: small touches of sparkle can instantly revamp your home and add a touch of contemporary glamour without looking over the top. Armani’s A/W collection featured dark green pearlescent crocodile skin coats with simple black fur lining for a downplayed feel.

Appliqué cushions and crystal glass accessories provide a quick and easy twinkle, while textured accessories create a youthful, optimistic vibe. We just can’t resist this sequinned cushion from B&Q – at a fiver, it’s a total steal:

Image credit: mydeco

Buy the complete Sequins look here.

3)      Warrior

Image credit: Very Magazine

Think Russell Crowe as Robin Hood meets Joan of Arc. At Versace, fur came in electric blues and oranges, while at Gucci kept it natural in pale greys and taupes. Tassles, shearling jackets and medieval-inspired accessories are all big news next season, and the raw, rough textures make the trend great for your home.

Faux fur throws and leather cushions are timeless ways to channel your inner warrior. We love this rough, tough leather armchair from House of Fraser:

Image credit: mydeco

Buy the complete Warrior look here.

4)      Animal motifs:

At Blumarine, zebra print was a strong player, proving that the trusty animal print is here to stay. It has gone through many an incarnation lately – fluorescent green and pink leopard, gigantic cheetah spots, glittery zebra…  you name it.

An exciting extension of this, and a perfect way to funk up your home, is the animal motif. Animals of all shapes and sizes are cropping up all over the high street: perfect for spring and Easter decorating. You can either go retro, with simple silhouettes and folk-inspired patterns, such as this hare notepad by Helen Minns:

Image credit: mydeco

Alternatively, embrace modern brights with a more contemporary design such as this flamingo chair by Jimmie Martin:

Buy the complete Animal look here.

Image credit: B&Q

Hooray! Kelly Hoppen hits the high street on the 1st March with her new collection of wallpaper for B&Q.

Hoppen follows in the hallowed footsteps of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Sophie Conran and Linda Barker who have also added to B&Q’s designer wallpaper range.

There are five fab designs to choose from, ranging from a pretty Vintage Flock to a graphic Hicks design (seen above).   We are loving their subtle, textured quality and how well they work in both a classic or contemporary interior.

They cost £19.98 per roll and are available online at mydeco now….hurry, hurry!

Image credit: B&Q

To win, go to our Gifts for Alice page and look for the item with the ‘we love’ logo. Then, hunt for that prize in one of our amazing Alice in Wonderland images on mydeco’s Facebook Fan page . When you find the hidden prize, just tag the image with your name.

Get hunting and good luck!

To win, go to our Gifts for Alice page and look for the item with the ‘we love’ logo. Then, hunt for that prize in one of our amazing Alice in Wonderland images on mydeco’s Facebook Fan page . When you find the hidden prize, just tag the image with your name.

Get hunting and good luck!

Keep an eye out for one of our new design boutique additions, joining mydeco in the next few days. We are so excited about getting designer Heart Zeena on board that we couldn’t wait to give you a sneak preview!

Image credit: Heart Zeena

From cute birds to pretty hearts, these wonderful cushions are a sure way to brighten up an old sofa or a boring bed.

Or how about bringing the freshness of the outdoors in with these lovely heart shaped lavender bags?  I absolutely adore them, they are so cute and smell amazing. Hang them up in your wardrobe or place them in your chest of drawers to make your clothes smell lavender sweet.

Image credit: Heart Zeena

Make sure you keep your eyes open for Heart Zeena’s products making and appearance amongst the other design boutique treasures in the next couple of days.