January 2020 – Home at Rose Cottage – Northern Irish Lifestyle Blog

Hi there!

Hope you are all enjoying the frosty cold weather?…it puts me into full on faffing mode and the latest place in Rose Cottage to get hit is the kitchen worktops! When I share my kitchen over on Instagram I always get lots of compliments on the styling of it so thought I would share a few tips over here on how I put it all together. The tips are nothing too complicated but they sure are effective…

1. Separate your kitchen into sections

Think about your worktops in smaller more manageable areas, rather than as a whole. Concentrate on one area at a time, make sure your really happy with how you’ve dressed it before moving onto the next.

Think about whether the area will be for practical use or simply decorative; or it could be a mix of both! It’s useful to have certain appliances close to particular cupboards eg mugs near the kettle (especially handy on busy mornings!!). Keep this in mind when choosing what appliances you will need in each worktop section. Also most appliances will need plug sockets so give this consideration too!

2. Start with a blank canvas

I always clear the space I am working on before deciding where anything will go. It helps see the full size of the space and will make it easier to experiment with different accessories.

3. Give the area a good clean

Use the opportunity to give the area a good scrub; clean the worktop itself, the wall/ tiles behind and any appliances or accessories you will be using.

4. Think about things you might want to hide

I am not a fan of seeing plug sockets in my kitchen so often use chopping boards, platter plates and framed prints to hide them where i can. I also hide the plugs and leads of appliances using the same techniques.

5. Add height, colour and texture

Setting appliances and accessories on top of chopping boards can help create a feature and add height.

Adding hooks from the cupboards above is a great way to incorporate accessories without taking up counter space.

6. Accessorise, accessorise and accessorise!

The majority of the accessories in my kitchen are Emma Bridgewater, I am a massive fan and enjoy the country kitchen feel they give. Think about mixing colours, textures and sizes when using accessories, adding plants and flowers too.

Have you any great tips on how you style your own kitchen? I’ll love to hear them!

Hope you enjoyed reading, as much as I enjoyed writing!

Hello there!

Happy New Year!

With the temperatures falling dramatically over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been peaking out of Rose Cottage each morning hoping for some snowy scenes! This time of year the oil bill seems to go through the roof with heating on pretty much 24/7, but I cannot help but love the colder weather! For me, there is nothing better than being snuggled up inside, roasty toasty under a blanket, in front of the fire, and it being icy cold outside.

In the Winter, your home tends to become your sanctuary more than any other time. Coming home from work to a cosy house, making dinner and then surrounding yourself with candle light and early nights. Home is definitely where the heart is, but even more so at this time of year, so I thought I would share with you my favourite ways to beat the chill and make your home feel extra cosy:

Pick the Right Windows

Make sure the windows you have are working overtime to do everything they can to keep as much heat in as possible. If you are thinking of replacing your windows, consider a glazing that will reduce heat loss – for example a glass from the Pilkington K Glass range or Pilkington Optitherm range is ideal glass for inner pane of a double glazing unit to keep the heat in. Alternatively, Pilkington Energikare is a double glazing unit which not only reflects heat back into the room it also allows free heat from the sun to pass through the glass, known as passive solar gain. As well as being more energy efficient, the correct windows can have a great impact on the aesthetics of your home. Even upgrading just the glass in your windows to the latest low-e glass and retaining the existing frames can also help to give extra warmth to your home especially in the Winter.

Stock up on the Home Comforts

Get the fancy candles out (the ones you keep for the visitors!!) and light them to create a soft ambient glow. Pop on your silky PJs and the cashmere socks to lounge in front of the roaring fire. We typically spend more time at home at this time of year so why not invest in some items to make coming home that extra bit special.

Go for the best bedding

I don’t know about you but I really struggle to get out of bed these mornings…especially when it’s so warm and cosy under the sheets! This time of year calls for early nights and lazy mornings so make your bedroom a place you never want to leave with beautiful bedding and thick down duvets.

Bellies full of the Yummiest Food

Salads just don’t cut it when the temperature drops; instead chose healthy, hearty recipes such as cottage pies, stews or anything with a ton of carbs!! Hoke out your slow cooker, pop it on in the morning and come home from work to some yummy home cooked goodness.

Think about Thermal Insulation Glass

Replacing the heat loss through your windows can be expensive so why not install some energy efficient windows like these ones from Pilkington. It’s so important to try and keep your carbon footprint small where we can and one step can be to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

If you have any other tips on how to keep your home cosy I’d love to hear them!

Hope you enjoyed reading, as much as I enjoyed writing!

Month: January 2020

Styling your kitchen worktops

How to create a cosy home for your family (In Collaboration with Pilkington Glass)