Pop Up Christmas {Living Etc Shoot}

Marie Nichols — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:03:08 +0000

With just 3 sleeps to go until the big day it’s all about minimum effort and maximum effect now {if you’re anything like me you’re having a sudden panic about how much there is left to do and what a state the house is looking…no?..just me then!} Well if you haven’t been quite as organized as you’d hoped and are still looking for a little bit of inspiration why not have ago at some of these ideas. For their January issue {on sale now} the team at Living Etc commissioned me to pop together a “Pop-Up Christmas” feature, show stopping last min decorating ideas. It was such a fun shoot to work on and I got to work with the lovely Ben Anders who did such a fantastic job especially given that the location was tiny so he was mostly shooting squeezed up in a corner! For the full feature {and lots more inspiration besides} pick yourself up copy of Living Etc but here’s a peep of my shoot…

Berry Merry Christmas {Ideal Home Shoot}

Marie Nichols — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:14:53 +0000

Back in the summer the team at Ideal Home asked me to produce a shoot for their December cover. The theme was quite simply “Berry Shades”. A Traditional choice for festive decorating I set about creating rooms to show how to use this classic combination of reds, pinks and mauve in a more contemporary way, here are the results {shot by Mr Tim Young}…

So my most favourite room…the slightly bonkers bedroom, loving those giant baubles, such fun and just a little bit of a fairytale feel {in Alice In Wonderland kinda way}.

If you want to know where any product is from just ask away below! Plenty more festive shoots to squeeze in this week my friends so stay tuned!

Festive Paper Craft {CH&I Shoot}

Marie Nichols — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:41:48 +0000

This week I’m determined to make some time for a little bit of Christmas Crafting. Quite when I’m not sure ..but I shall! Occupational hazard of being a stylist #125…by the time you’ve spent the entire summer, crafting, decorating Christmas trees and trying to think of 101 different things to do with baubles by the time December comes along you can never quite make it happen in your own home! Every year I get inspired {in June!} and come the real Christmas it’s always a last min attempt to make the house look vaguely inspiring for guests. Way back in the summer I spend a lovely couple of days in my parents garden crafting away in the sunshine with mum {no better way to craft than with your mum I say!} and Dudley dog scampering around having great fun with all of the discarded paper. We created these simple festive projects for Country Home & Interiors Jan issue which is on sale now. Here’s a peep of the finished projects shot by the delightful Polly Eltes. For instruction & templates pick up a copy of CH&I and if you want to know where anything is from just ask below!

1. Paper Stocking. 2.New Boxes from Old Wrap. 3. Stitched Gift Tags. 4. Envelope Centre-Piece. 5. Paper fans. 6. Crepe Crackers. 7.Quiliing Cars. 8. Teacup Wrap. 9 Simple Gift Box. 10. Dress up Preserves.

I’ve stacks more to share over the next few days including ideas for displaying cards; gift wrapping and ideas festive tables that I shot for Ideal Home’s Complete Guide To Christmas. Decorating With Berry Shades and some Last Min Pop-Up Xmas Ideas I styled for Living Etc’s Jan issue so stay tuned!

Christmas Craft

Marie Nichols — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:43:26 +0000

I can’t believe Christmas is less than a week away! It was Simon’s birthday at the weekend so Christmas in our household doesn’t official start until now {although I did sneak the tree up last weekend!} I’ve finished shooting now for 2011 and with only a few meetings today and a bit of prep work for some Jan shoots {which can be done while sitting beside the fire watching festive movies} it’s starting to look a lot like Christmas at Number 57! The task for tomorrow am – shooting my Christmas e-card. I’m frantically wracking my brains {and prop cupboard} as to what to do this year – I’ll show you the results at the end of the week. For now {and until I did out the shots from my festive shoots} here’s a little bit of crafty Xmas inspiration for you…

Project 1 via Creature Comforts. Project 2 via Family Circle. Project 3 Via Pintrest

Say Hello To Little Studio

Marie Nichols — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:09:27 +0000

So it’s been a while (once again!) I’m in the middle of a big brochure shoot at the moment, so (once again) there simply aren’t enough hours in the day! With “the Big Day” just 2 weeks away I’ve several of my festive shoots from Living Etc, Ideal Home & Country Homes & Interiors to share with you for a bit of last min inspiration, I’ll try my best to post them this week! For now though a little bit of sunshine popped up in my inbox this afternoon, in the form of cute homewares and prints from swedish design firm Little Studio…Loving those bright colours and bright geometrics were big news at the recent Spring Summer Press shows so “bang on trend” too!

Design Lab @ Sofa.Com

Marie Nichols — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:45:28 +0000

Now here’s a little project I’ve been itching to share with you. Some time ago now I was approached by the lovely folk at Grylls & Reade PR and asked if I’d be interested in styling some shots for an exciting project that their client Sofa.Com were working on called Design Lab. A project that would see the sofa guru’s teaming up with some of the best and most exciting designers to create a range of limited edition patterned pieces…first up St Judes. Erm…let me think about this for a second….Yes please! Not only do I love the shapes and styles {not to mention comfiness} of Sofa.Com’s pieces but I have been a fan of St Judes forever, their Mid – Century style is right up my street! I assume you know the work of St Judes but should you not then check them out here.

Sofa.Com have choosen fabrics from designers Angie Lewin; Mark Herald and Emily Sutton and the pieces are on display and available to buy from their Chelsea Showroom. Right enough from me…here are the shots we came up with {photographed by the lovely Max Attenborough}

There was a fair bit of debate on the shoot as to our favourite pieces, personally I think mine has to be the Snowdrop Love Seat in Dove Flight. Would love to hear what you think on the collaboration and which are your fave pieces.

Friday Fancies

Marie Nichols — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:11:11 +0000

How did it get to be Friday again? Not that I’m complaining, bring on the weekend! But first up here are a few things that have caught my eye this week {can you tell I’m busily working away on Spring / Summer issues right now? – it’s pretty in pastel this week my friends!}

1. Loving This Birthday Banner Via Pintrest. 2. Andrea Walsh’s beautiful glass and ceramic boxes. 3. Melody Rose’s Upcycled Ceramics. 4. Love this sofa from Anthropologie. 5. The home of designer Leif Sigersen shot by Ditte Isager. 6. A sneak peep at H&M’s SS12 collection.

Say Hello to Salvation Jane

Marie Nichols — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 23:00:23 +0000

Remember at the weekend I promised to introduce you to some great online homewares from Australia, well say hello to Salvation Jane Home…

Designer Jane Hall is one of Australia’s best love TV personalities {to those of us on this side of the world she will be best known for her role as Rebecca in Neighbours Paul Robinson’s wife!} But since leaving the show Jane has turned her hand to interior styling, helping people work with what they already have turning their house into homes full of personality and style. Recently Jane launched her own range of homewares including a range of wall decals with The Wall Sticker Company. Very cute and it goes without saying that I love all the bright colours!

Autumn Storage {CH&I Magazine}

Marie Nichols — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:32:06 +0000

Way back in the summer, when trees were green, skies were blue and it’s really rather tricky to lay your hands on a pumpkin {trust me…I know!} the team at Country Homes & Interiors magazine commissioned me to shoot a feature about Autumn Storage. Welcoming guests to Fireworks parties, tidying the hallway; sorting out back door storage and a little place for mucky puppies after long Autumnal walks {something that’s particularly relevant in my life right now!} I always love shooting for CH&I, always such lovely shoots and a chance to channel my inner “homeyness” {I know it’s not really a word but I rather think it should be!} and I got the chance to once again work with Mr Duchars which is always a joy…

Yep that’s my little Dudley dog doing his first spot on modelling! Remarkably he did rather well and it didn’t take too many treats to make him sit still on that lovely comfy bed in that lovely soft jumper (both from The Stylish Dog Company).

Things I learnt from this shoot: 1. As a stylist it’s always good to have a stash of autumnal leaves to hand {thanks Mum!}. 2. You can import pumpkins from France out of season…but it will cost you! 3. Never work with a Guy 4. Toffee apples are trickier to make than I first thought!

If you fancy getting this look my top 3 places to shop are : Not On The High Street; Petersham nurseries& The Balcony Gardener.

If you see something you love and want to know where it’s from drop me a comment below and I’ll post the link!

Interview @ Heart Home

Marie Nichols — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:11:14 +0000

Good evening my friends, I hope the weekend has treated you well? A couple of gorgeous autumnal walks; a mini photo shoot for the website and a small dose of reality TV {guilty pleasure!}later and the weekend is almost over. I’ve been so busy this week that I’ve not stopped by here much. I will do better this week – promise! With a couple of recent shoots, a fabulous Aussie website and anything else that catches my eye in the meantime! A big thank you to the lovely Kate from Fabric Of My Life who posted an interview with me on her weekly column over at Heart Home’s new blog this week. Thanks so much for having me guys! You can read the interview here.

Image via Simply Hue on Etsy.