http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog.iceFeather and Black offer professional advice on bedroom styling and quality bedroom furnitureen-gbSun, 05 Feb 2012 12:44:30Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:44:30http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/February-2012/Trend-High-Luxe-Hollywood.iceLounge like they do in Black and White films on our Belgravia Button Chair . The Moleskin and beautiful grey colour, perfectly captures old Hollywood Glamour. Indulge with a subtle palette of muted colours for effortless sophistication. Enjoy a touch of silk with our Versailles scroll throw and cushion and be inspired by the magic of old films. For understated glamour, use super soft linen that flows in elegant folds on your bed, try our Feathers Grey linen with its subtle, jacquard design in pale silvery tones- the essence of laidback luxury. The essential to every Hollywood inspired luxe room is a dressing table and mirror, dress with a beautiful jewellery box, your essential perfume and delicious vanilla scented candles. For beds choose a elegant upholstered style for a fashion statement that won’t fail, Feather & Black’s Upholstered beds are a stylish centrepiece that will last to become a classic. I love the buttoned design of the Henrietta with the scrolled design foot end, and the fabulous studded detail it is the ultimate in boudoir luxury. Accessorise with Chandeliers as soft lighting for complete glamour. I'm planning on spending the weekend enjoying my Hollywood inspired bedroom, watching my all-time favourite film ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s ‘all curled up in my bed… Love Holly xFri, 03 Feb 2012 04:00:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/February-2012/Trend-High-Luxe-Hollywood.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/February-2012/Inspiration-Spring-Floral's.iceFeather & Black’s New Florence Bed Linen , is on trend as floral is set to dominate the catwalk and interiors again this Spring/Summer 2012. Boost the colour in your bedroom with this bright, lively floral design. The white background provides an ethereal and innocent canvas for the soft blue, pink and green tones. The watercolour brush stroke style softens the print and creates a look reminiscent of spring days and colourful meadows. The Florence has a timeless appeal that will last long past the season to stand the test of time. It is beautifully soft and we think it looks fabulous dressed on our Oliver Warm White bed for a simple, vintage style or the Florence could be styled with our Pallio bed for a delicate, airy and beautiful bedroom. To complete the look accessorise with Everyday Blue and Blush Cushions , our new Rowan pleated cushions in light pink and soft blue (coming soon) and a vase of fresh Blossom. Love Holly x ‘Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil.’ Bishop Reginald HeberThu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/February-2012/Inspiration-Spring-Floral's.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/February-2012/The-Great-British-Breakfast-In-Bed-Tradition.iceBreakfast in Bed - an indulgent and luxurious Sunday morning tradition full of romance or a rare occasion involving bickering over who has to get up, crumbs in the sheets and spilt tea? I am a hopeless romantic and love enjoying my most important meal of the day between the sheets - I consider it one of life’s little luxuries. Maybe it’s because I have grown up with the tradition, being part of my parent’s weekly Sunday Morning squabble about whose turn it is to make the tea and bring it to bed with the biscuits. Apparently breakfast in bed is a dying tradition, one which has become a rare celebration for a special occasion. I love any excuse to lounge in bed and I fear for the demise of this luxury treat …what if it stops altogether? It would entirely destroy my weekend. My Sunday is planned around indulging in egg with soldiers, all without moving from under my super soft bed linen . Here at the Feather & Black office we have been recounting the weekend’s antics which already seem so long ago. It would seem that breakfast in bed is indeed an extravagance to ‘oohh’ at, especially if delivered on a tray with a handpicked flower in a jar; it is something special, luxurious and most definitely essential. Some of the office have more demands than others one indulgent choice was champagne with smoked salmon- is it the food that makes enjoying breakfast in bed or is it the experience? Do a few soft digestives dunked in tea constitute a relaxing morning? For others, breakfast in bed isn’t about the breakfast it’s all about a big newspaper and time to leisurely read it with no interruptions. With all the office chatter it is clear that breakfast in bed has become very complicated, everyone likes different things – but one thing we all agree on is that Feather & Black love it and it is a weekend treat that we will not allow to disappear. So if you are looking for me on a Sunday morning you will find me covered in crumbs, snuggled under my Hungarian Goose down duvet , tea spilt on my cashmere throw and wrestling with a big Sunday newspaper. Love Holly xWed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/February-2012/The-Great-British-Breakfast-In-Bed-Tradition.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Beautifully-Individual-Bespoke-Beds.iceAs Good Homes magazine landed on my desk this morning I could barely contain my excitement. We, in the Feather & Black office, have been waiting for the March issue ever since we created Good Homes a bespoke Feather & Black Sebastian Bed for their ‘Made To Order’ editorial. As soon as we were sent the bright chirping canary print fabric, with its hues of peacock blue, coral pinks and zesty greens we fell in love with the bed and the idea. Words cannot describe how intoxicatingly beautiful we think our bespoke Sebastian bed looks. If it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words then I will let our bed do the talking…. And if you are as excited about our bed as we are, then why not make your own with our bespoke bed design service? All of our upholstered beds can be created in stunning fabrics for a unique design, individual to you. Pop into our stores and take advantage of our love of beautiful bespoke beds. Have a lovely weekend! Love Holly xFri, 27 Jan 2012 04:00:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Beautifully-Individual-Bespoke-Beds.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Vintage-Style-In-The-Bedroom.iceAt Feather & Black we LOVE the vintage trend, whether its fashion or in our home. I recently bought a beautiful vintage brooch from a local antique fair and it has become my favourite accessory, on a blouse, collar of my coat or worn in my hair as a clip. It is timeless. I love the vintage look in my bedroom and our new Sofia bed linen epitomises the shabby chic trend. The Sofia has a faded antique rose pattern with distressed sage hues and dusky pinks-a style conjured from memories of the past. It has the look of a vintage design which has been loved, treasured and passed down generations. As the epitome of vintage chic we think it looks beautiful dressed with soft pink accessories, for a romantic inspired look. The Sofia bed linen compliments our ivory and warm white metal beds; we have dressed ours with the Canterbury bed or for a more lavish style dress it on an upholstered bed such as the Sienna or the Loire . To finish the look in your own bedroom, inject some personality by hunting for some vintage prints to hang. For me I love the French Fashion Prints it adds to the vintage glamour look. Do like I did and buy one from the streets of Paris…any excuse for a shopping trip. Love Holly xThu, 26 Jan 2012 01:00:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Vintage-Style-In-The-Bedroom.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/$7Oh-I-Do-Like-To-Be-Beside-The-Seaside$3$3$3$7.iceThis weekend I enjoyed a bracing walk along the Brighton sea front. The waves were a slate grey colour, a reflection of the angry, “ready-to-pour” rain clouds. Maybe it wasn’t the best day to enjoy the seaside but I loved it anyway. It was almost too cold to keep my hands out of my pockets to hold a cone of chips…almost! I was determined and battled through the wind to uphold the seaside tradition of salt and vinegar covered chips eaten on the pier. Being my first trip to Brighton, as I looked across the landscape I was not expecting to see such beauty and contrast in one view. The haunting silhouette of the West Pier was ghostly, a sculpture that casts an eerie beauty over the seafront. The weather being so cold somehow enhanced the view and the choppy sea engulfed the iron work and appeared to reclaim the man-made structure for its own. The other pier -Brighton Palace Pier is picture postcard perfect. A snap of our British seaside in its hey-day. I loved the vibrant colours, the seaside stripes, the sickly smell of candy floss and the screams of laughter from the funfair rides. The illuminated entrance is the antithesis of the skeletal shell on its left, but just as beautiful. The lit up Palace pier incorporates this seasons trend; Mulberry shot their Spring/Summer 2012 campaign with Brighton Pier as the backdrop, turning it into a new fashion landmark. The pier and the seaside represent a return to vintage style. We love this trend for the bedroom and home and have been inspired by furniture and design reminiscent of a time gone by. Keep looking back at our blog and website as we post updates on our new linens, accessories and beds that perfectly incorporate the shabby-chic style and have beautiful enduring appeal. In the meantime we like Mulberry are loving ‘beach hut chic’ and seaside stripes this spring with new editions to our Candy Stripe Linen and Kids Accessories Collection…watch this space… Love Holly xTue, 24 Jan 2012 09:00:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/$7Oh-I-Do-Like-To-Be-Beside-The-Seaside$3$3$3$7.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Chinese-New-Year.iceKung Hei Fat Choy to all! (Happy new year to those who aren’t fluent in Mandarin Chinese) Most of us here in Britain have already rung in the new year with street parties, celebrations and a lot of hangovers. For us all, January is the time of year when funds run low, resolutions are realised and we settle down for the coming year, but for the Chinese, the fun is only just beginning… Chinese New Year is considered to be the longest and most important festival in the Chinese calendar. The celebrations take place in almost all Chinese populated countries and cities in the form of elaborate and colourful celebrations. If you’re in London over the next few days, expect to see fireworks, dragon dances and a flash flood of colour all around Chinatown. The Chinese tend to mark this event with the giving of gifts, clothing and food. The family house is also cleaned to get rid of any ill fortune and make space for the years luck. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone. Surely something we should all be taking inspiration from? This year marks the ‘Year of the Dragon’ and, traditionally speaking , this marks the sign of good fortune, authority, honour and respect for the whole year. I suppose I’ll be buying a lucky dip on Saturday night then. If you don’t hear back from me next week, I’ll be sipping cocktails on my own tropical island.Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:01:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Chinese-New-Year.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Introducing-The-Oxford.iceAt Feather & Black we have been trying to combat the January Blues by looking (and lusting) at Summer Holidays. This year my ideal destination is the Hamptons on the East Coast of New York. Not only so I can feel like I’m on Sex and The City but also for sun, sea and celebrity spotting. As I begin my research I very quickly realise that as a fabulous celebrity favoured destination it is most definitely too expensive for little old me… I have to factor in all the beautiful clothes I am going to need to buy which really increases the price. As disappointed as I am, at least I can enjoy Feather & Black’s Oxford bedstead , inspired by the East Coast Hamptons, it almost feels as though I am there. I envisage that the Oxford range will become just as popular as the Hamptons because its painted white design makes it a timeless collection that will fit with both classic and contemporary interior styles. We have styled ours with natural coloured accessories and linen to create a fresh, beautiful, ‘Hampton chic’ look. Best of all the Oxford collection doesn’t have an expensive price tag, lucky for me as I’ve had enough of lusting after things I can’t afford…. Love Holly x F & B Sabine Lamp £60, White Waffle Bed linen from £15, Lara White floral Cushion £25, Una White floral Cushion £35, Rowan Pleated Blue Cushion £15Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:00:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/January-2012/Introducing-The-Oxford.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/December-2011/A-sneaky-peek-behind-our-spring-photoshoot.iceIt's difficult to think of a beautiful warm spring as we race into winter. However, that's what the Feather & Black team has been upto for the last few weeks. Hunting out new locations, casting models and choosing our favourite products from next seasons new range of furniture and linen. So at 7.30am on a cold misty morning the team start to arrive at Purley Hall, near Reading. Its a stunning location, originally built in 1609 - we felt like we were walking into Downton Abbey! The first hour is spent frantically unpacking. It's always a relief when everyone and everything make it through the door. Lots of coffee and cake to kick start the day. Thanks to Di (Super Stylist), there's always a tasty array of nibbles. Then the big work up starts - getting the right lighting, the right angles. Each individual element of the lighting is worked on separately. Tim and Jose shout at each other through the windows as they create a little bit of spring sunshine through the leaves outside. The new Fulham bed looks fantastic, it's the first time we have really seen it in all its glory and all are agreed that it's going to be a great seller. Carolyn stays warm in the kitchen as she prepares Rebecca (Our beautiful model) for the day ahead. It's an amazing start to the day and by 10.30 the first shot is looking good. There is a lot required form the days shoot - we are looking for brochure cover options, contents page options, all the promo shots for the Spring campaign and if all goes well, we would like to squeeze in a new mattress shot. The secret to getting great shots is a fantastic team, great product and lots of fun. The constant distraction of my new moustache for Movember fails to distract many for too long. (No, they are not my real glasses) We are trying a new format for the contents page spread for the new brochure and the shot is amazing - my favourite of the day. Myself and Laura spent most of their afternoon with our faces glued to the monitor watching a variety of setups pouring in. Then we open the doors and let in the freezing air as Rebecca pretends to be warm in what is becoming the coldest day of November so far. The shot is lovely - just what we need for our window posters. No time to stop as Tim is shooting and Di is setting up the next shot on the other side of the room consisting of the new Feather and Black trunks. The accessories range at F&B has really developed over the last 12 months, allowing us to try lots of new combinations. We get to 4.00pm and now it's dark outside... one last shot to do. The feathers are really starting to fly as Rebecca is blowing them all over the place. Its stakes a few goes to get it just right - but at 4.45 we're done. Now things really get bust we have got 15 minutes to pack up and get out before the 5.00 deadline.... Sitting in the car at 5.10pm we made it - already the conversation slides towards what we are shooting for summer...Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:21:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/December-2011/A-sneaky-peek-behind-our-spring-photoshoot.icehttp://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/November-2011/The-5-best-Christmas-markets-around-the-world.iceI’m going to start this post with a simple statement to help you in your Christmas present purchasing journey – ‘Not one person in the entire world enjoys receiving socks at Christmas’. Personally, if I pick up a present to feel that it’s small, soft, sock-shaped and from a distant relative, a little piece of me dies inside. This is probably the most common festive faux pas and is something that a lot of us are guilty of doing at some point or another – you know who you are! So, why not make a change for the better this season and take your shopping abroad? There are hundreds of Christmas markets all around the world that offer something special and unique for your loved ones. Here are my top 5 Christmas markets: 1.) Angels Christmas Market, London I thought it best to start off with something closer to home. The Winter Wonderland in London’s famous Hyde Park is the event of the year for parents and children in England. There are some incredible attractions including a full scale circus, ice rink, rides and more. The Angels Christmas Market boasts more than 100 stalls and is packed full of unique and handmade Christmas gifts. 2.) Cologne Floating Christmas Market, Germany Situated in West Germany, just outside Dusseldorf, Cologne is a fabulous and historic old town, full of amazing history and niche buys. There are a total of 7 Christmas markets over December, the most famous of which being the floating Christmas market, just outside Cologne Cathedral in the centre of Old Cologne Town. Let yourself be fascinated by the diverse collection of amazing crafted gifts and exquisite foods, all available on the ship “MS Wappen von Köln” throughout the December period. There are so many hidden gems to be found throughout the town and you won’t go home disappointed! 3.) Vienna Christmas Market, Austria Vienna is a beautiful city of nostalgia and romance. The Vienna Christmas Market runs from 13 th November all the way through to the end of December so get ready to fill your nostrils with the fantastic smells of candied fruit, cotton candy and fresh roasted chestnuts. It’s all about traditional Austrian Christmas presents and handcrafted gifts and there are plenty of activities going on for the kids including street shows, plays and festive rides. 4.) Columbus Circle Holiday Market, New York How could we forget the Big Apple? Bursting at the seams with world culture, the Columbus Circle Holiday market is a must if you’re in America this Winter. Located at the cross section between Central Park West and Central Park South, this is a prime location for finding a vast array of unique and amazing gifts for all the family. There are plenty of carols to be sung and plenty of culture to take in, a perfect trip for the busy shopper. 5.) Budapest Christmas Fair, Hungary Last, but by no means least, we have the Budapest Christmas fair in Hungary. The Budapest Christmas fair has been going for almost 10 years now and is one of the most popular Christmas events in Europe, featuring wooden huts and stalls and attracting hundreds of thousands of shoppers every year. The fair boasts an array of handmade traditional Hungarian gifts, all of which are approved by the association of Hungarian Folk Artists. Why not kick back and relax with some strudel, traditional kürtös kalács and sausages, all offered to tickle your taste buds?Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:10:00http://www.featherandblack.com/Blog/November-2011/The-5-best-Christmas-markets-around-the-world.ice