Reading Nook

Reading Nook

images via 

Ciao bellissimas! I hope you all had an ace weekend, and are looking forward to kicking ass this week! I am totally starting this one with that kind of attitude! The past few weeks I have found it tricky to lock in desk time - time for posting and e-mails, in amongst face to face commitments. It's been kinda stressful. How to manage time, delegate tasks, maximise every hour . . . ! Phew, I feel like I'm figuring things out daily - if not hourly - and time management is one of my greatest challenges. To try and help me along I've been flicking back over my work from home posts! If you have any tips on staying on track at work, with productiveness, time divisions, scheduling . . . I am all ears! And I'll let you guys know how I get on too. 

OK back to nooks . . . 

As you may recall, Habitat recently came to shoot mine and Oli's new apartment. It was so lovely getting a different perspective on a space we are still getting to know ourselves. We have been quite hesitant in filling our rooms up with furniture, as 1) We have a major fear of cluttering, and 2) we are trying to invest in pieces we will love for a long time. What we've come to realise though is that some spaces do need more. I've harboured a fantasy of creating a little reading nook since we moved in, and now it looks like that fantasy may be becoming a reality! We have our eyes on one of those swoopy floor lamps, and I can't wait to select the perfect chair to curl up in. Naturally Pinterest has been a GREAT aid. 

Read on for more inspirational pics . . . 

What are your thoughts on a reading nook? Do you like the idea of curling up with a book - in a space just for that. Let me know your feelings below . . . !

Have an awesome day all!

Love, 

MB  x

Our Home | Our Habitat

Our Home | Our Habitat

Good morning lovely ones! I am super excited to share with you the fruits of a very special shoot   with one of my favourite homeward brands - Habitat. Habitat popped on over to our apartment a few weeks ago and here are a few of my favourite images . . . 

You can see the full feature on Habitat online now. 

Love, 

MB x 

The Room Divide

The Room Divide

Image Via

Since moving into our new apartment this year, Ols and I have been tackling tasks for which we feel huge 'first time co-habiting' gratification; including: buying our first sofa, organising my home office and having enough pots and pans to have friends over all day, every day. However, there are still a number of home areas which are just killing me; two in particular . . .

1. Our bedroom is crazy cluttered - we have boxes of miscellaneous everything which need to be sorted or scrapped; and our clothes are taking over every spare surface and floor space known to man. 

2. Our entranceway - which we love (because seriously which small apartment has an entranceway?!) - plays host to our tumble drier and odd and sods which really look terrible. So much so that I've started putting THE biggest bunch of flowers directly to the right so that guests are (hopefully!) distracted enough to not look to the messy-left. 

We've finally reached our threshold and this weekend Ols and I are setting aside time to  sort through everything; and yes this means another IKEA trip (yay for me, hell for him. Ha!) I'll be on the hunt for organisation for our bedroom, and we are planning on installing a room dividing curtain to section off the 'utility' area in our entrance way. Of course Pinterest has served up inspiration aplenty; what did we even do before we could pin our home decor ideas?!

Have any of you guys used a room dividing curtain before? Do you have any tips for our crazy loft-bedroom? Specifically storage? Let me know in the comments below . . . .

Hope you're all having a great day!

Love, 

MB x

10 Ways To Personalise Your Work Space

10 Ways To Personalise Your Work Space

Oh heyyy weekend! 

Today is the final instalment of this week's work from home special! It has been SO much fun! We are tying up all loose ends with a comprehensive look at my complete home office plus tips for personalising YOUR work space. All of today's tips can be used at home or within a traditional work environment - so don't worry if you don't have an at home office (yet!)!

Let's get the ball rollin'! Here's my 10 Ways to Personalise Your Work Space:

1. Fresh flowers
2. Fun stationary
3. Colourful notebooks
4. Inspiration board & books
5. Motivational Poster
6. Personalised mug
7. Tasty, healthy snacks
8. Trinkets dish
9. Jewellery box turned stationary store
10. Patterned Rug

Read on for comprehensive notes and pics of my personalised work space . . . 

1. Fresh Flowers - Bringing a beautiful, natural element to your office is a gentle reminder of the world outside. I find colour super inspiring so I love to have arrangements in bright seasonal hues - personal vases are a great addition to any desktop. 

2. Fun Stationary - Developing a collection of fun pens, pencils and general stationary, is a great way to put your individual stamp on your office. It may be psychosomatic but I genuinely feel more excited about putting pen to paper when my stationary looks pretty. I picked up my favourites from the V&A gift shop, some unique pencils from the Vogue Festival and a cute lipstick pen I was given at a press day - you can buy one similar here. 

3. Colourful Notebooks - I always carry a Moleskin notebook with me, they are smart and conveniently sized for handbags. In the past I have had black - perennially chic - but when I went full time with the blog I decided I would treat myself to bright red which made me feel even more enthused to jot down all of my ideas and notes. I constantly write lists and find them super useful for getting my work in order, and worries off of my mind before bed. 

4. Inspiration Board & Books - The DIY inspiration board is one of my favourite things in my revamped home office. It is so nice to have a non-digital space to store inspiring images. When I come across a beautiful editorial or quote, I now have a dedicated space for it - and one which I can keep in my eye-line.  I also like to keep art and photography books near me; Oli introduced me to the stunning work of Ansel Adams and I recently picked up a 4 book collection of V&A prints. A quick flick through one of these books is enough to re-inspire me. 

5. Motivational Poster - Sometimes all we need is a few good words to point us in the right direction. My DIY ‘Go With The Flow’ poster, helps me take a step back in times when I feel overwhelmed. You can use my super easy DIY instructions to make your own, or head to independent illustrator Jasmine Dowling, Etsy, or Urban Outfitters to buy one pre-made - I love this cute 'Bee Happy' poster. 

6. Personalised Mug - My Dad was the first person to tell me that having your own mug in an office makes you feel more at home. If you work in a shared office environment, taking your own mug to work makes those tea and coffee breaks feel more personal; bonus - if you own a mug which you’ve been given by a loved one you’ll think of them every time you use it. My ‘M’ initial mug was given to me as a housewarming present from one of my best friends, every time I use it, it reminds me of her and the awesome weekend we shared when she gave it to me. Mine is from Anthropologie.

7. Tasty, Healthy Snacks - Keeping HEALTHY snacks at hand is a great way to curve ‘bad food’ cravings. I like to have fresh fruit and nuts at hand. I prepare mine right at the beginning of the day; that way when hunger strikes at around 11 (the elevenses are TRUE!) I’m not even tempted to venture towards the fridge or shop for an unhealthy alternative. My aim is to basically never be REALLY hungry - that’s when I reach for starchy ‘filler’ food. 

8. Trinkets Dish - One of the first things I do when I sit down to work at my computer, is take off my bracelets and watch as I find the clattering as I type SO uncomfortable! Instead of randomly discarding my trinkets, I keep a small vintage dish on my desk. The trinkets dish works similarly to a key hook - ensuring that hopefully (!) you’ll not lose track of important items. I use the dishes of some vintage tea sets I own but Anthropologie, Cath Kidston and Marks & Spencer also have some sweet options. 

9. Jewellery Box Turned Stationary Store - Jewellery packaging is SUPER useful - use the base and lid upturned - they turn into pretty little containers! I use mine to hold small stationary items like paper clips and pins, a super stylish way to organise and up-cycle. 

10. Patterned Rug - A multicoloured rug is an attractive addition to any office area, and provides warmth if you like to kick off your shoes - like me! I bought mine for £4 (!) from Tiger, but Urban Outfitters has the most A-mazing selection, as does Anthropologie - I'm in love with this one. 

The important thing to remember with all of the above personalisations is that they can be used in ANY office environment - boss’s permission pending! A huge part of feeling ‘at home’ at work is making the environment personal to you; filling it with odds and bobs which mark your personality and stimulate you in your role. If you are ever feeling a little uninspired at work, see if making a few tweaks from the above list, and this week’s posts, can help you get your mojo on track. I’d love to know how you get on!

The weekend is a great time to embark on DIYs and invest in new office ware; take the opportunity and make Monday a day to look forward to!

I have really enjoyed this week’s dedicated topical posting, if you guys have suggestions on a item which you would like advice on - drop me a line! The Elgin Avenue is as much about YOU, so input is welcome with open arms. * demonstrates Italian Mama-esque embrace *

Have a great weekend guys!

Love, 

MB x 

DIY Inspiration Board

DIY Inspiration Board

Hey peeps! It's only Tuesday and already I am SO enjoying home office week on The Elgin Avenue! 

Today I'm sharing a SUPER easy and effective DIY to personalise your home office space. One of the points which keeps coming up in my discussions with friends and readers, is that our working spaces need to INSPIRE us. Pinterest and the digital sphere can go a long way in aiding this, but nothing beats an old fashioned inspiration board; one which you can look up to when working at your computer, gain a little encouragement and flair from, and one which you can change up as often as you like. 

Read on for my simple steps to developing your own DIY inspiration board . . . 

Instructions: 

- Remove the glass from your frame. Mine was an old mirror which broke in our move - at the time I was devastated (7 years bad luck?!) but I am so glad I kept hold of it to create something new. 

- Lay down newspaper in a well ventilated area, and place your frame on top. 

- If you do NOT wish to spray your frame as well as the backing board, then either remove the back to spray separately or cover the frame with masking tape. 

- Shake your spray can and cover the entirety of your pinning area. 

- Leave to dry - mine took about 15 minutes. 

- Take stacks of magazines, postcards and trinkets and develop a pile of inspirational items you wish to pin to your board. You can, rip or cut images from magazines - I like a mix of textures so chose to do both. 

- Arrange your images and items when your inspiration board is flat. Play around with the composition.

- When you've decided on your arrangement use drawing pins to fix in place. 

- Hang your inspiration board with PRIDE!

A note on how to curate your inspiration board: this is YOUR space to feel inspired - get creative with whatever charges YOU. I chose to include images which are inspiring me right now; including editorials, Liberty print postcards and items which I've saved over the years. One of the magazine cut outs is one which Oli has had since before we were together, I always remember it being tacked to his bedroom door when we were first dating, it makes me so happy to see it now in our shared home. The beauty of an inspirational pin-style board is that is can be changed constantly, and I'd recommend you do - it keeps creativity fresh. I've used post its to add notes to some of the images, it's my way of keeping track of my thoughts and inspirations. 

Where to buy the perfect Inspiration Board frame: charity shops, car boot sales and markets are always great places to find old frames. I bought mine at a car boot sale (in its mirror state) a couple of years ago. Other than that Etsy has some awesome second hand and new options, I found this one - but hurry its the ONLY one, this one from IKEA is a little smaller than mine - at 40x50 cm - but would be a great one to customise. 

So there you have it my lovelies! The easiest DIY Inspiration Board EVER. Will you be trying this DIY out? It is ace for a weekend project, or a relaxed afternoon. And the great thing is you can curate your inspiration images ALL the time, begin collecting now and you'll have a constant flow. 

I would LOVE to hear what you think. Drop me a line below.

Have a super day all!

Love, 

MB x

How To Build A Home Office - The Basics

How To Build A Home Office - The Basics

This week The Elgin Avenue is dedicated to discussing all things 'home office'. For months I was pondering my home work space, pinning, discussing, buying, unpacking . . . and finally I feel as if my little nook is coming together. SO for the next 5 days I'll be sharing pics and tips of my own home office, how you can construct your own, and a few fun items in between.

OK, so here’s the deal - building a home office is EASY. 

In fact, it is as easy as ‘desk + laptop’ - to paraphrase one of my fellow work-from-home-ers. 

That said, in order to get to the kind of Pinterest-worthy home office space we all not so secretly want, it takes a good base, and a lot of imagination further down the line. Today I bring to you: How To Build A Home Office - The Basics - laying down the foundations of an awesome home work space. Later in the week I’ll be discussing how to bring personality, colour and inspiration in to the equation. 

Here’s a list of the core items you’ll need, to get your home office started: 

Read on for my personal take on the home office, and a list of all of my favourite items and stores . . . 

The Desk

Desk - Linnmon/Finnvard White & Beech - £70 -  IKEA

I knew from the get go that I wanted a BIG desk. I like to be able to lay paper out, have files open, a coffee on the go and still see white space. A desk is the ultimate personal choice, so it is important to find one right for you. 

If you are not sure what kind of a desk will suit you, ask yourself a few questions: 

- which room will your desk be in - and how much space will you have in total for your home office?   - what kind of work will you be doing day to day? Do you need to draw? Use a computer? Lay items out? 
- what kind of colour scheme are you looking to build for your office? Your desk will be the base. 

All of these questions will inform exactly what you need to look for. Then when it comes to buying a desk, there are a few places I recommend looking: IKEA is great for simple, affordable pieces (that's where I bought mine!), John Lewis has quality stylish desks and Viking Direct has a huge selection. 

My desk is the Linnmon/Finnvard table top and trestle from IKEA, which comes in at the grand cost of £70! Yes, IKEA rocks. 

Unless you have a strong sense of colour direction for your home office, I would suggest buying a neutral desk; white, wood or black. Think of a neutral office foundation as your equivalent to jeans & the perfect tee - you can dress it up or down and accessorise whenever you want - giving ultimate flexibility. I'll be sharing my tips on personalising a neutral space later in the week.  This Hickory Desk from John Lewis is super sweet - and neutral! - and comes with built in storage. If you are looking to spend a little more money this Mira Desk is Scandi-chic incarnate.

The Chair

Chair - Idolf Style - £45 - IKEA

The importance of a good office chair cannot be overstated, you will be sat here for HOURS. When I was constructing my home office my priorities were all askew "does it LOOK good?" I'd ask myself when I should have been asking if it FELT good first. I bought completely the wrong chair for the purpose - it is way too hard and I developed a sore back. Ouch. Moral of the story peeps: prioritise comfort before style when buying your office chair.

Moving forward I am going to invest in a more ergonomic model, possibly this Malkolm Swivel Chair from IKEA. Here is a little inforgraphic on how we should be sitting at our desk - I'll be reminding myself of this when I buy my new chair. 

The Computer

 Laptop - MacBook Pro - 13.4"

I bought my computer right before my first term at University, I had heard of the 'magic' of Macs, and wanted my in on the action. Am I converted? 100% YES! If you are working with graphics, images or design a lot, I have not come across another brand which can handle the work nearly as well. My MacBook Pro has seen me through all of my University projects, my blog, external work and day to day use. The one change I am planning on making is to buy a laptop stand, attachable keyboard and mouse. Since working day in day out at the laptop I have found that I strain my neck, hopefully making these investments will help. 

Top Tip! I have had my MacBook Pro for over 4 years, during this time it began to slow down. This year I decided to have it wiped at the Apple store and reset. This removes all files, programmes and history - so make sure you transfer all of your documents to an external hard drive. I now backup constantly and try to keep my laptop as free of images, videos and large files as possible. 

As much as I love my MacBook Pro, I am on the lookout for a desktop. I am looking at iMacs, if you guys have any recommendations on which ones you have worked with and liked - I'd love the advice!

Here is a comprehensive list of everything featured in this post:

- Desk: Linnmon/Finnvard, White & Beech, IKEA
- Laptop: MacBook Pro 13.3"
- Chair: Idolf Chair, IKEA
- Lamp: Tertial Work Lamp, IKEA
- Folders: Paperchase
- Bin: IKEA Flowerpot
- Notebook: Moleskin
- Trunk: Vintage

Basics over, are you excited for the personalisation post later this week?!

I would LOVE to know if you guys have a home office space of your own, how you have constructed it, or if you are looking to create one in the future. 

Have an awesome day all!

Love, 

MB x