country style doormats

country style doormats - yes, these fantastic shabby chic style doormats are great for keeping your home clean and free from mud and debris. with a variety of different styles and designs its easy to slot them into your home, matching them to existing deco and brightening up the house. a lovely welcome doormat greets guests and visitors, while a shabby chic vibrant pink and green or green and brown doormat screams creativity. what about a fun bay tree design doormat or a fun potted sunflowers doormat? a flamboyant flurry of country flowers? or a cast iron oval one for a spot of garden elegance? finally before you make your choice, consider a multi purpose wooden doormat with a shoe and shoe brush attached.

More welcoming doormats available in our store, so come and take a look xx

www.touches-interiors.co.uk

spring has sprung - the garden has to be done!!

Spring Has Arrived!

Yes it's finally beginning to happen, Spring is showing signs of arriving. As I looked out of the french doors yesterday it really was refreshing to see snow drops, daffs and tulips peeping out of the ground. It also highlighted just how high the grass has grown and how much freedom we have given the bushes and hedges around, a little pruning and hacking is desperately required (a weekend task for the lovely Gary I'm thinking).

So with a new sense of Summer looming its the perfect time to start investing some much needed love, care and attention to the garden. To create a lovely country rustic garden there has to e an element of allowing nature to work its magic. Resisting pruning those hedges and mowing that lawn to the millimetre, you really do have to take a Lassie faire attitude and allow everything to grow, rust and evolve just that little bit longer. Incorporating garden furniture and accessories really helps you to enjoy the garden and use it to its full potential. A rustic set of tables and chairs, reminiscing of aged ceramic pots is inspirational for a little alfresco dining and a continental early morning breakfast. An aged ceramic bird bath perched on the step or a hanging heart iron bird bath encourage birds & wildlife to the garden. Pop a piece of wall art sun's, some flower planters , church window style planters, or a few aged ceramic hanging baskets onto a dull wall to really give it a wow factor.

The problem is that as soon as the sun come out, the garden manages to get inside. Do you know what I mean? Muddy feet, fresh cut grass traipsed into the house! Well why not look at a wellington boot stand, they are cast iron, can be left out doors so no wellies clogging up the hallway or base of the stairs. They can hold a set of two boots or a family size set of four. With it's central shoe scraper you don't need anything else to keep the mud away from the home. However if you don't regularly pull on your wellingtons and are after a simple but stylish shoe scraper or brush then why not look at the hedgehog shoe brush or snail shoe brush? Popping one by the door encourages family and friends to give there shos a good clean when entering the house.

So come on, while the sun is shining get out there this weekend and enjoy (I know Gary will be! wink wink x).

Ambiance Lighting......... Cream Lamps

Just a quick post to remind you that we have some lovely cream lamps in stock at the moment that are perfect for brightening up and shabby chic room. The Square Cream Lamp, Orchid Cream Lamp and the Pillar Cream Lamp are three very versatile lamps that can be used in any room around the house from the bedroom, living room to the dining room and hall.

To add a dash of neutral colour to a room why not take a look at the new Rustic Distressed Linen Lamps that come in two sightly different designs and sizes. Or maybe if you fancy making a real statement in a room the Champagne Reading Lamp is perfect for dominating a sideboard or lamp table whilst the Champagne Standard Lamp shimmers beautifully in any corner.

Lamps really are the quickest and often the cheapest way to really lift a room and create a homely ambiance.

create a home office

Inspired by an article I have just read in March's edition of Country Living I have decided to redesign my Winter cozy office at home and introduce some Spring light and style to the area. As it's the area I seem to spend most of my time I think it's only right that although there is a need for practicality its also a need for it to feel comfortable, stylish & inviting. So my first thoughts were the position of the furniture in the room. As my office is in the small room off the kitchen, it has a lot light owing to the french doors that look out onto the garden. Perfectly positioned for losing myself in creative though during the day. So with this in mind I repositioned my desk, (the cream shabby chic desk). This desk has a fantastic amount of desk top surface area which I have customised with a piece of inexpensive glass that I got from our local glass merchants to protect the surface and stuck photo's & images that I find inspiring between the glass & desk to really personalise.

As I am limited to space in the area I have the weathered oak fold away chair with a lovely linen cushion on for extra comfort. Instead of the usual industrial looking filing drawers I have used the shabby chic small boy chest for all my paper work & propped a round diamond mirror, pail for my pens, a relaxing aromatherapy candle & glass lotion dispenser filled with my favourite hand cream on the top (got to keep a bit of girly glamour close to hand).

For keeping notes I have adopted two methods, one is that I have popped up a selection of different hooks, I have added a few of the single heart hooks, the cream triple hook & a rustic grey distressed triple hook. I use these to add info sheets & files to using dog clips. I also have a selection of hanging jam pots that I use for popping in a few staple office stationary accessories such as paper clips, string, pins etc. Secondly I have a selection of notice memo boards. I use the different designs as a system of office organisation (although I'm sure it doesn't look like organisation to anyone else). I have the fabric damask pin board for all things that need dealing with urgently, the fabric memo board for tickets, show information & suppliers details & the new picture magnetic notice board for my calender, stamps, bits of inspiration that I come across etc. I also have the pink postcard vintage inspired magnetic memo board for receipts......... It really is a post modern, vintage look that I find works well and looks inspirational & intriguing.

Finally I have added a cream french clock, to inspire good time keeping, a cream pillar lamp so that it really does create an ambiance of country chic and a rattan traditional basket on the floor as a paper bin to complete the look. Add my trusted radio and away I go.............

I just have to share my feelings on this product x

Just a quick bit of information on a new product that I absolutely adore.... these cut glass knobs! I don't know what it is that is inspiring me about them (well I do, they are cut glass, vintage style that are quite simply me!) But it's more than that, as soon as I saw them I loved them. (again it might be that I am planning my own vintage inspired wedding at the moment and therefore suddenly everything that evokes the aged era bring me over all romantic) I have yet to work out where in my home they are going to feature but believe me they are; and as one of my very best friends has just moved house I am also thinking that maybe they would be an ideal gift for the lovely Amy Lou who shares my obsession, take a good look Amy, they are heading your way

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What is Shabby Chic? What is Country Style?

Shabby Chic. Country Style........ What Do These Styles Mean

When we are describing our style we tend to use the terms shabby chic & country style. At Touches we have identified these styles as the look and feel that we want to emphasis within our ranges. The feminine design and style of the shabby chic look mixed with the homely, warm feel of the country style and the clean, classic ambiance of the french style are all reflected in the Touches style. The question is what do these interior terms actually mean?

I am going to try and explain what the terms mean in general and what they mean to us. I am also going to look at how we use then creatively within our collection of interiors and the style we are encompassing within the Touches look that we are constantly working on to provide you with a collective, strong sense of style and identity that you can recreate, copy and take inspiration from to use within your own home.

To begin with the ambiguous term Shabby Chic. For a bit of history, Shabby Chic is a style that started here in Great Britain. It is a style that evokes the type of decoration found in large country houses where there are worn and faded old chintz sofas and curtains, old paintwork and unassuming 'good' taste. The end result and concept of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed to the sentimentally cute Pop-Victorian.

Thus Shabby Chic as we understand and use it at Touches is in essence a feminine design style that is reflecting of a casual and relaxed lifestyle. It is a form of interior design where items are chosen for signs of wear and tear and the distressed, rustic look. The look emphasis's on neutral colours and an often washed, unfinished look. Within Touches this is best reflected within our distressed, antiqued white and cream painted furniture within the bedroom and bathroom such as our dressing table which looks fantastic with the glamorous diamond round mirror or lovely shelving bedside. In the bathroom this style works brilliantly, a simple wall mounted cream toilet roll holder, cream towel rail with a scrolled shelf or fantastic cream heart hooks. The nicks, fissures and distressed nature of the pieces create a sense of aged, rustic, worn away quality that makes each piece individual.

To look at the term Country style, this type of interiors style design shuns the formal, drawing room style of classic design in favour of a comfortable, lived-in look of a farmhouse or country cottage. With the idea of family and friends popping in with muddy boots, the style inspires the concept that guests feel comfortable to sit in a country style living room or drop in for a cup of tea and homemade cake in a country style kitchen. This design style is casually elegant with a compliment of sturdy, practical furniture and warm rustic accessories. The emphasis is on useful rather than fanciful for furniture & accessories.

At Touches we have interpreted this style to include warm oak furniture, cream practical tea coffee sugar canisters rustic egg rack , brown metal napkin holder and strong sturdy wellie boot stands for the garden to name a few. We have used the style predominantly within our kitchen furniture, which is predominantly a strong practical oak range that includes tables and chairs, consoles, lamp tables and a storage drawer units. For accessories we mixed it with the clean lines of the floral look of English Country and linen textures and vintage lace of the French Style within ranges of linen cushions, cozy throws, tea cosies and for the eco touch plastic bag holders. Mixing the styles and materials creates a real post modern mix of exciting yet practical lighting and accessories.

The eclectic mix of these interior styles gives Touches it's strong sense of practical, clean, rustic warmth with a touch of femininity and sense of comfort and inviting living. Used practically around your home and garden we want to help you create an environment that you look forward to coming back to after a hard day. A space that invites fun and friendship. Popping on a lovely warm cream square lamp, lighting scattered tea lights around the house and snuggling up in a lovely heavy throw in front of a cosy fire with some lovely back ground music or your favourite soap. Perfect.

After all your home is your castle and what a better way to express your individual flair and style.

Children's Clothes & Accessories

A Lovely Easter Present

With Easter approaching fast the prospect of giving children a gift of an egg can seem mundane and repetitive. So why not get a bit creative and practical this year and buy them a gift that they can keep and use. Why not a lovely set of cupcake pyjamas for a little girl or maybe a set of soldier or tractor pyjamas for the boys? Or perhaps something warmer for a lovely Easter walk, a crochet cupcake bonnet or cozy pram coat hand knitted with soldiers standing to attention at the bottom? Another idea is to buy a shabby chic child's cushion for the bedroom or nursery? A lovely lady duck pink cushion with checked edging and lots of different fabrics and sewed into the design or for a boy what about a fun teddy bear cushion design? The idea of a small gift instead of an egg will be appreciated by the parents and enjoyed by the child long after Easter has ended. A lovely set of pyjamas or a cosy cupcake pink hot water bottle or sailor boys hot water bottle will be the perfect end to a happy Easter (it might even encourage the little mites to bed!) xxxxxxxxx

country knobs & handles

country style knobs & handles

the easiest way to update a piece of furniture or change the look of a cabinet, door or cupboard to a country, shabby chic style, vintage, unique piece of furniture that looks lovely and unique within the home is to add some french inspired finishing touches starting with the handles and knobs. As we understand the beauty of detail and the effect it can have in transforming the look for the home we are making it a priority of ours to provide these hard to find, French inspired handles. We have cream painted handles with an embossed heart in the centre that look stunning on cupboards and drawers. There are also the cream heart and flower knobs that are country style, round flat knobs that have a classic embossed design and a cream clean finish. For real shabby chic glamour take a look at the diamond inspired knobs. These really do glisten and catch the attention of sparkly girls everywhere. So to really lift a piece of furniture, add a touch of shabby chic to your bathroom or simply change your kitchen units to create a real farmhouse, country look these handles and knobs are a real inspiration. keep coming back and having a look as we are constantly adding new lines......

xxxxx

be a perfect valentine

this one is for the men......

tired of the same old valentines gifts? a bunch of pretty flowers and a selection of the finest chocolates are no doubt always a winner, but if you really want to show that special someone in your life that you really do care how about creating a magical, relaxing evening for them... why not run them a bath? and I don't mean one surrounded by children's ducks and soggy towels. a really special bath involved dim scented candle light, such as Yankee Candles Relax or True Bliss candle, maybe a few hanging heart tea light holders from the window? a couple of crystal tea light holders glistening around the room? Or for a really special effect some floating candles in amongst the bubbles (don't forget the bubbles no good bath can miss those out). maybe pop some special signs of love at the front of the bath such as the words bathe or LOVE and some hanging tin hearts so that as they sink into the warm bubbles they really get a little hint of how much you care reminding them this really is a heart felt special bath. Add a glass of their favourite champagne and pop on some easy music and let them soak away all the troubles of the day. Then, and here's the clever part, whilst they are relaxing you can prepare a special room in the house for them to come out to. Its never nice to come out of a warm bath to the reality of everyday life. So a special room, be it the bedroom if your in the mood for some fun or the dining room if your planning a special meal can be transformed with some mood lighting, aromatherapy scented candles such as the Yankee Candle Sensual and some twinkling flower lights. Trust me, valentines day is about letting your loved one know that you appreciate and care for them so why not indulge them in a simple but special way............. xxx xxx

memo boards,note boards,pin boards,blackboards - make a note!

What about a lovely Country Pin Board?

Do you find that you collect pieces of paper, bits of info, business cards & tickets? When you come to use/need them you can't remember where you put them? Loose but important pieces of paper & appointment cards need there own stylish home that wont clutter up your home but enhance it with a shabby chic and country twist. A lovely country fabric memo board would look lovely in the hallway, above the phone for convenience. maybe a heart shaped cream note holder or a dark brown metal heart in the bedroom for not only notes but it also makes a great jewellery & scarf holder. A sturdy shabby chic bird damasks duck egg blue pin board in the office for heavy duty notes. A rustic heart shaped chalk board in the kitchen for those scribbled notes to let the kids know you will be late home or to remind your partner to hand the washing out is always a winner. Alternatively combine both a chalk and memo board with the fantastic country peg, chalk board that lets you write at the to and pop appointments, memos & notes underneath. We are constantly updating this area of products as we believe that they really are a fantastic thing for every home and now with so many styles to choose from they can be tailored for each room. So why not take a look, we think you will love them and they make a really good gift for a wedding, birthday.....

ps. this vintage inspired metal postcard magnet note holder is perfect just to tell a good friend you appreciate them......

Doorstops - Lovely Country Doorstops

Country Style Doorstops - Look No Further

Hurray, at last one of the greatest inventions of all times is making a come back onto the retail market as the latest in fantastic products that we never knew we could live without. Yes, doorstops are back! Weather you live in a country cottage, rustic farm, studio apartment, terrace, B&B, hotel, pub or even on a barge, everyone props doors open. To keep the cold out, or invite a cool breeze in, as a products doorstops are so versitile and easy to insert into your home that you can have two or three different doorstop designs dotted around the house without feeling guilty or excessive.

With so many designs to choose from, the rope doorstop, dog doorstop, cow doorstop, country heart doorstop & country linen doorstop to name a few. If you fancy having the same design doorstop for the home but want different fabric's so they fit in with the decor of the room then our country fabric doorstops come in a range of different country style fabric's including blue stripes, red stripes, beige linen, floral doorstop and all with a rustic country heart stitched onto the front and tied with rustic string - lovely.

And don't forget the kids room. Doorstops are great when they are playing in another room and you want to prop the door open safely. We have new and exciting russian dolls doorstops & wendy house doorstops just waiting to come into stock in the next few weeks. These really are beautiful and fun.

IDEA....... get a couple of the same or different design doortops and they can double up as unusual book ends when your not using them as doorstops - Inspirational!

NEW Bathroom Accessories

New Bathroom Accessories

Have you checked out our bathroom range? A wall mounted cream toilet roll holder? Wall mounted wire heart soap dish? Pretty and functional stand free wire holder for all your lotions and potions.

Holiday Homes Need a Revamp Too

Add a Fresh Look to Your Holiday Home


Updating your holiday home can be simple and easy. Changes can be made ready for the Easter and Summer breaks and if you let your property, nows the time to refresh a little for all your guests. Simple improvements such as adding new cushions, kitchen accessories and bathroom bits can make a huge difference to the look and feel.


Although it may not be the time for a complete remodel, you can achieve a really fresh look and feel by simply moving pieces of furniture around and adding a new throw or cushion. Pop up a new clock or handy memo board. It’s a simple way to have your family, friends and returning guests do a double take when they enter your new updated space.


It's also worth noting that here at Touches we are awaiting new furniture pieces that can be slotted into your exisiting decor with ease. Keep your eyes open for all the new and exciting Touches products that are coming in over the next few weeks......

HINT: If your short of space it's worth thinking about popping a selection of hooks on the wall instead of expensive, space consuming coat stands and even wardrobes in the bedrooms - a set of drawers and five or six hooks with some padded hangers is perfectly acceptable in a holiday home........

Good Enough to Eat - yummy!

Check out these Cupcake Pin Cushions

These really are so much fun.

as a design and product they make a functional object a work of art....... I really love them and just wanted you to love them too xxxx

Kati xxxx

Cosy & Comfortable Room Designing

Designing a Room?............Think Comfort First.

As a designer I am regularly inspired and drawn to lots of different textures, patterns and ideas and it's often hard to make a decision about what colour and idea to go with when I'm designing a room. I always visualise the type of room I see in magazines and forget that actually I have to live in the impractical place I want to create. However, the one thing I try to keep in mind is a bit of wisdom I heard some years ago.

In order to love and really live in a room you have to feel comfortable.

The key to this is to design the room from the onset as how you visualize yourself living in it. Imagine, cushions, throws, fabrics, drapes. Look at where the sun comes in and what time and how that works with the way you use your room and where to position furniture, lamps and mirrors. Chose colours that will create the feel you are after. If you want to feel awake and fresh then look at subtle blues and greens, if the room is going to be a cosy hideaway that you want to slump into in the evening then find inspiration from burgundy reds and purples.

Before I start any project I collect together all sorts of bits and pieces that I find inspirational and create a simple mood board to collect my thoughts. It doesn't have to be a work of art, just an ideas board of pictures from magazines, samples of fabric and paints that you can make notes of your thoughts on so you can really see how your idea will come together. (It's also handy to carry with you when choosing paints, wallpaper and furnishings).

Hope this helps, if you want any help or advise then please feel free to get in touch and let me know how you get on.

All my love

Kati x

wrap up warm for a wintery walk

“the best things in life are free”
this lovely statement is never more true when the festive season is over, all over indulging has been done and the doom of January begins to set it. It’s never a better time to consider wrapping up warm in gloves, hats and scarves and heading down to the nearest beach or woodlands for a wintery walk. this time of year is truely magical. A cold crisp wind, the sound of the waves and the sheer beauty of nature can give us time to clear our thoughts, focus our thinking and prepare us for the year ahead. In this technology age it’s a real treat to simply pull on some wellies, wrap up warm and head out for a spot of mind clearing, reflective thinking. it’s what my plan is for this weekend, I’m heading to the beautiful coast of North Wales to collect drift wood and creative ideas.

Happy Happy New Year - Resolutions?

Welcome Welcome 2009

Well it's finally here 2009..... what will happen in this exciting new year? Resolutions made? Planning ahead for whats to be an exciting 2009? It's going to be a good one for me I hope. I am planning to get married this year, buy a house and lose weight. Not to ambitious I think! So, I have told you mine, whats yours? Feel free to let me know please send me an email or add a comment, I'd love to hear what 2009 holds for you xx

Full of Optimism

Kati xxx