ALPINE RETREAT - time out

ALPINE DREAMING

Firstly I'd like to wish all my readers, visitors and lovely clients an extremely 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May 2016 be your year. 

Grasp it with both hands and squeeze every drop of living out of every minute!

It's easier to feel motivated and energetic when there's a hint of sun in the sky. At last we have some crisp 'winter' mornings to brisk us into action.

When the rain falls (as it is still doing far too often and too heavily) it seems more tempting to succumb to lethargy and endless mugs of coffee.

If you DO need a little respite and a moment to feel dreamily warm and cosy prior to starting out on new ventures or a new pile of paperwork, 

then allow yourself a few minutes to transport your mind to an Alpine retreat for a while and refresh your brain, leaving work and life cares at the door....

Afterwards don't forget to announce yourself 'back in the room' to let your colleagues/loved ones know that you don't have sleeping sickness....

What are the essentials of a mountain retreat, where lung-fulls of reviving pure-as-you-like air are a given outside. 

Warm textural wood is an essential to create the true
chalet style, layered with tactile accessories and splashes of
colour to invite you to sit back and relax.

Add a checked red ribbon to finish.

Tiny trees make beautiful table decorations when housed in textured linen mini-sacks. Add a stag print and red ribbon for full-on mountain style.

Wrought iron sits perfectly against a
backdrop of aged wooden beams.

Appropriate LIGHTING    is so important to create the right relaxed atmosphere, whilst being practical at the same time.

Little imaginative touches are all that's needed. 





Think outside the box to build interest and texture.

Here a woody pendant light and silvery
twinkling from metallic stag head
coat hooks sets the cabin atmosphere.

Bark has been used to house
lights and provide a pendant light.

My favourites, though, have to be these cleverly
re-imagined decorative enamel plates, using
retro-style enamel fittings - genius.

Note how the blue band of the plate is reflected on the ceramic fitting behind.

Here striking use has been made of sawn logs to create
an interesting textural lamp base.

A hall lamp provides a welcoming

glow in the entrance-way, alongside a rustic wooden bench heaped with fleecy sheepskins in front of velvet curtains hanging from a wrought iron pole. 

Curtaining for this interior window is another way of adding layers of texture. The window lets light through from the hall space to the interior and the window sill allows for a display of alpine accessories.

Any seating needs to be robust, welcoming and generous:

Deer and heart motives form the backdrop to bench seating providing
comfortable, hard-wearing back rests. Check and wool
cushions break up and soften the look.

What about these rustic bar stools topped with hides?
Go faux if preferred.

The mountain stag motif has been
cleverly incorporated into the back rests of
these cafe chairs.

Wool is protected by natural oils,
so is a good hard-wearing choice, whilst
also feeling and looking warm and cosy.

Window dressings are kept simple:

Curtains are unlined, more decorative than
utilitarian, whilst sitting beside triple glazed windows
which keep the elements out.

Co-ordinating tiebacks
add a further decorative touch.

Although fresh flowers are not practical during the winter months 

there are still ways to bring the outside flora in: 

Just looking at this incredible display of assorted twigs, cones and
fir set in a zinc bucket brings the mountains to mind with
all their glorious texture, colour and scent.

Cut twigs scented with cinnamon and cloves are at home in a square vase
enrobed in red ribbon.

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HAPPY ALPINE TIME OUT