Get The Look: HOME ALONE for the Festive Season

Now most of us like to put up a tree at Christmas, drape every available surface in tinsel or maybe place a festive wreath on the front door. Some go to the extra hassle of adorning their whole home exterior in Christmas lights. But few of us coordinate our whole Interior for the festive season.

The 1990’s genius film, Home Alone, however shows us just how, if we ever chose to do so, a Festive Interior can be achieved. With a rich Berry Red and Holly Green colour scheme running throughout the entire house, the house oozes Festive cheer. It makes me want to crack open the Advocaat and Lemonade just looking at it. Quite a design choice for a family who chooses to spend Christmas anywhere but in their home. Hmmm.

Anyway, taking the Festive cheer of Home Alone and looking at the Master Bedroom in particular (the location for the pivotal scene and exclamation “We slept In!!” which kick-starts a mad rush to the airport) I’ve had a little try and creating a very merry bedroom scheme. If you’re a Christmas nut (haha) then maybe this is for you. It’s not for the faint hearted and a liking of red is a must.

Of course, as the film was made a whopping 20 years ago now, a like for like scheme isn’t very easy to achieve so excuse the poor substitutions for some items. However, the overall look still takes inspiration from the film. The items could be acquired from the following suppliers:

·         Cherry Blossom wallpaper by Graham & Brown

·         Four Poster Bed by Stokers

·         Antionette Bedside by Willis & Gambier

·         Rug by The Rug Company

·         Bedside Lamp by Graham & Green

·         Red Bedding by Debenhams

Do you have any items which you think would complete the festive scheme? Or is there another Crimbo Film which has a fabulous Festive cheery interior? For me, Home Alone is my Christmas guilty pleasure without a doubt! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Get The Look: a DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES bedroom

From the very first episode way back in 2004, I was hooked. I was a Desperate Housewives’ addict from the word go. I would LOVE to live on Wisteria Lane in one of those gorgeous homes, with picket fence and nosy (yet highly entertaining) neighbours to boot. But alas, I am not that lucky. My home doesn’t cut the mustard I’m afraid. It doesn’t have a porch, it isn’t painted lemon yellow and it does not have a front door which you could drive a bus through. But I’m fairly certain that some of the Desperate Housewives bedrooms could work nicely into any home – even mine. So here is my “how to” on achieving a Desperate Housewife bedroom á la Susan Delfino, née Mayer.

As a brief Character Bio, Susan is the artsy one – an illustrator by trade originally and later a primary school art teacher. She’s a dab hand with a paint brush and makes reference to being able to appreciate that art is subjective. Her home, however, is not adorned in designer wares like that of Lee and Bob – there is not an Eames chair in sight – but rather is more homely. The palette is feminine and fresh and she has a definite affiliation with Wicker.  She likes natural materials and seems to have furniture which she has collected along the way, rather than redoing a whole room in one swoop with coordinated pieces. It meshes well without being over themed.

Looking on the web, I’ve found a few pieces which I think conform to the Susan style. Pottery Barn is a firm favourite and I’m fairly certain that the green/blue Paisley bedding seen when Susan is dating Jackson the housepainter is from there (in the episode “Marry me a Little” Season 5). Oh, and they ship to the UK now too. They also have a wicker headboard which is super important in achieving the Susan look, though a similar one is also available from Ikea. Laura Ashley have some cute country furniture which could certainly work and wicker drawer units are available from several online shops.

Add architectural detailing with low level tong and groove panelling to complete the look, wood flooring with an understated area rug and an eclectic range of framed prints to embellish.

And there you go: the effortless Susan Mayer/Delfino bedroom yours for the taking. I can't guarantee that recreating this look in your home will lead instantly to a Mike or Jackson lookalike appearing half naked in your room, but it can't hurt to try, right?