En Suite

The ideas for our en suite bathroom started with some wallpaper. The iconic palm tree wallpaper in The Beverly Hills Hotel to be exact.

But putting wallpaper up in a windowless en suite isn't the smartest idea. Plus our home is new and using brass fittings and antique mirrors to complement the aforementioned wallpaper wasn't going to work. A compromise had to be found. So we decided to tile everywhere except the wall opposite the shower which we wallpapered with Cole & Son's Palm Jungle print. The idea is that you'd be taking a shower, looking through the steam and thinking you were somewhere tropical. I don't know if we've achieved that but it makes us happy!

The En Suite

Wallpaper Cole & Son

We are keen DIY-ers, happy to spend late nights and all weekend trying to transform our little home. Completing the en suite was no exception. Excluding the major plumbing jobs the boyfriend and I did everything ourselves from ripping the old bathroom out to hanging the wallpaper, rebuilding stud walls, tiling, fitting units, putting up mirrors and fitting skirting board. 

With the exception of the wallpaper we wanted the room to be simple, clean and graphic. Everything bar the grey grout and chrome fittings are white and no products are out on display (I'm quite anal about that!)

The room is almost finished, it just needs a few finishing touches, but I believe you acquire these pieces  over time. 

Here are a few things that I'm considering for our en suite.

Laundry basket £75 West Elm

I have a massive aversion to wicker laundry baskets, so this laquered white one from West Elm will soon be coming to live with me!

Bamboo mat £30 John Lewis

A bamboo floor mat will tie in nicely with the palm tree wallpaper.

Loo Brush £22 Habitat

Certainly the least glamorous item in a bathroom, but I like the clean simplicity of this Habitat loo brush.

Towels £7.99 H&M

I've said it before and I'll say it again, H&M have some incredible bargains for the home! These towels with chevron or stripe details are great value and look stylish.

Hand wash £27 Aesop

If I did have to have any products on display I would choose anything from the Aussie brand Aesop.

Images: Pinterest, Aesop, H&M, Habitat, West Elm, John Lewis

The Beauty Review

I am a complete beauty junkie who love testing out different creams, hair products and make up. I get through lots of different lotions and potions so thought I would review what I'm currently trying.

Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, £19 for 75ml, Aesop

First up Australian brand Aesop's Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. I like to apply this luxurious balm bursting full of botanical ingredients to my hands and feet each night before bed. A combination of mandarin extract, rosemary and soothing lavender creates a relaxing aroma while a blend of extremely hydrating oils including sweet almond, coconut and wheat germ instantly moisturise without being greasy. I work with my hands which makes them quite dry and rough so can honestly say this is one of the best balms I've tried for making my hands look fresh and healthy again.

Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator, £49 for 30ml, Estee Lauder

Estee Lauder's Idealist Skintone Illuminator has been a part of my daily beauty routine for years. I sometimes dabble with other products promising similar results but always return to this old faithful. Why do I hold it in such high regard? I suffer with melasma and while it isn't bad, I am still conscious of it and wear foundation whenever I go out to give the illusion of an even skin tone. I find that applying a couple of squirts of the Idealist after my moisturiser, but before my foundation gives my skin a luminous glow and reduces the appearance of my pigmentation. When my skin is behaving itself I like to mix half and half with my foundation for a lighter coverage. It's oil free so doesn't encourage spots, which in my 30s I thought would disappear (ha ha if only!), and its triple-optic technology smoothes out discoloration and the appearance of fine lines. You only need a couple of pumps to cover the entire face and so while expensive, a bottle will last a while. Even if you have great skin this product will encourage a glowing dewy complexion. 

Lovingly Light Foaming Treatment Mask, £20 for 150ml, Percy & Reed

Percy & Reed's Lovingly Light Foaming Treatment Mask is perfect for fine hair like mine. You apply the mousse formula (very 80s!)  as you would a conditioner post-shampooing. It's super light and doesn't feel at all heavy like lots of other hair masks, plus you only have to leave it on for a few minutes and it's ready to rinse. It's suggested you use this product once a week, but as I abuse my hair quite a bit with straightening irons and daily washing I used it in place of my regular conditioner and was happy with the softening and moisturising results it gave my locks. 

Look out for more beauty reviews coming soon!

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