Image credit: Danielle Thompson

In ‘the pursuit of all things cute, kitschy, and crafty’ (as is dictated in her blog’s manifesto), Danielle Thompson’s is a small abode that rises above and beyond the call of duty.  The Etsy boutique owner is one of a crop of designers who’ve designed their homes are as stylishly as their homewares.

Like her boutique, Tiny Bazaar, Danielle’s home is filled with quirky handmade charm and a dash of retro whimsy.  ‘I love to collect different items from vintage stores and bring them together for an eclectic mix, she explains.  ‘I usually let the vintage pieces bring the inspiration and then the decor evolves from that. I like mixing things that you wouldn’t think would go together – but I feel like that is exactly what makes them click: the fact that they are totally different and each from totally different time.’

Image credit: Danielle Thompson

Though her mismatched folkloric fusion of Granny-chic styling is a design trend that will be be huge for 2010 and equally synonymous with what top-selling American retailers like Anthropologie have been epitomised for, Danielle is a reluctant trendsetter.  ‘I’ve never really categorized my style as “folklore” and haven’t thought much about it.  I’m not usually always in the “know” about what’s especially hot at the moment. I try to just design using items that make me happy.’

Image credit: Danielle Thompson

Folkloric or no, a constant thread of quaint opulence runs through Danielle’s decoration.  While the melange of details is far from the extravagant accessories covering the pages of high-end design glossies (the artist shies away from expensive furnishings because she has two ‘wild’ boys) each piece featured  nonetheless holds an old-world charm of collected treasures and even prettier boxes to protect them in.

We love the hodge-podge miscellany of old letters, postcards, and neo-Rococo picture frames scattered to display across Danielle’s wall (above).  The frames are wall stickers that Danielle features in her boutique and make for a funky way to display those old photos that have collected with the mothballs in the back of your closet.  ‘I love these wall decals – they were so easy to apply, and they have almost a trompe l’oeil effect – really beautiful!

Image credit: Danielle Thompson

There is also a unique fairytale quality of Danielle’s powder hued hallway (above).  The soft blues mixed with touches of chocolate browns make for  a quiet statement, while the needlepoint and craftsy accouterments remind of a time when the arts of the domestic goddess were a more prominent pastime.

‘I definitely gravitate towards the nostalgic and often the childlike,’ Danielle muses.  ‘I always like to throw in something with a bit of whimsy. Life is too serious already to be surrounded to perfectly designed rooms!’  With that manifesto, we couldn’t agree more.

Image credit: Danielle Thompson

Love Danielle’s kitschy folk look? We’ve found key pieces from Danielle’s style for you to steal.  Click on the moodboard to view and purchase selected products.

Moodboard: Bethany Wrede Peterson

View our 3D room of  Danielle’s living room by clicking on the room below.  You can even copy it, redecorate, or add new furniture!

3D room: Rob Brightwell

Girl with Orchids, Image credit: Annett E. Bank

It’s time to put away the winter blahs and greys – 2010 is going to be all about bright, bold colour!  The neon trend is making its way across the pond in the coming year, so expect to see lots of fearless colour to wash away that gloomy winter palour that may currently be festering in your living room.

We’ve loving the fearlessness of this upcoming home trend but aren’t quite ready to turn our homes into a ’90s rave space  – just yet!

If you’d like to experiment with a little non-commital hue, Brighton-based fine artist Annett E. Bank may have just the trick to inject a little colour into your life.  Her recent collection of striking retro-style figurative expression paintings hold their own against  juicy orange wall paint (above) but can also equally blend with a more muted palette (below).

Sensation, Image credit: Annett E. Bank

A selection of her beautiful multi-layered paintings of the body in movement are a sophisticated take on the hyper-colour trend, and a worthy investment that will prove fruitful after the glow of the neon trend wanes.

Synchronicity II, Image credit: Annett E. Bank

These three pieces are all available on Annett’s website, and start at £750 each.  A selection of her work can be seen at the Saffron Art Gallery in East Sussex, but the artist also features her work at the Affordable Art Fair in London.

read my original post for mydeco here

Image credit: Hu2 Design

When it comes to clever wall stickers, everyone at mydeco instantly thinks of London-based Hu2 Design.  The ’smart vinyl laboratory’, as they like to call themselves, makes cool, kitschy, vinyl wall stickers for your home and your laptop in all shapes, sizes, and varieties.  Up until now, our favourites were their Branch design, their take on the London skyline, and the LOVE Indiana stickers to make our homes just a little bit edgier.

Just in time for the Copenhagen Climate Summit, Hu2 have released some eco-chic (and dare we say – eco-iconic) stickers to decorate those all-but-forgotten areas of your home: your electrical sockets an light switches!  We love the the socket sticker above to tell us the old story of where Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity.

Image credit: Hu2 Design

This socket sticker above is a fun take on where all that energy just may be coming from – a tiny hamster on a wheel.  It’s even got us thinking twice about turning on that second lightswitch!

And while we never really thought we could have fun decorating a toilet, Hu2 Design show us anything can look better with a funky wall sticker and remind us about our most precious resource – water.

Image credit: Hu2 Design

read my original post for mydeco here

Being an interior designer is no easy feat.  Between long lead times and demanding clients, tricky deadlines and oh-so-many fabric colourways to choose from, the aesthetic stakes are high, and you have to execute your design concepts perfectly in order to proudly attach your name to any project.

Interior designer to the uber-wealthy, Pierre Brahm, strikes this perfect balance with his fusion of styles.  It’s no wonder then, that his his firm should bear the stamp of his distinguished surname.  Pierre’s thirty years in the business mean this is a man who know the ins and outs of orchestrating good design.  And while Brahm interiors speak for themselves, we got the chance to chat with Monsieur Brahm himself about his latest project on ‘Billionaire’s Row’ – three flats at 49 The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead.

Image credit: Brahm

‘It was important that the space combined different modern living with effortless comfort, with each room evoking a different feel and emotion,’ Pierre tells us about the project.  ’You can really get a sense of this from moving through the property.’

We couldn’t agree more.  Pierre’s look embodies a stately, eclectic mix of styles that commingle seamlessly throughout the spaces.  We’re loving this American-inspired Adirondacks-meets-Manhattan rustic lodge of the dining room above.  While rustic isn’t often thought of as chic, Pierre keeps the dining room stately by incorporating a silver-dipped take on the iconic Saarinen tulip dining table with these oversized silver antler candelabras and a fluid and sumptuous grey palette that’s quite simply design genius.

Image credit: Brahm

While one reception follows the same austere colour palette as the dining room, drawing its sense of movement from a large sunburst mirror and beautifully bespoke contrast-piping furniture that complements the large airy windows, another branches out (quite literally) to another design destination.

‘The living room is a focal point of Meditteranean fusion – one that combines St. Tropez glamour with a touch of Tuscan elegance, ‘ remarks Pierre of his work on the penthouse.  ’With an incorporation of antique and modern styles, [we wanted each room] to come alive with creativity and culture.’  While the geometric shapes and greyed-out royal purples carry the regal air of the south of France, a warmer palette recalls the the dusty roads of Italy.  The branch motif of the toffee wallpaper is sophisticated without being stuffy, and the shimmer of the velvet sofa is tactile and inviting.

Image credit: Brahm

If there is one design principle Pierre lives by, it’s to create spaces that incorporate the people living there. ‘We always strive to add character and charm with personal touches,’ he adds.  Where so many designers create residential spaces that work well for commercial hotels, but neglect to cater to the people living in them, Pierre’s take on the most intimate residential space – the bedroom – is one of opulence and glamour where fine attention is paid to the details.

Image credit: Brahm

The dramatic noir feature wall of the master bedroom above is completely unique while remaining sensually alluring, and the little touches of comfort in the powder-blue satin button-backed headboard in the guestroom below remind that while it may seem like you’re staying at a boutique hotel, you really feel right at home.

Image credit: Brahm

For Pierre and everyone at Brahm, however, it’s not simply about the bespoke design, but the attention to personal details that make a house a home.  ’Fresh flowers, plants, personal photographs, artwork, pets – evidence of the personality of the people that live there - without these, a home can come across as characterless,’ he iterates.

Image credit: Brahm

Not surprisingly, the words ‘design trends’ do not escape easily from his lips.  ’We are constantly evolving our style and techniques in order to stay at the forefront of design.’ says Pierre of his firm. For him, Brahm is not a firm that seeks to follow trends, but one instead that sets the trend by forging its own character for his clients with luxurious bespoke pieces, careful attention to colour, a successful melange of cultures and unique personal touches.

Aptly, Pierre tells us: ‘Timeless design is always in fashion.’  And we couldn’t mix it up better than that.

Love Brahm’s look but can’t afford The Bishops Avenue? (Don’t worry, we can’t either!)  We’ve found key pieces from Pierre’s style for you to steal.  Click on the moodboard to view selected products.

Moodboard: Bethany Wrede Peterson

View our 3D room of Brahm’s design of the reception by clicking on the room below.  You can even copy it, redecorate, or add new furniture!

3D room: Jennifer Evans

read my original blog for mydeco here

At mydeco, we believe everyone venturing into the precarious world of home design should start with a philosophy: a philosophy of life and of design.  Much like a mental moodboard, mydeco design boutiquer Monika Jakowicz of online homewares company Soft Philosophy believes in all things – you guessed it - soft.

‘I am fond of soft colours, soft materials and soft shapes,’ the designer says. ‘My home is simple and sensual. I think it has got the particle of “American comfort” too since I lived in the United States for some time.’

While a philosophy of ’softness’ can seem quite abstract, what’s immediately evident from Monika’s Parisian home is the sense of her soft styling: nothing is outlandish about her design choices, no piece stands out immediately from the others a la Starck. Instead, her choice of solid and timeless furniture staples (a cream sofa, a dark wood coffee table) complement one another in an easygoing and casual aesthetic harmony that American design is known for.

In this Parisian palace, we’re fond of the accessorisation and the symmetry of the sideboard: the twin tasseled lamps frame the melange of wooden frames, and the light that dances off some of Monika’s favourite colourful vases.  Immediately above, the old theatre lamp lends a playfully glamourous Old Hollywood touch to the otherwise modern geometric shapes of the console, mirror, and picture frames.  The caged hurricane lantern below reminds of the strategic economy of means of a well-placed accent upon a lower surface.

In a city that is known for its high-flying and highly trying fashion and urbane sophistication, Monika’s is an earthy haven which effortlessly transcends the trends.   ‘I really like the idea of a “barefoot home” and cosiness,’ she explains.  ’I love when the rays of light go through my favourite glass vases, and my favourite book is The Barefoot Home by Marc Vassalo.’

While many of us can easily get caught up simply in how our homes look (and who could blame us!), Monika is concerned with how she interacts with her home, and, in turn, how her home interacts with her.  There is also a subtle feeling of antiquity and anthropology here – each accessory looks as though it was plucked from travels to distant lands.  When blended within the framework of the other pieces, the accessories creating a soft culture of their own – one that speaks to Monika’s personality and personal philosophies.

The symmetry in Monika’s hallway can also be found in the one room most helped by this striking design choice – the bedroom.  Seen as an aesthetic philosophy of balance, the symmetry of the bedside table and lamps, combined with a creamy neutral palette, creates a calming room perfect for curling up with a good book in.

At mydeco, we may not all have the same design philosophies. However, Monika’s Parisian home proves that combination of pragmatic and the frivolous – the balanced geometric staples and the unexpected accessories – create a space that’s casual, harmonious, and…soft.

Love Monika’s look? We’ve found key pieces from her style for you to steal.  Click on the moodboard to view selected products.

Moodboard by Bethany Wrede Peterson

View our 3D room of Cosima’s living area by clicking on the room below.  You can even copy it, redecorate, or add new furniture!

3D room by Jenny Evans

read my original blog for mydeco here

Image credit: Ian Monk

When we think about design in the 1950s, we often think of austere architecture, pared-down Bauhaus-inspired furniture, and an industrial flourish of homewares mass produced.  But the 1950s also brought us the poster-woman of the domestic goddess: the bright and cheerful lady in our lives who prided herself on making that form-follows-function house a home. In turn, our interiors exploded with bright colour, cheeky pulp imagery, and the one-of-a-kind fruits of many a homemade handicraft.

In celebration of this time, this week we’ve found no one better to bring back that beachy peachy feeling than our very own design boutique retailer Cosima Sempill.  The Kitty & Dude ceramist draws inspiration from her Edinburgh home to create her super-cute collection of dainty ceramics.  And with an abode as retro-cool as this, we can tell there’s no lack of imagination in her household!

Image credit: Ian Monk

”It’s the confident, new and shiny, post-war optimism in 1950s design that really thrills me’ muses Cosima. ‘It’s very important to me to be surrounded by beautiful things, fabulous colour, and interesting patterns. It keeps my creativity flowing.’

With an unabashed mix of kitsch, vintage and homemade accessories surrounded by dainty dresses and shoes of the same bygone era, Cosima creates an ultrafeminine living space that oozes her vivid personality. Her space is so inviting that we Ladies Who Lunch would love to stop by for a knitting party!

Image credit: Ian Monk

While some may call this look cluttered – an organised chaos – we stress thatordered is the magic word here.  Attempting such an eclectic magpie feat can easily backfire, but by providing a great sense of order to each space, Cosima proves that this look can not only really work, but give a space a completely individual vibe free from the current high street trends.

The trick? By keeping the overall theme of her home uniform (1950s optimism), Cosima ensures that every cushion, curtain, picture frame – anything – added relates to the other pieces in each room.  And she makes careful and clever use of her shelving and storage units to follow the everything in its place mantra of the domestic goddess.

Image credit: Ian Monk

Cosima’s delicate ceramics are really something to be proud of.  In her home, they’re the sugary icing on the layer cake of accessories, bits and bobs.  We’re craving those cup cakes for our countertop! And who says you need to keep your shoes in the closet?  We’ll be taking a hint from Cosima and displaying our finest heels centre stage.

Image credit: Ian Monk

The artist-cum-stylist’s choice of white and pastel pink and green in the kitchen gives this room a cleaner, but still lighthearted, feeling.  The framed portraits and heirlooms which line the space lend a sense of tradition and history – the perfect space to host guests for high tea.  Even the natural beams get a bit of Cosima’s personal design with vintage-inspired stenciling.

Image credits: Ian Monk

While one bedroom remains sugary sweet, making the most of the pool of natural light that floods the space, another gets the cosy, chocolate touch.  Velvet cushions and muted nutmeg toile prints in the wallpaper and curtains make this room a rich, warm space to snuggle into on those wintry Edinburgh nights.

Image credit: Ian Monk

If, for the domestic goddess, the home is where the heart is, we’d all love our home to be as original as Cosima’s.  While the 1950s theme may not appeal to everyone, we love the ceramist’s reflection of optimism in her space and in her craft.  And that, we think you’ll agree, is something we can all get inspired by.

Love Cosima’s look? We’ve found key pieces from her style for you to steal.  Click on the moodboard to view selected products.

Moodboard: Bethany Wrede Peterson

View our 3D room of Cosima’s living area by clicking on the room below.  You can even copy it, redecorate, or add new furniture!

3D room: Jennifer Cooper

read my original post for mydeco here

Image Credit: Eliot Lovell

We know what you’ve been thinking: Working at mydeco clearly means everyone there has a super-cool place to call home. Well, loyal mydeco community, you thought right! Editor Annie  just finished renovating her Barons Court home, Development Manager Annabel  is busy taking photos of her abode for a future installment of TtK,  and Editorial intern Bethany is about to move into a blank canvas in Clapham.  What else would you expect from the people who eat, sleep, and breathe interiors?

This week we’re pleased to give you a sneak peek inside Marketing Manager Jo’s Angel flat.  Jo, aka, mopsylouise, has taken a cleverly kitschy approach to her interiors scheme, and with fun accessories like that quirky Moooi rabbit lamp, the result is anything but boring, thanks to a little help from stylist and mydeco Picture Editor Vicky.

‘I’m renting the flat, so I can’t paint the walls,’ Jo explains.   ‘To incorporate lots of colour back into the scheme, I chose a mix of richly saturated accessories to brighten the place up.  And I love my Moooi lamp – it was a Christmas gift that I treasure.’

Image Credit: Eliot Lovell

Jo’s is an age-old interior styling trick that never gets loses its luster.  When painting simply isn’t an option, choosing funky patterns and bold colours will add movement and texture, and have you forgetting all about your renting woes.  We love this pair of Bertoia armchairs – the 1950s icon looks twice as nice perched near the windows, and the funky geo prints of the cushion and area rug mimic the retro feel of the fluid seating.

Image Credit: Eliot Lovell

While blank white walls can be refreshing, many of us feeling will artistically stifled by this scheme.  Jo keeps the room from feeling too minimalist by mixing it up and adding her own personal touches.  The feminine duckegg sugar bowls placed near a more masculine silver stag’s antler introduce an unexpected juxtaposition between synthetic and organic.  And we’re loving that bold red painting – not only does it complement the dusty blues and citron greens, it marries the orange and pink theme from the sofa cushions and lampshade (top image) to the rest of the space.

Image Credit: Eliot Lovell

While an eclectic scheme can be hard to wrangle, Jo’s contiguously employs the popular mid-century duck egg colour in her bedroom, streamlining the ’50s theme throughout her flat.  A minimalist bedspread keeps this small room from appearing claustrophobic.

Like any good design guru, Jo knows when to call it quits.  Making full use of the simplicity of those white walls, her gutsy design choices hit the right balance between retro and quirky, never cheesy or parodied.

And now that the word is out on Jo’s cosy-cool flat,  three guesses who’s hosting the mydeco Christmas party this year?  Thanks in advance, Jo!

Love Jo’s look? We’ve found key pieces from her style for you to steal.  Click on the moodboard to view selected products.

Moodboard: Bethany Wrede Peterson

And check out Jo’s floorplan for a more 3D view:

3D model: Daniele Bubusci

read my original post for mydeco here

Image Credit: Next Home

2010:  a new year – a new decade!

In a continuing recession, homeware retailers have looked to maximise the illusion ofluxury at crunch-worthy prices.  The last year of the noughties has seen a resurgence of rich jewel-toned hues, theatrical textures of velvets and feathers, sequins andshag.  In the next decade, we can expect to find even more luxurious finds.  At Next’s Spring/Summer 2010 launch, the trend continues to evolve, with a little inspiration from some of the great decades past.

In 2010, the high street retailer wants everyone to feel like they live in a futuristic Kylie Minogue video, and this silver sequined bedding from the artist’s Kylie at homecollection will have anyone feeling like a glamourous pop star as they slip in for some chic 21st century beauty sleep.

Image Credit: Next Home

Feel like a VIP in this hotel-inspired bedroom collection.  Shimmering metalics, angular edges, mirrored Venetian style furniture, and white-washed monochromatics evoke a contemporary return of the 1940s Art Deco illusion of affluence and aspiration.

Image Credit: Next Home

Big bold floral prints and colour-saturated farics will also help your home mimic a a sense of  extravagance this spring.   Bright optimistic florals of red roses, poppies, and pansies were featured, and wallpapers were reminiscent of the equally bold ’80s era of hedonistic decadence.

Image Credit: Next Home

Purple, and its various shades, has always been reflective of royalty.  I love this deep fuchsia bedding – from deep grape to vibrant magenta, the early ’90s hypercolour variegation creates a sense of depth and opulence.

Image Credit: Next Home

Earthy oranges and tribal accessories hint at the carefree ’70s.  Love the geo-dot and shag cushions – perfect for adding a playful touch to a modern, angularly sculpted sofa, orange is definitely a colour that will be around for a while.

Image Credit: Next Home

The domestic goddesses of the 1950s were all about creating the perfectly organised, perfectly stylised kitchen.  While we’ve come a long way, baby,  who says our kitchens have to be boring?  These tins are functional, affordable, and just plain fun.   And the equally pastiche pastels will make a great addition to that crisp, white kitchen so popular today.

While the recession means we may have to stay at home more in 2010 than initially anticipated, Next prove that staying in really  is the new going out by keeping our homes well-styled into the next decade.

read my original post for mydeco here

think festive florals for your garden parties

We’ve not even closed in on Christmas yet, and already Marks & Spencer are armed and ready for summer 2010!  For me, this is a much more highly anticipated time than the holidays (for a better explanation, check out my Spirit of Christmas Fair blog).  I love to think of freshly cut grass, fragrant flowers, and plenty of sunshine when the days become gloomier as winter encroaches.

From what we’ve glimpsed at the Spring/Summer launches so far, 2010 will see homes bursting with non-commital colour in accessories, bold patterns and textures, and most ubiquitously: big, beautiful, floral motifs.

the bold and the beautiful – bright cushions for your bed or sofa

I loved these cushions piled up in the corner – like a little love den just waiting to be jumped into!  A couple cushions will do the trick to inject a little punch into a dullliving area, but don’t be afraid of going overboard this spring.  Clashing patterns mixed with harmonious colours keep this arrangement looking eclectic andwhimsical, not haphazard or unintentional.

sumptuous textures inspire cosy tactility in your living space

And, while I would never think of placing this crimson pouffe next to this amethystarm chair, M&S prove that taking risks and having fun with your interiors can really prove fruitful in the coming season.  The blue undertones in both pieces means the two can co-exist without confusing your cones, while the chartreuse cushion lends a complementary contrast.

accessories get the girlie nod

Accessories  will also see a touch of antiquated and feminine glamour.  Think shapely perfume bottles from the wartime era and Old Hollywood Art Deco vases to put those cut flowers into.

get a more subdued look with muted tones

If washes of bubbly pinks and acidic greens seem a bit too much like shock therapy for your home, M&S will also cater to you.  While big patterns are still thematic, this collection uses undertones of grey in its fabrics for a calmer, more stately look.  And I loved this gorgeous upholstered folding screen so much that I’d have stuffed it in my handbag if it were just a little smaller!

light-reflecting accessories enhance this monochromatic scheme

If you’re the type that prefers a bachelor(ette) pad to the ultrafeminine, expect to find some edgier, monochromatic pieces up for grabs as well.  The gazelle’s head is a new statement staple in the M&S collection, and this tone-on-tone patterned chair might easily be found in a sleek New York boutique hotel.  The jury’s still out on that iridescent fish scale cushion, but we’re willing to bet you’ll be able to make it work.

read my original post for mydeco here

Images: Bethany Wrede Peterson

Image credit: Bethany Wrede Peterson

The leaves may be falling off the trees, but Marks & Spencer want to keep those blooms on your temperamental indoor orchids all year round.  The rainforest plant, indigenous to South America, Asia, and Africa,  instantly conjures up a sense of trueluxury in your home, and with 1.2 million plants sold annually by M&S at carnation-worthy prices (£9 – £59.50), it’s easy to see why the orchid is Britain’s favouritehouseplant.

However, the exotic beauty is also notorious for its finicky disposition.  For a plant that purportedly ‘thrives on neglect’, many of us can never get our orchids to bloom after the initial flowers fall from their stems, leaving us frustrated and wary of purchasing another.

While you wouldn’t be the first to admit that you’ve binned your pathetic plant, thinking your less-than-green thumbs killed it when it just…wouldn’t…bloom, M&S florist Simon Richards assures us that to be a true orchid whisperer, all you need to give them is a little weekly TLC…and a whole lot of patience.

Here are his top tips to keep those orchids flowering:

Watering and Feeding

• Water the orchid once a week with an egg cup sized of soft water (or use cooled water from a boiled kettle, or filtered tap water).  You can also soak the orchid in its plastic pot for 5-10 minutes in the water.

• When watering, be sure the excess doesn’t pool in the leaves, as this can cause rot and damage. Gently whisk away any water with a soft tissue or cotton bud.

Image credit: Bethany Wrede Peterson

Flowering

• Orchids will bloom and then drop off after about eight weeks.  Don’t worry, this is normal!

• Once the flowers have dropped off, cut back the stem diagonally to the lowest node (the small eye on the stem).  This will stimulate new growth (and if you’re lucky, new flowers!)

• Continue to water weekly, and a new stem should appear from this node in two to three months.

Image credit: Bethany Wrede Peterson

Display & Styling

• Display the orchid in a vase that is slightly narrower at the base.  This will keep the potted orchid snug.  Or, pop a few stones into the bottom of a vase with a broader base to give the roots more circulation.

• In nature, orchids climb up trees and shrubs, so keep those fiddley sticks attached to your plant.  To enhance the natural display, cut the sticks down so they aren’t as visible.  You’ll need a sharp and sturdy pair of garden scissors for this.

• If you’re not so fond of the tiny butterfly clips that attach to your orchid stems to their sticks, you can replace them with more decorative ribbon or raffia (just don’t tie them too tight!)

• Very importantly, unless they’ve become crinkled and crispy, do not cut any of the orchid’s roots.  They gather in moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere, and are an essesntial part of a healthy orchid.  When cutting off dead ends, use a clean pair of scissors, and only remove the old bits.  Most of the time, there will still be a healthy section of root that can be left to thrive.

• M&S tell us we need to ‘learn to love our roots’.  But if you find them unsightly, or just want to make the orchid look a little more natural in its pot, you can add peat moss to hide the plastic pot and roots.  Don’t forget to remove the moss when watering!  (When the moss dries out, give it a good soak and return to the pot when slightly moist again)

• As it’s a shade plant, never place your orchid in direct sunlight.  You can, however, place it in a north-facing windowsill, but this should only be done in warmer months, as orchids are quite susceptible to temperature  changes from draughts and the dry heat of radiators.

Image credit: Bethany Wrede Peterson

Lastly, be patient.  While some plants will continue to flower year round, most of us will find our orchids only bloom once annually.  This is normal, and makes that new blooming season really worth the wait.

Good luck with those green fingers!