Despite the fact the summer solstice has already been and gone, the season hasn’t really got going here in Manchester just yet.
I’m longing for lazy afternoons in the sunshine, but instead I’m camped out indoors to avoid the sudden torrential downpours and contemplating putting the heating back on!
Luckily though, I have somewhere wonderful to retreat to. I wrote earlier in the year about my love for IKEA’s new limited edition TÄNKVÄRD collection, featuring materials such as rattan, cotton, linen, jute and seagrass, that evoke for me the languid, lazy living of coastal resorts, and I’m delighted to have been able to collaborate recently with the brand to create a little slice-of-the-seaside in my own home.
I’ve been hankering after a little reading nook in my bedroom for quite some time, and since my favourite lazy day activity whilst I’m on holiday is to lounge on a balcony looking out to sea with a good book in my hand, it seemed like the perfect match for IKEA’s Summer 2019 Rustic Coasts trend.
For me the aesthetic of this trend promotes a sense of calm and wellbeing, marrying a beautifully vibrant blue hue that speaks of the glistening ocean and blissful summer days, with natural biophilic materials that are tactile and evocative, and mimic the warm beige tones of the beach. A perfect theme for a cosy reading nook in my book!
To create the nook I started, of course, with a place to sit. Clearing a corner of my bedroom between the bed and the window seemed the most apt, so I could make maximum use of daylight in the room – especially since the sun sets on this side of the flat. I’d initially been seduced by the low slung vibes of the TÄNKVARD rattan easy chair, but as I made my way around the shop floor at IKEA warrington the softly cocooning shape of high-backed BUSKBO rattan armchair won me over, as a more supportive option for sitting in for longer periods of time. The chair is sold sans cushion, allowing you to choose your own textiles and create a look that is entirely your own. I chose the large JOFRID cushion cover in natural as the perfect squishy base cushion, and paired it with the appropriately nautical striped ISPIGG cushion, in pre-washed yarn-dyed cotton for a charmingly rustic, worn-in feel.
From there it was all about adding a few additional accent pieces. It doesn’t take a lot to change the feel of a space and whilst a lot of the textiles I had in my bedroom previously were warmer, more autumnal hues, by switching them out for a few of the vibrant blue TÄNKVÄRD accessories, I’ve instantly lifted the colour palette and brought a rustic coastal flair to the room. The sheer lattice grid TÄNKVÄRD curtains made the biggest instant impact to the space, and I love the fact they offer a feeling of privacy whilst still allowing light to flood through. As a style statement they instantly draw the eye into this new corner of the room, and help frame the space beautifully.
Alongside the curtains, the dotty TÄNKVÄRD linen throw helps suffuse this new vibrant colour pop into the rest of the bedroom and draw the space together. It’s a lightweight, casual-style throw and one that I can see working not just in my bedroom but also in my living room as a foil to my navy sofa. It can also double as a beach towel or sarong when I actually go away and head to the beach, which makes it a wonderfully versatile and valuable addition to my home. The TÄNKVÄRD water carafe is also another hardworking product I’ve added to my home, moving with me from the bedroom to my desk and back again on a daily basis. Designed by Iina Vuorivirta, its a reassuringly chunky glass bottle with an upturned tumbler for a lid, mouth-blown with tiny decorative bubbles that enhance the handcrafted vibe. I’ve been making a conscious effect to ensure I’m drinking as much water as possible throughout to day and this stylish carafe has definitely helped keep me on track!
What are your favourite books to read to evoke that lazy summertime feeling?
Right now i’m (very aptly) reading The Summer Book by Tove Jansson but have also read Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends and Joan Dideon’s South and West recently, and would thoroughly recommend them both. I feel like I’m on a good roll with books lately (I’ve also been getting back into poetry and love Rupi Kaur and Michael Faudet’s work), so hopefully you have a few good recommendations to keep me going the rest of the summer..
For me, there’s nothing better than spending the last few hours of the day winding down with a good book and a warming mug of something sweet and milky as I dive into the escapist world of my novel. At this point I’ve almost always shed myself of my daytime clothes and slipped into something far more comfortable. In winter, it’s usually warm flannel pyjamas but right now my evening attire of choice is the cosy comfort of the blue cotton TÄNKVÄRD kimono. I’ve been smitten with it ever since I saw IKEA’s beautiful collection photography at the start of the year, and am happy to report it is just as hyggeligt as their styled imagery led me to believe!
So, friends, what do you think of IKEA’s SS19 Rustic Coasts trend?
And how do you like to update your home for the summer months?
This post is in partnership with IKEA, who provided gifted product for the purpose of this shoot. Fabric of my Life is a 2019 IKEA ambassador. All photography © Luis Leiva.
5 Responses
I feel relaxed and at ease just looking at these lovely pictures! I particularly love the dressing gown – that looks very cosy for summer days. The rattan adds a lovely warm touch, take me to the seaside now! xx
So fresh and summery! I love the little reading nook you have created, and that dressing gown is lovely. I might just fill that carafe with gin and tonic though. Only after I’ve finished work of course. lol. xx
I loved this collection when you initially wrote about it. It just feels so summery and fresh and it looks great in your bedroom.
Love this collection Kate, and beautifully styled as well. I think I’m slightly in love with the Buskbo armchair! x
Brilliant advice on rustic coasts, selection, length and all. All these small things give a better look to our homes! Thumps Up