This and that…..

Echeveria Black Knight

Posted by Tasha on May 22, 2019

Posted in: Gardening, Personal, succulents, This and that...... Tagged: Echeveria, Echeveria Black Knight, indoor succulents, succulents, top 10 indoor succulents, windowsill succulents. Leave a comment

Hello so continuing with my series of the top 10 succulents to grow indoors, lets look at Echeveria Black Knight today. So far I have written about:

String of Bananas
Kalanchoe Tomentosa
Echeveria Black Knight

Echeverias offer a wide variety of options. These are easy to grow plants and are found in lot of different sizes hence are a popular option of succulents to grow. I particularly have a great weakness for the Echeveria Black Knight because of their dark outer leaves. It is a small growing, rosette style succulent with dramatic dark coloring. These delightful plants also have dark red flowers which are usually projected above the foliage.

Echeveria ‘Black Knight’ is mostly grown for its dramatic and bold foliage.

Most Echeverias are not complicated succulents to grow. As long as they are looked after and a few basic rules are taken care of. Lets take a look at what these are:

Never allow water to sit in the rosette as it can cause rot or fungal diseases which will kill the plant.
Any dead or dry leaves should be removed from the bottom of the plant as it grows. These dry leaves are a haven to pests which will also kill the plant eventually.
Echeverias mostly should be planted in terracotta clay pots as they dry out quickly and that prevents the roots from rotting.
Echeverias need plenty of light but direct sunlight is not good. So a covered patio or a windowsill which receives lots of light but no direct sun is a good place to keep these lovely succulents.
Over watering will likely kill an Echeveria plant. It requires frequent watering only during its first year of planting after which frequent watering is only required during the summer months.
Echeverias especially the ‘Black Knight’ can be easily propagated from leaf cuttings. To propagate a leaf cutting, place the individual leaf in cacti or potting mix and cover the dish till the new plant sprouts.

The Echeveria Black Knight can be grown both indoors and outdoors, it is a delightful plant to own.

These beautiful succulents are perfect for a sunny window sill if you are growing them indoors.

The Echeveria Black Knight looks really good in combination with other succulents like sedums for example especially for it brings out their colour.

This is one of the darkest Echeverias apart from Echeveria Black Prince.

If you own one of these stunning Echeverias, please do share a few images here and also if I have missed out on any care instructions, I would really appreciate it if you put forward your suggestions too.

Kalanchoe Tomentosa

Posted by Tasha on April 17, 2019

Posted in: Gardening, succulents, This and that...... Tagged: drought resistant succulent, indoor succulent, Kalanchoe tomentosa, panda plant, plush plant, pussy ears, velvet leaf kalanchoe, white lady. 2 Comments

Hey guys continuing with my series of the top 10 easy to grow succulents, today lets look at the Kalanchoe Tomentosa or the Panda Cactus. It is by far one of my favorite succulents.

This lovely succulent has many names, some of which are Velvet Leaf Kalanchoe, Plush Plant, White Lady, Panda-Bear Plant.

The leaves of the Panda plant are covered with tiny hairs that give it a velvety look and feel. The covering of hair also ensures that there is no rapid loss of water due to transpiration hence this plant can survive without water for long periods of time. The leaves are equipped to store water.This plant can grow up to a height of 1.5 ft. This plant is a native of Madagascar.

Kalanchoe tomentosa is a fairly easy succulent to care for and maintain. It can be kept indoors easily both at home and in the office.

The Kalanchoe tomentosa can flower within its natural habitat, producing fuzzy bell shaped flowers in spring and summer, it is very rare to see these succulents bloom indoors. It is grown primarily for its foliage within homes and offices.

Kalanchoe tomentosa care is pretty simple.

They like bright light and sunshine. A mixture of direct, indirect and shade is a good balance of sunlight if it can be provided.
Temperatures which ranges between 15-23 degrees is recommended if possible.
Only water Kalanchoe tomentosa once the soil has become dry and then soak the soil but do not leave water in the bottom tray. In winter this succulent needs less water. The leaves of the Panda plant store water so these lovely plants can survive without water for prolonged periods of time.
Kalanchoe tomentosa needs a porous soil containing about one third grit with adequate drainage.
Normal room humidity is fine and it might even tolerate dry air.
The leaves of the Kalanchoe tomentosa should not be wet for a prolonged period of time as this will cause rotting.
The propagation of this plant can be done through leaf cuttings. Leaf cuttings can be placed in new soil during spring. The leaf cuttings should be allowed to dry out for a week before re-potting.

The Panda plant grown in combination with other succulents look really pretty.

Its one of the most impressive looking amongst the drought tolerant succulents.

I have 2 of these lovely Panda plants and would like to propagate a few more from leaf cuttings. Fingers crossed.

The Panda plants are excellent for beds and borders, succulent gardens, Mediterranean themed gardens or of course as ground cover. These plants are also perfect for containers where spectacular floral arrangements can be created.

Please share pictures of your Panda plants if you own any and also share care tips if I missed out on any. Thanks for reading !!

Lovin’ these ideas for wardrobe shutters……

Posted by Tasha on February 21, 2015

Posted in: Accessories, Interior Design, This and that...... Tagged: fabric panelled wardrobe shutters, laser cut jaali design, MDF wardrobe handles. 1 Comment

Who says that wardrobe shutters have to be conventional and made out of wood and glass? There are lots of ways to uplift an ordinary looking wardrobe shutter and make it a conversation starter. It is one of the ways to give your décor a quick update without going the whole way. Wardrobes are an intrinsic part of most homes, so looking at different ways of doing up the shutters will give your interiors a fresh look.

If you have floor to ceiling wardrobe shutters, why not commission a local artist to paint them in strong and bold colours. This look is definitely not for the faint hearted. http://www.brittanyambridge.com

How about adding a padded 3D fabric panel to your wardrobe shutters, stylish and sophisticated….as seen in Living Etc

Make wardrobe handles out of MDF and paint it in a bright colour, the results are absolutely gorgeous as seen in Gemma Ahern’s home. abigailahern.com

You can create an exotic look by incorporating laser cut intricate patterns on laminate and using it as your wardrobe shutters. I love these. http://www.jaali.in

Wallpaper your wardrobe doors and see the difference it makes to your space. http://www.housebeautiful.com

Transform your closet doors into works of art by printing a black and white image on it. http://www.pinterest.com

Using vintage wallpaper on your wardrobe doors is a great idea. http://www.pinterest.com

Add mirrors to all your wardrobe panels. syzzzz.com

How would you give your wardrobes an update? Which is your favourite?

Lovin’ these gorgeous cutting and cheese boards……

Posted by Tasha on February 18, 2015

Posted in: Accessories, This and that...... Tagged: cheese boards, cutting boards. Leave a comment

Hello !! Cutting boards are kitchen essentials aren’t they? But they don’t have to be boring, all kinds of cutting boards are available these days from sleek and ultra modern to really cute personalised ones, let’s look at a few which will definitely be conversation starters.

This personalised cutting board would make a great present. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Twistedbranchdesigns

This gorgeous cheese board by Hanna Francis is made out of Scandinavian birch wood. http://www.hannafrancis.com/

This original and personalised mr and mrs slate cheese board has a thumbs up from me. http://www.notonthehighstreet.com

I just love this stylish and sleek cheese board. http://www.johnlewis.com

The Cactus Cheese board by Alessi. http://www.alessi.com

This Herring cutting board will be a wonderful addition to your kitchen and can easily be used as a serving tray too. http://www.sizzle.co.uk

This puzzle cutting board is really innovative. Use it for slicing the bread and cheese and then use the pieces to serve !!

The Joseph Joseph Index Chopping board set is all style. http://www.hartsofstur.com

This Wenko hot pepper kitchen cover cutting board is not to be ignored. http://www.wayfair.co.uk

This wooden cutting board in the form of the Italian map is adorable. http://www.etsy.com

I love the watercolour themed cutting boards too. They are gorgeous but I think that should be another blog post all together. Which ones did you like?

Lovin’ these Valentine day gift ideas…..

Posted by Tasha on February 13, 2015

Posted in: Accessories, This and that...... Leave a comment

It’s Valentine’s day tomorrow. Any plans and romantic gateways planned? What about gifts? If you are still wondering what to get, here are some great last minute gift ideas for inspiration.

Designer Marta Turowska’s hand painted opera trinket boxes will make a great gift for the ceramic lover and its at a great price too…£18 each http://www.anthropologie.eu

The brass ‘LOVE’ letters to tell them how you feel. Will look great sitting upright in a book shelf. £24 http://www.westelm.co.uk

How about gifting your other half his/her favourite quote as a print. £12.50 http://www.etsy.com/shop/NoodleBookArt

These 4 bone China tea light holders from Nordic House will make a fantastic gift too. £29.95 http://www.nordichouse.co.uk

How about a tiny message in a bottle….small but so thoughtful !! £10 http://www.notonthehighstreet.com

A pink tulip bulb bowl for your loved one? £22 http://www.waitrosedirect.com

I just could not resist adding this cute heart cushion from H and M to the list and at an unbelievable price too!! £3.99 http://www.hm.com

How about this nautical print art note book. Makes a stylish gift. £19.99 http://www.zarahome.com

Lovin these Christmas gift ideas……all under £25…:)

Posted by Tasha on December 1, 2014

Posted in: Accessories, Products, This and that...... Leave a comment

Hello!! How is it that it is already the 1st of December? Wow…..where did the year go I am wondering. It’s also been ages since my last post and I am glad to be back with a new post, I missed blogging….:) So its 24 days now till Christmas and everyone must be in a frenzy trying to get all the gifts sorted out. Here are some fantastic gift ideas all under £25. Happy shopping everyone!!

Isn’t this lovely. A lovely yellow pansy vase from Anthropologie. It’s £14….. http://www.anthropologie.eu

This pretty penguin gilded plate will make an awesome gift and it’s just £10 and there are 4 designs to choose from. http://www.westelm.co.uk

These lovely fair trade saree notebooks are pretty cool and unique. They are just £3 each. http://www.notonthehighstreet.com

These really stylish Angel band Alessi nativity figures are seriously drool worthy. They are £23.50. http://www.johnlewis.com

This elegant red pillar candleholder will be perfect for the Christmas table. These are available in silver too, yours for £25!! http://www.marksandspencer.com

This lovely mid century modern art falling flowers print will also make a good gift….£15.08!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/fateyedesign

How about one of these lovely Virring rugs from Ikea? I would love them as gifts….:) Its £10 each. http://www.ikea.com

Just love, love this gold chandelier earrings….its delicate and perfect. It’s £11…..:) http://www.etsy.com/shop/thestellabluegallery

This blue globe light would be a great gift for a young boy/girl…..all yours for £20. http://www.tigerstores.co.uk

Lovely isn’t it? Just right for the holiday season and maybe a gift for a home lover? £6.99 http://www.hm.com

A personalised cutting board is a fantastic idea isn’t it? Its £24.91!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/letsengraveit

No 1 room diffuser by Laura Ashley would be a great gift!! £14…. http://www.lauraashley.com

A recycled woollen rug by the National Trust and its just £14….:) shop.nationaltrust.org.uk

Set of Robin figures from the Victoria and Albert Museum, these are lovely and are £25!! http://www.vandashop.com

A set of nesting dolls by OMM Designs will make a lovely gift….£25. shop.tate.org.uk

Do you have all your gifts sorted out yet? If not I hope this inspire you to get going…..:)

Lovin’ these quirky trinket boxes……..

Posted by Tasha on August 14, 2014

Posted in: Accessories, Interior Design, This and that...... Tagged: trinket boxes, trinket boxes with typo. Leave a comment

Hello!! We all love trinket boxes, don’t we? They are in many ways indispensable, whether it is for tucking away your favourite ear rings, saving some space for those memorable rings, putting away your crafty bits or simply having a few as collectibles. While I was out grocery shopping last week I came across a few adorable ones myself……..:) And so this post!!!

Inspirational, pretty and you can store anything in them……lovin’ these….:) http://www.notonthehighstreet.com

Oh these boxes are adorable!!! http://www.mollieandfred.co.uk

Isn’t this lovely??? Wooden grey ‘home sweet home’ trinket box… http://www.melodymaison.co.uk

Metal trinket box , what a beauty!! http://www.notonthehighstreet.com

A personalised trinket box!! Simply love this…. http://www.bagsoflove.co.uk

Perfect for organising and so pretty too….small colourful tin boxes!! http://www.amazon.com

Just totally lovin’ this monogrammed trinket box…. http://www.monogramline.com

This is my favourite trinket box…….:)

These are soap boxes but who is stopping you from using these as trinket boxes after the soap has been used??

As they say Paris is always a good idea!!!!

I love collecting trinket boxes especially ones with typo or words. There are so many lovely designs out there and many talented people who keep coming with fantastic new ideas. What would you use a trinket box for? Storing memories????

Lovin’ these beautiful blue vases…….

Posted by Tasha on August 5, 2014

Posted in: Interior Design, This and that...... Tagged: blue ceramic vases, blue vases, Blue vases in decor. Leave a comment

I seem to be having a crush on all things blue at the moment, especially ceramic ware, especially vases in décor and interiors.

These stunning blue vases and this beautiful composition is what inspired this post in the first place…… http://www.vtwonen.nl

A simple table arrangement made special by the blue vase…… ourdreamlives.wordpress.com

Look at how well a collection of ceramic vases can look in your coffee table and of course if they are blue vases then even better….. http://www.happyinteriorblog.com

This really is lovely, isn’t it? http://www.happyinteriorblog.com

A smart home workspace with a blue vase!!! emmas.blogg.se

Fresh blue flowers in a blue ceramic vase is a dream!!! And a beautiful styling with the use of a few books and accessories certainly makes the arrangement eye-catching. http://www.decorpad.com

How about blue walls, a vintage sideboard, tree branch lamps along with two really lovely blue jug vases to create a different look??? http://www.decorpad.com

How beautiful is this living space with the rustic white ceiling fixture, the stunning timber collage artwork and of course not to be missed the blue flower vase??? thedesignfiles.net

Look at this rustic and charming table arrangement…..the blue vases, fresh flowers say it all… brightbazaarblog.com

Look at this stunning composition…..the blue vase and dry twigs are sitting so well in the frame…. johnathanwgooch photography

This living room definitely does not give me the blues……..:)

Do you like blue ceramic vases? Where would you use them…..as a centrepiece in the dining area or perhaps a smaller collection of vases in the living room. I really hope you enjoyed my collection of blue vases……

Lovin’ these trays…….

Posted by Tasha on July 3, 2014

Posted in: Accessories, Interior Design, This and that...... Tagged: decorative trays, lacquered trays, melamine trays, trays. 1 Comment

Hello!! I have been away from the blogging word for a while now. It’s because the hard drive of my good old lap top crashed!!! So glad to be back and I was able to recover most of the data…..thankfully. I love trays in all forms, shapes and sizes. The bird tray from Ikea is a personal favorite and I have had it for many years now. There are so many stylish trays available now that you will be spoilt for choice. Displaying the trays is such a fun way to show off your collection. And there are so many ways to display as well. Here are some of my personal favorites for you to enjoy!!

This classic Vitra mother and child tray is a beauty!! http://www.nest.co.uk

Another contemporary piece by Vitra!!

This beautiful geometric patterned tray will brighten up any wall…. http://www.fermliving.com

This colourful tray is from the RAANU collection by Marimekko!!

Bold and graphic…..laminate tray by Artek. http://www.archiproducts.com

One of my personal favorites from Ikea……

Labyrinth lacquered wooden tray in black and white by Dwell Studio…..

The brightly colored square lacquered trays by West Elm are funky and fun!!

What a delight this graphic daisy design tray is by Mariska Meijers….

Another beauty by Mariska Meijers!!

These are just some of my personal favorites, there is literally so much more. I will share a few more brilliant designs in another post soon. There are so many ways to display these beauties, another post soon to follow.