[Star Tips] How to transform your pad in 2017 (rented or not!)

I thought I'd start the year with a little lesson on 'there are no right or wrong in home styling' and 'trust your gut' to get you to make your pad your happy place over the next few months. The majority of expats (me included) are not home owners and rent out their pad here and this can bring a whole world of limitations (click here for my tips on how to turn your rental into a home) but it doesn't mean you have to give up on having your dream home. So forget about resolutions, it's so 2014, and instead here are a few 'do's and don't', easy tips, my two cents' worth essentially, on how to pluck up the courage to transform your home (even if it's not yours!) in 2017. In the next few weeks, I will post more blogs about how and where to find the cool stuff to make it a reality.

[Mini Style] Stella's new bedroom revamp

If you happen to have kids, then you probably won't be surprised to hear that the only room that's actually finished in our new pad, is neither the living area or our master bedroom but my daughter's bedroom. When you move across continents with a toddler, end up living out of suitcases in rented temporary accommodation for over two months, and finally settle in a new home, the priority is really to keep the troops happy and avoid as many diplomatic incidents at bedtime as possible. So there you go: we may not have any bedside tables, lamps, or shelves yet, but man, Stella's room is (almost!) done and is definitely one of my proudest projects to date.

[Star Buys] A sky (and a home) full of stars

In the world of home decor, stars are everywhere, and it's super easy to add little celestial touches to one's interior scheme. I try to restrain myself to avoid the house looking like the London Royal Observatory, but even then, I constantly find more lovely designs, home accessories, lighting, you name it, featuring stars that I need to get my paws on. Here is what is currently on my wish list.