Next up in the affordable scented candle quest is Bog Standard candles. Sorella – a lovely gift shop in Hexham in Northumberland - were kind enough to send me the Irish Linen fragrance to test and after burning it for a couple of days, I am pretty impressed by this cheap and cheerful option.

Bog Standard is pegged as basic luxury from Ireland. The fragrances, which include linen, rose, field, sea and winter, are made in the Emerald isle and inspired by the landscapes and way of life.

The candle burned very well and the Irish linen scent was a lovely warming aroma with cosy wafts of soap and freshly laundered linen. The scent was nicely strong too, although it didn’t linger as long as the Illume Boulangerie candles after it was blown out.

The holder is not at all fancy, but I quite like the basic glass tumbler and at such a great price of £5.95, I think Bog Standard are better value for money overall. I’d definitely buy for myself and they’d make great gifts and stocking fillers too. Find the candles, among lots of other home goodies in the Sorella online boutique.

I find it fascinating how styling and photography completely shape a brand. Copenhagen-based fashion and home company DAY Birger et Mikkelsen is a great example of this in that these promotional shots for the fall collection continue to portray the brand’s established bohemian yet modern style while striving to differ from those for previous collections.

Some of my favourite picks from the Fall 2011 collection.

Japanese food is a big hit at Ruby Rhino HQ and we get together for a homemade sushi fest at least once a month. I always seem to be scratching around for little pots though, so I’m loving the cute Ching He Huang range I spotted recently from Dunelm Mill. The bold pattern and oriental design is spot on, and with pieces starting at £4.99 it’s a great price point for an occasional collection and hosting Japanese meals at home.

I have developed a real crush on linen recently. In a similar way to my love for enamelware, linen is beautiful, useful and long-lasting – basically all the elements you want from something that will become part of your home and passed through the generations. Maybe I sound like an old romantic but wouldn't you want to sink into these deliciously soft sheets and imagine you are eating breakfast in a lovely french chateau? We've got some great PR shots from The Linen Works here, but I think linen really does create the feel of rustic elegance that so many of us covet.

The Linen Works

Toast

Of course, as with all the loveliest materials, it isn’t cheap. I adore the bedding from The Linen Works and Toast – two places I’d be stocking up from regularly if I had the budget – but luckily there’s a bargain source around too. H&M! I wasn't too keen on the baby blue and sugary pink, so I opted for white and am eagerly awaiting delivery of the double duvet set next week.

H&M

Our white bedroom needs a burst of colour and a striking oil painting like this one from Russian artist and Etsy seller Inga could be just the ticket. I feel happy just looking at it.

Obviously upcycled design appeals to me in many forms, so I was excited to discover the work of Melody Rose recently. I love her take on upcycling by giving dusty old vintage china a new lease of life with transfers, digital scans and prints. Melody’s interest in the surreal and the sublime has inspired her three collections – rock and roll, urban nature and modern surrealism.

Too cool to eat off, I’d love to display one as part of my growing art wall. View Melody's full collection here.

I adore scented candles. I’ve been researching them for a magazine feature recently and just can’t get over the choice out there. Of course, we know the luxury brands like Jo Malone, Diptyque and Le Labo – but if you can't afford to blow your weekly grocery budget on a single candle, where do you look for gems with that burn well with a lovely long-lasting scent?

I thought I’d test a few out and share my verdict with you, and first up is the Boulangerie collection by Illume for Anthropologie.

I have to admit it was the cute vintage style ceramic jar that first appealed. It has a lovely delicate crackle effect with an elegant label so will be great to use as a small vase when the candle has burnt out. I went for the Vanilla & Fig and have to say it really is divine.

Considering the candle is pretty small, it manages to fill the room with a gorgeous warm fragrance that lingers even after it is blown out. This makes it pretty long lasting – I’ve burnt it for about an hour or two every evening for the past couple of weeks, and still have half left. At £14, it is the most I’ve ever spent on a candle and was a little birthday treat to myself – but they do make a great gift so I’d definitely buy again. I bet the Sweet Vanilla Cinnamon would be lovely at Christmas too.

I'm a bit of a commitment phobe when it comes to wallpaper. There's so many great designs around that I find it impossible to make a decision for fear I'll change my mind after a month or so. That's why our walls remain white for now but when I envisage about our Ruby Rhino shop, I see a striking wallpapered wall. Something pretty out there that I wouldn't be brave enough to have at home: something like these unique designs from Barneby Gates.

One of my favourite discoveries at Vintage Fest was fellow upcycler and Etsy seller, Abigail MaryRose Clark. Abigail repurposes vintage tea cups into unique bracelets, and no two beauties are the same. Abigail sells through her Etsy shop, as well as through Anthropologie and many other boutiques throughout the UK, US and Canada.

Photo source: Ruby Rhino

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