[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.

I am dreaming of a colourful Christmas (in the desert...)

In case you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you'll have by now realised that tomorrow is officially December, which means one thing and one thing only: it's time to unleash the festive beast! This year will be my first ever Christmas in the desert after 12 years in London, and I was keen to make things extra festive on Stella + the Stars. So I have teamed up with a bunch of fabulous Dubai brands to bring you the most colourful Christmas styling ideas (on a budget) just in case, like me, 'red and green' just doesn't cut it for you...

Stella LovesEmilie Jacob30 November 2016Christmas Comment

[Mini Style] Kids room storage idea: YONDER.living pompom baskets

I blame YONDER.living and their gorgeous storage baskets for fuelling my pompom addiction. I mean, you can never have too much storage in a 3-year old room, especially when it involves pink pompoms, so when they approached me to ask if they could send me this little drop of Moroccan basket heaven, I thought it would work perfectly in Stella's bedroom to store (aka hide) the never ending amount of soft toys she seems to accumulate. Oh and don't miss the special reader discount at the end of the post!

Mini StyleEmilie Jacob17 November 2016Comment

5 things I learned from winning the Amara Interior Blog Awards

If you've already heard about this on social media, feel free to move on with more importants things and your day. If you haven't, may I announce some terribly exciting news: Stella + the Stars is now officially an 'award-winning' blog after being voted (bear with me, it's a mouthful) Best International Blog in the Amara Interior Blog Awards 2016. I bet you can smell the smugness just reading this. What can I say, one does not win an award every day, right? But more importantly, winning the Amara Awards has also taught me very important and serious life lessons which I am sharing with you...

Stella LovesEmilie Jacob8 November 2016Amara, Amara Living, Amara Interior Blog AwardsComment

Stella + the Stars' guide to Dubai Design Week 2016

Fancy heading out to find out what Dubai Design Week is all about but not idea where to start? With 150 events running across town, it can seem a little bit overwhelming to say the least, especially if you're a newbie like me. But fear not, I have put together a little Design Week Guide, edited the Stella + the Stars way, with my suggested itinerary of the top events not to miss. Notepads at the ready.

Star TipsEmilie Jacob20 October 2016 Comment

[Stella Loves] 6 cool online interiors stores (that ship to Dubai!)

Last week's post with my newbie's guide to interior shopping in Dubai may have sounded a little bleak to those who are not keen on (physically) hitting the shops when it comes to redecorating their pad. Indeed I gave the lowdown on the topic of online shopping or its quasi non-existence. Well, you'll be happy to hear that it's not all doom and gloom my dear e-shoppers as there are a few wonderful independent online stores that are popping up on the Middle Eastern Tinternet and some are so fabulous and budget friendly, you might never have to see a mall again.

Stella LovesEmilie Jacob29 September 2016 Comments