The Beat That My Heart Skipped – A blog dedicated to daily design inspirations. By Rohini Wahi.

Hello! Sorry I didn’t post yesterday, I just got back from a research trip to Paris and was catching up. This trip was to research vintage markets in Paris but I was most excited to visit Merci the conceptual homestore for the first time…

The courtyard was so pretty with a cute red Fiat parked in the space and coloured fairy lights strung overhead. Inside, the central atrium had a wonderful twiggy installation dangling from the rafters that mirrored the ones piled up inside the Fiat. The central area was also peppered with huge comfortable sofas for relaxing in. The whole space had such a natural sense of ease rather than a contrived one as most shopping experiences seem to be.

Merci was also a lot smaller and manageable than I expected it to be as pictures I’ve seen on blogs make it seem huge, but this added to making it a more personable and charming experience.

The homewares themselves were a mix of really reasonably priced unusual accessories and beautiful key design pieces effortlessly displayed. I bought two really special copper industrial style lights for only €15  each – bargain! And three of the wonderful enamelware target plates below in blue and black.

Good morning! After a beautiful weekend, we are kicking off the day with a brand new sponsor in the form of the gorgeous online home-wares store Rose and Grey.

Rose and Grey is a small family business run by Lyndsey and Guy Goodger with a passion for interiors. Set up in 2008, their idea was to startup an online boutique with beautiful and unusual items where all of the products were shot in context of the home to give people inspiration. They also wanted affordable price tags so that they could bring these new finds to people at reasonable prices.

Rose and Grey now stock covetable home-wares and beautiful furniture. Some of my favourites are a wonderful and intricate tree puzzle, rustic wooden storage boxes on wheels, 50’s inspired furniture and these lovely baking tin candle holders. Head over here to check out the rest of their goodies.

I love the mixture of design and crafts from ex Habitat style co-ordinator and Wedgewood design director Nikki Jones’ homeware collection. The range is just so beautiful and unusual – it has a real high end Day Birger tone but still retains warmth of handmade items. This brand is one to watch, I can feel it in my design bones, can’t you?

From left to right clockwise: Tree Green lampshade £30, Make Tea not War embroidered art £22, Retro cars Mug £.50 Loose Lips print £18, I am Not A Doormat £22, Babushka doll Kit £12, Happy Hot Dog Clock £45, Tea Cake tea towel, Lovebird Tray £15, Dreams Mirror £39, Paris cushion £30

I’d like to introduce our newest sponsor the wonderful Hunkydory Home! Hunkdory Home is an online home accessories retailer that specialises in colourful and bold designs. Alison the founder launched Hunkydory in 2005. Keen to provide ’something a bit different’ she began producing the now signature funky, retro lampshades and cushions. Since then Hunkydory has flourished and expanded into a retailer stocking the best in quirky design.

Above is a selection of my favourites from the store – head on over to here and discover yours.

Gentle offerings from Karin Erikkson’s online shop Manos; raspberry pink striped towel, glass jugs reformed from milk bottles, Karin’s own porcelain grass cup, green candy stripe note-card and textured linen hand-towel.