Fresh Spring Greens for the Home…

Posted on February 24, 2012 by deardesigner 4 Comments

 All it takes is a couple of warm sunny days for thoughts to start turning to the garden.  But it’s still too early to take this short reprieve for granted of course. 

So bring the garden in…

accessories,green,furniture,wallpaper,tiles,upholstery,plants

Sources: Chameleon Dinner Plate, NOTHS. Leafy fabric, Colefax & Fowler.  Shell wall sconce, Soane. Glass mosaic tiles, Fired Earth. Antler mirror, Black Orchid Interiors.  Leaf green fabric, Colefax & Fowler. Blue and green floral cushion, Cushlab. Gothic trellis, Marston and Langinger. Faux plants, Oka Direct.  Armchair, Rume. Birdcages, Bouf.

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I Spy – Fenella Smith…

Posted on February 22, 2012 by deardesigner Leave a comment

British tableware designer, Fenella Smith has worked with her talented brothers Myles and Greg who run the animation company, The Brothers McLeod to produce this wonderful range called, believe it or not, the Animal Collection.

Hares, spaniels and pugs cavort with labradors, dachshunds, cats and chickens across mugs and jugs.

‘I love to make beautiful, well-made, home-grown objects that make daily life that little bit more delightful’ says Fenella.

Made in Stoke-on-Trent from best Cornish clay, her strong, slip-cast tableware combines good old-fashioned quality with modern practicality. It’s also irresistibly collectable don’t you think?

I Spy, Interior Design ,

Take Me Away – A White Villa in Greece…

Posted on February 21, 2012 by deardesigner 3 Comments

If you are anything like me, you are planning an escape at this time of year.  Whether a virtual escape or real one doesn’t really matter, as long as I can gaze in unashamed envy at a few favourite websites and indulge a few fantasies.

Greece has always held a place in my heart.  I think the Aegean is possibly the bluest sea I’ve ever seen and the contrast with the white of the traditional buildings never fails to set off a longing for hot sun, beaches and long days just doing nothing.

This white villa is on Santorini and is a converted wine factory from the 15th Century. Restored very sympathetically by its architect owner it consists of four housing units on two levels and is available to rent.

It has high vaulted ceilings with thick masonry walls and the exterior spaces have panoramic vistas of almost the entire island.  Some machinery parts and other elements have been kept and are integrated into the space as reminder of the past use of the building.

I think it’s absolutely beautiful and I doubt I’d ever want to leave.

Available at Welcome Beyond.

Travel

Cox and Cox Spring Collection…

Posted on February 20, 2012 by deardesigner Leave a comment

I’m a big fan of Cox and Cox and the new collection for spring does not disappoint.

Seriously, I could order the whole collection!

 

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Pretty in Pink at Ikea…

Posted on February 17, 2012 by deardesigner 5 Comments

There have been one or two short periods this week when the sun has made a brief appearance.  The freezing temperatures of last week have started to fade from memory and there seems to be a tinge of optimism in the air. 

Is it too early to be thinking of spring?

All it takes is a few pretty pictures in my in box and I’m planning a weekend of cleaning and sorting.  And I never could resist anything pretty and pink. 

And if I needed another reason to post these gorgeous shots – my niece has been fitted this week for her first pair of points.  There, what more reason did I need?

Have a lovely weekend all.  I hope the sun shines.

All photos from Nina Broberg/IKEA Livet Hemma

Interior Design, Shopping , ,

A Few Batchelor Pad Essentials…

Posted on February 16, 2012 by deardesigner 1 Comment

I fear I have been neglecting the men lately, so here’s a few little essentials that might just make the batchelor pad just a bit more homely.

And they might go down well with the ladies too!

Sources: Extendable wall lamp (also in main image). Delightful. Shoreditch bus blind, Pedlars.  Armchair, Conran Shop.  Hound cushion and chunky knit poufs, cB2. British Isles type map print, Rose and Gray. Utility red pendant lamp, cB2. Table Lamp, Conran Shop. Sideboard, cB2.

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I Spy – Emma Molony

Posted on February 15, 2012 by deardesigner 1 Comment

Emma Molony calls herself a printmaker but that does not in any way describe her many talents.

She started printmaking in 2002 when she was living in Venice and she was fascinated by the dark inky print studios.  She learnt etching, mezzotint and woodcut before returning to Devon in 2005 where she continued to print.

Peter Pan Wallpaper

Her own prints incorporate monotype drawing – she loves the smoky loose lines and incorporates them with screenprint as this enables the use of flat colour, delicate patterns, drawings and repeat designs on fabric and paper.

Peter and the Wolf Acrylic Box

Much of her work is inspired by papercutting and silhouettes, particularly the papercuts of Hans Christian Anderson and I absolutely adore these story-telling designs straight out of my childhood.

Peter and the Mermaids Bauble

Emma also works with groups outside of the studio who wouldn’t otherwise have access to printmaking equipment – schools, prisons, hospitals, galleries, festivals and community groups.  You can read more about her work here.

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Happy Valentines Day!

Posted on February 14, 2012 by deardesigner 1 Comment

 

Image Credit: Etsy

Events

A Touch of Glamour in the Bedroom

Posted on February 13, 2012 by deardesigner 7 Comments

Sometimes don’t you just yearn for a touch of old-fashioned glamour?

Oh, to return to the days when women were feminine.  When you didn’t have to be a size zero to be considered beautiful and when the female shape was moulded by beautiful lace undergarments and not hours spent at the gym.

I can remember my grandmothers bedroom as being a haloed place from where she would emerge freshly powdered and smelling of Chanel No 5.  Her dressing table was a temple of glass jars and beguiling trinkets, hair brushes and sweet-smelling potions.  Her lipstick was always blood-red.    

So let’s try to replicate some of that intrigue and return the bedroom to a place of romance and secrets and womanly allure.

  • A dressing table is de-rigour, with a chair on which to perch and a mirror in which to primp and powder.  Decant your creams and perfumes into pretty glass jars and surround yourself with family photographs in sparkling silver frames.
  • Display your jewellery, don’t hide it away.  Hang it from mirrors.  Pile it in dishes.

  • Surround yourself with sensuous fabrics.  Satins and silks, fur and velvet.  Be generous with curtain fabrics.  Let it pool on the floor.  Celebrate an abundance with swags and tiebacks.  Forget minimalism.  We are looking for plumpness and hushed silence.
  • Consider mirrors and reflections your friend.  Hang mirrors but also use mirrored furniture.  We all look good by candles and lamplight and twice the reflections means twice the allure.

  • Swap the modern task lighting for lampshades and chandeliers dripping with crystal droplets.  There’s nothing more feminine than sparkle and shine.
  • And remember that tomorrow is Valentines day.  Light the candles, fill the room with roses and celebrate with some old-fashioned glamour.

Sources:1 Colefax and Fowler 2 The Gloss 3 Tumblr 4 Ralph Lauren Home 5 Black Orchid Interiors 6 Tumblr 7 Ishka Designs 8 Raines and Willow 9 Felix Lammers 10 Lauren Conrad 11 Tumblr 12 House of Hackney 13 This is Glamorous 14 India Jane 15 The Sartorialist 16 Architectual Digest 17 Butik Sofie 18 Flickr

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I Spy – Zeena Shah

Posted on February 10, 2012 by deardesigner 3 Comments

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Zeena on her stand at Home London. Her dazzling smile was hard to resist and so were her designs.

 She graduated from Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2007 and has since worked in both the fashion and interiors textile industry and continues to work as a freelance textile designer.  She also runs a programme of craft workshops which she hopes will inspire more people to get stitching.

All of her products are hand crafted in the UK and each piece is individually silk screen printed making it truly unique.  Her fabrics are either locally sourced or vintage.  She supports small UK businesses.

The designs themselves are inspired by her love of paper cutting, printing, drawing, sewing and making.  Birds and hearts feature prominently.

Well, as you can see, she has stolen my heart.

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