Taking inspiration from some of the iconic British designers of the 1950′s but with a subtle Scandinavian twist.

Simple images of birds and stylised foliage in soft Gustavian colours but paired with surprisingly bright contemporary colours too.  Like this soft blue and zingy orange.

“I wanted to capture the nostalgia of a very English style, but reinterpret it in a way that wasn’t too quaint or fussy: in essence to bridge the gap between town and country, classic and contemporary, without ever seeming as though it’s trying too hard or looking out-of-place.”

 Lovely for summer!

it’s time for a right royal knees up!

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 5th June 2012

Sources: 1 NOTHS 2 Cath Kidston 3 John Lewis 4 HomeHomeHome 5 DotComGiftShop 6 House of Hackney 7 The Contemporary Home 8 Bombay Duck 9 NOTHS

And it seems that I like my timepieces to look traditional and aged.

Sources:1 Barker and Stonehouse 2 Pavilion Broadway 3 Cotswold Co 4 Nordic House 5 Maisons du Monde 6 Graham and Green 7 Laura Ashley 8 Origin of Style 9 Graham and Green

What’s your favourite?

Villeroy & Boch have been manufacturing ceramics for bathrooms, tiles and tableware since 1748 and have had many collaborations with artists over the years.

Ebon Heath

For their latest collaboration they have teamed up with Ebon Heath an artist from Brooklyn who looks at things from different perspectives.  Who deconstructs things and puts them back together.

The result is a limited edition of 100 unique pieces, numbered and signed by the artist.

At first glance the designs seem to consist of trailing flowers but at Second Glance you can see glimpses of the rich tradition of the V & B legacy.  Snippets of words and half formed faces of characters from the long history of the brand.

We also had the opportunity to see Ebons’ LoopArt mobile which was described as a sculptural poem.

Oh, and did I mention the launch was in Berlin?

This terrarium looks amazingly substantial.  Modelled on an old-English conservatory, its delicate arches and subtly weathered finish really do provide a tireless, timeless appeal. It has a hinged roof for easy access as well as an adjustable roof panel for easy control of humidity, making it the perfect home for your favourite flora and the perfect gift for your green-fingered friends.  And me!

This mirrored screen is the perfect statement piece for any bedroom or hallway.  It’s gently weathered with an antique black matt finish.  How glamorous?

And this Swedish designed teapot is just my cup of tea. Pardon the pun. It has a distinct handmade feel; made from high quality stoneware with a thick glossy glaze.  It not only looks beautiful but it’s terribly practical too.  It has a built-in stainless steel filter for loose-leaf or tea bags. 

Pity it’s not my birthday anytime soon.

Harriet Anstruther is an interior designer after my own heart.  She doesn’t have a signature style, she is as capable of designing a country home as a contemporary commercial space, a book as a fabric range.

Traditional and modern styles regularly co-exist harmoniously.

This is a quote from one of her private clients “she knows the importance of the quality of small things; a handle on a door, a switch on a wall. The parts of an interior that we touch every day are the parts we see every day and remind us if we love or hate where we are, if it works or grates; it shows attention to detail, a love of what she does and a wish for the client to continue to love their home long after she has torn up the snagging list and gone home.”

What better recommendation is there?

Anyone who knows me, knows that pink is my favourite colour, and this most saturated hue is my favourite pink of all.  But, a word of caution, never was the phrase ‘a little goes a long way’ more true.

Another overused phrase ‘less is more’ also happens to be true with this hot shade.  Use it as an accent.  It goes particularly well with white and all shades of grey.  I wouldn’t personally use it with the warmer neutrals such as beige and taupe.  But maybe that’s just me.

It’s such a statement colour and it works particularly well in unexpected places.  It’s not called shocking pink for nothing!

If you love it but can’t quite commit to it as a colour block, it looks stunning used in graphic patterns.  Looks particularly well with this polished wood too.

Of course you can easily use it on those soft furnishings that can easily replace next season.  But some might say you have committment problems?

And don’t feel that an accent colour has to be repeated around the room.  It can, but sometimes just one splash of colour is enough, especially in a small room.  More pink in this bathroom would look contrived and overdone.  A room should look as if it has evolved and that you haven’t tried too hard.

Another unexpected use of pink.  And paint can easily be changed when you are ready for a change.

It’s the perfect colour to soften and feminize a room.  All of the hard surfaces here, both glossy smooth and spiky look all the better for some soft, upholstered, buttoned hot pink!

So do I. So do I.

Sources:1 Harriet Anstruther 2 Our City Lights 3 York Wallcoverings 4 Micasa Revista 5 Apartmenttherapy 6 Michael Graydon 7 The Long and Short of it 8 Etsy

It was nice to get a feel of the city with a native New Yorker, and who doesn’t like to shop? 

The New Traditionalists where ‘traditional and cool are not mutually exclusive’.

Paula Rubenstein.  An absolute treasure trove of collectables and antiques particularly American textiles.

Canvas Home Store. A fabulous collection of ceramics, wooden objects, textiles, accessories and furniture for the home created by artisans and craftsmen.

Calypso Home.  A luxury lifestyle brand.

Clic Gallery. A welcoming space founded by the Calypso owners, stocking a brilliantly curated collection of photography, lifestyle and art books.

Michele Varian.  A constantly changing collection of various home and personal accessories and curiosities. 

Ochre.  A British based furniture, lighting and accessory design company whose hallmark is the embodiment of contemporary, chic and understated glamour.

Hastens.  A welcome stop for some very tired blogger shoppers.

Flair. The very epitome of stylish and individual home furnishings against a signature backdrop of black and white.

Blogtour NYC by Modenus

Sponsors: Blanco America,  Miele, Samuel Heath, Du Verre Hardware, Rotsen Furniture, MMPI (organisers of AD show 2012), Scholtes, Poggenpohl Kitchens, Spirit of Sports, Victoria and Albert Baths, Jenn Air, Big Ass Fans, Modern Aire, Mix Magazine, Wallunica, Vitra, Axor.

I can still remember my grandmothers tradition of cleaning the house from top to bottom as a child.  As soon as spring arrived mattresses would be turned, rugs would be taken outside and beaten, and net curtains would be taken down and soaked in the bath while the windows were rubbed until they shone.

Nowadays it’s probably more likely that we will mark the change of seasons by a subtle swapping of the wool and velvet cushions on the sofa, for the cooler linen ones that have been stored away all winter.

And I’m wishing that I had the kind of windows where I could hang these gorgeous sheers to waft in the breeze and diffuse the sunlight.

They are the new decorative wide-width, linen-mix Cirrus sheers from Romo.  The designs include a delicate trailing leaf and pretty floral, ikat-edged cut fretwork, geometrics and a variety of usable stripes.

Do you have any spring traditions?

His interiors reflect a clever combination of international styles and influences, resulting in effortless chic don’t you think?

He had me at the white washed walls and aged timber flooring, the collections of European antiques mixed with mid 20^th Century classics and the natural linens contrasting with printed velvets. 

Greg’s maxim is that all interiors should incorporate an ‘element of humour’ often meaning that there are little quirks here and there which give his work character.

I’m a little in love I think.