Header image

Bathrooms, To Accessorize Or Not?

Posted by deardesigner in Uncategorized - (3 Comments)

Sometimes I’m torn between two loves.

A part of me loves a spare, minimalist look.  The kind of space where the architecture and the hard surfaces do all of the talking.

fernandosantangelo

Fernando Santangelo

What could be more beautiful than this white tiled bathroom. The uneven texture of the tiles provide the only pattern required.  The monochromatic colour scheme is warmed by the wooden ceiling but the decoration is kept to a minimum with globe lights, chrome taps and fluffy white  towels.  It’s sparseness is its attractiveness and the high window ensures privacy.  I love it.

But then my head is turned.

architectural digest

Architectural Digest

Another white tiled bathroom.  Another monochromatic colour scheme, but there the similarity ends.  The owner of this bathroom loves comfort and decoration.  The floor tiles are highly patterned, there’s a mirrored cupboard that surely holds all manner of lotions and potions.  There are fancy bottles, and flowers, and lampshades, and so many photographs one ended up on the floor!  This is a bathroom to linger in.  To indulge in a long soak in the bath, not take a shower.

Which do you prefer?

, , ,

Bring me Sunshine

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (3 Comments)

If there is one colour that is guaranteed to add a little sunshine to our lives it’s yellow.

House to Home 2

You don’t need a lot.  In fact I don’t think I could live with yellow walls.  My childhood kitchen was saturated with yellow of the very vivid kind on almost all surfaces and I don’t think I could go through that again.

House to Home 3

But just think how a vase of simple yellow daffodils can brighten the day and bring a smile to your face.  It’s the unexpected jolt of a yellow accent or the colour used in unexpected places that really adds a cheerful note.

House to Home House to Home 4 House to Home 1

All images from House to Home

yellow

Sources

Do you love it or hate it?

, , , , ,

Designer Envy – Fiona Barratt

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Designers - (0 Comments)

Fiona Barratt interiors was founded in 2006 and designs high-end, international residential and commercial interiors.

Fiona Barratt 1

Her philosophy behind creating fluid and elegant spaces is that they are born of understanding the aspirations of the client, the relevance of the location and maximising the potential of the existing elements of the space.  Then add in imagination and vision and the result is an interior that tells a story in relation to its location, the consideration of the four walls in which it exists, and most importantly reflects in essence the client’s individuality…

Fiona Barratt 2 Fiona Barratt 3 Fiona Barratt 4

“A successful interior should enhance, not dictate the way you live“.

Fiona Barratt 7 Fiona Barratt 6 Fiona Barratt 5

 And as if these beautiful interiors don’t keep her busy enough, Fiona is opening her first retail store in London in June on the Pimlico Road called FBC London.

, , , , , ,

More Slices to Your Loaf?

Posted by deardesigner in Shopping - (0 Comments)

Did you know that online homeware brand Loaf is getting even bigger?

_Loaf(3)

Having recently launched sofas in 2012 to add to their collection of beds and bedroom furniture (they were formally know as The Sleep Room), they are now branching out into all areas of the home including designs for the kitchen and bathroom.

_Loaf(5)

_Loaf

On 1st March 2013 they will launch over 150 gorgeous new pieces from kitchen tables and chairs, coffee tables, side tables and floor rugs, to bathroom furniture and a kids’ furniture range for the first time.

_Loaf(4)

Expect to see a load more comfy beds and sofas too.

_Loaf(1)

Loaf aims to be cheaper, faster and less hassle than the high street and the one-stop shop means that you can now ‘Loaf’ all of your home.

, , , , , ,

A Fresh Look at Laminate Flooring

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (2 Comments)

I think it’s time to take a fresh look at laminate flooring.

It’s major advantages of course are that it’s quick and fairly easy to install (anyone with moderate DIY skills can do it) and it’s inexpensive.  It’s also hard-wearing and if installed correctly, it can look almost as good as the real thing.

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 1

And while you’re at it have a look at the laminate flooring at Topps Tiles.

I’m rather partial to the darker tones as seen above.  In fact I have similar flooring at home.  I think it adds a real warmth to the room and looks great with neutral and paler colour schemes.  Looks even more stunning with white!

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 4

And I love the sawn effect oak above.  Notice the deep skirting boards and remember to always lay the skirting boards on top of the flooring for a really professional look.

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 3

And don’t we all dream of white-painted boards on the floor?  How many of us have boards in good enough condition and the patience to continually re-paint.  Laminate floors could be the answer?

Topps Tiles Laminate Flooring 2

They don’t have to be wood effect either.  These slate effect boards are just perfect for a kitchen or bathroom.

For tips and instructions on how to lay laminate flooring visit DIY Network.

, , ,

Beautiful Bathroom Marble Worktops

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (1 Comments)

There’s nothing quite like marble for introducing a bit of decadence into the bathroom.

For me, the very mention of marble conjours up illusions of Hollywood glamour, art deco detailing, the shine of chrome or a glint of gold, thick fluffy white towels and a starlet powdering her nose.

It can of course be frightfully expensive if used all over so the trick is to use it in smaller doses, either as the shower splashback or as the countertop.

This is one of my favourite marble bathrooms from the portfolio of Phoebe Howard.  It screams luxury from the twin basins, to the chrome fittings to the inset mirrors.  I just love it.

This one is a perfect example of mixing marble with other materials.  The mosaic tiles complement the marble worktops and the wood prevents the scheme from looking too cold.

Proving that marble can be used successfully in contemporary bathrooms as well as traditional, this one above looks amazing.

Another mix of marble worktop, tiles and wood.  I particularly like how the paint colour on the wall picks out the colour of the marbling.

And if you need to add a bit of femininity, you can always add some wallpaper, curtains and a comfy chair.

What do you think?  Would you use marble worktops in the bathroom?

Image credits:  Phoebe Howard, Artistic Designs for Living, Steve Domoney Architecture, Houzz, Architectural Digest.

Trésor – Luxury Hand-Embroidered Towels

Posted by deardesigner in I Spy | Interior Design - (1 Comments)

I have fallen in love with these hand-embroidered towels from Trésor.

Each towel has a band of delicate cross-stitched pattern.  Delicate and meticulous, the attention to detail is mind-boggling.  You just know that this could only be achieved by skilled and experienced hands.

The inspiration for the patterns comes from folk motives, eastern influences and a love of typography.  The colours available – dove grey and midnight blue – are beautiful and elegant.

Trésor’s new product is intended to be much more than a mass-manufactured everyday object. It is a hand-made heirloom piece and the most personal gift especially as each towel is packaged in a re-usable cotton bag.

If you could ever bear to part with them!

,

Happy Anniversary To Me

Posted by deardesigner in Inspiration | Interior Design - (10 Comments)

It suddenly occurred to me at the weekend that Dear Designer’s blog has now been going for just over three years.  And I never even noticed the anniversary passing!  Probably because my life is so much busier now that weeks go by in a blink of the eye and this whole year has passed in a kind of blur.

Not that I’m complaining.  Blogging started as a hobby, rapidly became an obsession and now, as many other bloggers will agree, is simply a way of life.  And it’s enriched my life in so many ways.  I have a whole network of friends I did not know previously, I get to travel occasionally, I get invited to more events than I can possibly attend and I am constantly amazed and awed by the amount of creativity happening in the design world around me.

But I digress, to mark the occasion I am listing below the 10 most popular posts of the last three years.  In order of popularity. (click on the image to go to the full post).

Celebrity Snoop – Jennifer Aniston

I believe Jen has now sold this Beverley Hills house but it’s been by far my most popular post.

Kelly Hoppen – Ideas

Kelly’s very popular book has been very popular on my blog!

Celebrity Snoop – Bedrooms

A round up of all the celebrity bedrooms I have ever featured.  This one belongs to Donna Karan but there are many more on the post.

Wallpaper – Fresh Blue Feature Walls

Wallpaper posts are always popular.

Just My Imagination – Bold Bedroom

A 3-d rendering of a bedroom that is pure fantasy but the black, white and red colour scheme proved a winner.

Designer Envy – Kit Kemp

The warm and colourful family home of the designer of Firmdale Hotels.

Inspiration – Masculine Bedrooms

It seems that inspirational posts are another hit, especially masculine bedrooms…

Inspiration – White Metro Tiles

white metro tiles…

Inspiration – Glamorous Bathrooms

and glamorous bathrooms.

I Spy – Timorous Beasties Wallpaper

So it’s pretty clear to me now that you lovely readers want to see more celebrities, more designers, more wallpaper and more inspirational images.

I’ve made a mental note.

, , , , ,

What’s Your Style of Tile?

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design | Shopping - (1 Comments)

It’s never been easier to find inspiration for decorating our homes.  There is such a wealth of material out there from print and digital magazines, TV programmes, trade shows, showrooms and yes, blogs.  And let’s not forget Pinterest!

And at the same time, lucky for us, it’s also never been easier to emulate those looks from shopping on the good old high street.  Take a look at these gorgeous images of tiles for instance.  Whatever your style you can’t help but be inspired.

Aren’t these pretty?  Inspired by delftware, just add a blue and white gingham curtain, a porcelain sink, a few hearts and you have your very own Dutch kitchen.

Maybe your style is more contemporary?  And maybe you like a bit of colour in your life?  This is certainly a bold scheme but as it is teamed with liberal lashings of white it is not overpowering.

For the romantic at heart.  Metro style black and white tiles with a showstopping bath and lots of Moroccan inspired lanterns for the ultimate bathing experience.

It pattern is your thing, and you like to reminisce about those Provencal holidays, how about a touch of blue and white.  Again, it is the white that keeps this the right side of OTT, but there is nothing stopping you from running with the scheme with blue and white china too.

I have to say I love this.  It’s just so classic.  But these tiles will go with almost any scheme you desire and especially with the current trend for industrial style.  I can’t even remember how many times I have specified these tiles in a clients scheme.

These are so feminine.  I love them.  Teamed here with a French style chair and you can just bet period details.

And for those of you who like a bit of retro and country inspired kitchens a white tile will never go out of style.  And when you tire of those accessories and pink, (as if!) it will not take much to change the scheme completely without spending tons of money.

Spoilt for choice?

All tiles and all images courtesy of Topps Tiles.

, ,

Designer Envy – Steven Gambrel

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design | Interior Designers - (2 Comments)

Steven Gambrel established his New York-based design firm, in 1995, only three years after earning an architecture degree at the University of Virginia. He has a passion for timeless, comfortable houses that improve with age and it clearly shows in his portfolio.
All of his projects share a classical sensibility with an individual mix of modern and traditional furnishings, which he often designs himself, from custom sofas and chairs to rugs and accessories.

Steven Gambrel

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

, , , , ,