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What’s in the Shops? – French Connection and DFS

Posted by deardesigner in Shopping - (0 Comments)

Did you know that French Connection sofas are available at DFS?

I’m continually impressed by the home collections coming out of French Connection and the sofas don’t disappoint either.

french connection at dfs 1

Slate

Quite handsome, non?  I like the oversized cushions and the piping detail and the covers are removable and can be dry cleaned.  Of course it looks all the cooler for having been paired with the French Connection Palette Coffee Table.  Definitely on my wish list for that One Day House in the Country.  Have you also seen the Tree Trunk Side Tables?

french connection tree trunk side table

And the new Safari Chair in white?

french connection white safari chair

Well anyway, I digress, back to DFS.

french connection at dfs 2

Coast

A clean linear shape which comes in a gorgeous palette of laid back colours or vibrant red for the very brave.

french connection at dfs 3

Chalk

Another winner that looks so inviting.

I think I may just go put my feet up now.

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Hooray for Heals

Posted by deardesigner in Shopping - (0 Comments)

A few weeks ago I spent a very pleasant morning re-discovering the Heals flagship store at 196 Tottenham Court Road.  A morning of shopping, coffee and design talk in the building that has been the home of this very british store since 1840.  What’s not to love?

Blu Dot Chairs

Blu Dot dining chairs

Did you know that Heals has been trading for over 200 years (they celebrated their second centenary in 2010) and that they started as a mattress making firm?  Knowing that, it’s very apt that in early February this year the second floor was transformed into the ultimate destination for all things sleep related.  Room sets and designer names at every turn to inspire and tempt us all.

designers guild fabric

Designers Guild fabric

In fact quite a few things have changed recently in this historic building.  There’s been a lot of re-organisation so that shopping is a lot easier.  The Gourmet Kitchen department is the ultimate destination for premium kitchenware, the Spa department in now a truly indulgent experience and there is an extensive list of new designer brands including collections from Clarissa Hulse, Julian Chichester, Cantori, Gervasoni, Blu Dot and Matthew Hilton for De La Espada.

clarissa hulse

Clarissa Hulse

And, always a place to pick up the perfect gift, there has been an influx of innovative and wonderfully crafted collections from the likes of Chisel & Mouse L’Objet, Cire Trudon and Alli Tomlin alongside much-loved Jonathan Adler, Georg Jenson, Kartell, LSA and Seletti.

jonathan adler

Jonathan Adler

And if you decide to visit, don’t leave without visiting the Cafe, which is now in partnership with the Quarter Group.  Not only is the food fresh and delicious, the space is serene and calming.  We’re talking Tom Dixon copper pendents, Ercol dining chairs and inviting solid oak tables.  Bliss.

donna wilson

Donna Wilson

Previous posts you might like:

Chisel & Mouse

Jonathan Adler

Clarissa Hulse

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What’s New at Oka Direct

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (0 Comments)

Oka direct is always one of my go-to websites when I’m looking for something that is timeless and a little bit different.  They seem to source and design products that I love for myself and for clients.  Especially if the look we’re going for is one of agelessness and gives the impression that everything has been picked up from the four corners of the earth during a well-travelled life.  Which it has, but from the comfort of my armchair and without the hassles of shipping and taxes.

For spring they have put together four inspirational homes on the website and in their catalogue but the one I’m most drawn to is ‘Highlife’.  Here’s a taster.

oka highlife 3

oka living room get the look

high-life-dining-room

oka dining room get the look

high-life-bedroom

oka bedroom get the look

All products are available from Oka Direct.

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Industrial Chic Ideasbook On Houzz

Posted by deardesigner in Shopping - (0 Comments)

I’m delighted to say that I am now curating a monthly ‘ideasbook’ over on Houzz.

The first one is now live and it’s featuring ‘industrial chic’ as if you hadn’t guessed that already.  20 products picked by moi that encapsulate exactly what this trend is all about.  So please pop over and have a quick look by clicking here.

Houzz

If you haven’t already discovered Houzz and you are interested in interiors, then you really should have a look at this website.  It is a leading platform for home renovation and design which connects homeowners with interior designers and other professionals.  But best of all for those of us who can’t get enough of inspiring images, it has a vast database of photographs and shopping ideas.

Details of all products are on the Houzz website.

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Ten of the Best – Pedestal Side Tables

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (0 Comments)

Useful little blighters, the pedestal side table.

Always good to have a place for guests (and yourself) to place a drink comfortably within reach, so they are ultra useful at either end of the sofa and beside an armchair.  They can double up too as a bedside table if storage is not a priority.  Just big enough for a reading lamp, a book and the morning cuppa.  But in addition to that I always recommend one to clients if they are going for a roll top bath.  Super handy for the shampoo (and champagne) bottle especially if the bath is placed in the middle of the room.  And as if that wasn’t enough multi-tasking, they are generally light and portable enough to whisk into the garden when the sun comes out.

Here are my personal ten of the best.

ten of the best - pedestal side tables 1

Suppliers:1.Twentytwentyone 2.Nikki Jones 3.Worm 4.Lollipop Shoppe 5.Really Well Made 6.Beautiful Modern Thing 7.Made in Design 8.Nest 9.Yoox 10.Miliboo

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House Doctor DK at Bodie and Fou

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design | Shopping - (0 Comments)

I seem to be drawn more and more to Scandinavian design these days.  Maybe it’s this never-ending winter and a craving for light and fresh air, and the way the Scandinavians seem to have mastered both even in the darkest days.  Anyways, a good flick through the 2013 catalogue at House Doctor DK is as good as it gets at the moment.  And it is good.  Good design, fabulous styling and even more fabulous photography.

House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 1House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 5 House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 3 House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou 4 House Doctor DK at Bodie & Fou

All stocked at Bodie and Fou.

And I can’t fault Karine’s impeccable taste as always.

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A Warm and Cosy Sitting Room – Top Tips

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (1 Comments)

I’m drawn today to this warm and cosy sitting room as the best antidote to the cold grey weather outside.

Skona Hem

To me, it’s just the perfect combination of colours, pattern and texture and it has a few tricks up its sleeve too.  So here are my top tips for creating your own little cosy corner to snuggle into with a good book.

  1. Keep the wall colour neutral so that the artworks and furnishings take centre stage.  This grey is perfect for a background colour.  It’s not as cold as white but it’s cool enough to handle the other hot colours.
  2. Choose a classic sofa in another, darker neutral shade.  The style will never go out of fashion and you can ring the changes simply by changing the cushions and accessories.

Black Grey Gold3. Add colour and pattern with a rug.  Sometimes the rug can be the starting point for a decorating scheme which may have been the case here.  This one is colourful but not too bright and although it’s busy, the patterns and colours work together well.

4. A coffee or side table is more than just a piece of furniture.  This pair is the ultimate in flexibility as they can be moved apart when necessary and yet work together perfectly.

5. The rule of three is always a good rule to follow.  Here the three pendant lights at different levels create just the right effect for a seating area.  Not too low and not too high.  And the three framed prints inside the bigger frame are echoing that effect.

red yellow black

6. Pick out the colours of the rug in the cushions and by using stripes again as in the rug but differently the effect is of subtle co-ordination.

7.  Use small accessories to repeat colours and effects.  The gold bowl echoes the gold inside the pendant lights and the gold frames.  The grey ‘string’ candle holders repeat the same grey as the wall and even the colours of the book covers are similar to the cushions.

The overall effect is one of perfect harmony.  Nothing shouts too loud and it all appears effortless.  My favourite kind of scheme.

Main image: Skona Hem

Ingredients: Tom Dixon Beat Lights, Conran Shop Oswald sofa, Tom Dixon bash vessels, gold frame from Antique Frames Eu, vintage patchwork rug from Bazaar Velvet, Hay Bella occasional tables from Nest, yellow cushion from H & M Home, patterned cushion by Jonathan Adler, knitted vase by Urban Cuckoo.

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Nursery Furniture for Boys and Girls

Posted by deardesigner in Interior Design - (1 Comments)

You may remember that a while ago I mentioned the BF’s two girls were both expecting babies.  On the same day.  Well, that day is nearly here, in fact it is just less than a week away, so when I was asked to take a look at John Lewis’ range of  ‘nursery furniture‘ it couldn’t have come at a better time.

John Lewis - Lasko

I’m not a huge fan of themed furniture so I was delighted to find that the ranges feature handsome, well made collections that would look just at home in any adults room.  The cots are all designed to transform into beds that will grow with your child and the chest of drawers all have baby changing tops that can be removed when they are no longer needed.

John Lewis - Silver Cross - Devonshire

John Lewis - Silver Cross - Nostagia

Of course choosing the furniture is only half the fun.  And as the BF is going to have a new grandson and a new grandaughter soon…

We all know what little girls are made of?

John Lewis - montage 1

And little boys?

John Lewis - montage 2

This is a commissioned guest post

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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.

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Garden Planning – The Deck

Posted by deardesigner in Gardens - (4 Comments)

A brief glimpse of sun at the weekend has me itching even more to do something about my very new and very bare deck.  Spring will be here before we know it and I don’t want to be caught out.

I’ve toyed with the idea of going down the vintage chic look and scouring reclamation yards for some gems (inspired by a lovely feature we have in the Spring issue of Heart Home out next week!) but I’m not sure I can pull it off convincingly enough.  And in any case I have too many of my own ‘treasures’ lying around unused and just waiting for a new purpose.

Garden Planning - Deck

Existing Gems.

  • Two old metal gates that I plan to put against the fence and use as a frame to grow climbers.
  • A Hastens hammock that I won last year and still haven’t used.
  • Some blue and green glazed pots that are just too good to throw away.
  • A black metal fire bowl that was a present and has never been used.
  • A silver pedestal table that is slightly wonky.  BF thinks I’m mad putting it out in the garden but it’s such a nice shape that it won’t even matter if it rusts.

To buy.

  • Two black lounge chairs from Ikea.  They had them last year in white and I’m delighted they now come in black.
  • Some black metal troughs and planters to bring the whole scheme together.
  • Some blue, black and white cushions.  Also from Ikea.  The colours will co-ordinate nicely with the hammock and black touches.
  • Some tea light holders.  Part of the deck is over-hung by a tree and these will look very pretty hanging from the branches.
  • Some new plants!

I think that’s it and I feel quite thrifty and virtuous.

Sources here.

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