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Sunday 27 March 2011
SPRING HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!
Spring is finally peeking it's perky little face around the corner which is a huge relief and it always makes me want to scoot round to the over priced but gorgeous garden centre near my home (I shouldn't really call it a garden centre - more a temple to plants). It's always a great place to get inspiration and ideas for what plants to choose and how to mix them together. I like things in pots as they are so portable, so I'm always on the hunt for interesting texture and colour that can instantly give a visual lift by being planted up and tucked in an empty corner in need of company. These three beauties with their creamy colouring and widely varying textures took my fancy and found their way in to my car. Tomorrow will be a planting day - a very good way to get through a Monday I always feel......
Monday 21 March 2011
AN INTERIOR DESIGNER'S PRESCRIPTION FOR DOMESTIC BLISS....
I was approached recently by a press contact from my days as a PR to create some mood boards for her home. Jenny Dalton's home (for it is she), lives in a fantastic Eric Lyons Span house and with a burgeoning young family and busy work schedule, she was looking for advice on effective storage solutions as well some colour palette and furniture suggestions to help get her house in order. Having studied the rooms she was interested in sorting out, I set to work searching out furniture and furnishings for the living and dining spaces, the kid's bedroom and the study/2nd bedroom. The age of the house (1960s) and some of the existing furniture that they wanted to keep gave me a starting point to work from, and it became clear that a mix of Mid-Mod and 21st century design styles would be the perfect and appropriate mix.
Happily she was really pleased with the results and she kindly offered to feature the project on the prestigious Financial Times How Spend It website. I could hardly refuse could I? (You can take the girl out of PR but you can't take the PR out of the girl)! Here are the final mood boards that were created for Jenny and her lovely response to my work. Thank you Jenny!
Happily she was really pleased with the results and she kindly offered to feature the project on the prestigious Financial Times How Spend It website. I could hardly refuse could I? (You can take the girl out of PR but you can't take the PR out of the girl)! Here are the final mood boards that were created for Jenny and her lovely response to my work. Thank you Jenny!
Sunday 20 March 2011
A DAY OUT IN DULWICH....
Popped down to Dulwich today to meet with my old friends Nick and Ian, to visit the Midcentury Modern show at Dulwich College. Run by my lovely friend Lucy, it's always a popular draw. All started well with an early lunch/late brunch from the delicious gourmet Mexican Taco Truck. Having devoured that, had a quick catch up with the said lovely Lucy and then headed in to see what was on offer. As usual, everywhere I looked there were chairs that I wanted to take home. Dining, occasional, desk, you name it, I want it. I have an unhealthy obsession with chairs, rugs, throws, blankets and cushions. The key was to move through the show at a steady speed, not lingering too long over anything that I knew I would want to own. But then of course it winked at me........
I love Pierre Jeanneret. The shape, the materials, the simplistic style. Perfect. I managed to leave without the chairs so if you're interested check them out at Desirable Design.
We bumped in to the super creative Rupert Blanchard who created some visual display pieces for the Melrose & Morgan Hampstead shop which I designed last year. He was showing his unique work and it seems like he'd had a busy day with lots of orders which was good to hear. More can be seen at the Barbican at the moment so head down if you're in the mood for a purchase.
Wandering on through the crowds I noticed that Mini Moderns were showing. I've seen their work in the press quite a lot recently and like the 50s inspired look of their products. Particularly like the wallpaper ranges - this one would be really good for a children's room I think. See more products on their website.
Having had our fill of fashionable furniture we strolled over the park to the Dulwich Picture Gallery. I rarely get down here but it's always a pleasure. A good collection of heavyweight paintings and this time round there was the added bonus of a Norman Rockwell exhibition. I know he's seen as a bit cheesy by some, but I was interested to see what his work was like in reality. Well worth seeing, particularly the earlier and later works. This one really struck me. I love the attention to detail and the hint of bright yellow on the backs of the chairs mixed with the punch of burnt orange of the table.
A good day out all in all and tomorrow is the first day of Spring - things are on the up.
Oh, and if you want to see some great Mid Mod furniture, head to the next Midcentury Modern show which will be held at Lord's Cricket Ground in May.
We bumped in to the super creative Rupert Blanchard who created some visual display pieces for the Melrose & Morgan Hampstead shop which I designed last year. He was showing his unique work and it seems like he'd had a busy day with lots of orders which was good to hear. More can be seen at the Barbican at the moment so head down if you're in the mood for a purchase.
Wandering on through the crowds I noticed that Mini Moderns were showing. I've seen their work in the press quite a lot recently and like the 50s inspired look of their products. Particularly like the wallpaper ranges - this one would be really good for a children's room I think. See more products on their website.
Having had our fill of fashionable furniture we strolled over the park to the Dulwich Picture Gallery. I rarely get down here but it's always a pleasure. A good collection of heavyweight paintings and this time round there was the added bonus of a Norman Rockwell exhibition. I know he's seen as a bit cheesy by some, but I was interested to see what his work was like in reality. Well worth seeing, particularly the earlier and later works. This one really struck me. I love the attention to detail and the hint of bright yellow on the backs of the chairs mixed with the punch of burnt orange of the table.
A good day out all in all and tomorrow is the first day of Spring - things are on the up.
Oh, and if you want to see some great Mid Mod furniture, head to the next Midcentury Modern show which will be held at Lord's Cricket Ground in May.
Tuesday 8 March 2011
HUGGABLE HERMES
Always been a fan of the purist Hermes line. Exudes paired down elegance. I dream of one day being swathed in it's cashmere and wool, both on me and on my furniture! The colour palette for aw11-12 looking as chic as ever. Creams, caramels, tans and a punch of zesty orange, mixed with sludgy grey and aquamarine. Perfect combinations. Yummy.
Friday 4 March 2011
BALENCIAGA - BOLD and BRAVE
Casting my eye over the fashion shows in Paris, Balenciaga is always one that pushes the boundaries so I knew I'd see something unusual and appealing in terms of texture, fabric and colour. Strong black and tan leather in over-sized plaiting, patent block fringing, mixed with two tone wool or grey marl sweat, all mixed together with a hint of punchy colour to lighten things up. Marvellous. Put the kettle on or pour a glass and sit back and take a look for yourself.
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Tuesday 1 March 2011
E.O.HOPPE at the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Scooted in to town on my bike in the biting wind today to meet my old friend Karina and go see Bridget Riley at the National Gallery. Was a bit underwhelmed by the lack of work on show, so we strolled round to the National Portrait Gallery. Had one of those lovely unexpected moments when you stumble upon something that is so brilliant you're feel really chuffed to have seen it.
E.O.Hoppe - ashamed to say I've never heard of this guy but he was what I suppose could be called the first celebrity photographer which doesn't sound very good I know. But this is wonderful stuff. Photos from the 1930s of various actresses, dancers, poets etc from that period where great, but what really took my interest where the photos in the section called "Street". Fascinated by Britain's growing cultural diversity, Hoppe travelled throughout London and beyond, photographing people of different ethnic origins and a variety of occupations. It's a fascinating look in on the lives of the normal London population between the wars. Loved this show. It's well worth a visit.
Oh yes, and just to add a cherry on the top of the cake, the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square (in front of the National Gallery to those non-Londoners) has finally got something funny and appropriate on it.
E.O.Hoppe - ashamed to say I've never heard of this guy but he was what I suppose could be called the first celebrity photographer which doesn't sound very good I know. But this is wonderful stuff. Photos from the 1930s of various actresses, dancers, poets etc from that period where great, but what really took my interest where the photos in the section called "Street". Fascinated by Britain's growing cultural diversity, Hoppe travelled throughout London and beyond, photographing people of different ethnic origins and a variety of occupations. It's a fascinating look in on the lives of the normal London population between the wars. Loved this show. It's well worth a visit.
Oh yes, and just to add a cherry on the top of the cake, the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square (in front of the National Gallery to those non-Londoners) has finally got something funny and appropriate on it.
CATE BLANCHETT GETS MY VOTE.........
Having devoured the best bits of the Oscars and wishing I was swishing in to the Vanity Fair after party, I make do with checking out with the best frocks on the night. So much strong colour this time round which was good to see, but this was the winner by far. Faded lilac with just a touch of zesty lemon nestled in the brilliant beading is a genius idea. Bravo Givenchy!
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