STEPPING BACK IN TIME

Invited to a friend's amazing weekend retreat last weekend.  Originally owned by Noel Coward no less, the house sits right on the edge of the sea, beneath the White Cliffs of Dover.  Incredible.  Although the interior decoration has changed over the years, you can still get a sense of how the inside of the house would have looked and the exuberant times that must surely have been had there.

Perhaps we weren't as glamorous as Noel's guests; Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Ian Fleming (who later lived in the house and wrote Moonraker) but we still had great fun.

The house and it's 3 neighbours sit close to the cliffs, stark white and imposing.  They must have appeared incredibly contemporary when built in the 1920s.  Would love to have been there then.

The four houses are all Art Deco in style but the exterior of the house we stayed in felt almost like a Swiss chalet with it's soft yellow shutters and red tiled roof.

The other houses are much more in keeping with the Art Deco style with rounded walls and metal window frames.












It was a real taste of a bygone era.  Faded parquet flooring, arched door frames with chest high wooden door handles, Crittal windows and doors to the staff quarters.

Oh to be a fly on the wall when Noel Coward owned the house - the fun they must have had....

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MINI COOPER GOES BLING

Not a huge fan of bling-o-rama (no BRIC clients for me then....), but this car always makes me chuckle when I walk past it on the way to Waitrose......

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PAD LONDON and LOUISE BOURGEOIS: The Fabric Works

A day of looking at deeply desirable objects of beauty. 

First stop PAD LONDON, Berkeley Square.  On until 17th October, this is all about super elegant, full throttle art and interiors from some of the best dealers around the globe.  I coveted many pieces as I wandered round.  One day maybe they'll be mine........

Tamara de Lempika portrait - beautifully quiet but powerful painting

1950s French furniture designer Pierre Jeanneret - beyond gorgeous pieces.  Elegant and modern and should be mine.

Guy Bourdin............say no more......

 
This blew my mind.  Was too shy to go on stand and ask more about the wall piece - serious looking dealers/buyers in deep discussion, so just took a photo and gazed at it for about half an hour.  Made of carved stone - maybe granite? - it comes in pieces that slot in to each other.  No idea of provenance but must be maybe 50s? Possibly American?  Dunno.  Don't care.  Love.




 
 Takes the whole sunburst mirror idea to another dimension.  Filled the wall and shone so brightly it was almost a spiritual moment - steady Kate......

 And finally the winner of the PAD LONDON Moet Hennessy Prize 2010 by Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta.  A strange, almost mythical piece made of delicate gold interlocking filaments with what look like old man's beard pom poms nestling amongst the gold wire.  Strange but quite beautiful.








Was about to go home and then remembered that one of my favourite artists of all time had an exhibition round the corner on Savile Row at Hauser & Wirth.  The late Louise Bourgeois constantly amazes me with her perspective on life - sometimes dark, sometimes a little uncomfortable to handle but always fascinating and touching.  Called The Fabric Works, the title of the exhibition is sort of self explanatory.  What I loved was the mix of fabrics and how they were used.  I'm itching to use the fabric choices she has created in my own work, whether it be to cover a headboard or a foot stool - who knows.  They will be used though - that's for sure.....

I have to remember how lucky I am living in London.  Two of my favourite artists on show in the same week (Anish Kapoor and Louise Bourgeois), both free to see and both a joy to experience.  Can't be bad can it........

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ANISH KAPOOR: TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN in KENSINGTON GARDENS

Stopped work for an hour today to go check out a new exhibition by one of my favourite artists of all time, Anish Kapoor. 

Four monumental stainless steel sculptures have been scattered around Kensington Gardens, confusing the eye with odd and unexpected reflections, sometimes upside down, sometimes right way up.  They are magnificent.  As I walked around, the grey sky lifted, the sun came out and my day suddenly got a whole lot better......

For more details read here
And to read more about the fantastic Mr Kapoor, read here

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WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS

Worked over the w/end on a project for my other company Wentzel & Monckton.  We had to source furniture and accessories for an empty property over on Columbia Road, east London. 

Jenny and I scoured the websites of our favourite designers and interior stores and then ran around town gathering together a cohesive mix of pieces.  Transforming a lonely (but gorgeous) empty space into a living breathing interior was hugely enjoyable and we'll be posting images on the W&M website next week of what we found and how we dressed the space.

In the meantime, a shout out to some lovely people who helped us out.  The Rug Company lent us beautiful rugs that instantly made me want to lie down on and go to sleep, more information on them here.  And our lovely new friends at 2 Columbia Road, who went out of their way to help us, check what they offer here.  And finally, to Hip Props who lent us the eye popping Pierre Paulin Tongue Chair - thank you!  If you need to hire brilliant furniture, check this out.

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COLUMBIA ROAD

Prepping for a interior styling job for my other business Wentzel & Monckton today.   The apartment is just off Columbia Road, so a perfect excuse to check out the famous market for some inspiration and purchases.  Got side tracked by colour (again), first with the vibrant colours of the flower market and then with the ghetto fabulous outfit I stood behind while queuing for a bacon bagel (as you do).  Spooky how the colours correspond........

Check out what we offer at Wentzel & Monckton here

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