Today is officially 'house on the market' day. The For Sale sign is on our front garden wall! And I know what this means - an excuse to work up mood board after sample board for each new space. I'm getting a little high pitched just thinking about it. Pity my poor boyfriend. Anyway, it's got me thinking about bathroom ideas, and colour - not least because I have a residential bathroom project to resolve by Thursday. I have seen some nice bathroom treatments recently that introduce colour in different ways - wallpaper, colour glass shower walls, metallic mosaic tiles and ethnic style tiles, with a middle eastern style. This is just the start!
Everyone is talking about the glass side extension to a Victorian east London house by architect Patrick Mitchell of Platform 5 Architects. And I mean everyone. That's all I have heard today. And there is no doubting that as well as being beautiful, the extension has transformed the rear of the dark Victorian house into something light-filled and utilitarian. The architect has built in a quirky and snug window seat for lazy afternoons gazing into the garden. And the huge glass door on the left pivots open, linking the inside with the outside. But while I admire the space I don't love it. The contrast between the roughness of the Victorian bricks and sleek new glass is great, but the overall feel of the room is a little stark and bare. I can't imagine warm times spent in there. It's not the cosiness we all crave right now?
It's February, it's cold and I need some tartan in my life. And some dark panelled walls. Oh, and some cosy deep red velvet chairs. Just to keep me warm from the snow, don't you know. I've just spent four lovely days at the Double Tree at Dunblane Hydro. It's hard to find highland interiors chic though the miles of hotels that cater for the retirement set. I loved the Hydro for it's contemporary scottish style - antler mirrors, tarten covered modernist chairs and ballsy Farrow and Ball Downpipe walls. The gallery of black and white photos details the Scottish great and the good that have stayed here. It is the perfect place to hole up in with a strong drink and a window framed view to the hills outside.
Quirky interior alert - check out Meal's restaurant by FAT. It's like eating in a modern day Alice in Wonderland. Squint your eyes and you will forget you are on Tottenham Court Road. Seating is in intimate alcoves and long banquettes, plus classic bentwood chairs [a favorite]. Trompe l'oeil tables and trees finish the contemporary rustic fantasy. You won't dine in many restaurants as escapist as this one.
Week 3 of my residential loft project. With all the industrial materials in the space, I need something to soften the look. Melin Tregwynt fabrics will be perfect. Set against slate or rough stone finishes, copper and aluminium, these traditional welsh woven wool blankets and throws will bring a cosy edginess. Having given it a lot of thought [!] I think my favorite fabric is the bold Knot Garden, available in graphite, peat, teal, and heather. To carry the theme through the space, I think I might specify a Melin Tregwynt fabric headboard for the master bedroom. Interior designer Ilse Crawford has done an amazing job at The Olde Bell with some stunning Melin Tregwynt fabric covered banquettes. One thing you should do is go and visit the Melin Tregwynt mill one Pembrokeshire summer to see how the fabric is made and eat cake in the cafe. I cycled there, happy memory
Monday's interior is all blue serentity - to take the edge off my third coffee and this morning's jangly commute on the Jubilee Line. Life would be great if all shopping experiences were as serene as the one offered by the Marni store on London's Sloane Square. The clothes seem to float in the blue space and the clothes rails design means you can actually see them! Designed by Future Systems.
Contuning my obsesssion with colour in 2010, I love this dining room by Interior designer Olga Polizzi and architect Flavio Albanese. They have designed the recently opened Verdura Resort in Sicily in fabulous earth colours and local sicilian tiles. Enough to make me forget all about the London winter.
.jpg)
Happy New Year to you all. My resolution this year [is it something to do with the grey, white, icey, snowy London?] is to live with some colour. Purple, orange, red, blue. This image from cool Amsterdam furniture store The Frozen Fountain is a good place to start. I'm going to use it as inspiration for my next loft space interior project. Furniture is by Marquina, Nani, Eek, Hein, Piet and Fascari. If there is one thing you do this month, check out their designs. I am going to look for a new house to buy now - wish me luck!
Well it's only one and a half days to go until Christmas - cue high pitchedness. If you have left decorating to the last minute [although if you are like me, the tree was up and decorated in November] I found some inspiration at Westfield shopping centre the other day in the form of oversized paper decorations. Having high ceilings helps to pull off this Christmas look. I love to group the decos together in cheery bright colours. Most of all, I love how the oversize shapes play with scale. There is something Alice in Wonderland about hanging a giant paper bell in your hall! Merry Christmas everyone. [DZD and REfound Objects do paper baubles].
This is [one of] my dream christmas lounges. It's the 'modernist' favorite - stacked logs, woodburner, traditional tree and large floor cushions to roll around on after too many ferrero rocher.
Today is breakthrough day on my garden studio project. I love breakthrough day. I have found the most beautiful seat that will be the room's focal point and is functional. The Loveseat by Jake Phipps is hand carved from one piece of cedarwood. When I first saw it I thought it was a sculpture. But you can sit on it and it's comfy! The Victorians invented the concept of the love seat to whisper restrained sweet nothings to one another. This contemporary design brings it bang up to date. I love the idea of sitting on a 40-year old carved out piece of tree: ) Available from Hidden Art for £2350, manufactured by Riva 1920 Industria Mobili SpA .
I have Nicki Dobree ski lodge envy. Ok - I can't ski, don't like skiing, but I could do a luxury ski lodge. Co_sy!
