1. OKA 2. Waveney Rush 3. Nick Smyth 4. White Co 5. Lombok
No one I know doesn’t have storage issues. Whether you live in a sweet studio or a marvelous mansion, storage is always at a premium. One simple solution for magazines and newspapers are baskets, and I’ve rounded up 5 stylish solutions to share with you.
Which is your favourite?
Instead of my usual Friday’s Breathing Space, I thought I’d dedicate some some space to the upcoming Academy Awards this Sunday. There have been some really fantastic films out recently, and I’m always glad that an Oscar is awarded for set design. I feel that it’s a very important area that is often and very easily forgotten, without setting a scene a film would obviously be very poor visually!
The Artist is a sumptuous homage to old Hollywood, filmed (mostly) in black and white and set in the late 1920s during the twilight of silent films. This whole film is wonderfully styled, and it replicates the age of Art Deco beautifully with spot on period furnishings and accessories. Bennett notes that Gould “revelled in the chance to find unusual things”, from the 3 monkey statues to the various props used throughout. How divine is the satin shirred headboard in Peppy’s guest bedroom? Shooting in black and white was “liberating” says Bennett, as “taking away the colour tools, we had to pay attention to lighting and shadows, contrasts, pattern, textures and lustre.” One should always pay attention to these things!
1. Cascade Wall Light 2. The Odeon 3. Deco Tub Chair 4. Nereid Dressing Table 5. Muran Sommerso Glass Vase
From the Gothic inspired Hogwarts to the scallop shelled beach house of the Weasley’s and down into the vaults of Gringotts bank, McMillan and Craig had their work cut out for them. They used a combination of physical models and digital constructions to create the magical world (whether you like it or not!) of Harry Potter.
Hugo is the story of a young boy who lives in a Parisian train station, which is where the centrepiece of the film is set, reminiscent of the 1930s Gare Montparnasse. Ferretti and his wife, set decorator Lo Schiavo, filled out the station with meticulously designed shops, flower carts, and a café.
Midnight in Paris is Woody Allen’s paean to the city of love, with Owen Wilson’s midnight wanderings around the city turning into magical meetings with 1920s literary greats. The film features both contemporary and period settings, re-creating apartments and salons with early Parisian colour palettes. Apparently they used specialist lightbulbs imported from Germany to create soft coloured and golden tones enhancing the Art Nouveau scenes.
Can you spot a trend this year?!?
With a colour palette straight from the Devon moors, set locations in Wiltshire and Surrey and the French farmhouse of young Emilie, War Horse gives a true depiction of Europe during the First World War.
I’m sure you can guess which film set I’m hoping will win. Which set do you think should win? Or is there another film you’d like to have seen nominated?
I’ve been asked to expand on my previous post about how to achieve a great look in blue. Blue is once again the hue of the moment (although, when does it ever really go out of fashion?!)
From the runway to the home, blue is having yet another renaissance. Giorgio Armani shows off with different shades of cool blues and playing with silk in the S/S12 Fashion Week.
Speaking of renaissances, you can see how the popularity of the colour blue was prevalent even during the Renaissance, when the pigment derived from the mineral lapis lazuli was so prized that it was used to paint the sacred robes of the Madonna.
Anyway, I digress. Using Giorgio as a springboard for inspiration, here are some key elements of putting a colour scheme together.
1. For nautical, denim and blue fabrics go to Ralph Lauren Home, Elanbach, and Sanderson
2. For silks in a variety of blues, go to Fox Linton
3. For traditional ikats and matching trims, go to Turnell & Gigon,
4. and 5. Hand glazed tiles from Fired Earth
6. Oyster Slate Split Face Split Mosiac from Topps Tiles
7. Paint palette – various {via Elle Decor}. Another excellent colour to add is ‘All White’ by Farrow & Ball
1. Blue and White Amari Vase from Vaughan
2. William Yeoward Piers Court Navy cushion from Designers Guild
3. Twisted tumblers and wine glasses from OKA
4. Johnson Brothers Blue Denmark Plate from John Lewis
5. Square Blue and White Vase from Vaughan
The key is to mix as much as possible! What I mean is mix the patterns and prints, but be careful of mixing shades of blue that could clash. There is a difference between colour and tone ~ colour is blue, tone is navy. You wouldn’t mix a turquoise tone with a navy tone unless you were intentionally clashing up the colours, which is best left to bright and bold to make a statement.
Blue is of course best contrasted with white, so pick a tone you like, layer it with pattern, texture and sizes and you’ll be on to a winner.
What is your favourite blue?
When I’m styling a completed interior design project, laying the table is a an absolute must-do. There are so many ways to lay a table, especially depending on the room’s scheme and the occasion. When laying the table at home, even for an informal kitchen supper, I always like to make sure I have put a little thought into it so that my guests can feel relaxed and enjoy their meal.
There’s often some confusion on how to lay a table, so I wanted to share a few ideas and give you a visual guideline which might be helpful.
{via HouseofFifty}
I love the idea of the above placement, which literally shows you where to place your utensils.
I also found the below, which gives a visual layout for place settings.
{via tumblr}
Here are 4 ways for a dreamy table setting, all that I’d love to be dining at…
1. Polo Ralph Lauren 2. TW Design Project 3. Style Me Pretty 4. Luxe Finds
Any other ideas on a theme for a table setting?
In the theme of Tuesday’s post, I’ve been thinking of other ways to up-cycle for the home. Here are 5 cool ideas to recycle pallets. You can find them all over the place, from freecycle, skips, working warehouses, even sometimes the edge of the road (although be careful if you are that hardy!)
1. Why not use palettes instead of a futon base for your bedroom. To add to the rustic look, tie in muted colours and even use an old fruit crate as your bedside table. {via chic deco}
2. Hang a palette on the wall, and you have a nifty plate rack. {via tumblr}
3. Create a garden planter, this is ideal for a balcony garden! {via Craft}
4. A slick of paint and some nails, plus a little bit of imagination transforms old bits of junk wood into a contemporary kitchen island unit. This will save lots of pennies that you can spend on cool chairs and fun lighting pendants to complete the look. {via Apartment Theraypy}
5. For a commercial space, you could commission Most Architecture, a Dutch architectural practice, to design a recycled interior for your office.
If this is all too much hassle, and you want the look but are not DIY friendly (although to be honest, these are really easy except no. 5), then Made.com does a fun coffee table made under the same principle.
I know you are all extremely creative and fun, what would you make or have as a palette feature?
1. Eclectic Anthology 2. Aria 3. Andrew Martin 4. Pinch
I obviously have chest of drawers on the brain. A few weeks ago I mentioned a chest of drawers DIY project, so following on from that, I have selected these as my current top 4 chest of drawers – in fact no. 4 from Pinch has been a firm favourite for years, I have used this ‘Armoire’ on many occasions and it is always well received! I love adding a touch of humour to a room, and this is so easily achievable with a cheeky piece of furniture.
Which is your favourite?
{via LiveBreatheDecor}
I love blue. If done well, the classic blue and white combination is crisp, elegant and not at all ‘beach house’.
I’m pretty sure this is a Ralph Lauren ‘Bel Air Apartment Sofa’…
Most of all, I love that this home owner has colour coordinated the books on the shelves, giving warmth and depth plus a hint of fun to the room.
What is your favourite colour?
I know it’s been done, done done. But. I still love hanging barn doors. I’ve put together my top 5 Inspirations for Hanging Doors.
1. A splash of bright colour and architectural hardware makes this grown up and contemporary.
2. Here are 2 different ways to achieve a rustic chic look. I love this clever pantry idea, can I have one please?!
3. A neutral palette works well to create a grown up feel to both room dividers.
4. The space saving doors on the left create a statement in their monochromatic way, and this clever design detail on the right creates an additional layer of art to a feature wall.
5. Although hanging doors most often give a room an architectural feel, this pretty treatment puts to clever use a hanging door between a bedroom and dressing room.
Do you have a door that you’d like to convert?
Are you looking for something specific for your home that you can't find?
Tamaryn is delighted to offer her specialist sourcing service. No enquiry or item is too big or too small, so get in touch to see if she can help.
