Wednesday 29 July 2009

Scandi style flooring





Blonde wood is definitely back in fashion. I dream of my new open plan lounge with Douglas Fir floors from Dinesen sweeping between lounge and kitchen diner. The wood planks are pale and wide and are made to especially to order. Even the big retailers and Saatchi gallery are using the stuff. The grain is super visible which is another reason to love it. Then I can pretend I am in my forest house in Sweden living my 'hygge' lifestyle rather than dodging the traffic in urban West London.

Monday 27 July 2009

Squint



Shabby chic style isn't always the easiest to live with [boys don't always love it], but it's time has surely come [minimalism is on it's death knell] and the reused, patchwork style of designers Squint is right for our new love affair with homespun, recycled style. Take a wander down to Squint's store on Shoreditch High Street one Sunday after a morning at Columbia Road flower market just around the corner. It opens at 1pm, so enough time for a brew before.

Friday 24 July 2009

Ilse Crawford is my design hero


Ilse Crawford is my design hero. She has created so many inspirational schemes for commercial and residential projects. Today's pick is a simple kitchen she designed for a Notting Hill showflat for one of the UK's biggest housing associations. I love it's simplicity. It's something that we could easily recreate at home. It's so beautiful - [I think I'm obsessed by kitchen design...]

Cath Kidson summer inspiration


Summer's here [supposedly] in London, although I can barely see it today through the thick grey cloud. I think I'll cheer myself into summer with some Cath Kidson boat cushions. They make me think of the beach and are perfect as bedroom cushions on a wicker chair or bed, until Oct when they can be stowed away for London winter. Although I will probably make new winter inspired covers to put over them. I think the Circus Elephant Cushion for my nephew is cute too, and is currently in the sale on the Cath Kidson website for £12 down from £18, bargain.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Bathroom inspiration



It's good to be back after sunning myself in Turkey for two whole weeks [I made sure I had heaps of interiors reading entertainment]. And since then I took myself off to those clever people at KLC design school to learn the latest on kitchen and bathroom design. Designing kitchens and bathrooms can be scary - all that water and electricity! The challenge is make fantastic looking schemes that also function for you, or your client. Two bathroom schemes that currently love are by Wily Gufron and Kim Stapleton. They both achieve the expensive hotel, high-end look that is becoming easier to replicate at home. In particular, I love the blocky, bold architectural style of Wily Gufron's design [though I'm not sure how comfy the oblong bath would be!] Kim Stapleton's design is more organic and oriental in it's approach, and just imagine how lovely that outside stone bath would be on a summer's day! All I need now is a new house and a new bathroom to design.

Tuesday 21 July 2009

Fab Totes for London sales shopping




It's London sales shopping time so it makes sense for a girl to have a squillion cool totes to fill with trinckets*. These are my faves: 1. Clarissa bag £10 from Kitty and Polly. 2.Responsibility Tree bag £15.95, The Design Museum. 3.Saturday Morning Screenprint shopper tote bag - orange £15 from our beloved Etsy. 4. Letter N Tote bag £17 from Loyalty & Blood.

Thursday 2 July 2009

Inn the Park - Peyton and Byrne








As the London sun is shining, I'm taking my flip flops down to Inn the Park, Peyton and Byrne's eco-friendly restaurant by day, and destination restaurant by night. It's my top place for wkend brunch because it feels so relaxing in this Austrian larch building in the heart of St James's Park. [The wood is untreated so it will weather over time].

I went with the girls on a humid Sunday and we 'self-served' ourselves lattes and Millionnaire's shortbreads and ate them on the grass topped roof terrace, with it's cute green metal patterned tables. The dining room is a more formal option, separated by the kitchen by chunky white marble booths and black leather banquettes. British design hero of the moment Tom Dixon designed the 60's inspired mirrored lights [pressumably to give the caff a 'destination restaurant' glamour for evenings]. This place with it's chairs made of tubular steel and leather pads shows that park grub has moved up in the world of London town.

Wednesday 1 July 2009

Manhattan Chest of Drawers

Interiors lust of the day - Manhattan Chest of Drawers from Graham & Green for £795 [start saving]. Please, please, please, please can I have this for my new house?! The multifaceted mirrors are so 1930's glam.