Regular inspiration from the Sartorialist is essential …. I love the fabrics and textures he captures …. and this plaid fabric is sumptuous.
His fashion on the street photography is gorgeous but often the streetscape itself can be equally as gorgeous. Think Milan, Paris, New York and London. It gives me my fix.
PS The fall and cut of this coat are worth a mention …. I guess it is Chloe.
Winter is well and truly here if today is anything to go by. Temperatures have plummeted …. days are short …. and there is no place like a cosy home …. even better, with a glowing fire.
Home in winter means baskets of freshly cut wood and pine cones gathered on walks …. bowls of apples and pears …. the texture of wool, cashmere, corduroy, velvets and knits …. tartan throw rugs to curl up with or simply add warmth to the mood of the room.
When the weather is bleak enjoy time in the kitchen cooking up a storm …. indulge in the odd hot chocolate …. enjoy the scents of winter with collections of candles. A bare branch in a vase will compliment the more wintry tones …. bowls of camellias, a welcome splash of colour.
Ralph Lauren does wintry textured fabrics so well …. and they are available here. Remember a neutral palette allows for seasonal change …. much like the layering up we do with fashion !!
The Sartorialist has captured this gorgeous look …. with all the elements I love ….. the wool, the tweed, the fur and that shade of camel that I will never grow tired of …. stylish fashion …. stylish for furnishings.
And while I was enjoying the Sartorialist I strayed off into Garance Dore to find she also loves her white jeans in winter !!! They look fabulous with a camel, black or grey cashmere jumper …. city or country, ballet flats, boots or Hunter wellies !!
It is all about the detail at Pure Interiors …. beautiful Italian furniture with amazing detailing.
Whether it be the scatter cushions or the loose covers on dining chairs, the quality and attention to detail is exceptional.
I loved the soft colour and texture in the range of leather benches, side tables and coffee tables …. this furniture has wonderful warmth.
On the other hand, the upholstered furniture is pure luxury …. both in its detail and its styling.
I love visiting the PYD Building in Waterloo to keep up to date with the latest and this showroom is contemporary Italian furniture at its best …… yet with some surprises.
Don’t leave without exploring the unique range of home fragrances and candles!!!
As fabulous as many of the designs were during Australian Fashion Week …. and I am thinking Zimmerman and Toni Maticevski who I particularly admired, nothing came close to the sort of detailing that Chanel is famous for.
images: go runway
I love these textures and fabrics and colours !! and just when I thought the beautiful shade of nude was on its way out. I love working with these gorgeous neutral shades for upholstery whether it be wools, flannels, mohair, linen or velvet … and on whatever style or period of furniture.
Antiques can be modernized and reinvented by upholstering in neutral textiles.
Natural and neutral tones for textiles and rugs work as a backdrop for the warmth of timber furniture, flooring and even subtle architectural detail. These interiors being both harmonious and …. inviting to live in.
jean-baptiste fastrez
As part of Salone del Mobile 2012 (or the Milan Furniture Fair), Danish fabric house Kvadrat, invited seven curators from around the world to nominate a design talent from their area ….. to create a new piece using their fabric. These pieces are some of my favourites … the hammock, coffee table and giant animal cushions …. showcasing the design itself ….. the classic fabric …. and of course the colour palette !!
fredrikson stallard
This exhibition was a focal point with its iconic woollen upholstery fabric relaunched in 58 colours !!
ionna vautrin
images: wallpaper magazine
This beautiful fabric has been used and loved by designers around the world since 1968 when it was first produced by Kvadrat. It was designed by the very talented Nanna Ditzel.
Designer Ilse Crawford’s collection for Georg Jensen comprises a set of universal objects that frame simple daily acts. Studioilse’s design starts with the human being at the centre. The video attached to her ‘website in the making’ is beautiful and shows the pieces above …. in her own words “design can influence the way we behave and feel.”
Because I love her design so much …. I do try to keep an eye out for her latest projects. Her interiors for Soho House which originated in London and included High Road House, Chiswick and Babington House amongst others …. were to me ….perfect !! ….pared back, yet glamorous …. so different to anything else being done in London at the time.
Such a success Soho House now has a much larger network.
Her latest is the Ett Hem Hotel in Stockholm, due to open about now. The above two photos are a little preview. Designed with the feel of staying in someone’s private home ….. a feeling not many hotels manage to achieve or even set out to achieve. Personally it is my only criteria when selecting a hotel to stay in. I really don’t want to feel as if I am staying in a hotel at all.
Ilse Crawford’s pet hotel hate is more about how the hotel is run…..if they are unloved by the staff….whether the lighting levels are right !! I can definitely relate to that. I may have said this before but I can never bear to go back once the doors of a hotel open …. at least one I have worked on.
Really not sure about the range of Mercedes Benz furniture….their first !!!!
It is being launched as we speak at the Milan Furniture Fair.
In their own words they are describing it as dynamic, futuristic and having nice form and lines……and I am sure the ergonomics are brilliant, however it really just doesn’t look terribly comfortable.
Perhaps, the statement piece in a Mercedes Benz showroom or state of the art harbourside apartment !!
images:mercedes benz
The collection comprises chairs, chaise lounge, dining table, shelf for the home theatre system, drawers and bed.
No doubt the quality is impeccable, however I suspect the prices may be approaching that of the smaller cars in the range.
Food for thought…..I don’t think so.
I am not sure which is more delectable…..the fabrics….the luggage…..the ambience of the orient express or the sheer opulence.
This show was the most fabulous of them all…..by all accounts.
I can envisage these fabrics on a very luxurious buttoned sofa…so very european.
These colours are so rich……jewel-like. A hint of velvet and fur is always heavenly !!
I have spoken of my love of a navy and black combination…so chic, however navy and chocolate is not only rich but warm and exotic !!
How clever the LV team is.
The time has come to reorganize my working space so that it not only functions more effectively but is inviting to spend time in. I am particularly lucky to have taken over the room with the best view of our garden!! I overlook magnificent 80 year old maples and elms which I expect any day will start to turn for autumn and put on the usual spectacular display of colour.
I have to say that I do relish the thought of those bookshelves full of coordinating files and binders…..magazines perfectly filed in date order….you have the picture!!
However before I get to the fun bit there are certain tasks which I guess take priority –
create a clean space to work on by filing into binders, storage boxes or magazine holders any superfluous documents, stationary, pens, pencils etc
simple document trays allow you to keep in sight current items that you are dealing with, working on or referring to
if you are a visual person, a white board or planner would be helpful on a nearby wall beside or in front of your work space
assess whether additional shelving is necessary…those piles on the floor just don’t work
if your desk chair isn’t as good as it could be now is the time to start looking and trying out new ones…..you spend a lot of your day in this chair so it isn’t worth creating posture problems
good lighting is essential and task lighting is easily introduced with an adjustable lamp
Now is the time to head off to buy those gorgeous binders and boxes…..try Kikki K, or the gorgeous Semikolon stationary. Filing can be fun if you have all the appropriate tools.
An ordered and calm space can only inspire creative thinking!!!
