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My Week in Sydney

Manuel canovas … my edit for spring 2456

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This fabric works perfectly in a neutral scheme .. a punch of colour for cushions on string coloured linen sofas … or as lavish curtains.

 

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Note the hint of lime.  Fabulous cushions for a lime sofa !!
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This elegant paisley is a statement.  Look how well the pattern and stripe work with it.
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A fabric which works beautifully on a feature piece of furniture or on mass as upholstered wall fabric.  Perfect in a charcoal room or with pristine white.
The supplier of Manuel Canovas fabric is Colefax and Fowler.
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My Week in Sydney

Indigo … the colour everyone is talking about 2658

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The colour indigo conjures up images of either the night sky or deepest ocean.
Indigo is a colour that is tranquil. It is not just blue … indigo is a particular shade of blue … it is sophisticated.
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The most exciting thing about this colour is how easy it is to work with. Indigo brings to life any shade of timber from the rich and golden tones to the bleached and lime washed.
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Indigo is at its most sophisticated when paired with chocolate brown, tan or bronze.
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It goes without saying that the combination of Indigo with .. crisp white .. rich cream .. soft dove grey or cappuccino shades, is perfect no matter what the season.
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Introduce indigo into any room that takes your fancy.  Pottery Barn have embraced indigo this season as has William Yeoward with his latest furnishing collection.
My Design World

The milan furniture fair 2198

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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 !!

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fredrikson stallard

This exhibition was a focal point with its iconic woollen upholstery fabric relaunched in 58 colours !!

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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.
My Design Tips

Grain sack fabrics both rustic and elegant 4370

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I first stumbled across these fabrics at the iconic Peppergreen antique emporium in the Southern Highlands…..sadly no longer.  Shelves and even bolts of this vintage linen, cotton and flax grain sack fabric. I think what draws me to it is the subtlety in colour variation.  All very neutral, really only varying in texture from the soft scrubbed finish to a much coarser, almost hessianlike fabric.

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The faded imprint of the logo or manufacturer only adds to the appeal….almost like works of art.

 Also falling into this category of fabrics I feel are the gorgeous antique european mangle cloths.  These are a softer colour palette and finer texture….fabulous for tablecloths and serviettes. I love the subtle stripe to the edge…..always faded red or navy.

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images: homelife

Being so neutral these fabrics combine well with pattern…..however with their subtle shades of cream, putty or taupe are at their most elegant when incorporated into a cream or white interior.   Have fun with scatter cushions and interesting trimming….and think about loose covers !!

The most exciting part is searching for these fabrics at your favourite antique market…..
My Design World

The sartorialist does navy, black and tan 2015

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Image: The Sartorialist 

Why is my eye always drawn to these colours together.  I think it is just so smart to have the subtle black, navy combination with a luscious tan contrast bringing it all to life.

Tan has been big in Europe this winter but I love it anywhere, anytime.  I was thrilled when I did my dark inky blue woollen armchairs in our sitting room to then find divine tan suede Mulberry cushions to contrast. These, apart from the timber furniture, were the only colour in the room as the walls are the same inky navy blue.

I also love the colour that the natural IL Bisonte leather bags and diaries go after using them lovingly…..tan !!

One of my favourite projects recently was a Polo Clubhouse/Bar Lounge where I did large tan leather armchairs and sofas with brass studded trim ….. and chocolate and cream tartan woollen cushions.  It looked fabulous…..the building itself was spectacular….lots of dark timber rustic panelling, natural stone fireplaces and very large terracotta flagging.

I still miss the greatest source of woollen fabric ever ……. yes mainly shades of tan, coffee and caramel……Fabric Fantasy in Commonwealth Street, Sydney.  Sadly now closed.  It stocked bolts of Italian suiting fabric bought out from the mills at vastly reduced prices.  I couldn’t stop buying it to cover furniture, make bedheads and valances and even tablecloths.  The colours were a dream !!
My Design World

Where it’s at……hotel 27, copenhagen 1819

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I keep reading about Copenhagen and thinking what a truly stylish city it is. Danish design has always been at the forefront ….fashion, furniture, architecture and interiors not to mention the arts.

Hotel 27 is in the centre of the city…..a heartbeat from where it is all at…..both culture and shopping !!

As you know, I have more than a passing interest in hotel guestrooms having spent a large portion of my life as an interior designer working on their design or redesign.  Hotel 27 has the hotel guestroom sorted.  The timber floors underpin the use of colour in the furniture itself… so different to the standard hotel guestroom. So simple, elegant and so well designed.  The colours are gorgeous…..slick, young and fresh. The attention to detail is brilliant.

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Hotel 27 has the warmth and comfort factor so often missing in a lot of inner city hotels.  Designers put together a lot of hard finishes and think that opulent furnishings will be the icing on the cake…..so often the spaces may have the initial wow factor but are simply not inviting.

The Danes do timber well.  The use of either timber flooring, panelling or furniture (or all three) creates warmth and gives a space a certain character.

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And now for some really vibrant Danish design…..iconic furniture combined with gorgeous fabrics for the Bar….only in Copenhagen !!

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My Design World

Designers guild shop online 2408

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I was thrilled to see that Designers Guild now have a fabulous online store for throw blankets, cushions, candles and floor rugs…..the quality of their fabrics is beautiful which I think you can see even from the photos.  Such a bonus to have the actual Designers Guild ready made cushions as I have spent years buying small metrage to have made into cushions for projects I have been working on.

These cushions, rugs and throws all co-ordinate with the various ranges of fabrics and you will find that Designers Guild will do a whole collection in a particular colour palette which makes it easy to put together a scheme for a room.

I did blog about their fantastic tote bags made out of smart Designers Guild fabrics a while back.

My favourite ever Designers Guild fabrics are their Royal Collection based on archives of fabrics in Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace…..in fact now that I am thinking about it….. I might just follow up with that story and show some of those magnificent fabrics next.

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