Interior Inspiration - Our Recent Project In Kensington

A timeless and characterful home - our recent project in Kensington uses luxurious fabrics and wall finishes combined with rich colour schemes and showcases our client’s eclectic collection of artworks to create a comfortable home packed with interest.

Dining Room

Dining Room

The polished plaster walls in green and copper are by Perucccetti Plastering who have over 40 years experience in creating authentic Marmorino Venetian polished plaster using ancient techniques. Having introduced this highly specialised tradition to the UK in the 1970s, they have perfected the technique, suiting the colours and styles to produce individual finishes.

Fortuny Fabric

Fortuny Fabric

In our scheme, the colours were specially mixed to complement the Fortuny metallic gold and green curtains which were supplied by Claremont. Our client was delighted with the result which has worked beautifully in the dining room while providing a perfect back drop for their eclectic collection of artworks.

Claremont was founded in 1931 and specialises in exclusive fabrics and trimmings, featuring textiles which are woven by small manufacturers on old looms. Alongside their curated archive they are exclusive representatives of Fortuny fabrics in the UK. The designer Mario Fortuny moved from Spain to Venice with his family in 1889, a city which became the main source of his inspiration. The combination of Venetian polished plaster and Glicine Fortuny fabric, a 17th century Italian design, proved to be a perfect match.

Dining Room

Dining Room

The antique, French extending dining table has a beautifully polished parquet top which complements our client’s antique carpet and also the copper tones of the wall finish. The table was sourced through Wakelin & Linfield who specialise in both Continental and English furniture from the 16th to the 21st century.

To complete the Venetian theme, antique dining chairs from the Marché aux Puces were recovered in sumptuous gaufraged velvet from Sabina Fay Braxton. Sabina’s work echoes her many travels - her velvets, which she refers to as ‘Gilded Gaufrage’, use an ancient technique in which the pile is encrusted with metals and patinated, giving the velvets a wonderful luminous effect.

Entrance Hall

Entrance Hall

A quirky touch - as you enter the hallway, is the client’s artwork of a bubblegum-blowing Madonna on the hall stand reflected in a classic Venetian glass mirror.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

The highly talented decorative painter Hughie Turner skilfully painted and distressed the new kitchen units to give them an antique finish which blended with the overall scheme adding character and a sense of history.

The pot rack and centre table were customised to enhance the space, creating an eye catching centrepiece, while the banquette dining area was integrated into the colour theme with dark green leather upholstery and a charming zinc-topped table sourced from an antique shop in the bustling Golbourne Road antique district.

Banquette Dining Area

Banquette Dining Area

Drawing Room

Drawing Room

The two antique carpets in the drawing room provided inspiration for the overall colour scheme and we contrasted a number of subtle colours with stronger shades to reflect the colours in the carpets. These included the petrol blue silk used on the antique French armchairs and gorgeous red silk used to recover the antique sofa providing a wonderful splash of unexpected colour. Again we turned to Claremont for the silk fabrics.

DP ShagreenCoffee Table1.jpg
Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

A calm yet elegant mood was created in the master bedroom using subtle colours enhanced by carefully curated antiques.

The painted French bed was supplied by The Parsons Table Company and is complemented by a pair of antique bedside cabinets from Geoffrey Stead. The beautifully painted desk was supplied by West Sussex antiques dealer John Bird.

The final touch was to create a cosy and inviting upstairs guest bedroom….

Guest Bedroom

Guest Bedroom

Hughie Turner’s brushes

Hughie Turner’s brushes

Van Gogh and Britain

“HOW I LOVE LONDON” - Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh was twenty when he arrived in London. He spent three years between 1873 and 1876 in Britain and fell in love with London where he visited museums and galleries, walked through the city, travelled by underground and by boat along the river Thames.

Self Portrait, Autumn - 1889 National Gallery of Art (Washington, USA)

Self Portrait, Autumn - 1889 National Gallery of Art (Washington, USA)

At the entrance to the exhibition at Tate Britain we were met by large scale photograph of Vincent’s lodgings in Hackford Road, Stockwell.

unknown_4.jpeg

As well as being inspired by the writings of British authors such as Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare, he was also inspired by the works of British artists including Constable and Millais.

“READING BOOKS IS LIKE LOOKING AT PAINTINGS” - Vincent van Gogh

His own work also had a resounding impact on a number of British artists. This dazzling exhibition currently on at Tate Britain is a brilliant exploration of cross references and aims to demonstrate the exchange of ideas apparent in the works on show.

Pollarded Willows, Vincent van Gogh - 1888

Pollarded Willows, Vincent van Gogh - 1888

Van Gogh embraced a daring use of colour, particularly yellows and blues - he even painted his own house in Arles yellow, filling it with his paintings of sunflowers.

"SUNFLOWERS ARE MINE” - Vincent van Gogh

HOW TO USE YELLOW… Yellow is a sunny fresh colour and is often described as a ‘feel-good‘ colour. Yellow looks particularly striking with strong background colours, but also just a splash of yellow, in cushions or accessories, teamed with grey furnishings provides a sophisticated take on the yellow theme.

Van Gogh surprised with his daring use of colour and frequently used colours not traditionally associated with skin tones. He also used colour to express emotion and depth of feeling. His backgrounds, brightly painted walls and interiors were often combined complimentary colours such as red & green and blue & orange.

HOW TO BE BOLD WITH COLOUR… It takes confidence to use these colours in an interior setting. We drew inspiration from Van Gogh’s unique understanding of colour and balance.

Little Greene paint collection includes paint colours from key periods in the history of decoration and provides free sample pots for you to try out. We’ve put together a selection from their range. While some colours may appear bold remember, you can always complement and restrain a strong colour statement by including white or soft greys.

EMBRACE WOOD & NATURAL MATERIALS… Van Gogh used simple furniture, in his Yellow House in Arles. His iconic wooden chair and bed are familiar from his paintings, together with his love of nature, this inspired us to take a look at how we can use the warmth of wood and natural materials in our own homes.

CREATE A WALL OF PICTURES... In his bedroom Van Gogh created his own gallery of pictures of friends and family, it was his way of personalizing his space, feeling connected and creating a sense of home. Instead of separating prints, photographs, paintings and framed images, try creating a wall of pictures mixing and matching styles, sizes and mediums to create a focal point in a hallway or feature wall.

Tate Britain has created a special menu inspired by the bold colours in Van Gogh’s work to accompany the show and we love this dish, which is a light hearted nod to his Starry Night over the Rhone.

almond_cake_017_landscape-1.jpg

THE EXHIBITION
VAN GOGH AND BRITAIN
AT TATE BRITAIN UNTIL 11 AUGUST 2019
READ MORE HERE

Starry Night over the Rhone, Vincent van Gogh - 1888 Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Starry Night over the Rhone, Vincent van Gogh - 1888 Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Hygge… time to relax

It’s the time of year to think about cozying-up our homes… the Norwegians and the Danish have a word for it and we hear it used a lot, but what exactly is Hygge? Usually pronounced ‘hoo-ga’ or ‘hue-gah’. It comes from the old Norse word for hug, creating an association with caring which has led to the idea of using materials, textiles and furnishings that lend our homes a sense of well-being.

Sandra & Oli, owners of Blåbär, a Nordic lifestyle, cafe and shop in Putney believe everyone can benefit from some ‘more Nordicness’ in their lives.

By using textiles and materials in soft toning colours with occasional touches of stronger natural hues, such as blues, rusts and greens, the look is achievable even if you just want to create a small comfort zone rather than a complete make-over. While the look relies on a de-cluttered interior and a clean colour palette, the finished result shouldn’t be clinical. By embracing soft textures and the use of natural wood, your home will be infused with an inviting sense of comfort.

Nordic House have some lovely ideas for transforming even a small area of your home into a mindful retreat, or transforming your bathroom into your own mini spa with their candles and soft towels. 

The John Lewis Croft Collection, is another good starting point, either for a small cosy area such as a study, nook or bedroom, or for an allover look. The Croft range has a Scandinavian mid-century feel, well crafted in a restful palette of neutrals, softs greens and blue.

Croft 6.jpeg

H&M Home are due to open a new concept store in London’s Regent Street this spring, their current Home range includes both a conscious and organic range. We particularly fell for their very affordable washed cotton and linen range of textiles which perfectly capture the ethos of simplicity combined with comfort.

Designers Guild alongside an eclectic collection which encompasses both brights, pastels and florals, also produces a collection of textured weaves in subtle dyed yarns which perfectly conjure up a calm and natural colour palette.

designers guild 4.jpg

If you want to create a table setting with a Hygge vibe, look no further than this simple collection in neutral tones with natural woods and clean ceramics from Zara Home.

For an elegant city take on the Hygge atmosphere, Neptune have a complete home range including everything from bedrooms to patios.

Scandinavians are not deterred from being outside in the cold weather… with some outdoor heating, lanterns, candles, and rugs to wrap up in you can make use of a balcony or patio and brave the elements on fine days. Here are a few ideas from Cox & Cox.

Hygge style… a life more Nordic.

H&M Home

H&M Home

Anni Albers at Tate Modern

Galleries and museums didn’t show textiles, that was always considered craft and not art. When it’s on paper it’s art. Anni Albers 1984

Anni Albers, one of the foremost textiles designers of the twentieth century, is finally getting long overdue recognition in a major exhibition of her work at Tate Modern. Three hundred and fifty items will be on display including drawings and prints. Her weavings, often referred to as ‘pictorial weavings’, played an important role in re-defining craft as an art form.

Anni Albers Study for Unexecuted Wallhanging, 1926 © The Josef & Annie Albers Foundation

Anni Albers Study for Unexecuted Wallhanging, 1926 © The Josef & Annie Albers Foundation

As a young female art student at The Bauhaus School in the 1920’s, with a preference to becoming a painter, she was encouraged to take up weaving, then perceived as women’s art and therefore a more suitable course for the female students, textiles would become her key mode of artistic expression.

Anni Albers Card Weaving at Black Mountain College © State Archives of North Carolina

Anni Albers Card Weaving at Black Mountain College © State Archives of North Carolina

Many of her designs were inspired by the work of her teacher, the artist Paul Klee and fellow student & husband, Josef Albers. Ironically her woven wall hangings, shawls and blankets became one of the most successful products to come out of the school.

Her truth to materials, adherence to hand-crafting traditions combined with her modernist geometric patterns and the inclusion of the new synthetics also informed a more aesthetic approach to mass production.

Anni Albers Intersecting, 1962 © The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation / ARS / DACS

Anni Albers Intersecting, 1962 © The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation / ARS / DACS

Albers was fascinated by the traditional uses of textile and thread-making yet while adhering to traditional techniques she was also keen to produce items that combined aesthetic appeal with functionality.

Mass produced furniture and textiles play an important and essential part in our domestic lives, but the ancient arts of weaving and hand production are becoming ever more popular and a number of manufactures, artisans and craftspeople are responding by revitalising these traditions.

Angie Parker Textiles

Angie Parker Textiles

We took a look at some contemporary furnishings and fabrics currently available - many of which are inspired by Anni Albers and by traditional creative processes - and how we can integrate these ideas into our own interiors.

Bristol based, Angie Parker weaves intricate rugs, on a Glimakra Floor loom, she describes her beautiful rugs as ‘floor art’ and we have to agree, they are meticulously woven in re-claimed wool in a palette of unashamed bright colours. Watch her video below.

Christopher Farr Cloth designs bespoke fabrics using both digital and hand printing techniques drawing inspiration from a variety of creative sources including among others the design influence of Anni Albers.

Christopher Farr Cloth

Christopher Farr Cloth

We particularly like the textiles from Royal College of Art trained artist, Margo Selby. Weaving and high quality fibres are at the heart of her gorgeous textiles which include furnishing fabrics, rugs, art pieces and accessories all of which can be integrated into both traditional and contemporary interiors

Margo Selby

Margo Selby

All of the designs from Eleanor Pritchard are woven by highly skilled British weaving mills. Many use traditional shuttle looms in Lancashire, West Wales and Bute off the coast of Scotland. Like the Anni Albers designs many have a strong graphic quality with pared back geometrics using inky tones and occasional sharp accent colours, and again, work well in both contemporary and traditional design schemes. An exclusive granite colourway of Eleanor’s Dovetail Design has been made especially for the Anni Albers retrospective at Tate Modern.

Eleanor Pritchard’s Dovetail Granite blanket for Tate - Photo: Elliott Denny

Eleanor Pritchard’s Dovetail Granite blanket for Tate - Photo: Elliott Denny

Anni Albers is at Tate Modern until 27 January 2019

Click here for more information

Anni Albers Untitled, 1941 © The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation

Anni Albers Untitled, 1941 © The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation

Decorex International

London Design Festival 2018 is taking place between 15–23 September at a number of venues across London. It encompasses exhibitions, events and installations as well as being a showcase for some of the most talented and innovative designers. 

What-you-Need-to-Know-About-Decorex-International-2018-01-850x410-2.jpg

Decorex International is a Partner Organisation of The London Design Festival. It’s a little further out of central London than many of the other contributors, but it’s definitely worth the journey to see so many brilliant designs in the gorgeous surroundings of Syon Park. Here were some of the exhibitors who caught our eye…

Jonathan Rogers - STAND K54

Rogers creates glass vessels using traditional blowing and finishing techniques, the finished pieces are understated and fluid, beautifully reflecting colour and light.

Bethan Gray - STAND B29

Bethan Gray’s design philosophy draws on various cultural references, combining contemporary practice with classical craft traditions of the East and West. Her signature style includes the use of luxurious materials with purity of line. 

Amy Kent Bespoke Rugs - STAND E40A

Amy Kent’s range of bespoke rugs is a beautiful collection of hand-made rugs, crafted in India and Kathmandu. The range combines a look that is both classic and contemporary, fitting in with either modern and more traditional interiors. 

Blackbird - STAND F28

Alongside an eclectic collection of lighting, mirrors, tables and home accessories, Blackbird is launching a new bespoke range at Decorex this year.

Paint and Paper Library - STAND C31

Paint and Paper Library offers a fabulous, carefully curated palette of over 180 unique colours, including a traditional, historical and a contemporary range to which they have added a range of wallpapers. 

A Rum Fellow - STAND A41

Finally we enjoyed what A Rum Fellow have to offer this year as we love their ethically produced artisan rugs and textiles which blend with both contemporary and traditional interiors.

Find out more about the London Design Festival here.

Shoreditch Style

Ahead of the London Design Festival 2018, we took a look at some of Shoreditch's creative companies, a number of whom will be exhibiting at this years festival. 

In recent years the remains of Shakespeare’s Curtain Theatre have been discovered. Historically Shoreditch was known for its links with theatre, entertainment and a thriving textile trade. Although much of this disappeared, the area is again a hub of creativity with many independent manufacturers, bars, restaurants and shops. Here's our favourites, which you can visit in a day enjoying the area and all within close proximity to each other with plenty of cafes and eateries for a quick refresh.

Check out The Clove Club in Shoreditch Town Hall for modern British cooking in an elegant interior.

Claybrook recently moved into their new studio and showroom in Shoreditch. Across two floors you’ll find their gorgeous range of floor and wall tiles on display. Advice and samples are readily available. Here are some of our own favourite looks from the range...

Unto This Last  takes its name from an essay by John Ruskin, a leading Victorian art critic and patron, champion of the Pre-Rahaelites and supporter of the Arts and Crafts movement. The company operates a unique open studio from their Brick Lane premises, producing their furniture and products in full view of the customers. Their process allows them to cut down on costs by eliminating transport, warehousing and packaging costs - delivering direct from workshop to customer. We love the clean, simple lines of their hand-produced furniture and accessories.

20 years ago British Standard started out with a unique ethos, the name referring to exactly what they produced; primed ready to paint, standard sized cabinetry which can be fitted and painted by the customer in whatever configuration they want. Their design team help you every step of the way to achieve the kitchen or storage space you need. They've now added bespoke kitchens which they can install for you. We particularly like the simple understated designs.

As well as being a working studio, offering high quality restoration and re-upholstery, Shoreditch Design Rooms also offers accredited courses and individual classes, if you want to try your hand at a traditional craft. Shoreditch Design Rooms has established itself as the most innovative and successful upholstery training centre in the country, offering small class sizes and expert tuition.

For a truly unique shopping experience stop by Boxpark Shoreditch, the worlds first pop-up shopping mall. Constructed entirely from re-fitted shipping containers, the mall has everything from popular street food and global brands, to clothing and individual homewares suppliers. 

Originally an on-line store, Decorum now have a presence in Boxpark... this homewares store stocks an eclectic mix of vintage, modern and contemporary items and supports new and up-and-coming designers and artisans.

Labour and Wait is another shop with an interesting name which this time takes its inspiration from a poem by Longfellow. Their approach to the selection of items on sale is based on simplicity, functionality, and endurance - items which mellow over time and are not discarded but improve with age. Trading for over 18 years, they are housed in a former Victorian pub, with branches in Dover Street Market London & New York and Sendagaya Tokyo.

Don’t forget to stop by Luna & Curious, an independent miniature department store owned by three creatives with a vision to offer a wonderful mix of products focusing on British manufacture.

Well made in England and designed for you, is a key concept of Kent & London. Their custom made crafted furniture and kitchens using English woods are hand-built to last and become an integral part of your lifestyle. Pop in to their large airy space in Shoreditch to see their range of kitchens, furniture and homewares.

Monologue London is a contemporary concept store on the popular Redchurch Street in Shoreditch. They focus on conceptual design, emerging designers, interiors and homeware. Monologue carries an exclusive selection of curated items for the home and a handpicked range of design accessories and furniture. 

We'll be reviewing the London Design Festival 2018 taking place this September.

Omega and Beyond

Omega Workshops and The Bloomsbury Group

omegaletterheadcrop.jpg

"It is time that the spirit of fun was introduced into furniture and into fabrics." Roger Fry

Charleston interior © The Charleston Trust

Omega Workshops opened in July 1913 - the artists involved were members of The Bloomsbury Group... Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry and Duncan Grant. They were inspired by the work of Arts & Crafts pioneer William Morris, and like Morris, wanted to combine art with design, reject the new mass production and remove the separation between fine art and craft. 

Following in the Arts & Crafts tradition they felt that a well-crafted chair or a beautiful textile design was every bit as important as a fine painting, their work also grew out of a love of nature and a desire for their designs to sit alongside their paintings.

During its short lived existence Omega Workshops produced a range of objects for the home including ceramics, furniture, rugs, glassware, and even clothing - all incorporating bold colours, geometric forms and abstract patterns. Sadly it’s closure was due to what Fry described as ‘public indifference'. It’s hard to believe when today we place so much importance on our home and many of us, interior designers and home-makers alike enjoy the creative challenge of curating a personal environment.

Monk’s House, East Sussex, the home of Virginia Wolfe, sister of Vanessa Bell, decorated by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.

Omega Workshops radical approach to home interiors and design went on to have a far-reaching effect on decoration as seen in these homewares from Anthropologie.

Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant eventually set up home at Charleston Farmhouse near Lewes in East Sussex... in May a festival takes place in celebration of their ethos and working partnership.

The garden at Charleston © The Charleston Trust

Cressida Bell is the granddaughter of Vanessa, and while her work reflects the influence of her famous heritage, she has created her own take and unique style across a range of gorgeous decorative items... from textiles to ceramics and lamps to bespoke cakes! Samples of her beautiful work are shown below - you can also visit her workshop in Hackney.

Madeleine Bradbury is a Brighton-based painter who creates hand-painted lamps, furniture and accessories inspired by the work of Omega Workshops. We have selected a number of items from her range with more than a hint of The Bloomsbury Group.

For a romantic bedroom inspired by the soft pink hues in the guest bedroom at Charleston (below left) we looked to Cox & Cox for their washed linen bedding and soft velvet chair.

We went in further search of some designs which reflect The Bloomsbury Group ethos and decorative styling. Here is a selection from Sandersons Bloomsbury Canvas Prints and Embroideries, complemented by their Bloomsbury Canvas wallpapers.

Farrow & Ball create wallpapers and richly pigmented paint colours which can be matched to any look or style you want to create. For further inspiration in-line with the design ethos of Omega Workshops we chose these colours from their colour range. 

Charleston

Affordable Art Fair and Ceramic Art London 2018

Two upcoming fairs to watch out for in London this March are the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea 8th – 11th March and Ceramic Art London at Central Saint Martins 23rd – 25th March.

123.jpg

The Affordable Art Fair is an opportunity to find contemporary art for your home for all tastes and budgets. Inspiring work in a variety of mediums will be on display ready to buy and take home with you. It should be a fun way to browse, as well as the art  on show, there will also be plenty of creative inspiration with free talks and interactive installations.There are over 100  galleries on show and  there will be expert gallerists on-hand to guide you.

FB-advert-image-1 2.png

The Craft Potters Association will again present Ceramic Art London hosted by Central Saint Martins. Over ninety of the world's most talented ceramic artists will show and sell their work and for the first time students of CSM will host a ceramic studio where they will make new work in front of the live audience so we can see just how it’s done! This will be a truly immersive experience as visitors will also be allowed to comment on the direction the pieces take as they are made. Here is our own preview of some of the very covetable items you can expect to find.

Carina Haslam Art Stand E5. We loved Alison McWhirter’s studies of flowers, she often mixes paint directly onto the canvas, which adds to their sense of vibrancy and spontaneity.

Edgar Modern Gallery Stand H10. We have selected a number of artists represented by the gallery which we found particularly appealing.

Henrietta Dubrey describes her work as abstract, gestural, and autobiographical... and can’t wait to see them at the Fair

Jessica Cooper RWA. Jessica's work relies on economy of detail - objects and shapes are represented in their essential outline. We love their immediacy and sense of vigour.

Mhairi McGregor RSW uses a limited palette of colours, layering the paint to create these inspiring landscapes.

Grandy Art Stand 5, will be showing a collection of new work by their portfolio of emerging British artists. Here are some which caught our eye.

VJ Keegan has earned a reputation for her fluid painterly style evident in her beautiful still life paintings.

Stephen Palmer paints directly from the local landscape, we loved these French and English scenes. 

As well as some very beautiful ceramics on show and to buy, there will be a programme of ‘Claytalks’ starting on the opening day with contemporary artist and Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry’s talk, ‘My Cup of Tea’.

gp.jpg

Talking of 'My Cup of Tea'... Sue Pryke creates affordable, functional ceramics using studio slipcasting inspired by the everyday intuitive decision-making we all make on a daily basis when choosing what cup to take from the cupboard for a cup of tea.

Hyu Jin Jo creates a basic shape and then adds intricate textures to the thrown piece. This gives the pieces individuality while incorporating a sense of Korean traditional craft skills. 

Sasha Wardell makes individual bespoke vases, bowls, lighting and tea ware that combine her beautiful craft-making skills.

Rhian Malin's elegant hand-painted porcelain vessels with cobalt-blue decoration are inspired by Willow Pattern. 

The Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park is open from 8th until 11th March.

Ceramic Art London at Central Saint Martins is open from 23rd until 25th March.

Visit their websites to find out more and to book tickets.

The New Kettle's Yard

'A living place where works of art could be enjoyed... where young people could be at home unhampered by the greater austerity of the museum or public art gallery.' Jim Ede.

Kettles_Yard.jpeg

Kettle’s Yard house and gallery in Cambridge has just reopened after a two year make-over and extension to its site, it now includes a café and gift shop. However, the original building remains the same and the eclectic collection of its founder Jim Ede is still displayed exactly as before.

Kettle's Yard

Kettle's Yard

What makes Kettle's Yard so unique and magical, setting it apart from any other gallery space, is that the modest row of interconnecting houses remain set up as a home. The style is simple and unpretentious, just as when Ede lived there, with sofas, tables, chairs and bookshelves and his collection is displayed without curators notes or labels.

Kettle's Yard

Kettle's Yard

Originally, the now iconic Kettle's Yard, was a row of small dilapidated workman’s cottages which Jim Ede, a former Tate curator, acquired and converted into a home for himself and his art teacher wife Helen in 1956.

Ede was an avid collector of modernist British and European ceramics and artworks and amassed a collection which includes paintings by Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Alfred Wallis, Christopher Wood, David Jones and Joan Miro, as well as sculptures by Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Constantin Brancusi, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.

Jim Ede would display a simple swirl or dish of pebbles with as much respect as he displayed a precious piece of pottery, displaying art and non-art pieces alongside each other.

Kettle's Yard

Kettle's Yard

Later he donated the entire collection and the house to Cambridge University, at which time its reputation as a place to visit with reverence grew. His style was based on simplicity and he aspired to create for each room "an atmosphere of quiet and simple charm". The house retains that charm alongside the history it carries within the carefully curated objects. 

We love the effortless style of the home Jim Ede created and the skill of the curators eye which he transferred from his time at the Tate gallery to his own home. We can all use our creativity to curate personal collections or memorabilia and, as Ede has shown in his shell and pebble collections, it’s often how we choose to show those items that is as important as the items themselves. Curating your own collection and changing things around regularly not only brings out our creativity but can make us see things afresh – we may not all own a Lucie Rie dish or a Miro painting but here are a few key ideas to get things started!

For a contemporary take on Jim Ede’s rocking chair and upholstered furniture, try Arlo & Jacob...

We really love the way the paintings and prints are grouped together, sometimes in quite unexpected places, and framed in simple wooden frames allowing the pictures to stand out and also unifying them. Try framing family photographs and prints in matching frames and creating your own gallery to add interest to a stairway or hall for example.

For its clean lines and simplicity, the Galvin Brothers handcrafted furniture is traditionally built but with a contemporary twist.

Have fun curating your own items, and if you want to collect on a shoestring try Habitat for very affordable studio-style pottery or for the real thing go to Maak who will be holding a contemporary ceramics auction in May (online preview from 27 April).

Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

Kettle's Yard

London Art Fair 2018

The 2018 London Art Fair gives access to an incredible collection of modern and contemporary art and a unique insight into the international art market. The fair has been running for over 30 years and has become a recognised destination for museum quality work.

The Fair runs from 17 January 2018 and we took a sneak peek at what's in store from some of our leading art dealers and collectors.

ALAN WHEATLEY ART | STAND 32

The Alan Wheatley Gallery is just a stone’s throw from the Royal Academy and situated in the heart of St. James’s at 22 Mason’s Yard, SW1. The gallery offers a diverse collection of British and International Modern paintings and sculpture from the latter half of the Twentieth Century with a particular emphasis on Post-War British Art.

L-R: Bridget Riley, Ivon Hitchens, Patrick Heron

BERNARD CHAUCHET CONTEMPORARY ART | STAND G35

Bernard Chauchet, based in London’s Hollywood Road, specialises in contemporary paintings and sculptures with artists from across Europe and the USA. As well as presenting established 20th and 21st century painters, Chauchet also promotes the work of a younger up-and-coming generation of artists.

The work of Gioacchino Pontrelli was of particular interest to us as he often draws on images taken from interior design magazines, which he re-interprets onto canvas.

BERWALD LONDON | STAND 26B

John Berwald has been dealing in Chinese Ceramics for over thirty years from his New York and London galleries. He also has a very select stock of Modern British paintings and sculptures, and the juxtaposition of these two very different cultures and eras is something we found both fascinating and very much in line with our own ethos of mixing antique and contemporary.

We were particularly impressed to see the vibrant work of John Hoyland juxtaposed with antiques and traditional furnishings.

JOANNA BRYANT & JULIAN PAGE | STAND P18B

Joanna Bryant & Julian Page individually support and represent carefully selected contemporary artists working in London. Since 2015, they have been frequently working in a collaborative partnership by presenting their artists’ work alongside more established artists. By representing emerging artists alongside such famous names as Tracey Emin and Peter Blake, they are also able to offer a number of highly affordable original artworks many of which fall within £1,000-£5,000 price range. Here are some which particularly appealed to us and fall within this lower price bracket.

Ruth Solomons is a British artist, who uses materials which to many would appear to be simply discarded items from her studio. She transforms these pieces by creating collages incorporating paint-splattered pieces of wood and fragments of old paintings adding her unique painterly gestures, creating pieces which have their own history.

Another artist who utilises found objects is Spanish artist Silvia Lerin, who lives and works in London. Her work stems from an interest in the relationships between shapes, volumes, colours and textures and their resulting presence. Inspiration may come from found objects and remnants of objects that carry stories.

The abstract works of Chris Sims, draw inspiration from the English landscape. Using inks, paints, charcoal and other mediums, he utilises a dynamic layering technique resulting in highly emotive and evocative work.

CRANE KALMAN GALLERY | STAND 25

The Gallery in London’s Brompton Road was originally established in 1949 by Andras Kalman who felt strongly that art should intimately move and nourish the viewer. As interior designers we value the importance of key artwork to provide a focal point and personalise an interior.

Sally and Andrew, Kalman's children, continue to run the gallery along with Robin Light who joined the business in 1986.

Sonia Delaunay

Winifred Nicholson

Jacqueline Marval

Kate Corbett-Winder

The 2018 London Art Fair runs from 17-21 January at Islington's Business Design Centre.

Visit the website to find out more and to book tickets.

 

 

Festive Interiors for Christmas

It’s the festive season and the perfect excuse to get creative with decorations and table settings. Our own signature style at this time of year usually focuses on green white and silver or gold. By having a fresh, neutral theme as a contrast to the colourful food and drinks on offer, it can go some way to creating an air of sophistication even if the mood gets distinctly party!

MAY ALL YOUR CHRISTMASES BE BRIGHT…

By contrast we have also been inspired by the modern trend for mixing up colours, and Jasper Conran’s Christmas theme particularly caught our attention.

Brights like these work in both a traditional home and also a modern, pared-down interior, as long as they are used against neutrals or white as a backdrop and are not jostling with other colours and patterns.

You can get the look with these party decorations from the Conran Shop.

Flowers are an absolute must for Christmas and we love these vibrant arrangements by Rebel Rebel. They have also put together some gorgeous wreaths for the front door, to make just the right impression when guests arrive, and which we think look just as lovely inside or out.

...LIGHT...

Add some colour but without going overboard with vivid hues by using a pastel theme - stay with a single colour, or mix pastel shades and add some sparkle like this Heal's table setting.

And don’t forget the flowers. Take a look at these gorgeous wreaths and table arrangements from The Real Flower Company.

...NORDIC...

A Nordic-style colour scheme can be distinctly elegant. Decorate your table with deep red flowers, greenery and foraged pine cones - add some glamour with gold cutlery, scented candles and fairy lights.

...OR WHITE

We really are spoilt for choice, and it will be a hard decision this year but you can never get it wrong with a White Christmas! If you decide to go with an all-white theme add colour with greenery, and touches of silver in candles, cutlery and tableware. We especially love these mini pots of flowers with guest tags for each place setting.

With so many seasonal ideas around, why not try your hand at creating your own table decorations, experiment and have fun. Here is a short video showing how to make a simple centrepiece for your Christmas table:

Amara is one of our go-to Christmas shops - from tree decorations, cushions and wreaths to gift ideas, designer tableware and ornaments, with everything you need to prepare for the festivities. 

Amara

Amara

Impressionists in London

French Artists in Exile (1870-1904) - Tate Britain

Tate Britain’s current EY Exhibition tells the story of the artists who fled to Britain in the 1870’s to escape the Franco-Prussian War and insurrection in Paris. 

When we think of Impressionism, many of us immediately imagine the muted colours of Monet’s Waterlilly paintings, but this exhibition includes not just familiar tones, but also figurative works of London scenes such as James Tissot’s London Visitors (1873) and Monet’s Meditation, Mrs Monet Sitting on a Sofa (1870-1871). 

In many ways their inclusion provides a wider view and a fascinating insight into the connections these artists made with British social life.

A room is dedicated to Claude Monet’s studies of the Thames and the Houses of Parliament, painted in his iconic style.

Further paintings, including a number by Pissaro, who lived in the Crystal Palace area while in London, inspired us to put together our own moodboard to reflect the familiar muted shades we associate with the Impressionist style.

We took additional inspiration from Dulux paints. Changing a wall colour, adding some colour to an otherwise neutral palette or simply changing the colour of a few accessories can really change the mood of your interior.

These velvet cushions and bedding from west elm are ideal for cosying up the bedroom and their crinkle lush velvet cushions could also provide just the right impression in the living room, giving a quick seasonal makeover for chilly evenings. Monet said: “Colour owes its brightness to force of contrast rather than to its inherent qualities” – and this is why he chose to use orange and blue in several of his paintings. These two hues create a vibrant contrast as illustrated on the Grey Hamilton Sofa by flashes of turqoise and orange cushions.

Or try one of their rugs such as Flame or Verve, in a variety of colourways which also echo the hues and textures of the Impressionist style.

Accessorizing with a personal collection such as vases or ceramics which draw on a single colour spectrum creates a focal point - such as this collection from west elm.

The EY Exhibition Impressionists in London is on now at Tate Britain until 7th May 2018

Find out more here

Fashion and Textile Museum

British Textile Design with Wallace Sewell

The current show, at one of our favourite museums, is a 25 year celebration of the textiles of Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell. Graduates of The Royal College of Art, their work can now be found in around 300 stockists in 20 countries, including prestigious art galleries such as Tate in London and MOMA in New York. 

Their work echoes the aesthetic and ideology of the Bauhaus movement. Based between London and Dorset, their designs take inspiration from the textures and colours of both the countryside and cityscapes. Their manufacturing methods embrace traditional techniques such as hand-looming while fusing tradition with modern technology.

With colder weather on the horizon what better way to cosy up than with one of their signature pieces, a waffle blanket or a pinstriped lambs-wool or Shetland throw.

We are feeling especially envious of these lambs-wool block throws which perfectly echo the Bauhaus influence, particularly the designs of the female weavers of the movement, such as Benita Koch-Otte but with Wallace Sewell’s modern take. 

Woven Bauhaus textile by Benita Koch-Otte 1923

Wallace Sewell’s collaboration with West Elm, a Brooklyn based company with a strong fairtrade ethos and a commitment to sourcing ethical materials, has produced a very beautiful range of throws, wool dhurries and cushions.

This year Wallace Sewell launched a range of exquisite, hand knotted lambs-wool rugs, inspired by their collection of throws - they work particularly well when incorporated alongside them in an interior.

With Christmas just around the corner, Wallace Sewell have produced a number of items which would make perfect gifts. With scarves, cosmetic bags, coin purses, ties and totes all produced using their iconic textile designs there’s something for every member of the family … Christmas solved! Click here to see more.

Some items have been produced in collaboration with Tate Britain and have a distinctly arty style. The blue tones of this wool scarf are inspired by Whistler’s Nocturne: Blue and Silver Chelsea.

The bright colours of this scarf are inspired by Derain’s The Pool of London, and has been designed by Wallace Sewell specially for Tate Britain’s latest exhibition Impressionists in London.

Wallace Sewell: 25 Years of British Textile Design at the Fashion and Textile Museum is on now until 21st January 2018

Find out more here

London Design Festival 2017

Having just completed its fifteenth year celebration of design, the London Design Festival’s highly ambitious event puts London squarely on the map as a design capital of the world.

The festival was spread across a number of major London venues and offered over 450 projects and events, giving Londoners and visitors alike an amazing opportunity to experience innovative and exciting design.

With such a huge selection it was difficult to make a final choice, but we were particularly impressed with the talents of a number of individual companies, many of whom had a strong commitment to sustainability and the environment, alongside traditional, timeless design and production processes.

Here are just a few who caught our attention ...

MALWINA KONOPACKA

Malwina Konopacka's limited edition hand painted ceramic vases often pay homage to her favourite artists such as Henri Rousseau for her 'Jungle' range.

FLOORSTORY

Floorstory make beautiful rugs with an eye on craft and design. Alongside their own range they also work with like minded designers and can be found in their new retail outlet in Shoreditch.

STOFF STUDIOS

Stoff Studios are a design duo who combine their love of textiles and furniture design. They are based in a Victorian warehouse in London’s Bermondsey. They use traditional methods of production with a very collaborative approach to produce their unique pieces.

CUMULO

Cumulo was founded by Margate based designer Jo Elbourne, she currently sources vintage seat frames, wall-based pieces and found objects, up-cycling and reworking them using traditional woven seating with her own distinctive take.

FOREST AND FOUND

Forest and Found are Abigail Booth and Max Bainbridge, who met as students at Chelsea College of Art. Working in visual art and contemporary craft they decided to set up their studio Forest and Found together in the East End of London in 2014.

MISS PRINT

Miss Print is a talented mother and daughter design team based in Essex They share a strong sense of commitment to the community and use non toxic inks and pigments in their production process.

CHRISTABEL BALFOUR

Christabel Balfour is an artist and weaver living and working in South East London, her work seeks to balance simplicity, detail, and organic form and the variations of the handmade.

LAWRENCE GOODWIN

Based in Buckinghamshire, Lawrence Goodwin is a designer-maker who produces functional and stylish furniture that is tailor-made for today's living. Both contemporary and timeless in design, each product highlights the importance of empathising with British sourced materials whilst demonstrating innovative design.

NAMON GASTON

With a strong ethos based on craftsmanship and bespoke design, Namon Gaston set up his Edinburgh studio in 2005. Gaston merges the disciplines of design and craftsmanship to produce timeless, elegant pieces both in his collection and in commissioned work.

LOUISE BODY

Originally trained as a fine artist, Louise Body now produces wallpaper designs from her studio in St Leonards On-Sea. We were particularly impressed with her bespoke hand finished wallpapers and murals, utilising a choice of stencil, gold leaf and hand painting, which can be supplied in numbered panels making them simple to install.

CATHERINE MACGRUER

Catherine MacGruer graduated from The Glasgow School of Art and opened her own studio in the Highlands of Scotland in 2015. Her work includes textile design, commissions and collaborative projects, as well as her own range. Combined with the highest quality materials, her textiles are made to be treasured, and we particularly fell in love with these bold geometric designs from her current range.