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Monthly Archives: April 2011

My meeting with Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Anna Ryder Richardson

On April 22nd, 2011 by .

I was invited to Sketch just off Oxford Circus for a breakfast with Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Anna Ryder Richardson for the launch of their designs for Andrex.

Sketch itself is an extremely quirky bar/restaurant/club which is oozing with individual features, vibrant colours and eccentric furniture.  I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland as I tried to find the room where the breakfast was held.

Overall the meeting was about the current interior design climate and how people are finding it difficult to do up their homes due to funds.

People are no longer after a quick fix as they are not selling their homes, meaning that they want to add personal touches and actually “live” in their homes.

Therefore consumers are more likely to experiment with bold colours through accessories, fabrics and furniture, moving away from the estate agent’s rules of impersonal cream and beige spaces. As well as being bold, design has gone down the route of eco and natural with respect for the earth’s resources and they way things are made and who by.

A few quotes below of what Laurence and Anna had to say:

Laurence:
“People are finding it difficult to afford large purchase so the smaller touches are more effective.”

“There’s nothing us British like more than a bit of loo humour” (whilst holding a toilet roll)

“Next weekend is the big DIY weekend with the spring cleaning and the summer approaching”

“There is so much you can do by making small changes”

“In your bathroom you can experiment with bold colours, a lick of paint doesn’t cost much and makes a dramatic effect”

“MDF’s lovely, it’ll have a revival one day”

Anna:
“As we emerge from the recession, we have forgotten what it’s like to have a real home. When designing our homes functional and affordable is key.

Little things are easy to accessories

Design has been going natural eco with leaves and  flowers

We are stirring up what was laying dorment for so long – interior design”

 

 

Posted under Arts Review, Celebrity interviews, Trend Stories

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Styling for The California Shutter Shoot

On April 20th, 2011 by .

It’s the end of a very long day! I started at 5.30am and now finishing at 12.30am, but it was all worth it. We had a great few days where I was shooting for The California Shutter company with the very talented Robert Sanderson taking the photos. We had such a great team of people working on the shoot and thank you to my great assistants Carrie Graham Clarke and Liz Danon, I know we were up against it with time but we made it!
Max checking the monitor at the Californioa Shutter shoot Robert squeezing in to a very tight space! The lovely Liz and Carrie sorting through the props and assisitng with the styling.

Off to France for a week of relaxing (well, as much as you can relax with 2 small children!) and so no blogging from me. Happy Easter everyone!!

xxx

Posted under My Styling Diary

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How to measure up for curtains and blinds

On April 18th, 2011 by .

I found this really useful guide for measuring curtains and blinds (from Direct Blinds) and thought it would be a useful thing to share with you all.  It’s the one thing that I get asked all of the time so thank you to Direct Blinds for this great description.

You will need a metal tape measure cloth tapes are not accurate enough and a pen and paper to write down the sizes. You can measure your window in centimetres CM, millimetres MM, or Inches. If you want your blind to fit or hang outside your window opening or recess we call this Exact size.


How to measure inside your window recess. (Recess Size)

  1. Measure the inside width of your window in 3 places.Write down the shortest. This is your Recess width.
  2. 2.Measure the inside length or drop of your window in 3 places. Write down the shortest. This is your Recess drop.

How to measure outside your window recess. (Exact Size)

  1. Measure width where you want the blind to be allowing for overlap (usually 10-15cm each side) Write it down. This is your Exact width.
  2. Measure the length where you want the blind to be allowing for overlap (usually 10-15cm top and bottom). This is your Exact drop.

Note on measuring for roller blinds.

When measuring for roller blinds remember that the cloth or fabric width will be 3cm narrower than the overall width.

Measuring the Curtain Width (All Headings)

Measure the total width of the rail or pole excluding any finials and add 250mm (10″) overlap which allows the hanging curtains to overlap in the centre when closed. This is the track/pole width.

Measuring the Curtain Drop for Pencil and Pleated Headings

Measure from the top of the track or the small eye on the ring of the pole to 12mm(½”) from the floor or 150mm (6″) below the sill.

If fitting curtain rails or poles they should be fitted 150mm (6″) above the window recess and extend approximately 200mm (8″) either side. This is the HEM TO HEM drop.

Measuring the Curtain Drop for Eyelet Headings

Measure the distance from the top of the pole to 12mm (½”) above the floor (or approximately 35mm (1½”), if you have not yet had carpet fitted but intend to) or 150mm (6″) below the window sill. This is the POLE (TOP) TO HEM drop.

Posted under Curtains & blinds

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Reader question: where can I buy a stylish door handle?

On April 17th, 2011 by .

Q: I’d like to replace the door handle on my filing cabinet.
I have a filling cabinet that I bought quite a few years ago and I would like to give it a quick update.  The cabinet is white and in good condition but I think the wooden handle makes it look really traditional.  What I am looking for is something stylish and modern that will bring this piece of furniture up to date.  My only requirement is that it’s not too expensive!  Can you help?

A: I think it’s a great that you are updating rather than replacing as this is a much more cost effective way to update
For your filing cabinet I would recommend the following product from Handle World, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of handles, and I think it’s pretty reasonably priced.  The handle has a brushed metal base with a sleek and modern perspex top and will totally transform the look of your cabinet.  The handle costs £13.23 and so you are saving a very large sum if you think about how much a new filling cabinet costs.  I hope you like our suggestion and please let me know if you need any further information.
Zante 9069816 White Matt / Brushed Cabinet Handle, £13.23, Handle World

 

Posted under Furniture, Home accessories, Reader questions

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Summer Garden Party

On April 13th, 2011 by .

Feeling inspired by the Royal wedding? Here we show you how to create your own ‘Best of British’ summer garden party.

Pippa Jameson Interiors teamed up with Jemma from Jemma Watts Photography and Kate from Pat-a-cake-Pat-a-cake to create a truly magical garden party extravaganza! We were keen not to go too overboard with the patriotic accessories and so we have a subtle mix of Royal wedding memorabilia teamed with elegant tableware.

Our gorgeous cakes were made by the very talented Pat-a-cake-Pat-a-cake, who followed the theme brilliantly with all our favourite British inspired cakes. We had a Victoria Sponge, meringue nests full of juicy strawberries and raspberries, and of course good old scones with clotted cream and lashings of jam. Not only did they look incredible but they also tasted absolutely divine! Why not take some inspiration from our cupcakes by sticking some little union jacks in your own creations…


Main shot credits:
From left: Glass plates on metal cake stand, Camel & Yak. Glass cake stand (with bunting cupcakes), CocoMale. Bottle holder, Garden Trading. Wooden heart on front door, Wooden bunting, both Lily & Lime. Fabric bunting, Backgrounds. Glass stand for weaved cake & blue glass cake stand (with Victoria sponge)both Contemporary Home. Sugar shaker, Sorbet Living, Tall glass bottles, Crown plates & bowls, The Packhouse. Linen napkin, Lily & Lime. Glass bottles with cordial, The Packhouse. Small etched bottle with red flower, Sage, Inspired By Life. All cakes supplied by Pat A Cake Pat A Cake, All flowers supplied by Rebel Rebel. Badges, I do & Wedding date by Hanna Melin.


Royal Wedding cakes

Credits

Photographer: Jemma Watts Photography – www.jemmawatts.com
 Stylist: Pippa Jameson www.interiorstylists.com

Cakes: Kate Poulter – Pat-a-cake-Pat-a-cake, www.patacakepatacake.com
 Assistant, Carrie Graham-Clarke and Grace Poulter

Posted under Home accessories, Interior Styling

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Our pick of the best Creative Courses...

On April 12th, 2011 by .

Creating your own pieces of furniture and decorative accessories for your home is a very satisfying experience.  Taking short creative courses gives you the chance to widen your practical skills and on the way, create a truly unique item whilst guided by industry professionals. With the wide range of courses available to you, you can learn almost everything!  I myself, have taken a numerous amount of short courses; from gilding, to upholstery, and furniture painting.

Les Tuileries is an establishment where I myself have taken several courses and have very fond memories of my time spent there and the knowledge I acquired.  Run by Interior Designer Penny Allen, the range of creative courses aim to inspire and educate in creative design, traditional crafts and couture.  Set in a 16th century building, the gallery offers the juxtaposition of an old beamed building with fabulous contemporary art and Interior Design.  Each course has a maximum of eight students, with plenty of time for individual attention and guidance. Courses include French furniture painting, bespoke lampshade & trimming making and traditional passementerie. The varied mix of courses apply to all levels of experience.  There is also the Les Tuileries Design Club, hosting regular social and informative events; with talks and demonstrations from design professionals. Osborne and Little most recently had an evening presenting their Spring collections.

For further details and booking information please visit the Les Tuileries website.

The Make Lounge is founded by  Jennifer Pirtle, a magazine journalist with a love for all things crafty. Wanting to find a tactile crafty experience after much hours spent sat in-front of her computer screen – Jennifer Pirtle went on the craft school hunt.  Much to her disappointment, short and cheap courses were far and few between; most being several weeks long and old-fashioned.  As she searched for an alternative she met many other like-minded people – simply wanting to do something different, learn a skill and have fun.  Keeping these people in mind, she created The Make Lounge. Contemporary craft workshops with a stylish and social twist.  With an abundance of courses such as: crocheting, screen printing, cupcake decorating, bespoke lampshade making, tea cup candle making and embroidery – you’re spoilt for choice!

For further details and booking information please visit the Make Lounge website.

Homemade London opened in August of 2010 with a simple mission – to celebrate the best of London’s craft designers and to introduce new products and techniques to the capital. Inspired by fashion, beauty and interior design – Homemade London focus on high quality – whether it be in the products and equipment used, or the designers who run the classes.  The classes are for all abilities and kept small to ensure you get the personal tuition you need to create objects of desire, beautifully packaged to take home. Work space at Homemade London’s Sewing Cafe can also be hired by the hour, allowing you to practice your knew found skills and work in a creative and inspirational atmosphere.  With many courses you can learn how to create your own roman blinds, design your own Marimekko-inspired china, and quick 2.5 hour lessons in Liberty Print Cushion making! You can even introduce your children to craft with Parent and Child Craft days.

For further details and booking information please visit Homemade London website.

For more regional creative courses in your area try the following:

- Most universities with artistic courses offer short, evening and weekend courses.

- The UK’s largest course finder, Hot Courses website also is great as it allows you to search by subject, location and length of course

- Consult with local trade and industry professionals. More often than not they will be able to recommend the correct avenue for you to take, or offer you private tuition if you ask very nicely!

Once you have learnt your new skills, the possibilities to change old and boring pieces in your home are endless..

Happy crafting, creating and up-cycling!

Posted under Craft ideas, Home accessories, Secondary featured, Vintage

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Styling a film for the 2018 Winter Olympics shooting on location

On April 11th, 2011 by .

I am back in the office today and feel a bit broken after the last few weeks. We have been working on 3 jobs back to back and only have one left to do.

We shot our Royal Wedding feature last Wednesday which was so much fun and have some little video clips of the set up. I will post these as well as the final images in the next few days. Thank you to everyone involved!

We have also just finished a mammoth job for New-Moon production. It was a short film to pitch for the 2018 winter Olmpics for Korea. I’m afraid I can’t say any more than that at the mo as I’ve had to sign a confidentiality form. As soon as it’s in the main stream, I’ll post the end result. Thank you so much to Carrie Graham-Clarke and Clare Steel who were on set in Soho until 3.30am this morning!! Here is one sneeky peek at the set in Soho…

Posted under My Styling Diary

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Quick updates for tired furniture

On April 11th, 2011 by .

Painting tired and mismatched furniture is the best way of updating your décor in an economic and eco-friendly fashion. Whether you’re looking to inject some colour into your home or bring an awkward piece of furniture in line with your existing scheme, a lick of paint and a touch of imagination can really make a difference. For me, if I’m looking for something new, vintage and salvaged furniture wins hands down in terms of originality and value. Don’t let revolting colours or peeling paint put you off though – once decorated, these unloved items will scrub up a treat, and reward you with something that is totally unique, perfectly at home in it’s surroundings and a darn sight cheaper that any alternative!

For those with a love of pattern, although I’m probably a tad biased, the Charlston lot (images above) were a great example of how to transform ordinary pieces of furniture into objects they wanted to surround themselves with. Believing that the enjoyment of beautiful objects was one of life’s chief pleasures, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant used the entire house as their canvas, painting walls, fireplaces, door panels and furniture – often sourced from local auction houses and junk shops.

A slightly less ambitious and more streamlined approach would be to simply coat your chosen piece of furniture in one solid colour, white of course being the fail-safe option. However if you’re working with an already fairly neutral décor, I’d be temped to use this as an opportunity to bring in a splash of colour and liven up an otherwise subdued space.

For those that don’t have the time or inclination to pick up a brush, there are those that will customise your beloved but dilapidated furniture for you. Companies such as Ghost Furniture (www.ghostfurniture.co.uk) can transform even the most mundane looking item into something quirky and beautiful.

Lou Rota’s work (www.lourota.com/) is another great example of how to rework some magic into second hand items – reflecting her passion for the natural world and deep-seated recycling ethic, Lou’s eclectic range uses collage and decoupage to transform unloved objects into highly desirable home-wares.

Posted under Craft ideas, Design post, Featured, Furniture, Paint/fabric/wallpaper, Trend Stories, Vintage

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Creative ways to decorate with fabric

On April 11th, 2011 by .

With the change of seasons upon us and perhaps a need (or rather want!) to update your space with a new look, why not try some of the following ideas using fabric that a) wont break the bank and b) give some satisfying DIY results.

Wall Art

If you have seen some terrific fabric and are not sure where it might fit into your home, why not have it professionally framed as an art piece or stretch it yourself over a canvas? Florence Broadhurst, Marimekko and Missoni are examples of timeless designer fabrics that could act as a stand out feature piece that will certainly add that wow factor to your bare walls. (Image 1 – Meghan’s own photo)

Table Wear

A DIY table cloth or table runner is a great way to liven up your mealtime table with fabric you know you love. Buy enough of your favourite print or colour fabric in a cotton or hefty acrylic blend the length of your table to create your own runner or table cloth, for any season. Left over fabric can used to create matching napkins, napkin rings or even placemats. (Image 2 – Meghan’s own photo)

Décor for the Kids

A fun way to incorporate fabric into a child’s domain is a sail or indoor tent in a corner of the room. Use different cuts of fabric such as checks, plain and floral fabric stitched together for a playful look and tie it to anything that will make a cosy cubby. It can be used for quiet time, reading and general times of play, adventure and imagination!

(Image 3) courtesy of Articles Base http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/create-a-kids-nook-4294884.htmlBunting is a cute way to decorate a baby or toddlers room. Sew triangles of any sort of printed and colourful fabric, connect with string, wire or ribbon and hang on a door or wall. Image (4) from http://kiddley.com

Posted under Craft ideas, Design post, Livingroom, Paint/fabric/wallpaper

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Eco Wallpapers

On April 4th, 2011 by .

Having until recently been thought of as more of a background, wallpaper, has now established itself at the forefront of interior design and is seen as an effective way of keeping your interior bold, beautiful and inline with the current trends.

This recent popularity, along with people’s general shift toward sustainable living, has seen more and more designers producing eco wallpaper collections. Printed on paper that has either been recycled or sourced from responsibly managed forests, eco wallpapers are dyed using water-based inks that release none of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) so commonly found in conventional wallpapers.

Environmental credentials aside, it’s how these eco papers measure up in the style stakes that will determine their success, and ultimately, shape attitudes towards eco design. And although these have come a long way from what was once commonly considered to consist of ‘various shades of hemp’, on brief investigation I came across attitudes such as ‘decoratively disaterous’, ‘dull’ and even, ‘spinachy’!

So, in a bid to prove it is anything but, (and quite apart from getting carried away looking at nice wallpaper), I’ve compiled a comparative selection, putting some of the best eco wallpapers up against the competition. Hopefully fellow decorites will see that eco wallpapers can certainly hold their own, and making eco friendly choices needn’t necessitate a compromise on style.

**Please note, some are eco and some non eco wallpapers, point being to compare.
Descriptions in brackets aren’t actual design names and are just there for you to identify each design.

Sheet 1.

Top left (green waves) – Paper Flavor, http://www.flavorleague.com/wallpaper/ – Non Eco wallpaper

Top right (silvery gold leaves) ECO wallpaper, http://www.eco.se/main.aspx?l=4 – Eco wallpaper

Middle left (gold squares) Designers guild, http://www.designersguild.com/ – Non Eco wallpaper

Bottom right (pink flowers) Crinson, http://www.crinson.com/Dominic_Crinson_Tiles/Home.html – Eco wallpaper

Bottom left (pink on grey) Madisonandgrow, http://www.madisonandgrow.com/ – Eco wallpaper

Sheet 2.

Top left (silhouettes) Ferm living, http://www.ferm-living.com/ – Non eco wallpaper

Top right (green leaves) ECO wallpaper, http://www.eco.se/main.aspx?l=4 – Eco wallpaper

Middle left (50′s) Sanderson, http://www.sanderson-uk.com/ – Non eco wallpaper

Middle right (plants) ECO wallpaper, http://www.eco.se/main.aspx?l=4 –  Eco wallpaper

Bottom left (cars) Studio Ditte, http://www.studioditte.nl/ – Non eco wallpaper

Bottom right (penguins) My Little Eco, www.mylittleeco.co.uk – Eco wallpaper

Posted under Design post, Eco watch, Ethical Interiors, Interior Styling, Paint/fabric/wallpaper, Vintage

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