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All posts byCarrie Graham-Clarke

Quick summer garden updates!

On August 28th, 2012 by .

When the sun finally came out this weekend, I decided I’d make the most of it and spend some time in the garden.  In my garden there is a small patio area which is used for an outdoor seating area, and a kitchen garden with herbs.  The patio is fairly packed with wooden planters, a rusted old bench, and plenty of the same old terracotta pots.. oh, and a garden gnome!  It’s undoubtably a lovely area but it lacks in colour and character.  I wanted to make changes that 1, wouldn’t cost too much, 2, would add colour and 3, would be quick and easy!

My first quick fix was to update the wood and wrought iron bench, which I sanded down then painted in a sky blue, outdoor gloss paint. Next on my list was the boring planters for the various herbs and flowers.  I raided the garden and greenhouse – collecting lots of different shapes and sizes of terracotta pots to paint.  I sealed the insides of all the pots before painting them in different colours.  So as not to waste paint I had several 250 ml tester pots made up in my selected colours at Homebase – they only cost £2.50 and they go a long way.  I chose bright colours with the intention of using contrasting coloured flowers for each pot.  Once all the painted pots are dry I will mix them into groupings with different pots already on the patio.

Apart from the terracotta pots I wanted to find other planters that would add further interest – first stop, my local charity and antique shops.  I was in luck and found a gorgeous old green metal watering-can which is now a planter for fresh mint.  I was also hoping to come across a couple crates or wine boxes with interesting type or design, that I could line and use as a planter, but I wasn’t so lucky this time. From looking online, I’ve seen that Not On The High Street offer a fabulous crate which can be personalized with font and colour – click here to view.

Below are the images of my days work in the garden…

Jubilee Jollies

On May 1st, 2012 by .

2012 really is a great year to be British! Not only do we have the Olympics this Summer, but it is also our grand old Queen’s Diamond Jubilee; a remarkable achievement with only Queen Victoria as a fellow monarch to reach such Jubilee heights. The Jubilee weekend will stretch from the 2nd to the 5th of June, and is sure to be packed full of celebrations and events all across Grand ol’ Blighty; street parties and pic-nic’s galore!

With the recent gloomy Spring it’s a great time to look ahead and start planning your Jubilee celebrations. Think red, blue and white. Think crowns, corgies, champers and yummy treats; cucumber sandwiches (no crusts) and scones! To help you get started here is a selection of beautiful Jubilee party themed products…

 Union Jack Bunting - The Cotton Bunting Company, Jubilee Crown Tea Cosy – Ulster Weavers, both Not On The High Street

Above all from the Jubilee Street Party collection - Pipii

Afternoon Tea Stand – Talking Tables, Jubilee Cake Topper – The Contemporary Home

 

The fabulous LifestyleBazaar

On March 18th, 2012 by .

The start of the year is always a very promising time for freshening up and welcoming in the new – and that is exactly what the team at LifestyleBazaar HQ have been doing! The new year has been a very busy one, with not only a fab new look to the shop floor but an extension and refurb to the basement. This entire new floor has lead to a larger selection of high quality, affordable and most importantly, interesting and individual designs to the LifestyleBazaar catalogue.

The design duo behind LifestyleBazaar, Chris and Laurent go above and beyond to bring the best selection of products for the home that you won’t find anywhere else! Originally based in Nice, South of France they relocated back to London five years ago, bringing their eclectic mix of design and decorative homewares to Shoreditch. The store holds a mix of styles, well known brands and new designers – all offered at fantastic prices. Some of the brands at LifestyleBazaar include Leitmotiv, Virebent, iBride, The New English and Mode Design to name but a few.

Next time you’re in London I highly recommend a visit to the LifestyleBazaar store to explore the gorgeous products on offer. Or, if you can’t make it to the shop browse the extensive website by clicking here.

Painting with grey

On March 12th, 2012 by .

At the beginning of the year I moved into a new home that could only be described as a granny flat. It’s previous occupant was a seventy-something with a fondness for pond green swags, beige everything and rhubarb pink. It’s new occupant however is a twenty-something with a love for interior decoration and modern, if slightly quirky, design. So, as you can imagine I’ve been very busy with various DIY projects as I re-vamp my flat, room by room. The first room I decided to decorate was the living room and I wanted to do so with grey paint.

I decided that I would go with just the one feature wall (pictured below) as not to drown the room – even though it is a very light room thanks to the large bay window and high ceilings. The shade of grey I chose to go with was Bowler Hat Grey from the Dulux Classic’s range, painting the rest of the walls/features in a simple Brilliant White, also by Dulux. Dulux Classic’s are lovely shades and pretty much - in my eyes - on par with Farrow & Ball’s chalky soft paints. When I started painting I was unsure of how I was going to tackle the shelves and the surrounds so I thought I’d take it step by step. I have to admit, I am not a fan of built in shelves and cupboards; I don’t like their shape or their lack of flexibility. The obvious answer was to rip them out but that currently is not an option, so I have to live with them and hopefully try make them disappear.

Before…

When I arrived at the above stage I did not feel comfortable with the outcome, it did not look right. The white frame around the shelves looked prominent and fussy, which definitely was not my plan! When using dark or strong colours it can be a bit daunting making bold decisions, so it’s always helpful to get the opinion of another. Obviously my first point of call was to Pippa! I emailed her a few pictures and asked her opinion on what I should do… paint everything grey, paint just the surround, paint the shelves, paint everything including the cupboards??? Pippa confirmed my feelings and suggested I paint the surround and shelves grey, but paint the cupboard white. And thats exactly what I did (see below) and I think it looks great. The fireplace pops out, the fresh white paint looks sophisticated and most importantly, the shelves appear merged and subtle!! I also think my collection of accessories look great against the grey – especially the coloured items… well I think they do anyway.

After…

Chasing the sweet things in life

On December 6th, 2011 by .

One of my favourite blogs to read has to be Sweet Paul, written by New York City based, Norwegian, Paul Lowe – a food and prop stylist. His craft creations and yummy recipes are used in many editorial and commercial projects; but most notably in his own online and free publication, Sweet Paul Magazine.

Paul’s Oslo heritage can be seen in all aspects of his work. Cleverly working light, texture and colour in an effortlessly chic way. Crafting also comes naturally to Paul which gives him the edge to think out of the box and create something truly special. His beautiful images and food creations will not only make your mouth water, but they’ll leave you inspired. Sweet Paul’s recipes are easy to follow and due to the rustic, fun nature of the images – you don’t feel intimidated to try them. The elegant recipes are for home, friends and family; rather than Masterchef professionals! All 172 pages of the Winter 2011 Sweet Paul Magazine are brimming with original and festive ideas for you to try. Personal favourites from this issue include ‘Make Your Own Paper’ Pg 28, ‘Christmas Pudding Cupcakes’ Pg 37, and the feature on a homemade ‘Natural Christmas’ Pg 53. The feature on crafting your own wreaths {Pg 118} offers a creative option to the old classics. Oh, and the Divine Chocolate feature {Pg 160}!! There’s just too make great features to choose from.

To view the Winter 2011 Sweet Paul Magazine please click here.

 

Hotel Review - La Maison Pujol

On November 3rd, 2011 by .

Nestled in the South of France between the Canal du Midi and Minervois vineyards, you will find boutique hotel gem, La Maison Pujol. Housing just four guest-rooms the petite yet perfectly formed B&B is built in the heart of a restored old provinicial winery with a modern twist.

La Maison Pujol offers a rustic ambience merged seamlessly with contemporary, cool design to a very high standard. All of the renovations and transformations were completed by owner and architect/designer Philippe Phi. It’s very clear that during the restoration it was of paramount importance to create an environment that both embraced the history and original features of the old winery with new modern design. Every detail has been carefully thought through so that the opposing ideals sit happily alongside each other and the end result is effortlessly chic. One of the clearest ways of seeing this is through the use of texture – a representation of both the history and future of the hotel. It’s original, uneven pebbled flooring, animal hides and wood – vs – modern smoothed concrete, industrial metal and pure white walls.

The four guest-rooms are flooded with light and kept simple with minimal furniture, striking artwork and vintage accessories. Whilst Philippe Phi was designing La Maison Pujol he was largely inspired by 1960s-1980s design which can be seen in the choice of vintage furniture from Van der Rohe, Eames and Jacobsen. Much of the other bric-a-brac and decorative wooden antiques are from Africa, adding a needed sense of warmth. There is also a strong theme of graphic typography as vintage industrial lettering is scattered throughout the interior and exterior of the property. The colour palette is also very neutral with the occasional splash of bright earthy oranges and reds.

Prices start from 80€ per night on low seasons, please check La Maison Pujol website for further details.

Skulls galore!

On September 24th, 2011 by .

The skull is an internationally recognized symbol for death and mortality; a sign of warning and the fragile nature of life. It’s cultural context varying around the world. It can be a sign of solidarity and unity for the outcast tough guys; pirates, Hells Angels and even Nazi’s. A connotation of melancholy for Shakespeare and his contemporaries. A symbol for the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. Or even an Elizabethan emblem for bawds, rakes and prostitutes that would be worn as rings. Which ever way the skull has been depicted over the years, it has become an icon in itself.

In recent years the skull has escaped it’s sinister association to become a thing of beauty. The late Alexander McQueen revitalized and re-introduced the skull to current popular fashion in the early 2000s. The provocative skull imagery sweetened with bright colours and silky fabric sent fashionistas wild, itching to get their grubby hands on his skull-jacquard silk scarfs or Britannia skull clutch bags. Damien Hirst furthered the lust for skulls and proved his status in the arts world with ‘For the Love of God’ – a diamond encrusted platinum skull that sold for a spine tingling £50 million! Damien Hirst’s diamond skull became hypermodern and Dwell quickly copied, making an affordable diamante encrusted skull statement centerpiece for the home – it’s no pocket change at £199. Skulls, bones and even organs have been transformed in to a variety of house hold pieces in materials that you’d never expect. Below is my pick of the best anatomically inspired home-wares.

Various Mugs, all Kuehn Keramik

Pavilion of Natural History vase (left), Skull Candle holder (right) – all, Virbent

Supermodel Plates (main image), Inkhead Plate (top right), Anatomica Plate (bottom right) - all, The New English


Flower Pump – Veneri Design

‘Souviens toi que tu vas mourir, fiberglass chair’ – Pool (left). Glass Skull Pen Pot – Graham & Green (right).

Wig Vase – Tania da Cruz Design

Beware of the moon, bronze flock skulls on oil slick wallpaper. Rockett St George

Vintage Rose Skull Tapestry Cushion Kit, Jan Constantine (left). Skull Stein Glass, Heals (right).

Up-cycled Vintage Skull Teacup (left), Up-cycled Vintage Skull Plate (right) – all Melody Rose

Introducing... Jimbob Art

On September 15th, 2011 by .

 

In recent months there has been a real surge for raw, imaginative and free illustrations, and in my eyes, one of the leading designers in this category is James Ward of Jimbob Art. Ward honed his skills in illustration whilst studying at Westminster University, London, where he developed a love for working in pen and ink. After a recent vacation to Sweden, Ward came back to England truly inspired; inspired by their use of natural history design and the range of products or surfaces that features them. It’s from this point that Ward began using ceramics as a medium to display his range of animal characters.

‘I feel drawing anthropomorphic characters can describe so much about human emotions and personalities with the juxtaposition of the animal’s expression against his clothing, an item or text.’ – James Ward

I am enchanted with Jimbob Art’s selection of ceramics and the beautiful illustrations that cover them; they’re so playful and humorous. The bright pops of colour on the monochromatic designs bring the illustrations to life and add to their charming nature. Each individual illustration is hand-drawn with on-glaze ink on to dishwasher proof white porcelain. All of the ceramics will look not only brilliant as a table setting, but great on display; perhaps on a welsh dresser or kitchen shelving. My personal favourites have to be the El Guapo plate, The Dominator plate, the Owl in Pants teapot, and the Tea Defender Mug. It’s probably too early to be writing a ‘Christmas Wish List’, but these will definitely be going on it!

Trade show previews

On September 1st, 2011 by .

It’s impossible to believe it’s already September, the prime season for trade shows is here! In anticipation, here is a small selection of the shows I’m most looking forward to and which exhibitors I’m excited to see…

 

Origin – the contemporary craft fair

Ontwepduo is dutch for ‘design duo’. Designers Tineke Beunders and Nathan Wierink work closely together to create inspiring creations such as the above Light Forest (left) installation.  Their products have a brilliant industrial edge which is spot on at the moment. The award winning Shan Annabelle Valla is the next exhibitor I am looking forward to seeing. The collection of playful decorative curiosities take a twist on the normal, highlighting the everyday beauty. The above Itzy Bitzy Ditzy vases (right) have a fantastic texture which you wouldn’t expect from porcelain.

 

Top Drawer – design-led gifts, lifestyle and fashion accessories.

As a cookie extremist I instantly fell in love with Nikki McWilliams scrumptious cushions and homeware accessories (left). I’m looking forward to seeing the tea time treat creations, such as the above Tunnock’s Teacake and Bourbon cushions. Next on my list for Top Drawer will be Fifty One Percent, a colourful company which offer a great selection of folksy tableware, bedding and textiles. All in bright and bold colours.

 

100% Design – cutting edge, contemporary interior design

& Then Design (left) is a creative venture of Nottingham based furniture designers Samuel Wright and Jamie Bowler. Their pieces are intelligently crafted and full of character. The overall look is effortless and perfect for both at home and the workplace. London based Ochre (right) create subtle yet sophisticated designs that embody glamour. The craftsmanship is to an exceedingly high standard along with the materials used. The ‘Arctic Pear’ table lamp pictures above (right) is a personal favourite.

Shabby Chic Furniture

On August 19th, 2011 by .

The consumer practice of throw-away buying and not caring about the origin of a product has drastically changed in the last few years. We’ve grown increasingly interested in learning about where our food is from, is it ethically sourced, is it organic, is it healthy, were the animals properly cared for? Our habits of recycling are also improving – we don’t want to waste, we want to buy responsibly and we want to buy items that will last. It’s these traits, this new mentality for intelligent purchasing that is spreading to all aspects of our life and affecting our buying habits; especially when buying interior products. There is one particular interiors trend that follows the ethical ethos.. shabby chic.

The trend for all things shabby chic has been around for a while now, and is showing no signs of leaving. With the recent revival for choosing up-cycled over reproduction furniture, it’s clear that consumer buying habits are changing. We are going back to vintage roots by thrifting and creating, with a make-do-and-mend attitude. I think the reason shabby chic furniture has been so successful is down to its transferrable nature – blending in to most interiors seamlessly.  This is due to the variety of shapes, styles, colours and differing degrees of furniture painting techniques used. Every item of shabby chic furniture looks different and any style of furniture can be up-cycled.  Many of the high street chains cottoned on to the trend over the years and have decreated mass produced reproduction shabby chic furniture which I am not a fan of; it all looks the same, devoid of any character.  The paint is flat, the wood is cheap MDF and the style is unimaginative.  I believe that shabby chic furniture should be up-cycled from antiques or pre-used furniture – you can see the grain of the wood, it distresses authentically and more often than not the furniture is imperfect. It is these imperfections that make great shabby chic furniture – the dents, scratches and uneven surfaces, they all add to the character and individual nature of the piece.  For these reasons, I buy from independent suppliers who up-cycle the furniture in-store and by hand.  Below is a selection of the best shabby chic up-cyclers!

Shaby chic, ruby rhinoRuby Rhino

Shaby chic, phoenix
Phoenix on Goldborne

Shaby chic, 37 Old London Road

37 Old London Road

Ruby & Betty’s Attic

The following antiques dealers also offer a great selection of beautifully painted, French shabby chic furniture: The French HouseA & L AntiquesMaison Artefacts, Belle Epoque, Jensen and Ballantine and for the occasional piece MADE.