Or should I say black and white? extreme polarities and what a difference in feel designing with either of these in a monochromatic scheme. My new studio is white, its very uplifting and helps me to achieve a clear head. However decorating with the two colours helps to bring about an equalibrium as in The Crown below. A timeless classic updated in black, the ercol chair, draped with a white cosy sheepskin. This Inn and their sister establishment The Olde Bell Inn are designed by Ilsa Crawford
an image from Domino magazine inspired me to research Joseph Frank, his 40′s prints are so vibrant of full of energy and so incredibly detailed.
This room is full of hope, waiting for the summer sun to return, strangely this pattern is called Hawaii?
Svenskt Tenn a wonderful interiors shop in Stockholm , opened in in the 1920′s, 10 years later Josef Frank joined the design team and his abundantly floral fabrics were born. Click on the image below to take you to the Svenskt Tenn shop,
I am needing to create a scheme for an apartment in a beautiful georgian buildiing, high cceilings, beautifully proportioned windows, light, sunny with views across swathes of gren parkland. Want to keep this light airy feeling and have been inspired by this image of a bedroom, it belongs to the style editor of Domino magazine, a stateside interiors mag and appears in the book “Domino “
As you can imagine over the years I have amassed a huge collection of books and magazines, cuttings and clippings, my bookshelves are groaning but there is nothing I love more than taking a book at random, making a cup of coffee and sitting outside in my favourite chair and perusing the pages. Always, always find something that sparks off an idea. Just like this image today
Happy New year everyone, first day back at work !! Avalanche of work, plans coming out of my ears, made a good start though, cleared some issues hanging over from before christmas, made a start on floor finishes plan and had a meeting to discuss how to tackle the workload.
With my walking practically non existant, and not being able to drive has curtailed my meetings somewhat, although Matlock beckons on my birthday, 18th January, I will be great to be driven and site meeting is planned to be on the level so I dont have to climb up to the site managers office !!
All very exciting
Today I found an image I compiled from a photograph taken at Maison Objet last year. Think it was on the Asiatides stand. A beautiful piece of coral against a backdrop of a chinese glazed tile. Have been waiting for just the right interior to use it, framed up will look great. In fact there is a whole series, so I can have a wall group of nine images in total.
Maison Objet is a very inspiring interiors trade show in Paris, alas this year I wont be able to go in January because of the foot, but hopefully will manage the one in September. Used to go twice a year, but its not worth it, they are much the same except that in September there are more fabrics, but this isnt why I go, I like to source new furniture ideas, note trends, and in general just absorb ideas like a huge sponge……………. and of course any excuse to get on that train to Paris !
more images to inspire me in the turquoise mode. I hadnt realised that William de Morgan not only used this colour to great effect but used red too, take a look here :- red lustre ware
Another day of resting up (broken foot scenario) has produced more inspirational images. With the Aesthetic movement finds of yesterday and the image of NIGHT AND SLEEP by Evelyn De Morgan, I found the wonderful ceramics of William De Morgan. The colours and imagery I have found a renewed love for, he uses lots of blues, turquoise and greens with great effect, red lustre too. I remember back in the day, many years back when Morris and his contemporaries were much in vogue, think they are making headway again but not in such an overblown way this time.
This tiled panel below was commisioned by P&O shipping lines for on etheir cruise liners. De morgan uses ships a lot in his imagery, and was very drawn by the sea
Having some holiday time from the office has enabled me time spend researching some of the projects I am working on. Usually office is so full on there is just not enough time. Also I have broken my foot and have to rest up !!
Its all Interesting stuff, one building in its hay day, towards the end of the 19th century, belonged to the founder of Shell and an ex mayor of London, The house was famous for its beautiful gardens which was cared for by 25 full time gardeners. Another has Lytton Strachey as a pupil, bohemian intellectual and part of the Bloomsbury group. So interesting, so much history, a beautiful Tudor gothic revival building. The Aesthetic period, the rich colours, especially turquoise has caught my attention, I want to try and incorporate this look but in a more pared down way.
Its been a whirlwind of a year, extremely busy and next year is stacking up that way too, so many exciting projects on the go, working with some really beautiful buildings
Cannot believe it’s that time of year again where we deck our english homes with boughs of holly? red and green seems to dominate, so thought I woud post some images that have inspired me over the past year that echo this theme
Wishing you all seasons greetings from IDC
