Seasons in Colour

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Desk lamps for the design conscious

Dec 18, 2016
3 min

Desk lamps for the design conscious

Before I got my current desk lamps (scroll down to find out more) I spent a good few days researching online what are the "it" desk lamps right now as I wanted something that would be fancy from a design perspective without however breaking the bank. It turned out that with a bit of shopping around you can find the same product for less, so here's a quick guide on the most fashionable desk lamps and how to get them for less! 1. MUUTO WOOD TABLE LAMP A modern design from TAF A

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Luxury Chalet Tour

Dec 2, 2016
3 min

Luxury Chalet Tour

As December and the skiing season approach fast, it is time to reflect on extraordinary design up in the mountains and grand designs for chalets that are more chic than shabby. A number of boutique hotels offer luxurious accommodation and ski-in, ski-out experience (like the Cheval Blanc Courchevel, part of the Louis Vuitton Group) but when you are in a position to own a chalet of your own who would you call in to design it? It comes as no surprise that Callender Howorth, the

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Launch - Kelly Hoppen x Resource Decor

May 4, 2016
1 min

Launch - Kelly Hoppen x Resource Decor

Usually when an interior designer launches a new furniture collection you expect to see a few pieces that are complemented by some accessories on the side. But this is KELLY HOPPEN, MBE we're talking about, and this blonde amazon (yes, I am utterly convinced she may well have been Hippolyta in an earlier life) would never do things in halves. So, in collaboration with Resource Decor - who have also collaborated with Andrew Martin and Tracey Boyd - she launched a dreamy collec

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Victorian Terrace in white with pops of pastel pink and green

Mar 17, 2016
2 min

Victorian Terrace in white with pops of pastel pink and green

In this grand Victorian terrace, in Melbourne's South Yarra district, designer Fiona Lynch managed to transform an otherwise small living area into a modern and light lounging space. The designer introduced custom designed cabinetry as well as architectural features through selected furniture (see that outdoor Corallo chair in the end of the post, it's just fabulous!) while sheer curtains keep the light in and the walls plain white. In this living space I love how art is used

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GIDC - Ep. 6 Timber framed houses

Feb 11, 2016
2 min

GIDC - Ep. 6 Timber framed houses

Another bedroom challenge this week, which finds Rob battling it out with Lucy for a place in the quarterfinal. Will "whirling dervish" Lucy Tiffney manage to impress yet again or will Rob's upcycling talent strike a chord with the judges? Episode 6 Location: Robertsbridge, Sussex Style: Timber frame Houses If you want to catch up with the previoys episodes: check here A great designer should not just choose the easy projects and rooms. And the latest room given to our aspiri

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TOWNHOUSE CHIC

Feb 10, 2016
4 min

TOWNHOUSE CHIC

Elegant Townhouse dA collaboration with CAMERICH UK Photo styling: Jenny Kakoudakis 'Townhouse Chic' is a style category of its own. Town houses traditionally have a small footprint over several floors and are rather narrow. With renovations going about all the time, owners have to decide whether to retain furniture that has traditional character and feel to it or, when the end design demands it and the budget allows it, to use contemporary pieces that will stand the test of

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GIDC - Ep. 5 Georgian Terrace

Feb 10, 2016
3 min

GIDC - Ep. 5 Georgian Terrace

From thached cottages to Georgian terrace flats, we find ourselves in Bath with its warm honey coloured limestone buildings, which are so recognisable. The remaining three hopefulls have to tackle the living room in 3 beautiful properties, each one with a completely different brief. The expectations are high, given there are no funny low ceilings, beams or lack of light in these beautifully square rooms. Almost a blank canvas for our designers. Episode 5 Location: Bath Style:

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GIDC - Ep. 4 Thatched Village

Feb 9, 2016
6 min

GIDC - Ep. 4 Thatched Village

The location for the first challenge is the beautiful thatched village of Briantspuddle in Dorset. Once more, looks are deceiving as architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff tells us. The village is just an unusual Edwardian experiment where most of the houses are less than 100 years old. Engineering manager Rob, DIY store worker Angelica, ex-visual merchandiser Sarah and textiles lecturer LucyThe room will be working on bedrooms within these properties. Episode 4 Location: Bria

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GIDC - Ep. 3 Scottish (faux) castle

Feb 4, 2016
3 min

GIDC - Ep. 3 Scottish (faux) castle

The first design-off took place last night: doggie day carer Holly and ex-textiles salesman Frankie battled it out for a place in the quarter-finals. They previously worked tricky rooms in a modernist former leisure centre in south London and in a weatherboard cottage in Kent. Check out all available episodes here Episode 3 finds architectural historian Tom Dyckoff all excited about revealing the secrets behind the facade of the beautiful Scottish castle that is to be the cha

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GIDC - Ep. 2 Weatherboarded cottage

Feb 3, 2016
3 min

GIDC - Ep. 2 Weatherboarded cottage

Still in the running: actress Sharon, doggie day carer Holly and ex-textiles salesman Frankie. In the first episode they were each assigned a bedroom in the Pioneer Building - a modernist former leisure centre in south London. Read about episode 1 here We've had tears already with Frankie at breaking point from fatigue in Episode 1 and today our contestants return to face another challenge at the picturesque Kentish village of Rolvenden (Asford). In an area that used to be ca

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GIDC - Episode 1 Converted Leisure Centre

Feb 2, 2016
4 min

GIDC - Episode 1 Converted Leisure Centre

It's been a much anticipated return on our screens but the Great Interior Design Challenge is finally back. Showing on BBC2 on Mon, Tue and Wed at 7pm, the show kicked off yesterday and interiors bloggers are glued to the TV, myself included. The group of amateurs taking on the design challenge includes youth worker Jane, actress Sharon, doggie day carer Holly and ex-textiles salesman Frankie. In the first episode that aired on Monday 1st Feb '16, they were each assigned a be

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Tribute: The Anglepoise Mini 75

Sep 27, 2015
5 min

Tribute: The Anglepoise Mini 75

There were so many photo opportunities and so many tweets about this lamp that it only made sense to turn them into a post. I would also love to give you some background about how I came to choose these desk lamps over other and share a good tip for getting them just a tiny bit cheaper. To start with, what is now 6 months ago, I took Surface View's creative challenge and set about transforming a first floor room that was being used as a home office for my better half (BH). No

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Tribute: The Gräshoppa (iconic designs series)

Jul 12, 2015
1 min

Tribute: The Gräshoppa (iconic designs series)

Let's talk about Greta Grossman. Greta Grossman (1906-1999) focused on industrial design, interior design and architecture. In the 40's and 50's she exhibited her designs at museums worldwide, including MoMA in New York and The National Museum in Stockholm. The most iconic products Greta Grossman designed in the 40's and 50's were the Gräshoppa floor lamp and the Cobra floor and table lamps. The latter won the Good Design Award in 1950 and was subsequently exhibited at the Go

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Just 99 - Lifestyle in Limited Edition

Jul 5, 2015
2 min

Just 99 - Lifestyle in Limited Edition

JUST99 was launched in late 2014 by husband and wife Carlo Piemonte and Marzena Ciesielka to provide an opportunity to those who are always looking to treat themselves or others with an exclusive product, but at a price that fits everyone’s budget. Each JUST99 edition is unique and strictly limited in pieces. The collections are made of no more and no less than only 99 pieces (hence the name), all numbered and certified, made in Italy by Just99's craftsmen. Designers, photo

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Introducing: Make a statement with Moustache

Jun 18, 2015
1 min

Introducing: Make a statement with Moustache

it is not suddenly Movember again so I do not expect you to grow a moustache. Monoqi's latest addition in their online sales is furniture from dynamic French company Moustache. The things we place in our homes should make a dynamic statement, one that will be just a significant in ten, twenty, or fifty years’ time. Making more than just a bold contribution to thought-out interiors, the conceptual homewares from French label Moustache are designed to shape the cultural identit

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Introducing: A lot of fuss about wireless charging!

May 22, 2015
4 min

Introducing: A lot of fuss about wireless charging!

Like many of you out there, I HATE cables. And we have a lot of those at my home. It comes with the territory, I guess, as my husband loves gadgets and his desk seems to grow tentacles overnight. This is one of the reasons I am upgrading him from a plaIn glass desk (you can see everything behind and its a hot mess!) to a massive antique oak pedestal one that will hide everything properly. So I’ve been waiting impatiently for the wireless revolution to kick off. Wireless inter

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Clerkenwell Design Week 2015

May 21, 2015
2 min

Clerkenwell Design Week 2015

Internationally renowned design festival, Clerkenwell Design Week returned for its sixth year in 2015 (19-21 May), bringing together the latest innovations by some of the best creative forces from the UK and around the world. The event yet again encompassed the true spirit of the design community in one of the world’s most vibrant, creative hubs. The structure of the 2015 event revolved around four focused exhibitions, housed in Clerkenwell’s most historic buildings. The Desi

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Hang it in style

Apr 19, 2015
3 min

Hang it in style

You come back home and throw your jacket and bag on the first chair you find in front of you, hang it on the banister, lay them on the sofa or (for the worst offenders, including my 5 year old) on the floor. I thought I'd give you a few ideas on coat stands currently in the shops so that you can hang your coats, jackets and bags in style. Starting with iconic designer label Alessi. The coat stand below called Pierrot is from their 2015 collection and was recently featured on

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