Grey Walls & Statement Art

I know, I know; suggesting you paint a room grey couldn't sound more dull...but it looks fantastic... image source

Zara Home

There was an article in a supplement of The Scotsman newspaper on Saturday featuring some tips and hints, by little ol' me, on interior trends this season. In it, I suggested rich, dark colours and layering textures (not just fabrics) to give a luxurious and decadent feel for less, perfectly illustrated in these images from Zara Home's Autum/Winter 2010 catalogue. Zara Home is now available online in the UK.

Lighten Up

Check out the new range of awesome animal lamps from Atelier Abigail Aherne . Her style is always eclectic and quirky but so very chique! Abigail's blog is also worth a follow for her thougts on all the latest interior trends. Lots of layering, lots of textures and lots of rich dark colours...especially grey.
I need the bulldog...so butch, with the super girly chintzy lampshade...
Image by Graham Atkin Hughes for Atelier

Wegman's Weimaraners

I'm determined to make it along to the Edinburgh Arts Centre to see William Wegman's photographs.
I have until the 24th October. The exhibition illustrates the family tree of all the weimaraners he has owned, capturing a body of 25 years' work, featuring over 60 pieces.
Has anyone been yet? What did you think?

Creepy Crawlies

As it gets colder outside the bugs and beasties come inside...and it's not just the live ones. Beetles, dragonflys, buterflys and spiders have been released onto jewellery, fabrics, wallpaper and ceramics.
Here's a round up of some of my favourite bits and pieces...

1. Natural History Entomology Notebook 2. Bottega Veneta clutch bag 3. Timorous Beasties Digital Fabric 4. Fired Earth wall tile 5. John Derian crystal dome paperweight 6. Atlantis Home beetle jewellery
I can't handle the live ones...even the prettiest of butterflies. I blame the one that landed on my shoulder when I was eight years old at Rouken Glen Butterfly Kingdom. I'll never forgive you...with your creepy tentacles, spindly legs and ability to fly erratically at any given moment...bleeeeuuuurgh...

28.37 Pendant Canopy

A cluster of 37 misshapen hand blown glass balls with misted bulb on the inside...the more the merrier, I say! From Bocci

Teatime Upcycle

UK illustrator, Esther Coombs, upcylcles charity shop tableware finds with her pretty architectural ink drawings. The cake stands are piled high with pretty vintage glassware and a teacup on top.

Elevenses anyone...?

50's Inspired Curves

I've been thinking about this beautiful fashion shoot from the How to Spend It supplement from The Financial Times since its issue last week.
The 50's are seeing a somewhat glamorous and romantic revival at present in everything from interiors to fashion and even make up (of which this model's is awesome! Check out that white eyeliner!).
It seems the American TV series, MadMen and the beautifully shot, Tom Ford film, A Single Man have a lot to answer for. So far I have managed to catch one episode of MadMen and loved it. I have the full 1st season waiting to be watched from the very beginning and from there hopefully I'll catch up to the 4th!...I have a bit of catching up to do...

Images styled by Damien Foxe for How to Spend it

Honeycomb reflection

The perfect solution for a small space and such a pretty geometric honeycomb inspired effect......also in love with that green velvet sofa...
via

Ink Calender by Oscar Diaz

awesome...

“Ink Calendar” make use the timed pace of the ink spreading on the paper to indicate time.
The ink is absorbed slowly, and the numbers in the calendar are “printed” daily. One a day, they are filled with ink until the end of the month........The “Ink Calendar” was developed for “Gradual “, an exhibition featuring works, which were evolving during the exhibition time at the London Design Festival 2007.

images and more info can be found here

HelenAmyMurray

The beautiful surface relief textures of British textile designer, HelenAmyMurray's work have been bookmarked since the 100% Design exhibition in London in 2006 and at the top of my bloglist since the start of Yeah...Ok...Bye.

'Peony', Stretched wall piece 01 'Oriental' and 'Diamond'

Initially inspired by the carvings in wood and marble on a trip to India, her work has always reflected nature and form and has recently taken a more oriental route. She has perfected her technique to the point where it almost looks machine made although all her work is handmade to order, in her workshop in London. The textiles can be applied to furniture as upholstery, or even as a wall covering.

Danish tub chair 'peacock' and Art Deco 'Cloud' chair

I, recently found out that she has applied her designs to some very beautiful silk and Tibetan wool rugs for The Rug Company's Designer Collection.

Peony, Tibetan wool and Star Silk, Silk

She says,

'I'm excited about fabric manipulation and using innovative techniques, beautiful, luxury materials and design, to create couture for the high-end interior and art markets.'

As always, I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

Images from HelenAmyMurray and The Rug Company

Tattoos

This isn't my handwriting although i wish it was.
This calligraphy is by the amazing Betsy Dunlap. I've been a massive fan for a while and evidently so are a few others...so much so, they have commissioned her work for these awesome tattoos.

'I am my brother's keeper' and 'Lucy and Orla'

images from B Dunlap blog

Day Birger et Mikkelsen A/W 2010

Day Birger et Mikkelsen's Home collecton for Autumn/Winter 2010 features lots of blacks, whites and greys with hints of warm blood red and cool teal blue.
Don't these lifestyle images look chilly compared to the warm sunkissed face of the girl modelling the beautiful Autumn/Winter women's collection?

Some of you who follow me on twitter will know that as the commercial interior design demand has shrivelled I have been helping a friend in her very cool Apothecary, DollyLeo, (interior soon to be posted) so I can tell you that as the months get colder the make up look this Autum/Winter will shift from dewy corals to warm native American skintones and soft, smokey eyes, lots of nude tones and the odd blood red lip...so it looks like Day Birger are already all over it!
Either way, it's all gorgeous!

Etiquette

My husband very almost convinced me that I made up the rule about cheese; ever since we first shared a cheese plate and I was outraged by his confident mutilation of the stinky, yet sacred tip of the triangle. Due to his bewildering ignorance I actually started to believe that maybe I had dreamt up such an infringement of a social situation.

...he still takes the 'nose' of the triangle, every time, just to see the shocked look on my face...

print available from Coulson Macleod

Staircase Envy

ooooooooooooooohhhh...just your average internal sandstone staircase...

image: johnmckenziephotography.co.uk