Life Story

Way back in December I was invited along to the opening of Life Story, a new concept lifestyle store situated where Broughton Street meets London Street, in Edinburgh. The interior is brilliant (worth a visit alone) and the stock is both covetable and surprisingly affordable...seriously, they should hand out baskets at the door. I want everything.
Fee and Adam Storey have drawn on their successful design experience in the world of fashion and commercial interiors and created a store with a difference. The couple believe that all too often the designers' tale is lost amidst the retailers' branding so have given the carefully selected objects a stage on which to tell their story.

Broughton Street is fast becoming my favourite street to shop in!

Dare Studios

I'm guilty of defaulting to Scandinavian or US sources for inspiration and key interior features or unusual furniture pieces and accessories, all too often. As a keen supporter of local and UK designers, I'm vowing to discover and share lots of home grown talent this year.
Take a look at this beautiful hand made furniture from Dare Studios based in Brighton. With a nod to mid century modern design and a firm grasp on current trends, Dare have produced some beautifully crafted, statement pieces. The wire based tables are also available in brass and copper and I've fallen for this marble topped, steel framed, 'strand' side table.

If you are, or know of any great UK designers/makers whose work you think I'd like, please get in touch via the 'about me' page, facebook or twitter. I'd love to hear from you...and if I love your work I'll share it here...

Three's A Crowd Pleaser /// Unexpected De-lights

Whilst flicking through Elle Decoration last weekend, I was pleasantly surprised by the new lighting range from BHS. Yep, you heard me, British Home Stores. Not what you'd expect from there...are they? 

Nice huh?!...

Thornby | Erika | Dalston

Three's a Crowd Pleaser /// Autumn wardrobe

I rarely do fashion/outfit posts but with the change of weather it's only natural to have the urge to update one's wardrobe. It's been beautiful in Edinburgh this autumn; crisp and fresh, with glorious, albeit low level, sunshine and blue skies. Colour blocking, animal print and British patriotism (it's been a big year) in one look. Too much? No way...

1. Missoni abstract leopard print pencil skirt | 2. Lily and Lionel Telephone boxes scarf | 3. Madewell Saratoga Blue The chain Minibag in Suede | image: Lily and Lionel scarf print excerpt

Collage Craziness

I was seriously distracted by these pretty prints of collages from Violet May on Folksy. Cassia is inspired by mid century advertising, vintage music posters and book covers. These are my favourites. Did I mention it's my birthday soon...?

 images from Folksy

Kathryn Tyler

I know this has done the rounds on the internet and on repeats of Grand Designs for quite some time but I had to get it out of my head and into a post. 

Kathryn Tyler is a talented, young British interior designer who had the opportunity to build Corkellis House, her dream home, on the land at the bottom of her parents' garden in Falmouth. If you missed it on Grand Designs, I recommend you watch it or wait for it to be repeated. It's a pretty inspiring episode. The layout is simple and functional. Kathryn's office has an extensive design library and vintage mustard boardroom chairs, sourced on ebay, around a large table. Next to the office is the open plan kitchen and dining space with the sunken living room separated by a built in shelving unit. Obviously influenced by Scandinavian design and mid century architecture, the house is beautiful inside and out. 

image source

Scottish Ceramics and the Festival

So far this festival, I haven't been able to soak up much in the way of festivities. One year, I promise I'm gonna post some great tips and must-sees but so far this year, I've done some wondering, seen one incredible play and taken my aunt to see this pottery. Hopefully we'll be able to get some comedy in by the end of the month...
From my limited festivities, my recommendation is the tiny studio and gallery in my part of Edinburgh, Adam Pottery. Its a must for any ceramic lover all year round with traditional and contemporary Scottish ceramicists, working on their collections in the studios on site. This festival, the space is an official Edinburgh Fringe venue showing and selling some beautiful pieces. My absolute favourite work there is by Lara Scobie. The colours, textures and shapes got me a little excited and let's just say; that amazing tall stripy jug; it's no longer available...if you know what I mean...

images are from Lara's facebook page 

London Interior

I was pretty speechless when I came across these photographs of  Interior Designer, Shaun Clarkson and fabric designer, Paul Brewster's London home by James Balston. There are too many awesome features, like the painted floors and the glazed panels, to mention but there's one room that I'm saving for its very own post...because it blew me away! Come back tomorrow to see it! 

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Retrouvius

Retrouvius are a London based architectural salvage and design company. Their work is clever, inspiring and beautiful not to mention, sustainable. The other night I spent so long looking at the design projects and salvage items for sale, on their website, that my tea went cold.
Using reclaimed flooring as wall panelling is evidently a favourite and recurring method for them, and features in many of their projects. Here are a few awesome examples. Rustic versus polished; different finishes can give very different (but equally beautiful) effects.

Tomorrow's post is one of my favourite interiors from their recent projects.
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Holly Fulton

I've been getting requests for some sort of gift guide...whilst contemplating whether to do one post with a montage of glorious goodies or spoon feed you with dribs and drabs of festive findings, I keep finding objects that are just too special to stuff in a stocking.
Namely, these beautiful notebooks and diaries by Scottish designer, Holly Fulton for Smythson. You may have noticed that I have a thing for stationery items especially of the notebook variety but these are yellow and blue goatskin, die-stamped, deco-inspired, illustrated, pieces of art! Not only that but Holly Fulton was born and bred in Edinburgh.

Holly studied at Edinburgh College of Art before heading south to The Royal to do an MA. She graduated in 2007 and since then her collections have gone from strength to strengh. Her Art Deco and Bauhaus inspied work is incredible.

Holly Fulton Spring/Summer 2010 London Fashion week

Yay, for home grown uber-talent!

Images from Smythson and LondonFashionWeek.co.uk

Babbington House

The Soho House Group have a pretty impressive portfolio of hotels around the world, including the latest addition in Berlin but I still like to refer to their sumptuous first venture, Babbington House in Sommerset, for design inspiration. It opened in 1998 and, although i presume it has undergone some updating along the way, still looks elegant and relevant in the design stakes. There are 23 rooms in the main house and coach house, 5 family holiday rooms in the Stable block (...of course), a lodge with 3 bedrooms and 3 more next to the very funky Cowshed Relax Spa overlooking the walled garden, dahling...
Surely, having that beautiful old chapel in the gardens propels it into the most perfect setting for an English country wedding, no? ...only if daddy has enough on the credit card...

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...?

Caroline Swift Breakables

I get my love for tableware and ceramics from my mum...who incidentally has a thing for spoons too. She has a little table of pretty spoons in the dining room and her collection of unusual ceramic crockery, mostly from degree shows by new designers, is growing nicely too.
Reading this back she sounds a bit like a crazy lady with weird ornaments everywhere but her taste is more akin to the work of former benetton knitwear designer, Caroline Swift's paper thin bone china bowls, pretty spoons and these amazing, intricate, stoneware flowers...i'd be afraid to hold those beautiful bowls too tight!

Made in England and available here...any guesses what mum's getting for Christmas??!

Stair Art

British architect, John Pawson, is a master of minimal, clean, multifunctional, design.

He also has a bit of a thing for stairs...as do I. His monochrome sketches are available to purchase and hang (straight) on your (very clean) (and preferably white) wall.

Via dexigner