ESPC Feature: Part II

Tomorrow my feature in the ESPC will be lining paper recycling bins so don't forget to pick it up if you're out and about today. Alternatively, the feature is now up on the ESPC blog for all to read.
For those bold enough to go for a dark colour on their walls, here are the images from the dark living room set up. They were staged in the husband's bar, The Last Word. As much as I tried to convince them to go for black on the walls, when they first opened, they chickened out and went for a very dark green, which actually looks great in the space. The bar was a perfect backdrop for my dark interior set up as I could contrast with that awesome raspberry 'birdie' lamp; another coveted item borrowed from Catalog, on St. Stephen Street, along with those gorgeous cushions. Check out the sale (ends on 2nd February) for some great designer pieces at bargain prices! I love the table top on that little art deco side table (borrowed from Cherubim), it's such a great colour.

The husband was pretty chuffed with how the bar looked in Rachel's photographs. I took that as positive feedback. Either way I enjoyed doing it and would love to do more!
Arm chair: one of a pair I found in a Glasgow charity shop (2 for £40!) | Black textured cushion and red aztec cushion: borrowed from Catalog | Cow hide rug: mine | 'Birdie' lamp: borrowed from Catalog | collection of books: the husband's | art deco table with blue painted table top: borrowed from Cherubim | plate, bowl and glass bottle vase: mine | Butterflies: borrowed from The Last Word (found on Ebay) | Beetle print: ours (a gift) Hagedornhagen
See ESPC Feature: Part I here.. Follow ESPC facebook page for regular posts and more info.
Photography by Rachel Hein

My Stylin'

Last week I set up a couple of little corners in two very different spaces for a feature I've been asked to do about the trends for the new year for Edinburgh's property paper. One little corner was in my flat and the other was in The Last Word Saloon. I had lots of fun styling the shots with photographer, Rachel Hein, and the results are better than I'd expected so I'm pretty excited about seeing them, in print, in January.

I borrowed the cushions, the red 'birdie' lamp and that beautiful, white metal framed side table from Catalog in Stockbridge; my new favourite shop. It was very difficult to give that table back...my living room is a lesser place without it. I have notified Santa...

The little art deco table with blue painted top was borrowed from Cherubim, a great little gallery on St Stephen Street with an ever changing stock of interesting upcycled furniture for sale. It's always worth a visit for an unusual statement piece.

The antlers were visiting my flat from The Last Word and the rest of the stuff is mine...received as gifts, bought, found or inherited over the years. 

I promise to share the final shots and pictures of the feature when it's been printed but in the meantime here's a sneaky peak of how the day went from behind the scenes.

If you reeeeaaaaally can't wait you can see some of the shots here. 

Main photograph by Rachel Hein, the rest were taken by me.

Going Underground

Last night, I watched George Clarke's Amazing Spaces on Channel 4 (UK), the first episode in a new series exploring the way people live in, and transform, small spaces. The highlight for me was this converted underground public toilet in London, cleverly transformed into a beautiful one bedroom home. It's quite incredible how much light floods through the wells from the pavement above. They even have outdoor space...although I'd be quite concerned about the odd drunk using it, and the entrance stairwell, as the space was intended!
Although the final result is certainly amazing, it would have taken some industrial rubber gloves and a ridiculous amount of bleach! What do you think? Would you take on such a mammoth task?
UPDATE: After tweeting Laura Jane Clark, the owner and designer of this underground home, she has clarified that in fact the original tiles in the kitchen were not those of the urinals. They were in fact behind the basins. Much less gross!

images and more info from the Telegraph

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! 

images

Simple White...

I know the current trend in the interior world is to go dark, and I love it but...I still can't resist a whiter than white space. This Antwerp house belongs to Melanie Ireland, the creator of Simplekids; a very cool Belgian kid's clothing company. The interior was featured in the equally cool French magazine (for kids!!), Milk.
Black on white in the kitchen, that pendant over the table, magazines filling the fireplace and those cushions, are all officially on my wishlist.

source 

Unlikely pairings and bold classics...

...at Reiss.

...LOVE the neutrals with a splash of bold colour...could you pull it off?