Space of the week: Mid-century modern

I squealed with excitement when I saw this home on Apartment Therapy last week. I LOVE it.. especially the white walls with the pops of colour, the shapes of the furniture, the way the artwork is arranged on the walls, and all those windows. I definitely need some more colour in my home!

Isn't it fun how he's incorporated a gallery into his home?

[Images: Apartment Therapy, Home of Dan Devening, Chicago]

Etsy favourite: Yellow Goat

[Images: Yellow Goat]

This jewellery by Yellow Goat is so pretty and whimsical. The paper aeroplane earrings are my favourite, but I'd happily wear it all.

The Fun Theory

I love the idea of making ordinary things fun -- what better way to encourage people to recycle?! Perhaps this particular example would be too costly to roll out on a large scale, but I'm sure more designs could incorporate an element of fun :)

If you liked this, check out The Fun Theory for more videos and competition entries.

Japanese furniture by Ideé

[Images: Ideé online]

I was so happy when I came across the Japanese company Ideé, as these images seem to encapsulate the aesthetic I like. The simple furniture is set off beautifully against the bursts of colour. It's all so light and delicate, and I particularly like the slim sofa legs: I'm a fan of being able to see under furniture as it makes a room feel airy. I wish I had the courage to paint a wall in that bright shade of orangey yellow. Mmm it tastes just like mango sorbet...

Door obsession

1. Reconstruction of Doors, 1997, Jane and Louise Wilson

2. Double Doors, 1997, Jane and Louise Wilson

3. Marcel Duchamp's door, 1927

4, 5, 6. Powerless Structures, 2001, Elmgreen & Dragset

Some of these doors make me feel claustraphobic and others are quite intriguing -- especially Marcel Duchamp's door. I like the fact that these images provoke a reaction in me. Although these pieces are installation art, I feel they could be inspiration for a design project too. I actually think they fit in with my project about enticement as doors naturally welcome/invite you into a space. But of course, in the case of Powerless Structures by Elmgreen & Dragset they are the total opposite of what a door should be -- totally useless! I think instinctively we want to open a door as we're intrigued to see what's on the other side, and these doors fight against that curiosity. I also feel that the white doors look very clinical, which conjures up mental images of hospitals making them even less inviting.

How do these doors make you feel?

Where do snowflakes come from?

My little girl was very intrigued by the snow yesterday...



But her paws stayed warm and dry inside with me!

[I've never seen so much snow in my life! Throughout my entire childhood it snowed three or four times, but this winter it's been snowing on and off for a month - crazy!]

Honesty & Imperfection

As I get older, I find myself increasingly attracted to imperfect spaces that have truly been lived in, rather than beautifully "decorated" ones. I like things simple, and I don't like "decoration" as such. This might sound strange since I'm studying interior design. People always ask me how I've decorated my own home and when I tell them it's white they look puzzled. They ask, "But isn't interior design all about decorating?" Well decorating may be part of it, but I think it's more about creating a canvas to live in, which has the potential to evolve over time.

I find my own home slightly frustrating as it's relatively new (8 years old) and everything is a bit too perfect with it's skirting boards and carpets. I want something that's a bit rougher around the edges so I can bring out the best in it. I yearn for an old kitchen with a sturdy counter and original cupboards, rather than my flimsy immitation wood cupboards installed by the developers.

I went through a similar stage with clothes a few years ago and realised that I didn't like "fake" clothes from Topshop or H&M. Although I sometimes buy from H&M, I just don't feel like they're "real". I don't really understand exactly what I mean, but I think I crave things that have a history, or a meaning, rather than something mass produced just to make a big company some profit. I hate the fact that so many things are made not to last. Maybe this is why some people only wear vintage or handmade. I tend to buy most things from the Japanese shop Uniqlo because these clothes are the closest to feeling "real" or "honest" that I've found on the highstreet at an affordable price. In the future I must get a sewing machine and learn to make my own clothes.

At the moment I don't feel that my home reflects me, but I'm sure this is something that takes time. Maybe it's only when someone renovates or builds their own home from scratch that they feel totally satisfied. Although I love my creature comforts, all of this has got me thinking about living a simpler life. These photos of a home in Copenhagen really sum up the way I feel at the moment.

[All images: Home of Oliver Gustav, Elle Decoration January 2010]

Tripod Chairs

[Sources: Walter Papst, Arne Jacobsen, Azambourg, Wegner, Egon Eiermann, Emiliano Godoy, Egon Eiermann, Max Bill, Poul Kjærholm]

I bought a tripod side table a couple of years ago, and have always admired tripod lamps. Can you see where this is going? Well... now I'd really like a set of three-legged dining chairs. Or maybe just one side chair. I'd be quite happy with any of the chairs above :) In reality this is more of a fantasy as I can't afford to buy new chairs at the moment, but I am considering painting my Ikea chairs to introduce some colour into my home.

Where they create

[Images: Where they create]

These photos come from a series called Where they create by Paul Barbera. He travels to meet artists and designers and this is the visual documentation of their creative environments. I love the natural and subdued lighting and how each one has just a hint of colour. I particularly like the green light shining on the floor in the first space. I really feel as though I'm sneaking a peek into private spaces. I can sense real atmosphere.

Etsy Favourite: Foret Blouses

[Images: Foret]

I don't know what I love the most: the beautiful blouses or the way they're photographed against the colourful backdrops! Stunning.

Quick Christmas Dinner

Last night we prepared a "Fast Food" version of a Christmas dinner. It was so tasty that we've decided to continue eating Christmas dinner throughout the year.

Ingredients:

McCains chunky chips (they're HUGE and taste almost as good as roast potatoes!)
Paxo Sage & Onion stuffing with apple
Frozen brussell sprouts
Sainsbury's vegetable gravy

Instructions:

Bake chunky chips & stuffing mix for 30 minutes. Microwave sprouts for 4 minutes. Add boiling water to gravy granuels and stir.

Very simple but very tasty :)

Space of the week: A touch of red

[Click to enlarge. All images: Elle Decoration October 2009.]

This stunning house is owned by Evan and Gabrielle Snyderman of r20thcentury. I love the accents of red contrasted with the pure white backdrop of the walls. I'm definitely going to try and introduce some more red into my own home in 2010 (and my wardrobe!). I love the simplicity of the design, but it's not bland in the slightest, and that's due to the bursts of colour, as well as the interesting furniture and curiosities that they have collected over the years.

The perfect model

Honey doesn't like these closeup shots (especially the ones up her nose) but they're my favourite as they capture her little quirks and all the things that I love about her. I wish I had permanent eyeliner like she does.

New Year's Day in London

This was the first time I'd explored Shoreditch and it's surprising how the buildings change as you walk away from Liverpool Street. This disused pub used to serve beer from Truman Brewery. It's only a couple of minutes away from the big banks, and there are rows and rows of abandoned buildings. Some of the roads feel quite sad.

This is the building (above) that I've chosen for my project - it's on the corner of Club Row and Old Nichol Street. It's a 1930s warehouse that was originally used by a printers called Walkden & Wetherall; the area was the centre of the printing and paper industry. I love the style of the building with the long windows. It's currently being used by a catering company called Chester Boyd and I'm going to contact them to see if I can measure it internally. I imagine this being turned into an art gallery and a centre for art classes for the local community, as well as somewhere for artists to rent studio space. It's quite big: 13 m x 17 m and I think there would be scope for it to be extended in height as the neighbouring buildings are a lot taller.

When I was looking at other buildings I think I was on the lookout for something too run down. Realistically I need something that is structurally sound, and I convert it rather than rebuild. I can imagine transforming this space, whereas I didn't know where to start with some of the other sites. I think it could be really beautiful.

This Victorian building is only a couple of doors down from the site I've chosen. I think there was a fire at some point as the extractor fan has melted and some of the floors and part of the roof are missing. I did an online search to find out more about Old Nichol Street and found that Quinn Architecture have submitted a planning application to knock down this building (because it is in such a poor structural state) and replace it with a block of flats with a gallery in the basement and ground floor.

As it was a public holiday, it was very quiet along Bishopsgate (it's normally full of business men in suits!). It reminded me of the beginning of Vanilla Sky when Tom Cruise is in a deserted Times Square!

On the way back to London Bridge we walked past The Gherkin, aka 30 St Mary Axe. We went right up to it - it's so imposing, but actually quite beautiful due to the soft shape and the reflections on the glass. I'd never been that close before!

Lucienne Day's Textiles

[Sources: Dandelion Clock, Calyx, Cockaigne, Butterfly]

I adore these 1950s textile designs by Lucienne Day. The colours are so fresh and I would so like a cushion in the red butterfly print.