A VISIT TO DECOREX 2014

We were lucky enough to have a friend arrange for us a visit Decorex this year.  It was awesome. Decorex is one of the annual trade shows for interior designers and the range of luxury products on display was spectacular: everything from opulent fabrics & textiles to dazzling lighting to bespoke furniture to original hardware.  A great inspirational afternoon.

LIVING ROOM: THE ALCOVE PROJECT COMPLETED

It was completed some time ago but I've been very bad at keeping the blog updated. 

Below is the room as it was photographed by the estate agents, and as it is now.  It is quite a transformation and hopefully you'll agree for the better!  

In addition to the alcove units at either side, another six door cabinet was built below the TV to house my hundreds of DVDs and 360 of them are now hidden away.

There is still some finishing that needs to be done as the skirting boards still need to be attached around the room.  I'm just so happy that I now have a library for all my books.

 


















I wanted a coffee table that could be easily moved around and the Boksel coffee table from IKEA was a perfect find.  A glass top table that is easily wipeable, with plenty of storage compartments, including a drawer to keep all those remote controls from getting lost.

Bookshelf speakers with the HiFi concealed in one of the alcove cabinets.

A couple more jobs to do in there as I would like a gallery picture ledge on the wall opposite the TV, and at the end of September a large mirror arrives to be hung above the three seater sofa, but more on that later...

LOWER HALLWAY: THE STRANGE ONE ABOUT THE WALLPAPER

Recently, I keep coming across the same wallpaper in different parts of London: a barber’s shop in Blackheath Village; a bar in Shoreditch;  through a window of a top floor flat in London Bridge… It is something that I wouldn't normally notice except that every time I see it, I think to myself, ‘Wow! That pattern is really striking’. I’ve taken all these uncanny occurrences as an omen that this wallpaper is the one that I want for my next project: the entrance hallway.

Bonds in Blackheath Village

Cole & Sons Hicks Hexagon

After a bit of online research, the enigmatic wallpaper has been identified as Hick’s Hexagon by famed 1960s designer, David Hicks.  The black & gold geometry looks very exotic and sensual.  Recently re-issued by Cole & Sons, which might explain why I keep seeing it around.

So my entrance hallway is more miniscule than vestibule but it does have one recessed wall that currently has the electric meter and consumer unit and a radiator.  With a little love, creativity and carpentry, it could be something...

Hick's Hexagon wallpaper available from Cole & Sons
http://www.cole-and-son.com/en/collection-new-contemporary/wallpaper-66/8056/

ALCOVE PROJECT # 4: DOORS & GETTING A HANDLE ON IT!

The custom made doors for the alcove cabinets & the bookcase in my bedroom have arrived and are in the process of being painted up.  They are beautiful and much better than anticipated with a lovely deep sculptural finish.   Each unit has 4 doors so I have a dozen doors to paint over the next few weekends.  

http://www.doors2size.co.uk/

Style: Manor

I always enjoy shopping for hardware as it's the chance to seek out something special.  I love these black & white bone handles which were my choice for my bedroom bookshelf cabinet.

Bone inlay checkered knob

Anthropologie at 158 Regents Street, London has a great selection of quirky and colourful cabinet knobs.

http://www.anthropologie.eu/anthro/index.jsp

Cabinet candy

For the Living Room cabinets, these beautiful cut glass cubes were ordered from India via Ebay.

Like ice

 And as I prepare for a day of painting, my companion kitty, Pepper positions herself nearby for a spot of sun bathing!

FEBRUARY IN THE GARDEN OF ANXIETY

It's unbelievable just how mild the temperatures are for this time of year!  It can only mean the worse is still to come.  Knowing in advance that the forecast for this weekend was dry and sunny, I thought it would be the right opportunity to do what I should have done in late Autumn: prepare the garden by covering up the garden furniture and protecting the palms with fleeces against frost and harsh weather.

Date Palm and Chinese Fan Palm get protected against frost.

Dutch irises have already started sprouting

The Japanese Maple has now lost all its leaves and the Sasa Palmata bamboo is looking a bit weathered but it is holding up well and will recoup its lush bouncy foliage in Spring.

Snow?  Bring it on because I'm ready!

Due to the exceptionally mild weather, I noticed that a lot of plants have started shooting early.  Unfortunately it's not good if it does show.

Clematis Etoile Violette new growth

Cardoon Thistle

Camelia

New growth on climbing roses.

They say in London you are never more than 6ft away from a rat.  In the Garden of Anxiety, this old adage seems to be more true of foxes than rats. Often you can be pottering away outside and suddenly you become aware that one has been there all the time.  Normally I don't mind them except when they start digging up my plants, which can be infuriating.   

Foxy fox

A day well spent in the garden and now I'm ready for any harsh weather that may come my way.  It is also exciting to think that in a few months Spring will be here and the garden will become alive with growth and colour.  I'm anxious to see what hapened to all those bulbs I planted in the autumn. 

Better late than never.

GARDEN OF ANXIETY GETS GATED

Finally, we got around to installing the sturdy new garden gate.  Sadly, it's not a great time of year for outdoor photographs with the sky being a nice shade of December English grey, but here it is.

It's also interesting to contrast the after to the before to see how far it has come.

Dec 2013

April 2010

You'll see that the original gate was positioned in the right hand side and was a lot shorter and smaller.  The right hand fencing was not replaced but was repainted in Cuprinol garden shades: Willow which was a good choice as so many neighbours have remarked that my garden plot is bigger than theirs - but it isn't.  It just looks that way because the greyish green is not as constricting as a woody brown fence colour.

Note, my neighbours replaced gate on the left.  

From the inside of the garden, you can see how we completely landscaped it - although the original concrete path determined the new design.  It is now below the paving.

The new gate is triple braced, so unlike the trellis version that we built before, this one won't sag.  I can see that next summer I will have to give the whole thing a fresh lick of paint to get a colour match.

April 2010

December 2013

KITTY TV AND SOME DVD FAVOURITES

It has always amused me when I've observed the Pepper kitty momentarily watching TV.  

Occasionally her interest has been held longer than usual if a wildlife special is on:  She was particularly fascinated by David Attenborough's Tiger - Spy in the Jungle, which she got right into.  A little cat who likes watching big cats.  This made me wonder about programming - what if there was a channel specifically designed for kitties, broadcasting the types of shows that they might like to watch.  Would they watch it?  Could Kitty TV one day become a reality when there will be so many channels that everybody will be catered for?...     

This little kitty would watch, as shown above.  I found an ideal DVD for her seemed to be the rather dry looking 'Everyday British Birds' which I picked up from a bargain bin for £1.99.  Once I'd tapped the TV screen and announced 'Birdies! Birdies!' which is a word that she understands from watching them through the windows, she was spellbound by it.  Which may prove with the right material your moggie could become a TV addict.  I supposed now I'll have to allocate space for her own DVD collection.  

  

'No, you can't have the TV remote back...'

BEDROOM ONE: BOOKCASE

A part of the Alcove project was getting the MDF cut at the same time to build a bookcase in my bedroom. I knew I wanted something floor to ceiling but ended up following the same design as the alcove units - but with a slight difference on the shelving supports, which in the final version below, I reversed the design.

   




















There's not much depth to this unit around 10 inches.  It's enough space for a layer of books with about 2 inches in front for a picture frame or slim ornament.  I find a lot of the shop bought bookcases the depth is often too deep and there is a lot of wasted space.  

I wanted to get a picture before I started filling it with books, although a mini hifi unit has already been cabled in.  Above the unit was enough space to install a pair of IKEA bookcase lamps.  Since the mirrored wardrobe doors are at a right angle to the bookcase the lights will also be useful for dressing.

LIVING ROOM
Still in progression but a little more work has been done:  The Venetian blind has been hung and the chandelier installed. 

All that's left now to complete the alcove units is to order the custom made doors.
 

INSPIRATION: AERO - THOMAS O'BRIEN

One of my favourite design books at the moment is AERO which documents the contemporary history, style and success of NY designer and store owner, Thomas O'Brien. His love of vintage 1920s & 30s style aethetics combined with a passion for collecting; sometimes renovating and refurbishing original items; and designing,  resulted in his unique trademark homestyle called 'warm modernism' - which is sold in his home emporium store.   

 




















Below are photographs of his Manhattan apartment full of interesting pieces and artworks. 

More of his designs and products can be found here:-

www.aerostudios.com









Footnote: 59 Days nows without a cigarette!