Happy New Year to all you lovely people. I hope you and yours had a wonderful festive period and that 2016 will be filled with loads of good stuff for us all. I am personally not-so-secretly delighted…
In a little over three months I will be welcoming baby number 3 into the world. It’s a boy this time. I am filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension at the unknown quantity that is a small boy-child. I have two gorgeous daughters so all things girl-related I am highly versed in, but a boy…? It’s going to be a whole new adventure and one I am sure I will find incredible if at times nerve wracking.
So with the joys of a mostly wet and grey January ahead of me, I have started to turn my head to something not remotely drab and dreary… the design of the nursery. My wish-list is currently: bold, kitsch, quirky, bright, snug, surprising and as eclectic as possible to incorporate things we already have in our home. I am drawn to the colour yellow at the moment, but a 1950s yellow a la extraordinarily talented Lucienne Day or modern-day MissPrint, whose Dandelion Mobile fabric I just adore.
I am sure the design and scheme will morph organically over the coming months, but for the moment, here are some visuals that are inspiring me. Hope you enjoy.
Loving the colours used here and the kitsch prints are inspired. (retourdechine.canalblog.com)Perhaps not pink for a boy’s room, but the different scale of items works really well and I love the shelves/letters. (petitspetitstresors.tumblr.com)This mustard yellow pouf is spot on and I love the suspended lamp too. (petitandsmall.com)This vibrant print is stunning… (shelleysdavies.com)MissPrint Dandelion Mobile print.Great shelving ideas. (handmadecharlotte.com)Animal alphabet cards for the nursery – educational and also look adorable on the wall! (etsy.com)Loving this DIY cloud light from handmadecharlotte.com.A room full of colour and character. (flickr.com)Bold wallpaper really works for me. (petitandsmall.com)How to make a statement! (diyordie.elleinterior.se)Habitat 1964 (handmadecharlotte.com)Cute hanging solution. A beautifully organised and bright nursery. (chalkkids.co.uk)A simple and effective way to create a quiet snug area. Love the colour of the side unit too! (dig-mig.blogspot.nl)Great colour combo. Am particularly loving the roof pattern. (mommodesign.com)
Apologies for the radio silence. I’ve been super busy the last few weeks getting things ready and setting up a new space in a retail outlet. All very exciting.
The 1986 film Pretty In Pink became a formative part of my teenage years. Yet, the colour pink in the home has never really done it for me. Well, not until recently that is. I confess to being a complete convert!
Pink in the home can be used in so many different ways. You can introduce subtle pastel pink hues or go full-on saturated in-your-face-pink, or somewhere in the middle. Whole walls can be painted or just well-chosen accent pieces… There is huge scope for experimentation. Combinations that work well are pink and copper, pink and black, pink and concrete, and if you’ve really got guts, pink and red. You can introduce colour through artwork, paint just a door, throw in a vibrant rug or some cushions. If you feel cautious start with soft furnishings as they are straightforward to change. Pink can be sensual or cosy, dramatic or subtle.
So if you are like me – basically turning my nose up at the thought of pink in the home until recently – feast your eyes on these visuals and hopefully you too will see the potential of pink!
Pink trompe l’oeil. (tinekhome.blogspot.dk)Deep, saturated cerise used successfully in a kitchen couple with concrete. The combination stops the pink being too frou frou! (bloglovin.com)Take inspiration from this truly stunning restaurant interior. The Pink Gallery at Sketch in London // pink dining room with retro chairs and chevron floors. (thecarelessblogger.wordpress.com)The Pink Studio, 1911 by Matisse. (TOPofART.com)If you can pull it off, go big and bold and transform the facade of your home with pink! (reifhaus.tumblr.com)Why not look to existing belongings to determine the colour of your walls. Here seashells have been the point of reference. (chintz-of-darkness.blogspot.com)Pale pink, but done with aplomb. Who doesn’t love an embossed wall. (1stdibs Introspective on Frank de Biasi / 1stdibs.com)Pink wallpaper punctuated with vintage frames. (boho-weddings.com)Creating a bold statement hallway using salmon pink, and black and white. A combination that definitely works. An eclectic collection of artwork, a vibrant rug, and monochrome stair runner all help pull this strong look off. (domino.com)Introduce pink through fabric and soft furnishings. This Art Deco fabric (1920–1930) would look incredible as curtains. Think sophisticated pink… (pinterest)In the pink. (flickr.com)A pink accent chair. (lisasaysgah.com)Not for the faint-hearted! Pink living room in the home of designer Solange Azagury Partridge – Photography by Neil Gavin (wmagazine.tumblr.com)If you’re going to go pink, go pink… I love the combination of pink and yellow kitchen units. (ilovepolkadot.blogspot.no)I just love this image. (theleoisallinthemind.tumblr.com)Pink and copper. And a tolix chair. What’s not to love! (ideasmag.co.za)Be bold and brave… combine pink and red for a truly dramatic look. (pinterest)Or create a mediterranean roof-dining experience and give the exterior of your home a lush pinky colour wash. (pinterest)Pink doesn’t have to overpower. Here it is used effectively with a combination of seemingly clashing patterns to great effect. (pinterest)Another kitchen. The pink works as a powerful backdrop to a very personal collection of belongings. (pinterest)And to finish, a gorgeous pastel pink geometric artwork. (pinterest)
What do you get if you throw eccentricity, britishness, a predilection for all things Baroque, and a hefty dose of wit into a bag and give it a thoroughly good shake up? Why, you get seriously exciting design ideas…
I would also like to point you in the direction of Mister Finch – the super-talented textile artist whose exquisite oversized insects should adorn every interior in my humble opinion; Alex MacArthur Interiors – a veritable cabinet of curiosities; and Melody Rose – bone china “marrying the unexpected with the traditional; images that shock and please in equal measure; the juxtaposition of quaint and quirky.”
So as winter approaches and we get ready to hunker down for a cold spell, why not inject a bit of good old-fashioned drama into your home interior. Surround yourself with unusual objects and create a cocoon of design statements. Think open fires, rugs, lots of texture, dark walls, creative lighting, kooky accessories, witty artworks, and a large dollop of weird and wonderful eccentricity. If nothing else, it will make you smile as you sip your mulled wine and listen to the wind and rain beating down outside. Home should after all be a sanctuary…
A page from one of my scrapbooks.Striking wall art from Mineheart. (www.mineheart.com)More striking wall art from Mineheart. (www.mineheart.com)A cabinet of curiosities from Alex MacArthur Interiors. (www.alexmacarthur.co.uk)Lush, dark, wallpaper design from Witch and Watchman. http://witchandwatchman.comTransform your home into a treasure chest. (pinterest)Annabelle rug from Mineheart. (www.mineheart.com)Dark walls, an open fire, and some antlers. What’s not to love! (thisivyhouse.tumblr.com)Cosy up a corner to snuggle up in.(homedesignlover.com)Add a bit of cheeky humour to a room. Burlesque wallpaper from Dupenny. (www.dupenny.com/wallpaper/burlesque)Lady Peacock cushions. (www.mineheart.com)Oversized moths by textile artist Mister Finch. (www.mister-finch.com)Velvet-flocked cherubs from Squint Limited. (www.squintlimited.com)Nostalgia and whimsy combine in this charming wallpaper from Elli Popp. (http://ellipopp.co.uk)‘Rinse’ artwork from Abigail Ahern. (http://abigailahern.com)Abigail Ahern lighting for Debenhams. (www.debenhams.com)Wallpapers by the uber-talented Deborah Bowness. (www.deborahbowness.com)“The Melody Rose brand is known for high quality, contemporary bone china tableware with an elegant twist.” (www.melodyrose.co.uk)Majestic textile swan from Mister Finch. (www.mister-finch.com)Print heaven from House of Hackney, the Artemis collection. (www.houseofhackney.com)Butterfly domes from Alex MacArthur Interiors. (www.alexmacarthur.co.uk)More scrummy wallpapers from Deborah Bowness. (www.deborahbowness.com)Taxidermy taken to the extreme. (by Decorista Daydreams from bloglovin.com)
Kitsch (/ˈkɪtʃ/; loanword from German, also called cheesiness and tackiness) is a low-brow style of mass-produced art or design using popular or cultural icons.
Who doesn’t love a kitsch interior? I can’t get enough of it. I don’t care how naff it is. The naffer the better. Festooned with plastic flowers, pseudo religious iconography – shrines are cool, faux taxidermy, flamingos, neon lights, stuffed animals, cocktail bars, a miami palette, disco balls, and as much paraphernalia of mass-produced popular culture as you can muster.
In my opinion the King of kitsch, albeit very tastefully done, is without a doubt Jonathan Adler. With his origins in pottery, Jonathan Adler is now an iconic interiors brand and worldwide phenomenon. The man himself is potter, designer, author, and personality dedicated to bringing style, craft and joy to your life. “Jonathan’s creativity is fuelled by various sources of inspiration: Mid-century modern, art and global pop culture combine to create the signature Adler aesthetic.” And boy does he pull it off with sophisticated aplomb.
Another great source of inspiration is film. Have a look at the interiors in films by Wes Anderson, Pedro Almodovar, Michel Gondry, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Kooky and kitsch in equal measures, these directors have created their own very distinct visual language through the medium of film.
Feast your eyes on all these gorgeous images to get you in the mood for a kitsch-fest.
Every home should have a cocktail bar. Furbish Studio, Bar vignette, bar styling, blue and white porcelain, Jamie Meares. Flickr by Jamie Meares. (isuwannee.com)The ultimate in kitsch interiors. Inside the home of artists Gilbert & George. (pinterest)A flamingo is a must! (www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk)Plastic flowers and religious iconography… what’s not to love. Guadalupe Altar outside the home of a fisherman on the Pacific coast of Guerrero, Mexico by Ilhuicamina. (flickr.com)Neon lighting from Oakley Illuminations. (theselby.com)Kitsch-tastic. (pinterest)Vladimir Tretchikoff artwork. (www.vladimirtretchikoff.com/gallery.htm)Oversized ornaments from Jonathan Adler.Every home should have a vintage motion hula lamp. (alohaoutlet.com)Kitsch heaven… not for the faint hearted! (pinterest)The genius that is Wes Anderson. (pinterest)Jonathan Adler’s sophisticated kitsch.A Clockwork Orange film set. (pinterest)On the set of ‘Broken Embraces’ by Pedro Almodovar.Kitsch glamour a la trailor trash. (junkgypsyblog.com)Just because. (urban outfitters)‘Amelie’ screen shot. (pinterest)Wes Anderson-designed cafe, Bar Luca, in Milan. (http://www.dezeen.com/2015/06/07/wes-anderson-designed-bar-luce-takes-cues-old-milanese-landmarks-cafes-fondazione-prada-interiors/)The very cool photographs by actor, director and photographer Aaron Ruell. (http://www.aruell.com/)
The now ubiquitous pineapple was once a rare beast…
Indigenous to South America, the pineapple was introduced to northern Europe by the Dutch and the first successfully cultivated pineapple is recorded as having been grown in 1658. Catherine the Great was a huge fan and grew pineapples on her estate. Importing pineapples was expensive, so too was growing a tropical fruit in a temperate climate, so it wasn’t long before the pineapple was seen as a symbol of extreme wealth, becoming the subject of great rivalry between wealthy aristocrats.
This plate is from Christopher Jacob Trew’s Plantae Selectae (Nuremberg, 1750–73), which was illustrated by Georg Dionysius Ehret. (tinypineapple.com)
Throughout history the pineapple has also been used widely as a design motif, symbolising warmth and hospitality. Incorporated into all manner of home furnishings – from furniture, ornaments, wallpaper, table linen, crockery – the popularity of the pineapple is alive and well. Currently referred to as a micro-trend within the world of interiors, the pineapple is still a curious-looking fruit, but with an undeniable big dollop of charm. I am a huge fan and I couldn’t care less if it’s become a design cliche! Long live the pineapple!
So here are some glorious ways you can incorporate the pineapple into your own home…
Pineapple wall lighting sconce from abigailahern.com.Iguana Superwide by Timorous Beasties. (timorousbeasties.com)DecoBREEZE Pineapple Figurine Fan. (m.shop.nordstrom.com)Adelphi Custom and Historic Wallpaper and Paper Hangings. (adelphipaperhangings.com)Some pineapple artwork? (thedesignfiles.net)Large Turquoise Sofie Pineapple Container. (templeandwebster.com.au)Pineapple lamp base by House of Hackney.Papercraft pineapple from peachblossom.co.uk.Pineapple Door Knocker. (capecodweathervanecompany.com)Pineapple lamp on old gold carambola side table. (rockettstgeorge.co.uk)Pineapple vases. (bloglovin.com)Pineapple cushions. (decor8blog.com)Every home should have a resin pineapple! (mybuckett.com)Åsa Jungnelius – Riff Relay #2 (design-milk.com)Vintage mid century brass pineapples. (tumblr.com)Deb Haugen For DENY Pineapple 1 Tapestry (urbanoutfitters.com)Possibly my favourite interpretation! Salt & Pepper Shakers by Godinger on @HauteLook. (hautelook.com)Goodnight Light Pineapple lamp. (vogue.com)More fruity lighting. Perfect for a child’s room. (pauletpaula.com)Pineapples as accessories. (etsy.com)Pineapple passion.(anothermag.com)
The Maximalist 