found your corner office?

With more and more people working from home, where to set up shop has become quite the modern challenge. The right spot needs to have a good source of light (natural or artificial) and accessible storage - with good desk space. I think all three spaces fit the bill. Aren't they clever?

the art of simplicity

The designers have created a compelling narrative by integrating a variety of surface areas with key features. Layering colours, enhanced by both direct and indirect lighting, make these spaces versatile and inspiring spaces to be in.

Controversial choice of wallpaper for a bedroom? Not at all: it's the sheer scale/volume of the pattern that quietens it down. That said, I'd love to see what it would look like if we could swap the painting for (you guessed it) a round mirror. My feeling is that it would soften the room a little. Although, the lighting is certainly doing it's job...

Love this.

What a fantastically creative idea - the hanging bedside lights as key features.

It's all in the details: clean lines, great natural lighting and the artefacts speak for themselves.

Now, I have to say it, there are certain shades of blue that make me feel, well, blue and this is one of them. The bedside lights are great but I'd love to see the painted recess lit up; warmed up, if you will. Looking at this image, I was reminded of a building I spotted in Paris over the weekend - love the recessed lighting, it's so effective, wouldn't you agree?

 overlooking the Pompidou Centre in Paris

Architect and Interior design firm, Ashe + Leandro have created some truly spectacular spaces. Their work with colour and lighting is so inspiring and to my eye, they're mastered the Art of Simplicity. I'm curious, what do you think of the bedroom [recessed] wall painted blue?

P.S. Thank you Louise at Table Tonic  for flagging this one up via twitter.

two bathrooms: worlds apart

These are professional shots taken of a project I completed a little while ago - I am bursting to get my new website up (think sexy, transparent layers and slick orientation), where you'll be able to have a good look at this project and the others I've completed since 2007. This client has asked me to redesign the downstairs shower room (which we left out due to budget constraints) and I've decided to carry the atmosphere of this successful room, downstairs.

I found this image a little while ago and l saved it because there are a couple things here I like. Firstly, that the lines are clean - although I find the floor 'grid pattern' tiling quite irritating. Secondly, the layout is instinctive and articulate.

slate flooring and a choice of three tiles - which one would you pick?

I really like this wall tile (right), especially with a dark grey grout

600x300mm slate (porcelain) floor tile with a 600x300mm wall tile in either silver or gold metallic. Which one would you choose? 

Today, I went tile shopping at tiles etc. and from a fantastic selection, I managed to narrow it down to a choice of three. From these strong potentials and on a tight deadline, I picked one shown here.

Unusually, for most interior design projects, this client of mine wants to be surprised  - I'm not to discuss the design with him, at all! And so, I'm not going to say which tile I chose, but as the bathroom needs to be completed by next Friday (27th August), I will be sure to post a couple of photos once it's completed. (It's going to look great.)

Oh, and for a bit of fun, a quick few shots of another small cloakroom I've done for another client: it's not completed - wood work still to be painted dark charcoal, and the house is a good two months away from being ready to be photographed, but for those interested: the wallpaper is called 'Best in Show' by Osborne & Little.  What do you think? The wallpaper makes me laugh. (And secretly want to pet the puppies...) God, I love my job.

Latest loves:

 the blocks of colour vs geometric pattern - faultless room!

 the antique mirrored glass in this image - UK supplier details below

clean lines (with fantastic light!) vs the lived-in leather and antique Persian rug...

...looking onto this striking kitchen -WOW! 

it's the choice of art that really makes this space

clean, grey lines and great natural light = BLISS

Is this a new colour trend?

I've noticed a colour trend developing - a lot of bloggers seem to be posting images of interiors where lavenders, violets and aubergines are being used. Here, they've tempered the palette with black & gold. I feel it's the use of black that gives this room a certain amount of gravitas - along with the art, of course. Wouldn't you agree?

Most of these images have been lovingly lifted from my all time favourite blog (and blogger - Jules): The Diversion Project. Pop over to hear her mighty roar!

Antique mirrored glass suppliers: Saligo Design (owner, James Stait is really helpful. I received samples within hours of ordering them and just in time for my presentation - thank you, James!)

all fired up

Fired Earth

I'm working with a client at the moment who has particularly good taste, knows what she wants and trusts me to help her get there. It's the kind of project that every designer dreams of working on because it is challenging in the best possible way: I feel encouraged to push ideas much further than I normally would do and that is an exciting ride. 

I joined the project a few steps in, and so, naturally, I'm working with a few preconceived ideas - developing palettes around a couple of products that I've not used before. Once of which is Fired Earth. They produce some lovely tiles and their colour palettes are inspired (Kevin McCloud's work, no doubt). 

I thought I'd share with you a couple of things I've spotted on the side. What do you think of the printed tiles? I think they're charming, but I think it's the layout that really makes it, wouldn't you agree? 

Museum of London

walking home

The Museum of London has been given a £20 million face lift and they have done an extraordinary job - if you live in London, you really must go (and if you live elsewhere, you may wish to move once you see this...). I'll be writing about this building again because that the sheer amount of ideas and carefully thought out use of space and colour and surface areas and light just blew me away. I loved it. It was spellbinding.

Being a dedicated commuting cyclist for the last ten years, I felt like a tourist walking through London on Sunday. By foot it is a very different city. There's nothing quite like London in the Summer; I think I've fallen in love with it all over again. What's your favourite city? Where would you chose to live, if money where no object?

picture this

from the right bank

The beauty of hanging frames is that there really is no right or wrong way to do it. Of course, there are certain guidelines, but I find the most exciting displays are those arranged either by circumstance or by incident. Although I will discuss the basic guidelines with my clients, I tend to get far better results when I work intuitively. In fact, the more I try to intellectualize frame layouts, the less they seem to work - do you find this, too?

Now we all have our magic days but I'm not privy to when mine are due or how to book one in - although there's nothing quite like a deadline to focus my mind; a cup of tea, shared pencils and really good banter get me going. How about you, how do you get yourself in the mood for success? 

These images are great, aren't they? This blog from the right bank  is fast becoming a daily habit...

interior designers, retailers and autonomy

layering colours to create a warm and sophisticated environment  - great colour palette. 

love their use of clean lines and symmetry

                                                                
I'm researching tiles for an apartment in a wonderful Art Deco building in Hackney. We're going to be putting the soul back into a 'modernised' bathroom which has had all it's original features ripped out by some heartless individual - too harsh? No, not when you see what they've replaced it with. Dear me...

Having previously resourced tiles from Tiles Etc. (they're super efficient), I noticed that they, like many other stores are now endorsing an interior design company. In their case Kianfar Revell. Tiles Etc. have chosen wisely as interior designers Amanda Kianfar and Marina Revell do great work.

Affiliation is popular in this industry; you may have noticed that the big brands (Heals, Laura Ashley etc.) have been advertising their interior design services for quite some time. Clearly, it's a good tool for generating revenue - especially at a time when the retail market is suffering.

At the moment I prefer not to be affiliated with a particular brand or product. I believe that my projects are as unique as the clients I work with and it's important to my reputation to remain autonomous. Then again, although slowly blooming, my business is relatively small and it runs purely on word of mouth. To some extent I'd like it to stay this way but who's to say what the future may bring?