Sofa.com  http://www.sofa.com/ has always come up trumps when it comes to finding the perfect sofa for a shoot (thanks to my mate Gav) and they are really on the ball when it comes to being on the pulse with the latest colour themes and trends.  Their new  collaboration with St Judes -  artist designed and made fabrics from Britain is top of my style stakes as it's one of my favourite sites for finding  beautiful screen printed fabrics and accessories perfect for an ooh or an aah  http://stjudes.co.uk/ so now to see them adorning sofas and chairs is just wonderful.

The snowdrop loveseat is covered in Doveflight designed by Mark Hearld but customers can choose any sofa.com model and have it covered in three St Jude's fabric in three colour ways. - just gorgeous!

Spring in dull dingy November

I've just spent the last few days styling the new beds and linens shots for Feather & Black's spring brochure which as well as working with the lovely F&B team is also a great chance to see what inspiring new products will be in the shops soon - the Sienna Sofa (see the shot with model below) is such a great looking piece of furniture teaming french style chic with a great high street price and a personal favourite is the new gigantic Fulham upholstered bed which would be just the thing for a bit of wow factor in your bedroom -

Lovely Creative Director Andrew shocked us all by turning up on the shoot with his rather strange looking Movember moustache and beard combo - but after our initial shocked expressions and plenty of laughter we all got down to work... I hope you like reading about Andrew's account of the day on the shoot and try not to stare at his self portrait!

http://www.haloassociates.co.uk/2011/feather-black-spring-shoot

Feather & Black Spring shoot

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It’s difficult to think of a beautiful warm spring as we race into winter. However, that’s what the F&B team has been upto for the last few weeks. Hunting out new locations, casting models and choosing our favourite products from next seasons new range of furniture and linen.

So at 7.30am on a cold misty morning the team start to arrive at Purley Hall near Reading. Its a stunning location, originally built in 1609 – we felt like we were walking into Downton Abbey.

The first hour is spent frantically unpacking… it’s always a relief when everyone and everything make it through the door. Lots of coffee and cake to kick start the day. Thanks to Di  (super stylist) there is always a tasty array of nibbles.

Then the big work starts; getting the right lighting, the right angles. Each individual element of the lighting is worked on separately.

  

Tim and Jose shout at each other through the windows as they create a little bit of spring sunshine through the leaves outside.

  

The new Fulham bed looks fantastic, its the first time we have really seen it in all its glory and all are agreed that its going to be a great seller.

Carolyn stays warm in the kitchen as she prepares Rebecca for the day ahead… it’s an amazing start to the day by 10.30 the first shot is looking good. There is alot required from the days shoot – we are looking for brochure cover options, contents page options, all the promo shots for the Spring campaign and if all goes well we would like to squeeze in a new mattress shot.

The secret to getting great shots is a fantastic team, great products and lots of fun. The constant distraction of Andrew new moustache for Movember fails to distract  many for too long. (they are not his real glasses)

We are trying a new format for the contents spread… the shot is amazing my favourite of the day

Andrew and Laura spend most of their afternoon with their faces glued to the monitor watching a variety of setups pouring in.

Then we open the doors and let in the freezing air as Rebecca pretends to be warm in what is becoming the coldest day of November so far. The shot is lovely, just what we need for our window posters.

   

No time to stop as Tim is shooting Di is setting up the next shot on the other side of the room, the new trunks are very exciting. The accessories range at F&B has really developed over the last 12 months – allowing us to try lots of new combinations.

We get to 4.00pm and now its dark outside… one last shot to do. The feathers are really starting to fly as Rebecca is blowing them all over the place. It takes a few goes to get it just right – but at 4.45 we are done. Now things really get busy we have 15 minutes to pack up and get out before the 5.00 deadline.

Sitting in the car at 5.10pm we made it  – already the conversation slides towards what we are shooting for summer…

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Written by Andrew

Hot off the scalpel..

Looking at the Natural History Origin of Style site (see previous post) led me to this amazing work from Helen Musselwhite which really is worthy of a good stare for at least five minutes per image just to take in all the intricate detail and beautiful workmanship.  I do love a paper cut and Helen's work will be on my ever growing wish list of purchases... http://www.helenmusselwhite.com - or perhaps i should be off to Hobbycraft to get a scalpel and paper ....

Autumn Treats

I know we should all be starting (or finishing) our Christmas shopping but I wouldn't mind a sneaky purchase  for myself (or loud hint for xmas prezzies) from any of the beautiful things on the Natural History Origin of Style Collection  From cushions to wall hangings and notebooks (could almost inspire me to pen a Period Drama) - each item is just beautiful  - good for a bit of ooh factor on a rainy morning.  http://origin-of-style.com/homewares/products.php?section=Home%20Accessories 

PAPER PERFECT

How amazing are these paper creations from  Jennifer Collier - i've always loved a bit of papier mache myself but these beautiful works of art just take it to a whole new level...just need a bit ore time and patience but perhaps a weekend project could be in order....http://www.jennifercollier.co.uk/

A magazine of loveliness

I've mentioned a company Patchwork Harmony on my blog before - it's a great source of wonderful vintage style bits and bobs for your home and I'm always taking a sneaky peak to see what lovely things are on offer.  The brains behind Patchwork - Caroline Taylor has now launched an inspiring on line mag too so you can indulge and read about a world of loveliness. 91 magazine has a range of  features from great contributors including friend and fellow blogger Ellie Tennant as well as ideas for crafts, shopping and vintage style interiors http://issuu.com/91magazine/docs/91magazine_issue1?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222- what's more its FREE.... so get reading now about the world of pretty pretty ideas.

Autumn Brights

With the days drawing in I'm loving these vibrant floral wallcoverings and fabrics from the Designers Guild new Amrapali Autumn collection to add an eye popping splash of colour into our homes this Autumn.  My favourite is the jewel coloured Amrapali wallpaper in the exotic clashing brights swhich just looks stunning.  Team with bright white for the colour to zing out in your room- and forget the feature wall go all out for flowers all over for the new look statement style.http://www.designersguild.com

Teeny weeny pots of style

I've always been a fan of the borrowers and all things on a miniature scale (note the obsession with dolls house furniture in the past!) so whilst doing my research for a Country Homes shoot I came across these beautiful ceramic mini pots from designer maker Jill Shaddock - they are in such lovely colours - dark and moody tones in shades of brown  with unexpected accents of colour in emerald green and citrus yellow thrown in for good measure- a perfect treat   - the problem is you need a whole collection to appreciate the beautiful colour combinations.http://jillshaddock.co.uk/

Jump into the Blue

Last year I styled an all blue decorating feature for Ideal Home playing with tone on tone and since then my passion for dark blue has become a bit of an obsession particularly for that intense shade of Prussian Blue - it's a bit like a favourite pair of jeans that look good with whatever you choose to pair them with.  However if this is just too much of a leap into the deep then try introducing a splash of  a brighter blue to a scheme - a dash of  azure, cobalt, electric or sapphire will add an eye catching accent to a neutral scheme or if you want to take a dip into one of this seasons most fashionable shades then take a leaf from my book and go for an all blue scheme in navy, midnight,  indigo or royal blue for a dark dramatic look.

(pics 1, 2, 6 & 7) The Danish company Bloomingville show off their Autumn Winter collections with inspiring palettes of  moody blues - http://www.bloomingville.dk/en-GB/Bloomingville (other images) http://www.shelterness.com/25-blue-room-design-ideas/

Back to School

Maths was never my strong point but i'm loving the new trend for Autumn from Ferm Living which features those oh so familiar shapes from the humble triangle to the cone and cube all looking so cool and up to the minute.  So even if your times tables are a bit rusty gen up on Geometry for a little geek chic in your home  http://www.ferm-living.com/news/

Dreaming of a lazy day in the sunshine

If only.... we had some long hot summer days to while away the hours in a garden like the one below...i wish.....  But on a serious note I had an amazing time styling this 'Roses' feature for Period Living magazine  http://www.periodliving.co.uk/ with fab photographer Mark Scott  http://www.markscottphotography.co.uk/ - not only did we have perfect weather for the shoot but the garden was just stunning .. and if you do fancy making an ice bowl like the one below - Simply place one bowl inside another one - tape the two bowls together at the top edge to keep them level and with an even circumference between the two bowls. Gently pour water in between the bowls (drop some flower petals or foliage into the gap between the bowls for added detail) .  Place in a freezer then hey presto!! - when frozen tip out and you'll have the perfect ice bowl for all those 'summer' celebrations when we do get a fab sunny day...

A lot of knit know-how..

I do love a bit of knitting but after  coming across Melanie Porter who creates amazing knitted furniture and accessories i'm feeling rather insignificant with my rather basic knitting skills... I used Melanie's brill furniture recently on a shoot for the British Wool Marketing Board and as well as showcasing some of her fab products also styled images highlighting some of our other great home grown British Wool products from our very own and very woolly British sheep.  To find out more about British Wool take a look at http://www.aboutwool.com/    

Topping the Tile Stakes

Welbeck  have always had the coolest designs for adorning your walls with a tile or two - I have the odd one here and there around my home that i've collected over the years making a fab stylie piece of art.  Their new Patchwork floral tiles just add to their genius -  on trend with the Patchwork theme and a perennial classic with the florals.. so a double whammy there then.  The hardest part is choosing the ones you like best as they are all so pretty....Great news too as Welbeck are launching a special gift collection range of boxed tiles featuring adverts and postcards so if you don't need to tile a splashback or entire wall treat yourself to one of these..
http://www.welbeck.com/collections/english/