Movie Mania

Sitting in a row has never been so cool - cinema seating is the latest trend to be seen in the hippest homes and I suppose it's what you would call space saving too so tell your fella the large leather lazy boy has to go and invest in a row of cinema seats complete with large tub of popcorn to enjoy the latest episode of Towie...

Mel Porter's bespoke knitted cinema seats fully restored from 1930's cinema seats from a theatre in Cambridge take some beating http://melanieporter.co.uk/shop/hardy/- or if you fancy industrial style seating take a look at these cool seats from Rockett St George.

http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/three-seater-theatre-bench-12405-p.asp

Showtime

I recently put together these images for UBM's forthcoming interiors shows catalogue covers including Interiors UK as well as  their new and very exciting london show - (InteriorsLDN), and the Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms (KBB London) show. http://www.interiorsuk.com It was wonderful to work with some of the leading brands from each of the shows and to plan the visuals for each of the covers putting together the products to create the stylised images. There were too many wonderful exhibitors to thank each one personally but a few of my favourites were Lazerian with their huge origami dog"Gerald" and  their giant space age lampshades.   http://www.lazerian.co.uk.  Other key participants were Calligaris http://www.calligaris.com, one of my favourite london shops of the moment Pitfield http://www.pitfieldlondon.com for loads of wonderful furniture and accessory pieces and  Timney Fowler for their vibrant fabrics and wallpapers http://www.timneyfowler.com/TIMNEY_FOWLER.html.

To check out the exhibitors and to find out more about each of the shows just log on to the Interiors UK website http://www.interiorsuk.com

Roll on Autumn -

I know it's still August and  at last it's finally hot and sunny so I don't want to be a party pooper but just couldn't resist sharing a little peek into the new AW12 Homewares Collection from French Connection http://www.frenchconnection.com.  With  all kinds of tempting things to buy the Premium Collection is full of yummy homewares and incorporates new materials such as sheesham wood, denim and washed linen as well as handblown recycled glass. The range includes snuggly tactile cushions, throws and rugs as well as vases, furniture, storage and lighting.    The colour palette is gorgeous too-  muted neutrals - greys, beige and taupe punctuated with the khaki rust and indigo.  So enjoy the last few weeks of summer but keep any eye out in  store from mid September and add to your wish list for the new seasons top treats.

High Street Hero

John Lewis has to be one of my most frequented places on the planet - I suppose I must visit the flagship store at least once a week -  and then there's Brent Cross and Watford too where I pretty much recognise all the staff and feel rather like a resident when rummaging through the fabrics or thumbing the pattern books.  With this in mind, I was chuffed to bits to be asked to style the John Lewis Autumn/Winter and Christmas press images this year.   Working with the very lovely in-house team and photographer Nato Welton we put together the images for their seasonal trends and here are a few of the results. My favourite is the so adorable Thomas Dachsund print chair closely followed by the fashionable utilitarian looks of the Ingalls sideboard.  The glam Russell chair is also a favourite item and teamed with the beautiful turquoise Florence Broadhurst cushion are a perfect duo that capture the opulent style of the Autumn WInter 'Theatre' trend.   In fact - so much to choose from just head straight down to the store at the first hint of Autumn (with this weather that's pretty much right now!)..http://www.johnlewis.com/

The Perfect Pooch

Gerald is the new man in my life -and before you start wondering - he's this amazing origami dog from genius Liam Hopkins in collaboration with Richard Sweeney at Lazerian who as well as Gerald has whole collection of amazing statement piece furniture and lighting. http://www.lazerian.co.uk/ - At around 1m high large Gerald cuts a dash and was the talking point at my shoot last week stealing the the show for the new and very exciting Interiors LDN event which will be happening in 2013 .http://www.interiorsuk.com/page.cfm/Link=142 - My Gerald was around 1m high but if he's just too large then be tempted by mini Gerald - he's a must for every home

Scandi style does it again

Danish company Nordic Elements is full of those gorgeous things that we all love with that unmistakable simplicity of design and style that is so trademark scandi. Their collection of all things with ooh factor focuses on design, quality and practicality and Helle Moyna the founder states - "Nordic Elements is the home of contemporary Scandinavian designed and inspired products for the design conscious family" in short uber cool collectables. http://www.nordicelements.com/product-subcat/?c=1

A little bit of ooh la la...

French Connection has gone a bit glitzy on the fashion front - sequins silks and plenty of beading - it's not that I don't like it but.. it's far from practical for a day on a shoot rummaging amongst the tape and tool box.   I'm giving a massive thumbs up however to their first collection of homewares - it's got everything I love about design- gorgeous tactile textures teamed with simple, understated design -  linen throws, chunky knits, practical woven rugs and pretty little glass and paper votives - magnifique I say... looking forward to collection no 2...http://www.frenchconnection.com/category/fc+home/home.htm?sitelink=homerange&gclid=CNzYsprMoK8CFUYKfAodQhlucw

Homebase Goes High Rise

Yes this is an amazing creation - and blowing my own trumpet I had a hand in helping to create this fifty container ten story home for Homebase which includes three gardens, three kitchens, living rooms, bedroom and bathroom.   I've always had a fascination with unique houses stemming from a love of Tracey Island's uber contemporary home as a child so when asked to come up with ideas for the interiors of the Container House I was thrilled and so excited - how could you not want to get involved in this dream challenge??

I had numerous late nights drawing up scale drawings for the interior rooms and trawling the Homebase store in search of the right  sofa or wallpaper to include in the very narrow container rooms and make them look real lived in interiors - a challenge when decorating long thin containers but take a look at the advert and check out the finished results (and take a sneak peak at how it was all made http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomebaseStaticPageSecondLevel?langId=110&storeId=10151&includeName=HBCreateTheLook/homebasetv_makingof.html) and as Homebase say - 'with a little imagination you can create anything!!http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomebaseStaticPageSecondLevel?langId=110&storeId=10151&includeName=HBCreateTheLook/homebasetv.html

A splash of sunshine...

Back in dull dark December in fact just the week before Christmas I styled this shoot for Period Living magazine hoping to turn probably one of the darkest days of the year into a bright spring setting.  With photographer Mark Scott we really went to town on turning up the sunshine..and here are some of the results.    I love this combination of soft yellow, green and white - it's fresh and pretty and a splash of instant sunshine. I fancy the idea of adding some colour to the floor and what better way than one of the Rug Company's amazing creations.  Ok they are a little on the pricy side but then they are a statement piece on your floor and you can take them with you if you move home - so i'd say that was an investment and money well spent.  http://www.periodliving.co.uk/?gclid=CLG1soqN7q4CFQ1lfAodXQgXJg

It's all White..

I've raved about Bodie & Fou many times and here I go again but.. they never fail to please with lovely styled pics and for the ability to feature a  bit of inspiration, fab gift ideas or treats for yourself to ooh and aah over.

 These pics are right up my street - i do love a bit of white - its just timeless effortless chic - and as for the ladder -instant styling idea and shed salvage chic - so i'm off to rummage in the shed.http://www.bodieandfou.com/?gclid=CMjnjenuvq4CFcwTfAod_Ed5XQ

Passion for Prussian

 I'm banging on about it again but that deep dark shade of blue is still showing up topping the fashion stakes and i just can't resist it's inky loveliness in that watercolour favourite Prussian blue - Textile design expert Fi Douglas from Bluebellgray has introduced these delightful painterly patterns into her latest collection - http://www.bluebellgray.com/gallery.php

TASSEL TREND ALERT

I've always been fascinated by trims and trimmings and have spent many happy hours rummaging in the tantalising VV Rouleaux shop http://www.vvrouleaux.com/productcart/pc/web_index.asp stroking the tassels, feathers and all things pretty pretty so I was thrilled to find these amazing trims by passementier Jessica Light.  Her oh so beautiful trimmings have adorned the Sultan of Brunei's throne room as well as she's made belts and bracelets for Vivienne Westwood - pretty cool credentials for starters - Her collections are just stunning and this Nevada collection full of Tribal glam is spot on for the hot tribal trend of the season -  http://www.jessicalight.co.uk/nevada.html.  See Jessica's work at Craft London in March http://craftcentral.org.uk/exhibition-of-emerging-new-talent

A trip up the M1

Birmingham beckoned recently as I was asked by UBM the organisers of Interiors UK  to style the entrance halls at this years exhibition at the NEC. With my team of amazing styling assistants and setbuilders we ate our hearty fry ups in preparation for the hard slog of completing the marathon circuit at the NEC to get all the hall entrances decorated in time for the show opening...

Each hall was styled with a quirky spin on a British theme with items loaned from key exhibitors at Interiors UK who I am extremely grateful to for coming up trumps with my rather large request lists.   A big thanks to India Jane, Content by Conran, Artefact, Nordlux, Halotech Emporium, Bluebone, The New English, Aleal and Illuminati - all items shown in these pics also to Mindy Browns, Libra, Genesis, Original Bookworks (i'll put up some pics for all to see soon...)  Also a big thanks to Wallpaper Direct for supplying some show stopping wallpapers, DoShop for the brill skulls and Ayres & Graces for some fab glitzy picture frames.http://www.interiorsuk.com/

A final and rather large slap on the back as well as a huge thank you has to go to  lovely Beryl Miller for making up the wholly unenviable task - a suit of armour made from fabric.  Beryl slaved over a hot needle and threads and the result was stunning - meet Gaylord, Knight of Interiors UK - Beryl has said - never again!