Colour + Design Archives - Page 30 of 60

Christmas is Coming…

December 5, 2009 By Paola 3 Comments

The air is buzzing with excitement (the Minx) and panic (moi).

The enormous Advent calendar stuffed full of tantalising little packages, which was sent by the Minx’s lovely godparents, is hanging up and revealing its secrets.

Christmas decorations courtesy of the Minx (with help from me on the actual cutting) are starting to go up

(for real proper grown up snowflakes check out Uncle Beefy, take a look at this incredible gallery of real snowflakes or make some on your computer here – the Minx and I have been having tons of fun with this little program and there’s no little tiny bits of paper to clear up afterwards).

New papier mache baubles from Crate & Barrel are on display.

And the snowflake garland I’ve been crocheting for the fireplace is now finished, blocked and ready to be starched and hung.

We’ve got a fun and festive weekend lined up. Our friend is visiting from Victoria and tomorrow we’re going to decorate the tree, do some Christmas baking, hopefully get to Urban Craft Uprising, go to a party in the evening, and then off, weather permitting, to Leavenworth on Sunday.

I hope you’re all less panicked than I am. What special things are you doing for the holidays?

Contemporary Dolls House – the Lundby Stockholm

December 4, 2009 By Paola 1 Comment

One of things I like best about Facebook is how it lets you tap into your friends’ collective brains for ideas. Having reached a bit of an impasse on contemporary dolls houses – either too expensive, too not available in the US, too discontinued or too babyish, I made a plea on Facebook as a last resort before buying something a little more traditional.

Eliza Truitt, Seattle photographer extraordinaire, mentioned how much she’d enjoyed playing with her Lundby dolls house as a child, which she thought was still being produced. A quick search online revealed this, the Lundby Stockholm, an extremely desirable residence with lights (I would have KILLED for a light up dolls house as a child), two decks and a swimming pool in a drawer.

The absolute coolest thing is all the fabulous furniture which is available. Come and have a look around.

Lundby is a Swedish company that has been going since 1947. They make two other houses, each with their own furniture and lights, though you can also swap furniture between the houses. (I see the Gotland summer house in the Minx’s future). There’s even fabulous vintage furniture available on Ebay.

Lundby stuff is available in the US at Cheeky Monkeys, but it is ferociously expensive. A better bet is to do as I did and buy from the UK. Lundby stuff can be found on Amazon.co.uk though they won’t ship the actual house to the US. I ended up buying a ton of furniture from Creative Toy Den here. There’s even an Lundby advent calendar with dolls clothes, accessories and Christmas decorations for the house which I am itching to buy.

So that’s me sorted for Christmas then. If she’s very, very lucky, I might even let the Minx play with it occasionally.

Abigail*Ryan Homewares

December 4, 2009 By Paola 1 Comment

Our favourite jewellista Abigail Percy and her beau Ryan Bell of Chick Stud Earrings fame have been working day and night (at least according to their Facebook status updates) on their new range of home textiles, based on Abigail’s stunning botanical drawings.

Their beautiful and unusual teatowels and scatter cushions are made from 100% cotton or 100% Pure Irish Linen, hand printed in the UK and hand-sewn in the duo’s Belfast design studio.

I love the colours they’ve used and they’ve done a fantastic job with the styling the images as well. Definitely thinking about getting some of these in the shop after Christmas. In the meantime they’re available online from Abigail*Ryan.

Better Late Than Never – Hella Jongerius Jonsberg Vase

November 30, 2009 By Paola 1 Comment

These Jonsberg vases by Dutch design legend Hella Jongerius for Ikea PS have been all over the design blogs for years, and though I’ve always loved them they never seemed to have them in stock when I’ve been to Ikea (and I really couldn’t be bothered to make a special trip).

This past weekend we somehow found ourselves in Ikea and there was the pink one in stock, so I snaffled it up, all $39.99 of it. They also had the black one, but somehow I didn’t like it as much in person as I thought I would. I still would love to get the white one and also the terracotta, though I’m not sure they’re producing that one any more.

But the pink one makes a cheerful addition to the fireplace.

We are still in our pumpkin phase as you can see, though the Minx and I are making extensive preparations for the grand Christmas decorating day next Saturday.

The other two bits of incredibly thrillng house news (honestly how can you guys cope with the excitement?) are that (i) we appear to have chosen a colour for the living room walls. No more egg yolk yellow! (We will be discussing this more extensively later). And (ii) this afternoon we have an appointment with the architects to talk about remodelling the basement and doing something about our two kitchen dilemma. Will let you know what they have to say.

Knitting for the Home – Part I

November 25, 2009 By Paola Leave a Comment

Flicking through some recent magazines, it seems that texture is making its way back into interiors with a vengeance.

I love the way that knitted or crocheted items add softness, comfort and intricate detail to a space. I seem to spend far more time than is good for me on Ravelry nowadays and here are some of the patterns and projects I’ve been ogling recently. If only I had more knitting time. (If you spent less time pissing about on Ravelry, you’d have more time to knit. Just saying. – Ed )

From left to right starting at top left

– Crochet your own placemats. Pattern here.

– Knit your own covers for paper lampshades. Info Interweave Knits.

– Knit a cute little teapot cosy (available as a free Ravelry download here).

– The pattern for the Jacquard cushion can be found in Glamour Knits At Home. Photo credit here.

– Blue and white Delft Pillow by Eunny Jang, also in Interweave Knits.

– The crocheted and starched lampshade is inspired by Marcel Wanders Crochet Chair. The Ravelry project page is here, unfortunately there is no pattern. I ADORE this project.

– Another paper lampshade cover from Interweave Knits.

- A close-up of the crocheted lampshade above

– Cute and practical little coasters by the Purl Bee.

– The pattern for the Matryoschka cushion is available for download from elf518’s Etsy shop.

– The pattern for the Puff Daddy stool is available here. Also featured by Apartment Therapy.

– Pattern for this fabulously striking ‘Metafourmosis’ Afghan/wallhanging is here. Do it in colours to complement your decor.

– Another paper lampshade cover from Interweave Knits.

- A really cute little ‘gingham’ dishcloth. The Ravelry project page is here. Again there is no pattern available, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure it out.

– Striking retro potholders made based on this pattern. Photo credit and inspiration here.

– Lampshade from crocheted hexagons, which will apparently be published in a book called ‘Crochet Revolution’. I can’t find details on Amazon, though the Ravelry page is here.

– The pattern for this bathmat is from Knit 2 Together. UK peeps, do you remember Tracey Ullman? She moved to the US and started writing knitting books.

– Minimalist crocheted lampshade from the same people who brought you the Puff Daddy footstool.

– If you’re feeling really bored, why not crochet your own lacy curtains? The pattern is here.

– The MOST amazing knitted bookcover. Again there is no pattern, but go to the Ravelry project page here, marvel at the close-up pictures and see all the work involved.

Fancy Hotel of the Week

November 19, 2009 By Paola 6 Comments

I know, another one.

But I made the mistake this morning of flicking through a Maison Cote Sud which was lying around the house, which immediately made me long for the South of France in all its decadent beauty. And if you could see how grey and wet and utterly MISERABLE the weather in Seattle is today you would understand why that was a mistake.

Parisian architect and designer India Mahdavi has recently completely the renovation of the iconic 80-year old Monte Carlo Beach.

I love how she has tipped her hat to the hotel’s heyday in the Thirties and kept it firmly rooted in Provence and the Mediterranean, but made it resolutely modern in feel at the same time. Very, very clever.

That chair just sums it up really – 30s shape, beachy materials = something new and fresh. And that boat in the distance is just perfect somehow. As are the icy glasses on the table.

I want that lamp. Badly.

I like how the lamp echoes the one above and how the prints – which are graphic and modern, but somehow deeply Provencal – work with the walls and lampshade. And the Matisse-like sketch on the wall and the 1930s B/W prints everywhere are cool touches.

All images from Maison Cote Sud and the hotel’s website.

So-Fantastic

November 13, 2009 By Paola Leave a Comment

This loveseat in a recent Elle Deco UK really caught my eye.

Beirut-based brand Bokja specialises in taking vintage furniture pieces and re-vamping them with gorgeous and unique 60s and 70s textiles and tapestries.

Matthew Williamson is apparently a customer – I’m wondering whether Williamson’s tapestry sofa and mirrored armchair are from here.

Bokja’s one-off pieces are available from The Quirico Company. Here are some more stunning pics from their website.

New In Store – Chick Stud Earrings

November 13, 2009 By Paola 3 Comments

We’re starting to get some new things in store for Christmas.

First up we’ve now got stock of those cute Chick Stud Earrings from DesireLines in 24k gold-plated silver, sterling silver and oxidised sterling silver. They’re only £27 and make gorgeous gifts, or else get a pair or two for yourself (they’re great fun to mix and match).

Buy some here, enter MIRRORMIRROR BLOG in the ‘how did you hear about us’ box, choose the Free Shipping (With Offer Code) option and you’ll get free shipping on your entire order, anywhere in the world.

Fancy Hotel of the Week

November 11, 2009 By Paola 7 Comments

Actually it’s the fancy hotel of a couple of weeks ago, but hey, who’s counting…

On our recent trip to Vancouver we were lucky enough to be able to get a corporate rate to stay at the newly-opened Shangri-La via the Husband’s job.

The hotel was fantastically comfortable and luxurious, though to be honest the decor was not exactly my cup of tea – very luxe, very Eastern-influenced (which makes sense as it’s an Asian hotel chain) and very safe - with lots of textured brown and beige, wood veneers everywhere and the very occasional pop of red.

The most special details were the utterly spectacular chandeliers sprinkled throughout the hotel with gay abandon. There was even a chandelier in each cubicle in the bathroom next to the bar.

The hotel has been opened ahead of the 2010 Olympics and occupies the first 15 floors of the tallest building in Vancouver (seen here on a typical Pacific Northwest autumn day. ie. pissing it down with rain).

The rooms were large and filled with every technological device you could imagine, which thrilled the Husband no end.

See that slightly grey patch in the bathroom mirror (reflecting the marble shower)?

Well, it’s actually a telly. So you can watch children’s programmes while brushing your teeth.

Go Fug Your Room – is this right for Elle Deco?

November 5, 2009 By Paola 10 Comments

I don’t usually like to use unknown people for ‘Go Fug Your Room’ – it’s generally far more satisfying to diss celebrities and famous designers – but I have to admit this recent photoshoot in Elle Deco UK of the New York apartment belonging to Leif Sigersen, a Danish set designer, left me rather befuddled and confused.

Sigersen is described as a collector of ‘weathered vintage pieces and quirky accessories’ who has turned his home into a ‘showcase of stunning displays’.

Or has he?

This looks like a particularly squalid student bedsit.

Since when does a pile of leather sandals piled up on a rusty radiator equal either interior design or a ‘collection’?

Aren’t kitchens meant to be for cooking? And isn’t this all a little unhygienic?

And who does all the dusting?

I think the plants must have died of depression.

So, I can just about get on board with the restrained colour palette and use of texture, though it’s not exactly my cup of tea; and there are probably some very interesting vintage pieces in with all the old junk and I genuinely think the photography (by Ditte Isager) is delicious and redolent with atmosphere.

I could probably be persuaded to classify this as conceptual art if you asked me nicely, but seriously, does it count as interior design and decor? And if it does would Elle Deco like to come and photograph our basement?

Really interested to hear your thoughts.

poll by twiigs.com