I love this...

I love the industrial/arty vibes of these stools. In fact, I love everything about this shot from the new House Doctor DK collection...The vintage typewriter is adorable, I have a big crush on the table lamp and the E.A.T big red metal letters are on my wishlist for the kitchen.

J'adore le cote industriel/artistic de ces tabourets. En fait, j'adore cette photo tiree de la nouvelle collection de House Doctor DK...La vieille machine a ecrire est adorable, j'aime beaucoup cette lampe et ces grosses lettres rouge en metal E.A.T sont sur ma wishlist pour la cuisine.

Inspiring Elle Interior Norway

When I was young, our dad used to tell Elodie and I that our family name 'Köng' (to be pronounced Kung) came from Norway...Apparently our great, great grand father was a sailor who settled down in Norway and started a family, blablabla and years later you ended up with me!
Then when I was 16, he turned around and said that after all our surname might have come from Switzerland! Erm... no offence to the Swiss (I love the Swiss especially her) but between having Vikings as ancestors or being Swiss, I just felt that I had more Viking spirit in my blood than Swiss so I stick to my Viking story...
Anyway, I doubt it's why I love so much Elle Interior Norway but I do! I love this mag and their Xmas issue looks just amazing!
PS: And I've just found out this morning that they also featured my favourite bag: La Tropezienne tote bag by Clare Vivier...so happy

Quand j'etais jeune, mon pere nous racontait a Elodie et moi que notre nom de famille 'Köng' (qui se prononce Kung) venait de Norvege...

Apparemment, notre arriere arriere grand-pere etait un marin qui s'etait installe en Norvege et avait fonde une famille, etc...
Et puis a l'age de mes 16 ans, mon pere m'a sorti qu'apres tout, le nom venait peut-etre de Suisse...Erm je n'ai rien contre les Suisses (j'adore les Suisses surtout elle) mais bon entre avoir les Vikings comme ancetres et etre Suisse, je trouvais que j'avais plus de viking dans le sang que du petit suisse...
Tout ca pour dire que je doute que ce soit pour cela que j'adore Elle Interior Norway mais j'adore ce mag et leur dernier numero a l'air superbe!
PS: Et je viens juste d'apprendre ce matin qu'ils ont aussi publie mon sac prefere: La Tropezienne tote bag by Clare Vivier...trop contente

Brand love: House Doctor home accessories

House Doctor Denmark is a danish company that has been on my radar for a while...Why? well..where do I start?
I love the freedom, boho feel and creative vibes of this gorgeous Danish brand, I heart how cosy and homely their beautiful decorative accessories and furniture feel and I'm inspired by the stylism of their photoshoots and their aesthetic.
This afternoon, we spent an indecent amount of money at Top Drawer (a UK trade show) on House Doctor DK stock for BODIE and FOU and I love love love the capsule collection we've put together and super excited to work soon on this.
Oh my God!! It felt sooo good...

I hope you will love it as much as we do...

Swarovski crystal coffee table photos

Swarovski crystal coffee table photos. Available gold coffee table. The exclusive and luxurious coffee table design. Detail click image above. Via architechome.com

Ultramodern Pink door design photos

Ultramodern Pink door design photos with artistic pattern. Detail click image above. From http://architechome.com

25% OFF Love is 'roller' blind

Click here to see our whole range of roller blinds, now at 25% OFF until stock lasts

Update:

This has been quite a day!

We sold over 80 blinds today so lots of packing but that's good because we need the space in our warehouse so keep orders coming through...25% OFF won't last forever!

We had several people asking us if they were blackout blinds. Unfortunately they are not but the way I would use it it to get a cheap blackout blind from Ikea and add this one above for style or combine one of this gorgeous blind with black-out curtains like some customer have done it. That is if you want to use them in a bedroom but if you're planning to use them in a bathroom, kitchen or home office, they will give you plenty of privacy while letting the light through...

Right I'm off, it has been a long day. I wish you all a very good evening

This really irks me...

Restoration Hardware is peddling antique unbound "book bundles" as objets de art. Firstly, I despise the idea of buying books as purely decorative items. Certainly, bindings and covers can be -- and even should be -- beautiful (see the new Penguin Classics series HERE), but I'm a firm believer that books you display in your home should be books that, you know, you've actually read and enjoyed. Secondly, the idea of filling your shelves with packages of mistreated, long forgotten literary works to achieve some monochromatic, industrial "style" strikes me as incredibly sad.

Salvaged Wood Kitchen Island ($2695) + {Reproduction} Vintage Barstools ($295)

On a related note, can Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Wisteria, etc. just stop with the "found" and "antiqued" furniture and accessories? I'm all for vintage and antique, but can't we just buy real vintage instead of faux? Decorating your home with items that look like they have history (but in reality either don't or, if they do, said history has no particular meaning to you) strikes me as incredibly fake. 

Burlap sack turned tablecloth, for a mere $69

I don't really understand spending the big bucks just to decorate your home with discarded soda boxes and burlap. I know that many antiques are (quite rightly) expensive, but why is 50-year old trash suddenly a design statement worthy of a mark-up befitting its newfound trendy status? If you're going to decorate with inexpensive, "humble" materials, then the prices should reflect that. It's like buying a plain white tshirt for $100: just plain stupid. Beyond the absurdity of these prices, the idea of elevating the ordinary and everyday (of the Great Depression!) to designer status strikes me as bizarre and even a bit condescending: We aren't poor, we just decorate like it.

On a final note, prices and subtext aside, the Belgian/industrial look is just too damn depressing for me. I'm a big fan of gray, but we've taken the whole gray, linen, limed wood look way too far. A piece or two here or there (or gray walls) is one thing, but when its thrown altogether (as staged by Restoration Hardware in particular), a monochromatic color palette in gray tones makes a room look like it's had all the life sucked out of it. When used en masse, gray is just as blah as beige. Where's the joy?

Lest you think I've got something against the big name retail stores (which I really don't -- much of my own home is filled with PB, RH and C&B), here are two items that I'm drooling over:

Weathered Zinc Single Fex Mirror ($849)

I adore the quatrefoil shape of this mirror. And, while I think I'd prefer the frame's finish in something a bit more glamorous (silver leaf, perhaps), I don't even mind the weathered zinc. As it is though, I'll be waiting for this piece to go on sale before I consider making the purchase.

Lafayette Chandelier ($399)

I was absolutely shocked when I saw this chandelier in the latest Pottery Barn catalogue. It's so chic! So Pieces, etc.! The red faux coral is the perfect hit of color for a breakfast room or den. I'd maximize the beachy feel of it by pairing it when blues and turquoises -- and speaking of turquoise, wouldn't this be fabulous if there was a turquoise version? [Are you there, Pottery Barn? It's me, Averill. Bring back your Summer 2008 collection!]

Dachshund Bookends at any Budget

As a bibliophile and a dachshund owner (and lover), I am naturally drawn to just about any pair of dachshund bookends. But even if a wiener dog hasn't stolen your heart and/or taken over your home, these bookends bring a nice dose of levity to your decor: As your book collection grows, so too does Fido. Above is a shot of my own pair of dachshund bookends (a Christmas present from my sister-in-law) framing my small collection of Penguin Classics in my office. [By the way, I'm trying to decide what color to paint out the back of the bookshelf -- any suggestions.

If you're in the market for your own set of playful bookends, there are dachshund bookends at just about every price point:

Source list: 1. Platinum: Dachshund bookends - brown (acrylic, $265) available at Barney's. 2. Gold: Dachshund bookends (stonewear and wood, $150) available at Jonathan Adler. 3. ATM: Jonathan Adler Dachshund bookends (white resin, $39.95) available at Barnes & Noble.

Double X ideas at Maximum

I was at the Maximum Store last week, to check out an exhibition of paintings by Kavita Dikshit .Her collection titled " From the Beaten Track" was minitaure meets kitsch. Very colourful, lot of interesting detailing and a very pop-art theme.She uses crayons in layers, peeling sections off to reveal what lies beneath.Perhaps, a true testament to the reality that is India---understood in layers, revealing as much as it hides.Seamless but not neutral...Colourful yet serene. Where there is movement in inertia and a silence that is much louder than the chaos.

But my adventure that afternoon into the winding lanes of Shahpur Jat was to be much more than an exploration of art. It also gave me the opportunity to meet Anita, Sairee and Preeti and catch up with the latest that has been happening with them. Looks like they have been quite busy !! Mridula Sahay has put together an amazing amalgamation of creative enterprise in a retail format.

I absolutely loved the products that were on display at the store and ended up doing a fair bit of shopping myself. Maximum unlocks the bohemian soul trapped inside our neutral minimalist sensibilities and sets our imagination on fire.

If the accessories don't appeal, the animals will. I took a liking to a pair of giraffes and intend to go back next week and bring them home :) Perhaps the lovely mirror in a distressed finish as well !!

That is not all the the store is about, though. Apart from the colourful maternity line, home accessories, art and jewellery the store adds an unusual element to its signature. It is also a hub where seminars are regularly held on various issues like wealth mangement and health, book readings engage your mind and the creative arts are given a new lease of life.

Go get your car keys---drive on over . I am sure you will not be disappointed .

Contemporary Glass

I found out about Gilles Jones Glass when I was reading up on Jigisha Patel who is featured in my previous post.It is so interesting how cyberspace enables such discoveries.
I particularly liked the acoustic bowls and the Aesculus designed by Kate Jones and realised by glassmakes Stephen Gilles. You can see their product range on their website and blog
The Aesculus bowl (green one in the pic above),made in sand carved blown glass is inspired by the horse chestnut seed. The layers are a metaphor for evolving form and thought. The first pic which is of Acoustic owl is a recent design.
Pics by Pete Chambers and Tony Bartholomew

Artistic Christmas tree interior decorating

To make beautiful our home interior we can decorate with choose Christmas tree collection. You can remodeling and decorating your room interior with Artistic Christmas tree. This is artistic and unique Christmas tree collection. Its environmental friendly...source architechome.com

Wishlist from Country & Town House magazine

I've just been emailed this great piece of coverage from Country Town & House magazine where they featured two products from our sister site WhereDidYouBuyThat.com The 'Just Do It towel' which I love because it's a fun tea towel to offer to guys who need a bit of incentive in the kitchen department and the Fatboy bean bag which I don't need to introduce...

Talking of Town House, I had two meetings and a lunch meeting this morning at Dean Street Townhouse in Soho meeting 2 PR agencies and the author of this great business book.

Was I impressed? Yes, the venue had been refurbished last November and it has a great feel, one of these places that looks quintessentially British with a modern twist. I felt it was a bit like Soho House but then I looked at the website when I got home and realized that it was part of Soho House and therefore another stylish place to add to Nick Jones' growing empire - the man behind Soho House in NYC, Babington Hotel and High Road House in Chiswick where our little family goes for brunch at weekends pretty regularly.

Egg benedicts were to die for and lunch was very nice. I had a very tasty pumpkin soap and an onions tart (2 starters instead of a main course as none of the main courses inspired me) but the food was delicious.
The only thing I would say is that if you have a meeting there, get a table in the parlour (right hand side of the venue) which is where we were. First the chairs are pretty comfy and make a meeting informal but the area is also tucked away from the main room where everybody was having lunch and which was incredibly noisy. Other than that, thumb up!

Design Rug Little Field of Flowers

Tord Boontje's 'Little Field of Flowers'
Modern Rug from the Nanimarquina collection Spain

In 1987, Barcelona-based designer Nani Marquina established a textile and rug design studio. Since 1993, the company’s designs have been manufactured in northern India. Marquina has devoted her career to promoting sustainable ethics in production. Her definition of “sustainable” applies both to materials (her rugs are mostly biodegradable, and one, Bicicleta, is made from recycled bike inner tubes) and to fair labor and trade practices. One of the most popular design rugs in the Nanimarquina collection is the Little Field of Flowers rug, the first rug by Netherlands-born, England-trained, France-based Tord Boontje.

Tord Boontje's 'Little Field of Flowers'
Modern Rug from the Nanimarquina collection Spain

The Little Field of Flowers rug is made using felt strips, lending a texture that is very soft and pleasant, yet strong. A little space for day dreaming. With 'Little Field of Flowers' you’ll feel as if you’re resting in a cool meadow on a hot summer's day - your own small place for relaxing and daydreaming. It has a certain lightness to it which creates a comfortable environment.


Tord Boontje's 'Little Field of Flowers'
Modern Rug from the Nanimarquina collection Spain

Following the philosophy of Studio Tord Boontje, this design gently softens angles, finding its inspiration in nature and playing with shapes and layers to seduce your imagination and awaken your emotions.



Tord Boontje's 'Little Field of Flowers'
Modern Rug from the Nanimarquina collection Spain

Little Field of Flowers is hand loomed from 100% New Zealand wool felt which is hand dyed.


How the Little Field of Flowers rug is made

From an article in Dwell which explains how this rug is made: depending on the size of the rug—they come in three sizes—one or two technicians operate the loom, which involves painstaking manual labor. “Every two or three lines,” Nani Marquina explains, “we insert a pair of die-cut flowers. They are fixed through a wool thread that is woven between the flowers and the base.” The technicians follow an intricate pattern, much like in knitting, which graphically conveys the intended location of each distinct flower pairing. They can produce one rug in a seven-hour workday. “It wasn’t easy,” Marquina remembers, “to find manufacturers willing to take on this project—it’s quite complex.”

The Nanimarquina rug collection is sold in the USA through Stardust.

Nice customer review on the rubber vases

We got a lovely email today from one of our customers, Phillipa B. today who purchased two rubber vases...
"I would just like to let you know that they finally arrived this morning and that I am very pleased with them. They are a marvellous idea for anyone like me with shaky hands or young children in the house. Well done on a very innovative design!"
It is so nice when customers take the time to send positive comments...plus she is right, these rubber vases are unbreakable and perfect for family home...and there are in the January sale so you can get hold of them temporarily at 15% off the normal price.

Viya Home

Many of you might be familiar with Viya Home, an unique interiors store with an eclectic range of furnitures, sculptures and accessories for your home. A place where inspiration has been drawn from historic architecture and styles and given a contemporary touch.
Accessories in brass and metal to add beauty and luxury to your home.Viya Home works very closely with 'master-craftsmen all over India in re-interpreting traditional skills and designs'
Viya Home draws inspiration from Mughal architecture, traditional South Indian as well as various Indian styles but with a modern touch.Their accessories include contemporary hand-beaten metal planters, urns, washbasins, stone vases and bowls.Apart from these luxurious 'Indo Western' products, Viya Home also works with architects and designers at various stages of customizing, conceptualizing and sourcing.

( Images from Viya Home. com)

P.S.- It's great to be back after my Autumn break, have loads to share so do drop by often;-) Thanks for all your comments and feedback.