Category: accessories
Life’s a Beach..
Remember this post? All about Kiini crochet bikinis and dormant lustings for the life of a beach babe. It was hot on the money for a summer trend..
For those with the bodies but without the bank balance Chiclookcloset are now selling bargain $24.99 versions..
Tempted?
Laters, Kate x
Collecting projects for the summer..
Damn x
The crittall glass people arrived here yesterday and the only glass they left is the sort related to the Emperor’s new clothes: It didn’t fit through the front door…one centimetre out, so it’s been returned to the factory. Apparently the main frame was supposed to be designed in two parts but it wasn’t. Their bad. But it leaves me to explain the situation to Building Control and delay our final sign off again..there’s always something.
I’m distracting the frustration with a search for the perfect table lamp..something utterly ugly and totally wonderful.
They give such bones to a room..an intriguing combination of height, light and ambience.
It’s a ploy that’s working…
Laters, Kate x
Sensi x
Poor kids. Summer uniform became compulsory on Monday, all light cotton and ankle socks…and it actually snowed here last night. Not like an alpine blizzard but it actually settled…cars were covered. It’s an issue: Within one day we can experience a years weather: Spring, summer, autumn and winter…it certainly makes for interesting times.
An ideal outfit would be this dress from Sensi Studio for the summer sun, teamed with a pair of wide legged trousers for the autumn drop (replace or remove as required)..and a duvet for the cold.
Sensi Studio is a new label for me…I like the fact it utilises Ecuadorian artisans and their many skills with simple lines and interesting additions.
Love!
They also make mean raffia bags and panamas.
(All pictures Sensi Studio and Net-a-porter)
One to watch.
Laters, Kate x
RE x
If I was a shop I’d be RE: A magical place where global unloved items hit emotional science and are transformed into objects of desire…like these laundry baskets and washing up bowls made from recycled plastic in Senegal.
Pure fireworks for the kitchen.
How delicious? These baskets are made by the Mixtec people of Mexican mashing traditional palm weaving with unwanted plastic.
And there are recycled tin cans from Peru, all given new life. A plant pot – or a pen pot? The choice is yours.
You head to the site for storage ideas..and end up being amazed by cunning delights like these lights…designed to hold a tea-light and convert any bottle into a table lamp…genius.
Or these candlesticks holders..spiked to stand in flower pots..or hammered into a log.
Thank God they’re not based in London. Now where’s the credit card…
Laters, Kate x
Candy Store x
Trans-seasoning..
We’re experiencing fluctuating weather again: Five days of t-shirts and shoes with no socks, followed by scarves, coats and snow in the north. It’s eclectic if nothing else. But there’s been enough blue to herald the slowly arriving summer and firmly entrench the season as ….transitional…which if one was truly honest probably covers most of the year and highlights the fact the transitional clothes are the workhorses of a wardrobe that pull together outfits come rain or shine.
Take the humble T: a vest in winter, a garment in the summer and a layer every other time – it seriously earns it’s place for a large dollop of love. Shame all of mine are in such a sorry state. But where to find the best?
I like that elusive fit – a low slung neckline with a bit of slub in the body – which has in previous years been notoriously hard to find. But not now – in fact there’s a rich crop of potentials just waiting to be scooped up. I checked out the Outnet – quality names without the same wallet squeeze – and was pleasantly surprised by the amount on offer, from this classic grey by AG Jeans..
To Splendid..(and they are)..
And more like this edible one by T by Alexander Wang..
And Majestic..
And Helmut Lang.
I’ll have them all in grey,white and black please..
Laters, Kate x
Curtain call: Design hero..
I’ve been trying to write this post all morning and failing miserably – head is all over the place as really, all I want to do is start nesting in the new spaces and get them ready for Easter/before the kids break up. But there is a subject that’s caught my eye: The Great Interior Design Challenge has just finished on BBC 2 and it was compulsive viewing (for good and bad reasons) for anyone interested in the story telling of interiors. The overall winner was Sarah Mitchenall who’s designs were a true delight to the eye – she excelled at rooms where the raw ingredients appeared completely wrong (the orange medieval room par example) – but the end mixes proved to be both balanced and exhilarating with Everest sized visual impact and inherent cool.
Like the greatest creatives and raconteurs she has the power to dazzle with what is simply there and squeezing it to it’s enth degree, stepping out of the box, defying convention and believing in what just works.
All these pics are taken from her visual treat of a Pinterest page under the name Black Parrots – named after the company Black Parrots Studio she has co-founded on the back of her winning success.
Luckily for us mere mortals the company isn’t limited to just designing interiors: They already have their own lighting with the aim to design more products, wallpaper, textiles and more.
Look how the stem becomes the flex, and the flex becomes the stem. Genius: Definitely one to watch.
Laters, Kate x
Just Because..
Backsplash Recap..
From hero to zero: After the joy of last week, all that’s now left of the kitchen is an empty room with a few pipes in the floor as it’s all been shipped to the spray painters. I committed to the final colour yesterday…nerve wracking! Particularly when you’ve had your heart set on one shade since the start…and then you’re told it’s not possible. Thank God I’m a great believer in fate..but it hasn’t stopped my heart from pounding.
But more decisions await: There was this post on splashbacks a while back and the final look still needs to be pinned down. Loving all things metallic at the moment so I’m thinking why not?
So much to choose from!
But budget does come into it..so I took myself off to bog standard B and Q to see what I could find that could be man-handled into something different…and was surprisingly successful. There’s this woven brass sheet, reminiscent of French Bergere sofas and chairs..
Laid over a stainless steel sheet it would compliment and pull in the stainless steel from the fridge/freezer..
Then there was this design..if the design itself had been bigger I would’ve snaffled it up there and then..
And then they had this..hammered copper rather than brass..again, not sure as it was only in the smaller size..and all the accents are brass..would pink work??
(All pics Pinterest)
I was sensible..there’s no rush – yet. So I walked away and will let it all cogitate and stew down…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 