Category: Bohemian

Outrageously Wonderful! x

I can’t help think that sometimes – let’s say often – the red carpet misses a trick; the urge to conform to stereotypical beauty too strong, the risk of stepping outside of prescribed boxes too big. And then, when those sitting at the top of the social triangle are fearful, the emotion gets passed down and what should actually be celebrated, gets missed. I will never be an Oscar winning actress, but I hope that if I was, I would wear one of Rasa Vilcinskaite’s incredible creations with pride and honour and quite frankly, wow the world.

(All pics Rasa Vilcinskaite and Pinterest)

With no hope of a red carpet, maybe I could swing one for Sunday lunch?

Just saying.

Laters, Kate x

Julie Pelipas x

Julie Pelipas: Street style star, Vogue Ukraine fashion director and up cycled vintage fashion label owner – a one woman, stop at nothing powerhouse. She says,

‘When it comes to creating clothes, we can do better, we can create beautiful things ethically and thoughtfully, that is the challenge and the magic.’

I love her take on masculine tailoring – an obsession since her school days when she started adapting her Grandfather’s suits. Loose, lounge-able and louche; I want.

(All pics Pinterest)

Laters, Kate x

Bethan Laura Wood x

 

A post in celebration of the joy that is Bethan Laura Wood, designer, icon and all round creative for her fearlessness, her individuality and her eagle sharp eye for character, form, proportion and colour combinations.

(All pics Pinterest)

 

A joy to behold, is this cultural appropriation, fusion or freedom?

For me it’s the freedom of a cultural fusion of joy. Simples.

 

Laters, Kate x

Trends x

 

Has anyone else watched Good Trouble on BBC iplayer? Easy binge watching, like an ever replacing tube of paprika Pringles.  One of the main stories is following the trial of a black man shot by police. Prophetic when you think it was made in 2018.  But not so when you think how many times a shooting of a black man by police has happened. But it’s the interiors that have stolen my heart.  Set in an old movie theatre in the City of Angels – both elements a pleasant spin on the habitual backdrops of New York – the vibe is high ceilings, large spaces, gorgeous flaking period features, with the implication that taste is always more important than high spend, except this would obviously cost for those not in the know, except of course these people know, except they don’t, because it’s all so artful and effortless for them.  There’s one particular room – other than the library, the kitchen and the pool – to die for.  And that’s Malika’s bedroom – on the wall by the bed is black and gold geometric retro wallpaper, inspired by Art Deco, mixed with the swinging sixties and oozing the era of Biba and Barbara Hulanicki – and it’s singing a sweet song of ‘my time is coming again…’

 

 

In fact, Barbara Hulanicki has been designing in her signature style for Graham and Brown wallpaper.

 

(All pics Pinterest)

 

Black and gold, geometric patterns circa Biba. It will be a thing.

Laters, Kate x

Decision x

 

The Pod will be a 5m x 3m structure at the bottom of a South London garden.  But that doesn’t stop the dreaming. And whilst the pull to modern is strong, stronger is the call of the old, timeless, batty and slightly battered, which is possibly best encapsulated  in these pictures, a cedar cabin in Wyong Creek, Australia, from The design files.net, the home of Natalie Watson, because pictures always speak.

 

(All pics The Designfiles.net and Pinterest)

Strength and gentleness.  Gentleness and strength. Age and ageing. Peace and quiet.

Simple and honest.

 

Laters, Kate x

Music and madness x

(A pic of my fantasy music room in Paris)

The only time I play the piano now is at Christmas. I have a battered old carol book that gets pulled out every year and the fingers get dusted off.  The violin does come out of it’s case occasionally – we got together with friends on the 4 Jan (should’ve been the 6, except that was a Monday) to celebrate an Armenian Christmas (none of us are Armenian) with gifts of traditional dress, food, music and dance. I was on the fiddle, the husband was singing, Charlie on the drums and Bella on the Tamborine: As is every parents right,The video will be used to mortify them on their eighteenth birthdays. Needless to say, it was a fabulous evening, of the type we need more of. For me, it was interesting in that it has always been the spontaneous music making that I have loved, not restricted by notes, rules and history. Neither of my children play instruments, they’ve been offered them, Bella even played the flute for a while, but it takes a lot of discipline to play an instrument well.  And the truth is, much of that discipline comes via parents who can see the end game.  Which does work to a certain extent.  But the real heart is when a child will sit down and play just because they want to.

 

This is something, particularly as an ex-professional musician, I have thought a lot about; I would like Bella and Charlie to be able to create music themselves – it is one of life’s great joys –  but maybe in a less formal way. And I think I’ve found the answer: I’ve come across Piano Note on Youtube. A series of piano lessons designed by song writer and recording artist Lisa Witt, where the manuscript is thrown out with the rule book, instead everything is taught through chords and chord progression. This means you progress much faster, develop your ears and learn to accompany yourself to your favourite songs. Who needs more?

 

 

Bella and I are playing for 15 minutes a day. We’re hoping to persuade Charlie to join us.  And who knows, maybe it’ll lead to more amazing evenings like this one.

 

I hope so.

Laters, Kate x

Wild x

Instead of buying velvet, maybe I should bite the bullet and buy a van and convert it into an escape-mobile.  Or just pass over some wonga and get someone else to do it for me….Confession: the site Wildvan is my new go-to porn.  That and the ‘cabin in the wood’ equivalent.

(All pics Wildvan and Pinterest)

Freedom.  It’s a strong pull.

Laters, Kate x

Burn baby burn!

Saw this on a Pinterest board and loved it: Well crafted, obvious quality with a quirky sense of humour.  Shame the price point was in the couple of hundreds.  But it did remind me, there is an alternative to burning candles and that the plus point with incense is the choice of burners.

 

(I did have a quick google dive to see if I could find a similar cat.  This one from Etsy was a tenth of the price.  But I suspect you know that already…)

 

And then there’s this type, with backflow incense, which turns the whole thing into a living, moving sculpture.  (From what I have read though, you have to be careful about the quality of the incense, otherwise you get mucho smoke, bad smell and residue.  Another alternative is to make your own backflow cones – you tube has some videos…)

(All pics Pinterest)

Too much?  The tacky side of tacky?? I just can’t decide!…

Laters, Kate x

Garden Pod Planning..

 

In moments of lull I return to the task of designing the pod for the garden:  This summer is on it’s downward slide, which should be the siren call to have it planned and built all ready for next so I wonder why I haven’t yet done it.  Is it because there’s an acceptance that the journey is the richest bit? In my mind, the excuse I’m offering up is that I’m tussling between two strong statements – modern and boho.  I don’t know if it can be both.  I take each element on it’s own and turn it round, looking at it from every side, weighing up the pros and cons. Do they cancel each other out? I know I want two thirds to be a seated pergola with a covered roof but with walls that would filter the light, to provide respite and privacy.  Is the choice modern simplicity that’s kind on the purse? Or is this a last hurrah that requires something a little more?

 

(All pics Pinterest)

Laters, Kate x

Wow!

 

Maybe it’s because they don’t have boobs. Maybe it’s because their clothes are more of a uniform with less choice. Maybe it’s because layering is something they’ve always done. But heck, when men get it right, they smoke.

(All pics Pinterest)

I want some of what they got.

Laters, Kate x