Tagged: retro

Miss L Fire x

If I need a charismatic pair of shoes to wear all day, Miss L Fire is the first port of call.

Sit up on a coffee stool watching the world go by, curl up like a cat under a tree or paint the town red, these are the shoes that dance on the inside.

Because they’re time honoured show girls.

Laters, Kate x

White on..

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There are some things that even science still can’t explain..

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Past bathroom trends: Curiously overstated, flamboyant, slapstick and in your face.

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But maybe it wasn’t so bad…maybe we’ve now gone too much the other way – found the plot but lost the fun?

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Because yes, there was holy chaos…but take away the shag pile carpets, soften the saturated colour..and the essence of something special is in there..

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Hidden in plain view, the traces are lovely…

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(All pics Pinterest)

This is the Maida Vale sink by Fired Earth, available in aqua, yellow and navy.

Wide-eyed bewilderment in this goofy praise of avocado? Keep watching – the tide marks are turning…

Laters, Kate x

The New Art Piece x

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The nostalgia of vintage is that magic of re-discovery, the knowledge that with a tiny twist, anything can be re-invented so it doesn’t lose character but effortlessly slips into something more avant garde.

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That veil-lifting moment when something previously scorned suddenly turns into a fully fledged, royal owning swan.

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I’m having that rush with live edge coffee tables: What once was regarded as seventies back of the throat kitsch is now looking the wobblies du chien.

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Naturally (no pun intended) the biggest, gnarliest trees produce the best slabs and if colour and size are what you want then purchasing from the States is your best bet.  But this isn’t a cheap option – the cream sell for thousands of pounds because these are natures own works of art, cultivated at the pace of a snail over centuries of toil.bb5a2f8d8d517fb629d7c74a49f393b3 411b4c7ccd86471d797dcbcc50005053 9feb6d9c18326ca568087f7b11d92fcd 81b062d4947c48ffa6dedb67eee41bd4

But there are other ways.

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(All pics from Pinterest)

The creative alternative is to make one yourself, like this blogger did: A large cut of native wood carefully chosen, combined with hairpins legs readily picked up from Ebay and a bit of elbow grease.

 

How hard can it be?

Laters, Kate x

Wonderland x

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We’re taking the kids to the slopes for the first time this Christmas – well, I say this Christmas – we leave on the 30th.  But that’s not much time to move from turkeys and tinsel to long johns and salopettes..

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(All pictures Pinterest)

If only I could pack this little lot in my suitcase…

Laters, Kate x

Toolally ho ho ho..

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Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.  So says Gore Vidal.  And Mags from Toolally jewellery…

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Her pieces are handcrafted in her Yorkshire studio and designed to make maximum impact.

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They are the perfect partner if you want your clothes to simmer gently and your bling to take all the limelight.

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I never thought I’d find perspex to be so attractive again, but these blaze the line between cool retro and hot modern.

 

I smell a trend.

Laters, Kate x

Pegged out..

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I was talking about this to a friend today, so now I’m blogging about it:  It’s a simple retro peg board discovered at Berylune complete with wooden pegs which would be perfect in Charlie’s room to carry the clutter from his desk.

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(Though I’d quite like one for my study too)

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It’s good, simple, honest, clever design with multiple uses.  To be honest, you can probably pick up a bargain by searching ‘work shop storage’. I was being a bit anal, loving the wooden pegs. But I’m hoping I’ll be able to customise it anyways – there are plenty of websites on how to make your own.

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Maybe not this far…but who knows?!

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It’s a winner. Chicken dinner.

Laters, Kate x

Swedish Hasbeens x

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So I’m running away to the sun today a week earlier than expected as my father has broken his elbow – there’s no time to write new blog posts, instead I offer you summer re-runs..some of the best posts from times gone past.  Until we meet again – enjoy!

I was aware of fashion from a very early age …rolling down my hated knee socks in primary school in longing of cute ankle ones – and lusting over those nearly not there socks with the pom-pom at the back? Sigh.  And there was the utter object of my desire..navy blue clogs.  I’d watch those lucky girls nonchalantly flick them off to do cartwheels on the grass..before sliding them back on and jauntily walking off with that bone dry rhythm. I knew it was wrong to be fiddling with a buckle.

Time has made a difference..and I just got me some new summer shoes…CLOGS! A long held desire has been appeased and a wrong has finally been righted..Do you know the brand Swedish Hasbeens? They have a lovely story..(although it has given me visions of Anita lighting up a four-legged beast from the desert)..

The story

Her name was Anita and she was the hottest mum in all of southern Sweden in the 1970’s. While smoking Camel she screamed at her kids until her curlers fell out and just looked fabulous in her white high-heeled clogs.One summer day in 2006 we found the shoes she wore (300 pairs of red, white and black beautiful clogs from the 70’s) in the basement of an old clog factory in the neighboring village and brought them to Stockholm. So for all these people that shared our love for Anita’s wooden shoes and for ourselves we started Swedish Hasbeens.Our ambition is to continue to release more incoherent and fun shoes and stuff inspired by Hasbeens that once ruled the planet.The Hasbeens toffels, bags and belts are based on original 70’s models and are made of ecologically prepared natural grain leather since it’s the most beautiful and the highest quality at the same time as it’s environmentally friendly.They are still handmade with respect for people and the environment in the old traditional way, and in small factories that have made shoes for decades. Our production methods and material are kind to nature and people. Happy toffels make happy people.

The designs are delicious…

inspire9_s inspire3_s inspire8_sinspire10_s 333_t_bar_sandal_cognac_webb-b409202b.jpg.thumb_339x254 A clunky shoe that’s elegant..want this one.440_new_green_webb-b38c7b0a.jpg.thumb_339x254 Love this colour – they also do in canary yellow!440_heart_sandal_webb-8be9341d.jpg.thumb_339x254 832_black_nature_webb-e57f6eb4-bdfa1685.jpg.thumb_339x254 470_black_webb-238ea507.jpg.thumb_339x254Want these. And some more retro style ads from their website:

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I went for simplicity and a lower heel – I’ve never worn Hasbeens before and I suspect a wooden sole takes a bit of getting used to, also I was ordering off the internet…and truth be told –  I’m not too good on really high heels and I want these as regular day shoes..the colour is divine…not white, but a soft, buttermilk.. they’ll go with everything..

IMG_1950But if they suit…and they become my best-ever-summer-shoe-purchase-since-the-arrival-of-flatforms..guess where they’ve opened their first UK shop? Only in Hanbury street in Spitalfields…I hear a siren call..

Laters, Kate x

P.S. Tip from Anna, the half-Swedish girl who knows..to wear them in (the leather is good n strong) start wearing them in the house with extra thick socks!

It’s Mabes babes..

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And so the yearly hunt for towelling beachwear starts..

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(Personally I now blame Sean Connery, not lycra for it’s demise.)

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But I know it’s just waiting to have it’s cool moment again.

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There is a light at the end of the tunnel..new on the block is Mabes, a British label purely obsessed with towelling shirts.

077c5ff94a9a57601891f519f8b674e8 1308be6724d5d4594eea6c184bba6b95 From double pocketed chunky large buttoned plain classics..

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To retro prints with an edge.

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For guys, girls and even little ones…and the prices are sensible (£35 for kids to £74 for adults).  So that’s Charlie and The Husband sorted.

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(All pictures Mabes and Pinterest)

Now I just need this dress in a white, light towelling please..

Laters, Kate x

Damn x

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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.

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I’m distracting the frustration with a search for the perfect table lamp..something utterly ugly and totally wonderful.c1faafcee2d8e6fabebf2afe1a7f1a0d ca750609a3202fcae0dd5491ac31fd7c db8d490e7782fb03272aa6fc8f72ed47

They give such bones to a room..an intriguing combination of height, light and ambience.

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It’s a ploy that’s working…

Laters, Kate x

Pretty in Pink x

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The perfect pick for the party season? These sparkling whimsical wonders from Miu Miu are singing a siren song with their golden glitter and bubble gum buttons.

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Pointy toes and block heels..they make you hungry for cocktails and painting the town in Christmas colours.

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A clever girl knows never to run for a bus , but for these girls I’m prepared for an aggressive power walk.

 

Laters, Kate x