Burton and Taylor

Anyone who has read this blog will know I'm a big fan of la Taylor. Last night I finally got round to watching the BBC 4 production Taylor and Burton which recounts the story of the couple during their run together in Noel Cowards Private Lives.




Since Liz died there have been many attempts to dramatize her life and relationships - most notoriously in  the Lindsay Lohan car crash Liz and Dick. However with the always fantastic Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West in the title roles this was clearly going to be of a different calibre.







I thought that this was a truly enjoyable watch, beautifully filmed and very well written. However, despite their considerable talents Bonham Carter and West fail to consistently bring the power of this pairing to life. There are a few moments of brilliance - when Burton and Taylor have dinner together, there is real chemistry between them and Elizabeth suddenly comes to life in a passionate out burst that is pure Taylor. The brilliant script makes this final hoorah of the great pairing truly touching. The age old adage 'can't live with them, can't live without them' rings eternally true here as Elizabeth tries and fails to reclaim and then let go of her true love.




They also look much better than the real Burton and Taylor who were definitely showing the effects of their years of excess by the time they took to the stage in Private Lives as can be seen in the photo above.

This was a great production and showcases what the BBC does best. Its a crime that funding for drama like this has been cut and yet there is money for Eastenders and Bargain Hunt! I'd like a refund on my TV licence please.





 

First Class Frown

I was just looking through Design Week when I saw a feature on the new Great Western Mainline and East coast mainline trains which are set to replace the Intercity 125. I have to say that I was pretty disappointed with the gloomy first class carriage design. The re-design has been taken on by DCA design International who have distinguished the first class cabin with 'wood veneers and a darker palette'.



While I find the use of veneers a nice touch, the sombre greys fall flat for me, looking oppressive enough in this well lit visual; one can only imagine how gloomy this will look on a typical cloudy English day!

So I had a little go at this myself incorporating in some colours from the operators livery and tinted glass hat racks and some led colour lighting for the ceiling panel. I also added in some work/reading lights which I think is the least you would expect for a full first class fare. See what you think below.

It's still not exactly to my taste and I would have liked to start from scratch but I only had a few minutes to play around.

Ironically I think the standard cabin is much more successful looking light, comfortable and modern.



I suppose my ideas of what substitutes first class have been shaped by working for Virgin Atlantic who's Upper Class cabin is a show stopper. Here's how to do first class ;

Flat is back

Kings of the flat pack and the Swedish meatball - Ikea, have announced that they are bringing back one of the original designs from 1956 that changed the way the world looks at furniture. The Lovet table is being reborn as the Lovebacken from Ikea's 2014 range which will launch in August. It's a real beauty and I can't wait to get my hands on one of these - for £40, who wouldn't?





The original catalogue spread from 1956 showing the Lovet table bottom right.

Yummy Blog

What could be better than a good food and good design? Not much! Unfortunately our eating experiences are often rather mundane - lunch at the computer anyone? Well fear not, whether stuck at your p.c. or not a little jaunt through Helen Cathcart's beautiful blog is all you need to realise its time to set your sights a little higher. www.helencathcart.blogspot.co.uk

The pictures below are of a new Café that has opened down the road from me and where a friend happens to be the sous chef - Hally's in Parson's Green. This part of London seems always to be miles behind everywhere else in terms of good design so Hally's is a welcome breath of fresh air with real charm and thought behind the design thanks to Alexander Waterworth Interiors.

They also have their own blog ; www.alexanderwaterworth.blogspot.co.uk

 

Helen is a food and portrait photographer who has worked for my favourite publication - Monocle and Olive magazine, Conde Naste Traveller UK, Sunday Times travel section and many more. I think her photographs of food are the most beautiful I have seen. I know that if I ever work on a restaurant again I want (and would be honoured) for Helen to shoot it. Enjoy!