Turning Green

I've got some serious colour crushes at the moment. Maybe it's working with colour all day but I just can't get enough. Today it's all about going green. There is something so rich and fresh about deep emerald green. The glade bar at Sketch in London has recently used this colour to magical effect. Those huge curtains are so theatrical, I adore the drama of this space. Other inspirations are malachite in all it's forms. I bought two small malachite bowls from a charity shop last year and they are one of my favourite possessions - they look so great with everything.
The famous banana leaf wallpaper from the Beverly hills hotel is possibly the best wallpaper ever. It was used to great effect in the 'Golden Girls' and if it's good enough for the girls it's good enough for me.
It's never quite enough just to love something at home so I now have some fabulous green jeans, as seen in a shoot from Monocle magazine to spread the green envy across town!

Art/Porn

Well, it turns out that Al Parker is more than just a seventies porn star and former playboy mansion butler. There is also another Al Parker who was an illustrator for American magazines in the 50's and 60's.

I hadn't seen his work before, but I am really taken with it. It's so evocative of the time. I love some of the apparently random subject matter too.

He worked most prolifically for American home journal which was a women's lifestyle magazine and is largely credited with creating this type of illustration in the 40's, so his work was hugely influential. The style of work changes throughout his career as he continues to define himself from his imitators.

Many thanks google image search for introducing me to this most interesting other Al Parker!

Shakespeare in India

After being rather uninspired for ages, I'm suddenly seeing great things all over the place - often in pretty random places too!

Case in point, I was watching Felicity Kendall in India presenting a programme about Shakespeare which was mildly interesting. However I found myself enchanted by this hotel that she visits which she used to go to as a child. It is such a great, unusual space with so much character. If I'm ever in Calcutta I will definitely try and stay there!

A Creative Drought

London is a funny place to be at the moment. We are officially in a drought and yet it is pouring with rain every day! This seems quite an appropriate metaphor for my situation; I find myself very much in the middle of a creative drought and yet the deluge of art, ideas and new products in London is never ending.
Maybe it's just the same as the water companies continued justification - this isn't the right kind of rain to relieve the drought. Equally I think that just because you can always have new things and a billion images on pinterest and hipstermatic on your phone it doesn't mean you are creating anything of real interest or value. Bit harsh I know, but it's my thought for now.

Paint the town - Rainbow!

Its been so, so long since I've written anything here and this is for two reasons. The first being that I'm working really hard and therefore being a bit lazy when  it comes to blogging. The second and more important one is that I haven't seen anything for ages that really makes me want to share it.

Well that has finally changed today! Check this out!



This is what Haas and Hahn - pictured below, have just done to a favella in Rio de Janeiro! This is just amazing and what I love is that design is being used for some good and to make a real difference to the people who live is this slum. How can this not be more uplifting than the miserable grey it was before?



As someone who works for possibly the most colourful company in London, I'm well aware of the uplifting potential colour use has. Good work Haas and Hahn - you are my chroma-heroes!



As a side note I saw that artwork for the new Madonna album, MDNA today and I like it - alot!

A thing of Beauty?

I've never really been very interested in Agyness Deyn. This is for no particular reason other than I tend to think that models are rather dull. Is it just me?
Anyway today I saw these photos of her New York loft which she is selling (why?) and I was literally slack jawed with amazement.

The article I saw the photo's in was criticising the style saying it was all sorts of hideous. But I disagree most strongly. In fact I bloody love the style and would happily move in if I had the money to spare.
It may not be everyones taste but I fear that more often is not because many people have the dullest taste imaginable when it comes to decorating their home.



I think the use of colours and patterns here is truly fantastic. Leopard print carpet is suddenly seeming not such a crazy - Jackie Collinsish choice anymore.


Hello bath of dreams!



As a child 'The little Mermaid' was my favourite film, apparently Agyness was a fan too judging by the beautiful wall panels in her bedroom.





There is a definite Oriental feel to the scheme which I love. This circular opening really reminds me of traditional Japanese houses where shaped openings are used to reveal views.







I suppose I must offer Agyness an apology, a woman who put this apartment together couldn't be dull.
Or maybe she IS dull with a great interior designer?! Hmmmm

A new classic and a retro favourite

I'm always trying to find a great new album to listen to and at the moment nothing is really floating my boat. While on the hunt I ran across this amazing video for Fleet Foxes the shrine and an argument. The video is absolutely stunning, so lush and atmospheric. I'm not really sure what it's about but when something is this great I don't mind!















The screen caps really don't do it justice, so check it out.

I have also recently been introduced to the fantastic work of Charles Schridde.This was thanks to a great programme on BBC 4 called 'Selling the Sixties. The images were created for advertising campaigns for Motorola from 1961 to 1962. The images are so resonant if this era; the suburban utopia, the optimistic aspirations of new household products. I love the amazing cantilevered fantasy homes. When you see images like this you realise the future could have been more more exciting that it has turned out to be - in design at least. I mean honestly, who has a living room with a swimming pool window these days?

























Amazing!