It’s rare for me as a stylist to get the privilege of working directly with a designer on a shoot, I am normally working with the finished product. I absolutely relish every time I get the opportunity to collaborate with one of the UK’s most talented knitwear designers, Erika Knight. Before I show you the finished photography for these new designs, Erika has kindly agreed to an interview. Continue reading “British Design Edit: knitwear designer Erika Knight”
I have inherited a rather pronounced ‘hunter gathering’ gene which in plain English means that I like to shop – actually, really rather a lot! If you are a retail buyer or someone who frequents car boot sales or jumble sales or just generally enjoys this kind of ‘sport’ then you will know exactly where I am coming from …
Continue reading “10 top interior design finds at Decorex International”
At the beginning of the 1970s, a particularly ‘domestic’ revolution was taking place, this wasn’t the ‘Chuck Out Your Chintz’ advertising campaign (as extolled by Swedish furniture giant, IKEA) – that came later. Households up and down the country were, in fact, joyfully ditching blankets, eiderdowns and flat sheets – breaking free from the chains of endless bed making and the ironing that entailed…
Continue reading “How to style your bedroom for the best night’s sleep ever”
Well before the UK design community had reconsidered Moroccan pattern and encaustic tiles as desirable for the home, Karen Kennedy, owner of Indigo Rye had them up as the surround to her reception desk in her hairdressing salon. Hanging above the desk are a couple of punched metal Moroccan pendent lights from Liberty. Not only that, but Niki-Jones home cushions sit on window seats either side of the front door to the salon and literally scream ‘come inside’ to the passers by of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. At least they do to those of us sensitive to exquisite decorative home accessories … !
Continue reading “House and garden tour: Indigo Rye owner Karen Kennedy’s Oxfordshire home”
You may think that the hottest ticket in town this Summer is a ticket for the main stage at the Reading Festival – but that’s maybe where you are wrong. It is, in fact, a parking place for a visit to Reading’s long awaited and newly opened IKEA store. Oh yes … If you are lucky enough to bag that parking place and make it through the entrance hall and up to the restaurant, if I am honest, securing a table next to an ‘A lister’ at The Ivy would be more achievable right now than enjoying your plate of meatballs at Reading IKEA. It is super busy!
Continue reading “IKEA opens in Reading – joy, as propping just got a whole lot easier!”
What do you think the link is between this incredible cake and one of the most influential artistic dynasties of the last 100 years? Designers are often multi-talented, turning from one discipline to another, but this cake design not only took my breath away because of its lifelike cactus decoration but because it was created by British designer Cressida Bell.
For the second of my British Design Edit posts, I am thrilled to have been given a blog ‘worldwide exclusive’ interview by British porcelain ceramicist Vanessa Hogge. There are two reasons: one is that I love her work but the second is that I believe that very shortly Vanessa will be feted in every blog, newspaper and magazine in the land for her extraordinary work. Gardeners and painters who portray flowers such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Frida Kahlo and Marianne North have all been inspirational to Vanessa’s work.
If I was the curator in charge of the Victoria and Albert Museum looking to set aside the best in 21st Century domestic design, I think I would be putting these cushions in my shopping trolley a bit sharpish. I have been following Brighton-based Age of Reason Studios on Instagram for a while but before I tell you my reasons for admiring these cushions so much, I have something to confess…
Continue reading “British Design Edit: #I have this thing with cushions”
As London’s Chelsea Design Week comes to a close this weekend, I am opening my stylist’s notebook (a closely guarded document – mined with more tripwires than the vaults at ‘The River House’ – aka MI6!) to share some of the beautiful designs showcased for 2016.
Continue reading “Chelsea Design Week: stylist’s inside guide to interior design looks for 2016”
As an interior stylist, you are informed about all sorts of new products, from the latest wallpaper or fabric from one of the companies at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre to super cool squashy sofas from Notting Hill emporium or shop openings in Shoreditch and Glasgow.
Charis White Interiors 