Autumn - Time to start Nesting...

Autumn is officially here, the leaves are turning colour, slowly falling and you can feel a chill in the air. Although I am always sad to see summer behind us for another year, there is something to look forward to at this time of the year.
Preparing your home for the winter months
Now is the time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead, invest in some new bedding, change the duvet to a higher tog, put your mattress topper on, treat yourself to a new cosy pair of slippers, a lovely new throw/cushions for the bed, sofa or both!
For me there is nothing quite like a freshly made bed with crisp linens and layers of warmth. 
Throws and cushions are a great way to instantly update a bedroom or living room, they add interesting texture, warmth and colour. The trend for chunky organic knits continues this season, wool is tactile, stylish and elegant. Silk is opulent and luxurious, if the budget will stretch a luxury cashmere throw will last a lifetime, feel beautiful against the skin and you will probably never want to get out of bed or off the sofa!
Sheepskin, fur and animal hides create an alpine/ski chalet style, Mongolian Lambskin and ostrich feather cushions will add amazing texture and glamour to your room.

So as we get ready for hibernation, I will be lighting the fire once again, surrounding myself with candles, cuddling up in a cosy throw wearing my new slippers, with a good book and a glass of wine or two...
To give you all some ideas, here are a few of my favourite A/W 2012 products from the leading Home online/mail-order companies.

Image:Pinterest

Image:Pinterest

Shearling Babouche
£65.00 Toast 

 Reindeer Hide
£145.00 Toast

Sheepskin Rug

£99.00 Toast

Image: Toast

Large Sheepskin Rug 

£500.00 The White Company

Sheepskin Beanbag
£950.00 The White Comapny

Image:Pinterest

Chunky Hand-Knit Throw £400.00
Cushions £85.00
The White Company

Image:The White Company

Image:The White Company

Silver-Grey Plain Cashmere Throw
£500.00 The White Company

Cosy Moss Stitch Cotton Throw
Grey/Brown £69.95
Rockett St George

Made in England wool Throw
Silver-grey £69.00
Rockett St George

 Mongolian Lamb Skin Cushions
£39.09-£100.62 West Elm

Ostrich Feather Cushions
$255.00 Calypso St Barth 

Image:Pinterest

British Artist - Sarah Webb

I had the pleasure of meeting a fabulous and talented artist last week... 
British born painter, Sarah Webb has lived and worked as an artist for the past 28 years, graduated in Fine Art at Loughborough University and has twice been a finalist in the world's most prestigious portrait competition, The BP Portrait Award at London's National Portrait gallery.

A seminal moment in Sarah's career was being discovered by Eric Hall (1928-2008) in London in 1989, who was to become her Patron and very dear friend for the next 19 years. After a brief meeting with Eric at at her favourite haunt, 'The French House in Soho', Sarah found herself bound for Southern Spain courtesy of a 6 month contract to live and paint in Andalucia. 
During that time the artist was invited back to London to exhibit with 'one of the most prolific, talented and knowledgeable art dealers at the time', Roy Miles whose account of his groundbreaking exhibitions and glamourous parties feature in his autobiography, "Priceless".

After four successful years in and around southern Spain, Sarah then moved to Madrid where once again, she won competitions and as a result was invited to become a member of The Circle of Fine Artists. A further three and a half years were spent living in the capital with many other European painters, sculptors and writers.

The influence of Sarah's formative years on the East Coast of England, and the time she spent in Spain and later Italy, is evident in both her drawings and oil paintings. 2012 has been a turning point in the artist's career who has left behind her fugurative approach to produce a series of large, abstract pieces.

Her current paintings take on a more sculptural form using colour and light as a vessel to impact on the viewer whilst allowing their own interpretation of the work.

Oil on canvas 120x184cms £4,995

Sensoria Oil on board
65cmx85cm £595

Coldplay - Chris Martin & Gwyneth Paltrows Los Angeles Home

I am a huge fan of the band Coldplay, after seeing their spectacular performance last sunday closing the London 2012 Paralympic Games I was inspired to take a sneak peak into the recently purchased home of the rock legend and his famous wife Gwyneth Paltrow.
The celebrity couple have bought Veranda magazines first-ever concept house in Los Angeles named 'The House Of Windsor', it was designed by Windsor Smith and decorated by some of the worlds leading designers. If you go to verandaunveils.com you can take a 360 degree tour of this dream home.
In my opinion there is nothing to dislike about this perfectly executed home, the white exterior is impeccable, the brass and leather furniture is retro and luxurious, I could just go on and on raving about the interior but you can all see for yourselves below...

I think my favourite room has to be the white and grey guest bedroom designed by Tara Shaw. Feminine, elegant and refined, she has used one of my favourite colour schemes with the use of beautiful nude tones as an accent colour.
This house was actually staged for the magazine shoot, I do hope Gwyneth and Chris have not changed the sublime interior too much...

Images: Veranda, Habitually Chic

Colour Trend Watch - Autumn/Winter 2012

As seen all over the catwalks for autumn/winter, blue is the key colour trend for 2012. Cobalt blue or otherwise known as Majorelle blue just so happens to be one of my favourite hues. This versatile shade works well with white, grey, yellow, turquoise, it can be invigorating, intense or calming depending on how you choose to use it. Various intensities of this Mediterranean colour combined with different textures create electrifying schemes....  

Inspiration board, interior-ista

Inspirational 'Spice Market' Colours

This inspirational image was taken inside a friends shop at the Spice Market, Marrakech. Some of the natural pigments have been mixed with water creating an interesting transparent display. I just love the colours especially the emerald green, highlighter pink and cobalt blue. 

Dyers Market Marrakech

One early sunny morning I decided to grab my camera and head for the Dyers market deep in the souks of the Medina, Marrakech. It certainly did not disappoint as expected the sights were amazing and it was one of the highlights of my trip.
Scattered around the market were rows of bowls containing natural powdered dyes. One of the guides pointed out to the colours, henna, indigo, mascara, poppy flower, saffron and more that I wish I could remember. What intrigued me the most was that these colours were not what they seemed to be, the guide took a moistened torn piece of paper and dipped it into one of the bowls. The metallic green changed to fuschia pink, the rust turned to cobalt blue amazing.....
After seeing the dying process I was then taken to a roof top and was overwhelmed by the sight of the endless looped newly-dyed wool hanging out to dry on racks in the sunlight.

I hope you all enjoy these beautiful images.....

'Popham Design' Hidden Gem inside the 'Red city'

I have just returned from Marrakech, such an amazing trip but after spending two weeks in the scorching heat I am pleased to be feeling cool again, well just for a while.... 

This exotic place always inspires me and I never tire of the magic that the Medina, labyrinthine souks and Djemaa el Fna square exude.

I decided to spend a few of my exciting days there looking around Moroccan Riads within the Medina, this particular home and the story behind it captured my dreams and heart.

Since visiting this unique property I have discovered through research that it has featured on Design Sponge, Pinterest and other leading interior sites, such a small world although I am not at all surprised given the originality of the creators design and aesthetics.

The 250 year old renovated riad which is situated literally within a mosque is the creation of Caitlin and Samuel Dowe-Sandes. 

This ambitious couple had fantasized for some time about living in an exotic location and starting a creative business. Having previously lived in New York and Los Angeles they arrived in Marrakech originally intending to stay only for one year on a sabatical. Six years later their dreams have become reality, they have forged a life, family and run a successful global tile business in Marrakech. 

After purchasing the riad they were particularly drawn to the geometric black-and-white cement tiles in the courtyard and soon found themselves sketching their own designs 'Popham Design' was born, the cement tiles are hand-made by skilled artisans and take their inspiration from the design duos life in Marrakech.

I also interestingly discovered that 'Popham Design' tiles are available to purchase in the UK from Ann Sacks, an amazing tile company, situated in the Design Centre at Chelsea harbour, London. A place that I am more than familiar with from my old days spent there. 

A truly inspirational story for anyone who wants to follow their own dreams and heart.....

Images: pophamdesign.com, designsponge.com