David Carter and 40 Winks

London stylist and interior designer David Carter packs a lot of umph into a room.

Looking around at virtual London getting ideas for my trip, he is one of the more interesting entries on the Wallpaper Magazine iphone app guide to London.

His house, called 40 Winks, is first on their list of cool places to stay. Yes, this modest brick terrace in London's east belies its grand interior. He rents out two of the bedrooms for short stays and also conducts "Bedtime Story" book reading events, with the likes of Helena Bonham Carter showing up in her PJs to read aloud.

David's painted finishes are what he is most well known for - this is one decorative device I must admit I have not thought much about since the early 90s. I find his work more like a film set in their attention to detail and theatrical gestures. Magazines like the wonderfully British World of Interiors love his whimsical work which is a pretty good endorsement.

Un-decorated

Just out is this book, illuminating the latest tendency to undecorated spaces. It is lovingly assembled by Christiane Lemieux, founder and creative director of Dwell Studio. You can buy it here. It's certainly not a new concept, thinking of the gloriously undecorated rooms of the Bloomsbury Group. 

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Or the artistic salons at the turn of the last century: Gustav Klimt comes to my mind. 

Image (View of Gustav Klimt’s studio on Josefstädter Strasse 21, Vienna, ca. 1912. Photograph by Moritz Nähr. Furnishings were designed by Josef Hoffmann and executed by the Wiener Werkstätte. The painting is Klimt’s Hope II(1907-08), now in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, New York.)
True, these stand out through their incredible creative energy, but any honestly grown place will always exude it too. Picasso held court, showcasing not only his art, but found objects, ceramics, his children's toys, beach gear next to design proto-types or his latest love...

Image (Picasso's Villa La Californie)

Image (Picasso's last day in Villa Californie 1959, before moving to Provence)


Of course we often just see these outstanding homes of artists or, occasionally, writers. 
 But this development reverberates with my own design philosophy and once in a while there comes a moment where it surfaces in a trend. There will always be the un-decorating fellowship.
It's a state of mind and for time being maybe even people with order and perfection on their minds will subscribe to it for a while.

Perhaps what's so intriguing is the simple fact that it looks rather naturally lived in, not too groomed and perfect. 
In these times, when nothing around us is perfect - and when is it ever - we might answer this by living just like that.
So go on, relax, have that bundle of books you read on the floor next to your bed, coffee table or on the kitchen counter! Make momentous exhibitions on the window ledge of these small treasures you just picked at the flea market or the consignment store, don't paint that old table to a perfect turquoise, less is more! Live happily with what you have and don't take decorating too serious! And let these pillows artfully lounge around your couch.

Image ( from the book Romantic Homes of Ireland (above) and my own work/family
            room (below).

Enjoy some un-decorated time!
Until it all changes again and we move on to the next best thing.... ; )
XX
Victoria

Exceedingly Happy

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Penny Black Stamps - Exceedingly Happy, Charmed, Splendor.

Spellbinders Nestabilities Die - Petite Ovals Large.

Cuttlebug Die - Flower.

EK Sucess Punch - Retro Flower.

L-Em. Com Punch - Stamen.

Woodware Punch - Grass.

Embellishments from own stash.

Coloured with Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

The back ground on this card was stamped with Kaleidacolor Pastel dye ink.  I then pressed the ink pad onto an acrylic block and used this as a paint palette.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenge: Challenge #112 Bunnies.

Love

Linda xx

Message From Above

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Penny Black Stamp - Message From Above, Splendor.

Spellbinders Nestabilities Die - Labels 17.

Embellishments from own stash.

Coloured with Copic markers.

The butterfly embellishment was part of a necklace that I had made and no longer wear.  I recoloured the butterfly to match the card and I will reuse the crystals another day.

Hints and Tips

The back ground on this card was made using just the top part of the Splendor tree.  I used Versamark watermark ink then I heat embossed it with white embossing powder.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge: Challenge  #144 Recycling (I used an old necklace as an embellishment).

Allsorts Challenge Blog: Week 96 For a Special Lady.

Stamp Something Challenge: Spring Somethings.
Penny Black Card Challenge: Embossing.

Love

Linda xx

Today I love

Painted floors! I have a weakness for painted floors. I love the sophisticated or relaxed look of it, it evokes country side and ease, but at the same time I can see it at an old castle.

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I love white floor boards, Swedish design often relies on it, but also the intricate designs by skilled artisans to faux finish a floor to perfection.

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There are endless possibilities and the only thing that stops me from painting my floors light is the fact that my dog is black and sheds more then I like! And more over, my children are in and out year round, tracking their boots into the front door and way more often into the family room. It would be a nightmare!
But I love them...

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Look at these wonderfully painted stairs!
Done by Karen Oakley, a faux finish painter with incredible talent! She lives in Mystic, CT. If you are lucky it's your neighborhood...

Or these ones!

They can be such fun too.

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And these add some flair to a bathroom, which would otherwise look like any other!

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But honestly, a white painted floor is just wonderful!

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My floors certainly could use some serious refreshing, I might just paint them! Perhaps a sophisticated muddy gray?
What is your take on it?


xx
Victoria



All images as indicated.

Happy Easter Edwin and Tilda

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14cm x 14cm.

Magnolia Stamps - Edwin with Egg Basket, Little Hoppy, Bunny Tilda, Wooden Fence, Spring Tree, Tussock, Banner of Flags.

Cardio Stamp - Small Egg.

Forever Friends Stamp - Spring Time.

Sizzix Tim Holtz On The Edge - Ornate.

Embellishments from stash.

Coloured with Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

This design didn't need all of the tree to be shown you can just use half of an image if it is too big for your design.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

A Spoonfull of Sugar: Challenge 145 Easter.

Fab'n'Funky Challenges: Challenge #65 "Do it more than once..!"

Love

Linda xx

How divine

This is some divine seating if you ask me. By Designers Guild! In good company with Finn - Juhl's beautiful settee...Poeten!

Introducing the Julep sofa!


And browsing todays Wall Street Journal, there I found an extensive and fabulous article about 'The Rise Of The Personal'! Just how I always felt about decorating...
What has been analyzed for months in the blog world has reached now mainstream: UN- DECORATING is the new black! 
It looks pretty to me.


xx
Victoria





Image via designers guild.com

Old and yet so now

What seems already so long ago - our winter break was spent in Woodstock, VT.
There is a wonderful place nearby: Billings Farm. It is a working museum farm, with livestock, gardens and a wonderful farmhouse museum, built for the farm manager and his family around the 1890's.
What was so interesting about the place is the fact that it was designed very forward thinking for the time, with central heating, with running warm and cold water, a airy basement and many of the luxuries of the time.

Walking through the rooms I felt they would easily satisfy residents today, give or take a few things. I was delighted to find beautiful wallpapers.

Just look at this place! It's wallpapers are absolutely now!

The bathroom, with a hand painted sink, very fancy!

Build-in china closet in the dining room.

 I love the pantry! Why don't they build houses today like this anymore?

Look at the incredible coffee storage and grinder!

I loved these rooms, the light and the thoughtful layout.
This is the dairy, they had the first mechanical butter maker in the country!

And transportation....

Enough land to go on a sleigh ride!

More then 120 years ago doesn't seem so old-fashioned at all! I was reminded of images I have seen only recently...

A happy weekend to you my friends!
xx
Victoria



Images above by V.Zlotkowski, Country Home magazine, Zoffany wallpaper and Tribal Home.