New Product Photography E-Book For Beginners
Learn how to take better product images with A Beginner's Guide to Product Photography e-book written by stylists and product photographers Tiffany Grant-Riley and Hege Morris.
2022 has been a pretty scary year for me so far - putting myself out there. I started making a few changes to the way I run Curate And Display as I introduced my new product photography and styling services for independent brands from my home studio. As part of that, I've collaborated with my wonderful friend and fellow stylist-photographer Hege Morris to write this e-book - A Beginner's Guide To Product Photography.
We always wanted to run a studio together but, given that she's in Glasgow and I'm in Kent, the distance kinda makes that impossible. So the next best thing was to collaborate on this book, which we've written with love to help small creative businesses and new e-commerce owners (think Etsy shops) style and shoot their own products.
"We know how hard it is to be everything in your business, so we hope our guide will go some way to lifting the myth of creating simple, beautiful product photography that boosts your sales and your confidence."
Learn How To Elevate Your Brand Visuals
We see so many small brands failing at the first hurdle with their brand imagery - they have such beautiful products, made and chosen with love and carrying stories that the right person would love to find a place for in their home. But then the images just don't connect. And when potential customers arriving to your online shop take a split second to decide whether or not to linger, making the right first impression really does count!
We've designed this 40 page e-book to be a gentle introduction to product photography and styling composition, full of actionable tips you can apply to whatever space you have, whether you're shooting with a DSLR, mirrorless camera or camera phone. We've packed it with simple tips and workbook templates to make it a fun and stress-free experience.
All you need is a sturdy surface, a window and a camera to start!
The E-Book Covers
• What makes good product photography
• Building a useful DIY photography tool kit to help you set up your own 'home studio'
• Using natural light to take beautiful lifestyle product photography
• How to create your own brand guidelines to inform a visual identity your brand will be known for
• How to use the right props to bring life to your images
• The basics of photography composition to ensure your product is always the hero of every shot
• How to edit your photos and which apps to use.
+ more...
The book is now available to download on Etsy.
Calming Neutral Home in a Stockholm Ceramics Factory
Warm wood and artisanal design inside this neutral home in Gustavsberg Stockholm.
I'm always fascinated to see how residential homes work within the context of industrial architecture. This minimal neutral home scheme had me scrambling to pick up jaw up off the floor. A home that very quietly sings the praises of well crafted design and vintage treasures. High ceilings? Tick. Concrete beams and architectural features? Tick? Large windows. Yes ma'am. It has the lot.
The building is part of a former porcelain factory in the area of Gustavsberg in Stockholm. The original site was built in 1826 but was extended in the 1930s during renowned ceramics designer Stig Lindberg's time with the company. After changing hands in the 1980s, the building has since been divided into individual homes, each with a view across the harbour.
The open plan kitchen-diner has been styled with tonal creams and whites, set off with a dark smoked oak kitchen from Birch and Wood. I love how it looks against the lighter wood floor and the warm oak dining table and chairs. An oversized Japanese paper globe lantern gives the dining area an artisanal, Japandi aesthetic, connecting with the vintage woven baskets hung on the wall and other handcrafted ceramics. I'd love to sit here and watch the light move around the harbour, wouldn't you?
A cosy seating area styled with chunky and curvy cream sofas and a bouclé lounge chair.
But of course, I couldn't possibly ignore this beaaaaaautiful lounge area, styled with a collection of curvy cream sofas and the most exquisite teddy bouclé lounge chair. Organic shapes are echoed in a simple mid-century coffee table with a curved wood top and it's actually refreshing to see a real life television (it's always the first thing to hide when you're shooting someone's home!)
It took me some time to find the name of this sculptural chair hanging out in the hallway, it looks so much like a piece of art! But, with the help of knowledgable friend, we discovered it was designed by French design house 'Mustache'. Inspired by Bauhaus design and continuous lines, The Bold Chair is designed as just two pieces of tubular metal moulded together.
A cosy bed awaits in this warm bedroom with a calm and neutral aesthetic. I love the beautiful cream bedspread hand-stitched in blue. The two vintage wood chairs acting as bedside tables help keep the room feel soft against the sweeping industrial concrete ceiling beams. A perfect balance.
Photography by Jockeono with styling by Thomas Lingsell, with thanks to Historiske Hem.
An Island Retreat at the Modern Rustic Vipp Farmhouse
A sanctuary of neutral interiors - inside one of the three bedrooms at the Vipp farmhouse.
When I think of Nordic summertime, I bring to mind the craggy coastline of the small islands surrounding Denmark, of wooden jetties and dappled sunlight filtering through dense forest. A two-hour drive from Copenhagen and located on the island of Lolland is the new Vipp Farmhouse, the 4th hotel destination from the heritage brand that brought us the original pedal bin.
“During lock-down we have rediscovered nature and the charm of the Danish countryside, and now we share it with you. Vipp’s fourth hotel destination offers a convenient escape to nature. A taste of farm life, where the cow has already been milked”.
Jette Egelund, 2nd generation Vipp owner.
Dating back to 1775, this traditional Danish thatched roof farmhouse was once home to a gardener on the surrounding Søllestedgaard estate. But whilst its whitewashed walls echo back to its farming roots, the interior is, as expected from Vipp, a lesson in Scandinavian minimalism. For those looking for a farm stay experience nestled in an untouched forest, this is for you. A modern-rustic bucolic dream awaits furnished by Vipp, including the modular V1 kitchen in soft grey, Chimney sofas and black wall lamps.
Interior design Julie Cloos Mølgaard demonstrates a careful balance of contemporary interiors that are sympathetic to the historic architectural features of the Farmhouse. I love the way the warmth of the restored beams and wood floors contrast against cool white walls, stainless steel and black metal. There's a place for everything with ample space for relaxation, interspersed with framed prints of the surrounding countryside and artful curiosities.
And food-loving tourists are drawn to Lolland, the fourth largest island of the Danish archipelago and just a stone's throw from the German coastline. The island's rich, fertile land makes for ideal growing conditions for apples, cherries and sugar beet. Guests can swing by the newly opened Michelin star restaurant 'Pomle Nakke' on neighbouring Falster and can expect to enjoy local produce from the island to cook at their leisure. What I wouldn't give for a week's stay here - I think I'd be floating on air every day...
If you'd like to find out more about the Vipp Farmhouse and experience a taste of Nordic summer, book your stay here.
Photography © Anders Schønnemann
House of Grey X Bauwerk Limewash Paint
In a design match made in heaven, London based interior design studio House of Grey has just announced 'Visual Silence', a collection of limewash paints with Bauwerk Colour. Fans of limewashed walls, you will not be disappointed.
Headed by founder Louisa Grey, the studio is known for its pioneering approach to salutogenic design, meaning health and wellbeing is at the forefront of their process. Guided entirely by using only natural cradle-to-cradle materials, the studio seek to create grounded spaces that support human health and the environment. Known for their healing, sustainable interiors, House of Grey are the one UK studio who always come to mind when I think of calming, minimal and artisanal design. Joining together with Bauwerk whose natural, no VOC lime paints have already garnered world wide acclaim is a no-brainer. Lovers of House of Grey's minimal aesthetic can now bring some of that style into their own home.
The 'Visual Silence' collection is a palette of eight muted, earthy colours designed to bring a sense of clarity and harmony to any space. At the deeper end there's 'Nurture', a dark green that encourages deep relaxation as well as the smokier 'Cleanse' green for healing. At the paler end of the palette, there's 'Retreat', a chalky alternative to white and 'Balance', a deep neutral with a hint of taupe. I love the way the light refracts against the pigment and texture on the walls in these beautiful shots.
To discover more about this wonderful, natural paint, take a look at 'How To Decorate with Limewash Paint' as I take you through how I painted my studio it step-by-step.
The House of Grey limewash paint is available directly from Bauwerk where you can order samples, brushes and ready-mixed paint directly.
Photography by Michael Sinclair
House of Gärsnäs Apartment at Stockholm Design Week
Gärsnäs, one of Sweden's oldest furniture brands has just launched a new showroom at Stockholm Design Week. Based in Skåne, it has been leading the way with sustainable furniture in its family run workshop since 1893.
A history spanning 128 years has created an archive of striking Scandinavian classics lead by well-known designer and owner Åke Axelsson and Anna and Dag Klockby. Known more for furnishing public spaces, the brand now longs to reach a wider audience to see its furniture in private homes. I'd welcome any of their designs in a heart beat.
Curated by designer Nina Jobs, Gärsnäs marks a new chapter with a more relaxed and informal way to view their most iconic designs.
The collection is styled as they would be in a home setting inside a 17th century apartment in the Old Town district of Stockholm. And with views across to Skeppsholmen island, 'House of Gärnäs' is everything you would imagine a modern Scandinavian home to be.
In times when more and more people work from home, home environments are facing an interesting development. How should our homes change? What should happen to traditional spaces and apartment plans? What should be attractive in a few years?
Gärsnäs
Baroque architecture reveals sweeping high ceilings with intricate cornicing and panelling. Moving through the apartment, each room is painted in tonal, neutral shades of eggshell, putty and chalk, creating a warm and minimal style that's elegant and harmonious. It's the perfect canvas for some of the most beautiful examples of Scandinavian furniture that I have ever seen.
The collection spans earlier classics such as Åke Axelsson's 'Linnea', a modern take on the Thonet chair to the contemporary Bleck sofa, inspired by the back of a canvas frame, designed by TAF.
And the company continues its pledge towards sustainable production. Not only does it take back older pieces for renovation but is committed to being completely circular and carbon neutral by 2030.
Visit by appointment only: Skeppsbron 30, 111 30 Stockholm, Sweden.
Photography © Mike Karlsson Lundgren, styling by Nina Jobs.
Stockholm Loft Apartment with Grey Accents
This Stockholm loft apartment with grey accents is full of gorgeous details. Its left me longing for some design-filled solo escapism, though you can't stay here unless you plan on buying it.
This is a great example of how to decorate an older property without losing its character. Supported by a contemporary, minimal interior, it holds on to its rustic period features. Painting the walls with a neutral colour paint and just a small selection of framed art allow the bare bones of the building to shine through.
Built in 1930s, this open plan apartment enjoys lofty ceilings highlighted by black wooden beams. The rough plaster walls painted in grey limewash give it a wabi-sabi feel, contrasting against contemporary and modernist classics. You can only imagine the views across the city from up here.
The apartment has been furnished with a grey linen sofa. Pale wood legs lift it off the floor and continue the flow of space throughout the room. A deep pile grey rug and polished concrete coffee table zones the living room area with a wide view into the dining area and kitchen beyond. I also love how it contrasts against the warm wood floors.
The rattan lounge chair, cosy cushions, and large potted houseplants soften any hard edges. And if those rubber trees are anything like the one in my living room, they'll flourish under those skylights. Notice how the owners have continued touches of black in the Wishbone dining chairs? They cleverly connect with the exposed beams and tie the whole apartment together.
I really had to search to track down this shell shaped lamp but I discovered it's a piece called 'Tropez' by Swedish lighting brand Globen. The shade is made from unbleached papier mache with a wooden base and I love its wabi-sabi aesthetic.
You might want to check out my edit of Japandi style lights if you love the look of this one, too.
Photography courtesy of Wrede.se
11 Best Japandi Style Lights
&Tradition's elegant interpretation of Japandi style lights. The Formakami lamp collection, designed by Jaime Hayon.
It would be easy to take the ubiquitous paper lampshade for granted. They’re everywhere - a part of modern culture. Inspired by centuries old Chinese and Japanese ‘Chochin’ lanterns and now mass produced cheaply by brands like IKEA, they’ve been a mainstay of modern interiors for years. But it was the work of sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi that catapulted this unassuming classic into mid-century homes.
In 1951, Noguchi was invited by the mayor of Gifu, home to the Ozeki lantern factory, to breathe new life into this ancient craft. The result was the distinctive (but often imitated) ‘Akari’ collection. Combining electricity with the traditional bamboo frame and washi paper skin, he transformed the lantern. Their soft glowing ambiance feels instantly homely and there’s something ethereal about the way the light plays with the thinness of the paper. They are functional works of art.
Ethereal hand-pleated paper lamps designed by Le Klint, the 75th Anniversary model 375.
Where Japan Meets Scandinavia
Our innate need to create a home that feels safe, warm and harmonious has seen the rise of a kind of soft minimalism. We seek comfort in neutral interiors in soft beige and earthy clay tones. We want our furniture not only to reflect our personality but to bring about a tactile connection with natural materials; rattan, wood, paper, linen and so on.
Trend forecasters have coined the slightly cringy phrase ‘Japanordic’ or ‘Japandi’ to describe the fusion between Japanese and Scandinavian design, but essentially, these two cultures find common ground through simple, considered design and quality materials. Nordic brands are translating the look of traditional Japanese papercraft techniques into contemporary design statements where new iterations include opaline glass.
Copenhagen design studio New Works imitates the ridges of a paper lantern with opaline glass for a soft, diffused glow.
A modern-rustic Scandinavian dining room with a Japanese twist - the Bidar paper pendant from House Doctor.
A classic paper pendant in a Scandi style white dining room demonstrates how Japandi style lighting creates a simple yet calming effect at home.
A contemporary approach to Asian paper lanterns - the Formakami collection by &Tradition.
Create Cosy Ambience with Japandi Style Lights.
If you’d like to incorporate this look into your own home, my edit of Japandi Style Lights picks out options across a range of budgets. From sculptural over-the-dining-table conversation starters to the more subtle bedside lamps.
1. Hashira floor lamp, Audo Copenhagen | 2. Gatto table lamp, FLOS | 3. HAY rice paper lampshade | 4. Formakami JH3 Lamp, &Tradition | 5. New Works lantern globe lamp| 6. Fritz Hansen Lullaby | 7. Risbyn paper lamp, IKEA | 8. 375 table lamp, Le Klint | 9. Bidar paper lampshade, House Doctor | 10. Akari A10 floor lamp, Vitra | 11. Bamboo pendant light, H&M Home.
Foraged Warm And Natural Nordic Christmas Table
Hey, how are you feeling? Honestly? I'm exhausted. And I know I'm not the only one. What a year! Despite all the waves of uncertainty and change we've been riding, I wanted to keep some things the same here. And with Christmas just around the corner, its time to uphold the yearly tradition that I have with you - sharing festive table styling inspiration.
A Foraged Nordic Christmas Table
I wanted the table to feel comforting, intimate. A space that draws the family together under the glow of candlelight. Our gatherings are going to be smaller this year and with this in mind, I'm suggesting using what you have to hand. The key to this Nordic look is the natural elements of rustic bracken fronds, branches and neutral tableware.
My little table for four includes treasures that I return to all year round; a vintage cake stand and a collection of wooden candle holders I found in a charity shop years ago. Simple, pale tableware in some newer additions from the summer are courtesy of Urbanara.
This is a fuss-free, tonal look without a traditional centrepiece. Instead, a hanging installation of 'old man's beard' has become a softer, textural focal point. It that draws the eye down to the table and allows you, your guests and the food to be the centre of attention.
This was my first attempt at a floral cloud installation and it was so easy to do. Rob and I went to take cuttings from a spot where I knew there'd be an abundance of wild-growing clematis (also known as 'Old Man's Beard') and filled up a big bag. Using a chicken wire frame hung with strong, clear thread, you build the arrangement by threading the stems through the frame. Eventually, you'll create a full shape you're happy with. Where I found there were gaps, I filled them up with cut grasses from my garden.
I filmed the process and put together a quick floral cloud tutorial on IGTV if you want to create your own. Do it - the results are breath-taking!
A Sweet Table
Close-up image of glossy, deep wine red mulled poached pears ontop of a brown sugar pavlova for the Christmas table.
Baking is my go-to for comfort at this time of year. It's my way to unwind and spend time alone with my thoughts. I found a gorgeous Waitrose recipe for a brown sugar pavlova with hazelnut praline and poached pears. And my god it's incredible. Such an indulgent dessert, perfect for a Christmas celebration. From the spiced mulled pears and chewy meringue to the all-important sweet toasted nuts. This is the one.
I also tried my hand at a vanilla marshmallow recipe that I found via Benk and Bodega. Perfect for little snacks or to top hot chocolates and my daughter loved making these together. Check out their 'Advent' stories highlight for the recipe, written by Emma Cantlay at Mainly Breakfast.
Candles are the one thing I always buy new every year as we get through so many. These soy wax twisted candles are from Interlude Candles on Etsy. And I've created a brilliant sculptural candle edit if you're looking to up your candle game this winter.
So there we have it - my Nordic Christmas table for 2020. If this look doesn't float your boat, check out my gold and pine table garland and a moody, minimal festive style.
All that's left for me to do is to thank you for sticking with me throughout this crazy year. Wishing you a safe, warm and slow Christmas and I'll see you in 2021.
Tiff x.
Photography and styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Sustainable Decorating | A Guide To Eco-Paint
[Advertisement] *Includes gifted and loaned product for the purpose of this post.
Graphenstone GrafClean in Vintage* | Zumirez boucle wool fabric in 'Moonbeam', Zinc Textiles* | Kuru ceramic bowl, Iittala* | Aino oak mirror, Skagerak* | Ridged tea-cup, Rose & Grey*
In recent years the paint industry has been making huge strides to clean up its act in the effort to produce more environmentally friendly paints. We now have so many options to help create a more sustainable home so why shouldn’t the paint we use reflect that choice?
As we move deeper into our renovation journey, I’m more mindful of the products I choose to use as part of our projects. If you're reading this then chances are you are too. Using accredited eco-paint means working towards a cleaner environment while improving the conditions inside our homes.
Of course, with so many options on the market selling us various benefits all under the umbrella of 'eco', 'organic' and 'non-toxic', it’s hard to know who to listen to. The information out there isn't always clear as to whether you're buying into a genuine product or just green-washing. No paint is 100% environmentally friendly but this simple and transparent guide to eco-paint will help clear up those questions when it comes to choosing the right paint for your home.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SYNTHETIC AND ECO-FRIENDLY PAINT?
Your average tin of paint from the DIY store will contain synthetic, plastic and petrochemicals and VOCs used to maintain its strength of colour, durability and general consistency.
Eco-friendly paint is comprised of naturally occurring materials, based on lime or a variety of clay and/or marble with natural pigments and oils. As a mineral-based product, their micro-porous qualities allows moisture to escape so your walls can breathe, doubling down on mould and damp. Ideal for an older property.
LET'S TALK ABOUT VOCS
Those synthetic chemicals I mentioned above include VOCs or ‘Volatile Organic Compounds’. These carbon-based substances emit vapours or gases that evaporate at low temperatures. You’ll often find them in other everyday products such as air fresheners and cleaning products and used in paint they're there to improve the consistency and drying process.
Current UK legislation states the maximum VOC content in a tin of interior emulsion is 30g per litre.
The effects of these can aggravate allergies or leave you feeling dizzy or nauseous amongst other reactions (and I think we’ve all felt that way at some point with a paintbrush in hand). Synthetic paints contain ingredients derived from plastics and can include formaldehyde and other petrol-chemicals which are known carcinogens. These evaporate into the air as the paint dries but can also exist on your walls for years afterwards, continuing to release into your home. Not a comforting thought.
Graphenstone GrafClean in Premium in 'Olive', small ball painted in 'Kombu'* | Hoxton 'Olive' gloss porcelain tile, Mandarin Stone | Linen blend Azuri fabric in 'Endive' fabric, Romo Textiles*
IS THERE ANY SUCH THING AS A ZERO VOC PAINT?
No. It’s impossible to be completely free of VOC emissions - did you know that burning fuels such as wood and coal releases these too? That said, paint can be classed as ‘zero VOCs’ when the level of which is negligible or up to 5 grams per litre.
WHAT ARE ECO-PAINTS MADE FROM?
There's no standard recipe as each brand varies but common ingredients include oils such as orange, linseed and castor as well as resins, silicate, lime and chalk. Natural pigments which create the colour are derived from plants, though in some cases these may come from insect or animal bi-products so if it's a vegan paint you're looking for its worth checking the list of ingredients first.
Graphenstone GrafClean Premium in 'Oxford' blue with an arch of 'Blue Steel'* | Ball vase, Cooee Design* | Bergen 'Smoky Blue' linen-look fabric, Villa Nova*
DO ECO-PAINTS SMELL?
Having used two different eco-paint brands, I can't deny that they don't come with a certain fragrance - they do. On the whole, however, it dissipates fairly quickly and thankfully doesn't contain harmful chemicals that you'd normally breathe in with standard synthetic paint.
ARE ECO-PAINTS AS DURABLE AS STANDARD PAINT?
Yes, they really are - washable and durable with options for woodwork and exteriors too. It's no longer a compromise to use ecological paints and you don't have to settle for a limited colour palette either. It's a no brainer, right?
BUT it's worth noting if you love the textured effect from traditional lime paints, these don't include additives to aid durability meaning if you're after wipeable walls, it's not the right one for you. These paints mark easily and will need recoating to cover them.
AREN'T ECO-PAINTS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHERS?
There's not a huge difference in price between an eco-paint and other premium brands but they are definitely more expensive than a basic range of synthetic paint. What you pay for is the quality of and higher concentration of natural pigments. The better the quality, the more depth and ability they have to absorb light - this creates nuances of tone depending on the light coming into the room.
So is it worth the investment? Having used a range of paints across the board over the years I would say hands down, yes. Health and environmental benefits aside, you will ultimately save time choosing a better quality paint for coverage, consistency and durability.
An Exploration of Graphenstone Paint - A Lockdown Project
In anticipation of painting our hallway, I've been getting to grips with Graphenstone Paint's range of GrafClean Premium colours. Having heard such great things about them, I wanted to explore their range and try to settle on a colour. You won't find it here though - the result of these images comes from a lockdown challenge I set myself to create four contemporary tonally styled scenes using a selection of colours I think are currently popular or are set to enjoy a moment in our homes over the coming years. From top to bottom you'll find 'Vintage', a subtle beige with lilac tones, 'Old Lilac', a slightly aged pink, 'Olive' and 'Kombu' greens which connect us with nature and a deep 'Oxford' blue, contrasting with a lighter shade of 'Blue Steel'.
Holding 18 certifications and being a popular choice among architects and designers, Graphenstone Biosphere paints absorb CO2 directly from the environment thanks to their high concentration of lime. This air purifying paint removes 40% of CO2 within the first 30 days, continuing over 2 to 3 years. Their products are formulated with a lime base with added Graphene for durability, claiming to be 200x stronger than steel. Three 15litre pots absorb 15kg of CO2. If that doesn't grab your attention, I'll eat my hat.
The colours have great depth and excellent coverage- I painted their range of GrafClean colours straight on to plasterboard using a mix of brush and roller, though you'll get a more even finish with the latter. This product is matt, breathable and washable and rated the No.1 World's Most Certified Green Brand. Can't wait to use it for the rest of the house!
I'd love to hear your thoughts - have I persuaded you to take the eco-paint plunge?
These images were created using colours from the eco-paint brand Graphenstone, who provided the paint for the purpose of this post.
Styling and photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Stay in Minimal Modest Luxury at Maison Jackie Antwerp
Antwerp is without a doubt in my top five most loved European cities. It has such a unique, fresh energy to it. From the diverse community that has chosen to live here, the fact that it's under a huge phase of development at the moment to (most importantly) that it's a real hidden gem for design.
I was reading Milk Magazine recently and was stopped in my tracks by this stunning apartment and event space, located, unsurprisingly, in Antwerp. It has all the hallmarks of honest, Belgian aesthetics. Maison Jackie is the result of a beautiful collaboration between real estate agent and interior designer Ellen Wauters and a visionary group of craftspeople.
I can only have full admiration for Ellen who, following motherhood, divorce and a burn-out felt she needed more creative connection in her life. She began hosting gatherings for like-minded female entrepreneurs which in time led her back to real estate, this time embracing her love of collaboration and design. Thus - Jackie Bohéme was founded and Ellen has since gone on to realise several beautifully appointed apartments and homes in her organic, natural style.
Maison Jackie is a soulful house, combining an event venue, shoot location and concept store with a quiet getaway for two in the rooms above. The history of the building, a former monastery and home to the last sisters of Niel is allowed to shine through, flooded with natural light and original features. Now a soothing apartment, it exudes modest luxury in the materials she has chosen, from the herringbone parquet flooring to the soft linen curtains and bespoke bamboo kitchen designed by Olso based eco kitchen designers Ask og Eng.
As soon as you step into Maison Jackie, you step into the slow living movement. We created an enclave of aesthetics and calmness where craftsmanship, interior design and spirituality engage in an enriching dialogue. A place where everything is possible and where your own creativity can thrive.
Ellen Wauters
As a minimal space, every detail has been intentionally chosen by Ellen, extending to a personally designed capsule collection, allowing you to take home a piece of Maison Jackie style. I absolutely love her linen kimono collection, created in collaboration with textile designer Nathalie Van der Massen.
I genuinely can't wait for travel to open up again so I can treat ourselves to a short stay here. It looks truly wonderful. Want to see more from Antwerp? Take a look at my visit to St Vincents concept store and Valerie Traan art space.
Prices start from 165 EUR per night for 2 with a 2 night minimum stay.
Images courtesy of Jackie Bohème, with thanks.
Memories of Summer with Broste Copenhagen SS20
I sat looking at these shots from the new Broste Copenhagen look book with signs of early summer streaming in from the garden and had to share it. We're just on the verge of it here, as I sit at my desk, barefoot in a t-shirt dress with a warm breeze floating through the back door.
Described by Broste as an ode to memories of summer, you can almost smell the sun-warmed pavements from a window of this beautiful 1800s apartment in Copenhagen where it was shot. The former watchmakers has been lovingly restored, taking great care to honour the building's original fabric, whilst stylist Marie Graunbøl carries the collection off fusing modernity and tradition.
But enough of the location with its gorgeously rustic, plaster walls. Let's get onto the collection, which is aptly centred around our basic need to connect with calm and comfort at home.
Chunky curved furniture continues to make its mark. This irresistibly sculptural Fibre table is actually from Broste's outdoor collection but I think it has a far greater impact indoors. That's a statement table, however you look at it.
One of my go-to brands when I'm working on a kitchen project, Broste always hits the mark for organically finished tableware. From unique pale salt glazes, to dark and moody, matt and minimal, their mix and match collections bring a sense of occasion to the every day.
I particularly love the Vig oven and microwave-ready stoneware for easy stove-to-table serving in style. Which is what you'd expect from laid-back Scandinavian entertaining. Alongside the staple Esrum Night collection, it creates a look all about effortless, rustic minimalism.
I've noticed a lot of deep reds coming through across the board lately. The Ole steel chair with retro appeal in 'ginger' is a prime example of how Nordic interiors are connecting with warmer shades. There's also a collection of soft furnishings along the line of this colourway.
The timeless Oeko-Tex certified Wind sofa and chair are designed to weather the years, easily updated with on-trend accessories. I love the clean, upright lines and the option to change the feet for stained wood or metal finishes depending on your own aesthetic.
...even when our lives are far from perfect, our homes should
help us overcome the chaos and embrace us lovingly.
And it looks like rattan is going nowhere, paired with brass for the Ruben floor lamp and sized up with over-stitched edging for a pendant light.
I think you'll agree, it's a warm and nurturing collection to feed to soul. Is it making you itch for those effortlessly simple summer days now?
UK stockists of Broste Copenhagen include Amara, John Lewis and Heal's.
Photography © Line Thit Klein | Styling by Marie Graunbøl, courtesy of Broste Copenhagen.
A Characterful Gothenburg Apartment in Warm Neutral Tones
We’re back in Sweden today and I think I’m satisfying the 'itchy lockdown feet' by travelling vicariously. This Gothenburg apartment with warm beige and rust accents is possibly the closest example I’ve seen yet as to where we want to go with our living room. Makes me want to get started now!
Soft light from tall windows highlights the original ceiling mouldings beautifully. Most importantly, it demonstrates how well period features can sit alongside contemporary art and design when done so in a considered way. A careful blend of tonal furniture. The balance is just right here, don’t you think?
Built in the 1800s and lovingly renovated in 2004, it features herringbone parquet floor treated with Osmo matt wax and high ceilings. Deep windowsills typical to most buildings of this period are just the right size for a potted plant or collection of ceramics. Makes me wish ours weren’t so non-existent, I'd love to have a sill or two to style here.
You might notice the subtle organic shapes that repeat throughout the space. From the round opaline glass pendant lights and circle motifs in the wall art to the Flos Gatto lamp sitting on top of a shelving unit. A small round dining table connects with two small, round coffee tables opposite and gives a sense of flow to the room.
Painted throughout in soft grey, an open-plan kitchen-diner living space connects to a double bedroom that can be closed off with a set of panelled double doors. Inside, an original tiled wood burner connects the building to its past, once a pharmacy and post office. Imagine cosying up in the winter with a good book here...
A slubby linen sofa awaits with plump velvet cushions that match the same shade as the curvy lounge chair. I love how it ties together with the warm flooring. Total perfection. When can I move in?
Love this home? You might like this Gothenburg apartment with a green kitchen. Or if you're inspired by the warm neutral tones, check out this post.
Photography Jonas Berg | Styling GreyDeco |Images courtesy of Stadshem.
New Menu Connected Spaces Designs for 2020
Following the launch of The Audo in Copenhagen last year, this multi-functional hotel residence and home to MENU headquarters has become an ever-evolving, living space in which the Danish design company develops and interacts with its collection.
I'm always excited to see what MENU will do next, their approach to refined, minimalist furniture is always so intuitive. Everything they release I instantly fall in love with. Sigh.
The new MENU Connected Spaces additions for 2020 reflect an ethos rooted in the idea of meaningful interactions within our living environment. As The Audo so beautifully demonstrates, the distinctions between home, work, and hospitality are blurring. These common, age-old constraints are being redefined.
We want our workspaces to feel more homely whether we work from home or not. We want for our homes to feel more like an extension of a boutique hotel. To make the everyday experience at home feel that little bit more special, to create meaningful interactions within the spaces we live in.
Anyway, let's stop with the gushing and get on with introducing the new pieces, shall we?!
Reverse Lamp - by Aleksandar Lazic
The real stand-out piece from the 2020 Stockholm Design Week (I missed it) was the Reverse Lamp, designed by Aleksandar Lazic. The base of the lamp features a raw travertine stone which reflects the light from the conical, bronzed aluminium shade across its unique and unworked surface. The lamp is fitted with a dim-to-warm LED light to adjust its intensity and is an ideal source of ambient light for the bedroom or shelving unit.
Hashira Collection - by Norm Architects
A soft glowing linen covered Japanese inspired Hashira pendant lamp, designed by Norm Architects hangs over the oak Androgyne table, part of the MENU Connected Spaces for 2020 collection.
Norm Architects continue to explore the intersection of Japanese design and Nordic sensibilities with the Hashira lighting collection. Taking its name from the Japanese word for column or pillar, this linen cloth take on the traditional rice paper lamps emits a warm and soothing glow. Available in a floor lamp, table lamp and variations of pendant lighting, its soft and simplistic design show the structure inside when lit.
Walker Wall/Ceiling Light - Søren Rose Studio
I absolutely adored seeing the Walker lights in situ when I visited The Audo. Inspired by the golden era of design, their almost vintage 1930s appearance gives a very contemporary space a touch of old-world elegance. Designer by Søren Rose spent time traveling across the US searching for old lamps and retro parts that would go on to inform the Menu Tribeca collection. The opal glass or metal scones can be configured accordingly to be wall-mounted facing up or down as well as used as a ceiling light.
Androgyne Dining Table - by Danielle Siggerud
An update on the Androgyne side table designed by architect-designer Danielle Siggerund, the new Androgyne dining table features a Kunis Breccia mixed stone table top, polished to a high shine on top of a sculptural oak base.
Initially designed by architect-designer Danielle Sigerrund as a side table, Androgyne has since evolved to include a lounge and dining table. Drawing on the monument-like qualities of the side table, the latest iteration features a striking Kunis Breccia stone surface atop a natural oak base. This blend of different warm-toned stone gives the table a soft feminine feel against its polished and masculine shape. Quite the statement.
Rail Desk - by Keiji Ashizawa Design
A super minimal, slender light oak topped wall-mounted desk with a black metal support arm. Designed by Keiji Ashizawa for MENU, this multifunctional piece of furniture becomes adaptable as a small space workspace, shelf or counter top.
The Rail Desk is the perfect example of how design is adapting as the way we use our homes becomes more fluid and flexible. This slender, minimal desk created by Keiji Ashizawa Design, demonstrates how multi-functional furniture can be used to create adaptable spaces. Inspired by architectural structures and his background in steelworking, Keiji's Rail Desk with an oak top can be used as a home workspace (ideal for small space living) as well as a shelf or counter.
Afteroom Plus Wood Base Chair - by Afteroom
An update on MENU's first dining chair, the Afteroom chair, the latest addition has been created in plywood which gives the chair a soft, curved aesthetic.
A hands-down favourite of mine as a dining chair, the original tubular metal incarnation of the Afteroom chair pays homage to the stripped-back functionality and shape that arose from the Bauhaus movement. Designed by Stockholm-based Taiwanese duo of the same name has been given an update in plywood. Its gentle curves and soft silhouette make this chair a warm and versatile addition to the home.
MENU Connected SpacesPhotography courtesy of Menu.
[AD] Subtle Festive Style - Georg Jensen's Christmas Collectibles 2019
[Advertisment - this Nordic Christmas inspiration post has been styled with the help of Georg Jensen's Christmas Collectibles 2019]
Can you believe Christmas is less than a month away? Don’t know why I’m surprised, it comes every year yet I’m always completely in denial about it!
We like to celebrate a minimal Christmas here though, so there's not a huge amount of planning to do. The decorations go up a week before the big day and I love to decorate our home with a subtle Nordic feel. You know me, I love muted colours, nothing garish and over the top. Things like simple, delicate touches of greenery hung about the house. I'll bring in bunches of olive and scented bay tree cuttings from the garden and mix them up with pine tree clippings from the florist.
Most of our Christmas decorations are wooden too - I've learnt this lesson from childhood as all three of us gradually decimated mum's collection of delicate, glass baubles!
I do think tradition is really important though. There are decorations we bring out every year and the kids have come to know and love. I'm always neurotic about the tree which we start decorating with the kids and I do again when they've gone to bed! We bake gingerbread and Ricciarelli, Italian almond biscuits, together and on Christmas Eve I made a rich and creamy walnut pasta. The little things that mark the season make it feel special.
This year I'm giving my festive styling a lift with Georg Jensen's Christmas Collectibles for 2019. Their high shine Palladium and Gold plate bring about a reflective quality that catches the light beautifully. I love the way they cast strong patterned shadows in the winter light.
As part of their own tradition, Georg Jensen releases an annual collection of decorations every year. Each comes in its own presentation box and compliments the previous years' collections, all handcrafted in Denmark. Designed by Sanne Lund Traberg, this timeless collection focuses on love, togetherness and tradition.
With a strong connection to Georg Jensen's relationship with modernist design, the collection displays elements of geometric Cubist shape and Art Deco style. Centred around three simple heart, star and tree motifs, this collection feels fresh and contemporary. Warm up the table with a set of gold plated heart tea lights and striking Christmas trees as a centrepiece. Or, stick to cooler tones with the palladium (which I prefer).
This is such a versatile collection and there are endless ways to style them. The ornaments make sweet little gift or napkin decorations if you don't want to hang them from the tree. Speaking of which, the jury is out as to whether we get another one this year. With the best of intentions, we tried a potted fir last year but I was far too late to re-pot it at the end of the season. In the end, I had to watch it slowly die from the kitchen window. Oh, the agony! I think perhaps fir trees aren’t my forte!
I like to set the table with a crisp white cotton or natural linen tablecloth - it provides a strong base for styling the rest of the table. Using velvet ribbon in soft, neutral tones adds understated luxury to the table when tied around the napkins. I've also used it hang some of the ornaments, though they come with red or ice blue ribbon.
As an alternative to the Christmas tree, I've made a simple yew tree garland and hung a selection of the Palladian Star and Tree ornaments for a bit of sparkle. I might even make a few more to have in our living room in place of a tree. You can make a feature of it like I have, suspending it with invisible thread across the wall or wrap it around your bannisters on the stairs. They're so easy to make and once you've got the basic concept down you can make them from anything you like.
How To Make A Festive Yew Tree Christmas Garland
You will need:
- Thin, natural rope the width of the space you're decorating with extra at each end for attaching.
- Thin florist's wire for wrapping.
- A good shopping bag's worth of greenery from your florist (or foraged carefully and considerately).
- Scissors for trimming.
I prefer to hang one end of mine up high and stand on a chair to make mine, but you can lie it flat on a table if you like.
Make small bunches of greenery, tieing each securely with the wire.
Starting at the top of the rope with the tip of the leaves facing down, wrap the first bunch with the wire. Place the second bunch a few centimetres underneath the first so that they overlap and tie it with the wire to hide the mechanics under the first bunch. Continue until you reach the end of the rope, overlapping each time.
If you're hanging the swag across a doorway or wall, you may want to secure some of the bunches with more wire to get them to sit the way you want them to.
To suspend it across the wall, use some really strong, fine thread. Loop it around the garland and pin it discretely into the wall. You might need another set of hands to support the weight...and your own sanity. And that's it, you're set for the season!
If you'd like to explore more of Georg Jensen's Christmas Collectibles, take a look at their website. And for inspiration on entertaining with Georg Jensen, check out my styling of the Bernadotte and brand new Helix collection.
Photography and styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
![[AD] How To Decorate With Limewash Paint - Breathable Eco Paint From Bauwerk Colour](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63c93d56b8f27c4ca17f2ed3/1682502107222-V774E98QC55YCZE8SOMK/how_to_use_limewash_paint_bauwerk.jpg)
[AD] How To Decorate With Limewash Paint - Breathable Eco Paint From Bauwerk Colour
[Advertisement - this guide on how to use limewash paint was made in partnership with Bauwerk Colour who supplied the product for this post].
It's been a while since I've had new work on the house to show you, hasn't it? I know, progress has been frustratingly slow since we stripped the hallway in January. January! But, me being me and not wanting to sit idle over summer, I decided to give my workspace an update.
This room was originally the scullery when the house was built in 1904. Sandwiched between the kitchen and sunroom at the back of the house, it can feel a bit like a tunnel. Although it gets fabulous light from the South-West facing garden, when there's no sun, it's pretty miserable, not to mention bloody cold. The walls are extremely rough and, to embrace that old plaster texture, I wanted to use a natural paint that would accentuate it. After my trip to Copenhagen in May piqued my fascination with textured lime wash walls (it was everywhere), I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to road-test it!
Enter Bauwerk Colour, an Australian brand that began creating modern lime paint for interiors and exteriors almost twenty years ago. With a vast selection of colours inspired by nature, many produced in collaboration with world-renowned interior stylists, it was a complete no-brainer for me. Curious? Let's dive in a little deeper, shall we?
A brief history of limewash paint.
Historically, limewash has been around for centuries. As one of the very first around, it's a natural, environmentally safe paint. The paint is made when crushed limestone is burnt and 'slaked' (combined) with water to form a putty. This putty is aged, diluted with water and mineral pigment for colour and voila, we have limewash. A breathable paint which allows moisture to escape, it cures by taking carbon dioxide from the air as it dries. During this process, it forms calcium carbonate crystals as it hardens which gives it a unique luminosity when the light hits.
The colour of choice - 'Mykonos' gives a warm feel in winter and a holiday feel in summer.
What's the appeal of lime paint?
At the time our house was built, and indeed even earlier, natural paint solutions were being pushed out for newer, chemically-based paints. Think lead, turps and formaldehyde that strengthed the durability and finish of the paint. Today, awareness and attitudes towards the harmful effects such chemicals can have on the environment encourage us to look for natural alternatives when decorating our homes.
Painting round the pipes was tricky business but the paint stuck well thanks to the undercoat.
Without a doubt, the biggest argument in favour of this paint is its low impact on the environment. As it contains zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds that release vapours and gases over time) you can use it with a clear conscience. It's water-based and there are no strong odours to contend with. Though there definitely is a smell of some description, it disappears eventually.
If you love the look of unpainted plaster walls like these from our bedroom renovations, you'll love how easy it is to recreate that look without calling out the plasterer. It's ideal for older houses, particularly those which still bear the original horsehair plaster walls and need a little extra care. That expressive, almost cloudy texture can lend depth and character to newer properties too. I absolutely love the way it picks up the nuances of light throughout the day and the bolder you are with the brush strokes, the better!
My choice of 'Mykonos' from the Holiday collection, in the bucket and ready to go.
It looks great, but are there any downsides to it?
You'd be hard pushed to find any cons to using limewash, however, it's worth considering that it's not a wipable paint. If your walls pick up any wear and tear over time, you'll need to apply another coat.
There's an element of risk with limewash paint, so if you're not prepared to go with the flow, it might not be for you. By nature the finished look will depend on the surface you're painting onto and how well its been prepared beforehand, as well as how you apply it. You might also discover that you need to apply more than the recommended number of coats to get the required effect.
Limewash before and after I started the first coat on the back wall.
How to master the limewash paint technique
Before you order, check you're using the right product for the type of wall you're painting onto. I recommend using the appropriate brushes too. Don't use a roller! I used the 'block short' for smoother areas and the 'medium short' for brick and render.
First ensure that the surface you're painting is clean, dust-free and has a good, solid coat of undercoat or paint underneath. Bauwerk recommends an acrylic undercoat. Sometimes the lime paint can show up the differences of the structure in your wall - areas where the plaster has been patched with filler for example, so the undercoat will provide a solid base and avoiding ghosting.
Neutral, earthy tones styled using paint swatches, linen board and textured paper in a moodboard.
Unlike standard emulsion paint, limewash has the consistency of milk. The intensity of the colour is built up over several thin coats which are absorbed into the wall rather than sitting on top of it.
Some products come as a dry powder and require mixing with water but Bauwerk lime paint comes pre-mixed in recyclable pots from 250ml up to 10L. First, stir or whisk the pot up to mix any sediment and decant all of the paint into a bucket.
Working the limewash across the wall in a criss-cross action with a short, natural bristled paint brush.
Applying the second coat of limewash to the walls with criss-cross brush strokes
Dip the brush into the paint and flick off the excess to avoid drips. Starting in one corner and work your way into the centre of the wall using a criss-cross movement. You can be quite expressive with this. Keeping a wet edge as you go to avoid colour overlays, continue applying a thin coat to the walls. Repeat the process from each corner until you meet in the middle and then move on to the next wall.
Be prepared to work fast! I found that the limewash started drying pretty quickly, so it kept me on my toes to maintain a wet edge.
To build on that cloudy look, start subsequent coats in a different corner or in the centre and work your way outwards. Bauwerk has some brilliant 'how to' videos which demonstrate the technique a darn sight better than I can describe them!
So what's the verdict?
Let's just say, I think it's love. Mykonos was 100% the right choice. The room is still empty but I often find myself standing in the doorway, watching the walls catch the light.
I'll be the first to admit I was a little nervous before painting started. This was new territory for me and I don't like not knowing what to expect at the best of times. I think the best approach is to trust the process. I used this as a mantra until the second coat had dried and I could see the room taking shape. I took around ten days to apply three coats, allowing a few days in between for each to dry. Would I use it again? Absolutely yes.
If you found my tips on how to use limewash paint useful, check out my 'Decorate With Lime Paint' Pinterest board for inspiration.
Photography and styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
The Audo Hotel In Copenhagen - A New Creative Residence by MENU
It may be five months since my first look at The Audo, Copenhagen's newest hotel to launch, but I already can't wait to return.
Imagine, if you will, a hybrid boutique hotel and restaurant combined with a concept store, co-working space and cafe. A collaborative residence where Nordic design, hospitality and contemporary art converge.
The result is a collaboration between former CEO of MENU, Bjarne Hansen, and Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects. As you might be able to tell, this is no ordinary hotel experience.
Forty years ago when Hansen founded MENU, he had a vision of a living, ever-evolving space in which the brand's portfolio of furniture would sit within a real-life situation. Today, MENU's brand new HQ shares the first floor with a library and coworking space.
Taking its name from an acronym of the Latin Ab Uno Disce Omnes, meaning 'From one, learn all', The Audo is a reflection of the way in which we use spaces as multi-functional, ever-evolving hubs. This is a place to commune, collaborate and create.
Blurring the lines between home and work, and uniting design, business and community in one innovative, physical space under constant renewal, The Audo is an experiential, sensorial residence where products from the world’s premium design brands will engage in dialogueDanny Feltmann Espersen, MENU CEO
The building is a breathtaking example of how heritage and architecture blend seamlessly with a contemporary aesthetic. Located in Copenhagen's new waterfront district of Nordhavn, it started life in 1918 as a boathouse and Neo-Baroque residence and was originally the headquarters of The Russian Trading Co Ltd.
With creative direction overseen by Kinfolk magazine's Nathan Williams, every part of the experience has been considered in meticulous detail.
The interiors are a feast for the senses. Converted in a minimalist, Scandinavian style, the industrial roots of the building are ever-present through the use of polished concrete floors, black metal framed windows and perforated black metal ceilings.
Original partitioning walls were knocked through to create one large open plan ground floor, featuring the concept store, cafe and restaurant space.
Sumptuously upholstered Tearoom Club Chairs and Eave modular sofas in bouclé sit alongside black veined, white marble plinths and coffee tables. Abstract works of art and sculpture created by artists such as Benjamin Ewing, Sofia Tufvasson and Nicholas Shurey on display can also be bought from the concept store, alongside products from other collaborating brands.
A wide amphitheatre style staircase leads you up to a library and workspace on the 1st floor where lifts await to residents up to the rooms.
A celebration of rich and earthy neutrals, 10 loft-style bedrooms make up the boutique hotel on the top floor. With names like Foliage, Red Clay and Cliffs, you get a sense of how nature has directed the interiors.
Each room has its own identity with en-suite bathroom, featuring Dinesen floors, textured plaster walls by St Leo and luxury beds designed by Dux. These spaces are warm and intimate, moving away from the industrial feel of the ground floor and closer to the building's history with original timber beams in the ceiling.
Rooms start from £320 a night, complete with goose down duvets from Quilts of Denmark, organic Tekla bathrobes and Aesop toiletries. It's an absolute design lover's joy to experience what feels like a fresh take on Scandinavian living. I can't wait to see how The Audo will reinvent itself in the coming years.
The Audo | Århusgade 130 | 2150 Copenhagen | Denmark
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
25 Small Kitchen Storage Ideas and How To Maximise Your Space
Dead space. You know what I'm talking about. We all have some weird corner of the house where literally nothing fits. In this scenario, I'm using the kitchen as a case study, getting stuck into some small kitchen storage ideas to help you out of that spatial rut.
Being as they are such a personal space, there is no one size fits all solution. If it's not possible to completely gut your kitchen and start again, particularly if you're renting, then it's likely you're living with someone else's configuration.
I've been there myself with our own kitchen. The cupboards were (and still are) a badly considered home DIY job, so despite the fact we chose to keep them for now, they're completely impractical. Next to the fridge was a gaping 1m wide empty space that I felt could be put to better use. And then there was the conundrum of making the best of the available wall space.
But where to find the right piece of storage to fit that tiny gap? Having spent a good few hours sourcing the right fit for my own kitchen, I'd say I'm fairly qualified to answer that question now...
Keep Worktops Clutter-Free and Edit Your Kitchen Equipment
One of the worst things you can do in any kitchen to make it feel smaller is to have all your equipment out on the worktop. It's a recipe for instant overwhelm. Tidy away the heavy-duty cake mixer or the toaster and bring them out as and when you need. You'll find having that extra worktop space leaves the entire kitchen feeling bigger and you get back the much-needed elbow room to prep with. While we're on the subject of tidying, try to edit your utensils and equipment once a year or so. You might feel that you don't have enough storage space in your existing cupboards, but sometimes it comes down to owning too much stuff. Be ruthless. If there are things you've not used for 6 months then its time to move them out.
Utilise Walls and Ceilings For Storage
There's a shelf for every nook (as my shopping page below reveals). Make the most of all the available wall space with compact storage. Adjustable shelves will be your best friend. I love my String Pocket shelves for that reason. I can play with the height of the shelves if I need to and I've used them to zone a tea and coffee spot, holding all the necessary accoutrements for a decent cuppa.
Ceiling mountable pot racks and rails are also brilliant for freeing up space. Cooking utensils hung from a simple rail next to the oven keeps them close at hand (see top image) or you might have a spot above an island or butcher's block that would support a hanging pan rack.
Retrofit Kitchen Cupboards
If you can't replace the units, retrofitting your kitchen cupboards is a straight forward way to maximise space. You can get hold of all sorts of gadgets to fit inside not-so-practical cupboards that slide out and unfold. Tiered wire racks that sit on top of existing shelves are useful for stacking mugs and glasses inside. Store pan lids on racks attached to the inside of a cupboard door to put an end to battling with them in drawers.
Break Up Your Cabinetry and Consider Open Shelves
Open wood shelves styled with glass food jars and crockery in a dark blue and white Scandi style kitchen.
Sometimes wall to wall cabinetry can make a kitchen feel overwhelming and enclosing. Introduce open shelves to break them up. Mine were already here when we moved in so I sanded them back and lightened them up with a white Osmo oil. They create an instant feeling of space and give then kitchen a more informal and relaxed look especially when you mix up stacks of glasses and crockery or display dry food in glass storage jars.
Freestanding Units Give Empty Corners Purpose
If you have a narrow corner going to waste in your kitchen, a freestanding unit might just be the answer. They add visual interest and look effortlessly stylish. I've written a post that covers how to style wire shelves to help with that.
Possibly my favourite piece of furniture in the kitchen for its flexibility, this wire rack holds all the kitchen essentials we need to hand. Its open, gridded structure helps the kitchen retain a feeling of space and I can use the sides for hanging utensils too. There's also enough space beneath to keep a small carry box of veg and a stool - sometimes friends like to sit and chat to me while I'm cooking.
I've sourced 25 small kitchen storage ideas to whet your culinary whistle, from narrow units and hanging pegs to trolleys and folding tables. I've made a note of the width for each design with most coming in at less than 60cm wide.
1. Hahn premium wall rack, John Lewis. £110. 60cm wide. Make the most of wall space above the oven with a professional-grade chrome pan rack. Stack pots and pans on top, hang utensils from the rail below. (Affiliate link).
2. Iris Hantverk Knoppbräda hook rack in birchwood, Nordic Nest. £15. 67cm wide. I'm a huge fan of this Swedish heritage brand who employ visually impaired craftsmen to produce their products, made from natural and sustainable materials.
3. String Pocket shelves, Skandium. £126. 60cm wide. This miniature version of the classic String shelf is ideal for small nooks. They come in just about any colour and the height of the shelves is adjustable to support how you use them.
4. Storage board grid shelf and additional wire basket, Granit. €49.90 and €9.90. Shelf 60cm wide, basket 20cm wide. Any storage you can configure yourself is an instant winner. This grid shelf is brilliant, with add-ons such a mini shelf, hooks and baskets to store spices or washing up essentials.
5. Verberöd shelving unit, Ikea. £95. 45cm wide. Corners and narrow spaces are always tricky in a small kitchen, which is why I've picked this steel-framed shelving unit. Use the drawers for cutlery and linens and style the open shelves with dried foods in glass jars and stacked tableware.
6. Kriptonite Shelf with borders, SCP. £99. 60cm wide. Sometimes you just need a little shelf above the kettle for your mugs and tea bags. This simple aluminium shelf from Italian company Kriptonite brings a contemporary look to any nook.
7. Frama D27 shelves in brass or steel, Finnish Design Shop. £131. 40cm or 60cm wide. A reinterpretation of Scandinavian shelves from the 1950s, this minimal design with oiled oak shelves come with brass or steel supports. (Affiliate link).
8. Hay Medium Indian Dresser, Made In Design. £155. 40cm wide. Inspired by ones seen in traditional Indian kitchens, this versatile dresser works really hard. Stack plates, cookbooks and crockery on the shelves. Hang tea towels and mugs from the rail underneath.
9. Maze Triple Shelf, Trouva. £131.49. 38cm wide. Maze is an environmentally conscious brand from Sweden where all its products are made by hand and shipped, not flown. Made from powder-coated wire, this nifty little unit has bags of storage potential. (Affiliate link).
10. Ferm Living Wooden Multi Shelf, Utility Design. £405. 59cm wide. The epitome of sleek, minimal Nordic design made from stained ash.
11. Jessie Oak Leaning Shelf, Habitat. £95. 36.5cm wide. You won't take up huge amounts of floor space with this leaning shelf and it can be attached to the wall for extra stability.
12. Verso Design Koppa Shelf, Finnish Design Shop. £86.65. 40cm wide. A sweet and beautifully crafted birchwood shelf for keeping your washing-up bits and bobs off the kitchen top. (Affiliate link).
13. Ombyte storage on castors, IKEA. £50. 38cm wide. Got empty space underneath your worktops? These stackable, moving crates might be the perfect solution.
14. Alta hanging aluminium pot rack, MADE.COM. £25. 91cm wide. Keep pots and pans clear of the worktops with this ceiling-mounted brushed aluminium pot rack with adjustable hooks. (Affiliate link).
15. Small oak shelving unit, Rose & Grey. £175. 81cm wide. This clever little oak shelving unit has compartments on the bottom shelf - perfect for linens and cutlery, and a narrower open top shelf.
16. Izzy Bistro Wall Dining Table, MADE.COM. £199. 56cm wide. Having seen this at the press launch last summer, I'd still very impressed by it. With space for concealed storage when folded against the wall, it becomes a neat little fold down dining table when opened up.
17. Hay Woody Column Shelf, Finnish Design Shop. £322. 75.5cm wide. A modern take on the traditional ladder shelf with a soap-treated oak frame and bent steel removable shelves. (Affiliate link).
18. Hakola Riippu wall shelf, Finnish Design Shop. £240. 60cm wide. These playful oak shelves designed by Finnish company Hakola feature sailing rope struts. A similar design, the Riippu 'Gardening Shelf' holds space for three small plant pots on the bottom rung, perfect for herbs.
19. Round Bamboo Shelf, Rose & Grey. £75. 60cm wide. Undoubtedly the sustainable material of the moment, this sweet bamboo shelf is perfect for displaying a collection of mugs and other ceramics.
20. Long Lina Shelf, Noo-Ma. €170. 80cm wide. A minimal design from the Polish design brand Noo-Ma, the powder-coated steel shelf comes in black, blue and beige.
21. Yamazaki three-tier storage trolley, Amara. £130. 13cm wide. The Japanese know a thing or two about utilising space. A brilliant storage solution for tiny nooks, this narrow storage trolley fits neatly inside the gap between your fridge and cupboards. (Affiliate link).
22. Adjustable brass and wood shelf, Rockett St George. £90. 64cm wide. Bring some warmth into the kitchen with these brass and mango wood shelves. You can adjust them according to what you're displaying and they're ideal for smaller items.
23. Karakter Trio Shelves, Holloways of Ludlow. £372.30. 50cm wide. Take on those sneaky little corners and make them work harder. The result of a collaboration between Achille Castiglioni and Giancarlo Pozzi, these shelves utilise unused space hiding in corners.
24. Antique bronze finish hook rail, Rockett St George. £22. 70cm wide. Perfect for hanging kitchen essentials and small chopping boards.
25. Skagerak Norr Shelf, Amara. £225. 36cm wide. Designed by a company known for its sustainable and ecological practices, the Skagerak Norr shelf effortlessly combines oak, leather and brass into a beautiful, tactile piece.
Photography and Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
[AD] Update And Elevate Your Dining Space with Pepper Sq
[Advertisement - this is a paid partnership with Pepper Sq.]
Sourcing the right furniture for your home takes time, especially when you're pulling elements from several different places. Which is why I'm introducing Pepper Sq today. A new homeware brand with a difference, their clever 'Spacemaking' tool takes some of the time and decision making out of the equation. It follows three simple steps:
1. Discover - Browse their impressive collection of room designs, compare styles and find your favourite.
2. Design - Customise your favourite room designs, check dimensions, match colours, choose patterns or find alternatives.
3. Enjoy - Turn that space into a thriving reality. Click and buy - you'll soon enjoy your new room design.
Grouping together a series of looks for each room of the house, furniture can be bought as a whole collection or edited accordingly before you buy. The best part of that is having a visual reference so you can imagine how it might look in your own home.
With this in mind, Pepper Sq invited me to share some advice on how to design a dining room using pieces from their collection.
The Brief - An Elevated, Sophisticated and Tranquil Dining Space
My initial thought was, what does a dining space look like today? I use the word 'space' intentionally, as in recent years, the traditional dining room has taken a back seat in favour of open plan kitchen/diners. It seems our kitchens have become the room that we naturally gravitate to as a social space, so the rising trend in kitchen living spaces shows just how much entertaining has become a part of our culture.
There's definitely still something to be said for a separate dining room though. And with some consideration, it can become a room for every day, not just shut away for special occasions...
With the topic of sustainability and the environment high on the agenda, many of us are looking inwards and homewards for comfort as an antidote to all the uncertainty. I wanted to create a welcoming, sophisticated and calming space with Nordic influences. Drawing on 'Tranquil Dawn', the Dulux 2020 colour of the year for its soothing influence as a new neutral, the scheme includes touches of pale green accessories against mid-grey limewashed walls and warm, parquet wood flooring.
There is brass detailing running through the lighting and tableware to warm up the colder tones in the limewashed walls. And I've used black as a welcome contrast to a rather tonal palette with black oak furniture.
Ultimately, I wanted to create an elevated space that makes using it every day feel special.
Inspiration
I pulled inspiration from the work of Copenhagen based studio Space Copenhagen. If you saw my stay at The Stratford hotel, their latest project, you'll know I was bowled over by the Brasserie. Set against a backdrop of soft, sand toned, textural lime painted walls, classic black bentwood chairs and brass detailing, it was the epitome of Nordic sophistication.
Diving deeper into their portfolio, I came across Restaurant 108 in Copenhagen, the sister to the legendary NOMA. The interior has retained its industrial concrete shell but introduces a softer side with seafoam green panelling on the bar and other parts of the restaurant. Although the exposed structure of the building appears very much essentialist in the way it has been designed, it is warmed by bespoke oak dining tables, curved back black leather chairs and potted plants.
The Finished Look
|1| Array sideboard, Pepper Sq |2|Marble Circles, Kristina Dam |3| Flora black table lamp, Pepper Sq |4| Oblo bulbs with oak and brass knuckle pendants|5| Abstract BYC Design & Tom Pigeon prints, Opumo |6|Berlin armchair, Pepper Sq |7| Alley oak dining table, Pepper Sq |8|Antwerp bentwood dining chair, Pepper Sq |9|Skagerak Edge vase, Finnish Design Shop |10| Ebony cutlery, The Conran Shop | 11 |Linea face mug, The Conran Shop |12|Agave green ceramics, Blomus |13| Rotary Tray, Vitra |14| Menu brass Bottle Grinders, Really Well Made |15| Mint linen napkins, The Conran Shop |16| Bold cut-out rug, West Elm |17|Florian concrete planter, La Redoute.
How To Choose The Right Dining Table
The dining table you choose will depend on the proportions of the space you have. If you have a fairly traditional, narrow room (like mine) then a rectangular table will be your best bet. I've picked the Alley table in light oak and brought in those touches of black I mentioned in the metal supports underneath. When you have a little more freedom of space or a squarer room then a round design would work well, providing you have enough space to walk around it with chairs in situ. It's also worth considering how many you need to seat at mealtimes. If you entertain a fair bit, an extending table affords you extra space at short notice.
I love the timelessness of a bentwood chair, with a history that spans from the 19th Century, they're an enduring classic. I've mixed the Berlin armchair at either end of the table with a black Antwerp for a less matchy but still coherent look. Don't feel obliged to match all your chairs but choose a colour or material that ties them together.
Light Up The Table and The Room
Creating the right atmosphere with lighting is really important - you want the room to invite conversation. For above your table, find lighting that echos its shape. For example, a rectangular or linea grouping of pendants better suits a long table. Look at the direction the lights are facing in too and how it will affect the way the light falls onto the table or ceiling. Shades made from an opaque or smoked glass or wood veneer will give an altogether softer and warmer feel, which I love. Oblo LED bulbs paired with oak and brass knuckle pendants allow you to build your own statement lighting with diffused opaline glass.
Don't forget the rest of the room too. Table and floor lamps are just as important for providing ambient light, particularly if you don't like to use an overhead light in the dining room. The Flora table lamp has a sculptural style that just needs to be displayed alongside some art.
To Rug or Not To Rug?
Here's where I sit on the fence. I love to see a rug in a dining room when it's the right size. It helps to anchor and zone the space, particularly if you have an open kitchen/diner. A round dining table looks better with a round rug, likewise if you have a rectangular one. For a balanced look, ideally, the rug should be approx 24" to 28" wider than your dining table all the way around.
On the other hand? Having a young family means not having nice things. Ever. Believe me, I know how quickly that beautiful, hand-tufted 100% wool rug will end up caked in spaghetti and tomato sauce. If you have to have something, go for a flatweave that's easier to clean, or veto it entirely. If you don't want to forego the rug, try using one in conjunction with a sideboard instead so that it sits halfway underneath.
Why you need storage in your dining room
Sideboards and cupboards work really hard in a dining room, streamlining your view from clutter. Use one to free up extra space in the kitchen by storing the items you don't use every day along with other essentials like cutlery, cookbooks and table linens. I wouldn't be without ours, as it stores all the above as well as the kids' art supplies.
The minimal, clean lines of the black oak Array sideboard tie in beautifully with my moodboard, combining function with a striking, geometric form.
So there we have it, a few solid tips to help you update and elevate your dining room, with the help of the #peppersq #spacemaking tool for inspiration. I really can't wait to start renovating ours now...
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To coincide with the London Design Festival, each September for the last three years I've made it a tradition to test out new London hotels with my friend and fellow blogger Hege Morris. She'll fly down from Glasgow, we'll spend a couple of days soaking up the festival and review a place to stay whilst we catch up. And I've been waiting what feels like an absolute age to share this absolute stunner of a London design hotel with you...
Meet The Stratford. Having watched this 42 storey, terracotta clad structure rise from nothing just outside Stratford International Station, I have been itching to get inside it.
Following the 2012 London Olympics, Stratford has grown up at an astonishing rate, with 560 acres of waterways around the buzzing East Village, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its best kept secret - the Great British Garden. A stone's throw from the hotel stands Westfield Shopping Centre, a sprawling metropolis in its own right and the area as a whole feels very open and full of possibility. At the time of writing, construction is underway for a new arm of the V&A Museum, Sadler's Wells and Madison Square Gardens. Stratford's where it's at, people.
Launched in May 2019, the interiors of The Stratford were left in the capable hands of Danish design duo Space Copenhagen. A multi-disciplinary studio, their work spans furniture, residential and commercial spaces. Having designed collections for some of Denmark's design royalty including Fredericia Furniture, GUBI, Mater and Georg Jensen, you learn to recognise their signature style a mile off. In fact, if you've a keen eye, you'll spot several of their collaborations with these brands throughout the hotel. Known for their use of minimal, organic shapes, honest materials and their unmistakably Nordic approach to creating spaces, this is the place to go for a modern Scandinavian experience.
The Stratford is a completely new build challenging the concept of the traditional hotel. With a combination of hotel and Loft apartments, a restaurant and communal sky gardens, the building encourages guests and residents to interact within its public spaces.
The first seven floors are dedicated to the hotel, announcing a triple height lobby on the ground floor. The interiors are a blend of soft textured walls, inlaid brushed brass detailing and warm wood. Polished marble repeats itself through table tops up to the bar and your eye is drawn towards a curved balcony belonging to the Mezzanine bar above. A large scale art installation, 'Murmuration', created by Paul Cocksedge connects the two spaces together.
A cosy Lounge Bar sits to your left, furnished with marble-topped Gubi Moon lounge tables and sink-into chairs. The space is ideal to kick back over coffee for an afternoon meeting, or perhaps a starting point for cocktails in the evening. A large fireplace looks set to draw everyone in during the colder months.
To your right is the all-day Brasserie with open kitchen and view across the entire lobby. It is an utterly gorgeous space. The bespoke wood and leather benches lining the edges of the room present a more mature side of New Nordic design. Pared with classic bentwood Thonet chairs, it’s a sophisticated interpretation of European brasserie style. Light is diffused through full height windows by raw linen curtains, picking up the texture in the walls. And there’s touches of craft here that elevate your experience, like the beautiful matte ceramic mugs and plates, designed by British ceramist Sue Pryke. Of course, what's really important here is the food, which comes in generous portions. I can highly recommend the coffee and Eggs Royale, of which the hollandaise sauce was perfection.
The bedrooms are the epitome of modern minimalist style, each bearing the unmistakeable marks of Space Copenhagen's aesthetic. From the soft, organic curves in the bed frame and mirrors, to the contrast of light and dark materials. When the sun faced West towards the early evening, striking shadows hitting the pale mushroom walls and crisp, white bedding.
Our Standard Room (starting from £175 a night) was based on a tonal grey scheme and felt restful and cocooning with a thick pile carpet under foot. There's a small wall to wall console with a Gubi Gravity table lamp. The Queen or King size beds are nicely styled with blankets from Society Limonata and the bathroom comes with organic REN toiletries. Hanging storage, drawers and a small Dualit coffee machine are hidden by floor to ceiling push door wardrobes as you enter the room.
Additional rooms range from a Double Double (with two Queens for sharing with friends and family) all the way up to a Stratford Studio and the mother of them all - the Manhattan Studio (starting at £515 a night based on two adults).
We were lucky to have tour of the The Stratford Lofts which make up the 35 floors above the hotel. Comprised of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, the interiors were designed by Paris based Studio KO.
Each loft has a different feel, some with a more polished, warm interior and others like the one pictured which feature the steel structure of the building itself. I loved this pared back, industrial kitchen living space where the concrete structure is left exposed to show the workings in the architecture. Of course, the real scene stealer is the completely unobstructed view across London from each room, thanks to the floor to ceiling windows. A view that would be impossible to ever tire of.
Because the building was designed to encourage community, there are no private balconies. Spread across three floors, The Sky Gardens are accessible to the residents of the lofts. Each garden has a different layout, each with warm wood cladding and raised planters. Designed for relaxation, they include semi-sheltered areas for cooking and relaxing with Japanese inspired planting.
The Stratford Lofts are available to rent for short and long terms stays with the smaller residencies starting from £2,300 pcm.
The new Allegra restaurant was gearing up for its official launch during our visit and I can't wait to come back and sample the menu. Featuring a central bar, a semi-private dining space and outdoor tables overlooking the Olympic park, it oozes elegance. Promising a blend of high-end dining with a focusing on honest, seasonal ingredients, the restaurant is headed up by Head Chef Patrick Powell, formerly of The Chiltern Firehouse.
As a new landmark, it's still early days for The Stratford. It will need some time to grow into itself and discover its identity, but I love the ethos of community it carries forward. Different areas to meet, to experience, to gather. Space to breathe.
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley.
Calm and Grounded Home Launches for Autumn-Winter 19
If the slight turn in temperature hasn't got you reaching for everything cosy, these new Autumn-Winter '19 home launches will. This is my time of year, let me tell you. I live for the blankets and chunky knit jumpers, the hunkering down as the leaves start to fall and evenings draw in.
The latest Autumn-Winter home collections from the high street and beyond seem to offer up a response to all the uncertainty in the news of late, too. That home is a comforting and grounding space in which to be, a reflection of ourselves. Simplicity is a common thread that runs through each collection, tied together in the use of natural, sustainable materials with an artisanal feel and a neutral colour palette.
Yes, I know what you're saying - "but this isn't real, Tiff! Where's the cat vom? The bits of lego on the floor and the two-inch thick layer of dust over everything?" Of course, it's not real, but we all need to aspire to something, right? There are some great styling takeaways to glean from my picks for the coming season. Shall we?
Zara Home - A Life of Simplicity
I've really fallen for the restrained elegance of these almost sparsely decorated rooms. The use of negative space. Sometimes a room just feels better with space left empty. Shot at architect Danielle Siggerud's MD Townhouse in Copenhagen, Zara Home's 'A Life of Simplicity' looks like it belongs among the patinaed walls and aged wooden beams. Mixing pieces from other designers within the styling, a combination of contrasting materials and fabrics lend it a curated, lived-in feel. Highlights of the collection include the Silla chair with cane seat (as seen in the top image), an array of highly textured soft furnishings and organic shaped recycled glassware.
Styling by Colin King, photography Frederik Vercruysse.
Tine K Home - Slow Collection
Set against textured lime painted walls and dark wood floors, the 'Slow collection' by Tine K feels calm and sophisticated. Drawing from nature, a palette of Ocean, Walnut and Terra holds this edit together creating an altogether earthy and cocooning aesthetic.
A brand that continues to produce their collections by hand with small, artisanal workshops, you can pick up on their influences of travel within their Scandinavian roots. Pieces like the woven rattan pendant lamp lend texture to a room and the standout of the collection, the Feelchair, made from recycled aluminium is the latest example of their commitment to sustainability.
Introduce autumnal hues into your home through the plumpcious PufSoft velvet pouf and rough linen lampshades - I love the Ecru.
Styling by Pernille Vest.
French Connection - Le Brun and Dark Shadow
This season French Connection has brought two collections to the table. Le Brun (the brown) which encapsulates an earthy, artisanal craft aesthetic and Dark Shadow, based on minimal lines and concrete brutalism. Yep. My favourite.
An additional capsule collection includes a sustainable range of textiles. Rugs made from recycled bottles and cushions made from denim scraps demonstrate French Connection's 'reuse, recycle, reinvent' approach to production.
Looping back to wanting our homes to feel comforting and grounded, Le Brun draws inspiration from tribal culture and global style in its woven, tasselled accessories and cane furniture. The Parallel chair in acacia wood (as seen above) is designed to fold away and can be used both inside and out.
Styling by Nuala Sharkey, photography Russell Duncan.
Ferm Living
Those soothing, neutral interiors continue on into Ferm Living's A/W 19 lookbook. Never afraid to do Nordic design differently, feminity leads as the main influence with fluid, curved and chunky silhouettes. Irregular shapes found in nature have been applied to some of the pieces making them irresistibly tactile (see the Hebe lamp, above).
Stepping away from tone on tone, the Ferm Living collection is all about contrast. Deep and spicey tones add depth to a muted interior reaching into blue. The ridiculously cuddly Rico lounge chair, first seen here in off-white boucle, has been given a rich update in Tiger Mountain upholstery.
Still top of my list, the Haze Vitrine has been given a softer, more feminine Cashmere colourway and the aptly named 'Braided Belly' pendant lamps in rattan are quietly confident statement pieces.
Photography by Heidi Lerkenfeldt and Martin Neve.