Monochrome Hackney Loft Conversion
I think I've just about come down from my cloud following our second Function+Form gathering with our sponsors Houzz UK, who gained a very special group of us exclusive access to two East London homes. Houzz is an ingenious home renovation site offering real interior inspiration and advice from all kinds of professionals from architects, builders, painter-decorators, you name it. Although they're known for their virtual home tours, we all agreed it would be an even better idea to take it offline and into real life for our next event.So let me show you around interior designer Laura Lakin's monochrome schoolhouse apartment in Hackney. Walking through the entrance was like heading back to school, the bell ringing somewhere down the long, cavernous hallway, echoes bouncing off the polished brick walls. Let me tell you, the entire group gasped when we came in. Heaven.
Laura's clever take on small space open plan living left us all with a head full of ideas. When she first bought the apartment it had a rather awkward configuration, including a curved wall of glass bricks (very 90s) and although she was tempted to go completely open plan, knowing she was going to be living with a friend pushed her to be a little more creative in zoning the spaces. On an already raised section of the living area, she used internal steel windows to create a second bedroom, giving privacy yet still maintaining that feeling of open space by connecting to the living area. So, so clever.
Heavily inspired by Scandinavian design and with her art collection an important part of her home, Laura kept to a clean, monochrome palette to act as a backdrop, giving her the freedom to change her displays over time. The white, minimal space gives way to showcasing the best features of the building and its industrial history. Just look at her bedroom, with its white four poster bed, not at all imposing, drawing attention to the height of the room and industrial windows. To the right the space is divided between an en-suite monochrome marble bathroom and floor to ceiling wardrobe storage. Compact but still spacious.
There is so much to love about this home, mostly how well thought out it was, highlighting as always that the fundamental part of creating any home, whatever your budget, is paying attention to your needs above aesthetic. Although who am I kidding-I'm already trying to work out where I could fit those Octo 4240 lights...Stay tuned for Monday's house tour, where we explored the 300 year old Spitalfields home of award winning architect Chris Dyson. You need to see this.If you'd like to be first to the table for our next Function+Form gathering and join our design community, email us here.
iPhone Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Milan Interior Highlights / Mater Design
Last week the design world was abuzz with news from the Salone del Mobile Milano, an international furniture fair held in Milan and the only place to be for aficionados. Those attending the show kept us on tenterhooks between gelatos and leisurely lunches over Instagram with snap shots from the most revered and celebrated designers all over the world. Whilst I couldn't make it (too busy washing my hair) I instead put together my own highlights from the show.Kicking off with Danish brand Mater Design founded in 2006 by Henrik Marstrand, this design house collaborates with fresh, up and coming designers producing simple, understated pieces with the environment at its core. Mater Design work with certified wood and sustainable materials, supporting people and local craft traditions, believing in the importance of leaving as little impact on the environment as possible.My eye was drawn to the muted tones and organic shapes, so simple yet hold their own as contemporary, stand out pieces. The styling made me want to reach out and touch everything, particularly the Tehor lamp (below) made from alder wood and blown glass, created by Finnish designer Maija Puoskari.Cloudy Chair
Sirka Sideboard
Terhor Lamp
Photography © Mater Design
Camerich Contemporary Sofas
Well designed contemporary sofas are not the easiest thing to come by on the high street. You might find something with clean lines and stylish looking fabric but they've forgotten the attention to detail in the legs, or the durability is lacking which we discovered after we bought ours. If I could take back our current sofa (a soft and shapeless corner group) and swap it for one of my picks from the Camerich collection, I'd do it in a heartbeat!What I love about this collection is that there's a large choice of styles to suit most spaces, giving the option to build your own design from several variations, be it two seater to a more substantial corner. Although I've got a soft spot for soft pink fabrics at the moment, I think the darker shades of grey are the best bet for upholstery; they're less likely to show wear or date over time and in my opinion suit the more minimal, contemporary interiors. That said, the collection boasts over 100 different fabrics including leather to choose from so if the darker colours don't appeal then it should be easy enough to find something to suit your own palette at home.The cushions are also down feather filled so they'll keep a sense of shape and support to them, unlike some of the foam only sofa designs which like ours was completely unsupportive after only a few weeks. No sofa should need more time spent plumping it than relaxing on it!My absolute favourite is the Alison Plus (above) in the black/blue for its clean lines and slim legs. The fact you can see the floor underneath will make your room feel more spacious too.The Crescent Corner 
The Jane Chaise Ottoman
Ultimately, any sofa you choose needs to stand up to the rigours of every day life and whilst some styles would leave me holding my breath for fear of marking them, the Camerich collection looks a solid contender for any home.Do you have a favourite?
**Written in collaboration with Camerich
Photography © Camerich
Still Life Study in Soft Pink
It's not often I get to play with still life compositions at home in my free time - mostly it's very focused under pressure for work so it was really freeing to just mess about - off-the-cuff moments like these can come together beautifully...if I do say so myself! Please excuse the recent radio silence, it's been a busy few weeks for shoots, school holidays and the blog is about to under-go a refurb. Quite a lot of plate juggling is going on here!I'd had it in mind to do some styling around soft pink and a clean palette of off-white, something natural and restful, you know? So last week I'd had a home shoot to work on and Thanda homeware very kindly loaned me some of their ceramics to style in the home owner's kitchen. I love the organic quality of these slightly wobbly bowls. They're hand thrown in South Africa made by ceramicists in townships and I was lucky enough to style these for their website last year. My local florist is also brilliant for finding some of the more obscure flowers and plants I manage to dig out from the depth of Pinterest and she managed to get hold of these Gossypium for me (cotton flower). Moral of the story? Make friends with your florist!I went with Petal Pink from the new Valspar Pantone collection, partly because the barely-there pink was just the right amount of subtle for me, and also because in my opinion Valspar kicks arse in the paint stakes. And I'm not even being paid to say that, it's just my opinion. Drawing from the sculptural shapes of the cotton flower, I brought in garlic heads and mushrooms to focus on their shapes and textures. What do you think? 
I really need to make more time for still life styling, it's actually really relaxing. Do you find your some of greatest ideas when you're able to play around more too?Ceramics - Thanda | Oatmeal Linen apron on table - Enrich & Endure | Paint - ValsparStyling & Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
A Nina+Co Coffee Break
With busy work schedules between us and daily family life buzzing away we've both learned to grab the odd coffee break together during the week. Sometimes it's stood in the kitchen having a quick catch-up, others we might manage it at the table, but it's always stove top and in our favourite beakers. Learning to embrace slow living isn't about lounging around in bed all day (although hello, yes please...) it's about actively putting time aside to do the things you love. For us, that's making coffee, the ritual of grinding the beans (we buy small batches from Pact) building up the Stove Top, warming through the milk, drinking in the smell of the coffee as it pulls through. It's only a small thing, but it matters to us.Over the weekend, I baked us a batch of fresh cardamom buns and busted out our beautiful Nina+Co espresso cups from her new Breakfast Collection. Made in collaboration with designer-maker studio The Ceramicists, the collection which includes bowls, plates and larger mugs is designed in a gloriously tactile matte black ceramic, part glazed in white leaving a subtle contrast in texture. Very hard to put down. The shape of the handle is unusual too, don't you think?Nina is a multi-disciplinary designer, with a grounding in hotel and restaurant design, she also works on community based projects such as a new cafe due to open at Centrepoint, the charity for homelessness. Sustainability is high on her list of considerations using natural materials whether it's for a piece of furniture or a public space.
Ready to take your coffee break to the next level? I've put together a collection of accessories from my shop, from brewers to magazines. Enjoy...
Find Nina+Co ceramics to purchase direct here.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
The Chickenshed / Minimalist Holiday Home
When we go away we always do the self-catering thing so that we can pretend we live in the area while we're there; we like to do the every day things but in a different place and somehow that really does feel like a break, you know? And I'm picky as hell too when it comes to choosing somewhere to stay. I want to be wooed by an architectural home. I mean, I actually annoy myself when we're looking as, unless it's a serious minimalist holiday home I will end up rejecting a lot of places. Then I found The Chickenshed and sheeeeesh-it was like someone picked all the plus points out of my head and made it happen, in the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire.
Where do I start? Maybe the fact that it was once indeed a poultry shed and a derelict one at that, until owner Sue Peacock bought it at auction and transformed it into a holiday let with award winning architects Hall & Bednarczyk. Staying true to its agricultural roots, the space is largely open plan with high beamed ceilings using industrial materials such as concrete (polished) cedar wood cladding and a corrugated roof. Nothing so fancy for the chickens, but in its new form it has become a design lovers dream.
As you've probably noticed, its been lovingly furnished with pieces some of the major players in 'New Nordic' design - Hay, Muuto, Northern Lighting and combined with the work of local craftsmen such as the beautiful beds, dining table and additional furniture handmade by Barnby Design. The owners clearly have an eye for design and I love their carefully considered choices and how they've allowed each piece to breathe.Carefully zoned into living areas using furniture rather than walls, the main living space looks out onto the valley through a wall of glass doors from a cosy green sofa. Cleverly, the use of vibrant green picked out in the ceiling struts and furniture connect to the outdoors and the views beyond, so it feels much more a part of its surroundings. A sleek and stylish wood burner awaits for colder evenings and there's a spacious kitchen behind as the perfect backdrop for slow breakfasts each morning. Coffee and pancakes anyone?
The Chickenshed has room to sleep eight across four bedrooms and has all the comforts you need for a home away from home. You're booking already, aren't you?
Photography by Michael Sinclair
Shop Independent / Minor Goods
Well, December is well and truly here, bringing with it a new introduction! You may have noticed the shop as a new addition to Curate & Display? I wanted it to reflect understated, minimal style that is such an intrinsic part of this blog with a focus on handcrafted homeware. As you know, I'm very passionate about supporting independent design and makers so in the run up to Christmas I'm focusing on some of the people I've selected for the shop. 
Meet Minor Goods and its founder Zoe Hannam. Having worked in the textiles industry for 18 years with the likes of French Connection, All Saints and Reiss, she knows a thing or two about good design. A girl after my own heart with a love of simple living and a clean aesthetic, the inspiration for Minor Goods came during a buying trip to Porto, Portugal where on meeting so many skilled creatives she wanted to find a way to collaborate and bring their work to the forefront. Fast forward a year on, Zoe now supports these artisans and niche brands bringing the joy of the small, every day details into our homes.
With a mix of handcrafted pieces combined with clean vintage ceramics, these accessories make every day rituals feel that little bit more special. Things you want to use as part of your routine, tactile, each with a story, something to hand down. I have two of the Scotch wild cherry wood measuring scoops, part of a collaboration with Object Company which are smooth to the touch and are a beautiful addition to our kitchen. I'm (eh hem) waxing lyrical over the new range of kitchen candles too - made to Zoe's own beeswax and rapeseed wax recipe with cardamom and black pepper, I would happily fill my home with that scent. It brings back memories of making Indian sweetmeats in mum's kitchen.
So, while I'm shopping small this Christmas, I would encourage you to do the same and support the independent shops where you can. Here's my pick of the Minor Goods collection which you can shop here too, because I'm that helpful. Is anything calling to you?
Photography © Yeshen Venema
The Scandinavian Christmas Table
At this time of year I love to indulge my romantic side-there's just something about snuggling up inside with family that brings it out in me - the smell of spiced cookies wafting from the kitchen, a warming boozy beverage in hand and candles throwing soft light up the walls. Table styling is absolutely my bag and I could spend all day playing with different combinations.Whilst I'm not keen on fuss and frills, I do like to focus on the small details which I'm sharing with you in my Scandinavian inspired Christmas table post today. In part two of my collaboration with Not On The High Street, I'm igniting your creative juices with three variations on a look to bring your Christmas table decor to life in sweet, subtle style. The palette is soft, muted and very romantic...
When you've got a last minute gathering of friends planned and you don't have time (or inclination) to go all out on the decor, here's a way to make it look like you put a whole heap of effort in with very little input. It'll take a little preparation on your part to gather your kit but will save you heaps of time in the long run.
- A linen table cloth lends your table an instant feeling of occasion. I hate ironing and don't bother pressing mine as I love the deep creases (my Grandma is probably horrified) but it's all part of the charm.
- Eclectic tableware-put out a mixture of cutlery and plates for a more informal look. I use our every day plates in a mint green mixed with white and pink and gold cutlery for a touch of luxury.
- Glassware. Nothing says "party" like vintage champagne coupes and decanters - if you're offering sparkling drinks they're a win (not so much for beer, mind!) You can usually find these in charity shops if you keep your eyes peeled and they look stunning in candle light.
- Use one large arrangement as a focal point. You could use gathered branches from the woods and hang a handful of small glass baubles from them or, as I've done display tall stems of pink or white waxflower-you'll find them easily at your local florists at this time of year.
- String up garland lighting above your table and introduce small tapered candles displayed in old bottles for some soft mood lighting. This instantly changes the atmosphere in your space and gives it a sense of intimacy.
Advent DIY
I created a quick advent candle DIY with this square brass design by House Doctor DK. Bringing in a statement colour in the teal blue which really sets off the brass, I've tied a set of printed number tags to each corner (also House Doctor), tucked in a sprig of black ivy berries from the garden and loosely filled the centre with moss. Because I can't get enough of moss. Ever. Not my usual colour palette, but I'm enjoying some of the rich blues at the moment and it sits well with the velvet cushion in my last post. I could see this working as a focal point on the Christmas table or even as a feature on our coffee table to watch flickering away in the evenings. There's something very mesmerising about fire and flame, isn't there?
Wreaths & Garlands
Once I've neatly trimmed our tree into its corner I'm always left with a bag full of off-cuttings which I use to turn into a wreath. Because we don't get our tree until closer to the 20th though, I'll go out and find some fir trees to take clippings from instead if I want to put some up earlier. Have you seen some of the more minimal wreath styles coming out on Pinterest lately? They're not completely covered, which I really like - less is more of course. So I built mine using small bunches of fir tree, tied with florists tape and attached to a medium sized embroidery hoop with copper tape. That combination of pale wood and sweet smelling pine needles is spot on and if you want to keep your table decor low-key this year then consider hanging one of these low down on your wall near your table instead.
If you love the soft, blushing pink garland in this post, it's actually a DIY avocado dyed garland I created last year. Somehow, it looks a dream against that grey linen cloth, like the calm before the chaos and excitement on Christmas morning. Oh for a quite coffee moment like this...
Are you trying something new with your table top this year? Maybe I've inspired you? I'd love to hear your plans...
Shop The Look
Green glass vase, Brighton Beautiful | Mini Taper Candles, Rowen & Wren | White handcrafted beaker, Rowen & Wren | Brass square candle stand, Brighton Beautiful | White Lovatt candlestick, Henry & Future
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
*This post is in collaboration with Not On The High Street.
A Natural Look For Christmas
Natural All The Way
Tonally speaking, I prefer to keep a soft and neutral palette. Whilst we have a dark and moody black wall at one of our living space, the rest is clean and white. Monochrome interiors can come across a little stark, so to warm it up a little choose your decor as natural as it comes - plenty of greenery, a jute rug, pale untreated wooden decorations, cotton and linen cushions (mine are soft pink and grey), and brown paper wrapping for gifts under the tree.
Ramp Up The Texture
It goes without saying that introducing a variety of textures into your homes helps to give your space depth and interest, but at this time of year it's like you're being given permission to go crazy. I'm doing just that with extreme chunky knits (give me all the wool) an incredibly luxurious and tactile throw designed by Lauren Aston who hand knits all her own designs, using knitting needles so enormous she had to make her own as they didn't exist to do the Merino yarn she knits with enough justice. Heavenly, don't you think? I've combined it with a mix of blankets in cream and grey and picked given it a little more depth with a navy blue velvet cushion which plays off well against the soft pink canvas cushions I brought in last year.Although I don't do shouty decor, I will always have a soft spot for metallics, so I'm mixing brass (this year's fore runner in the trend stakes) and copper to lift the look and reflect all the candles and warm lighting in the evening.
Cosy Lighting
Bust out the candles in all shapes and sizes - church candles en-masse, thin tapers, or standard sticks in soft tones (I'm using a mixture of pale pink, grey and teal this year). I'm also a real fan of 100% beeswax which purify the air as they burn and have a longer burn time than other candles, so not only do they look great, but they're better for the environment too.Small fairy and garland lights are standard too at this time of year-goes without saying, right?
Introduce The Outdoors
I have a real thing for mini fir trees at this time of year - they're ideal if you're short of space but still want the look and smell of a real tree. I picked up a beautiful Norfolk Island pine with vibrant, frondy branches to decorate with some simple wooden beads and displayed it inside a natural woven belly basket - I love that it looks barely touched. If I'm honest, if I had my own way, I'd only have a few lights on our tree and leave it at that...but then I'd probably ruin Christmas for the kids who love getting involved with decorating it!You don't need to spend a fortune on flowers and such either-at this time of year I park at the road side and pick seed heads and berries, any touches from the countryside that are fine to take. Don't forget to think about scent as another dimension to your styling too. Hanging small bunches of herbs like rosemary from the walls or your ceiling over your table not only look gorgeous but smell so too and for some reason, the "fresh from the garden", free-form look feels far more homely. Display bulbs like hyacinths in small vases of water to show the exposed roots or make a feature from one inside a cloche sitting on a bed of moss as I've done here. You can pick them up for peanuts (I bought three in a pot from my local florist for around £2.50) and they grow and flower really quickly over the Christmas season with a strong, heady scent.
So those are my tips for a natural look this Christmas, just a few easy to do touches to give your space a subtle festive feel. Next week I'm sharing part two with a few simple ideas for informal table decorations (that's my jam).How will you be styling your home for the festive season this year?
Shop The Look
Woolacombe Super Chunky Knit throw, Lauren Aston | White Dipped Belly Basket, Olli Ella | Royal Navy Velvet cushion, Posh Totty Designs Interiors | Beech Based Glass Dome, Rowen & Wren | Ceramic Bell Garland, Rowen & Wren | Side Table, Peastyle
This post is in collaboration with Not On The High Street
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Made.com / Instagram Competition
I felt like ending this week on a high with a creative Instagram competition with one of my favourite interiors brands Made.com. You up for that?A couple of weeks back I had a good excuse to give my workspace a spruce up ready to be featured on Made.com's blog as part of a workspace tour and interview. Not a great deal has changed since I finished the room earlier this year which I guess is a good sign that it's doing its job and continuing to inspire me in my work. It got me thinking about what makes a certain space inspiring to us individually. It's not going to be the same formula for everyone, but there has to be some common ground - maybe it's the atmosphere, a certain combination of colours, something that kick starts the senses? We thought it would make for a really interesting topic to explore on Instagram so we put our heads together and came up with something pretty darn perfect.The CompetitionHow would you like the chance to win an oh-so handsome white and light oak Cohen table lamp, just like the one I have on my desk? And he really is gorgeous-tall, slender, well formed and adjustable-what more could you ask for in a man lamp? He'd fit in perfectly inside a home workspace, or maybe shine as a subtle feature in your living room?
To Enter:
- Take a shot of a space that inspires you. It could be your local coffee house, a museum, the woods you take your morning walk in. Anywhere that sparks your inspiration.
- Upload it to your Instagram account. Tag it with #MADEinspiredspaces, follow the @madedotcom account and tag me @curatedisplay.
Along with the Made.com team, I'll choose the most visually inspiring winner and have the Cohen lamp sent out to you (please check the small print for T&Cs).In the meantime, check out my updated tour and find out more about my approach to putting a workspace space together along with some little gems of advice for your own home projects. Happy snapping!
• Open to residents in the UK & Ireland only • Competition closes at MIDNIGHT on 30.11.15 • Winner will be notified by email by 04.12.15 • There are no cash prize alternatives and prizes are non-refundable or transferable • Made.com reserves the right to replace prizes with prizes of the equivalent value • Made.com will send the lamp directly to you • There is currently an 6-8 week wait for delivery •
Swoon Editions / The Winner
Well, well well. It would seem you really took to the Swoon Editions moodboard competition? We'd had a very difficult yet inspiring time looking through all your fantastic entries to design your ideal room and win a piece from my edit of the Swoon collection. We had moon inspired lofts, a warm, bohemian living space with a beautiful rhyming description...believe me, the struggle was real when it came to choosing. But, we have a winner.This industrial New York apartment with a combination of raw textures; from exposed brickwork, concrete and metal with warm wood flooring and floor to ceiling windows caught my eye. I loved the introduction of the woven throws and tall green planting to make it feel more like home, peppered with a few large pieces of abstract art to break up those exposed walls. There are personal touches here, a nod to the winner's love of music which is king in our house (Rob's guitars are taking over!) I could imagine relaxing here on a weekend morning, a stack of records waiting for a spin whilst coffee brewed in that open plan kitchen. Heaven.Congratulations Michael Jobbins!Please contact me with your choice from the edit and we'll get it sent out to you.
Thanks to everyone who took part and keep your eyes peeled for another coming up soon...
DIY Wooden Bead Chandelier
Winter is well and truly on its way, so let's cosy up and talk ways to warm up your home with lighting, shall we? I've even gone one step further and created a DIY wooden bead chandelier for you to drool over with the help of the brilliant Out There Interiors. You are most welcome. You can completely make or break a room based on the kind of lighting you choose and understanding how it can work for your space is important. This is a pretty in-depth subject to go into in any detail, so in this instance, I'm focusing on accent lighting as a way to add a mood or atmosphere. It's also a great way to draw attention to a certain area in your room.If like me you hate to use your main lights in your living space and prefer a softer, more intimate light, then you might like to consider introducing festoon (or garland) lighting. Years ago, it was virtually impossible to find these at a reasonable price to buy (and I had to hire them for client events) with the only option otherwise available being fairy lights. All very well, but the quality of light they gave was limited and whilst they're great at Christmas using them for the rest of the year just didn't feel right after I was no longer a student. Know what I mean? Thankfully now, they're easy to come by and although I don't like to follow trends, they're a popular accessory that's showing no signs of dropping out just yet. I love them for their versatility-whether you swag them across your ceiling or wall or choose to gather them up and hang them down the side of the wall from a statement wall hook, they just work.Layer a set or two of these up with a combination of table lamps and candles and you're on your way to a well-lit, cosy night.
If you've seen and loved the luxe wooden bead chandeliers, then this DIY is a compromise. As you know, I believe simple is best, so I've not gone crazy, but when you see how many beads goes into making this grouping of five, you'll get the idea why! The wire shades are a great blank canvas for building on to if you wanted to give them something extra-I've seen them wrapped in scraps of fabric before which looked gorgeous. I've chosen pale, untreated beads here to connect with the neutral tones in the rest of our living space and have worked in natural textures and elements as part of the styling-dried seed heads foraged from the roadside, bunches of lavender leaves and sage for subtle scent, warm cork and brown glass bottles to hold my candles. Oh, and wax flower. Because at this time of year, if I see it, I buy it.
You Will Need:
- X5 Wire lampshades - I've used white tulip shaped Paralumi by Seletti
- 10mm pale wood beads - I used close to 1,000 with X20 in each section.
- White cotton thread.
- Needle.
- Scissors.
- Festoon/garland lights.
Step One: Cut a length of thread long enough so that when you double it over it will easily run the length from the top to bottom of your shade with excess for tying off. Thread your needle with the loose ends first.Step Two: Loop your thread over the top bar of your shade, pull the needle through and tighten. Thread your beads on until you fill up the space - this took x20 for each section.Step Three: Tie off and knot the thread thoroughly and trim the ends. Continue all the way around the shade until complete.Step Four: Repeat for remaining shades, attach to your string lights and group together in a cluster. Alternatively, hang them out straight across the ceiling.
How do you work lighting into your home over winter? Are you a fan of mood lighting, or prefer a brighter feel? Got any lighting related questions you'd like to ask, feel free and I'll do my best to answer them for you...Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley*This post is in collaboration with Out There Interiors.
Swoon Editions Moodboard Competition
Now here's a company that really does live up to its name. Swoon Editions. I first had my head turned by this furniture brand when one of their postcards fell out of a magazine I was flicking through. There, looking seductively up at me from the kitchen floor was this beautiful chair. Her name was 'Karla', also incidentally my step-sister's name. Surely it was a sign? I stuck it up on the fridge door and over the coming months would find the odd second or two to gaze longingly at her. Goals.With a beautiful collection of considered designs, there's a lot of different styles to suit most tastes - and you know I'm pernickety. Not surprisingly, I've been drawn to the mid-century modern inspired pieces and the clean lines of some of the more industrial designs, a confident mix of handcrafted mango wood and metal. But, beyond those tricky style related decisions, it can be difficult when you're sourcing furniture for your home to know exactly where what you're buying is made and who produced it. It's not possible to do it with everything but we try hard to make that one of our top priorities, which is what I love about Swoon. As well as the UK, their furniture is manufactured out in Indian, Vietnam and China so the team make it their top priority to monitor workshop conditions and support their craftsmen regularly. Design with a conscience.
If I've piqued your interest and you'd love a piece of Swoon for your own home, then keep reading, coz today kicks off with a creative competition to get your teeth into which will require your imagination...
How To Enter
Together with Swoon Editions, I'm challenging you to build a look for a room of your choice on Pinterest using one or two of your favourite pieces from the collection. Your board can be in any style or room that you like and you can go to town playing with colour-ways, fabrics, soft furnishings as well as the smaller details - here's mine as an example (I'm never far away from an urban jungle, am I?!)Your board must contain a minimum of 20 images and needs to include the word 'Swoon' in the title, otherwise what you do is entirely up to you! When your board is complete, tweet your board to me @curatedisplay and @swooneditions with #curateandswoon.The winner with the most inspiring board will choose a coveted piece from my round-up of the collection below. Take your pick...
|1| Charcoal Jefferson armchair |2| Emmett ladder bookshelf |3| Niklas dining table |4| Ginsberg mango wood desk |5| Oatmeal Carnaby chair
The Nitty Gritty: • This competition is only open to residents of the UK • Competition closes at Midnight on 11.11.15 • The winner will be chosen on 16.11.15 and notified by email • If the chosen winner does not claim their prize within 24 hours then another will be chosen • The winner must choose from a selection provided by Curate & Display • The prize carries no cash value, is non-transferable and may not be substituted • The prize will be sent directly from Swoon Editions and is subject to delivery times • Swoon Editions cannot be held responsible for any damages or delays as a result of accepting the prize • This post is in no way sponsored, endorsed or in association with Pinterest •
*This post is in collaboration with Swoon Editions.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Function+Form / A New Collaboration
I have nervous butterflies writing this, as I'm releasing a new and wonderful collaboration into the world with my partner in all things style, Annie Kruse. Over the past few months, we've been working flat out around our hectic work/family lives to lay the foundations for a new offline community - Function+Form.It came about after I wrote this post back in summer, when I was struggling with a lot of things which had a knock-on effect with my ability to feel inspired enough to create - my self-esteem was at an all time low. The feedback and support I had from that post was immense, and I suddenly realised that, aside from there being so many of us out there feeling the same way, the one thing missing from all of that was community. I'm not talking about Instagram (even though it's wonderful to connect with virtual friends) but the real life, offline world. Being a blogger/freelancer can be quite isolating, more so when you're living just outside the city and with two small children to take care of. Finding the time to take yourself out of that environment is rare. And then I thought, what if I tried to create my own? The best ideas are born from a need, right? So then I started imagining what I would do if I were hosting a gathering, and I thought about throwing something for friends and like-minded others in a beautiful location, with a meal of sorts and the table styled. A place to inspire collaboration. But I wanted to make it more of an event than just a meal, I wanted to combine an element of design and independent makers, to create a platform to showcase their work. So I emailed Annie straight away, because I wanted to share this with someone and she was the only person I knew that had a similar aesthetic and sensibility. We both love simple, contemporary style and share a desire for slow-living, so we let this direct us on our journey so far.
Over the course of several weeks and chatting late into the night over Skype, we felt we really had something..."Function+Form is a new collaborative gathering combining relaxed, informal dining with handcrafted design. As so much of our lives today are spent online, we seek to bring the enjoyment of interior and lifestyle design into a tangible being whilst enjoying the company of like-minded friends. A chance to make new connections, a chance for real conversation. Each gathering focuses on the work of a designer who we admire for their ethos, their aesthetic, sharing with us their inspiration and inviting us to delve deeper into their process. Beautiful food in a venue equally so, we invite you to join us."Next month, we host our inaugral Function+Form 01 (now fully booked!) at the new Forge & Co space inside Heal's with thanks to the support of our sponsors, AtMine - remember I told you about them before? We'll be exploring the topic of hibernation and how we adjust and adapt our home lives during the colder months over a relaxed brunch in the company of British potter Jono Smart and linen apron designer Sarah Quinn of Enrich and Endure.More on our partners and speakers in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, if you're interested in joining or collaborating with future events, drop us a line as we'd love to hear from you: hello@wearefunctionandform.com.
Urban Jungle Bloggers / Plants, Art & Flowers
Given that I've barely been able to tell my arse from my elbow lately due to work and various commitments, you'll notice it's been a little quiet here. I know, I know, I'm sorry-but all will become clear. Promise. With this in mind, today's post is combining the last two months of Urban Jungle Bloggers topics, 'Plants & Art' with 'Plants & Flowers'...
Recently I accidentally gave my phone a bath having whipped it and flipped it out of my back pocket to check the time whilst the kids were soaking off the dirt of the day. Seconds later, I'd fished it out and was burying it in a tub of (brown) rice in the hopes of drawing out the moisture, as Google suggests. As I stood watching it (you know, in case it exploded or whatever) I could see that full camera roll recording our entire summer disappearing forever...and kicked myself for A: having not backed it up and B: printed at least some of them for framing. And I realised that I don't do that with any of my photographs. Terrible isn't it? In fact, the impact of that only really hit me when Reuben said "wow mummy, I've never seen a photo like that!" when I'd dug out an old family album to show him recently. So for September's portion of the challenge ('Plants & Art') I've taken a selection of my plants printed from my Instagram account to play with.
The subject of these images - the 'flower' part of October's challenge...well, I'm not even sure where to begin. These stunning, almost translucent bell-like clutters were foraged from a Pieris Japonica tree not far from here (thank you Instagram family for dispelling the mystery for me!) Their delicate scent is a sweet and subtle mix of honey and mead, the tree vibrating with the hum of an army of bumble bees, even now in the coldest half of October. Can you imagine what the honey must taste like?! It is completely magical. I stood under this tree in light rain one morning, the river just over the wall from me and listened to the sound of the steadily moving water and the singing hum of the bees whilst I took a few clippings.
The fruit the tree bears can only be compared to lychees and although toxic they still look tempting. Starting out an almost translucent white like their flower, they turn from an acid yellow before warming into peach and ruby red. Aren't they fascinating?
And I love the continuity of these images, as the small jug they sit in was made by hand in the same place. A home from home.
To join our green fingered community or to follow the challenges, look for #urbanjunglebloggers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or via the website.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Room To Dream + By Lassen / Munich
Oh would you look at that - it's already been an entire week since our blogger's tour of Munich in celebration of the Callwey Interior Bloggers Awards. And because it's Friday I have another epic post to share - epic in every sense of the word, it's full of interiors eye-candy and, hold on to your seats folks, there's fourteen images in this baby. Fourteen! I never said I was an editor...Saturday morning, a little worse for wear for lack of sleep, we arrived at beautiful homeware store Room To Dream for a styling session with the leather wall strap - the 'Stropp' by Danish brand By Lassen. I probably don't need to say that I'd been dying to get my hands on one for a while and quickly snapped up the all black design and wandered the store for inspiration-one thing we certainly weren't short of.
Jeska Herne from Lobster & Swan stuck to her pink roots and created a sweet vignette with birds and sweets.
I really loved the soft, gentle tones in this styling by Un Due Tre Ilaria and Madame Love too with the mix of textures and that splash of vibrant green.
91 Magazine's Caroline Rowland put together a playful scene with hers using a mobile from Ferm Living.
The tableware collection by Menu had me at hello. My goodness, those tones - just perfect all year round, right?
And here's my final "effort" - a simple flat lay with a food theme, an idea sparked by the large pot of basil on the table. If I could, I'd just finish it off with a couple of drips of extra virgin olive oil...Thank you to Sabina and Tanja for hosting such a wonderful event, Lillet for providing my new favourite drink (if you're curious I think they sell it in a supermarket that rhymes with al-fresco...) If you'd like to know more about Sabina, Room To Dream and her home in Munich, you can now order Caroline's beautiful new book 'The Shopkeeper's Home'...See you next week for the final Munich instalment-the Botanical Gardens...
S220 / A Collection Of Nordic Style
I've been a great admirer of Glasgow based interior stylist Hege Morris forever - she has impeccable taste, a real eye for composition and her work always hits the mark. The fact she's Norwegian may have a little something to do with that (I'm convinced Scandinavians develop style in utero!) So when she gave me a sneak preview of S220, her new online interiors shop, I knew you'd love it as much as I do - the designs are simple and minimal in style with a strong, contemporary feel. From lighting to textiles, magazines to ceramics, this is Nordic heaven. Whilst there's no shortage of Scandi-inspired homeware stores to choose from now, STwoTwenty is different in that Hege's selections are for the most part drawn from small, independent designers from across the globe. The collection is considered and shows her deeply rooted understanding and passion for design in the home and how we connect with it.This week I found a little time to play with some of the new pieces from the collection in our home, so whilst I could happily share the beautiful styled shots from the new S220 site (and I would encourage you to take a good look round!) for the purpose of breaking out of my creative funk, I'm sharing some of mine with you...
The brass candle holder by Nicholas Oldroyd Design comes in an interesting triangular box and almost echoes the lines of a copper table lamp we have in our living space, so I think it might sit well with it there against the black wall. Metallics really lift dark shades (mixed texture is key) and I'm happy to introduce a little on-trend brass into the mix. I love the continuous shape and flow of it and it works by simply pushing the candle onto the spike in the centre (just make sure the candle you use is non-drip).
This hand-held mirror comes from a Korean company called Cool Enough Studio and will be coming with me for my 48 hour jaunt to Munich (more on this next week). Since I found a recent feature in Milk magazine which included plant pots with mirrors attached at different angles as a new way to view and enjoy your plants, I've been thinking about doing something similar. On a much smaller scale, I loved that vibrant glimpse of the green leaves of my Peperomia plant far more than looking at the bags under my eyes!
Already well received by stylists and bloggers alike, I have no doubt that S220 will become a regular destination for new and different Nordic design. Well done Hege!Pictured are: La Bruket hand and body wash, Lysestage brass candle holder, and Cool Enough Studio handheld mirror.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
A Stylish Find / Native & Co
There is a new love in my life. Meet Native & Co, an independent homeware store specialising in handcrafted products from Japan and Taiwan. Until now, I think that Japanese and Taiwanese homewares have been misrepresented here in the UK. Aside from Muji which to me conjures up stationery and perspex office storage, for the most part we are still stuck with the stereotype of painted fans and crockery with geisha motifs - it's difficult to find those quality pieces without a struggle. At least, that's what I thought before I spent a little time exploring this beautifully styled space.Founded by product designers Chris Yoshiro Green and Sharon Jo-Yun Hung, Native & Co is bringing authentic Japanese and Taiwanese designs to the forefront from its quiet location just a stone's throw from the bustling Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Road. You'll see I've taken a lot of photos. That was deliberate - there was so much to take in and I couldn't not share it all with you!
Each and every piece has found its way here through a real labour of love - trying to source handcrafted pieces like these is impossible to do from a laptop, their makers don't have access to email. It's a slow process and Chris and Sharon have worked hard to build relationships with craftsmen on site visits when they find time to fly out in person.
The day to day running of the shop includes amusing challenges in trying to get quick messages through to their craftsmen in Taiwan with no email or having to translate design drawings from one language to another and still end up with the same product. But these are the stories that make Native & Co so unique and endearing-they take the word traditional seriously and that comes across in the pride they take in all of their products.
Particular favourites of mine included the table and stools, designed by Chris and heading for production as a soon to be staple piece of the Native & Co collection. I really fell for the simplicity of the Japanese maple bowls and Magewappe bentwood cups, seeing them styled on an open shelf in my "one day" kitchen. In fact, it was nigh on impossible to find anything I didn't love, a sign that these are pieces that will blend into any interior, regardless of the style or need to completely redesign your home to fit it.
So, have I opened your eyes to something new today? Hope that I've sparked your curiosity enough to visit them in person, or if they're too far for you then spend a happy half hour swooning over their online shop - the tableware is out of this world.Thank you for having me Sharon and Chris. See you soon...
IKEA Is Bringing Its A-Game
I wasn't so much impatient for summer for the sun and warmth as I was for the new collections coming to IKEA next month. Sheeeeeeeesh they are killing it. You are not ready for this.Firstly, I just want to take a moment to jump up on the table and do a proper "all hail the interior design gods" dance to acknowledge this brilliant collaboration between Head of Design Marcus Engman and designer Ilse Crawford. Ilse, I love you. Obsessed with the physicality of things, she designs pieces on an emotional level, to be able to feel, touch, to connect with objects that "affect us on a human level". And when I saw the impossibly tactile 'SINNERLIG' collection, using cork, black metal, bamboo and other natural materials as a main feature...well...consider me affected.
"We have to get used to the idea of things being enjoyable to touch, to realise you can connect through the senses. The core value of my collaboration with IKEA has been to bring the head and heart together through the hand, with touch and natural materials..."I hate to use these faddy, new-fangled phrases the kids use these days, but seriously, "I can’t even".IKEA have always been the first in line to champion great design at a price point that we can all afford, but I feel like they've gone a step further with this, to incorporate a higher quality of design with aesthetic and I love that. It looks really...expensive.
Designed by Marcus Arvonen, the SKOGSTA collection has put into question my entire quest for the white dining table. It's a warm and tactile one, crafted from solid Acacia wood (no veneer here thank you!) inspired by the modern country kitchen, to become long term, enduring pieces in the home.
The collection has been been built up on the idea of being together around food; so starting with the beautiful table, it branches out into food storage, boards on which to prep and stands to display and serve. There are benches and blocks, stools and sturdy crates that can be adapted for other rooms too. And isn't the grain from that Acacia just wonderful? I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
This is just a taste of what's to come over the next few months. I'm excited, aren't you?
My Summer of Linen
A few weeks back I spent a jaw slackeningly relaxing evening with the Soak&Sleep team (remember this post?) at boutique hotel Artist Residence. During the course of the night we experienced a bespoke pillow consultation - a unique service S&S can provide to help you get over your pillow rut based on your sleeping habits. Amazingly, having spent years wrestling with two deflated feather things and it still not feeling "right", I was pared up with this latex baby and I will not be separated from it. Ever. If you do one thing for your bedroom this summer, make it this!
Today we've got the results back from our sleep survey and some of them are really interesting, for example 41% of you want to create a relaxing sanctuary in your rooms, not just for sleeping in but to kick back in too. Our bedroom has become just that for me in recent weeks and whilst I can't spend much time relaxing in the mornings, the evenings are all mine. With these bright and balmy nights we've been enjoying lately, I've been using those few post-bedtime hours once the kids are asleep to catch up on some reading, do a little learning and maybe try to find some inspiration. Believe me, after my last post, I've needed it.
I've brought in a few sprigs of just opened lavender from the garden, have a few healthier snacks to hand when I'm tempted and there's crisp, cool linen on the bed. I think I'm having a love affair with linen right now-I've always loved the crinkles it holds so well and how it softens over time. Have you tried it yet?
I try not to use any technology in our room if I can to help cut out unnecessary distractions, much like the 30% of you who agree with me. Apart from a little music, it's great to have the headspace to concentrate on something that isn't online. And I've made a few recent discoveries that have helped to get me going again. One is an incredible book by choreographer Twyla Tharp, which explores the creative process through her own and other artists' work. The Creative Habit. You need this in your life, my goodness yes.
On our way home at Toulouse airport a few weeks back I bought a copy of Ideat magazine which had a huge feature on Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf. I'd never seen his work before and was instantly taken with it. His 'Keyhole' and 'Grief' series look to capture private moments as if you were observing them from a distance or coming upon them by accident. Most are shot in home environments, with a nod to Mid Century style and although they're a little uncomfortable, I think they're beautiful.
So tell me, how do you create a sanctuary in your own room? Maybe it's all about the bedding or it's locking yourself away with a good book?
This post is in collaboration with Soak&Sleep.