Design Lover's Guide To A Weekend In Shoreditch
Weekend getaways are a rare treat for us, in fact in all our seven years of parenting, we've been away on our own a total of once. Until recently that is, when citizenM invited us to stay for a weekend in Shoreditch.A once bombed out, run down area of the city, Shoreditch now thrives as a vibrant location for artists and creatives. Street art springs up in the most unexpected places and industrial Victorian architecture jostles with the newly built apartment blocks springing up everywhere. It has a reputation for the hip and happening and although it gets some stick for the 21st Century hipster culture, it's an area I very much love to spend time in.Opened only last year and situated in the heart of the uber-creative area of Shoreditch, this hotel is pitched as an affordable, no fuss design hotel to those who want to feel at home amongst iconic designs and ultimate comfort. It is a design lover's dream, no surprise as the hotel interior was built in collaboration with Vitra. And so, because I'm so generous, I thought I'd put together a 24 hour guide to exploring Shoreditch. If you have longer, say a Friday to Monday situation, then lucky you. There's some drool worthy independent homeware boutiques, places to while away a few hours with good food and enough Instagram worthy streets to shoot to your heart's content...
STAY
CITIZENM | 6 HOLYWELL LANE, LONDON, EC2A 3ET
Entering through a mysterious automatic door which leaves you wondering "do I go in this way?" and you're in the lobby, greeted by Verner Panton chairs beneath a sweeping mid-century inspired wooden staircase. Yes. Look up and this is what you'll see...
If you love a hotel that takes it one step further away from the conventional, then you can trust this Dutch owned chain to do just that. Everything here is hi-tec. Check-in is a refreshing experience where can you do it at your own pace using just a touch screen. Choose the floor and aspect of your room, scan the key card and off you go! Yes, ok, it eliminates the human element of the experience, but depending on what time you're arriving / what state you're in and how much you wish to communicate, it can make a real difference!
The hotel is aiming for budget friendly with boutique style and with rooms priced at £139 a night, the design is definitely a plus point. It doesn't feel budget. Every detail has been carefully considered here, the way in which quirky, British style has been introduced through modern art, literature and graffiti motifs that define the area. The public areas make you want to stay a while, explore what's on the shelves, listen to a play list at the bar.
There are slouchy sofas to sink into in the communal living area or well lit tables to sit, plug in and work from. One of my all time favourites, the classic black Eames lounger was out in force in the living space, facing a large flat screen built into a dividing wall of shelves. There are books on fashion, art, music. The emphasis here is in the slowing down. Everything is geared towards effortless relaxation, intentional meandering.
Every room, although pretty compact, comes with a wall to wall window with views across the city. I made sure we picked a higher floor on check-in which had views cross BoxPark and beyond - great to watch come alive at night. The presence of an iPad (or Moodpad) which controlled all the tech in the room was less of a frivolity and more of an "oh my God we need one of these at home!" It controlled the blinds, mood lighting and ambience in the room as well as the TV and some really great movies to get you settled in.
The king sized bed, aside from our own, is the comfiest I've ever slept it. I tell no lies. Not too soft, not too firm, just right. And waking up with the head I had the next day, it's just as well (the Orange Biciclettas at Pizza East are impossible to resist). It was nothing a long, hot rain shower couldn't cure though. That and a long, lazy breakfast downstairs. Now citizenM take their breakfasts very seriously. Every base is covered. You want a full English? No problem. A fresh fruit salad with basil infused syrup? You got it. Whether it's fresh pastries, toast with Newton and Pott organic jams or just a bloody good coffee, it's all there. And you can keep going til lunchtime.
EAT
ANDINA PICANTERIA & PISCO BAR | 1 Redchurch Street, London, E27DJ
For those looking for a departure from the normal type of fare, Andina is a great start. Immerse yourself in traditional Peruvian street food without too much concern about dietary needs - there are several vegan and gluten free options. Ceviche is popular here, as is the grilled meat and fish. Cocktails are well worth a try and the decor is what you'd expect - a vivd blend of old world Peru with touches of hanging textiles, brightly tiled bar area and modern furniture.ALBION | 2 - 4 Boundary Street, London, E2 7DD
A classic British menu served in a minimal, industrial setting. Stop by for the artisanal bakery and grocery if you're planning on taking a few things home for later, or linger for longer over a relaxed meal. Kids eat free on weekends and holidays here too.FLAT IRON | 77 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3BS
Pretty much does exactly what it says on the tin. Flat Iron is so called because it serves the best flat iron steaks in London. Be prepared for big portions at the very reasonable price of £10. This is steak and chips done well. And the interior and plant filled exterior are on point too.CREAM | 31 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EY
Described as an "ingredient led daytime canteen", Cream offers organic, market fresh dishes from a new menu each day. Alongside small bites and heartier options, the coffee is also great. Of course, it wouldn't be on my list without having something offer in the decor department. The fully opening doors, potted plants in every corner and white brick walls were enough to keep me here for very long time.
SHOP
KENT AND LONDON | 5 Hackney Road, London, E2 7NX
Kent and London is run by craftsman Luke Ellis and Simon Goff, founder of flooring company, Floor_Story. Expect Luke's ridiculously well made kitchens and furniture painted in a palette to die for. I'm reliably informed that these will be released as part of their exclusive paint collection launching imminently. A considered collection of Simon's rugs hang from the walls and downstairs is home to just some of his collection. If he doesn't make it or stock it, they will source it for you, from vintage kelims to designer collaborations. You will also find beautiful cookware such as the incredibly desirable Crane C series pans, rustic ceramics and other kitchen related accoutrements.
MODERN SOCIETY | 33 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DJ
A store on different levels in more ways than one, Modern Society gives you space to breathe. Sit and have a coffee, browse the carefully curated homewares, gifts and clothing or lose yourself in their exhibition space. I was particularly taken with the bold photography displayed on the grey walls by Berlin based artist Sarah Illenberger. They recently launched their own unisex label too, designed with modern simplicity in mind.
MONOLOGUE | 93 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DJ
Seeing my favourite chair, the &Tradition 'Fly' sitting in the window of Monologue was enough to get me through the door. If contemporary, Scandi design is your bag then this is a must. Expect to find a fresh and rotating selection of up and coming design in this concept store from the likes of Gubi, Jaime Hayon and HAY.LABOUR AND WAIT | 85 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DJ
Possibly one of the most instagramed shop fronts in London with its bottle green tiles, Labour and Wait is home to functional, simplistic homewares. Think of well made brushes, linen aprons and gardening tools. You'll also find vintage items here too, pieces that were made to last and stand the test of time.Of course, it's impossible for me to get through everything Shoreditch has to offer over the course of a weekend, it'll take several more to come even close. With that in mind, I've put together a helpful map with a few more suggestions for a great weekend of design.A Design Lover's Guide to a Weekend In Shoreditch
•This post has been written in collaboration with CitizenM Hotels.
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
How To Make A Kokedama Hanging Garden
Almost this time last year I was shooting this tutorial piece for the book 'Urban Jungle - Living & Styling with Plants' and today I wanted to show you how to make a Kokedama (meaning "moss ball") hanging garden. Not only do they make a stunning feature of an otherwise blank corner of a room, but they're also use up very little space if large potted houseplants aren't an option for you.If you're a plant lover and you've had your eyes open over the past year or so, you'll have noticed this new trend of hanging moss ball plants popping up everywhere, taken from the traditional Japanese art of displaying plants. I managed to teach myself to do this on the fly as I shot it, so although the overall concept might sound daunting, it couldn't be easier to do. The mixing of the soils and wrapping the moss and string is a therapeutic, hands on way to garden and if you choose the right plant, it'll be happy for as long as you take good care. Mine have been thriving for almost a year now too...You Will Need:A space to make mess. If this is at your table indoors, put paper down (and on the floor too). Otherwise, go outside!Moisture loving plants - ferns are ideal (I've used the Asparagus variety) as well as ivy, small trees and orchids.Sphagnum moss.All-purpose compost.Bonsai or Akadama soil.Garden or waxed twine or thin cord.Sheet moss.
|1| Remove the access soil from to expose the roots of the plant taking care not to break them. Wrap the root ball in the Sphagnum moss. This will keep the core of the ball nice and moist.
|2| In a bucket or large bowl, combine in equal parts the compost and soil, mixing it with water until the soil just clumps together as you make a ball. Form a solid ball large enough to house the roots of the plant (you may need to squeeze out the excess water to do this). Make a hole for the roots of the plant and gently insert it, squeezing the soil back around it.
|3| Place your plant ball onto a sheet of moss and bring the sides up around the soil, making sure to remove any excess folds, then firmly (but not too tightly) wrap the ball with the string.
|4| Wrap the ball with the string until the moss the ball is secure. Tie three additional lengths of string on the plant ready to hang it up and choose a location your plant will love. If you're unable to hang your Kokedama, you can also display them on a shelf or other surface with a small plate or saucer underneath to catch the excess moisture.TIP: Keep an eye on how moist the Kokedama is - watering once a week by submerging it or regularly spritzing with water will keep it happy. I add feed into the water during the growing months (Spring and Summer) too. 
To see more beautiful DIY plant tutorials and inspirational urban jungle stylings, you can purchase 'Urban Jungle - Living & Styling with Plants' here and follow the community on Instagram @urbanjungleblog #urbanjunglebook.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley (with thanks to Enrich & Endure for the loan of the linen apron).
Travel Antwerp | Valerie Objects at Gallery Valerie Traan
It is impossible to imagine what's behind the large double width door of gallery Valerie Traan, one of the locations we visited during our Function+Form design tour of Antwerp. This white, modernist gallery space is also the private home of art director Veerle Wenes who wanted to live in the same place that she worked, dissolving the distinction between the two. During gallery open hours, Veerle allows the public into her home where the bright whites make way for soothing greys (there's that blue-grey I was talking about) and where more works of art transform into useful objects over the look-but-don't-touch feel of a gallery.
A former working space for nuns, Veerle wanted to hold on to the existing architecture including the distinctly Flemish herringbone brick floor, combining a contemporary black staircase and large windows looking out into a central courtyard. It is clear that Veerle lives by the art she chooses, in that she is drawn to every day objects which are each interpreted differently according to its maker, drawn to the story behind each piece. Works on display included 'The End Of The World For Beginners' exhibition created by artist Johan De Wit (pictured above) whose pieces, despite taking on the look of battered, weather worn metal relics are actually constructed entirely of paper. Looking into another courtyard the Wire S chairs by Muller Van Severen show a clever use of outdoor exhibition space.
The gallery is also home to Valerie Objects, a new design label launched in collaboration with Axel Van Den Bossche and Frank Lambert (founders of Serax) working with architects, designers and artists to bring to life tangible objects. Highlights of the collection includes the Rocking Chair and Hanging Lamp by Muller Van Severen, The Cutlery Project, featuring two different designs by Maarten Baas and Koichi Futatsumata, and Hidden Vases (a personal favourite) by Dutch designer Chris Kabel.
Upstairs awaits a playful room of colour and shape, with pieces by Muller Van Severen taking centre stage and a series of hidden doors to add to the sense of surprise.
A destination not to be missed by art and design lovers alike, the gallery puts a completely different spin on the conventional public space, offering a fresh perspective for visitors to immerse themselves in. I for one will be back.Visit gallery Valerie Traan - Reyndersstraat 12, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium | Open Thurs, Fri, Sat 2pm - 6pm and by appointment. The Function+Form Bloggers Design Tour Antwerp was organised in association with Pentacom PR and Design Centre Winkelhaak. #BloggersTourAntwerp #WeAreFunctionAndForm.
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Travel Antwerp | St Vincents Lifestyle Store
Back in October and almost a year since we launched, Annie and I hosted our first Function+Form Bloggers Design Tour over a long weekend. We started Function+Form as a way to bring together like-minded individuals through a love of design and interiors, giving new and more established designers a platform to share their work and process through our intimate gatherings held three times a year. After our second event in the spring, we felt ready to explore the design world beyond London and decided to find a city with a relatively untapped design community. We chose Antwerp. A cosmopolitan city famous for its fashion creatives - Dries Van Noten to name but one, for its gabled stone townhouses, sprawling harbour, De Koninck Brewery...but beyond this, we knew that readers looking to discover a new and emerging city would have plenty to explore here.Kicking off my new series 'Travel Antwerp' which explores the merits of Belgian design and lifestyle in this young city of design, is shopping destination and lifestyle concept store St Vincents. This is an absolute must, not only for the carefully curated homeware and fashion, but the location alone is reason enough to spend at least an hour soaking up the interiors with a freshly brewed coffee from the cafe - of course. And you're encouraged to stay as long as you like, although be warned of the desire to want to buy everything, particularly if you've only got a carry-on case. This place makes me want to give up plastering our walls in favour of rough brick (you'll see what I mean) and set myself to task building dark green chipboard cupboards for the kitchen. It totally works.
A very recent addition to the city, the store was opened in December 2015 by economist-lawyer duo Henri and Geraldine. Originally an old printing office, the store is an ever-changing home to a thoughtful selection of design ( naturally I came home with Hasami plates), coffee table reads, stationery, art and clothing. Virtually everything here is for sale, including the furniture. A well considered space free of clutter, St Vincents is made all the more welcoming for the abundance of green houseplants who are well cared for and flourishing here.
To see more from our Antwerp city break and the group of bloggers who joined us, check out #BloggersTourAntwerp and #WeAreFunctionAndForm on Instagram.St Vincents | Kleine Markt 13 | 2000 Antwerpen | Belgium Open: Mon - Sun 10:30am to 6:30pm (closed Tuesdays) Our Antwerp city break was organised in collaboration with Pentacom PR and Design Centre Winkelhaak. To find out more about joining one of our Function+Form events, take a look at our website.Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Urban Jungle Book | Living + Styling With Plants
From time to time I'll review a book here that I think will be something you yourselves would love to own, either as thing of beauty for the coffee table (I still don't own one yet by the way) or as a useful resource for your own home.It goes without saying that I'm a little more invested in this one than most as it's written by two good friends of mine. Igor Josifovic and Judith De Graaff are fellow bloggers and founders of the Urban Jungle Bloggers community which they started in 2013 having discovered a mutual love of plants. Their community has grown immensely since then, proving that plants are beneficial to our emotional well-being as well as enhancing our homes visually. Earlier this spring I shot a few spaces within our home for this very book and I'm really proud to see them here amongst such a lovely group of plant lovers.
This urban jungle book, titled 'Urban Jungle - Living and Styling with Plants' is a joyous celebration of indoor gardening. Whether you're new to botanicals or more experienced, this book is a friendly and informative way to immerse yourself.
Focusing on 11 varieties of plants, the book mixes tips and advice for plant care and propagation with beautiful images from the homes of Urban Jungle enthusiasts across the globe. There are DIY tutorials for more hands on creative planting (I'll be sharing one of mine with you next week) and styling inspirations, interleaved with illustrations by Saar Manche. A truly inspired read, this Urban Jungle book will motivate anyone (however black fingered you think you might be) to start growing their own little garden and I can't wait to continue that journey with mine.
You can order your copy direct from Amazon, currently available in the U.S, UK and Germany, published by Callwey.
mahabis | Slippers For Kids
When creators of the most stylish slipper known to man hinted about a kids collection at their launch last year, I was excited to say the least. Kids slippers are a bit of a bane to be honest, they're either covered in gimmicks which become old and boring when the novelty wears off or they're badly made. Given that I wear my beloved mahabis every day at home (and out in the garden) I couldn't understand why anyone hadn't already put an indoor/outdoor slipper in production for kids. It's just common sense, right? As expected, mahabis did not disappoint and Reuben has been walking a little taller in his "grown-up slippers" since his arrived at the weekend. They share the same minimal design as their adult counterparts, they're just a little bit smaller.
The kids collection comes in the Classic and Summer slipper design with the same choice of coloured soles to choose from - Reuben went for Gotland Green. The only difference is that the outdoor sole is perminantly attached, so you don't have to try to put on or remove them in a rush (kids never stay still).
Sizes range from 28 to 35 (that's UK 10 to 2.5) and there are plans to make smaller sizes soon. I'd go so far as to say that shopping for kids slippers is going to be whole lot easier from now on...don't you think?
#mahabiskids
Photography & styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
A Minimal Minute / September Musings
If you follow me on Instagram you might already be familiar with #aminimalminute, a hashtag I started with friend and fellow slow living advocate, Ilaria Fatone. We started this together at the end of last year to pool together moments of slow living and minimalism and to share our own. Quiet moments to pause. It could be a beautifully designed piece of architecture, a thought during your day, a corner of your home. And home has been playing a huge role in our lives over the summer - perhaps that's why I chose home and moving related images in my selection this month! Thank you everyone for the beautifully composed photos (credits below).I honestly feel like slinking off to hide inside a dark cupboard on my own right now. With D-Day for the move looming, I'd rather just curl up and come back out when it's all done. There is just so much to do. And underneath all the elation of finding our family a place of our own again, there's still the weight of all the work we need to do to leave this house ready for the next tenants. There's the painting over, the patching up, the cleaning, the digging, the sweeping. And the new house? My goodness, where to start. It is overwhelming. My ability to see the wood from the trees has failed me. Even though we are slowly getting there, making the kids room our first priority (the first few stages of that will be up in the next week or so) there is just so much to think about. But I guess making a home from scratch takes time right? So it's just baby steps, every day.Already this house is beginning to echo. I've finally started packing up my workspace, taking extra time to enjoy the light in here before I roll up the rug and unscrew the pegboard. And the thought of actually leaving in a few weeks time leaves me with that awful homesick feeling. We don't really want to leave. Don't get me wrong, the chocolate brown carpet, 70s gas fire and temperamental boiler will not be missed, but so many happy things happened here. I welcomed in my 30s with friends who surprised me from Holland, Reuben started nursery and school from this house, we made forever friends, brought home our newborn daughter, nurtured all the plants here. I even started this blog from this house, worked on a couple of beautiful books, planned shoots, came home happy and weary from travels abroad.We will miss it all so much.Images © Top Left: @catesthill Top Right: @septemberedit Bottom Left: @tiphaine._ Bottom Right: @lauren__greene
Behomm / Home Exchange For Creatives
September in our house always equates to the start of school and birthdays month (no one cares about the London Design Festival apart from me) and by this time of year I'm really yearning for a holiday. Whilst home exchange schemes are nothing new, there has been somewhat of a gap when it comes to finding a home and family you can swap with who share your creative background and a passion for design. Until now, anyway.Behomm (that's "be home") was launched in 2013 by Augst Juste and Eva Calduch based in Barcelona. Both graphic designers, they felt there was something missing from their holiday experience, and so they created a new platform which hosts over 1,900 members and 59 countries to choose from. It's the home exchange community only for creatives and design lovers and boasts the most achingly stylish portfolio from across the globe. Members include architects, designers, stylists, photographers and artists, each with a very unique take on what home means to them. It's a holiday in itself just taking the time to explore a stranger's home with similar passions to your own, stepping into their shoes for a short while, don't you think? I love that you can gain a sense of that family's personality and enjoy their way of life whilst they experience yours. Behomm takes it one step further from just free accommodation, moving to create new connections between families elsewhere in the world.
I could spend all day imagining wonderful holidays in any one of these incredible homes, couldn't you? Who knows, maybe one day when we've got the new place up to scratch, we could join too...
Behomm is a by invitation only membership but they are offering a free membership trial for a limited amount of time. *With thanks to Behomm for permission to use to images from their community's homes.
Function+Form 03 / Dean Street Cafe
Fresh from our latest Function+Form breakfast gathering on Saturday, I wanted to share the beautiful soon-to-launch Dean Street Cafe, where we hosted our end of summer event.Aside from improving the way that we feel in our homes, design also imparts positive experiences where we work and this is certainly true of Dean Street, a new venture to be run by staff and trainees at youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint. A former church space of historical importance - it was first designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1686, the space has been given a new lease of life by multidisciplinary designer Nina Woodcroft of Nina&Co. You might recognise her name if you saw this ceramics post earlier in the year. As soon as we saw the space and learned more about the plans the charity has for it, we knew we had to tell our community and spread the word.
We were very fortunate in that Nina could join us, flying in from her home in Amsterdam to tell us about her own journey into interior and product design, sharing with us some of the process of transforming a space with such difficult constraints. As John Raynham, head of enterprise at Centrepoint went on to tell us, the space will be used by the charity as a training space for young people coming from difficult backgrounds, learning new skills and rebuilding their lives. Then at weekends, the building transforms into a working cafe in which, guided by venue manager and chef Dean Masters, these same young people with an interest in hospitality can learn an NVQ as well as barista skills offered by their coffee partner Kimbo.
With such a rigid brief, Nina created a flexible, homely space, using sustainable birch plywood storage painted in a soothing green and hand mixed locally. The integrated pegboard comes with removable pegs to store and display items easily. What was a small kitchenette on the right has been opened up giving it a double aspect, meaning one side can be used for takeaway drinks and the other open for service to the cafe. The kitchen also includes reversible menu boards which can be turned around to close off the kitchen when not in use, with all furniture neatly stored away for training sessions during the week. Perhaps the focal point of the room, the small window seats were borne from discovering a rather difficult steel strut which couldn't be removed. Instead, Nina used it to their advantage, designing the built in seating which was raised up to window height, allowing those at street level to see that the space was a functioning cafe. Such a clever idea.
We loved how much of the materials used in the design were sourced locally too - from the upholstered bench cushions made by The Hackney Draper, second hand seating and bespoke lighting made in the UK, all finished off with a little soft planting.Our third since we launched last year, Function+Form is fast becoming a way for us all to slow down and reconnect over good conversation and food. Our partners, Luminary Bakery who are another of Nina's social enterprise design projects, support women to raise themselves up from difficult circumstances, teaching them entrepreneurial skills through their bakery in Stoke Newington. The bakery delivered us some of the most beautiful apple and brown butter flapjacks we'd ever tasted, as well as flourless brownies and cookies. Alongside fresh fruits, pastries and granola provided by chef Dean, we also got to experience a more mindful approach to fresh juice thanks to East London Juice Co, based in the Ace Hotel, Shoreditch.We can't wait for the cafe to officially open to the public later next month and wish them all the very best. Make sure you pop in to show your support if you're ever in Soho at the weekend!With special thanks to our sponsors Centrepoint, in particular head of enterprise John Raynham and venue manager and chef Dean Masters, as well as our partners Luminary Bakery and East London Juice Co. If you are interested in joining our interiors and design community, get in touch: hello@wearefunctionandform.com
Photography with thanks © Anna Stathaki
A Place To Stay / Hotel Alexandra Barcelona
Barcelona and all it's magic seems like a world away now, so I can't wait to relive the Sunny Design Days tour again with you, kicking off with the place we called home for three days - the Alexandra Barcelona Hotel. A boutique hotel with an avant garde, contemporary style, this is a hotel for design lovers, showcasing the best names in Spanish design in an environment that feels like home. Found in Paseo de Gracia, bustling shopping district of Eixample and a stones throw from Gaudi's Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, you couldn't be in a more prominent place to explore the city and immerse yourself in local culture.
Inside an historic 19th century building, the Alexandra is carving out a name as the hotel of Spanish design, slowing working its way through each space, updating and renovating weaving in pieces created by the best Spanish names. Starting with the recently opened charcuterie and bar on the ground floor and more intimate gastronomic brasserie upstairs, restaurant Solomillo puts a modern twist on traditional Spanish cuisine. Designed by Barcelona based architects Borrell Jover who also redesigned the pool terrace and several of the bedrooms inside the hotel, the charcuterie and brasserie (not pictured) create an intimate backdrop in which to sample a beautiful selection of cooked and cured meats, local cheeses and other fresh from the market produce.
Over two wonderful dinners at the restaurant with Borrell and Jover, they explained how they carefully selected each element for a timeless, contemporary feel; from the 7,300 "meaty" coloured glazed tiles, the Cosentino marble table tops, rugs by Nanimarquina, lighting by Marset and Santa & Cole and Expormim rattan Huma chairs. Phew! I'll introduce you to these names very soon-you. will. LOVE. 
Outside, a luxury outdoor urban jungle awaits on the pool terrace. Using a series of layers to provide screening, this green oasis is divided up into two main areas-the bar and lounge and pool. Taking direction from the yellow bricks of the structure next door to the hotel, Borrell and Jover incorporated this into the terrace to blend into its surroundings, using brick to separate the ground floor rooms with a screen and lush planting, a bank of brick seating to separate the pool and then just beyond the pool, an organic vegetable and wild flower garden to screen the roof of an unsightly former cinema. The garden also provides produce for the hotel.
A glimpse into my room - overlooking the quiet terrace and tucked away from the city streets. With such a punishing busy schedule, I relished the secluded cocoon of this space with its warm, earthy Spanish tones, parquet flooring and concrete bathroom. When can I come back??
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley.
Sunny Design Days / A Very Special Spanish Tour
I don't want to get all Elizabeth Gilbert on you, but sometimes the universe has a way of finding us out, sending what we need at just the right time. A few months back, I was in the car with my husband, most likely off to get his phone screen fixed (again) and I was feeling a really low. Out of nowhere I'd said "I really need to get away, say... to Barcelona...on a design tour-that would be incredible." Three hours later, I had an invitation from RED, the Association of Spanish Design Companies, inviting me to join their five day Sunny Design Days tour with eight other bloggers and journalists. Starting in Barcelona, we would visit studios and showrooms of some of the most renowned Spanish design brands, moving on to Valencia and finally Madrid, sampling some of the best Spanish hospitality around. Well, of course I burst into tears. Are you kidding me???!! And, if you've been watching my Instagram (check out #sunnydesigndays) you'll have no doubts at all that I jumped into that offer with both feet and all my heart and now here I am, back with a camera full of beautiful photos, new friends and a head filled with Spanish design.
Over the coming weeks (because there is just so much to show you) I'll be sharing studio and showroom tours, collections from new designers, snapshots from a favourite hotel and perhaps a few interviews thrown into the mix.Check back in on Friday to explore our first stop - the Alexandra Hilton Hotel in Barcelona...iPhoneography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Thoughts + Tips | Every Day Slow Living
I honestly feel like a complete hypocrite for writing this post as an advocate of Slow Living, when life has been anything but slow of late. I've been so wrapped up in to-do lists, the day to day stuff life kicks up and focusing all our attention on the children that I've completely forgotten to look after myself. So when Bloomon, a rather wonderful flower delivery company sending blooms through the post asked if they could send me a bouquet, an Instax camera and a notebook in exchange for switching off from all distractions for the day I took them up on their offer straight away.From 6am to 8pm I went about my day without any of the background noises I usually live with from day to day-that includes the radio, internet, laptop and TV and swapped it all for a notebook, a pencil and my thoughts.
My initial reaction was to inform friends and family that they wouldn't be able to get hold of me (panic!!) and to plan every minute of the day so that it was spent doing something constructive. Ok, I was offline but I could still paint that chest of drawers...But then that defeats the object of switching off, doesn't it.Instead, I spent the day as I always do, with my little daughter, although this time without putting in a couple of hours work in the morning while she slept and rushing around while she occupied herself. This time we had proper conversations, we played with the camera (she's never seen anything like it!) and we laughed. A lot. I spent a little time arranging these beautiful flowers and photographing them too, a bouquet peppered with some very unusual grasses and blooms, free-form sculptural shapes and texture.We took a walk into town to meet a friend at our favourite cafe in Rochester, The Deaf Cat and over my choc-chip frappe I got thinking about the last time I truly "switched off". I went back as far as when I got my first mobile phone - it was 1999 and I was 15. Now, my phone, my work, my everyday thoughts are stuck in "what's next?" mode. I can be available to everyone at all times. Who really wants that?At the end of the day, feeling far more refreshed, I put together some of my own tips for every day slow living which I hope you'll find useful in helping you feel more present. They're easy to work into your day and you can introduce them as and when you're ready to...
Cut Out The Unnecessary
What I love about minimalism beyond interiors is how it focuses your mind on what is actually important and necessary to day to day living and what is just excess noise and stress. These are the expectations we project onto ourselves, the pressures we think we ought to feel and carry with us to make it feel like we're achieving something, but the feeling of accomplishment doesn't need to go hand in hand with stress. Instead, ask yourself these questions:• Is this a priority or can I put it aside for later / leave it all together?• What could I be doing instead that will benefit me at this particular moment? (yes-that includes resting).
Let Go Of Control
We all need to feel in control, it's what helps to give us a sense of balance. I think it's a pot-kettle situation for me as I'm most definitely a control freak and can't stand the thought of certain outcomes being out of my reach. But we can't control everything all of the time; to use photography as an analogy, I use my iPhone and DSLR because I know how to get them to work for me and anything that isn't quite up to scratch can be edited afterwards so I'm completely happy with any images before I publish them. Not with the Instax. Wow-I'd not realised how stressful I'd find using it, no matter how I set up the shot, it would always come out completely wrong. In my opinion. But in this instance, it's not about perfection, it's about the process, the experience. So instead, I decided to just go with it and whatever came out of the camera was what I got.
Switch Off Regularly
It doesn't matter how much time you can devote to taking time out-it might be an afternoon once a fortnight or once a month, but remember to actively switch off regularly. When was the last time you sat outside somewhere and just listened? No phone, no conversations, just focusing on what you hear. Or find another activity - walking, cooking, reading to take yourself out of that space for a while. Focusing your mind on one thing (like a form of meditation) is an easy way to calm your thoughts and teaches you to learn to be in the moment. Anything else can wait.
Do With Intention
If you're making time to relax and slow down then do it with intention. Say to yourself that you'll be taking this time to read, bake, go for coffee-whatever, and then do just that. Don't get part way through and half-heartedly start checking your emails or catching up on a little work. It can wait. And the same applies for working-if you've decided to work, then get it finished before you start scrolling through Netflix or checking your Facebook.
Find A Ritual
Look for something you enjoy that you can do every day to help slow down. In my case, it's making a stove-top coffee in the morning, but it's not so much the drinking it as it is the act of building it. Grinding up the beans, boiling the kettle, packing the grounds, warming the milk. I stop to notice each element as I go, the smells, the sounds. Each of these little actions gives me time to wake up, think my thoughts and be still before my day starts. What's your ritual? 
These are just a few of my go-to tips for Slow Living, small but most definitely significant. What do you do to slow down?[line]
Bloomon is a flower subscription service with a difference-sending unique bouquets full of fresh blooms direct from the grower to you as and when you choose. Pretty darn lovely, right?
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
•• This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Bloomon.
GIVEAWAY / Seven Boot Lane Footwear
I've been desperately trying to track down a jumpsuit that works for me for my capsule wardrobe ages-for whatever reason thus far it's always come down to a 'close but no cigar' situation which leaves me frustratedly cursing the changing room mirrors, pulling the curtains off the rails as I leave in a huff of defeat. Then I found this one in minutes, with two children in tow (they happen to be mine) who for once actually let me try it on without remarking on my pants or bottom. In my signature blue. With a dropped crotch and pockets. And I don't look like a try-hard 30 something in it, especially with a pair of sports luxe style Flame trainers from independent women's footwear brand Seven Boot Lane - loving the 'sand suede' colour and patent leather detail at the back. Low key, simple style is my bag.
I first discovered them on StylonNylon's IG feed when she was styling their A/W '15 campaign and fell for their well considered designs and attention to detail. More than anything, it's the choice of transitional footwear that really got my attention-these days, if what I'm wearing can't go from home/work to evening quickly then it just doesn't get worn. Founded in 2012 in Somerset, Seven Boot Lane work with a family run shoe manufacturers in Elche, Spain using locally sourced materials - fashion with a conscience.Now, I don't just want to keep these all to myself, so we've teamed up over on Instagram to give away a pair of shoes of your choosing from across the whole collection. Could be a pair everyday sneaks like mine or maybe plan ahead with boots for autumn/winter. So take a good look at the new collection (check out these pink sandals) open up your IG and read on...
To Enter:• Find and like my @curatedisplay footwear post with @sevenbootlane.• Leave a comment, tagging a friend.• Follow @sevenbootlane.Easy peasy. Giveaway closes at midnight 14.05.16. Entrants must be UK only residents and the winner will be chosen at random from a number generator on 16.05.16. Prize subject to availability.Good Luck!
[line]JUMPSUIT - ZaraBLUE POCKET 'T' - AsosWATCH - 'Stark' by FarerTRAINERS - 'Flame' - Seven Boot Lane
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley with thanks to my sister Megan for hanging out with me "under the bridge downtown."
• Thank you to Seven Boot Lane for the gift of the shoes. Happy feet.
Compagnie de Provence / VERSION ORIGINALE
The latest skincare collection 'Version Originale' from France based Compagnie de Provence has just landed in my office and I couldn't be more in love with it. In fact, it's got me yearning more than ever for a bathroom stylish enough to do them justice! Until that time however, I've styled them in a dark and moody setting with my newest paint obsession - almost black dark green. Don't they look at home in that setting? With a range of liquid soaps, solid bars, hand and body balms and 100% vegetable wax candles, the three main fragrances of Anise and Patchouli, Incense Lavender and Black Jasmine are all organic and cruelty free. I want to steep myself in the Anise Patchouli which would make the perfect unisex fragrance with its subtle hint of warm spice. So Compagnie, if you're listening...Unlike its more colourful counterparts, the VO collection comes in smooth amber glass bottles inspired by sea softened sea glass and easy to carry in your bag tubes in equally gorgeous colour palettes. Oui, oui, oui.
Selection of toiletries - Compagnie de Provence (gifted) | Paint colour - Valley Forge, Valspar | Black vase - Lyngby Porcelain | Green vase - House Doctor
Styling & 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
A Minimal Minute / Finding Minimalism
Well, if I've done nothing else this week, it's introduce new series and I'm really excited about this one, 'A Minimal Minute', as I've started it in collaboration with my good friend Ilaria Fatone. We met in Munich during the book launch last September (Ilaria's home is also featured) and we hit it off, discovering our common ground in minimalism and slow living and although we live miles apart (Ilaria is in France) we try and make the effort to catch up over Skype every couple of weeks. In fact, we're speaking together at The Hive conference in Dublin this April about our own experiences of minimalism and slow living, beyond interior style and aspirational Instagram photos, but actually in terms of how we live around it, how we practice it and how we want to inspire others to do the same. So we thought it'd be a great exercise to use this topic and share some of our insights on our blogs together, posting once a month. You can find out how you can get involved with us at the end of the post. It's a long one today-I'm not known for my shorts posts now, am I?So, starting at the beginning, this month's 'A Minimal Minute' is really an introduction to how we both found our way to minimalism...
Although I love the minimal aesthetic, I don't think I truly grasped the positive effect it can have on your state of mind until we moved in here from our much smaller home three years ago. It was a like a rabbit hutch, we'd outgrown it and, as I started packing I realised just how much "stuff" we had hiding away that we'd forgotten about. I won't go into it but the three boxes of back issues of Vogue magazine, seven years worth of old bank statements and random bits of broke jewellery were the tip of the iceberg! It made complete sense to have a really good purge before we moved into the new place and again as we unpacked and were really glad of it.
Moving In, Clearing Out
Suddenly we went from having no space and loads of "stuff" to more space and, in comparison, very few things. Our initial reaction was to make plans to fill up the space again - because that makes the most sense, right? But after spending a few months just enjoying the sense of space, the lack of furniture everywhere and shelving crammed full of things, we decided to continue living only with what we absolutely loved and made use of regularly. The impact it has on our daily lives, particularly as we both work from home has been enormous, to know that we have that physical and mental space, even though we struggle to stay on top of the ever-expanding number of toys the children have to play with. I think you just have to be realistic about how far you're willing to go with it. As much as the pristine, spacious Scandinavian style houses with barely a thing in each room are incredibly seductive for me, we are a family, so we're never going to be spotless. I need to make a creative mess whilst I'm working on client briefs too and usually that means piles of magazines and books on and around my desk, paper cuttings stuck to the walls in my office and if I'm shooting at home then entire rooms get turned upside down for a day or so in the interests of getting the job done. Everything returns to how it was eventually though, it's important to be able to feel that I can start a new project afresh.
Minimal Budget
Out of necessity, as a family minimalism extends far beyond how we use our space and into how and where we spend our money. The daily grind as freelancers means we need to be more creative with our income - we don't go on holidays very often so we use our weekends to focus on quality family time on local days out, we buy only what we need and don't have debts to contend with which in itself is liberating. I just don't feel comfortable being a full-on "consumer" anymore in the way that I was in my student days where I would sign up for any card going. Wow. At the very least I need to know where what I'm buying has come from and if I'm supporting an industry in a positive way. At its very core, it's a stripped back way of life, focused more on finding meaning in every day experiences and we want our children to grow up with that understanding too.Gosh, I make it all sound very serious, but honestly, it's not! I wasn't always a minimalist (you'd laugh if you saw how I used to be) I'm certainly not obsessively tidy (I don't plan to read Marie Kondo's book either-who actually does that with their socks?) but I'm very glad of the perspective it has given us in moving here.
Join Us
How does minimalism make you feel? Are you considering exploring it further or perhaps already are? We'd love for you to get involved with our topic which you'll find out more about below. Make sure you hop over to read more about Ilaria's perspective too...Instagram Hashtag: 'A Minimal Minute' is about sharing honest moments of minimalism in our every day lives and we'd really like to extend this series out to you. If you're on Instagram and you find a moment at home or out and about during your day and find a quiet, minimal space, piece of design or a moment, tag it with #aminimalminute and we'll share our favourites on our blogs, picking the most inspiring to feature during our talk at The Hive. Find us: @curatedisplay @un23ilaria
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Slow Living Weekend 01
I'm introducing the week with a new series - Slow Living Weekend to share some of the little moments from our weekends together. Even though we see a lot of each other every day when our house is both home and office, the weekends are extra special and we try and plan something so we can switch off and appreciate where we are. So here's the first.We drove out to the Isle of Grain on Sunday, us, the kids and my brother who was visiting. We walked along the sea wall, hunted for treasures on the shell beach and borrowed other peoples dogs for a minute or two as they stopped to bark and sniff us on their way past. This is about as far away from it all as you can get. Perfect clarity.
I'd like more moments like these this year, where my mind isn't always racing and thinking about what I've got to do next. I was talking about January with a friend of mine recently and how, even with the best of intentions, somehow it's really hard to get started after the buzz and excitement of the New Year celebrations. Logically for most of us it's when we turn our attentions to making new plans and, maybe through a prosecco fuelled haze it can seem like the year ahead is going to be one wonderful roller coaster. But, she said, what if we actually just used this month to quietly recover, hibernate, reflect and use it as an interlude to work out what it is that we need from ourselves, to be kinder to ourselves instead of beating ourselves up with resolutions. And I loved that.So this is my January. No pressure. No expectation. I don't have to be doing everything all at once, just one thing at a time with all my focus. Sounds a much better approach, don't you think?
Photos taken on my iphone.
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
Instagram Highlights 2015
Today I wanted to share a few personal highlights from my year on Instagram. I know, I know, I'm really behind on all the yearly recap stuff and everyone's bored of it already, but I wanted to round things off before we forged ahead with 2016.How was your Christmas break? Mine was actually pretty stress free for once. And quiet. We went for family walks, the kids were happy to sit and do colouring at the table. I was allowed to potter around, bake, I actually picked up a book (and nearly finished it) and most importantly, I didn't really think too much about what might lie ahead, I stayed in the moment which, for me, is an achievement.
Guts Over Fear
2015 was a real milestone for my own personal development. Not to go into it too much, I went through a very tough time with my depression over the summer, which I wrote about here and reflected in my feed. The worst part came when we were away staying with family in France, and it didn't matter where I was, I just couldn't get inspired or find a happy moment. I did a lot of counselling over the following months which was intense but really helped me get through it; facing issues I tried hard to keep buried, how to be more present in the moment, let go of things I know I can't control and work towards the things I can. I can't recommend it enough, having the space to talk to someone impartial can give you the perspective you need. So it turned out that my phrase I'd chosen at start of the year, 'Guts Over Fear' was quite prophetic. Do you do that when you start a new year? I'm rubbish with resolutions, but I can keep a word or phrase in my mind to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Collaboration
If there was one thing missing from life that I'd realised during those unhappy times, it was a sense of belonging. Working as a freelancer can feel really isolating at times as you might know and even if, like me, you enjoy your own company, sometimes being a part of something bigger is important to take you out of your own bubble. So I took a deep breath and approached Annie from Style Juicer who like me works from home and has two kids almost the same age as mine. Over the coming months we talked (a lot) and in November co-founded and launched our very first Function+Form gathering; an offline community connecting like-minded design and interiors lovers together over food and handcrafted design. The event took place at the new Forge & Co cafe inside London's Heal's with the help of our brilliant sponsors (also mothers of two) AtMine and we spent the morning hearing the stories of makers Jono Smart and Enrich & Endure. And there will be more, in fact, we are in the early stages of planning our Spring and Summer events, so if you'd like to join us as a designer or member of our community, get in touch with us!
Travel
It was a year of firsts. Thanks to a brilliant friend, I had the opportunity to be published in a beautiful collaborative interiors book by Callwey and joined 14 other European interiors bloggers in Munich in September when the book was launched. A whirlwind two night trip, I met some wonderful new friends (some of whom I'm collaborating with this year) and explored some of the city of Munich. I'm more than ashamed to admit that as yet I still haven't featured the book here (what?!) although I covered our tour of the porcelain factory, the botanical gardens and our styling afternoon with By Lassen at Room To Dream. Hang in there though, I'll be featuring it this month and giving away a copy so that you can see it in the flesh. Even if you don't read German, the photos alone are inspiring.
Babies
My not-so babies have had an amazing year between the two of them - Reuben left nursery in July (he took in bunches of sweet stocks to his teachers) started at a small village school and turned five in September. Suddenly he's a proper little boy, learning to play the guitar with his dad, writing real words and finding a passion for Roald Dahl books. Although he definitely shares my...somewhat short temper...he's such a sweet and considerate boy, I hope he doesn't change too much.
I took this of Tabby the day she came home from her last appointment with the consultant in London. She developed Plageocephaly when she was four months old, a condition of the flattening of the head caused by sleeping in the same position while the bones in her skull were still soft, so while it didn't affect her developmentally, it did mean that her head was visibly out of shape. After months of deliberation we chose for the sake of her own self-confidence for her to wear a helmet to correct it while she grew for almost a year which she had on for 23 hours a day, including at night. It didn't bother her at all and she was so brilliant with it, even if it took us time to get used to people staring. All in all it made such a difference to her and when they took it off we went to buy hair clips to celebrate!
Work It
In spring I finally got my tiny workspace finished. Sure, there were no major changes and I still haven't enough room to swing Moe-Moe, but it made such an impact on the space on a very limited budget. It's bright, clean and feels a lot larger thanks to simple storage and a fresh lick of white paint. It has since been featured on Design Sponge, Brit+Co, MADE.COM and published in the book, and if you work from home, however small your space is I can't recommend enough taking a little time to give it a refresh. You don't need to get the paint out even, just the tiniest update can make all the difference to your overall mood and productivity. Trust me.And my phrase for 2016? Well, it's not so much a phrase this time, although I'm keeping 'Guts Over Fear' with me as it's helped to push my confidence, but this year I'm using 'Focus'. If 2015 was about working out what I wanted to achieve and developing both personally and professionally, then this year is about refining and focusing that journey, continuing to embrace slow living even if the day to day stuff gets crazy and trying not to look back anymore.What were your highlights in 2015? Do you have a word or phrase for this year too?
This Was Function+Form 01
Last Saturday we celebrated the launch of Function+Form with our first gathering - a relaxed brunch with like-minded others at Forge & Co along with our sponsors AtMine. The location couldn't have been more fitting as an introduction to what we're about, nestled inside Heal's, a British brand who has always held the support of independent designers at its heart. The new cafe/co-working space, with its modern industrial interior, exposed brick, deep blue walls and wide warehouse windows created the feeling of warmth and hibernation - a nod towards our styling for this November morning.
Welcoming our guest speakers potter Jono Smart and linen apron designer Sarah Quinn of Enrich & Endure, we settled down on sofas and chairs to listen avidly to their creative journeys, delve into their own processes and consider what resonated from both designers; to find what you love, to simplify and live at a slower, more considered pace. It was wonderful to experience their pieces first hand, hold them and wear them.
After, we shared a hearty breakfast of pancakes, fruit and bagels and enjoyed the work of our partners Concrete Jungles and 31 Chapel Lane whose linen napkins and concrete planters looked beautiful styled on our table. Keeping it simple and cosy, we worked in potted rosemary and tall stems of eucalyptus for scent, dry seed heads picked from the roadside and soft moss and figs. The deep blue wall at one end of the table really set off the whole look and brought out the grain in our long wooden table. And the chairs. Did I mention the chairs? Check out those Kartell Masters...
It was a real "pinch me" moment to see all our plans come together and such a fantastic group of people around the table enjoying themselves, making new connections. Yes to more of those moments. We have so enjoyed the journey thus far and are already making plans for Function+Form02 in Spring 2016.
Thanks to our guests who turned out to support us on an early Saturday morning and to our brilliant partners for lending their designs to our stylings:31 Chapel LaneConcrete JunglesHole & Corner magazineJono SmartEnrich & EndureAnd to our sponsors AtMine for their support.If you'd like to join our growing community, be it through attending future gatherings, speaking as a designer/maker or perhaps as a partner or sponsor, you can get in touch with me and Annie here. We'd love to talk more with you.Follow #WeAreFunctionAndForm to see more from our community and to keep up with the latest news.