Neon Ring Of Fire

 Art, colour, decorative, exhibitions, fun things, inspirational, interiors, lighting, London, nice things, product design, things to do  No Responses »
Apr 182013
 

Chris Bracey Neon Ring Of Fire

Having discovered Chris Bracey’s neon lights (with thanks to Conran Shop) and gone on to use one in a shoot last year, I was rather excited to see a gallery of bright colours emitting glow over the hard concrete streets in the west end of London. I have to say, I do like a bit of neon lighting, especially done with a nod to many aspects of iconic American popular culture which will always retain a element of cool; 1950s, rock’n'roll, bikers, tattoo parlours and street retail advertising. But Bracey doesn’t just regurgitate old lights, he adapts and adds to, recycling old lights to make new pieces, that are more relevant to us today, whilst referencing the land so far from these shores. And no further away than from Walthamstow, where Bracey works in his delightfully named workshop, God’s Own Junkyard. His workshop is now open to the public on specific days, so after you visit Scream to see his exhibition, I advise you to check out his website, then go and indulge yourself with more neon goodness.

1.) Lady Luck (detail), 2.) Hot Burning Love/ Hotel Love, 3.) Love and Hate, 4.) Hands of God (and detail),  5.) Find Love Upstairs (shown in three light variations)

Chris Bracey at Scream Gallery. 12 April until 01 June 2013.
27 – 28 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH Tel: +44 (0)20 7268 9857
Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm

Yes, The Future IS Perfect

 ceramics, craft, decorative, Designer-Maker, homewares, interiors, lighting, nice things, product design, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Apr 092013
 

Future Perfect Yes, The Future IS Perfect

On a recommended tip by a now-native New Yorker (thank you, Liz!), I made sure that I fitted a trip to The Future Perfect in Manhattan. It wasn’t a venture wasted. In amongst a good list of interiors stores in the SoHo/ Nolita area, this by far was my favourite design shop, and the closest to my own personal taste. Nicely laid out, there were little treats to be discovered in all corners of the store, from well-known companies to lesser-known designer-makers. It was also nice to see a large range of products from my own London favourite, SCP (and no shortage of Donna Wilson‘s knitted delights). Royelyn (the shop attendant) indulged me a small tour of my favourite goodies, and also a discussion on slang and the linguistic differences between Brooklyn, Manhattan and London. Good times. Here are my top 9 items (international shipping available).

1.) Reunion bowl, by Pieke Bergman, $165, 2.) Mirror standing shelf, by Garth Roberts, £3,650, (this is far more amazing in person than you can see from the photos. It’s gorgeous), 3.) Bluff City pendant light, £750, 4.) Moon Dance Rug Small, Domestic Construction, $63 (sale price), 5.) Watering Can, Copper, Paul Loebach, $99 (available from May), 6.) Facet Bowl, by Piet Hein Eek, $956, 7.) Tree Trunk Chair in Green Velours, by Piet Hein Eek, $2,858, 8.) Crescent Brass Bottle Opener, by Oji Masanori, $60, 9.) Glacier Double Old-Fashioned Glass, Purple, for Artel by David Wiseman, $439

For The Attention Of:

 decorative, Designer-Maker, fun things, homewares, interiors, lighting, nice things, paper, product design, shopping, shops, stationery  No Responses »
Oct 092012
 

FAO For The Attention Of:

I’m always up for a well-curated shop and FAO is most certainly that. Its selection of products covers all your basic requirements (bit of lighting, bit of homewares, some nice fashion items and the all important bits and bobs section). The entire shop is a wealth of desirability. The other points of worth, that tickle me no end, are the design and layout of the site. It’s layout is clean and tidy ensuring easy navigation and presents itself with a simple logo and brand identity. No frills shopping in the very best way, this is how it ought to be.

DIY In A Good Way

 colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, homewares, inspirational, interiors, lighting, London, nice things, product design  No Responses »
Oct 022012
 

Quilt Light by Tamara Maynes DIY In A Good Way

I didn’t get to do much of London Design Festival this time round but what I did do was good. Very good. And this lady particulary stuck out. Tamara Maynes is part of the new contemporary design showcase at 19 Greek Street, and has designed a template of a lampshade called ‘Quilt’. You buy the template rather than the lamp, which you then download and print out to make at home using whichever material you wish. A splendid idea. Scalpels at the ready.

It’s All In The Aeration

 decorative, homewares, inspirational, interiors, lighting, nice things, product design, shopping  No Responses »
Sep 072012
 

Aeros Its All In The Aeration

Gosh, well, what can I say about this little beauty? I really don’t know. It’s rather rendered me speechless. Designed by Ross Lovegrove and produced by Louis Poulsen, this holy ring of light might cost you one or two of our British Aeros but it sure would be worth the sacrifice. Measuring just shy of 3/4 of a metre, or a slightly friendlier measurement of 723mm, this is a BIG fella but one definitely shouldn’t be put off by this. Size is not all that matters though bigger is sooooooo much better in this case. This is a light that will look just as fantastic lit as unlit, with its beautiful cut-out pattern and sleek shape. Also comes in an anodised golden-sand colour.

Aeros pendant light, £1,527, Louis Poulsen

And Then There Was Light

 Art, fun things, inspirational, lighting, nice things, photography, Pinterest  2 Responses »
Apr 272012
 

And Then There Was Light And Then There Was Light

To bring to an end my week on coffee in celebration of UK Coffee Week 2012, I give you ‘And Then There Was Light’. A pictorial blog post of light and electricity. After all that coffee, I hope you are suitably ‘wired’ and all hooked-up ready for the weekend. This array of images is another of my Pinterest boards that has come to say adieu. I won’t be sorry to say goodbye to an activity which is, indeed, most pleasurable and yet weighs heavy on my conscience as something else that ‘needs’ to be done but that gets overlooked. I think it is a phenomenal resource but not one that I shall continue adding to. I hope it gives you all a little spark to your Friday and may the light carry you through the weekend. Have a good one!

From top to bottom, left to right:
lights, via: Nezart Design, via: Kost-i-Koza, source: unavailable;
A Mother’s Light, by James Neeley, source: Flickr;
Deco Globe, £22.50, Rockett St George;
Glow bulb, from £10.65 (exc. VAT), Tigermoth Lighting;
Lightbulb drawing, source: Enchanted Learning;
Philips lightbulbs, By beccabella, source: Flickr;
lightbulbs, source: Flickr (no longer available);
Untitled (Petit Palais) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Philadelphia Museum of Art, By anacron Source: Flickr;
Filament lamp, Source: World Architectural News;
National Theatre’s Frankenstein- set lighting, By mihi1, Source: Flickr;
Plumen bulb, Source: World Architectural News;
Deco standard bulbs, £12.49, Rockett St George.

In Love With The Hand and Eye Studio

 ceramics, decorative, Designer-Maker, homewares, inspirational, interiors, lighting, London, nice things, product design, shopping, treats  No Responses »
Apr 132012
 

The Acorn In Love With The Hand and Eye Studio

I do believe in love at first sight especially when these little beauties popped up in my inbox. Well, helloooooo light pendants. Laugh away people, laugh away, but don’t you get come creeping-back when you see just how gorgeous they are, *swoons*. The Acorn and The Gooseberry are quite simply heaven. Seeing as I seem to spend a lot of my social time as the gooseberry, now most of my friends are sans plus, sans plus une or even sans plus demux, almost anyway, (that’s husbands and babies not multiple husbands), I reckon I deserve one of those Gooseberries. Not that I’m feeling sorry for myself. Ahmm, back to the lights. The person responsible for these little lovelies is The Hand & Eye Studio and behind the nice name is Tom Housden, who works out of east London. Producing to order only, this couldn’t be further from the mass-produced situation we’ve got ourselves into, and it makes a welcome change to say. Let’s all say hurrah for that. As a practising architect, Tom feels that his working knowledge pays dividends in the studio as a designer-maker, as do his craft skills to his architecture. He gets the best of both worlds and both worlds get the best of him. And we get both. Nicely done. Go and behold the glory.

From the top: The Acorn (wood), The Gooseberry (clay),The White Pendant (cast from liquid clay) and finally but not least, the Grey pendant (earthenware clay); all light pendants available to order with choice of colour flex, £POA, The Hand & Eye Studio

The Gooseberry In Love With The Hand and Eye Studio

White Pendant In Love With The Hand and Eye Studio

Grey Pendant In Love With The Hand and Eye Studio

Celebrating What Really Makes Britain Great

 architecture, Art, ceramics, collaborations, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, events, exhibitions, fun things, homewares, inspirational, interiors, jewellery, lighting, London, nice things, product design, textiles, things to do, treats  No Responses »
Mar 292012
 

British Design Celebrating What Really Makes Britain Great

And really it is great. Don’t believe all the negative press. When you stop and have a look around at all the wonderful things we have made, designed and created over the centuries, you’d be right to feel a pang or two of patriotism. I know I certainly do and no more so than when attending the press preview of the new exhibition British Design: innovation in the modern age at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This exhibition is a welcomed showcase of design created on these shores since the last British Olympics in 1948 until today, 2012. It encompasses all areas of design without any favouritism (unlike myself- it would appear most of my photos are of textiles and furniture. At least I’m consistent, eh?) so there will be a good all round learning going on and something for everyone. On for the entirety of the summer, if the Olympics get too much for you, you can just catch the tube in the opposite direction and be no less entertained. Nicely laid out and lit by a modern British designer (be sure to look up, they’re lovely), the exhibition works its way through an almighty wealth of political, social, technological and scientific developments and charts our country’s progress accordingly. Be sure not to miss it. Opens on Saturday the 31st of March.

Another fantastic show sponsored by Ernst and Young- thank you.

Prices for booking details, please check the website.
£13.80 Full
£11.60 Senior citizens
£9.60 Full-time students, 12–17 year olds, ES40 holders, disabled people
£23.20 / £35.60 Family tickets (One adult & two 12–17 year olds / Two adults & two 12–17 year olds)

The Victoria and Albert Museum is located at Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

Images all mine with thanks to the V&A Museum and all collection donators.

BHS SS12 Lighting Up The Way

 homewares, interiors, lighting, product design, shopping, shops  3 Responses »
Jan 252012
 

BHS SS12 lighting BHS SS12 Lighting Up The Way

1.) Kerala Easyfit pendant, £35, (available in a larger size too) 2.) Reno pendant (large), £35, 3.) Kalina medium pendant, £150, 4.) Reno pendant (large), £35, 5.) Halsten Easyfit, £60, 6.) Como dome pendant, £100, 7.) Kalina ball pendant, £80, 8.) Baxter pendant, £60

Here is some of the new lighting from BHS’s SS12 collections and I must say I’m impressed. It’s looking really good. Bang on trend with themes and colours, all the lights look smashing. I especially like the wooden theme that’s part of the ‘Graphic Greenhouse’ story which is all about bringing the outdoors in. True to form, I’m liking the unadorned wood but these have a nice retro-twist in their design whilst looking fresh and contemporary which gives you the ‘boho’ without being a no-no. I’m also rather keen on the white pendant lights (the Como and the Kalina) which are textural and sculptural all in one and that’s before you even turn the light on. These will add a splendid je-ne-sais-quoi extra to your room without detracting too much from the rest of the chosen items in the room. And the Reno, need I say anything about the Reno. A classic shape in some beautiful zingy colours- this shade will surely help welcome in the spring with a pop of cheer, available in a variety of colours and it comes in two different sizes. There’s one here for all spaces.

all images with thanks to BHS

London’s Calling, Look at Us Now!

 ceramics, Designer-Maker, furniture, illustrators, interiors, lighting, London, nice things, shopping, shops, textiles  1 Response »
Nov 252011
 

London Londons Calling, Look at Us Now!

1.) London map cushion, £40 , John Lewis 2.) London tea towel, £11.50, Michelle Mason 3.) Jennie Maizels’ ‘London Calling’ fabric, £29.90 per metre, Linwood 4.) London lamp in yellow, £350, Original BTC 5.) London Christmas cards, £5 for a pack of 5, Biba’s Tea Party 6.) London Bus journal, £2.50, Katy & June 7.) London felt chair in grey, £369, BoConcept 8.) Central London map plate, £125, Bombus 9. London Calling print in red, £POA, Nick Prints

I realise that I’ve probably peaked somewhat early with this shopping page what with the Olympics not for at least another half a year or so but there’s already lots of good stuff out there and I thought I’d get in early with the hopes that you’ll all have forgotten about this page by the time I, no doubt, do another one. London is my city and definitely is worth a product or two.

pixel Londons Calling, Look at Us Now!
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