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Make Your Home a Summer Sanctuary with these... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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With the warm weather, bright mornings and longer evenings set to stay for the foreseeable future, now is the perfect time to give your home a summer revamp after the long winter months.

Airy rooms and light-filled spaces replace the cosy feel of winter. Switch your chunky knit throws and faux fur cushions for linen, and pack your blankets, throws and winter bedding away.

With your summer social calendar filling up with events, we want to ensure that you can make the seasonal transition in style, whilst leaving you plenty of time to enjoy those barbecues, weddings and garden parties.

Fabrics

While we all love to wrap up warm in the winter months, summer’s not the time to snuggle up in soft throws, bedspreads and blankets. Swap knitted and woollen fabrics for linen and premium Egyptian cotton, and replace your warm winter duvet with a light-weight summer tog for a restful night’s sleep.

Stripes add a classic nautical theme to your room, whilst bright blooms and florals are a striking statement. Mix in plain brights and pastel shades across bedding and towels for a cohesive look in your bedroom or bathroom, then add the finishing touch with complementary accessories such as lighting and storage.

The summer season is all about natural materials and you can easily add texture to your living space with sanded wood tables and sandstone sculptures. Swapping your curtains and cushions for lighter shades and fabrics such as voile and replacing a thick pile or fur rug with a cotton design will instantly make a room look brighter and less crowded.

Designer Looks at a Discount

Furniture is an investment and is likely to be the most expensive buy for your home. As you’d expect your furniture to last for years, it’s worth spending a little more on pieces you’ll love for a long time to come.

An excellent way to invest in designer pieces, consider choosing ex-display furniture, which will be significantly marked down from its full retail price, having been on display in a store.

Add a fresh new look to your living space this summer with a full furniture refresh, or invest in select pieces to update your home. A designer dining table and chairs makes the perfect addition to your kitchen or dining room, whilst a striking designer bed makes a statement in your bedroom. Mix and match designer pieces with your existing furniture for a look that is bespoke to your home.

Premium home design brands such as Nicholas Anthony, BoConcept and Nest offer ex-display pieces for sale, allowing you to buy their designs at a fraction of the full price. The best time to shop for ex-display furniture is when the brand’s showrooms are being updated at the beginning of a season, as they will need to make space for the new season’s pieces. A lot of great high street brands hold their sales in the summer too.

Art

It’s said that a picture paints a thousand words and a piece of artwork is an ideal way to add ambience and character to your home.

Darker shades add ambience and paintings, prints and portraits from artists such as Bill Mack and Chris Derubeis are ideal to create a cosy feel in your home throughout the winter months. But switching your artwork is a quick and easy way to brighten your living space for summer.

Use the handy Visualiser app from Gallery Rouge to find the perfect piece of artwork for your space. Before you buy a piece you can see how it would look hanging in your home with the augmented reality functionality within the app, which allows you to visualise any piece of artwork available in the gallery to scale.

A large abstract piece of art will look perfect hung on its own to make a statement, whilst smaller pieces can be grouped together with mirrors and photographs to create a feature wall. Stick to a theme such as seascapes from Santana, Villalba or Antonio Iannicelli, or summer landscapes from Allan Morgan for a seasonal take.

Accessories

Add the perfect finishing touch to any room in your home with your choice of accessories.

Choose ornaments which complement your summer theme. From nautical designs for the bathroom to classic marble pieces for your living room, refreshing your home ornaments is an easy way to mark the change of season.

With the longer evenings of the summer months, you can mix up your lamps and lighting to suit the season. Swap your winter lampshades for brighter colours and use outdoor solar lights to illuminate your garden, perfect for al fresco meals.

Make a feature of your home storage with summer-suitable reed and wicker baskets, perfect for keeping all your essentials together in your bathroom, bedroom or living room.

Swap your winter-scented candles for lighter fragrances. Fresh floral scents are perfect for summer and a reed diffuser is the ideal alternative to traditional candles and can be placed in any room in your home for a burst of fragrance.

Choose a single empty vase to display as a sculpture or group pieces together filled with summer blooms to add colour to a side table or console table.

Green, Green and More Green

Bring the outdoors inside this summer with house plants and fresh flowers – one of the easiest ways to give your home a seasonal uplift.

As well as looking beautiful, indoor plants can also improve the quality of the air in your home as they can act as natural humidifiers.

Succulents are a popular choice around the home as they are exceptionally low maintenance. The 1970s favourite cheese plant is making a comeback as part of the favour for all things retro in home design.

Group together mini cacti for the ultimate in low-maintenance house plants, or display a single stem in a tall vase as a centerpiece on your dining table, coffee table or mantelpiece. A bright bouquet placed on your hall table is the perfect way to greet guests, whilst also proving a splash of colour as you open your front door.

Leave your hayfever symptoms at the door with allergen-free indoor plants such as palms, ivy and peace lilies. Lift your mood with bright and sweet scented lilies, gerberas and tulips, plus the ultimate summer flower – the sunflower.

Whether you wish to spend a little or a lot, welcome the new season in style and make your house a home this summer with our design ideas.

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Celebrating Great Design with John Lewis Design... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Each season John Lewis collaborates with exciting designers and brands to bring fine design and exclusive furniture and accessories to the high street. This ongoing democratisation of design has forged some fascinating collaborations with designers such as the London studio Doshi Levien.

Partners Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien and their studio blend influences with ease. The pair met at the Royal College of Art but have very different backgrounds, Doshi grew up in India and studied design at the National Institute of Design; Levien’s background is cabinetmaking and industrial design. In their Open Home Collection for John Lewis, they deftly combine Scandinavian modernism with mid-century Italian design to create functional and striking pieces.

Armchair

We love their Mudra low back armchair in the living room, but it would work equally well in bedroom or study. Part of the ethos behind the Open Home line is fluid living, in which spaces are flexible with functions that merge and blend according to the needs of the user. This stylish armchair, with its touches of oak, embodies that idea perfectly. £999.00

Living Room Essentials

We also love this attractive glass and steel table top lamp by Doshi Levien. It too would be equally at home in an office, bedroom or living area, casting warm light in concentrated fashion. £199 And the design duo’s wool and cotton scatter rug with chevrons also reflects the studio’s hybrid focus; woven in India using traditional techniques, its design is graphic and contemporary. £495

Sideboard

The John Lewis Design Collective also features work by Danish cabinet maker and designer Ebbe Gehl. His Mira sideboard would work well with Doshi Lieven’s armchairs, playing up the pale oak, clean-lined Scandi-style mood.£999

Open Office

We’re also taken with Gehl’s line of office furnishings, which are stylish enough to hold their own in an open concept space or loft. They’re utilitarian yes, but are still beautifully crafted pieces of furniture that don’t scream telecommuting. The filing cabinet, for example, features rounded edges and combines oiled oak with stark white MDF, and wheels to allow for discreet concealment when work is done.

TV Time

Bethan Gray is a former Habitat furniture designer who opened her own studio in 2008. Her work with the John Lewis Design Collective is distinguished by sleek lines and subtle ornamentation. We especially love her TV stand, which would work just about anywhere in the home, and not just to display a TV. Hand-finished, it is representative of the attention to materials and detailing Gray brings to her furniture pieces. £899

Standalone Items

We also love the small multi-functional items in the Collection, such as this charming side table by Oliver Hrubiak. The hand-finished ash wood top can be unbolted from the black wire frame to be used as a tray. £229 For extra seating, check out the work of Says Who (Danish designers Kasper Meldgaard and Nikolaj Duve); their Cotta chair is comfortable enough for office work, sleek enough for dining or living areas. £199

Unwind

John Lewis has always paid attention to textiles, an important component in domestic design. Genevieve Bennett has collaborated with the company several times to create wall coverings and cushions that work well with the Scandi-inspired large pieces. Her lush embroidered cushion and cotton velvet cushion designs also have a distinct Art Deco feel. £21/£45

In a world where regular folk are too often priced out of the fine design ownership game, John Lewis is consistently pushing for affordability and accessibility. Everyone should be able to own the latest in well constructed contemporary design – the John Lewis Design Collective is devoted to making that idea a real possibility.

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Idealist City Guide: PRAGUE | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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One of the great joys of the city of Prague is its potential for exploration, which is why we’re following John as he wanders through Prague’s maze of cobbled lanes and hidden courtyards.

Prague, capital of Czech Republic, is situated at the center of Europe positioned on the River Vltava’s banks. Equal of Paris in terms of beauty, Prague is best known for its beautiful art and architecture and some of the best shopping you can find. Its history goes back a millennium. And the beer? The best in Europe.

Must-See Attractions

Old Town Square: If you want an authentic way to feel Prague’s history, head down to Old Town Square. Beautiful architecture is the highlight of this scenic part of Old Town. Don’t miss the old town hall and the astronomical clock.

Address: Staroměstské náměstí 110 00 Praha 1,Staré Město, Czechia

Charles Bridge: After floods wrecked the Judith Bridge in 1342, the Charles Bridge was built to replace it. Construction took place from 1357 to 1402. The bridge is decorated by the statues of 30 saints.

Address: Charles Bridge, Praha 1 – Staré Město, Czechia

Vysehrad National Cultural Monument: While some of the details are a bit muddled, officials believe Vysehrad was built sometime during the 10th century, and is home to some of the oldest, most historically significant buildings in Prague.

Address: Vyšehrad, V Pevnosti 159/5b, Praha 2 – Vyšehrad, 128 00

Dinner Cruise: What’s better than seeing the beautiful sites of Prague from the quiet luxury of a cruise? Eating dinner at the same time, of course. The cruise is 3 hours long and follows the Vitava River.

Address: Cechuv Bridge, Dvorakovo nabrezi, pier 5, Prague, 11000, Czechia

Style Shopping

Flamant Home Interiors: Flamant was founded by three brothers as an expansion of their father’s antique business. This shop does a great job of combining modern and antique design trends to create a unique look. We especially love their sleek industrial chests and stylish lighting.

Address: Flamant Store, Slovanský dům, Na Příkopě 22, Praha 1 Czech Republic

+420 221 451 790

Konsepti: When curating their collections, Konsepti has one main focus: uniqueness. Their wide selection includes brands such as Flos, E15 and Cassina. We love their large variety of unique seating choices; you’re sure to find something you love.

Address: Komunardů 32, 170 00 Praha 7, Czechia

+420 266 199 452

Modernista: Having two stores is part of what makes Modernista so great. The Municipal House location has a unique collection of Art Deco pieces and can be found in the basement of the Municipal House. The Pavilon, the flagship location, has a stronger focus on interiors and contemporary design. Check out their stylish metal lighting and elegant glassware — we love them!

Address: nám. Republiky 1090/5, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

+420 222 002 102

A La Maison: If you’re only looking for some smaller accessories and accent pieces to finish off a room, check out A La Maison. Beautiful candlesticks and candle trays, rugs, chandeliers, vases and more highlight this shop’s collection. Plus they carry great brands like Möve and Balmuir.

Address: Šafránkova 1238/1, 155 00 Praha 5, Czechia

+420 233 322 563

Le Patio: No, they don’t only sell patio furniture. Le Patio is actually a high-end interior retailer specialising in unique furniture, accessories and lighting. Le Patio’s goal is to improve the rooms people use, thus improving the quality of their life. Some of our favourites include the EA Deco woven baskets and Zenza lighting collection.

Address: New Living CenterJungmannova 748/30, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia

+420 224 934 402

Hotels

Residence Agnes: Featuring all of the regular amenities and a central location in Prague, Residence Agnes is a great place for anyone who wants to do plenty of walking and exploring. The hotel lobby’s beautiful contemporary decor provides a great atmosphere upon entry.

Price level: Medium

Address: Haštalská 19, 110 00, Prague 1, Czech Republic

+420 222 312 417

MOODs Boutique Hotel: The cornerstone of MOODs is the unique design, and I can’t emphasise the unique part enough. They also offer great food and drinks and a spa treatment, so you’ll barely have to leave your hotel to get everything you need.

Price level: Budget

Address: Klimentská 28, 110 00 Prague 1, Czechia

+420 222 330 100

Hotel General: If you’re looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown Prague, the Hotel General is the place for you. While it’s a bit further from all the activities, its lovely atmosphere and friendly staff more than compensate for that.

Price level: Medium

Address: Svornosti 1143/10, 150 00 Praha 5-Smíchov, Czechia

+420 257 318 320

Galleries & Museums

National Gallery in Prague: For art lovers, the National Gallery in Prague is the perfect museum. With a range of both permanent and temporary exhibitions, you’re sure to find something you love. They have many permanent exhibits, including “European Art from Antiquity to Baroque” and “The Art of Asia.”

Address: The National Gallery in Prague, Staroměstské nám. 12, 110 15 Prague 1, Czech Republic

+420 220 397 211

Wallenstein Palace Garden: Constructed right near the Wallenstein Palace in the 17th century, this garden is truly a sight to behold. It features expert landscaping and beautiful Baroque bronze statues which are replicas of the originals, which were created by Adrien de Vries and subsequently stolen by the Swedish army.

Address: Wallenstein Garden, Letenská, Praha 1 – Malá Strana, 118 00

+420 257 075 707

Lobkowicz Palace: While beauty is abound here, the main focus is on Prague’s (and Czech Republic’s) place within European history. Their gallery includes paintings by Velazquez, Canaletto and Brueghel, as well as annotated manuscripts from legendary musicians.

Address: Prague Castle Jiřská 3 119 00 Prague 1, Czechia

+420 233 312 925

Food

The Portfolio: You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone complaining about this fine dining establishment. The chic atmosphere perfectly complements the food. Their monkfish in a roasted black truffle sauce is a favourite. For dessert, try their creme brulee or carmalized fruits and ice cream.

Address: Portfolio restaurant, Lannův Palác, Havlíčkova 1030/1, 110 00 Praha 1 , Czechia

+420 224 267 579

Vegan’s: If you’re looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary, try Vegan’s. Even those who aren’t vegan will appreciate the wonderfully crafted food. Their burgers are a great substitute for non-vegans, and their wonderful selection of cheesecakes and pies will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Address: Vegan’s Prague, Nerudova 36, 11800 Praha, Czechia

+420 735 171 313

Ristorante Pagana: This is a great local spot for a host of Italian food, including pasta, seafood and antipasti. They also have reasonably priced dishes, which can be difficult to find at a good Italian restaurant. Don’t forget to try their chestnut tiramisu!

Address: Ristorante Pagana, Vladislavova 17, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic

+420 224 056 300

Chocoffee: The perfect spot for fanatics of all things chocolate, Chocoffee serves up Belgian chocolate on tap in three varieties: white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate. You can have your chocolate in a waffle, in a cone, or with fruit, nuts or pretzels.

Address: Spálená 8/80, Praha 1, 11 000, Czechia

+420 775 583 450

Getting There From London

The easiest way to travel from London to Prague is by plane. For round trip tickets spanning less than a week, flights can cost anywhere from £40 to £120 each way. The flight will take about two hours each way.

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Allez Allez! 12 Fab Finds to Show Your Love of... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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What better way to show your love of the Tour de France (other than going there, or riding a sportive) than buying a couple of velo-related pieces to decorate your man or woman cave? Benjamin shows us how…

Allez! Allez!

The prestigious Tour de France is one of the oldest organised cycling races in the world. Since the very first edition in 1903, this 21-day race through France has been getting hearts pumping. For cycling fans, the multi-stage race over 3500 kilometres is the pinnacle of competitive international cycling. Many of those fans are weekend warriors themselves, taking to country trails or city bike paths for one of the world’s favourite amateur sports and leisure activities.

Un vrai domestique

Now your domestic decor can reflect your passion for two-wheeled exercise. We’ve found a clutch of fun items inspired by cycling in general, and the Tour de France in particular. Note the colour palette – red, white and blue are the national colours of France; bright yellow with black accents are the tones most associated with Tour de France participants and their eye-popping jerseys. Perfect for a casual den, office or man (woman) cave, they’ll also help create an excellent atmosphere for watching all those superhero cyclists battle mountainous terrain, the elements, and each other – on the big screen television.

Polka dot, or maillot jaune?

It doesn’t take much to get the message across. Even small items such as the mugs you sip coffee from can broadcast your special interest. Take this graphic mug featuring that iconic yellow. £13.50

Crossbar optional

The couple that cycles together, stays together. We also love these his and hers cycling mugs from John Lewis. £5

Chopper

This miniature bike model makes a rather adorable conversation piece. A faithful scaled down replica of a real bike, it would look great atop a shelving unit or entertainment centre. This 70s “chopper” model is in bright orange for a slightly more badass hit of colour. £50

The Route Prints

These A2 giclee prints from London’s iconic Look Mum No Hands feature the essence of some of the most iconic theatres in cycling, the roads on which the greats fought and reputations were forged. Iconic mountains, fabulous scenery and beautiful styling. We love the orange and blue of the Ronde, but of course Ventoux is better suited to the Tour! £40

Shut Up Legs!

We’ve also some some great aspirational wall art. A favourite message – shut up, legs! – familiar to almost anyone who rides, adorns this Sassan Filsoof digital print. £85

Think of the hills

Tour de France yellow makes this limited edition giclee print on 100% cotton rag paper by Bristol based artist Lisa Takahashi an energetic accent for any wall. £225

Ride with the pack

For a more abstract allusion to cycle love (and one that will handily go with any existing style of decor or colour palette), we like this dynamic cast iron wall sculpture depicting a pack of racing cyclists crouched into the wind. £100

OK that’s enough for the armchair and weekend cycle buffs; we’ve found some things for those who take riding a bike seriously – those who use their bikes to commute or belong to a local touring club.

Take it outside

This bike shed is a practical solution for storing your wheels. Tucked into a garden or patio, it will shelter your trusty ride from the elements and thieves. Sturdy, good-looking and lockable, this bike store can accommodate two adult size bikes and assorted accessories. £339

And finally, because we know what you need, this puncture repair kit makes a great gift for the yourself or the cyclist in your life. Cold patches, tyre levers and adhesive makes this one elegant tin box of usefulness. £10

Enthusiasm for cycling always reaches a fever pitch in July. That’s when the super athletes of the Tour de France (and the other great distance bike races taking place in Europe) show us all what grit and determination on two wheels actually looks like. And that’s when we’ve dusted off our bikes, be they humble fixies or 16-gear war machines, and fallen in love with riding all over again. The cycling season is short, but you can keep the passion going with a few decorative reminders all year long.

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The post Allez Allez! 12 Fab Finds to Show Your Love of Cycling appeared first on The Idealist.

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Elephants rollercoasters and rockets: The... | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/162424959294/elephants-rollercoasters-and-rockets-the#_=_ Todays Modern Hero is Martin Waller founder of Andrew Martin International. We caught up with him at their very distinctive store in Walton Street Kensington to talk design travel and inspiration and learn more about the eclectic and highly original Andrew Martin look. your home tells a story of your life One Stop Shop Martin Waller Founder of Andrew Martin International IDEALIST: Martin thanks so much for finding time to talk to us today. Youve worked all over the world and have a number of stores and high profile clients. As fans of Walton Street it strikes us that theres nothing quite like shopping in London. Our shopping guides to other cities feature some great places but our experience of Paris say or Madrid is that you dont get such a concentration of designers in one street. Why do you think that is? Martin: I think thats true in a lot of places in the world. I actually think London is this we have this kind of quirky individual attitude to life and I think which is why our music industry is so successful and were good at those things. Its because we hate to be told what to do. IDEALIST: In The Idealist we feature quite a lot of interior designers and people renovating their own properties. Professional designers tell me that their buyers all want a unique look but that also they want something that tells a story about themselves. Typically people want a mix and match approach that tells a story so theyve got antique prints from when they got married in Italy or lets say theyve got a dining table inherited from their parents. People want that kind of connection. Do you agree? Martin: I absolutely agree. I mean your home tells a story of your life. The curious thing about fashion is people say they want individuality but everybody buys an Hermès Birkin bag. Or they all buy exactly the same Louis Vuitton thing. But in their home thats where they express who they are and I absolutely believe that is what being in the trade is all about. All designers are facilitators to help people tell their story. Starting the Business IDEALIST: So how did you get into the business? Martin: Oh my God the question really is how do I get out! So I started in 1978 thats a long while ago! When youre 22 you really know everything there is to know. Its only as you get older you find you know less and less and less and want to know more and more! So we started in Richmond and then we came here about 30 years ago. IDEALIST: And what were you selling first? Martin: There were always things for the home: lighting cushions textiles interior designs stuff. IDEALIST: And did you have a certain kind of customer in mind or a certain look initially or was it things that you loved? Martin: No things have evolved terrifically. In fact I was just writing the introduction you know we publish this book every year called Interior Design so I was just writing the Foreword for this year and I was trying to find a word to describe our design era. Weve had everything from midcentury to 1960s to Pop but actually Ive realised what weve been doing for the last 20 years didnt have a label. randomshards of glass come into focus and create the overall pattern Kaleidoscopic Designs IDEALIST: Did you find something? Have you come up with a name? Martin: Well the word Id come up with is kaleidoscope. Im sure when you did ancient Greek youll know the derivation of the kaleidoscope you know about observation and beauty and shape and so on. And this idea that these randomshards of glass come into focus and create the overall pattern. Martin walks us through his latest International Design Review book which features interiors of the rich and famous from all over the world including outstanding designers from Holland China South Africa Poland and elsewhere and with spreads including Tommy Hilfigers New York pad on top of the old Plaza Building the New York Yankees hospitality suite and some amazing commercial and domestic interiors. Martin is a tremendous history buff and reminds us that theres nothing new about palatial interiors and awe-inspiring designs. At the peak of ancient Rome there were something like 1.2 million people in Rome which fell to fewer than 40000 and has only in the 20th century recovered to its Roman Empire heights. And the Dark Ages lasted for so long! A thousand years of pillaging hoards before the Renaissance! Alongside the modern design pieces and some amazing original prints for example of Fritz Langs Metropolis the Walton Street store is to our eyes pretty unique in also selling original historical artefacts and antiquary from Roman and Egyptian times. They really are a site to behold and make a change from the midcentury design classics you see being hallowed elsewhere. IDEALIST: Returning to the 21st Century why do you think certain historical styles such as High Victorian or Georgian persist? I can see why someone with a Jacobean mansion would want to decorate it faithfully but why are there certain looks that we seem to return to? Are there trendsetters that tell us how we should live? Martin: Yes. I mean thats such an interesting idea where trends emerge from and how trends become universal. They pop up in Japan and they pop up in America and Europe kind of all simultaneously. There is partly movies and magazines but trends were always there. Youre talking aboutVictorian houses and you can tell the difference between a Queen Anne house and a Georgian house. Even in things as big as that you know the decade the house was built by looking at it or likewise on the domestic scale with a teapot by its handle or its lid and its spout. There has always been this incredible fashion for the styling of things in everything. Martin: The interesting thing is that some things havent changed at all like. Men still want to look like Cary Grant and girls want to look like Audrey Hepburn. These are figures from the 1950s. This is 70 years ago. If you go 70 years back before then people dressed completely differently. But James Dean jeans t-shirt thats the look people wear still wear today. Back in the 1970s we all thought by now we would be wearing white jumpsuits and our food would come in pills. There was this TV programme: Tomorrows World. None of it happened none of it happened. Even cars what has happened to car design? Distinctive Aesthetics IDEALIST: I know. Theres nothing now like the Citroen DS or Aston Martin is there. I can just about get excited if youve got a retro looking sports car but in the main once youre getting into the bigger cars theyre all very samey. Even the new VW Beetle. So give me a feel for your kind of customers. When they come here are they looking for single pieces or are they looking torenovate a whole home? Martin: Well of course you cantgeneralise.There are lots of people who just want to wander in and find some strange thing or just buy an unusual Guatemalan textile cushions or retro poster. Naturally because we do lots of homes andmajor projects we see people who have an empathy with our aesthetic or think we have an empathy with their aesthetic. IDEALIST: So what would you say has been your most unusual thing that youve found that you wanted to sell or your most unusual request? Martin: Of things weve sold I have to show you we built this rollercoaster with all these old vintage cars that I got from Blackpool Pleasure Beach that were made in the 20s and 30s so that was a random thing to sell. I bought this elephant sculpture too you need to see how big it was. Explorers are the real superheroes of the planet and I share their passion for finding new experiences and meeting new people. IDEALIST: Youve got a thing for elephants havent you? Martin: Yeah we have. I made it for a place in India and was placed half way across a swimming pool and half on the shore as it were so you could swim underneath it. AeroplanesIve sold plenty of aeroplanes over the years. Space I built this thing we do a lot of work with movie studios and this was from Alien. We rebuilt the spaceship and everything.This is when I was going throughthe Porn and Peep Show phase with neon signs saying All You Can Eat and Five Cents An Hour. And this with thesemachinesyou press a button and it told you whether you were a love machine or grumpy Martin shows us some other installations with ropes hanging from the ceiling some rockets for a restaurant in Paris and some huge Atomic Age and Russian-style pieces. Martin: these were divers we sold these figures. This was a football table but it was for giants here are the humans. So we sold those. They were amazing actually. Theyre beautiful arent they? Absolutely beautiful. So weve sold plenty of strange things over the years. This was an amazing thing. This was the architects model for a rollercoaster that was actually meant to be built in New Zealand. I think it was built in the 1930s. You put a ball up here and it just follows the track of the rollercoaster. It was such a beautiful thing. Ambitions IDEALIST: Youve done so much and its so eclectic. Do you have an ambition thats not yet been realized? Martin: Well next month Im going to space conference in Norway and there are going to be three moonwalkers there including Buzz Aldrin. Exploration is a passion really so I think Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong are the two greatest explorers of all time. Explorers are the real superheroes of the planet and I share their passion for finding new experiences and meeting new people. To see a small selection of the Andrew Martin range you can shop online at andrewmartin.co.uk. For the full experience we recommend a trip to their store on Londons Walton Street where they have everything from neon-enhanced posters of Che Guevara to Egyptian and Roman artefacts to rockets cockpits sofas cushions and accessories. Its a real treasure trove. You May Also Like Vibrant Colour Scheme: Get In the Pink Modern Hero: Cornish fabric designer Helen Baker Modern Heroes: George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg Save The post Elephants rollercoasters and rockets: The Idealist visits Andrew Martin appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/elephants-rollercoasters-rockets-idealist-andrew-martin/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/162424846043

Three Great Summer Makeovers for Kids’ Bedrooms | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with everything that you need to take care of for the kids. Summer’s an especially busy time: exams, last day of terms, summer holidays to think about, plan and then enjoy.

And as, just around the corner, the kids move up a year at school, it’s a great time to think about whether their bedrooms still give your growing kids what they need. Do they have enough storage space. Do they have a place to do their homework? Do they have somewhere to put their kit for their latest sporting obsession?

We’ve been working with our friends at Feather & Black to pick out some pieces from their best ranges for kids. But we don’t want to lose sight of the summer days that we look forward to every year. That’s why we’ve picked out some looks and colours that recall the lazy days of summer, the sunshine and the holidays that we all love.

The team at Feather & Black know that creating the perfect bedroom for your kids is just as important as designing your own space. In fact, some of their ranges are smaller versions of their main designs, so you can have a consistent look throughout the home if you want.

All the furniture we’ve chosen is in beautiful creams and light woods to keep the look fresh — and of course all of it is designed especially for kids through to teenagers.

Great Colours for Kids’ Bedrooms

We’re all familiar with the tradition of painting the nursery the palest pink or baby blue to welcome the new arrival, but as kids get older, you’ll soon find you’re better off with something that can stand the test of time and can grow with your kids.

Pale blues, white, navy and orange are all great colours for boys and girls. And grey is bang on trend too. Add pale window draperies in pure white or ivory colours or even the palest blue. You could also work with a navy and red palette for a slightly more formal and traditional feel.

Furniture and Fabrics

Keep furniture pale and fresh coloured and then layer on intensity with textiles, bed linens and throws. Stick to solid bold colours in blocks or stripes, but while it’s summer don’t be afraid to add hues that suggest sand and sun – red and orange and yellow, or the sweet pink of an ice cream. The goal with kids rooms is to balance the dynamism they love with the serenity they need, so feel free to draw from both ends of the colour spectrum.

We’ve picked out some great furniture and accessory options to work with from Feather & Black. Here they are front and centre in three kids bedroom themes with a summery vibe.

The Noah Range

Modern Heroes: Lozi Designs | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/162348010964/modern-heroes-lozi-designs#_=_ Todays Modern Hero is Soroush Pourhashemi who founded Lozi Designs designers and makers of beautiful plywood furniture lighting and accessories back in 2012. We caught up with him on the opening of their new store and workshop in Hackney. Theyre everyday beautiful products: very minimal and honest Dream Soroush Pourhashemi Founder of Lozi Designs IDEALIST: Soroush can you start by telling us the background of Lozi how did it come about and whats behind opening your new store? Soroush: It was all part of the dream I had. I started woodwork in general and studied design at school. I always wanted to have a place where we can create our work and people can come have a look and just see whats going on and where the focus is. I also wanted to have a bit more exposure for my work. So getting a shopand having a studio workshop aroundit made sense rather than to have two separate places. I want to make it accessible in the city people can come and see the work. Its great to have a focus for a local businesses and Hackney works well as you shop locally for so many things. IDEALIST: And for people who havent seen your product range how would you describe it what characterizes it? Soroush: Theyre everyday beautiful products: very minimal and honest. We try to make most of our furniture pieces out of one piece of wood with minimum joints and when you look at them you can see immediately how they have been made. In the big city there are so many complications and things to see and digest. Coming home is a safe place and I wanted to communicate a sense of simplicity and ease through beautiful shapes rather than challenging designs. One of the things that we do here a lot is bending wood using a specific vacuum press plywood technique Designs IDEALIST: So youve got lighting youve got cabinets youve got tables youve got other kinds of furniture. Whats the starting point for your work? Soroush: If you look at the business we have a standard range like coffee tables lamps table chairs and so on and we also do bespoke interior projects. So its always changing its always interesting for example if we get a commission to interior design a house then there is a lot of new fitted furniture from the kitchen to the wardrobes and shelving and we also bring a lot of our standard products in to match with it. So the entire thing looks like an art the whole design is unified. Its kind of hassle free for the clients because they deal with one person and then we design everything for them. We make it we install it. Its then customer service afterwards. So its a lot of caring for the clients. Maybe they spend a bit more but the result is great and everyone happy. Approach IDEALIST: And what would you say your hallmark approach is? Soroush: One of the things that we do here a lot is bending wood using a specific vacuum press plywood technique. Thats something I started the business with. Bent plywood has been done a lot of times like in your 1930s-40s and through to the 70s and of course its a technique used in a lot of design classics but its an approach that falls in and out of use as its very precise and time-consuming. IDEALIST: But you experiment with other materials too? Soroush: Yes and at the beginning there were a couple of materials we were working with. I was just exploring but at as you keep going you kind of see new things you kind of explore new things and new combinations . And then you develop yourapproach. I recently discovered a company who do surfaces with recycled plastic and so soon were going to bring some of this finish to our range. Its recycled yogurt bottles and the material is called yogurt but it is like a very very compressed white plastic that has a very nice texture which goes very well with wood. IDEALIST: Is sustainability something thats important to you? Soroush: Absolutely our percentage waste is much much lower than the industry average because through bending ply we are keeping the number of joints and pieces to a minimum. So much is made from one piece of wood and we have control over it so there is very little wasted and through the application of very thin layers of plywood at each stage we can carefully control the amount of material we use. Process IDEALIST: But that kind of work is very labour intensive isnt it? Soroush: Yeah its a long process for all of us. We put a lot of effort and time to get it right. For example this is standard range I was telling you. It takes a long time to develop it. We create jigs we create frames and then once we have it all there everything is made to order. Everything seems like a one off piece but its the product of a lot of prior development. our percentage waste is much much lower than the industry average IDEALIST: So what are your ambitions then? Do you want to be stocked in the high street? Soroush: No I dont think so. We got approached by a major retailer and they were interested in some of our products and if you can do it why not? But I like to keep this brand individual. We dont necessarily want to be part of like a bigger brand all the corporates all of this. Starting a business is very difficult and we have passed that point and its very enjoyable now. We want to retain our values and ensure the sort of business we wanted to build we get to continue with. For me this is my passion as well designing furniture. So I dont want to lose that. Heroes IDEALIST: So who are your heroes? Soroush: One of those questions. Heroes. A lot of people most of them are like musicians actually. I really likeLeonard Cohen thats one of my heroes as a person hes a really nice person. His art his work is just incredible. Coming todesign and furniture. I really likeAlvar Aalto. Future Aspirations IDEALIST: What about your ambitions in terms of your designs. Youve mentioned you love working with clients on major projects. What about the product ranges what do you see next in terms of product ranges? Soroush: I would like to develop a range that suits modern living. Technology has developed incredibly over the last 20 years but we still use the same furniture. Many people live in tiny apartments especially in London and other big cities. How can we achieve an environment which enables people to work relax maybe have a little dinner party and how can our designs support that? And we love doing interests interiors projects where we get to explore new ideas and bring new materials. Its amazing to create things that people are likely to keep in their houses for years. IDEALIST: Just thinking from the perspective of the client it must bedifficultyou know finding that balance in the sense that you approach professionals because you trust them and you love what they do and youre willing to invest in that but you want something thats just personal to you so you want to put your personal stamp on it. Finding that sort of intersect between the designers vision and the clients vision it cant be easy. How do you do that? Soroush: Yeah you said it: its not easy. This is another thing in our brand we are trying to create that trust in the products so when people see our previous work they can immediately trust this kind of quality. The design the attitude and we are not mainstream we know that. And if anyone approaches us they kind of know our style their attitude their direction and they know we have this shop this workshop people come and see the entire store. So then they can say okay putting thistogether with this I can start to understand. And its like areal privilege for us do the entire commission as a project. I mean we feel privileged to be chosen. Sometimes clients have strong ideas and inspirational images to work with otherwise its more of a blank canvas. And as we discuss we can help them think through their needs we can give them lots of tips and they say oh! we didnt think about that. And then you can build it up from there to give them solutions that really meet their needs. Find Out More The LoziShop/Workshop is based at 278 Hackney road London E2 7SJ and is open Mon Fri 10am 6pm Closed Saturdays Sundays 11am 5pm You May Also Like Modern Hero: Cornish fabric designer Helen Baker Modern Heroes: George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg Industrial chic meets crafted elegance chez Arthur Hoopers Save The post Modern Heroes: Lozi Designs appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/modern-heroes-lozi-designs/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/162347780183

Eight Top Trends in Interiors for 2017-18 | Spencer Thorpe Blog

https://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/162321291019/eight-top-trends-in-interiors-for-2017-18#_=_

2016 was the year we witnessed the arrival of the Scandinavian inspired look and it is one trend that has continued into 2017. As we’re at the halfway point of the year, here’s a guide courtesy of our friends at EZ Living Interiors on what trends to look out for on the high street.

1. Deep Jewelled Tones

This harks back to a wintery Scandi’ influence and it’s a hue that is flattering, easy on the eye and simple to incorporate into homes. While the stronger emerald tones might not be for everyone, it’s important to note that just because it’s a trend it doesn’t mean that every room or every part of one room has to feature the colour. You can of course go as focused or expansive as your tastes desire.

2. Texture

There has been a huge surge in demand for rich and opulent fabrics like velvet.

Velvet furniture delivers a really elegant focal point. If your budget doesn’t rise to a new sofa, velvet is something that can be easily incorporated through use of throws, cushions, footstools and so on.

Sometimes with velvet, less is more, so if you do go for the sofa option, keep the rest of the accessories in the room to a minimum. Metallic accessories like silver picture frames, gold trays or candelabras would also be stunning with this particular colour of sofa.

3. Upholstered Bed Frames

Say hello to exquisite materials and sublime detailing in the form of a velvet finished bed frame which in itself could be the focal point of the bedroom. If it’s a new room and you have leeway to work with colours, you should begin by choosing your bed head fabric colour and go from there. To keep things from being too over the top, select more muted accessories with added pops of accent colours like dusty pinks, corals and so on.

4. Navy

Navy is a versatile colour and is less harsh than black; it can work well with traditional themes (think marine related colours). It can also be highly modern depending on the tone of navy and of course the choice of accessories that you put with it.

5. Marble

The marble effect trend has manifested itself not just into interiors but into other items like phone covers and notebooks, such is its popularity. Instantly providing a touch of glamour, it’s also a fantastically practical material in the home. Inject an interesting style contrast by adding in soft pinks as part of your accessories.

6. Cérused Wood Finishes

The cérused (limed) finish harks towards a rustic and almost reclaimed look which is always interesting to look at and will last the test of time. A play on that which combines the retro and Scandi style with pops of colour is also hugely popular.

7. Mirrored Furniture

Match this opulent and supremely stylish furniture with anything from upholstered beds to wooden bed frames in the bedroom. Consider including the console table in your hallway to create a spectacular entrance setting. Accessories such as metallic candelabras, lamps and frames will prove wonderfully complementary to this furniture.

8. Pineapples

We’ve been seeing pineapples everywhere. As a motif, as table lamps, in wallpaper, in cocktails. Tropical fruit is a thing. Honestly.

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Small Bathroom Renovation to Scandi Spa Style Chic | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/162268379819/small-bathroom-renovation-to-scandi-spa-style-chic#_=_ Bathrooms are often the smallest room within a home yet we require them to do so much. They have to withstand daily washing for numerous occupants and contain a toilet basin bath or shower at the very least. This is a tall order but as I discovered it is possible to turn a functional bathroom into a sanctuary style space with a bit of careful planning and research. We recently moved into a house with a small bathroom. The freestanding slipper bath that looked lovely turned out to be a small sit up bath not long enough for either my tall husband or myself to lie in.We also wanted a shower to be put in but the ceiling was too low. With these large issues to tackle a complete bathroom renovation was necessary. The bathroom before work started Brief The inspiration was was modern Scandinavian design mixed with serene spa experience quite achallenge as this was to be our family bathroom for us and our two young boys. I wanted to keep the room light and bright have natural wood elements for contrasts in colour and texture whilst maintaining style and interest within the room. Room dimensions The bathroom measures 160cm x 246cm and we wanted to include a shower and a170cm bath. This meant altering the existing layout and raising the ceiling height by 30cm to allow for the shower to be at a comfortable height for us tall folk. Luckily we had a builder who we were able to consult and check that these options were viable before going ahead with the changes. Furniture I chose a wall hung oak effect vanity basin unit and matching back to wall toilet that had rounded corners creating a look of simple Scandinavian design and paired these with a classic white bathroom suite. As the basin unit is off the floor it creates the feeling that the floor space is bigger than it actually is an added bonus in a small space. Tiles Being a pattern geek I wanted to include a subtle pattern that fit with the feel of spa and added some interest to the room. Eventually I chose geometric floor tiles in white and light grey from Laura Ashley. We chose matt mini metro tiles in off white with grey grout to echo the colours in the floor tiles whilst creating a classic bathroom look. Storage. An important one as in order to achieve the spa like experience that I wanted we needed adequate storage for the kids toys and toiletries.The under sink storage unit has two deep drawers perfect for hiding away all the functional bathroom items.The various shelving spaces can then be used solely for candles to create the relaxing atmosphere once the kids are in bed. Through the careful consideration of all the above we have managed to achieve a family bathroom inspired by simple Scandinavian design that can transform into a little sanctuary. Small but perfectly formed. Get the Look Bathroom furniture bySoak.com Mirror by John Lewis Wicker Dove Grey floor tiles by Laura Ashley You May Also Like Colour Scheme: Black in the bathroom Planning a Small-Space Bathroom Wetrooms The new trend in bathroom design From a one to a two-bed in this small-space duplex The post Small Bathroom Renovation to Scandi Spa Style Chic appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/small-bathroom-renovation-scandi-spa-style-chic/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/162268350773

A Guide to Parquet Flooring: What is it and why do... | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/162115245459/a-guide-to-parquet-flooring-what-is-it-and-why-do#_=_ In this guide to parquet flooring we find out why its a perennial favourite and take a look at some beautiful new colours and designs which are suited to both traditional and modern homes. What is Parquet? Ash Grey Oak in Chevron design The origins of parquet flooring date back to the late 1600s in Versailles France. Handmade by cutting pieces of wood into small geometric shapes it emerged as an alternative to marble flooring with Louis XIV opting for parquet flooring in the splendiferous Palace of Versailles. In the 17th and 18th centuries it became increasingly popular in Western Europe. In the 20th century parquet flooring was initially popular in the UK but earned a bit of a bad design rap due to unsympathetic use in 70s and 80s housing treatments. Nonetheless its now having a huge comeback as parquet flooring remains a warm sturdy and versatile option for modern living areas. Hereshow to take parquet flooring back to its elegant and luxurious origins. Where can it be used? According to Jago Anderson Creative Director at parquet expertselement7 Parquet flooring can be laid anywhere in the house. For thinner spaces such as corridors and hallways extra care needs to be taken when fitting to ensure that both sides of the room are equal and balanced. Element7 does this by using a central spin and laying the floor out from that on either side. This ensures complete symmetry. Whilst herringbone has been the most popular design for many years we are seeing an increased demand for chevrons and mansion weaves. Traditional Parquet Da Vinci Panels style Traditional patterns for parquet are generally angular and geometric as opposed to marquetry which refers to wood floors that contain curved pieces. Derived from the original parquet de Versailles in which small diagonally laid squares are encased in a box of longer rectangular pieces most of the classic parquet patterns are variations on herringbone chevron or diagonally laid wood often in subtly mixed contrasting shades and grains. Traditionally it was laid using tongue and groove carpentry with no nails or glue used. To finish it is waxed and buffed to a high polish. Reclaimed Wood Parquet Reclaimed parquet flooring is typically lifted from old schools churches and other public buildings. Differences in areas of wear require that planks and pieces be cleaned and resurfaced before the pattern is laid. Oak teak and mahogany are popular hardwoods used for parquet; pine is a popular softwood. Reclaimed planks and squares can be laid to traditional patterns or for a more contemporary look in more distinctive patterns. Reclaimed parquet can add to a distressed aesthetic if desired but new products can also be engineered to achieve the look. These guys specialise in reclaimed parquet from schools and colleges for that sitting-crossed-legged-on-the-floor-for-assembly vibe. Reclaimed wood needs more work than new so be warned! But in return you will get a unique floor with an interesting history. Parquet flooring can be laid anywhere in the house Engineered Parquet Experts say modern heating and air conditioning systems subject wooden flooring to extreme changes in temperature and non-engineered parquet flooring may react badly. Engineered parquet ismade of layers of plywood that are bonded together to create a stable and solid core board. On top of this core board engineered wood flooring manufacturers place a layer of solid wood and its this layer of solid wood that makes engineered wood flooring absolutely real looking. This means that this flooring option can be used throughout the home even where there are moisture and temperature issues and under floor heating. Antique Grey Distressed Oak Panels Keep in mind that with engineered parquet as with everything you get what you pay for. Thats why its important to source engineered flooring from an experienced supplier and installer. The higher end firms have great ranges and showcase some spectacular floors made from engineered wood laid in traditional patterns hexagons mansion weaves and even free-form one of a kind designs. The beauty of wood its grain and colour highlighted by the intricate and often striking patterns of parquet is always a welcome element in any home. Weve come across element7 floors specified in so many of the beautiful interiors you see in the magazines and they floors that dreams are made on. And if you fancy going beyond the traditional herringbone pattern they can do that too. With time patience and a good kneepad you can lay a parquet floor yourself but if you want a floor to last a lifetime we saypremium materials and expert installation is definitely the way to go when choosing this classic floor treatment. You May Also Like Choosing a New Floor for a Family Home Flooring choices for open plan living Inside a Renovated Soho Loft Studio All images are courtesy of element7who produce a wide range of parquet styles and designs. Save The post A Guide to Parquet Flooring: What is it and why do we love it? appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/guide-parquet-flooring-love/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/162115064143