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Spencer Thorpe

A design enthusiast from London, UK. I love spending time with family, friends, and traveling. Love all types of music. Work hard Monday-Friday, spend my off time on hiking trails.

Industrial Chic Accessories – Our Top Ten Finds | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Industrial Chic Accessories – Our Top Ten Finds | Spencer Thorpe Blog

https://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/160437623704/industrial-chic-accessories-our-top-ten-finds#_=_





Following on from our Top 10 Industrial Chic furniture pieces, Benjamin has been out looking for ways to accessorise with other smaller pieces and accessories to complement to look. He’s even found a robust but gorgeous firecube for those summer nights with beers and marshmallows in hand.



Accessories + Styling



Add a small reference to utility with this combination chalkboard and lighting fixture. Made from slate, wood and wire, this brasserie-style piece would work well in a kitchen (menu items, grocery lists), study or mudroom. £121 Or, this metal wall clock from Oli & Grace offers visible functionality in the industrial tradition. Its distressed blue casing also adds a hint of colour to an otherwise fairly neutral and natural palette in a foyer, kitchen or study. It’s cased in metal and glass-faced, unlike a lot of the cheaper pieces you see these days. Remember, plastic is rarely industrial chic! £ 105







Although it’s more commonly associated with the mid century modern aesthetic, concrete is a material that is also well suited to an industrial chic look. We love this concrete-look lamp from Maisons du monde. £28.49 Generally, lighting is a great way to incorporate the industrial chic style into any room, because there are so many iterations to choose from. Here are just three possibilities from a vast array of metal options.







The Oboro film lamp (top right) recalls the early days of cinema and with a the distressed green shade it offers a quick hit of colour. £ 195 A pendant light (left) is perfect over an industrial strength dining or kitchen table; this one from Loaf is crafted from spun steel with exposed fittings and a cream shadow that softens its edges. £85 And, finally, desk lamps can also offer the factory floor/warehouse experience. This concrete-look cast iron fully adjustable desk light from Loaf is finished in vintage bronze and brass. £125



For window treatments and soft accessories in a living room or bedroom, think humble, unprocessed fabrics like muslin or even linen. Both textiles are intrinsically linked to production in Georgian/Edwardian times. In throw cushions or draperies, they add texture to a room without the distraction of a print or bright colour.







Industrial chic can also easily inform the design scheme of your hallways, outdoor areas, a patio or terrace. Consider this Oli & Grace all-weather firecube, if you have space for a bonfire. £395. Attach a sturdy sconce to a hallway wall £65 (we also love this version from Maisons du Monde £76.99). If you’re thinking ahead to a future dinner party or supper, you could add a distressed bench for guest seating £495, and your nod to the aesthetics of hard work is complete. Now relax.



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The post Industrial Chic Accessories – Our Top Ten Finds appeared first on The Idealist.







from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/10-industrial-chic-accessories/



from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/160437595028

Vibrant Colour Scheme: Get In the Pink | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Vibrant Colour Scheme: Get In the Pink | Spencer Thorpe Blog

https://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/160329628694/vibrant-colour-scheme-get-in-the-pink#_=_





Pink, once the province of girls’ bedrooms and chocolate box country cottages, has long been overlooked by many designers fearful of creating things that might seem a little unserious or twee.



But this season has seen a surge of pink on the catwalk and at Milan’s Design Week, with everything from light rose pinks to fluoro pink to fuschia on show. Whether it’s on the walls, the fabric of your furniture or in accent pieces, pink is a great colour to bring some life to a living room, kitchen or conservatory. Don’t work with it alone, however. There are some great complementary colours which will bring the look to life. Here’s how.



Working with Pink



If you’re looking to insert a little colour and style into your rooms without revamping the entire setting, using pinks and complementary colours might just be what you’re looking for. If you stay on the paler side, a light and airy colour palette evokes the light green, white and pink palette of the early spring countryside or the famed cherry blossoms of Japan. If you go bold, you can nod towards sun-drenched late-night beach bars and cocktails, as in the Habitat x House of Holland range which we featured when it launched. It’s also pretty versatile room-wise and can brighten up your living/dining room as well as your kitchen or conservatory. It’s time pink came out of the bedroom, right?



What’s the best way to style the look?



A good way to work with pink is one which uses the colours of the spring countryside, including soft pinks, neutral whites and off-whites, light green and just a pop of fuschia and pea green for contrast.



Furniture and accessories in this design style are streamlined and functional, and include white or cream-painted wooden furniture, light-coloured woods and accessories and fabrics in pink, fuschia and green. To make the colours sing, this is not a cluttered style and a few, well-chosen accessories are preferable to a jumble of possessions.



Design pieces that look great in this scheme



Below are a few ideas to help you put together your own pink-loving room. We’re including some great ideas from Andrew Martin for the first time today. His collection of fabrics, accessories and furnishings are influenced by a broad variety of cultures based on his own travels. He’s really going to town with pink this season and we love it!











Cushions



Try some Pink cushions. Andrew Martin offers the perfect hues to accent your pink scheme, everything from dark fuschia to pale pink. This square, ikat print cushion in vibrant hot paradise pink makes a perfect contrast to a neutral-coloured sofa, chair or settee. £59



Dining table



Consider a light Dining table. This light wood dining table from Maisons du Monde coordinates well with a pink design palette. You can dress it up with a soft pink table cloth or let the beauty of the wood enhance the look of your dining room. £286.



Coral softness



Add pink with an area rug. For a different take on pink, bring in some warmness with the orange tones of coral to complement pink accessories, fabrics and wooden furniture. For additional layering, put this rug over pale maple or oak plank flooring. (£175.00 – £650.00)









Go Large



Have some room to expand with a console/dining table. For a larger room and for entertaining, this white high gloss table is a combination console and dining room table: a perfect addition to this scheme to give your colour accents centre stage. When you’re not serving a meal, the two pieces stack together to form a sleek console table. When it’s time to entertain, they fit together to seat up to 12 guests. £999.



Take a seat



Team with some dining chairs. Of course, you’ll also need the perfect dining chairs for your new room and we particularly like these white faux leather dining chairs from Habitat (£180). Being a neutral backdrop, they’d make a great place to showcase colourful pink accessories, such as these amazing animal print cushions (£59).



Reflections



Reflect on a wall mirror. Adding a mirror to your living or dining room is a great way to lighten the room and make the space seem larger than it really is. This rectangular wall mirror that stands over 2 metres tall has a silver metal frame that hints at the exotic streets of North Africa or the Middle East without detracting from your pink palette. (£1,550 for the largest).









Neon and pink



This sectional sofa from Andrew Martin covered in Savannah Paradise fabric (£1595) in pink ticking stripes. Not as bold as some of his other designs, this creates a great backdrop to more statement accessories and looks amazing with these vintage travel posters.









Cocktail time



And finally, we can’t talk pink without reminding you of this amazing cocktail chair from Henry Holland x Habitat (£595). It’s a limited edition, it’s in hot pink velvet with blue piping, and would bring a bright splash of colour to any room. Love. It.



Incorporating a pink direction into your home decor is all about getting the right mixture of subtle and bright colours, casual, multi-functional furnishings, well-chosen fabrics and useful accessories. With a little time and effort, the right choice of pink can give your home that light and ethereal look of the English countryside just after dawn, or sunrise over the savannah, even if you live in the heart of the city. With a choice of brighter pinks, on the other hand, the night is yours.



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The post Vibrant Colour Scheme: Get In the Pink appeared first on The Idealist.







from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/vibrant-colour-scheme-get-pink/



from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/160329570213

Harper’s Bazaar styling comes to Clerkenwell | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Harper’s Bazaar styling comes to Clerkenwell | Spencer Thorpe Blog

https://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/160256807399/harpers-bazaar-styling-comes-to-clerkenwell#_=_





We’re visiting a very distinctive first floor flat in London’s historic Clerkenwell district today to see a uniquely styled property that’s straight out of the vintage pages of Harper’s Bazaar.



Clerkenwell is one of the oldest parts of central London and has at times played host to London’s watchmakers and repairers industry, the medieval Mystery Plays, an order of Monastic Knights who gave medical aid during the crusades and, being beyond the city walls, was once notorious for its brothels and alehouses, but has been a very sought after residential area since loft and warehouse living got underway in the 1980s. It’s also been home to London’s first Italian community, Fabric nightclub, some world-class restaurants (Moro, St John), Sadler’s Wells and a host of coffee shops, media companies, architects and designers.











I want this place to look like a garden, but a garden in hell





The rich history and global connections of Clerkenwell are reflected in today’s home tour in a flat which pays homage to Diana Vreeland, noted columnist and editor of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Vreeland was behind Jackie Kennedy’s style when JFK took office, worked closely with Richard Avedon and regularly hosted Cecil Beaton and Cole Porter at parties she threw. Growing up amongst the rich, famous and aristocratic, Vreeland was said to have asked for an apartment she moved to in 1955 to be decorated exclusively in red, saying “I want this place to look like a garden, but a garden in hell’.







In the second of our features with Sarah Thomas Interiors, Sarah tells us how the redesign came about.



IDEALIST: Tell us more about the flat and the inspiration behind the scheme.



Sarah: My client recently moved into this first floor flat in Clerkenwell which required complete redecoration. We were working with a few key pieces of vintage furniture that she had already acquired, along with some pink velvet bespoke curtains she had commissioned previously that ran the length of the living and dining room areas. We collaborated to create an eclectic, glamorous, chintzy look using these pieces as our starting point. We worked on a lot of mood boards ideas together before we started work and finally decided on a look that was inspired by the great Diana Vreeland’s interiors. This project had a healthy budget, so really allowed for a lot of creativity and detail. My client was a big fan of animal prints and florals, so this was a great brief: I could get really creative with wallpapers and fabrics to create something really special.







IDEALIST:
What was the design brief?



Sarah: There was a large open plan living room that was partly divided by a partition wall to the dining area, so we needed to design a scheme that would flow from room to room but still allow for individual looks. My client had already bought a B&B Italia bed which set the tone for the bedroom and this allowed us to elaborate on the décor with wall prints and lighting. My client is an academic and had a study area that needs to be functional, but also warm and inviting with a creative atmosphere. As well as decoration, I was asked to source artwork, taxidermy, interesting decorative objects, lighting and plants.



IDEALIST: Were there are restrictions on what you could do, since this is a flat in a historic building?



Sarah: The flat came with laminate floors and hardwood doors that we couldn’t change, so we had to work around this. I decided to use a large bespoke leopard skin rug to provide a focal point and overcome a not-great-looking floor.



IDEALIST: Where did you start with the work?



Sarah: We started by painting the main areas of the flat in a neutral Elephant’s Breath colour by Farrow & Ball. This immediately warmed up the flat and was the perfect backdrop for the rich wallpaper colours we’d chosen. We then started on the wallpapers to add some drama into the rooms. We chose a Cole & Sons palm wallpaper for the dividing wall between the living room and dining room and wrapped in both areas. The palm print really worked and added height and elegance to the rooms. A snakeskin wallpaper from Osborne & Little was chosen for the bedroom in a brown and gold which really added atmosphere and depth to the room and was a great contrast with the coral coloured credenza. The wallpaper in the study was very much inspired by Diana Vreeland’s living room wallpaper. Finally, painting the existing storage and radiators in the same red colour really gave the room a dramatic feel.







IDEALIST: How did the client deal with a total renovation?



Sarah: I was fortunate that she had to go on a six week business trip during the project as this gave me complete free reign of the flat. But she set a firm deadline for the work to be completed. I employed a team of painters and wallpaperers to get to work. I had to choose very talented tradesmen, as we were dealing with expensive materials.



IDEALIST: How did you source the interior pieces?



Sarah: Using my client’s existing red floral vintage sofa as a starting point, I sourced more vintage pieces, side tables, lots of lamps, rugs and an eclectic assortment of cushions, all with a floral or animal print theme. My client also loved birds, and I managed to find a huge taxidermy piece of 25 birds of paradise. To go with this I sourced some beautiful illustrations and paintings of other birds to hang around the taxidermy. I also sourced a large collection of corals and shells to fill a cabinet in her dining area against the backdrop of the palm wallpaper. Lighting was key in this project, so I sourced an array of vintage lamps and a huge beautiful wall light for her bedroom wall. It was really a great project for me and allowed me so much creativity, since I had the opportunity to really design and source almost every piece in her home.







IDEALIST: And how did the client react?



Sarah: My client was over the moon with the finished result: she really loved every piece and really enjoyed the collaborative process between us.



Get the Look



Designers featured:





Palm wallpaper: Cole & Sons


Snakeskin bedroom wallpaper: Osborne & Little



Chaise Longue – Atomic Antiques


Bedroom wall light: Atomic Antiques



Taxidermy Birds – Alexander Von Westenholz on Lily Road


Bespoke Leopard print rug: Stark Carpets Chelsea Harbour


Vintage leopard print screen: Criterion Auction House



Coral Credenza: Fears & Khan



More information



To find out more about Sarah Thomas Interiors, visit their website or email sarah@sarahthomasinteriors.com. Sarah is offering one hour’s free consultation to readers of The Idealist who are new clients.



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The post Harper’s Bazaar styling comes to Clerkenwell appeared first on The Idealist.







from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/harpers-bazaar-clerkenwell/



from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/160256553808

Industrial chic meets crafted elegance chez Arthur... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Industrial chic meets crafted elegance chez Arthur... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

https://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/160112093944/industrial-chic-meets-crafted-elegance-chez-arthur#_=_





Today’s travels take us just over London Bridge from The Idealist Towers to a stone’s throw from Borough Market to visit Arthur Hooper’s, a Victorian fruit sellers turned modern European restaurant with world-class interiors, beautiful food, and wine by the glass.







Industrial chic and leather and crafted wood elegance meet in this beautiful new restaurant overlooking London’s Borough Market. Featuring lighting from Idealist Modern Hero Buster & Punch, furniture from Stellar Works Utility collection by Neri & Hu, an elegant grey and black interior and art from acclaimed artists Matt Small and Dan Hillier, this is a beautiful, urban setting for a modern European restaurant.



The Idealist were lucky enough to be invited to the restaurant opening and before we got to taste the fantastic food, we were blown away by the attention to detail in the interior design. We spotted elements of Massimo Minale’s trademark style (his studio is just around the corner) the moment we walked in the door.





This project was very close to our hearts. Our design is a glimpse into future trends in London’s most interesting larder, in the city we love





As you can see from the photos, the space has a Victorian vibe, reflecting its setting overlooking one of London’s most historic city markets. The floor is in hexagonal concrete custom tiles, the cabinetry is in rich dark wood, and Buster & Punch’s lights are in crafted steel cages. “This project was very close to our hearts. Our design is a glimpse into future trends, whilst embracing London’s most interesting larder, in the city we love” says Massimo Minale.



There’s a suggestion of cobbled pavements in the black tufted leather benches and the table tops are marbled, recalling the marble slabs and counters of old. Furniture is by acclaimed design studio Neri & Hu for Stellar Works and is a mix of leather and wood in beautiful finishes.









The name of the restaurant pays homage to Arthur Hooper, who in Victorian times sold fruit from the building. The new menu, designed by Chef Lale Oztek, keeps it local by sourcing ingredients from Neal’s Yard, Cannon & Cannon and Bread Ahead.



We tried a burrata, samphire and almond salad and a side of harissa butter beans and charred tenderstem broccoli (both were beautiful) and were pleased to see they’ll be offering a wide range of wines from Liberty Wines by the glass — we were there at lunchtime after all! Dishes range from £4 to £16 which, given the setting, is also good to see.











Get The Look







Neri & Hu’s Utility collection can be seen here.



Pieces from their home collections are available from Heal’s here.









Buster & Punch’s lighting is available here.



John Lewis carries a limited range of pieces including their designer LED bulbs here.



To find out more



Visit Arthur Hooper’s at 8 Stoney Street London, SE1 9AA or book a reservation via hello@arthurhoopers.co.uk (OPENING TIMES: Monday – Saturday: 11am- 11pm, Sunday: 11am – 5pm)



Photo images of Arthur Hooper’s are courtesy Moon Ray Studio. Other photos are from designers featured.



The post Industrial chic meets crafted elegance chez Arthur Hooper’s appeared first on The Idealist.







from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/industrial-chic-chez-arthur-hoopers/



from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/160111920988

Modern Heroes: George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Modern Heroes: George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/160082153979/modern-heroes-george-yabu-and-glenn-pushelberg#_=_ Todays modern heroes are George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg who lead one of the most highly regarded design firms in the world. Their work ranges across the commercial space (hotels restaurants retail and hospitality) to high-end homes and beautiful furniture. We caught up with them at the launch of their latest collections to learn about their process of creation and collaboration. IDEALIST: How did you guys start working together? George: Actually we met in school in nursery school! We went to this four-year programme in Toronto and thats where we met. Then a couple years later after we graduated we ran into each other on the street in New York. I hadnt seen Glenn in years and that same day running into him we were both looking for studio space. Every place I saw the rent was too expensive or it was too big so we ended up sharing the space but we both had our own ambitions. Glenn: And then we started working on each others projects. George: We started helping each other with deadlines and then we thought well whos going to pay for that coffee and the cream in the fridge? I think sometimes when you dont plan things they set up a synergy of their own so thats what happened. IDEALIST: What are you showing today? George: Were showing this which is the Blink Collection with Stellar Works and were showing a desk and vanity for Glass Italia. The Blink Collection by Yabu Pushelberg for Stellar Works The Blink collection includes a range of tables (coffee side dining) in round and oval form and in stone and dark wood finishes; a one two and three seater sofa a drinks cabinet a console vanity and various chairs. The look throughout is understated elegance (pink grey sable dark wood) and luxury finishes). If you were to kit out a penthouse suite for laid-back cocktails or late night drinks this collection would set the scene perfectly. The vanity and desk for Glass Italia both use beautiful curved glass to form the top and the legs of the tables. These are luxury minimalism at its best. Vanity desk by Yabu Pushelberg for Glass Italia George: This is one piece of glass: a flat piece of glass. We just did two cuts into it and then put it into the oven IDEALIST: How do you achieve the fold in it? Glenn: Im not telling you its a secret! Glenn: Were showing these simple pieces but then were planning this for a hotel. It can grow and grow into a system. It came from me doing glassware which were presenting at ICFF (North Americas largest series of design events for interiors) New York next month. IDEALIST: Where did your ideas start from as your work is quite eclectic? George: Inspiration comes from all over. I find that sometimes you see things but theyre not really what you think you saw but then you look at that idea and think oh that could be an interesting detail for a chair leg for instance. It happens to me a lot. I think lately my eyes have been reversing themselves in my old age. The last six years my eyes have actually been improving. IDEALIST: When does that happen? Glenn: I dont know. I think hes the only one. George: I start seeing things because my contacts are too strong I start seeing weird things and that becomes a random source of inspiration! George: If were doing a scheme for a hotel we also have a way of coming up with a narrative: a fictional backstory based on the owners of the hotel going back to their roots the story of say a guy coming back from grad school to inherit his familys land and building the property we are designing. We create these stories to help flesh out our style and our teams build on the script. Glenn: For example we might be working on a project for a relaxed hotel that has an English vibe to it so the look and the flow need to be a certain way. It helps to add context. IDEALIST: So across your different ranges and collections you must be working to different timelines. How do you deal with that? Is there a long gestation period? George: Well we like it short. Its funny we had a meeting with a good friend whos the creative director of a major furniture firm and he was proud to have taken the process of designing a chair from seven years to four years For us its more like nine months. We have to get it done. James Collection stool by Yabu Pushelberg for Stellar Works George: We did this fold up stool for the James collection [a beautiful piece which while recalling the shape of fold out camp stools is finished in warm and tactile black metal solid walnut and sable-tone matte leather.]. It took us nine months to figure it all out including the rubber bumpers and a new folding mechanism. Glenn: Of course it went through rigorous engineering and testing but its a new take on flat pack and you dont have to go looking for a screwdriver when you take it out! George: We like to challenge convention. We had this idea where we had a competition in the office to draw spiritual beings otherworldly beings within a Canadian setting. Now through this contest I said lets make a family of these beings and then lets design a series of vases house furniture etc for them. So this is our project for next year. I dont know how were going to produce it or how were going to show it but its going to be very interesting as usual and exotic. IDEALIST: What do you look for when you hire to your studio? Glenn: Enthusiasm. It counts for a lot. George: But we also mould them. If people are there for the right reason were interested in absorbing and understanding peoples challenges and thats why were also interested in teaching. Giving them history background and coaching them is important but if someone is very rational Ill say okay lets try something thats non-rational and that keeps the energy going. Glenn Pushelberg and George Yabu Glenn: Its like throwing them a curveball to challenge their stability and see what happens. George: Its a very collaborative process. How can we work fast in detail and to high quality? Thats through teamwork: Well start with the inspiration and the notion then turn it over to the team. We meet very often and everybody can critique the work work on it discuss it refine it and once we get to the end then well go on to the factory. With Glass Italia the first prototypes we saw werent quite right so we sat down in the factory and drew it again and ended up with this beautiful table. IDEALIST: You work with such a range of different materials and a range of different manufacturers. It must be stressful maintaining the quality that youre known for. George: Thats the exciting part. We work with very dedicated and experienced manufacturers but we like to challenge them and they need to be flexible. IDEALIST: How do you maintain your vision across your different collections and materials? Glenn: I think what were known for our common thread is a high level of detail and a high level of understanding proportions. The Blink Collection by Yabu Pushelberg for Stellar Works IDEALIST: The finishes are all beautiful. That runs through everything. George: Yes with the tables of different heights the easiest thing would be to raise the stem but we didnt do that. The legs of each different table are at different angles. That makes it much more interesting to look at. Glenn: Im interested in learning new things. Were publishing a book series too. We found somebody who is a brilliant editor. The third book is the best of them yet. Were excited because were learning how to publish books. The fourth one that were going to do were just brainstorming now its called Pretty Ugly or Ugly Sexy. Its going to be about beauty. George: If a building is too pretty then it cant be that good. Glenn: But also if something is on the verge of being ugly its actually at its most beautiful and then there is that point where it turns into something else. Here at The Idealist we can say that theres nothing belle laide about anything in the Yabu Pushelberg collection right now. Their roster of high profile commercial clients and manufacturers attests to that. If you get chance to visit the ICFF at New Yorks Javitts Center dont miss the chance to take a look at their collections. You never know they may even tell you the secret of how they made that amazing glass desk! You May Also Like World-class elegance and liveability from Space Copenhagen Designing the perfect urban escape: the story of Nordic Bakery Concrete luxury in a beautiful Scandi renovation The post Modern Heroes: George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/modern-heroes-yabu-pushelberg/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/160082149183

Get the Industrial Chic Look with 10 of the best... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Get the Industrial Chic Look with 10 of the best... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

https://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/160080221144/get-the-industrial-chic-look-with-10-of-the-best#_=_





With so much of a buzz around industrial chic, we’ve been out shopping again to find our favourite pieces. Today’s shopper for furniture is Benjamin, who’s on the look out for furniture to kit out an open plan flat.









About the Industrial Chic Look



Industrial chic is a look we love because it adds texture, authenticity and atmosphere even when used to decorate with very small details. It’s especially suitable for people who love travel and history, and things that aren’t finished to cookie cutter perfection. Industrial chic shows its edges, and they are all a bit jagged and wonky. That’s part of their charm. It also means that you can add industrial details and pieces to any style of room – traditional, contemporary, modernist, shabby chic – and they will work their magic, adding warmth and honesty without hogging all the attention.



To recognize the hallmarks of industrial chic style, think turn-of-the-last-century Industrial Revolution life in English towns and cities. Mass production was in its infancy, but the furnishings and tools of the factory or warehouse worker were preparing the way for new efficiencies. Today, the look is expressed by mixing solid hardwoods with iron, brass or copper detailing. Pure metal pieces may feature exposed rivets and rough seams; they’ll have very few decorative embellishments. The colours are rich, but natural; textures like rusting metal and the patina of flaking paint, anything that suggests wear, are coveted.







We’ve discovered some great furniture and accessories that speak to the industrial chic aesthetic in varying intensities. Mix and match these pieces freely, but keep an eye on proportions and the subtle layering of textures.



Industrial Chic Furniture



Big tables are pretty synonymous with the industrial chic aesthetic as they so often served as working surfaces in factories, mills and farms in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This version from Oli & Grace is constructed from hardwood blocks arranged in a herringbone pattern. Black iron legs are a de rigueur nod to smithing and ironmongery. Its scale and sophisticated shape make it perfect for an open plan dining room or eat-in kitchen. £995.









Take a seat



These chairs echo the basic wood and iron materials of the big table with the added comfort of a curved seat and upholstery (£175). These will soften the industrial edge and refine it for the dining room. We love the look of a bench on one side of a dining table and chairs on the other (it may feel slightly Dickensian but this setup is great for kids as well). Oli & Grace’s Toby bench, with its sand-casted legs and lacquered acacia wood seat, captures that spirit perfectly. £425









A lighter take on industrial chic



For a more delicate take on industrial chic, for the kitchen perhaps, check out this zinc-trimmed table from Loaf. It’s available in medium or large, so is a good fit for most rooms (from £745). Surround it with these soaped oak Arts and Crafts style Natterbox chairs for a less aggressive nod to industry. £230/pair



Storage and sides







We also love this vintage sideboard from Oli & Grace. It could work anywhere bits and bobs need stowing, but especially in a kitchen or dining room where additional storage is always welcome for gadgets, table linens and utensils (£395). There is a matching 10-drawer tallboy version as well. £345. Nests of tables used to be the province of Abigail’s Party style 1970s interiors, but not in this version from Swoon Editions (£179).

In a living room, juxtapose industrial chic pieces against comfortable upholstered sofas and armchairs. This Loaf Gimme side table made from reclaimed elm is also a space-saver. On tripod metal legs, it tucks discreetly to the side for cuppas and newspapers. £195









For a more in your face take on the industrial aesthetic, consider the Liston coffee table set from Oli & Grace. These have the added bonus of being from the Made in England range, so you can firmly nod to the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution! Comprised of three tables that nest or separate as required, this striking set is made from lacquered steel (note the unpolished joinery) and Georgian wire glass. £425

Finally, we love this industrial style cabinet from Swoon Editions in steel, glass, brass and deep bronze (£599). It has the relatively unusual bonus of being a deep bronze colour which adds a Steam Punk vibe to proceedings and makes a change from black, wood and steel. We love that it’s shelving, but enclosed, so you can tidy your stuff away and focus on the furniture, not your pile of old copies of Men’s Health!



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The post Get the Industrial Chic Look with 10 of the best furniture pieces appeared first on The Idealist.







from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/top-10-industrial-chic-furniture-finds/



from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/160080216533

A unique 3-storey renovation in Bethnal Green | Spencer Thorpe Blog

A unique 3-storey renovation in Bethnal Green | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Today’s featured home is in London’s Bethnal Green and is a three storey house that’s been imaginatively and sensitively renovated and restyled by Sarah Thomas Interiors. In an exclusive tour of the this distinctive home renovation, she shows us how she has mixed vintage elements with a modern, open plan feel by removing some internal walls and building a distinctive scheme around key architectural and design elements which reflect the style of the owners.







About Bethnal Green



Bethnal Green is a bustling area of East London well known for Columbia Road Flower Market, some great eateries and bars and a great deal of urban renewal. There’s a mix of Georgian houses nestled alongside loft-style conversions and flats and, originally the home of workers in the furniture trade, The Old Bethnal Green Road conservation area has a particularly diverse mix of houses, flats and studios.



Anyone lucky enough to have a 3-storey house here would do well to hang onto it, but this 1970s one presented some challenges to its new owners when they moved in.









Introducing the Renovation



IDEALIST: What was the house like when its owners called you in?



Sarah: Coincidentally I lived in a similar house style when I was growing up and since I’m a bit of a fan of 60’s houses, this project suited me perfectly.



The house was in quite bad shape – the previous owners had filled it with faux Victorian trims and fittings that all needed to be ripped out. That gave us a blank canvas to really think about the space afresh.



The house was quite dark as it had been divided up into lots of small rooms, so my main advice was to start by knocking down a few walls and create a more ‘open plan’ style of living. There was also an interesting staircase to play with which I felt we could make one of the main features in the entrance of the renovated space.



IDEALIST What was the design brief?



Sarah: My clients were a couple with mixed aesthetics: the lady’s taste was more eclectic with a love of vintage and bright colours, with some South American and African influences, while her partner had more simple, modern tastes. This made for an interesting mix and worked well in the space.



They already had a few key pieces of distinctive furniture such as a dining table, sofa and some beautiful leather chairs, so we built on these and curated their artwork and knickknacks into appropriate areas. A large open plan kitchen and dining room were designed with new sliding doors to bring in light and a view into the garden.



IDEALIST: Where did you start with the work?



Sarah: We had a great builder who had worked with my clients before. He was very thorough and organised which made the whole job much easier. Our first key stages were to decide on which walls we could knock down and to rip out the old Artex ceilings.



We knew we needed to upgrade the electrics and plumbing. This meant we had to have an idea about the bathrooms and a rough kitchen layout, so things could start being prepared. We also had to start thinking about the flooring, as that’s a key element that sets the tone of any room.







The house was in quite bad shape – the previous owners had filled it with faux Victorian trims and fittings that all needed to be ripped out.





IDEALIST: How much of a role did the clients take in the project? Did you bring anyone else in?



Sarah: We used an architect to redesign the front of the house and extend an inset porch area to bring it out in alignment with the face of the house. This created another few feet of space in the entrance room which was made a big difference. The rest of the project was a bit more organic My clients were very involved and we had weekly site meetings together with the builder. In between times we had creative meetings and discussions to look at what we were going to do next. I created moodboards & 3d visuals to help us all decide on final looks. Things unfolded to a certain extent as we went along, rather than us having one master plan in the beginning. Different projects work in different ways, but this way worked very well for this project as the clients were very engaged and committed.









Getting the Look Right



IDEALIST: What was the look you were going for?



Sarah: The idea was always to be sympathetic to the original house but also to add a bit of eclectic character and personality to the house. My clients had lots of ‘things’ so there was already a backdrop of colour and a range of accessories that needed to be considered in the space. In other schemes it can be the case of buying and adding those pieces in afterwards. My client definitely wanted a bit of warmth from a Mexican or South American feel and also to mix in their African art with their Pop Art. Colour was key, as it always is with me, and I wanted to make sure there were some earthy, warm colours to mix in with the primaries, to get a good balance and not be too loud.



IDEALIST: The flooring choices you made a quite unusual. How did that come about?



Sarah: My clients wanted a poured concrete floor in the downstairs area, and the builder offered to try this. It wasn’t something he’d done before, so there was a bit of trial and error but it really worked out well. Upstairs we ended up using an industrial parquet flooring which is something I have used before, but doesn’t seem to be widely known about. Sometimes you see it used in galleries or public spaces. It’s very thick and hardwearing and economical. It comes in thin pieces of wood that vary in shades, so you really get a nice textured feel on the floor rather than just a flat colour. We used this on the top two floors of the house and it really looks great.



IDEALIST: What other things did you introduce or change?



Sarah: Storage was a big issue for my clients. They loved the open plan approach, but of course losing walls meant storage had to be rethought. Because the entrance was so open plan, I wanted to use a nice rich material to create storage from, so i designed some birch ply storage cupboards that also house a bench seat and shoe storage. This was very successful and is one of my clients favourite features.



IDEALIST: You mentioned earlier that you wanted to make a feature of the staircase. How did that work out?



Sarah: The staircase was quite a challenge as it had been boxed in with Artex panels and heavily stained and varnished, so we weren’t quite sure what we would find when we started to work with it.



Originally we had plans to paint the stairs and banisters in graphic contrasting colours, but when we had the builders sand down a section, we found the wood to be a beautiful reddish pine that had some natural patina, so we decided to keep it in it’s natural form and add in some big brass screws and washers to make a feature of it.







IDEALIST: And how did you style the rooms?



Sarah: My client already had some key pieces of furniture including some beautiful tan leather chairs with contrast bright colour legs that she had bought on holiday in Texas. They really worked well in the entrance room alongside the warm textures of rugs, sheepskins, the birch ply and wooden staircase and of course all against the backdrop of the neutral concrete floor.



We sourced some beautiful mid blue vintage chairs to go with their existing dark brown sofa, an amazing zigzag Missoni-style vintage rug, and we used their existing modern round white coffee table which coupled nicely with some string shelving units.



IDEALIST: What was the reaction of the client?



Sarah: My clients are really happy with their space – a lot of love was put into it by myself and them and it really shows. Having a good, reliable builder was really key to this project, he was very flexible and willing to test things out for us and come up with solutions that suited the rest of the work. My clients now spend a lot of time at home entertaining, either together or separately – with the house being on 3 floors, there’s enough space in to disappear into your own room for some peace and quiet or to do a bit of work or studying. One of the main things for me, is that they actually enjoyed the process – especially the creative aspects – always knowing there was a lot of design guidance and support from me. The final stage is to now get the garden done!







Get The Look





Tan leather chairs with bright coloured frame legs – Garza Marfa chairs


Eames kitchen chairs & living room blue armchairs – Atomic Antiques


Living room sofa – Chase & Sorensen


Rainbow shelves – Goodhood


More information



To find out more about Sarah Thomas Interiors, visit their website at http://www.sarahthomasinteriors.com/ or email sarah@sarahthomasinteriors.com.





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Summery Colour Scheme: Cornfields and country... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Summery Colour Scheme: Cornfields and country... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Inspired by the muted colours of the English countryside, this corn fields and country lanes colour scheme features yellowed neutral tones, such as straw flower, wheat, ochre and rust. This palette works with a wide variety of architectural styles, everything from Tudor style to cottage to modern industrial. This colour scheme is particularly well-suited to homes with a large, open floor plan and is reminiscent of hazy afternoons on country roads, the slow drone of an aeroplane overhead and maybe a wicker hamper full of picnic food in the boot of the car.



About the cornfields and country lanes look



The cornfields and country lanes colour scheme evokes the look of a rural path on a mid-summer’s day. Included in this palette are quiet, neutral colours with yellow hues as well as deeper tones that add warmth to the room. You can even include muted or summer green and pink tones in this palette.



When they are mixed well, these colours create a peaceful, cheerful look that brightens most any room. To create this look, use yellowed neutral colours like straw and cream on your walls. Brick walls and fireplaces are an excellent contrast to the pale walls as are sienna or terracotta floor tiles. If you don’t want to re-do your flooring and lack a brick wall, a large ochre area rug will achieve the same effect. Accent this back drop with gentle green upholstery, pillows and cupboards. Finish with peach or pale pink-hued art and accessories.





Decorative ideas using the cornfields and country lanes look



The cornfields and country lanes look works best with dark-coloured wooden or wrought-iron furniture and rooms with abundant natural light. Books in built-in or wooden bookcases are an ideal accompaniment to this look as are a few, well-chosen works of art and accessories.



Design pieces to use with this look









1. Classic table lamp.



This light-coloured table lamp from Maisons du Monde complements the cornfields and country lanes colour palette well and the classic lines evoke a traditional British country home style but with a touch of modern elegance from the grey washed-out colour. £53.99.



2. Houston trunk.



This dark leather trunk from Feather & Black works as a stylish coffee table as well as providing ample storage and evokes a laid-back poetry and boarding school vibe. £ 625.



3.Fawn-coloured cotton pillow.



This subtle peach hued pillow from Lombok is a perfect complement to today’s colour palette. £ 38.









4.Two seater sofa.



This classic French-style love seat from Swoon with soft green upholstery is the perfect foil for the cream walls and rust-coloured flooring of today’s scheme. A pared-back interpretation of French Rococo style, the hand-carved Lille armchair was the first piece Swoon ever produced and was so popular they’ve now made it into a gorgeous sofa. £ 679.



5.Ochre rug



This deep rust-coloured rug from Habitat would make an excellent addition to an entryway leading to your central living area. £ 70.



6. Off your trolley



There’s something wonderfully retro and relaxed about this industrial-style trolley also from Swoon. We can picture it loaded with cricket gear, old hardback books, or a collection of treasured objects. £ 349.



For a fresh, cheerful look that will look appropriate year-round paint your walls a neutral, yellow-hued colour, invest in ochre or rust flooring or rugs and accent your rooms with soft green, peach and pale upholstery and accent pieces. This take on summer country lanes is all about laid back, vintage hazy afternoons.



You may also like



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Idealist City Guide: NEW YORK design shopping and... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Idealist City Guide: NEW YORK design shopping and... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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New York City is one of the style capitals of the world. If you can’t find it in the “Big Apple,” it may just not exist. The largest city in the United States is also filled with stylish galleries, hotels, restaurants and attractions. Normally found on Cape Cod, Joan takes a trip down from MA to NYC to hunt out some great stores and places to see.



Style shopping New York









Gracious Home



Gracious Home has been outfitting New York City homes and apartments since 1963. They stock everything from sofas to pillows to door hardware. If it helps decorate your home, they probably carry it. We love their extensive selection of unique lamps and lighting fixtures.









DwellStudio



DwellStudio showcases colourful furniture and housewares from around the globe. The merchandise in the store is arranged in stylish vignettes that look something like a Pinterest board come to life. We particularly like DwellStudio’s varied collection of outdoor furniture.









Room and Board



Room and Board, located in Chelsea in the former Barney’s department store space, offers 38,000-square-feet of uncrowded furniture galleries and accessories. The focus here is on contemporary design. We love their selection of wool area rugs.



Nadeau Furniture



Tucked away in Greenwich Village, Nadeau Furniture is a quirky shop which stocks one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories, many of which have been recreated by the owners using pieces salvaged and re-purposed from garage and junk sales. Their tag line “furniture with a soul” is very apt. Make sure to explore their Asian-influenced furniture and accessories.



Tiffany & Co



The iconic Fifth Avenue store which is Tiffany and Co never gets stale. The three-level luxury jewelry and housewares emporium is most famous for its baubles, but it also offers an entire floor filled with glass, silver, china and other house accessories. Plus, the stylish mahogany counters and Art Deco elevator are worth the visit. Check out the cut crystal barware.



Staying Over







While New York City hotel rooms are generally not spacious, they can be stylish. For history and location, you can’t beat the Plaza, located at the south end of Central Park and Fifth Avenue. For a more modern, hip abode, try the new Hotel on Rivington, on the city’s Lower East Side near Chelsea galleries and shopping. Each of the 110 guest rooms here is equipped with a glass shower and a Japanese soaking tub.



New York’s best Galleries and Museums







If you only have time to visit one museum while you are in New York City, make it the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This art mecca is filled with paintings, sculpture, furniture, jewelry and other art objects from cultures and eras that range from ancient Egypt to the present-day. In addition, Rockefeller Center is a must for any fan of Art Deco design and architecture, and auction giant Sotheby’s, on New York’s Upper East Side, frequently has auction previews with fine art, jewelry, furniture and other high-end items. The New York Public Library (shown above) is also worth a visit for a wide range of exhibitions on such themes as Black Power, and Broadway.



Food New York style







As with shopping in New York City, you can find almost any type of ethnic food here. However, you won’t want to leave the city without sampling an authentic New York bagels (preferably with lox, cream cheese and onion), Manhattan clam chowder, eggs Benedict (the combination of poached eggs, Canadian bacon and hollandaise sauce that was invented at the Waldorf Hotel), and the ubiquitous (yet delicious) hot dogs that are sold from carts all over the city.



Must-See Things in Town







You could stay a month (or a year) in New York City and not be able to visit all of the exciting attractions in this “city that never sleeps.” However, if you only have a few days, be sure to visit Central Park, the beautiful landscaped oasis in the heart of the city; cruise around New York Harbour and view the skyline and the Statue of Liberty from this unique angle; and take in a Broadway play in one of the iconic theatres that surround Times Square.









How to Visit from London



It’s easy to get to New York City from London. A myriad of airlines offer non-stop flights between London’s two airports and New York City’s three air fields. These include British Airways, Air India, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Airfares start at around £360.



New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport is about 45 minutes away from downtown Manhattan by taxi. There is also an affordable shuttle that connects the airport with Grand Central Station in the heart of Mid-town.



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Idealist City Guide: MANCHESTER | Spencer Thorpe Blog

Idealist City Guide: MANCHESTER | Spencer Thorpe Bloghttps://spencerthorpe.tumblr.com/post/159718787829/idealist-city-guide-manchester#_=_ Manchester is a former hub of the Industrial Revolution (and cradle of Trade Unionism and Marxism) that has become synonymous with music and media. Thanks to Afflecks Palace the Northern Quarter and a thriving student and music scene it is a great destination for design fans and culture. An inordinate number the worlds best loved indie bands have started out here: The Smiths Joy Division New Order The Stone Roses Oasis. While the hip Northern Quarter neighbourhood is still filled with concert venues it also offers tons of trendy bars restaurants and places to shop for industrial design relics and reinterpretations. Todays Manchester is a cultural centre with a working class heart. Shopping Manchester Insitu Manchester 252 Chester Road is an architectural salvage showroom that carries everything from stained glass to reclaimed timber and iron fittings. Now based just on the outskirts of Manchesters trendy Castlefield in a Grade 2 listed Victorian pub building it is an exciting venue to find high quality and interesting pieces to create unique homes and express individual style. Designers will love sourcing original classic design elements here; everyone else can learn a thing or two about how things were once made to look good and last. Levenshulme Antiques Village 965 Stockport Road Levenshulme in Manchesters Victorian Old Town Hall is a hypermarket for vintage furniture and collectibles. In addition to providing space for vendors 7 days a week the market keeps the past alive with workshops in traditional services ranging from re-upholstery bespoke furniture makers antique chandeliers and fireplace restoration ironmongers stripping and restoration. Urbansuite 2 New George Street could be a relief from all the industrial era clutter with its clean lined collection of European furniture from the likes of Vitra Tonin Casa and Lightyears. Manchester Craft and Design Centre 17 Oak Street located in a former Victorian fishmarket building inthe Norther Quarter houses studios and workshops for artisans in ceramics fine jewellery printmaking furniture making and more. We love the steam-bent ash coat hooks by Joshua Till. Afflecks(52 Church Street) is something of an institution. They describe themselves as an emporium of eclecticism a totem of indie commerce in Manchesters Northern Quarter and above all else a fantastic place to shop. Its been home to all things indie since before The Smiths were formed and is something of a Mecca for fans of the more miserable northern indie for which the wet streets of Manchester is famous. Staying Over Hotel Gotham Manchester Hotel Gotham 100 King Street is an opulent 5-star design conscious option with 60 gorgeously appointed rooms in monochromatic shades of grey black and white. The hotel housed in a former Edward Lutyens-designed Art Deco bank often partners with nearby Manchester Arena on concert and stay packages. Abel Heywood Abel Heywood 38 Turner Street is a Northern Quarter pub hotel (its operated by the local brewery Hyde) with luxury amenities and old world charm. Its small just 15 rooms and situated perfectly for exploring the bustling NQ district. Or just visit the relaxed lounges for exalted pub grub and brews. Manchesters Galleries and Museums The Whitworth Art Gallery The Whitworth Art Gallery The University of Manchester Oxford Road is located in a stunning building in Whitworth Park hard by the University of Manchester. The Gallery has a wide ranging collection of contemporary and more historic paintings sculpture textiles and prints. A well regarded cafe (designed by MUMA) overlooks the park and has a seasonal largely organic menu for lunch and afternoon tea. As youd expect The Peoples History Museum Left Bank Spinningfields is dedicated to the history of working people in the UK. Although not an art museum per se areas such as the Textile Conservation Studio are of special interest from a design perspective. Here banners used in protests and rallies by British workers and activists through the ages are preserved and studied; visitors can watch the conservators at work. And theres a onsite shop where you can stock up on radical gifts such as a suffragette board game or protest banner cross-stitch kits. Where to Eat Manchester House Grab a pint at The Temple 100 Great Bridgewater Street a re-purposed public toilet just off St. Peters Square in city centre. Theres no kitchen so perhaps start or end your night at this off beat music industry favourite. Manchester House 18-22 Bridge Street is the passion project of Michelin starred chef Aiden Byrne. And while tasting menus here dont come cheap foodies will think theyve died and gone to heaven. Also worth checking out is the lounge for sunset cocktails with views across the city scape or afternoon high tea. Cottonopolis 16 Newton Street is owned and designed by architect Nick Muir. The stylish interior references Manchesters industrial past with lots of copper and distressed wood while the kitchen channels Japanese cuisine with fusion dishes based on the elements of ice fire steam and oil. Must see Manchester A popular tourist attraction The Lowry(Pier 8 The Quays Salford) is a performing arts venue on the waterfront near Salford Quay (across the water from Old Trafford home of the Manchester United footballclub). The building is a spectacular monument to art all glass and shiny metal. Take in a play or an art exhibit or just gaze at the Ship Canal and the lights of the city from the Pier 8 bar and restaurant it has magnificent views. Football fans will want to check out the free National Football Museum Urbis Building Cathedral Gardens perhaps in conjunction with a home game for local heroes Man U and Man City. One of the worlds largest collections of football artefacts and memorabilia is on display and you can test your own skills with the interactive Football. How to get there Regular flights leave daily from all London area airports but Manchester is close enough to take a fast train. Direct trains run from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly every 20 minutes with an average journey time of around 2 hours and 10 minutes. You may also like Industrial Chic Our Top 10 Finds Shopping in Chester: A northern gem ShoppingLiverpool CourtesyAfflecks Palace mural courtesy ofWe love pandas. All other images courtesy of respective stores. The post Idealist City Guide: MANCHESTER appeared first on The Idealist. from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/city-guide-manchester/ from The Idealist Magazine https://theidealistmagazine.tumblr.com/post/159718623158