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Florence, the beautiful capital of the district of Tuscany, is located in the heart of Italy’s northwest coast. The stunning medieval city is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with its overflow of churches and palaces, and museums filled with masterful paintings and sculptures. Known for its leather goods, inlaid furniture and decorative items and gilded frames and boxes, Florence is a mecca for those looking to outfit their homes with unique, one-of-a-kind objects. Whether your taste is modern or traditional, there are plenty of shops to explore.

Style Shopping

Flair. Located in a classic Florentine townhouse with high ceilings and intricately-carved mouldings, Flair offers a diverse selection of high-end furniture, home decor and floor coverings. We particularly like their collection of modern sculpture. Be sure to see some of the fine work they have on display.

Banchi. If brass appeals to you, you won’t want to miss a trip to Banchi. This design studio features ornate, brass door hardware, lamps and even picture frames. You can even order custom-made hardware that looks like it was made in the 19th century. The shop at 10 via dei Serragli is a little off of the tourist track, but well worth the extra steps.

Mio. Mio’s ever-changing array of merchandise is colourful and fun to look at as well as intriguing to buy. Recent finds have included Danish modern-style chairs, upholstered with Roy Lichtenstein print fabric; glass cabinet handles that resemble cupcakes and life-size paper mache sculptures. If you love modern design, like we do, Mio is a must-see.

Roche Bobois. One of the top furniture stores in Italy, and our personal favourite, Roche Bobois features high-end chairs, sofas, desks and tables for all of the rooms in your home. As you would expect in Florence, they carry an extensive array of leather upholstered furniture. Be sure to check out the sleek patio sets.

Riccardo Barthel. If your taste runs to antique furnishings, make sure to make time for a visit to this stylish design emporium. You’ll find everything here from hand-carved, vintage chairs and sideboards to custom-made bathroom and kitchen fixtures and hardware. We are enchanted by the fact that one of this company’s specialties is designing custom tree houses.

Staying Over

If you really want to immerse yourself in Florentine style, you can’t do any better than to stay at Loggiato dei Serviti, an historic hotel located just off of Michelangelo Square. All of the rooms in the 16th century building area decorated with period antiques, but don’t fear; they still have air-conditioning and free WiFi.

Galleries and Museums

You could spend a month or more in Florence and not see all of the important museums and galleries in the city. However, if you have a limited amount of time, be sure to visit the Uffizi Gallery with its collection of works by da Vinci, Giotto, Botticelli and Michelangelo; the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s “David;” and the Pitti Palace, with its royal apartments and paintings by Rapahel, Titian and Rubens.

Food

Tuscan food is famous throughout the world. In fact Florence has lent its name to a number of “Florentine” dishes, most of which feature sauteed spinach and garlic. Make sure to try panzanella, the region’s delicious bread salad with fresh basil, onions, olive oil and tomatoes; Florentine steak, a t-bone-style steak cut from local cattle and topped with a sweet bilbury sauce; and the smooth, delicious gelato found all over the city. Of course, no trip to Florence is complete without sampling at least one of the many Chiantis from the Tuscan region.

Must-See Things in Town

In addition to the excellent shopping and museums to be found in Florence, don’t leave the city without visiting the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the symbol of the city; the charming Ponte Vecchio that spans the Arno River; and the Villa Bardini, which offers sweeping views of the city from its stone patio.

How to Visit from London

Florence is easy to get to from London via air. The flight takes about 2.25 hours to get the city’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport. Expect to pay around £ 150 roundtrip. Public bus service connects the airport with the city centre.

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Bold colour in the kitchen is a hallmark of confident design. If you’re looking to energise this most important of rooms, it’s never been easier to build a design scheme around a vibrant colour. Take orange, for example. It’s a hue that gives off a lot of heat and positivity, but is not often used to anchor domestic decor. Perhaps that’s down to leftover skepticism from the 60s and 70s when orange was freely (and unfortunately?) paired with avocado green in the modern home. Design is smarter about orange these days. Modern manufacturing techniques make it possible to source furnishings in shades and gradations that range from the simple clear orange of the fruit to the more complicated oranges of a spectacular sunset.

A little orange goes a long way

The thing to remember about orange is that a little goes a long way. So you can go for broke with orange notes on walls, furnishings and tiles, or use orange to punctuate the space with discrete hits of electricity. We’ve found some remarkable pieces to help you punch up your kitchen space with this most delightful of the colours.

Appliances

The impact of an orange kitchen appliance should not be underestimated. This bright orange SMEG fridge/freezer combo brings the wow factor, and it may be all the orange you need. £1,199

Or base your design scheme around the even more spectacular Bertazzoni range cooker. The duel ovens and bright orange enamel casing will delight the pro cook in family. £3,849.00

Cookware

With these strong pieces as a foundation, pepper your kitchen with quick pops of complementary orange. Le Creuset is an iconic French company that crafts heavy duty long lasting cookware that is often clad in orange. You’re probably familiar with their indestructible cast iron casseroles, but they’ve branched out recently with everything from pepper mills to butter dishes and tagines. £30 – £190

KitchenAid

KitchenAid is an American small appliance company that is also known for embracing bold colour. We love this KitchenAid stand mixer in sunny tangerine. £549

Extra touches

Kitchen furnishings can also benefit from the orange treatment, picking up variations on the theme set by large or small appliance pieces, or zones of bright orange on the walls or backsplash. Some pieces can do double duty, drawing the eye and providing practical kitchen support at the same time. A butcher’s trolley adds valuable prep space that can be rolled in or out of the way as needed. This model features wire mesh drawers and a wine rack for ample storage and pairs orange and stainless steel with panache. It could even serve as a mobile mini-bar for guests watching you cook. £250

We also love this multi-drawer unit in paprika orange. Designed for the office, it’s a great catch all for recipes and gadgets in the kitchen. £51.99

Designer touches

For those fortunate enough to work in a kitchen that sports an island or peninsula style counter space, these polypropylene and chrome bar chairs from the Vitra collection at John Lewis offer a discreet hit of orange colour that throws back to the 50s and 60s. There is a lower profile version of this chair also available. £215.10

Another way to honour the era in orange fashion: this iconic ball clock, another Vitra classic that delights with a solid punch of orange. £230

We could go on. But you get the idea – orange is an audacious (yet surprisingly easy to source) choice for colour in the kitchen. It’s the colour of joy, so have fun with it.

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Newcastle has everything you would expect of a major European regional capital city. Its history from shipbuilding days and the time of the Industrial Revolution has left its mark on the city but today Newcastle is as known for its Arts and Culture as for its history. Today, the city is best known for its vibrant music scene, its competitive football club, its exciting waterfront and, of course, its shopping.

Style Shopping

Upside Down Presents. This quirky gift emporium is located off of Grey Street near the Tyne. It offers a fun selection of housewares, greeting cards, pet accessories and other hand-made, one-of-a-kind gift items. We like that you never quite know what you’ll find here, but it’s always worth the trip.

Survived and Revived. This store calls itself “Newcastle’s coolest second hand store” and we can’t disagree. From furniture to wall art to items for the man cave, there’s something for everyone in this unique shop. The last time we visited, we found 1960s-era, hand-painted wig stands and vintage leather furniture.

Barker and Stonehouse. For elegant furnishings and accessories at very attractive prices, you can’t beat Barker and Stonehouse, located near Eldon Square. Make sure to check out their large selection of outdoor furniture and garden accessories.

Biscuit Factory. Located in a former Victorian warehouse, the Biscuit Factory is the largest showroom of independent arts and crafts in the UK. You’ll find wall art, sculpture, hand-woven textiles and rugs and lots, lots more. There’s even a restaurant on-site that features local farm-to-table food. We always find the architecture and the building as fascinating as the items for sale.

James Design/The Mushroom Works. Native Newcastle designer/wood artist founded The Mushroom Works in 2003. This collection of 12 artist residences/studios is located along the Tyne River, just east of downtown. The venue hosts a variety of special open studio events. We love being able to support local artists.

Staying Over

One of the most stylish places to stay in Newcastle is the new Hotel Indigo, located in the heart of the city. The hotel combines classic Newcastle design elements, such as ironwork and stone buttresses, with modern conveniences like floor-to-ceiling windows and free WiFi. There’s even a brew pub on-site.

Galleries and Museums

Among the fascinating galleries and museums in Newcastle are the Great North Museum, which houses a diverse collection of art, antiques and decorative arts; Seven Stories, a museum dedicated to the history of children’s books; and the Laing Art Gallery, which is noted for its watercolours and its decorative art collection, spanning 400 years.

Food

The Northumberland region, which surround Newcastle, is known for its local dish of smoked kippers and brown bread. The area is also home to numerous dairy farms and you’ll find a plenty of artisan cheese makers around Newcastle. The city also has a sizeable Indian and Pakistani population and the many ethnic restaurants in Newcastle reflect these influences. There is even a summer festival in Newcastle, a Mela, that celebrates Indian and Pakistani food, music, art and dance.

Must-See Things in Town

In addition to the excellent shopping and museums in Newcastle, don’t leave the city without visiting Quayside Newcastle, a collection of waterfront shops and eateries; the historic Grainger Town district with its brick streets, distinctive stone buildings and thriving food market; and its colourful Chinatown, one of the largest in the U.K.

How to Visit from London

Newcastle is about a three-hour train journey by train from King’s Cross Station in London. The trains run about every half hour to Newcastle’s Central Station, one of the busiest rail stations in England. Expect to pay around £130 for a roundtrip ticket. Be sure to purchase your rail ticket in advance; that fare doubles if you buy your ticket at the station on the day of travel.

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When you hear the names South Kensington and Knightsbridge in passing conversation the images conjured by the mind are most probably those of Harrods iconic faade museums the neon glow of flagship store shop-fronts and a claustrophobic sea of tourists who offer these places their custom. And frankly put these mental notes of Knightsbridge are somewhat accurate faithful to slightly jaded truth that we as Londoners have spun for the citys tourist districts like Knightsbridge. But look a couple of streets back and the story is wonderfully different. Our tour today centres on Walton Street and we love it! What makes Walton Street notable is the way it so readily challenges this perspective of ours. The words independent and local set the tone for many of the businesses of Walton Street. Here you can discover a side of Knightsbridge unencumbered with the rhetoric of tourism on the contrary its brimming with an authentically West London character marked by the areas flirtatiously bohemian and aristocratic pasts. The boutiques and galleries of Walton Street whilst carrying this energy are all undeniably unique. By this token they offer your home innumerable possibilities. Wed be the first to say these places are not for those of us shopping on a budget but they are packed with great ideas and every place we visited we were made to feel welcome. Its not the natural home of ripped jeans and piercings however head to Shoreditch for that! If you like your looks vintage and eclectic and your choice of interiors distinctive then theres some great finds to be had here. Weve shortlisted some of the best that Walton Street has to offer: Andrew Martin Regarded by the Sunday Times as a barometer of style for our times Andrew Martins 190 Walton Street showroom makes you understand precisely why the brand has been the recipient such international acclaim. The shop is a tapestry of wallpapers fabrics and home accessories all kaleidoscopically arranged in the brands signature style. True to co-founder and company director Martin Wallers vision when he established the brand in 1978 Andrew Martins Walton Street is a cool mix between styles from various eras and cultures. Its inspiring tastefully eccentric and exudes a certain genius in the way it makes things that every style guide has told you shouldnt go together- well go together. Image: Andrew Martin International Chelsea Textiles Having identified a demand of meticulously embroidered fabric to complement interior of period homes Mona Perlhagen founded Chelsea Textiles in 1990. In the past twenty seven years the brand has developed a reputation for the excellence in the quality of their materials and standard of their workmanship comparable to the embroidery of 17th and 18th century artisans. This is not to say that the brand only looks to the past. Chelsea Textiles also offer a variety of classically inflected Gustavian and Early 20th century designs that make for a tasteful fit with a variety of modern homes. Besselink amp; Jones The brainchild of Hank Besselink and Nigel Jones Besselink amp; Jones Walton Street shop displays the exquisite lighting the brand is so renowned for. The shop offers a selection of Besselink amp; Jones best pieces which are complemented by an array of antiques and chandeliers. With commissions from the likes of royalty it is difficult to overstate Besselink amp; Jones excellence in this field. It wont take long until you find something youll fall in love with. Andipa Gallery The Andipa Gallery has been a Modern Art institution since 1967. It boasts an extensive inventory of sculpture paintings and drawings that feature masters such as Picasso Warhol Lichtenstein Matisse and Hockney to name only a few. Private clients of the Andipa Gallery enjoy the extensive service provided to them by the gallery ranging from investment consultation to advisory aspects on collating a personal collection. The Andipa Gallery is warm and welcoming and is must for enthusiasts and investors alike. Brownsword Hepworth For Modern Art enthusiasts Brownsword Hepworth is an absolute must. Taking residence at 15 Walton Street the gallery specialises in modern British and contemporary art and sculpture particularly focussing on the work of the iconic Keith Vaughan. Their dealers and agents are meticulously versed with both the shops curated works and the Modern Art market and are wholly committed to your pursuits as an avid collector or fan. Dining: Walton Street exudes the upmarket and artsy charm of the areas past. The streets many restaurants and cafes also play a vital part in this culture that has formed here offering some of the best the Mediterranean has to offer in addition to classics closer to home. Scalini Proudly taking residence at numbers 1-3 Walton Street Scalini have been offering Londoners a superlative Italian fine-dining experience for over twenty years. In their own words their menu is resolutely Italian and boasts authentic ingredients sourced from Italian producers from all regions of the country. The stunning food on offer is only matched by their outstanding collection of wines. Something of an institution in the area Scalini brings the best of Italian food to the heart of Knightsbridge. The Enterprise Branded as a bar and restaurant that is like a members clubbut without the fee The Enterprise is a gastropub with that notably Knightsbridge touch. The restaurants ambience is a playful medley of quaint and ambient architectural notes boasting touches that give it a modern metropolitan edge. The menu follows suit. Traditional dishes are infused and reimagined with an adventurous edge for a truly 21st century gastropub experience. Zefi For fans of all foods Mediterranean Zefi on 103 Walton Street offers an eclectic mix of foods from the region along with an assortment of British favourites. Its warm and welcoming atmosphere makes it perfect for casual dining or light lunches during the day. Their deserts are particularly great; their cheesecake in particular comes highly recommended by customers. A bountiful bar menu makes Zefi a perfect evening haunt also. Its cool yet sophisticated atmosphere attracts a youthful crowd of young professionals and keeps this pace till the early hours of the morning. Jaks Bar Classy high-end and bristling with an unruffled cosmopolitan vibe Jaks Bar is a great place to grab those late night drinks when in the area. A favourite amongst the young and creatives of the area Jacks Bar is a sophisticated yet youthful haunt. If that was not convincing enough word on the street is that their pizzas are something special. How to get here and staying nearby With both Sloane Square South Kensington and Knightsbridge Underground stations just a stones throw away Walton Streets central location means it is incredibly well connected to Londons public transportation network. With just a quick Oyster Card top up you can easily be there within the hour. The Cadogan Just six mins from Walton Street is the iconic Cadogan Hotel. Built in 1877 the boutique Edwardian hotel has hosted royalty and is a connection to Knightsbridges aristocratic past. Its hushed and warm interior is steep in history with the famous Room 118 having been the one that Oscar Wilde was arrested in in 1895. It captures the areas opulence and bohemian spirit and has been a favourite with people visiting the city for generations. The Beaufort Hotel Only seven minutes away from Walton Street amongst the stucco-fronted townhouses of Knightsbridge is the Beaufort Hotel. Boutique and family run the Beaufort Hotel has developed an international reputation for the excellence of their service. Their classic interior boasts fresh flowers luxurious marble bathrooms and airy decorative suites that exude luxury. Knightsbridge Hotel Situated at the leafy address of 10 Beaufort Gardens the Knightsbridge Hotel is also a mere seven minute walk away from Walton Street. The Knightsbridge Hotel packs all the trimmings of the hospitality you can expect of this calibre. A twenty four hour room service concierge and valet parking is all standard operating procedure for the Knightsbridge which paired with the rooms individually designed in a modern English style by designer Kit Kemp make for a truly luxurious stay. For lovers of art and masterfully orchestrated interiors the galleries and designer boutiques most of whom are heavyweights in the interior design world can be located on Walton Street. Take advantage of the restaurants and hotels on offer and you can easily immerse yourself in the artistic and aristocratic traditions of the Knightsbridge of old far from the din and bustle of tourism. You May Also Like Idealist City Guide: MANCHESTERIdealist City Guide: EDINBURGHA Winter Walk around Cambridge A home in Knightsbridge:An elegant Knightsbridge interior A scheme featuring Andrew Martin:Vibrant Colour Scheme: Get In the Pink Featured ImageCopyright: mcr1961 / 123RF Stock Photo The post Insider City Guide: Walton Street South Kensington appeared first on The Idealist. via The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/insider-city-guide-walton-street-south-kensington/

In our final home from Sarah Thomas Interiors, we are visiting a beautiful garden flat in North London’s Muswell Hill, which shows what some clever thinking and a keen eye for colour can do to accommodate a growing family.

Perched above North London and boasting Alexandra Park and Palace, a rich stock of Edwardian and Victorian houses and a village feel, many families, once they settle in Muswell Hill never leave. It’s easy to see why and it has nothing to do with the lack of underground line, or distance from central London and everything to do with the beautiful, green and leafy environment. Broadway has a rich choice of cafes and shops, there’s great parkland and open spots for dog walking and nature fans and breathtaking views south to London. Housing is predominantly red brick Edwardian, there are two impressive indie cinemas and some good schools. Faced with the choice of moving to accommodate her growing family, or working with what she had, we can see why the owner of today’s home decided to renovate. And thanks to Sarah Thomas Interiors, she now has more house to work with and a great new retro look.

IDEALIST Sarah – talk us through the background for this project. What was your brief and ambitions?

Sarah This client had lived in her garden flat for many years, so had quite an established style and tastes that she wanted to update and elaborate on. The overall idea of the project was to create more bedroom space for her family. She employed an architect to reconfigure the bedrooms in order to create an extra bathroom in her large basement bedroom and reduce the family bathroom into a smaller shower room, to give her son a larger bedroom.

clients are often scared of painting ceilings the same colour as the room, but for low ceilings or small rooms, I have found this to be really effective.

I



DEALIST What approach did you take?

Sarah My brief was to create a ‘cabin feel’ in her bedroom and completely redecorate, adding new storage and lighting into her bedroom. We decided to use bold colours and play with contrasting tonals to add a bit of fun and vibrancy to all the bedrooms and give them their own personality for a 7 year old boy and a daughter in her early 20’s.

IDEALIST Where did you start with the work?

Sarah The architect sent the job out to tender and a builder was appointed to start dividing up the rooms according to the new plans. This involved new plumbing for the bathrooms and building newly designed storage spaces.

IDEALIST What were the main aspects of the work?

Sarah We started with my clients bedroom as that was the biggest change. New storage cupboards were built to make a dividing wall against the new bathroom. We sourced reclaimed wood from Bert & Wall to make a feature headboard wall and create the ‘cabin feel’. From there we decided on two tonal green colours to paint the bedroom and I persuaded my client she should also paint her ceiling in one of the greens to really give a cosy feel. Clients are often scared of painting ceilings the same colour as the room, but for low ceilings or small rooms, I have found this to be really effective.

IDEALIST How did you incorporate the client’s tastes?

Sarah Vintage rugs and wall lights were sourced to complement the wood and warm green colours. The client already had a vintage sideboard that fitted in well with the scheme, and wanted to display her love of shoes and make a feature of them.

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DEALIST And what about the other rooms?

Sarah For the bathroom, we decided to keep the green palette consistent with her green bedroom and went for some very graphic encaustic cement tiles, that really made the room look bigger, adding a contrasting bright blue formica work top to the vanity unit and a large mirror to add depth.

For the children’s bedrooms, we worked with the existing furniture, again adding tonal contrasting paint colours for the walls, new storage and lighting, plus some vintage blue and green wallpaper to the boys’ bedroom.

IDEALIST How did the client like the results?

Sarah This reconfiguration really worked for all family members, and gave everyone the extra space and storage they needed – it felt like a new house! The project was featured in 25 Beautiful Homes in July 2016.

More information

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

Get the Look

Items featured in this design include:

We’re taking inspiration from the amazing exhibition at London’s Barbican Gallery today by choosing Japanese style furniture and accessories. Keep the look light and clean with pale walls for the authentic look. Add in bursts of rich colour with art and accessories. Here’s how.

About the Modern Japanese look

The Japanese style, as exemplified by the current exhibit at the Barbican Art Gallery in London, combines light woods, clean lines, minimalist spaces and plant life to create inviting spaces that can be used for a number of residential and commercial applications. If you’re looking for a timeless, modern look for your home, this Japanese-inspired design style may be just what you’re seeking. To get a peek at this design motif, make sure to visit the new Japanese House exhibit at the Barbican Art Gallery in central London.

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About the Barbican Exhibition

The Japanese House: Architecture and Life after 1945 at the Barbican Art Gallery in London is the first major UK exhibition to focus on Japanese domestic architecture from the end of the Second World War to now, a design era that has produced a number of iconic designers and architects. The exhibit, which runs until June 25, 2017, features more than 200 objects, including architects’ models, photographs, drawing and home furnishings.

The exhibit, located at the Barbican Centre in London, is open to the public Saturday to Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission is £ 14.50 for adults and £ 10 for students.

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Get the Modern Japanese House style at home

Below are a few ideas to help you put together your own Japanese-inspired room or rooms. There are some great accessories also to be had in the Barbican Exhibition Shop.

Time for Tea

This whimsical tea pot from the Barbican exhibition shop by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa for Alessi gives just the right amount of fancy to your Japanese House style room. The sleek lines and shiny finish are right in keeping with this design motif. £ 145.

Matcha Bowl

We also love this ceramic matcha bowl (£30) on sale to accompany the exhibition. Made in Japan, it’s finished in a royal blue, with subtle variations of colour giving a mottled watercolour effect. It would look just as cool as a small decorative bowl rather than to drink from!

Geometric Noguchi Lamp

This hanging lamp from Heal’s with a geometric paper shade perfectly evokes the mid-20th-century Japanese designer Isamu Noguchi’s work. It adds just a little bit of texture to your Japanese-inspired room. From £ 259.

Subtle storage

Storage can be a problem in a Japanese style room. You need places to stow essentials out of sight without ruining the sleek, minimalist lines of this look. This 2×2 drawer set in walnut by MUJI adds to the streamlined Japanese style while still giving you a handy place to conveniently store the television remote, the novel you’re reading and other items. £ 79.95.

Functional not fancy

This angular console table by Doshi Levien for John Lewis, while not produced by a Japanese designer, makes a nice complement to the Japanese House style. This simple lines and white finish add both function and beauty to your room. £ 499.

Under foot softness

This 6′ x 9′ Tilia rug by Andrew Martin has subtle diamond shapes and a grey/taupe hue that will soften you Japanese style room without adding a lot of unnecessary colour. Plus, this rugs softness will keep you returning to this room again and again. £ 270.

Reflected calm

The right mirror can help extend the dimensions of your Japanese-inspired style room and help bring the outdoor light indoors. This wall mirror by Habitat is made of white birch and is large enough to reflect a good amount of sunlight. £ 80.

Streamlined sleeping

This sleek Teramo bed by Ercol at Feather and Black mimics the look of the Japanese style very well. Its simple wooden lines and slatted headboard will complement any Japanese-inspired bedroom. £745

Sleek and silver

This rectangular tray from Artisanti supports the Japanese style too but adds a touch of glamour. It combines form and function by giving you a place to corral your possessions while also adding a chic accessory to your room. £ 74.

Lost in the Woods…

This “Lost in the Woods…” print by Bladbjerg may have been created by a European artist, but it embodies the love of nature that is at the heart of mid-century Japanese style. This limited edition of 100 screen prints makes a great alternative to decorating with live plants. £70

Modern Japanese Prints

Habitat have just released a new set of prints featuring cool Japanese typography. Tamago Buddies is a collaboration between award winning London based designers, Mami Kim and Joe Hardy which combines 60’s Japanese Showa-era colours with onomatopoeic sound graphics commonly found in Manga. Print shown £55.

Versatile seating

This large neutral-coloured footstool with wooden legs can be used as a footstool, for storage and as extra seating in your Japanese style room. It’s lightweight, so it can be stowed out of the way when you aren’t using it. £ 625.50

Incorporating the Japanese look to your home decor is all about getting the right mixture of subtle colours, sleek lines and well-chosen fabrics and useful accessories like live plants and wooden boxes and cabinets. With a little time and effort, Japanese style can give your home that light and ethereal look that will look fresh and new for decades to come.

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A great new look we are seeing from high end designers is the Film Noir look inspired by classic movie making. Think high contrast black and white, smoky cocktail bars, steel and luxury finishes. This is a look that complements industrial chic very well and is perfect for lovers of cocktails, Manhattan and Mad Men. Nigel shows us how to do it.

The Film Noir look

Film Noir has always been a slippery term to define. It has split film enthusiasts into two camps. Where one party classifies it as a historically situated genre, the other observes it as a loose set of themes, an overall look still active in modern filmmaking. Nevertheless, the images conjured by old Noir films are nothing short of iconic. Shot at a very high contrast, where deep black tones violently clashed with pristine whites, filmmakers were able to develop a sense of drama in the way they composed their shots. In the Noir tradition, angular use of light both illuminated and concealed the faces of tortured and morally ambiguous heroes, cities were transformed into dimly lit mazes where the wispy trails of cigar smoke danced against the abyss-like blacks of bars and evenings alike. The films grappled with human nature’s darker underbelly, both seductive and dangerous in what it exposed. We draw inspiration from this tradition, looking to the hat and trench coat clad world of bad-cop investigators, private eyes and femmes fatales to inject a notably Hollywood sophistication into your home.

Setting the Stage at Home

With the old films shot at high contrast, we similarly aim to evoke an air of drama by playing off-whites against musky taupe notes and jet-blacks. Deep blue and purple hues, while evoking the night, also develop sense of tonal complexity to the space. Like the cityscapes of these films, big and brash statement pieces make for a great way to provide your home with that in-your-face edge typical of the Noir films. Nevertheless, working muted colours means that these pieces will never be overbearing but rather match the room’s broody and sober ambience.

This Film Noir look works brilliantly with any dressed-down living space, pairing wonderfully with neutral, open-planned spaces with dark wooden floors. Economy is vital when reimagining your home in this style. These pieces are large and very vocal in the statements they make. Therefore, opt for fewer, dynamic pieces that can bind the room together and carry that nonchalant, Noir grittiness and energy.

Silhouette: developing depth with black notes

Black tones were instrumental in developing depth in the old Noir films. Darkness was evocative of the unknown, with the colour heightening a tension of countless and possible dangers lurking in the shadows. Fortunately for us, the colour can lose that sinister undertone and its capacity to silhouette and form space can be hugely beneficial in providing a depth and complexity to your home.

The Harlequin Demi Paste Wallpaper from John Lewis delivers this depth and complexity in spades. Featuring a gold, scalloped motif that is foiled by its onyx base tone, the wallpaper inspires a striking feature wall. The fine nature of the design guarantees to certainly captivate the eye, but also ensures that the print will not overpower the room. £80 per section.

The Alembert Black Metal Clock from Maisons Du Monde elegantly exudes the sentiment of the silhouette. The reductionist style carries a strong industrial air through the design of its hands and typeface used to form its numerals. Its all-metal composition, finished in a brilliant matt black, nonchalantly carries a Noir air. Naturally, to provide balance, mounting against a pale, plain wall, away from any feature wallpaper would yield the best balance for your room. £120.

Similarly, the Sonata Black Arch Window Mirror from Artisanti carries the clean lines and reductionist design of the Alembert Clock. Featuring a half moon top and overlaid with a black metal frame, the mirror carries a very Noir contrast of light and dark. We see this resting in a corner of the room to introduce new dimensions and depth to your space. After all, what’s more Noir than those moments of intense contemplation with one’s own face staring back at them? £224.

Darker shades of the Golden Age

While Noir was a global film phenomenon, it’s impossible to ignore Film Noir’s Hollywood connection. Playing to the muted sense of nostalgia conveyed by it makes for a fantastic way of further developing a sense of character in your home.

The Conquérant Floor Lamp by Maisons Du Monde is sure to inject a faded Hollywood glamour to your home. Complete with barn-door shutters, the lamp is reminiscent of the studio lights and projectors of yesteryear. Its antiqued copper finish marries it with other golden-hued elements in the room. With its capacity for angular lighting, we see this as a gorgeously Noir addition to your home. £330.

The Set of 2 Studio Trunks also from Maisons Du Monde, makes for a particularly potent pairing with the Conquérant Floor Lamp. Finished in black vinyl with metal and white vinyl accents, its look is similarly evocative of the studio floors of bygone times. We love how functional these trunks can be. Stacked, they can form a side table while also being able to fulfil their storage purpose. £184.

New York, New York

We’d be doing something wrong if we didn’t, at least, pay some sort of homage to one of the great backdrops of legendary Noir films –the Big Apple. Using pieces infused with the city’s metropolitan flavour makes for a great way to accentuate upon a city-slicker, Noir feel with your home.

We particularly love the Hambleton Arm Chair from John Lewis. Its bold, classic look conjures the image of many a Noir heroes, strewn across it with whiskey in hand, tormented by a case, rival or one’s own demons. It’s buttoned back and classical form retains an archaic elegance, while its deep, smoky brown upholstery and dark wooden legs allude to the play observed in a silhouette-like, modern and metropolitan colour palette. £1,199.

Pair with one of these amazing very limited edition Jayson Lilley’s ‘Chrysler Building’ art prints and you’re onto a winner. The print depicts the iconic peak of the namesake 1920’s New York skyscraper. Finished in 22ct gold leaf with a purple accent at the centre, Lilley’s work exudes a notion of luxury and opulence. The colours are also consistent with other elements in the room, working with the overall ambience of your home. £470.

If the Film Noir theme carries one take-home message, it’s that, like in jazz, black notes should be amply embraced. Unlike most colours, its strength means that it can shrink a room when misused. However, with time and thought, and as shown through the Film Noir theme, black notes make for masterful contrasts that not only open up a space, but also administer a healthy dose of depth and complexity to any home.

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If you take a look outside, you’ll find that summertime’s in full bloom. As the weather makes a shift towards warmer climes, we similarly turn our gaze eastward, looking to the cultural splendour of India as inspiration to breath new life into your home. It’s difficult not to fall in love with India. It’s a nation with a history traceable to antiquity, and over the millennia of its existence, it has witnessed the rise and fall of countless empires. Its cultural diversity means that a population of roughly 1.3 billion worship almost every major world-religion and tell the country’s story in over a thousand different languages. A melting pot of countless ideas and identities, what emerges is a vibrant and robust culture, inexhaustible in its capacity to inspire. If you’re unable to make the trip, then fear not. The Indian Summer theme seeks out cool design pieces and colours inspired by the enchanting nation, developing a relaxed, breezy ambience for your home, ready for the summer.

India at your doorstep: How to Get the Look

To achieve an India-inspired, summery lightness, the look is chiefly centred on a light, rustic colour palette – a plethora of ash notes, ochre yellows and deep browns with touches of bold colour such as blues and magenta. Light fabrics also provide movement and a breezy openness to the your living space, perfectly suited for the seasonal warmth. Matched with this, late colonial and traditional, ornate design pieces serve as focal points to the space, adding a historical weight and air of timeless sophistication to complete the space.

The look’s neutral colour palette means that it works with a variety of styles. Homes already styled in the modern industrial vein can capitalise on the late colonial-dimension that can also be pulled off through blending these styles. Nevertheless, any neutrally coloured, open-planned space with exposed wood flooring is plenty for your home to truly set sail.

Keeping structural statements understated

Like the other countries of the region, ornate, artisan-carved wood design pieces form a part of India’s artistic heritage. Large and intricate, these pieces make a statement. Both Lombok and Maisons Du Monde offer design pieces reminiscent of this artistic tradition. Washed in light ashen tones and antiqued, these pieces subtly infuse an oriental exoticism to your home without being overbearing and taking from the room’s lightness.

The Mille Et Une Nuit Folding Screen from Maisons Du Monde is gorgeously ornate, and is also a brilliant way of managing space. Its design retains a notably eastern feel, whilst its lacy grey patina retains your room’s relaxed, open feel. £240.

The Inti Design Wall Art from Lombok follows in this vein. Handcrafted in India by skilled artisans, its screen-like design flows with the Mille Et Une Nuit Folding Screen, neatly tying the room together. Its distressed and earthy greyed mango wood finish imparts a relaxed feel in the way it plays against the dulled white of the wall. £225.

These Paillettes Linen Curtains introduces a rustic touch to the space. Finished in a light Ecru dye, these curtains diffuse and soften sunlight, making way for gentler hues within the room. The light, breezy qualities of linen mean the curtain’s movement gorgeously complementing the muted, structural statement pieces. £ 47.99.

Antiqued wooden hues

Antiqued woods are a fantastic way of dressing down a space. Musky grey-brown notes infuse a rustic and earthy quality to your home, carrying its essence as a light and casual space. Nonetheless, incorporated tastefully, antiqued woods also flirt with history, delivering a depth and timeless sophistication to your home.

Lombok’s Baxter Wide Ladder Book Case exudes this dressed-down elegance. Its form conjures romanticised images of emporiums of eastern spice merchants of times gone by. Simple and pragmatic, its reclaimed pine racks pair beautifully with its dulled steel frame, finished in a silhouette-like grey. If space permits, matching this with the Baxter Narrow Ladder Book Case would do wonders in binding the room together. £695. The Baxter Narrow Ladder Book Case can be bought from Lombok for £525.

The Maharani Solid Mango Wood Indian Chest is a piece we’re all slightly in love with. Painted a brilliant turquoise-blue, the colour is reminiscent to the royal courts of bygone times. This nostalgia is intensified by the chest’s antiqued finish. The exposed mango wood infuses a historical depth into the piece, whilst also marrying the piece with the rest of the space. £ 363.

The Saranya Side Table follows suit. It’s antiqued black finish foils the exposed wood whilst also making the beautifully ornate design all the more striking. £103.50.

Textiles, textures- to taste

Being adventurous with textile choices is a fantastic way of developing character whilst retaining a colour scheme or theme. A somewhat salt-and-pepper of the design world, they provide the finishing touches in perfecting a desired look and ambience for a space.

In this sense, the Bengali Coir Cushion Set further develops our scheme’s exotic air. These wicker cushions conjure images of the great marketplaces of the distant past, greatly complementing the theme’s relaxed and rustic feel. Set on the floor, they’d make a great counterpoint to the Saranya Side Table. £140.50.

The Lazy Occasional Chair heavily features woven rattan, a staple of traditional furniture all over Asia. Set in a classically formed solid teak frame, the chair epitomises a very oriental-inspired reimagining of the classic armchair. £595.

With summer upon us, a light, rustic colour scheme opens up your living space to make the most of the season’s warmth. Paired with Indian-inspired design elements, the Indian Summers theme capture a small part of the region’s infinite charm and history, and is sure to inspire new life into any home.

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Seems like we’ve found another reason to visit New York and Brooklyn in June as Saatchi’s The Other Art Fair are launching their first fair in the USA (June 1-4 at the Brooklyn Expo Center). Thankfully for those of us not able to make the trip, they have a fantastic website too.

Their approach is different from the traditional style fair aimed at art galleries, since they feature emerging art which starts at around $75, which makes it a good way into starting to collect art and means you’ll have something different from everyone you know.

They want to “connect audiences with the art world’s most talented artists at the start of their careers” says Ryan Stanier, the Fair manager. And they have a bunch of live installations and art talks too.

There’s a special feature on Brooklyn-based artists and for those brave enough, tattoo artist Rosa Bluestone Perr will be offering hand-poked tattoos featuring designs exclusive to the fair.

The artists featured in each fair presented by TOAF are chosen by a panel of influential art experts and tastemakers to ensure fair goers are given access to the most promising and talented roster of emerging artists. This year’s U.S. selection committee includes big names from Saatchi, Friends of the High Line (which if you’ve never visited is a beautiful linear park across the rooftops of NYC), and luminaries from Brooklyn Magazine, MacGill, and Christie’s. You can know at least that even if you know nothing about art, the folks that do have curated what’s on sale.

The Saatchi Art online gallery carries more than 500,000 original paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs by over 50,000 emerging artists from over 100 countries. They say their mission is in redefining the experience of buying and selling art by providing art lovers with free art advisory services and an expertly curated selection of art www.saatchiart.com.

Here’s our pick from the TOAF. OK, so none of them are $75, but they give a sense of the range of styles available at the show:

Red Lips And Palm Trees

Fei Alexeli

catalogue link

Size: 39.4 H x 27.6 W x 0.8 in, $1,390

Formless 3

Lacey Kim

catalogue link

Size: 30 H x 40 W x 1 in

$3,950

Love Series I

Vicky Barranguet

catalogue link

Size: 57 H x 74 W x 2 in

$11,750

Inside the Lines – Limited Edition 1 of 8

Cassandra Zampini

catalogue link

Size: 18 H x 24 W x 0.1 in

$1,240

It’s All Mine

Lauren Matsumoto

catalogue link

Size: 15 H x 12 W x 1.5 in

$1,200

To Find Out More

To learn more about The Other Art Fair, visit www.theotherartfair.com.

Private View:

Thursday, June 1st, 6:00pm-9:30pm when 100% of ticket sale proceeds benefit Free Arts NYC

General Entry:

Friday, June 2nd, 12:00pm–9:00pm, Saturday, June 3rd, 11:00am–7:00pm, Sunday, June 4th, 11:00am–6:00pm

They’ll be back in London at the Old Truman Brewery in October.

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Todays Modern Hero is Helen Baker who has just launched a collection of fabrics and soft furnishings inspired by her upbringing in Cornwall. Her modern range is designed to complement the palette of a modern family home and stays away from clichéd nautical designs. More importantly they are gender neutral designed and printed in the UK using eco-friendly inks on natural cotton. And they look great. Helen Baker at the launch of her collection IDEALIST: Whats the inspiration behind your collection? Helen My collection is titled You can take the girl out of Cornwall which is essentially me in a nutshell. I lived in Cornwall on and off for 25 years but our family moved to Wiltshire in 2015 when my husband changed jobs. Whilst renovating our new house I was looking for fabrics and home furnishings that would suit us as a family but were still stylish. Frustrated with not finding what I was looking for I started researching how fabrics are designed then taught myself digital illustration took some online courses in surface pattern design and read as many design books as I could get my hands on. After many hours of learning practising and refining I sent some files off to be printed onto fabric and was really pleased with the results. I loved the process of creating a design but wanted to push myself to create a whole collection. They say to start with what you know so I did. Life in Cornwall but contemporary Cornwall of today a long way from anchors nautical knots and compasses that have became clichéd nautical designs. So many people have connections and happy memories of the coast and I wanted to inject a bit of this into homes wherever you may live. IDEALIST: Your work is purposely gender neutral how did that come about? Helen Im the only female in a house with my husband and two sons (aged nine and seven years) so I wanted designs that werent floral feminine or fussy. Modern families today often live in open plan spaces that need fabrics and furnishings that work for everyone who shares that space. I believe that my natural inspired designs are accessible to all ages and Ive used a gender neutral colour palette with colours inspired by Cornish life. IDEALIST: Where are your products made? Helen All of my products are printed and made in the UK. Like many consumers I like to know where a product has been made and I was keen to do the same with my range. IDEALIST: Did you always want to be a designer? Helen I have always loved making things and grew up in a creative family. I was a primary school teacher for nearly ten years but left when my two children were young. I started a small sewing business making and selling gift items but soon came to realise I enjoyed the designing side more than the making. So many people have connections and happy memories of the coast and I wanted to inject this into homes wherever you live IDEALIST: You were born in Cornwall and live near Bath how do you take inspiration from your surroundings? Helen I get inspiration from my surroundings wherever they may be and have my phone on hand to take photos. I am drawn to silhouette design and constantly look for different shapes found in nature and think how they could be used within a pattern. IDEALIST: Where can readers buy your products? Helen Cushions lampshades and fabric by the metre ( and samples) can be bought from my website www.helenbaker.com which just launched and Im starting to approach stockists too. IDEALIST: You have a strong belief in protecting the environment. How is that reflected in your work? Helen This is important to me and I am really pleased to be working with a printing manufacturer who use eco-friendly inks on 100% natural cotton fabrics. IDEALIST: Whats next for you? Helen Im working on my next collection inspired by British gardens which will still fit my values of being family friendly gender neutral and eco-friendly. IDEALIST: We love the Parenting Colours Pantone style print. How did that come about? Helen I love using colour within our home but when Pantone released their Spring colour trends this year with colour names such as Kale and Pink Yarrow I thought it would be fun to rename them with colours parents could relate too. I initially made the poster just for our house but have gone on to sell several copies as so many people connect with it. IDEALIST: Who are your design heroes? Helen Ive always loved bold and simple Scandinavian design that suits everyday family living so Marimekko are one of my biggest design heroes. Their ethos is to bring colour pattern and happy memories into everyday living and I aspire to achieve these same goals. I also love the work of Orla Kiely who is a great believer in trusting your instincts alongside creating patterns that are uplifting and bring pleasure to others. IDEALIST: What tips would you give to new parents looking to furnish their first kids bedroom? Helen My advice would be to leave stimulating bright colours for toys accessories and art and keep walls neutral. Its also far easier to move pictures and furniture than it is to paint a whole room. Talk with your child to find out what they like and then add elements of their personality and interests within the room. This could be through some objects/toys displayed on a shelf and/or posters or wall art but be mindful that their tastes might change and anything too themed can be a bit overboard. Ultimately dont forget that a kids room should be fun so release your inner child and get creative. The post Modern Hero: Cornish fabric designer Helen Baker appeared first on The Idealist. via The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/modern-hero-cornish-fabric-designer-helen-baker/