Moody hues

It’s a bank holiday weekend here in the UK so no posts from me on Monday. Apparently it’s a huge DIY weekend with everyone tarting up their  homes and gardens ready for summer. If like me you are painting (touching up a few rooms that are in a severe need of a repaint) then I just wanted to show you how fabulous dark rooms can look even in summer.

You just don’t get that cosy gentleman’s club feeling in a neutral space I say. Loving everything about the room below from the panels to the painting from the inky blue  of the sofa to the rug. Particularly liking the idea of two sofas sitting opposite each other the question is can I relocate my george smith sofa to another floor and suggest going down this route without being murdered. Thinking probably not – so shall keep this one to myself for oh at least the weekend x

Happy weekend

I want to move into this space right now

More sneak peaks

Our faux flowers are about to go on line so thought would show you guys a sneak peak of some of the shots we created,  photographed by the fabulous Graham Atkins Hughes. From little posies to single stems I love how realistic they look and whilst I will never stop buying the real thing it now means that I can fill the whole house with blooms without spending a fortune week on week.

Photography Graham Atkins Hughes

A single stem of dahlia on my desk and a big bunch of gelda on my mantle piece make my office super cool in my humble opinion!

Photography Graham Atkins Hughes

Another shot of my office with bunches of faux hydranger in a hand thrown pot.

Photography Graham Atkins Hughes

Our biggest seller – peonies in hot hot pink

Vintage letters

Vintage letters  numbers on a wall anything to do with font infact you name it I want it. Whether  made from zinc, Bakelite or wood vintage words are unique and add a whimsical atmosphere to walls  – the fun is making up the words with the letters you find. I am favouring words like wow, or love (but then everyone has love) or something perhaps a little more provocative (but then the in laws and the raised eye brows spring to mind so I chicken out as eyebrows get raised enough as it is). There is a fabulous place in Paris which stocks only vintage letters and it’s in my little black book. As the sun is shining I feel like sharing so check out www.kidimo.com and in the meantime a couple of images to inspire.

Adore this image from the letters to the shelves to the chair.

Super cool

How to translate your style into your home

Its easy peasy – never quite get why people find it so hard but then I guess I am sleeping, breathing, researching interiors every single day of my life. I kid you not. So you want a cool pad and you want it to reflect you first tip buy only what you truly love, and when I say love I mean truly love. When I first moved into my house years ago we had limited funds to furnish it, literally had no furnishings as having just relocated from the States I had flung everything out (sensible hey). I was charged with buying furniture for the living room sofa, chairs coffee table you know the thing and I came back with one chair that blew the budget  for the year and was made of concrete.  Yes that’s a triffle extreme but the point I am trying to make is that I didn’t want to furnish my newly beloved house with any old mumbo jumbo so I didn’t – simple as that.

Enough on me you’re the ones who want a stylish pad.  Next tip mix it all up a bit its way more interesting and funky messing around with scale and age as it invigorates the eye at the same time as making g your space totally unique.  Another thing that I am always doing is playing by moving my stuff around – rotating who knows what from one room to another keeps the space evolving and it feels fresh.

So not exactly my cup of tea this space but I love the vibe, unique, personal and fun and that at the end of the day is what it is all about.  If we all thought and decorated the same way it would be a dull old world.

Inspirational spaces

Am typing this the night before as tomorrow is an early start and knowing me I will leave it to the wire before rolling out of bed at 5.45 and then I will forget to post. Anyway I am on a mission to encourage anyone who lives in London or is visiting London to swing by Petersham nurseries. Parking is a nightmare so the best thing is to park in Richmond and saunter along the river. Maud was in heaven, canoes, ducks, dogs she was so over whelmed she continually sat down along the way to contemplate which to chase. Oh and talking of Maud she has the most fabulous new hair cut (she goes to Primrose Hill you know for her shampoo and set) . She looks pounds lighter am thinking of doing the very same thing – chop of your hair and you look like you’ve lost 10 lbs yey!

Pertersham is more than just a nursery it’s a café and award-wining restaurant sourcing the best local ingredients and growing most of the fruit and veg in the surrounding gardens. Palm trees, dirt floors and a shabby chic vibe abound – heaven.

Cows graze on the meadows outside the gates and with the river running along by it’s a haven of tranquillity. I  pottered around the shrubberies and lemon trees, brought a whole load of herbs and lavender and felt almost as if I had been on a mini break.  Oh and its hugely popular with celebs by the way, Madonna, Paul Smith and Mick Jagger are all fans. Some images below of Petersham. I came home and wanted the exact same vibe, palm trees dirt floors, boho furniture  – except I have gone down a rather more glam route with my garden and beginning to re-evaluate why.

I want this table.

Style clinic goes global

Due to popular demand and zillions of emails we are now via video conferencing (skype) going to open up our style clinic to the world yay. So if you are struggling with colour, or layouts or wondering which vibe to go down then fear not we are on hand to help. The consultation is free and lasts 45 minutes, and booking  is essential. Plus we ask that you email some images beforehand of your pad so I can have a sneak peak. Need any further details then email the store:contact@atelierbypost.com.

This is my pad – if you want minimal, or Scandi or super sleek best not apply otherwise you will see me popping pills to keep my blood pressure down and pulling faces. Not a good look!

Faded glamour

Sorry for lack of post yesterday we were photographing all our flowers as they are soon to go on line.Yay!

My work at the mo is taking me on a strange journey  as I am becoming entwined and a little obsessed with faded glamour . From a tatty old chair to  unfinished walls with peeling wallpaper . Don’t worry shall not I promise convert to a country rustic vibe  its only  temporary and its all to do with a new product line I am thinking about. Last night  slung twinkly fairly lights over paintings which in the evening sparkle with the sexiest of glows and dotted around the house all the posies we photographed yesterday which looked fabulous. Regrettably they all have to go back to the store today otherwise I wil be in big trouble.  Whilst I can appreciate sleek chic spaces they don’t talk to me – they feel I hate to say a little devoid of personality.  These images below are so inspirational not because I necessairy want my space to look like this its a little granny esp in feel but none the less it feels welcoming and lived in.

Wild Colour

I’m out of my comfort zone when it comes to applying bright  colour s to walls. Did it at home once yonks ago and it was so bad I was slapping another colour over it before it had barely dried. Did at our concession at The Shop At Bluebird (brightest brightest saffron yellow) and had four sleepness nights before it returned to soft grey. So I marvel at homes that have taken a walk on the wild side and made it work. Although I not sure I could live with it, it does kind of mesmerise me. My concern  is I am not totally sure how sophisticated colourful walls look. I adore colour and have gotten braver as I have gotten older but just not sure about it on walls and when I say colour I mean zingy tangerine, lime, scarlet  that sort of thing.. Love it on rugs, lighting, textiles,  flowers blah blah blah .

Images below show just how cool it can look. Will I dabble thinking maybe not but then I like to be brought out of my comfort zone otherwise life gets way to dull. By the way we will be extending our free style surgery held first Saturday on each month – to all of you who live out of town via video conferencing. Which means (due to popular demand and zillions of emails asking if we can set up a skype service – we are). Early days and will yabber more about it later  on in the week – but yes you will be able to send  images of your pad in advance, make an appointment for the consultation  and we will delight you with all sorts of crazy but cool ideas for how to turn your pad from drab to fab.

There is alot going on but it works I think.

On the fence with this one – love the bright yellow blind not totally there with the wall colour.

LA Cool

The great thing about this job of mine is that I am always discovering something new – the latest Commune Design a design practice in LA. Not quite sure if I have been sleeping under a rock as they haven’t been on my radar – but now bookmarked and flagged for inspiration. Their vibe is somewhat European – laid back and layered combining a liveable mix of stuff with particular attention given over to organic textures. They cleverly  mingle eras and proportions and layer their designs with witty unexpected surprises (always a good thing in my book).

Have been wondering if it’s a reaction to minimalism (how Commune design and how I design) or whether it’s just the sign of the times we happen to be living in. I, my clients and customers if I dare speak for them crave items that haven’t been so processed and so seen before. We want individual, unique spaces that reflect who we are. In my book you can only achieve that by looking into the past to see the future.

I leave you with a couple of inspirational images from Commune.  Its an ungodly hour but I am off the to gym to lift weights with my trainer  (ugg – he’s tough).

Musings

Gosh look at the time not quite sure where the morning has gone – apologises for this very very late post. Today is a home day (yay) and its sunny which means I keep looking down at the garden wishing I could sit under my lilac tree and read a novel. But I can’t we have matters to discuss and the day to get on with.

Yesterday I met the most charming couple of Parisians who were adorable, loved the store and thought it was a very good idea to open in Paris. Would LOVE to open a store in Paris its been on my mind for a bit now as I think our look is quite French and we seem to be sending tons of stuff that way. So part of my day no doubt will be pondering such thoughts. I’m researching accessories right now for Christmas and know I have nailed it when I want to take it home instantly. Two details from my house (excuse the christmas decs am right in the throws of thinking christmas right now so its playing heavily on my mind). First up a detail of my office  – crows and poodles everywhere and then a lifestyle detail of my shelf with piles of odds and sods as they say.

Happy Friday

Photography Damian Russell

Detail of my desk behind me the balcony with garden right below – somewhat distracting I must admit because I all the time want to be outside

Old mags, invites, t-lights and the odd deer adorn my shelf.