Sincerest apologises for the lack of posts these last few days – things got a little crazy - buying for the store, part time manning of the stand, sleeping hardly at all etc. The city of Paris and I have sort of fallen out – am sure its only a temporary tiff and we will no doubt fall back in love but this time round wasn’t so in love. I shall put it down to crankiness of mood – for a start I couldn’t sleep the apartment (barely the size of a shoe box) was beyond hot, you could open the window but not that much otherwise you were right in someone else’s dining room! Plus it’s a nosy city everyone is on motorbikes roaring and tearing around the streets – Maud is terrified of the sound so every second she was scraping to run away or cowering on the ground shuddering. And (last moan I promise) I hated the coffee, a small thing I know but I am a bit of a freak when it comes to coffee and London isn’t great, there are only a handful of fab coffee places but at least some are right out my front door so they make starting the morning a delight – there it is, bet you’re glad you weren’t hanging out with me these last few days!
Anyways as I said I’m putting it down to lack of sleep and overall tiredness these past few months – I don’t think I have ever worked so hard and travelled so much since the business began and am a little done in. Lets get down to business, ignore my weary old mood and talk interiors. I came across a space recently shot for Italian Elle Decor that used dark colours beautifully but at the same time the apartment was minimally furnished. I realise since the Selby and Mercedes Benz shoot that many of you love the dark side but are a little concerned in how to go about finding all the kind of stuff that I have. It takes time, a beautiful home cannot be filled in an instant with stuff from one store otherwise it feels and looks too off the peg. My place didn’t start out full it happened over time and although the apartment below feels a little gallery esq I wanted to illustrate that you don’t need alot to begin the conversion over to the dark side.
Start with a dark or in this case black background hue, when you break it down there is very little else going on here – a small scattering of furniture very few high voltage hues and yet it looks and feels quietly sophisticated.
And if going all over dark doesn’t appeal consider painting out window frames and wall in dark sludgy inky hues as it adds instant drama as seen here in this bedroom.
AND everything doesn’t have to be dark – check out the pale grey walls with the beautiful collection of art in dark frames its subtle, its clever and I like.
Photography by Kasia Gatkowska
welcome back! we missed you!
Thank you x
Hi Abigail welcome back, I miss your lovely blog when you are away!!! I used to be a buyer and those shows are knackering and I always thought I had something terminal when I came back!!!
May I ask you about the glass grape light in your sisters apartment please, is it one of yours? I am trying to source one to dangle on a long flex over my coffee table but the one I have found http://www.artiquea.co.uk/result-in-clear-p-462.html is without any fittings (probably easily solved)? Hope you don’t mind me asking and I hope you have got your proper caffeine quota this am!!!
Thank you – yes we did used to sell them we don’t anymore. I actually used to source the electrical fittings from a DIY chain like B&Q you just need electrical flex,, candle bulb and chain. The supplier of them is called Tade (www.tade.fr, they sell the electrical components ) – they only sell to stores I believe but they may be able to tell you a stockist. Hope that helps and yes have had two lovely flat whites – much happier now.
Thank you so much, I have just looked at their website, it looks (from what I can see, like the same thing! I’m sure I have the wit to wire it myself….. however I may fry when I turn it on!
Have a lovely day, the sun is shining!!
More than welcome – try not to fry! And yes the sun is shining glorious Autumnal day x
Welcome back! sorry to hear you weren’t happy, I hope that you manage to get a bit of a rest and feel on top form soon.
Thank you
Hi Abigail,
Glad you are posting again, sorry Paris was a bit of a bummer this time round, it can be like that sometimes but if you like next time you come over (wait I hear you shouting don’t talk to me about next time ALREADY!) but if you do, and you have a mo please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will try to give you a good list of coffee places, even where to stay but dependng on area you want etc etc that will hopefully help make your stay and Maud’s a bit gentler. Take care and keep up the great blog, so very inspirational for me, oh the dog lamps, your iconic living room pic, the dreadlock cushion, george smith couch and so on , oh yes the selby post was good(I of the totally white walls who keeps on trying to pluck up the courage to go dark (but only in small touches and areas)) liz from Paris
Hi Liz thanks for this – I do love Paris think it was the tiredness more than anything. Back in January staying in the Marais I believe so any coffee suggestions gratefully received no matter where they may be. xx
Best looking rooms I’ve seen in a long time!