Square is the new round!

3.30 am is anyone else up? Crazy schedule which I am sure you are all bored of me saying so will shut up and be quick as my taxi arrives soon to whisk me off the station to another part of the country.
Very exciting news I have been working on two new ranges (not quite ready for launching but nearly so. A scented candle range, think beautiful thick glass mouth blown containers in inky sludgy colors with phenomenal scents, and also a tableware range. I designed it in September can you believe and like anything it takes forever to get into production. I wanted all the pieces hand thrown since I hate beyond hate mass-produced crockery – going hand thrown means they can be super super thin, wonky and hand glazed to my obsessional (and beyond annoying I am sure) fussy eye. These pics came in yesterday from our artisans in South Africa and whilst I’ve got to tweak the hues a tad (bit more inky sludgy) it gives you an idea of the range. I’ve gone down the rectangular, square route since I am a little bored of round plates. When in NYC not so long ago many of me meals

were served on beautiful slate rectangular or square platters. Also when sourcing all the tableware for Heston’s new show, Cooking with Heston (on this eve, Channel 4, 8pm), it made me realize how vertically everything dinner plate wise is round. Also colour palette wise I wanted to follow my vibe and so have chosen, olives, moss green, greys, deep deep blues as well as some neutrals as course. Rooms like food look better on dark backgrounds.

Square is the new round you know!

Talking bedrooms

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday very sick thru Sunday night with no sleep and then had a day ahead of me yesterday filming. There I was on the train up north in pajamas with sick bowl to hand looking like hell. Got back late night last had a glass of orange juice and the whole thing has just happened again all thru last night so am feeling rather sorry for myself to say the least. Enough of my moaning and groaning, I am working in my studio all day so at least I don’t have to get dressed, comb my hair or talk which is  a good think.

Lets talk bedrooms – I would say bedrooms are probably one of the most important rooms in the house since it’s the first thing we see when we open our eyes and the last thing we see at night (shame mine is so neglected). Its where we relax (I don’t as I hate my current one) but hopefully  you are not like me and have bedooms that are true reflections of who you really are. In my new bedroom (happening the minute filming stops) I’m having a big fireplace (obviously) a clubby old chair to read novels in when I want to escape. There are quite a few of us working from home now it’s a hive of activity Atelier HQ so I’m fancying a room with a door I can close. Also want a huge chandelier crafted from mud no less, a panelled false wall which doubles as a walk in wardrobe, bed linen from Merci and a big slubby merino wall throw. Wall lights , oodles of flowers and way hey think I might never leave. That’s my current wish, that and getting a little better so I can crack on with this rather gruelling schedule.

Happy Tuesday I leave you with a few bedroom shots to ponder

 

Crazy week for me this week but I’m planning a treatment at the Cowshed, Shoreditch house on the weekend which is keeping me going

 

 

Thank you

Thank you to all for emails, texts phone calls etc regarding Heston’s show. I was filming in the depths of the country with poor to non existent internet access so didn’t actually get to see the show until late last night and it looks fabulous (if I am allowed to say that).

Down pipe walls, tons of faux flowers, supersized candlesticks, gargoyles, dog lamps looks just like home.

Happy weekend I get a day off today (the first since Boxing Day) so its a wander through Borough Market and Maltby market with Mungo and Maud (the most fabulous food markets in town should anyone happen to be visiting London) for some yummy food so I can cook something lovely this afternoon with a fire and Radio 4 on in the background, heavenly. Tomorrow back in the studio working on more designs for the show.

 

All that glitters

The other day I brought some extremely high heels in gold sparkly glitter no less and I’m kind of loving them. They look if I dare tell you particularly good when partnered with pyjamas mine are big thick tartan men’s ones about 20 sizes too big which keep falling down and puddling on the floor not such a good look I realise, but I love them. When I buy new shoes I tend to wear them non-stop even if it’s late at night with pyjamas but that’s not really my point and I’m digressing as usual  (anymore info and you might just think I am a little crazy)! My point is adding anything that sparkles to a room, so precious metals like gold and silver adds instant pizazz to your interior. I’ve got gold lamp bases and flowerpots in beautifully bronze ish gold, as well as t- lights, carafes and glittery cushions. – I’m actually preferring gold to silver these days but no matter, either or, possibly even both add a luminosity and depth to an interior that you wouldn’t get otherwise. When the light starts dropping and dusk approaches just watch how it bounces and sparkles off metal objects it’s mesmerising.

Tonight please remember Heston Blumenthal’s new television series How to Cook like’s Heston goes to air, 8pm Channel 4 which I designed the set for. Cannot wait for you guys to see how amazing everything looks against a dark sludgy inky backdrop know as Down Pipe. Heston looks more handsome than ever, the food is amazing and the kitchen and dining room pretty darn cool. Can I say that? Hey ho I just did.

Happy Wednesday

PS please excuse the lack of image, on a new computer in a hotel miles from home and I can’t for reasons that fathom me understand why photoshop isn’t working nor how or why I can’t attach an image.

A few decorating tips

Here’s hoping everyone has had a relaxing week or so off for the holidays and for those of you who haven’t I totally understand and sympathise. I had 2 days off and the rest of the time have been pulling 15-hour intense crazy days but more of that another time. Needless to say when my life gets a little calmer at the end of Feb I am looking to going away for a long weekend somewhere hot (all suggestions greatly received).  Am very easily pleased especially when suffering from exhaustion – sea and sun are my two main requirements, with possibly the odd smidge of whisky oh and good coffee (kind of easily pleased as you can see)!

I am as I guess you all know pretty obsessed with interiors, I marvel at people who see their homes as purely functional, places to eat, sleep, wash etc. and give them no more thought than that. The minute my keys go through the door no matter the hour, and there have been some ludicrously late hours these last few months a squishy contentment fills me.  Depending I should say if the right lights have been left on, if they haven’t then no squishy contentment feeling for me.  It goes like this – chandelier check, bulldog lamp check, recessed overhead lights check. Very simple even the cleaner’s got the configuration down, dim the recess as dusk hits and everyone is happy!

To get to the point – getting that feeling of squishy contentment that I get every time I come home is so easily achieved if you follow your heart. The image below whilst not  totally my cup of tea since the walls are a little neutral for my taste, shouts lived in and loved. The homeowner’s choices of art, furniture and stuff totally and utterly feels unique. So when buying stuff for the home forget about trends and fads, even fabulous sales (she’s says having brought yesterday very high gold glitter heels for £15 in the sale, where and when I will wear them am not so sure)!  If you don’t 100 per cent love it don’t buy it. That way you will never want to get rid of anything you will just keep adding as I do.

Happy Tuesday remember one day to go until Heston’s programme hits our screens, (Channel 4 8pm) I’m the other side of the country filming but am hoping I can whizz to my hotel room for 30mins to catch it.

Happy 2012

I love the beginning of a new year because the slate is clean as it were and you get to start all over again. Not that I want to wipe last year from my mind it was perhaps the craziest and most exciting one yet work wise. The seminar in Australian, opening my design school, being asked to co-present a TV series (more on that in February as I’m not allowed to say anything until it’s broadcast) and the hugest accolade to design the location set for Heston Blumenthal’s new TV series How to Cook Like Heston (Channel 4 Wednesday 4 8pm).  Expect an Alice in Wonderland magical vibe to match Heston’s magical food. The interior is dark and it’s peppered with pieces that tantalise, seduce and intrigue. We’ve broken boundaries, Heston with his food and me with my interior for him. I’ve designed it as I design anything with integrity, confidence and verve with of course a twist of the unexpected. The most successful interiors have an element of risk if you don’t take risks you don’t achieve anything, which pretty much mirrors Heston’s food if I say so myself. So as you can see am hugely excited, the show airs prime time with one of the world’s greatest chiefs, cooking and hanging out in a dark, inky sludgy interior designed by moi.  Maybe just maybe more people will be willing to convert to the dark side once they see how fabulous the results are.

So am hoping this year will be even more amazing than last year – although how it can get much better I do not know (possibly I do know but its not so much down to me and anyways I digress) A few weeks ago sitting in a restaurant in East London with Heston talking about the finishing of his programme and now the start of mine was bizarre, exciting, scary and again bizarre. So you can never tell what happens in a year, follow your dreams I would say as you never know where they may lead, oh and if you paint your house dark not only will you look skinnier you will feel happier I can promise you that much!

How to cook like Heston, Channel 4, Wednesday 4th January 8pm

 

Happy 2012