Forgive yesterdays lack of post, it was a bit of a crazy one. Big thank you to all those who attended the retail class on Friday last one of the year unbelievably although many more will be scheduled for next year. Today as you can see an early one. 4.24 yuk! Off to Kempton antiques fair with a torch, wellies, a hat and two very sleepy dogs who do not want to leave the house, ditto to that!
Recently I ordered a heap of books, Edible Selby, Nate Berkus some cool flower books and a big heavy tome showcasing the designs by Roman and Williams a husband and wife design duo based out of NYC (they designed the Ace Hotel amongst many other things).
Lit the biggest fire, made a coffee and got lost in this rather magical book of theirs. A couple of things stood out, firstly they are obsessives and get completely lost in a project down to the teeniest tiniest detail. They are at once understated and glamourous,(which I adore) and in designing they clear their head and focus on things they love, to quote ‘be patient and brave about where you look and be prepared to go deep to find things you love. That’s the secret’. Couldn’t have said it better my self. For my kind of interiors, for their kind of interiors there is no one stop shop (regrettably not even mine)! It takes time to build and layer up a home with a selection of finds that you love, but as we all know when you put the time in the results are amazing! Hence my 4am wake up call to go look round an outdoor antiques market in the dark!
Another thing I love when they we’re doing up their apartment they didn’t have much money but they had time, they don’t subscribe to the time is money philosophy – time is free, and when they have clients with limited budgets they coach them point them in the right direction and then it was up to them to put in the footwork and search and hunt things out. When their clients do have money ‘ we slow them down and encourage them to spend it in a creative money’.
Wise words indeed. I leave you with one of their designs, Ben Stiller’s pad in LA no less – no gimmicks, no humor. just simple beautiful craftsman coupled with a beautiful palette.
Gotta dash so forgive spellings grammar and all that malarky – oh and the heavens have just opened and its pissing down. Great!
Hi Abigail I love this room and have just started a blog http://www.nordicblack.wordpress.com so I can share photos of my favourite spaces. Is there a place you can look online for photos from your favourite interior design books so you can upload them legally or should ai just trawl places like pinterest? Thanks for hosting a fab masterclass. Look forward to January’s design class.
There isn’t a place I hate to say need to be better at saving them to pinterest.
Dear Abigail, you don’t have to apologize in every blog post you make. World will keep on turning and we will be here whether you post every day or not, regardless of the amount of spelling mistakes you make. Just breathe.
wise words
I agree that Roman and Williams are wonderful, but I find their work a little bit stiff. Your interiors, on the other hand, are just so much more vibrant and lively, and after wandering around your place for the retail class (worth the price of the course alone!) I am completely convinced that you have come up with something extra-special! We really need to free our inner craziness, frankly, and you are giving a little shove to those of us that are ready to try. Thanks
Very kind words thank you x
Kempton antiques, I love it. Hope you found lots of ‘treasure’. Clare x
Thank you not much apart from two very cool little Italian 50 chairs apparently from an old hairdressing saloon
I’ve got the Roman and Williams book. Love, love,love.
Fab its an inspirational tome not just the images but their words as well