Forgive yesterdays lack of post have spent the last two days sick in bed, which is so boring. However it has given me the chance to think about the business in ways I generally don’t have the time for. As you may know very soon we are revamping the website, launching an online monthly Style Guide and I also thought we should have a Design Channel. Design tube I’m calling it – little pocket videos about our Design School, tips and tricks on how you can transform your home, little pockets of advice that kind of thing. What do you think?
The logistics are another thing altogether, finding someone to film it, put it to music etc. etc. but as a concept I think it could be fun no?. I’m a big believer that you don’t need to be an A list decorator or head honcho stylist to have a cool pad. All you need is their confidence and the ability to think a little differently when it comes to putting a room together. Many rooms may look like they’ve been just been slung together but often times they’ve been pondered over, sighed over, tweaked, re tweaked. Plus there are tricks, tricks of the trade that all we designers use time and time again.
The more you do it the easier it becomes and the more confidence you get. You don’t need oodles of cash, style as I say a trillion times has nothing to do with money but you will need to take a few gambles. With colour, with scale, with art, with furniture, layering, texture, pattern, lighting (am I scaring you)?
Below a cool vignette I found on the Design Files – and a good example of how it doesn’t take a lot to create a cool space.
Brilliant idea, cannot wait to see it. Good luck.
Thank you
Abigail the ‘Design Tube’ concepts sounds stella, you’d have an avid viewer here! Much like not needing a big budget to have a stylish pad, today even smart phones shoot amazing HD footage and licensing music is super simple, I used these guys recently, https://www.themusicbed.com/, a whole collection of fantastic indie bands and for stream video I think the license per track was $49 – $100 and many have instrumental only versions of their tunes, which is great when you’re rolling dialogue. Anyways, can’t wait to see the end results in time.
Cool thank you so much for this shall have a look
Glad to hear your feeling better now. I love the idea of your design tube, your blog is so initiative & inspiring…..can’t wait to see your videos etc…..🎥💡🎨
Hi Abigail
Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better. I am coming on your course tomorrow and have been looking forward to it since November!
Your mag and Style Files sound awesome.
See you tomorrow.
Di
See you in a bitx
Hi Abigail,
I came on one of your xmas classes and have followed your blog ever since and I am always impressed with your generosity. Somehow you make it feel alright to make mistakes – so much of the ‘design world’ can feel intimidating and ‘closed’, so just a thank you really for sharing your experience, tips and sources and giving us confidence to have a go!
Thank you very kind of you to say
Hi. Hope you feel better soon. Design Tube sounds good. I have been addicted on your posts since I came across them on Google. Love your style!
Thank you
Sounds like a grt idea.
I know a fab guy who could do the videos if you’re looking for someone.
Great thank you, I may get back to you about your video guy just seeing if we can do it ourselves and it means we can be a little more spontaneous but thanks
hi abi how am I ever gonna convince my husband that dark walls and dark ceilings are the way to go? he has just closed his mind, so sure that white blah everywhere is best for our dark little terrace. i dont wanna fight with him anymore and am thinking yesterday’s post could help. could I trouble you when you get a sec to perhaps post more pics from your heap to get him over to the dark side? I am scared too but want so much to be brave! (could i be any more dramatic?!) thanks abi. wish u better x ps I have trawled the web but nothing has really helped the cause…… x
If you look at Todd Selby’s website theselby.com and put in my name he has shot the most beautiful pictures of me house with the ceilings the same colour
oh yes!! design tube! brilliant!! please do!! image is 1000 words!
Abigail – since New Year, you have shown as many light coloured rooms (mainly white) as darker. What is happening? Are you saying rooms in shades of white are alright as long as there have lots of colour in the art work, carpets, textiles, and of course good lighting?
Personally I prefer darker rooms to lighter ones but as I say its my personal preference. As for showcasing lighter rooms its because they’re isn’t the greatest selection of dark ones out there to illustrate my point and I would rather show a beautifully composed pale interior than a dark interior purely because its dark
Abi, if you want to do videos, buy yourself a Canon camera, film them yourself (get Graham to film you while you gab) and find some kid to edit them on imovie for you. My 11 year old daughter does this kind of thing on her own. I know you don’t have a lot of free time, but it’s not as hard as it seems (at least to us 40-something dinosaurs!) I can’t wait to see it!
Cool thank you for the tip will certainly look into
I can’t decide if that chair looks like a torture device or the most brilliant thing since mayonnaise. Feel better.
Confidence is so important! In my case age has given me confidence and if I see a decorating idea I like I’m going to give it a shot, gamble if you will, which can be such fun.
Good words of advice
Sounds like an amazing thing to do – & one that would be useful & able to be used by everyone. Not enough blogs/stores/so on grasp the full possibilities of the internet out there -
Great production ideas. I’d like to see if I can help you.
Really worthwhile idea, pocket sized design inspiration vids from you… It’s true an illness can be the catalyst for new direction, the forced isolation and solitude that comes with being poorly can give us the break to help us think outside the norm. As for the music… Dubussy used to compose to Monet’s paintings and visa versa, they understood each others vision of colour, shape, balance, texture and the resulting dynamic… a wonderful connection of visual and audio art, I’d love to try my hand at it in this way once the projects rolling ? N
Thansk Nick shall keep you posted on it all xx
Fantastic relaxing armchair. I wish I could dive in it