This amazing work by Nicole Dextras just blows me away. The first 3 images are of items of clothing in ice and the dresses and coat made with flowers and foliage are beyond belief.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Floral Fashion and Clothes On Ice
This amazing work by Nicole Dextras just blows me away. The first 3 images are of items of clothing in ice and the dresses and coat made with flowers and foliage are beyond belief.
Displaying Just About Anything
This just goes to show that if you have some old cutlery, kitchen utensils, a container and some scrumpled paper you can make a stunning display. Amazing!
Image via Skonahem
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
What Comes Naturally
I am often asked how I come up with ideas I have. There's no easy answer to that. I mean why do did I decide to
put a stack of trompe l'oeil books on my desk, as they serve no purpose other than to make me smile and look tremendously busy? Why did I decide
to take 4 drawers out of an old art deco dressing table, paint the insides in bright colours and use them as bookshelves? The main reason was that I thought the handles would be useful to hang things off, which I haven't done yet. Why did I think it was a good idea
to hang a massive chandelier in a corner of a room with such a low ceiling? Well I thought it would bring drama to the room. Why did I tell the plasterer
to leave that faux stone wall alone? Because I wanted a bit of what I considered to be amazingly realistic left alone. Why did I go out into the forest
to find curtain poles instead of going to the shops? Because it's cheaper and much more fun. Why do we have
a giant D and a giant H above our fireplace? Well Harvey and I each have our own side of the cottage and this is so we don't forget which side is which. Why do I
do this for a living? When I look at a tea tray I just think it would be fun to stick everything to the surface and hang it up. Why when I see
an old Victorian riding jacket do I immediately want to cover a chair with it? Because it is what comes naturally - to me anyway.
put a stack of trompe l'oeil books on my desk, as they serve no purpose other than to make me smile and look tremendously busy? Why did I decide
to take 4 drawers out of an old art deco dressing table, paint the insides in bright colours and use them as bookshelves? The main reason was that I thought the handles would be useful to hang things off, which I haven't done yet. Why did I think it was a good idea
to hang a massive chandelier in a corner of a room with such a low ceiling? Well I thought it would bring drama to the room. Why did I tell the plasterer
to leave that faux stone wall alone? Because I wanted a bit of what I considered to be amazingly realistic left alone. Why did I go out into the forest
to find curtain poles instead of going to the shops? Because it's cheaper and much more fun. Why do we have
a giant D and a giant H above our fireplace? Well Harvey and I each have our own side of the cottage and this is so we don't forget which side is which. Why do I
do this for a living? When I look at a tea tray I just think it would be fun to stick everything to the surface and hang it up. Why when I see
an old Victorian riding jacket do I immediately want to cover a chair with it? Because it is what comes naturally - to me anyway.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Nautical Accessories With a Difference
I found an amazing Swedish (I think) website today called Par Courrier and they have some very different items for the home. This little collection is from their Nautical Range.
This site really is well worth a visit as it has masses of stylish pieces that would suit all manner of interiors.
Steam Ship Waste Basket
Upper Deck Bookshelf
Porthole Mirror
Fragile Fashion
How on earth is this done? These fabulous glass dresses and coats are by artist, sculptor Karen LaMonte
Take a look at her website as her talent doesn't stop at dresses.
Wire Work Uncovered
I didn't know wire work could be quite so beautiful. These amazing pieces are by Benedetta Mori Ubaldini
Just Mix It Up
There's no need to buy a set of chairs when you can mix them all up like this. Fabulous image via Skonahem
Monday, January 26, 2009
Our Cottage Extension - The Kitchen
At last a look at the finished parts of our Cottage Extension.
If anything stays still long enough I will paint it even the Fridge Freezer got the matte black treatment. The vegetables in the dish on top of the fridge are from an old French Charcuterie. A stable door allows me to drink in the views and keep my feet warm.
The cupboard doors were painted in copper and verdigris and of course were given the Ghost Furniture treatment by fixing a vintage frame with vine tomatoes placed inside, in the same colours.
A vintage frame holds a vintage artist's palette now a blackboard and a Phillipe Starck Hooktoo Utensil Set. A very laid back 3D Bon Appetit stuck to the wall.
I numbered the cupboards because I was sick of describing which cupboard held what to Harvey. Now I just shout NUMBER 3!
Black was the chosen background colour for the walls and even the taps.
To separate the kitchen from the dining area we put in a tree from the forest outside our door and attached a piece of African Padouk to it to create a breakfast bar.
A rise and fall ceramic lamp from The French House gives a soft light to the very red wood below.
The odd branch still sticking out from the tree comes in handy for hanging kitchen wares on.
TOMORROW - WHAT WE DID TO THE OLD PART OF THE COTTAGE
If anything stays still long enough I will paint it even the Fridge Freezer got the matte black treatment. The vegetables in the dish on top of the fridge are from an old French Charcuterie. A stable door allows me to drink in the views and keep my feet warm.
The cupboard doors were painted in copper and verdigris and of course were given the Ghost Furniture treatment by fixing a vintage frame with vine tomatoes placed inside, in the same colours.
A vintage frame holds a vintage artist's palette now a blackboard and a Phillipe Starck Hooktoo Utensil Set. A very laid back 3D Bon Appetit stuck to the wall.
I numbered the cupboards because I was sick of describing which cupboard held what to Harvey. Now I just shout NUMBER 3!
Black was the chosen background colour for the walls and even the taps.
To separate the kitchen from the dining area we put in a tree from the forest outside our door and attached a piece of African Padouk to it to create a breakfast bar.
A rise and fall ceramic lamp from The French House gives a soft light to the very red wood below.
The odd branch still sticking out from the tree comes in handy for hanging kitchen wares on.
TOMORROW - WHAT WE DID TO THE OLD PART OF THE COTTAGE
Friday, January 23, 2009
Something For The Weekend
I am off to pick up my daughter Charlotte, who is home from Paris for 10 days but I leave you with these amazing images from and the link to Pomax and if you have a spare hour or two this weekend you could do a lot worse than go visit this Dutch site that has the most inspirational products, sets and photography. Enjoy!
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