Indian Summer: Sunshine + Eastern influences make a great look

If you take a look outside, you’ll find that summertime’s in full bloom. As the weather makes a shift towards warmer climes, we similarly turn our gaze eastward, looking to the cultural splendour of India as inspiration to breath new life into your home. It’s difficult not to fall in love with India. It’s a nation with a history traceable to antiquity, and over the millennia of its existence, it has witnessed the rise and fall of countless empires. Its cultural diversity means that a population of roughly 1.3 billion worship almost every major world-religion and tell the country’s story in over a thousand different languages. A melting pot of countless ideas and identities, what emerges is a vibrant and robust culture, inexhaustible in its capacity to inspire. If you’re unable to make the trip, then fear not. The Indian Summer theme seeks out cool design pieces and colours inspired by the enchanting nation, developing a relaxed, breezy ambience for your home, ready for the summer.

India at your doorstep: How to Get the Look

To achieve an India-inspired, summery lightness, the look is chiefly centred on a light, rustic colour palette – a plethora of ash notes, ochre yellows and deep browns with touches of bold colour such as blues and magenta. Light fabrics also provide movement and a breezy openness to the your living space, perfectly suited for the seasonal warmth. Matched with this, late colonial and traditional, ornate design pieces serve as focal points to the space, adding a historical weight and air of timeless sophistication to complete the space.

The look’s neutral colour palette means that it works with a variety of styles. Homes already styled in the modern industrial vein can capitalise on the late colonial-dimension that can also be pulled off through blending these styles. Nevertheless, any neutrally coloured, open-planned space with exposed wood flooring is plenty for your home to truly set sail.

Keeping structural statements understated

Like the other countries of the region, ornate, artisan-carved wood design pieces form a part of India’s artistic heritage. Large and intricate, these pieces make a statement. Both Lombok and Maisons Du Monde offer design pieces reminiscent of this artistic tradition. Washed in light ashen tones and antiqued, these pieces subtly infuse an oriental exoticism to your home without being overbearing and taking from the room’s lightness.

The Mille Et Une Nuit Folding Screen from Maisons Du Monde is gorgeously ornate, and is also a brilliant way of managing space. Its design retains a notably eastern feel, whilst its lacy grey patina retains your room’s relaxed, open feel. £240.

The Inti Design Wall Art from Lombok follows in this vein.  Handcrafted in India by skilled artisans, its screen-like design flows with the Mille Et Une Nuit Folding Screen, neatly tying the room together. Its distressed and earthy greyed mango wood finish imparts a relaxed feel in the way it plays against the dulled white of the wall. £225.

These Paillettes Linen Curtains introduces a rustic touch to the space. Finished in a light Ecru dye, these curtains diffuse and soften sunlight, making way for gentler hues within the room. The light, breezy qualities of linen mean the curtain’s movement gorgeously complementing the muted, structural statement pieces. £ 47.99.

Antiqued wooden hues

Antiqued woods are a fantastic way of dressing down a space. Musky grey-brown notes infuse a rustic and earthy quality to your home, carrying its essence as a light and casual space. Nonetheless, incorporated tastefully, antiqued woods also flirt with history, delivering a depth and timeless sophistication to your home.

Lombok’s Baxter Wide Ladder Book Case exudes this dressed-down elegance. Its form conjures romanticised images of emporiums of eastern spice merchants of times gone by. Simple and pragmatic, its reclaimed pine racks pair beautifully with its dulled steel frame, finished in a silhouette-like grey. If space permits, matching this with the Baxter Narrow Ladder Book Case would do wonders in binding the room together. £695. The Baxter Narrow Ladder Book Case can be bought from Lombok for £525.

The Maharani Solid Mango Wood Indian Chest is a piece we’re all slightly in love with. Painted a brilliant turquoise-blue, the colour is reminiscent to the royal courts of bygone times. This nostalgia is intensified by the chest’s antiqued finish. The exposed mango wood infuses a historical depth into the piece, whilst also marrying the piece with the rest of the space. £ 363.

The Saranya Side Table follows suit. It’s antiqued black finish foils the exposed wood whilst also making the beautifully ornate design all the more striking. £103.50.

Textiles, textures- to taste

Being adventurous with textile choices is a fantastic way of developing character whilst retaining a colour scheme or theme. A somewhat salt-and-pepper of the design world, they provide the finishing touches in perfecting a desired look and ambience for a space.

In this sense, the Bengali Coir Cushion Set further develops our scheme’s exotic air. These wicker cushions conjure images of the great marketplaces of the distant past, greatly complementing the theme’s relaxed and rustic feel. Set on the floor, they’d make a great counterpoint to the Saranya Side Table. £140.50.

The Lazy Occasional Chair heavily features woven rattan, a staple of traditional furniture all over Asia.  Set in a classically formed solid teak frame, the chair epitomises a very oriental-inspired reimagining of the classic armchair. £595.

With summer upon us, a light, rustic colour scheme opens up your living space to make the most of the season’s warmth. Paired with Indian-inspired design elements, the Indian Summers theme capture a small part of the region’s infinite charm and history, and is sure to inspire new life into any home.

You May Also Like

• Vibrant colour scheme: Kahlo inspired Mexican colours
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• Take your Living Outdoors: Top 10 Garden Furniture Finds
• Get the Look: Summer in the Hamptons
• Top 10 Finds: Garden Accessories for Outdoor Living

The post Indian Summer: Sunshine + Eastern influences make a great look appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/indian-summer-look/

Saatchi goes to Brooklyn

Seems like we’ve found another reason to visit New York and Brooklyn in June as Saatchi’s The Other Art Fair are launching their first fair in the USA (June 1-4 at the Brooklyn Expo Center). Thankfully for those of us not able to make the trip, they have a fantastic website too.

Their approach is different from the traditional style fair aimed at art galleries, since they feature emerging art which starts at around $75, which makes it a good way into starting to collect art and means you’ll have something different from everyone you know.

They want to “connect audiences with the art world’s most talented artists at the start of their careers” says Ryan Stanier, the Fair manager. And they have a bunch of live installations and art talks too.

There’s a special feature on Brooklyn-based artists and for those brave enough, tattoo artist Rosa Bluestone Perr will be offering hand-poked tattoos featuring designs exclusive to the fair.

The artists featured in each fair presented by TOAF are chosen by a panel of influential art experts and tastemakers to ensure fair goers are given access to the most promising and talented roster of emerging artists. This year’s U.S. selection committee includes big names from Saatchi, Friends of the High Line (which if you’ve never visited is a beautiful linear park across the rooftops of NYC), and luminaries from Brooklyn Magazine, MacGill, and Christie’s. You can know at least that even if you know nothing about art, the folks that do have curated what’s on sale.

The Saatchi Art online gallery carries more than 500,000 original paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs by over 50,000 emerging artists from over 100 countries. They say their mission is in redefining the experience of buying and selling art by providing art lovers with free art advisory services and an expertly curated selection of art www.saatchiart.com.

Here’s our pick from the TOAF. OK, so none of them are $75, but they give a sense of the range of styles available at the show:

Red Lips And Palm Trees

Fei Alexeli

catalogue link

Size: 39.4 H x 27.6 W x 0.8 in, $1,390

Formless 3

Lacey Kim

catalogue link

Size: 30 H x 40 W x 1 in

$3,950

Love Series I

Vicky Barranguet

catalogue link

Size: 57 H x 74 W x 2 in

$11,750

Inside the Lines – Limited Edition 1 of 8

Cassandra Zampini

catalogue link

Size: 18 H x 24 W x 0.1 in

$1,240

It’s All Mine

Lauren Matsumoto

catalogue link

Size: 15 H x 12 W x 1.5 in

$1,200

 

 

To Find Out More

To learn more about The Other Art Fair, visit www.theotherartfair.com.

Private View:

Thursday, June 1st, 6:00pm-9:30pm when 100% of ticket sale proceeds benefit Free Arts NYC

General Entry:

Friday, June 2nd, 12:00pm–9:00pm, Saturday, June 3rd, 11:00am–7:00pm, Sunday, June 4th, 11:00am–6:00pm

They’ll be back in London at the Old Truman Brewery in October.

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The post Saatchi goes to Brooklyn appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/saatchi-goes-brooklyn/

Modern Hero: Cornish fabric designer Helen Baker

Geometry Meets Colour: Mid-Century Colours + Iconic Design Pieces

New to The Idealist and fan of all things Film Noir and Mad Men, Nigel presents a stylish look at the midcentury style, teeming iconic furniture with the instantly recognisable midcentury palette and updating the look with some great high street finds. 

The mid-twentieth century was undoubtedly an exciting and an invigorating time.  The jet age made the world’s most exotic destinations accessible to the masses, redefining mile-high glamour. Similarly, feverishly competitive space programmes shattered the myth of outer space as the great unknown. The era also broke the mould. Echoing through the radio airwaves, the sound of rock n’ roll inspired youths to hail the two finger salute to the conservatism of former generations. The period bristled with a youthful energy, a boyish self-confidence, and the colour scheme of the mid-century captured the era’s excitement and forward-looking attitude.

The Mid-century style manifesto

The mid-century design ethos broke from the archaic and stuffy frills of the traditions that preceded it. Clinical black and grey tones outline the imaginative and playful shapes that emerged from this era.

The steely precision of these structural colours are often complemented by mellower notes of pastel blues, candy-floss pinks, pistachio, off-whites and creams, where these too, are offset by accents of louder turquoise, mustard yellow and rusty orange-brown notes. The midcentury designers used a lot of wood in furnishing, flooring and on walls, so all the colours you use must sit well with wood and metal.

Geometric prints reminiscent of the era tastefully marry the above tones and go a long way in getting the mid-century look. Exuding a design philosophy of clean lines and no-frills, these aspects make mid-century design elements particularly well-suited to a variety of home designs from minimalist art-deco to modern industrial.

Incorporating mid-century elements in your home

Coming from an era where the rulebooks of ‘ole were thrown out the window, the mid-century colour palette is similarly playful and adaptable to a variety of interior design styles. Nonetheless, a large, open-planned room with exposed wood flooring and off-white walls would provide the perfect blank canvas to foil vibrant mid-century tones. These elements are bold, elegant, and certainly capable of doing much of the talking for your room.

That said, to pull this look off well, consistency is the word. Sticking to a few core colours and prints keeps the room light and uncongested and is a brilliant way of tying the space together. It is also a perfect opportunity for you to stamp your individual identity.

The shape of things to come

Imaginative shapes are a cornerstone of the mid-century design method. Bold re-imaginations of classic pieces of furniture are an excellent way of incorporating this style into your home.

A prime example of this is the Vitra Eames Lounge Chair and matching Ottoman.

Designed in 1956 by the legendary Charles and Ray Eames, this truly timeless design serves as a mid-century update of the classic British lounge chair. Finished in black Italian leather and Palisander, a Nicaraguan species of rosewood, these luxurious elements are reconfigured into an adventurous, space-age design, married to an aluminium frame which, like the leather, is also finished in a jet black. Set against a plain wall, the Vitra Eames Lounge Chair oozes a notably mid-century brand of sophistication. £6,138 – with ottoman.

The Coppola Coffee Table Set from Swoon makes for a potent colour pairing with the Vitra Eames Lounge Chair, playing on the blacks and browns of its design. Consisting of a larger table, the top of which is finished in tan leather, and two smaller tables with tops clad in dark bronze, the rustic browns and no-frills black frame heavily draw from the mid-century colour palette. Furthermore, the three tables can be arranged to get the most out of your living space. £ 399.

Also from Swoon, the Hex Shelving Unit epitomizes a notably mid-century play with form. Its hexagonal design is made all the more striking by its silhouette-like, jet-black finish. It’s sure to make a statement. £279

Pastel touches

Pastel tones in fabrics are a staple of the mid-century colour palette and a great way of adding an air of lightness to your home whilst still maintaining the style.  The Mimi Sofa, also from Swoon, is the ultimate mid-century statement. Hand-upholstered in Powder Blue, its colour and streamlined shapes will be sure to inject a notably fifties, Cadillac glamour to your home. £699.

Sacred geometries

Geometric prints stand in testament to the era’s infatuation with modernity and forward-looking nature. It’s also another excellent way of getting the mid-century look for your home.

We particularly love the Harlequin Wallpaper from John Lewis. Boasting a bluey-teal base accented by a fine, gold, angular print, the wallpaper would make for a fantastic feature wall. Its colours also pair wonderfully with the Mimi Sofa, neatly bringing the room together. £93 per section.

A rug is another golden opportunity to display mid-century prints and own the era’s colour palette. The Sierra Rug from Swoon plays on off-whites and navy / off-white and mustard tones. Woven into a lattice pattern, it makes for a great accent point whilst also being able to discreetly blend in. Both designs that Swoon offer would beautifully match a mid-century colour scheme. £199.

Design pieces for the home run

The antiqued chrome finish on the Hampton Lamp from John Lewis makes for a classy touch to your home. It’s slightly dulled patina makes its chrome finish less brash and in-your-face, rather, gracefully evocative of a bygone metropolitan or Hollywood glamour. £195

Similarly, the Leff Amsterdam Brick Clock, designed by Erwin Termaat and available to buy from John Lewis, is another piece we’re all slightly in love with. Its flip-mechanism display is reminiscent of the notice boards of fifties airports. Housed in a thick copper case, it’s both a modern and gorgeously elegant addition to your home. £269.

The mid-century colour palette is youthful yet sophisticated, and with a little time and thought, can infuse these aspects into your living space. When done right, the look does not age. It exudes a cool that is immune to trends and can provide this timeless elegance for your home.

You May Also Like

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• Timeless Italian styling – living la dolce vita

 

The post Geometry Meets Colour: Mid-Century Colours + Iconic Design Pieces appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/mid-century-colours-icons/

Idealist City Guide: BOSTON food, design and style

Timeless Italian styling – living la dolce vita

Over the centuries, Italy has often been associated with arts and style, and interior design that can be ornate and luxuriously detailed. But following the Second World War, modernist Italian interior design aesthetics also became globally recognised, largely due to a spate of famous Italian movies in the 50s and 60s. Cinematic classics such as Fellini’s La Dolce Vita and Michelangelo Antonioni’s La Notte helped make Italian décor, and living, synonymous with elegance and sophistication.

In reality, Italian design is all over the style map and that’s one of the reasons it is so revered. Regional variations may bring rustic, sleek or baroque (or some crazy blend of all three) qualities to Italian design heavy living areas. But there is something about the scale and spirit of Italian rooms that make them both enviable and distinctive.

Over the past five decades, attention to innovative form and craftsmanship by design studios and manufacturers such as Castiglioni, Ettore Sottsass’ Memphis Group and Alessi has helped cement this tiny country’s oversize influence on global design trends – which continues to this day.

We’ve been out on a spending spree to get the look of la dolce vita and found some amazing pieces to build a striking interior design in the Italian style. First stop is the Italian collection at Heal’s. They recently hosted a celebration and showcase of 100 Years of all things Italian and have been supporting some very big name Italian designers for all that time.

Here we discovered several show-stopping pieces that could easily anchor an open concept loft space with high ceilings and lots of room to stretch out. If you don’t have the room or the budget for a whole makeover, one or two Italian pieces can really lift the look of your home to the luxury level.

Stylish sectional

Check out this sectional from the Italian designers Porada at Heal’s. Made of solid caneletta wood with bronzed brass feet and feather-filled cushions, each sofa is made to order. So covers could be muted and neutral (cream, light grey) or Tuscan sunny (terra cotta or lemon yellow) depending on which design direction you’re looking to embrace. £9,936

 

Marble on the side

You can’t claim to be leading the sweet life without a touch of marble in your room. This side table by Moroso at Heal’s nods to the quintessential Italian luxury material without being overbearing. The delicate tubing legs hold a petite slab of black or white carrera marble. Heights can be mixed and matched for maximum nesting. £564

Cedar wood

Another material mastered by Italian artisans over centuries of refinement is wood. Take your decor in a more rustic or contemporary direction with this sculptural scented cedar side table from Riva 1920. Machined from a single block of wood, this striking piece could also serve as a stool. Or just a conversation piece. £1109

 

 

 

Lighting

Italian style is synonymous with great lighting, whether dramatically cinematic, or more naturally referencing Mediterranean sun and shade. Keep it simple with this elegant table-top black metal lamp from Habitat. £65 Or go for the real deal with this classic Arco floor lamp from Italian designer Achille Castiglioni – it’s an iconic mid century modern piece with a curving aluminium frame, domed shade and marble base. £1,604

Accessorise

Accessorise your little piece of Italian style heaven carefully, with sophisticated pieces made from excellent materials and a touch of whimsy. This “Barkhouse” vase from Alessi, those accessible purveyors of cheeky but elegant Italian designer homewares, is a perfect example. £129 Drape your sofa with a cosy mohair throw for just a touch of comfort. We love this version from Feather & Black in a soft and luxurious hazel green. £110 And finally, float a moon mirror over your stylish new Italian decor. Part of the Moroso Italian design collection at Heal’s, this photo-printed round mirror adds just the perfect note of contemporary surrealism to your space. £672

Walnut store

Stow dishes (or books for that matter) in this walnut cabinet from the Riva 1920 collection at Heal’s. Details like dovetail joints, grooved handles and wax finishing are expected touches in a hand-crafted piece from Italy’s woodworking masters. This is a heritage cabinet that can help anchor a large space – and it will last for many years. £8,539

Luxury, craftsmanship, elegant restraint and a subtle sense of humour – now that’s la dolce vita.

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The post Timeless Italian styling – living la dolce vita appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/italian-styling-la-dolce-vita/

Top 10 Finds: Garden Accessories for Outdoor Living

A nice outdoor table with a set of chairs is a good start for your garden or outdoor space, but it’s the accessories that really bring everything together.

If you want the comfort of your living room in your outdoor living space, you need the right accent pieces and garden accessories. From beautiful lighting to cosy outdoor cushions and rugs, here are our top 10 outdoor accessories for this summer.

1. Throw some shade

Enjoying the warmth of the sunshine is nice, but sometimes it can be a bit too much. This black parasol (£75) is exactly what you need to keep the sun at bay, and it perfectly fits the matching ZOLA parasol base (£35). A parasol is particularly important in areas where it may still rain during summer months. While not endorsed for sheltering from downpours, it’ll keep the drizzle out of your mojitos long enough to take cover!

2. Fiat lux

Proper lighting is a must for creating the perfect ambiance in your outdoor living area. This metal outdoor light (£100) has a sleek look and screws into the wall for a minimalist look, saving you precious space in your garden. And it’s bang on trend in a matt black finish.

3. Hanging style

Electric lighting is convenient, but nothing compares to the dancing light of an open flame. This hanging tealight holder (£10) from John Lewis holds standard tealights and has a stunning antique finish that’s perfect with other metal decor. While not designed for outdoor use specifically, we think at £10 it’s worth grabbing a few of them.

4. Lie back and think of Hockney

Bright colours can really liven up your outdoor living space. This multi-coloured floral cushion features bright blue, yellow, green and purple in a colour block pattern that does a wonderful job of breaking up the monotony of your garden. And it’s got illustrious inspiration: the designer tells us that the pattern in the outdoor collection references Hockney’s iPad paintings. This iPad generated technique gives a particular quality of luminous colour and special kind of mark which creates a particular kind of stylised botanical imagery (£40)

5. Match with a Rug

An outdoor rug gives your garden a more indoor feel, creating a more inviting area for you and your guests to relax and enjoy each other’s company. This rug from Habitat (£45) perfectly matches the floral cushion above, providing cohesion while breaking up the sea of grey or green on the ground.

6. Works with or without green fingers

What good is a garden without plants? Give the look of a windowsill a boost with this blue, green and white Orla Kiely 70’s plant pot (£30). It’s perfect for planting herbs, flowers, and even bonsai trees.

7. Run for cover

While curtains aren’t generally considered an outdoor accessory, they can add an elegant touch if used correctly. Create an outdoor workspace or a private reading area by putting up a set of these dark grey curtains from IKEA (£45) under a gazebo.

8. Bug off

Outdoor living isn’t just about creating a stylish area; it’s also important to make your garden comfortable and functional. Bugs are a big problem outdoors, so you need something to keep them under control. This white faceted citronella candle (£15) looks elegant and keeps bugs away — simply burn it when you’re relaxing outside.

9. Time for a dip

Nothing beats snacking on your favourite foods while relaxing in the sunshine. This bowl from IKEA (£1.50) has a soft, elegant look and comes in two different sizes that are perfect for dips, nuts, and other small snacks.

10. Raise the stakes

Do you have a nice paved walkway in your outdoor space? Walkways aren’t just useful, they do a great job of breaking your garden up visually. Highlight your walkway with these copper Bahia LED lights (£20) from John Lewis; they’re even solar-powered so you don’t have to worry about recharging them.

Outdoor furniture isn’t the only important part of creating your ideal outdoor living space — you also need the right accessories. You can’t go wrong with any of our top 10 ideas for outdoor accessories, and you (and your guests) will be thankful you made the investment.

You May Also Like

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• Get the Look of Soft English Meadows this Spring!

 

The post Top 10 Finds: Garden Accessories for Outdoor Living appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/top-10-garden-accessories-outdoor-living/

Take your Living Outdoors: Top 10 Garden Furniture Finds

Is there anything better than spending a warm, sunny day relaxing outdoors? Something about blue skies and sunshine seems to lift your spirits. The mild spring weather is finally starting to give the first glimpses of summer, which means it’s time to create your perfect outdoor space. Need some inspiration? Check out our top 10 ideas for garden furniture.

1. Garden furniture – bistro living style

Outdoor spaces are great for summer gatherings, so make sure you have plenty of seating and table space for yourself and guests. This bistro table from Habitat (£150) is a stylish piece with plenty of function. A small round table seats everyone close to each other and encourages conversation.

2. Sit back

Finding good outdoor furniture can be tough. Rattan is a great choice because it’s durable without being too hard. Pick up a few black rattan dining chairs from Habitat (£80) for seating around your bistro table.

3. Add a pop of colour

If a plain table isn’t your style — or if you’re looking for less formal outdoor furniture — this House by John Lewis Salsa Table (£99) is the perfect choice. It comes in four bright and very on trend colours, and it’s just the right height for a conversation set. Personally we like the Ceylon blue and the saffron.

4. Outdoor living room looks

Outdoor seating doesn’t have to be in the form of boring old garden chairs. This Three Seater Sofa from John Lewis (£500) has a synthetic wicker frame with white cushions, giving it a natural appearance that will be right at home in your outdoor wonderland.

5. Somewhere to plonk the G&T

For entertaining, you can never have too much tabletop space when you’re outdoors, but too many tables can make a visual mess of your garden. These outdoor tables (£250) nest together neatly and are the perfect size for side tables for drinks and books.

6. Warm the evenings

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean there won’t be cold evenings. This Kettler table and fire pit (£599) will keep you and your guests warm and provide extra table space, making it the perfect centrepiece for summer nights.

7. A bit Abigail’s Party, but useful garden furniture!

You can never have too much storage, and this trolley (£49) provides a mobile storage option that’s great for bringing food and drinks in an out of the kitchen. A trolley is a must-have for outdoor entertaining and dining.

8. Where are the glasses?

If there’s one downside to being outdoors, it’s having to go all the way to the back of the kitchen for glasses, plates, silverware and napkins. If you’ve got the room, place one of these (£195, not shown) in your conservatory or by the back door, so partyware is at hand — plus it’s got plenty of storage space.

9. Dining al fresco

If you have a large family or have guests over often, you may need a bigger dining table with more seats. This beautiful powder-coated aluminium dining set (£850) seats six people comfortably without sacrificing style, and it won’t set you back too much.

10. A place to relax

Your garden is ultimately a place for peace and relaxation, so what good is it without a proper chair to lounge in? This Armchair and Footstool set (£124) gives you a cosy spot to kick your feet up and enjoy a drink and a good book, and you don’t have to shell out hundreds for it.

With summer right around the corner, now is the time to create the perfect garden getaway. Finding the right garden furniture for your needs may seem like a daunting task, but with our top 10 outdoor furniture ideas, you’re sure to find the perfect piece that takes your garden space to the next level.

You May Also Like

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• Get the Jungle Look with Pantone Colour of the Year: Greenery
• Get the Look: Citrine and Olive in this Vitra-inspired living room

The post Take your Living Outdoors: Top 10 Garden Furniture Finds appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/top-10-garden-furniture/

Upscale boutique living in Williamsburg Brooklyn

Inside a Renovated Soho Loft Studio

Today’s tour is of a Loft Studio Space in Dean Street, Soho that’s been thoughtfully resigned by Sarah Thomas Interiors, who we first met in the 3-storey house conversion in Bethnal Green.

When the clients for this project first took over the loft, it was a completely empty space. Sarah set about making it practical for the two creatives who had commissioned her and to transform the space into a more personal, creative studio with a homely feel that would suit their needs and tastes and also provide a space for clients to visit and a communal meeting space.

IDEALIST: Can you tell us a little bit about who you are and your design approach:

Sarah: Based in a North London studio, in one of London’s rare ‘undeveloped’ factory buildings, Sarah Thomas Interiors (Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahthomasinteriors) offers a flexible, affordable and very personal approach to interior design and styling. I work with clients across the breadth of London, but have also gone as far as Rome to work on a boutique project! 

My work focuses on a collaborative, creative process, always with a lot of consideration to my client’s vision but also trying to push that little bit further; to really bring to life something unique and distinct that won’t date and will remain relevant for a long period.

Whether its timeless high quality pieces, vintage one-offs, or modern contemporary designs, sourcing key pieces or complete renovation and refurbishment, my service aims to guide my clients to make the best possible choices for them and to keep within their budget.  I work on both residential and commercial projects and have a reliable team of builders, decorators, joiners and handyman.  

IDEALIST: Many of our readers might think that working with a professional designer is out of their reach or just the province of the super rich. What would you say to them?

Sarah: Well, I also offer a ‘House Doctor’ service (email: housedoctor@sarahthomasinteriors.com).  This is about working with what my clients already have rather than a whole new scheme.  It can be about rethinking layouts, restyling and reorganising.  A fresh eye on a room, often brings about new ideas.  I also help with decluttering spaces.  Most of us live in small spaces, so its important not to hold on to things we no longer need.  

A Soho Loft

IDEALIST: Today we’re looking at a Loft Studio Space in Soho. What was the space like when you started?

Sarah: It was completely empty. It had been used by an animation company who worked downstairs and kept this room as their ‘server room’ so it hadn’t had any love or attention for a while.  There was a bit of ripping out to do an some reconfiguring of plug sockets etc and some painting of the walls.  I liked the backdrop of the ‘used’ looking floor and the angled walls and low ceilings – it felt like we could make a cosy, homely studio up there.

IDEALIST: What was the brief?

Sarah: This space was going to be occupied by two creatives, running separate businesses but thankfully with some common creative ground when it came to aesthetics.  The idea was to transform this space into a creative studio with a welcoming feel that would enable them to invite clients for meetings and also provide dedicated work space. They were both very visual people, so colour was important.

Redesigning the Loft

IDEALIST: Where did you start with the work?

Sarah: The first thing we needed to decide on were the desks as this would set the tone of the whole space. 

One of the designers had a friend from the Royal College of Art who was making reversible formica desks with powder coated legs, so I was able to decide on a colour palette.  We also decided to make the meeting table out of the same materials, using a yellow/grey/purple colour palette – the desks being a contrasting reversible colour, which meant there was an option to change the look of the room.  With their budget being limited we decided to leave the floor as it was and spend the money on furniture and vintage pieces which were all chosen by me too.

IDEALIST: How did you undertake the work?

Sarah: We used one of my builders to rip out all the existing cupboards that had housed the previous ‘server’ room and used an electrician to move some sockets to the desk and meeting room table area.  A decorator was called in to give the room a fresh lick of white paint.

IDEALIST: What was the look you were going for?

Sarah: We decided on a colourful, eclectic studio feel that could also be expanded on in the future if business grew. For example, with the desks we started off with one long desk but there was space in the room to expand on the desk areas if they were needed. We made a library area in the end corner of the space, using a vintage bench and some Ladderax vintage shelving, so my clients could have a bit of ‘quiet research time’ away from the phones.

IDEALIST: Who are your design heroes?

Sarah: Growing up in the 70’s, my father was an architect and my mother had a very creative eye, so our homes were always considered.  The Conran House book was a constant resource for ideas when I was a child and is still something I look at today, so I would probably have to say Terrence Conran.  I also love Ilse Crawford’s works, especially for Soho House, and Faye Toogood does some amazing work too.  I am also very influenced by colours in art and love David Hockney and Andy Warhol.

IDEALIST: How did you source the furniture for the Soho loft?

Sarah: As this was quite a limited budget project, I had to be creative with my finds and went to vintage furniture shops — I have some regular dealers I use —  plus flea markets and auctions.  The Ercol day bed I got needed some attention so we had it reupholstered by a company I use regularly in Shoreditch and this really made it come to life.  As my clients were sharing the office, they wanted to split up the budget and each buy pieces that they would personally want to keep in the future, so that also had to be considered.

IDEALIST: How did the client react to the work?

Sarah: My clients were very happy with their space and, even though some of their aesthetic tastes were different, it all really worked well together.

IDEALIST: What are your ambitions for the rest of 2017?

Sarah: To get lots more interesting, challenging projects! I would love to work on another whole house project working from scratch… it’s so amazing seeing spaces come together when they have been completely blank to start with. Shops and restaurants would also be a good new challenge for me.

IDEALIST: Is there anything you’d do differently if you could start over with this project?

Sarah: No – in fact i’ve never been unhappy with a project. Some are more challenging and difficult than others and sometimes you come up against problems you didn’t expect but you just have to stay calm and work out the best solution. 

I’ve learnt that it’s really important to identify a budget with my client in the beginning, so there are no misunderstandings or illusions:  a job’s not a job without a budget!  I also feel it’s really important to get to know my client as much as I can, so I can understand their vision and tastes…This can be done through sharing images very effectively.  Often I will look at their references or Pinterest boards and then assess these myself and how I see the project working. Then I put a new starting point reference or mood board together, to take their ideas and expectations a little further.

Get The Soho Loft Look

Items shown in the photos include:

• Smith & Wightman reversible desks
• Ercol day bed: Firefly House
• Ladderax shelving – Ebay
• Ercol love seat: Atomic Antiques
• Vintage photographers lamp: Bleu Furniture from Firefly House

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The post Inside a Renovated Soho Loft Studio appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/inside-soho-loft-studio/

Idealist City Guide: TOKYO Shopping and Style

Tokyo, the capital and largest city in Japan, is a wonderful mixture of ancient and modern, trendy and traditional, serene and frenetic. You could spend a year in the city and not see all that this fascinating metropolis has to offer. For style lovers, the city offers a unique array of design showcases, furniture stores and funky home accessory emporiums.

Style Shopping Tokyo

 

Beautiful wooden pieces

Wood You Like It. This store specialises in sleek, wooden tables, chairs, desks, bookcases and consoles, carved from oak, maple, walnut, cherry and Japanese Ash. You can even order custom-carved pieces to fit in those difficult to furnish spaces. The three-story showroom is a visual delight.

Building Fundamental Furniture. For unique, minimalist, Japanese-style furniture, you can’t beat this store. The sleek, angular tables, bookcases, chairs and sleeping platforms are functional without intruding on the look of your rooms. We particularly like the cube-like bookcases.

Home accessories, crafts and furnishing

Classico. Located near the National Museum of Nature and Science in the northern part of the city, Classico is the place to go for unusual clothing and home accessories, including pottery, driftwood sculpture and even artistically-bound books. Make sure to check out the colourful textiles.

Tokyo Design Centre. Save working all over the city by visiting the Tokyo Design Centre. Here 15 design and furniture companies showcase their products, with wares that range from carved furniture to colourful ceramics to bold textile prints. There’s even an on-site restaurant, so you won’t have to leave when you get hungry. We think the wrought iron accessories by Yoshiyo Kobo are beautiful and love the tiling at Creative Laboratory.

Japanese Traditional Crafts. This Aoyama Square showroom is filled with smaller home decor items (that are much easier to get back home to England.) You’ll find lacquerware, pottery, calligraphy tools (for your desk top?) and baskets. We are particularly intrigued by the bamboo and rice paper lighting fixtures.

Staying Over

Tokyo’s original boutique hotel–Claska–is located in the city’s design district, perfect for home design shopping. Plus, each of the hotel’s 20 guest rooms have been designed and outfitted by a separate local designer. What better way to get a feel for Tokyo style? The project started as a renovation project of an old hotel and the design team now offer home renovation services and create order made furniture and do interior design for shops, restaurants, and offices.

Galleries and Museums

Tokyo is a museum lover’s paradise. The city offers dozens of galleries. Among the best are the Tokyo National Museum, the Mori Art Museum, the Nezu Museum of Asian Art and Idemitsu Museum, known for its ceramics collection.

Food

It’s difficult to get a bad meal in Tokyo. Japanese cuisine is based on the freshest of ingredients and most restaurants put plastic replicas of their menu items in the windows, so you know what you’ll be served even if you don’t speak the language. Don’t be put off by that — it doesn’t mean the food is tacky! Make sure to try yakitori (grilled skewers of chicken), sushi (it’s not like what you’ve had at home), ramen (it’s cheap and delicious) and taiyaki (bean paste wrapped in dough.) The elegant, traditional tea ceremony offers a peek into Japanese culture and makes a nice break from non-stop sightseeing and shopping.

Must-See Things in Town

Don’t leave Tokyo without visiting one or more of the ancient temples, such as the Senso-Ji Temple or the Meiji Shrine. The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a lovely example of the Japanese, manicured style of landscaping and it erupts with white and pink flowers during the spring cherry blossom season. Tokyo Tower lights up the sky and offers dramatic panoramic views and can help you get your bearings in this sprawling city.

How to Visit from London

British Airways, Japan Airlines and ANA all offer non-stop service between London and Tokyo. The flight takes approximately 11.5 hours, and the lowest roundtrip airfare on non-stop flights is around £775. You can save around £250 by changing planes en route.

The least expensive way to travel from Narita Airport to the centre of Tokyo is via one of the two rail lines that call at the airport. The trip takes between 60 and 90 minutes and costs around £25 each way.

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Feature photo (c) and courtesy sepavo / 123RF Stock Photo. All other photos courtesy of respective locations.

The post Idealist City Guide: TOKYO Shopping and Style appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/idealist-city-guide-tokyo-shopping-and-style/