Modern Heroes – Impression Originale

With the aim to make a lasting impression, Mathilde Habert and Claire Commeau founded Impression Originale, offering exclusive luxury wrapping paper and couture bows and ribbons. A year on, with stockists such as the Conran shop, Harvey Nicholls, Château de Versailles and Paris department store Bon Marché, Mathilde tells us more.

We believe that true luxury is the attention to detail and the unique emotion you experience, which will stay with you long after the gift is gone. Our aim is to rethink the art of giving with our beautiful products.

Creative Beginnings

IDEALIST: We love the original, colourful, and creative world of Impression Originale, can you tell us how it began?

I was inspired to approach the art of wrapping gifts in a novel and creative way, founded in ethical sustainability. Claire and I give priority to creativity and we have no limits so, like most businesses, we had an idea and we’re growing with it.

IDEALIST: For someone new to your brand how would you best describe it?

What do you remember when you receive a gift? For us it’s the emotion that you feel, the hidden message within in the gift, the time and care it beholds. We believe that true luxury is the attention to detail and the unique emotion you experience, which will stay with you long after the gift is gone. Our aim is to rethink the art of giving with our beautiful products.

Being Friendly with the Environment

IDEALIST: Can you explain your commitment to the environment and the art community.

Our business is built on good ethics with all products responsibly made in France using 100% recycled paper. Caring for the environment is about the different decisions we make everyday, such as where we source our paper and what kind of supplies we work with. We left nothing to chance. In parallel, we decided to give a crafty touch to our business, going back to a local approach in production whilst always keeping our eyes open for new inspirations and artists.

IDEALIST: We’d love to know your process of finding and collaborating with artists.

You would be surprised, the process is actually quite ad hoc. We select the artist by “coup de coeur” (roughly love at first sight for the designs), whether we like the style, the spirit or a particular design. We usually approach the artist (or get approached by artists) and if a specific design matches our collective artistic orientation, we agree to work on an original design. We work with the artist to best format it for our wrapping format and technical specifications and they sign each design. It’s a fun and very creative process.

we offer original designs, printed on 100% recycled paper made in France in a sustainable and ethical manner.

Daring to be Different

IDEALIST: What sets your products apart form other gift wrap?

In a nutshell we would say that we offer original designs, printed on 100% recycled paper made in France in a sustainable and ethical manner.

Our wraps are on XL sheets, which are substantially larger than the current standard in the industry. We also use a mechanical printing process, which gives very deep and colourful prints and makes this glossy aspect. Each wrap is doubled-side printed with a grid to make sure you get this perfect cut and we suggest matching ready-to-use ribbons and bows to compliment each design wrap.

IDEALIST: Are you able to tell us about any bespoke projects you have worked on?

With the Musée Rodin in Paris we have been asked to work on a surprise project. We have chosen one of our collaborative artists to develop a bespoke design based on the beautiful statues of Auguste Rodin and gave it a modern twist. We feel very lucky to be able to work with these beautiful names and very inspiring places. We have also an on-going bespoke project with the Château de Versailles, where we have developed some commissioned designs based on the castle’s iconography. The designs are gorgeous and we cannot wait to see the final results in their boutiques next year!

From Seedling to Flowering

IDEALIST: How your business has grown? 

We are just about a year old and are happy to see that our products have been well received as we are not only selling design wraps, we have a philosophy behind it, and I believe this makes the difference in our clients’ eyes. Our current stockists are: the Conran Shop, the Centre Pompidou, the Bon Marché, Harvey Nichols and we’d love to add other boutiques and museums to our list.

A Hero’s Hero

IDEALIST: Who are your design heroes and how have they influenced you?

Sonia Delaunay is a major one. We were so happy to see that she has been recently presented in exhibitions in Tate Modern and Musée d’art moderne de la ville de Paris. She is at the base of the shoe modern textile design, really. Also Anni Albers’ work on texture and colors has been inspiring us to give diversity of textures and work in depth on the colorways. Hella Jongerius is another influence for her passion of colours and textile. We love how she kept doing experiments with colours on her design even after so many years in design. She kept a fresh eye “Garder un œil neuf” and we are aiming at that too!

Future Aspirations

IDEALIST: What’s next for Impression Originale and what are your aspirations for the future?

There are lots of aspirations for the future. We are looking at other ways of wrapping, with innovative material to really push the sustainability aspect to its limits.

We are also working on the western Furoshiki, which the traditional Japanese way of wrapping presents. In Japan, they use textile to wrap! It is for us a great challenge to translate that in our more western culture, but we love the sustainability of the use of fabric and the endless creative options it opens! We love challenges, so let us see where it brings us.

You can find out more at www.impressionoriginale.com

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All photos courtesy of Impression Originale.

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from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/modern-heroes-impression-originale/

Idealist City Guide: Bath

For a long time now, Bath’s photogenic sensibilities have been common knowledge across the entire country.  Certainly, ask any person that calls Bath home, and ninety-nine per cent of the time, they won’t hesitate in reminding you of that. This is all with very good reason, of course.

The ancient city of Bath, much improved by the Romans, is a World Heritage site and has a lengthy history that, arguably, refashions the space as different things to different people: where many come for the historic baths themselves, others come for honey-stone Georgian crescents or the city’s connections with Jane Austen. However, Bath is also a treasure trove of cool antiques, galleries and boutiques, perfect for administering that ‘edge’ or new life into your home. Considering the city’s eclectic range of boutique hotels and haute cuisine restaurants, the idea of escaping to Bath, even if just for a little while, has never sounded better.

Shopping

To say Silcox Son & Wicks has had a storied history with Bath is to understate the establishment’s relationship with the city. It’s a rather beautiful story that all started in 1900, when cabinetmaker Frank Silcox was, in Dickensian style, fired on the spot when asking for a pay raise. He then started his own furniture business, and was joined by his son and by Albert Wicks, establishing the brand name they still carry today. Since then, Silcox Son & Wicks has seen every style revolution in the book- from the age of Art Deco in the 1930’s through to the geometric frenzies of midcentury style and eighties Avant Garde modernist interiors. Their inventory reflects this. Their flagship store, housed over numbers Five to Seven New Street, features luxury furniture over three floors. From sofas to lamps, artwork to living room pieces, all can be found here.

Rossiters of Bath is an award-winning, design-led department store situated right in the heart of Bath’s historic Georgian streets. Their eclectic collection of carefully curated, Avant Garde to classically styled homeware, gifts and fashion is spread across the store’s four floors- which are interconnected in an Aladdin’s cave-like network of stairs and wood-panelled rooms. They stock everything from kitchenware- featuring brands like Emma Bridgewater and Cornishware, imported ceramics from Europe and the Middle East, luxury cushions, throws, dining ranges, fabrics and artwork. Their basement level is the only outlet of Winser London clothing that is found in the West. Having traded in Bath since 1961, Rossiters have developed a reputation for the high quality of their custom service. In their own words, ‘This is less a store, more a destination, so when you plan your visit make sure you leave plenty of time to get lost in its delicious interior.’

Having traded in Bath’s city centre for over three decades, Quiet Street Antiques has become something of a local institution. Stocking everything from authentic Gillows of Lancaster furniture, to antique clocks and barometers to writing boxes, tea caddies, sculptures and paintings, we’re confident that you find that particular something that can inject any space with a historical depth. Though Quiet Street Antiques feature select pieces on their website, the boutique’s wares are stocked in their entirety in the Bath store and are best enjoyed in the flesh.

Bath the worst of all places to get any work done

Beaux Arts is the longest-established commercial art gallery in Bath, and is the sister to Beaux Arts located on London’s Maddox Street. Situated in a period Georgian building beside the abbey, Beaux Arts specialise in the works of major 20^th century painters, sculptors and ceramicists that include the likes of Dame Elisabeth Frink, John Bellany, Lynn Chadwick and Sir Terry Frost- to name just a few. Of its eight annual exhibitions, four are dedicated to showcasing the best of emerging talent. Contemporary artists represented by Beaux Arts include Anna Gillespie, Takeshi Yasuda, Emmanuel Cooper and Lucie Rie. If there’s something you’re after to make an artistic statement for your home, you will most definitely not be disappointed here.

Let’s Eat

After spending much of our time both shopping and absorbing Bath’s history, you’re sure to develop a bit of an appetite. And, if you’re a keen foodie, Bath will not disappoint. Dotted around its postcard-perfect lanes are some of the finest restaurants in the country, many of which are run by names from the upper echelons of the cooking world. Whether it’s gastro-pub, or something with a more continental flavour, or perhaps even a taste from around the world- all can be found here.

Menu Gordon Jones is the brainchild of the eponymous chef, bringing together culinary elements from his Scottish upbringing and his own, fresh approach to food. Everything featured on the restaurant’s plates is made in house by the Michelin acclaimed chef and team. The restaurant’s five-course lunch, and six-course dinner surprise menus display Gordon Jones’ artistry and innovative approach to cooking, whilst making the most of fresh, local ingredients sourced from suppliers that the restaurant work closely with. Ever pushing the boundaries, the menu is in a constantly changing. The best testament to Menu Gordon Jones’ brilliance are the countless rave reviews it has been the recipient of- to quote just one: ‘for sheer food IQ, Menu Gordon Jones is peerless’.

The Herd Steak Restaurant is a family run establishment. Their philosophy is simple: ‘best of British steak perfectly seared your way, together with carefully created complementary dishes and an outstanding wine list’. To bring this vision to life, The Herd Steak Restaurant sources meat of the finest provenance from the most local and trusted suppliers. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford Crosses are reared in Coulston and aged between twenty-one and twenty-eight days in Devizes. Paired with both quirky and traditional sides –your call- The Herd Steak Restaurant is a must for a superlative steak dining experience.

Since opening its doors in 1992, Green Park Brasserie has been doing things a little differently. The award-winning restaurant has developed a reputation for offering not only top-notch food, but similarly top-notch live jazz ensembles that perform at ‘the Braz’ on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Their beautifully composed menus are underpinned by locally sourced, high quality ingredients- achieved through close collaboration with local suppliers. From cheeses by Homewood, meat from both Newton and Castlemead & Sandridge Farms, and fish from St. Mawes, Cornwall, Green Park Brasserie ensures to offer the best of both Somerset and the west on their plates.

Getting Here & Hotels

As Londoners, we’re slightly spoiled in that much of the country is within easy reach- and this is certainly the case with Bath. If you don’t fancy the drive, services from Paddington Station will get you there in just under one and a half hours. However, to really make the most of your time here, a daytrip simply won’t cut it. We’ve shortlisted some of the city’s most acclaimed and trendiest hotels to serve as home base during your time here.

The Gainsborough Bath Spa takes its name after the famed artist, Thomas Gainsborough. The hotel, housed in a Grade II listed Georgian building that dates back to the 18^th century, is the first five star hotel in Bath for thirty years and the only one in Britain to have direct access to the region’s natural, thermal waters. In keeping with the historic building, the interiors gracefully balance traditional and contemporary touches whilst also displaying historical artefacts such as Roman coins, found during the excavation of the site. The rooms are magnificently composed spaces. Light floods through the large windows, poetically illuminating the spaces’ high ceilings. Muted tones stay faithful to a notable Georgian visual vernacular, whilst features such as the immeasurably comfortable Sealy bed, Egyptian cotton sheets and Asprey Bathroom products iterate the notably five star experience the hotel is renowned for.

Perhaps you’re after something that’s a touch more urban, in which case the Apex City of Bath might just be your ticket. Sporting a gorgeous, contemporary Bath stone façade, the Apex makes a notably urban, modernistic statement from the get-go. This is not to say its metropolitan character skimps on opulence by any means. Liberal use of glass beautifully illuminates the hotel’s interior, bringing to life the marble that the lobby space is clad with. The hotel offers a variety of rooms tailored for different arrangements. All are spacious, sporting moody and atmospheric counterpoints of bright and slick urban tones. Rooms are well equipped, containing televisions with a full Sky package and coffee machines. Bathrooms sport rainforest showers, Elemis bathroom products, heated mirrors –and most vitally, of course, a yellow rubber duck.

If you’re after a hotel with the most picturesque postcode in the whole of Bath, you’ll find The Royal Crescent tough to top. Arcing staircases, oil paintings and saintly chandeliers are just three items that form the notably classical vernacular of the hotel. Rooms situated on the hotel’s ground floor house the Spa and Downer House Restaurants, which compared with the building take on a more contemporary look. The rooms take many forms, ranging from palatial suites that would not look out of place in a Jane Austen novel, to smaller, more affordable spaces on the hotel’s upper floors. The bathrooms feature marble floors, walk-in showers, slippers and robes. Tea trays can be ordered at no extra charge.

Some Thoughts

The great politician and philanthropist, William Wilberforce once said that: ‘Bath the worst of all places to get any work done’ – and it’s not terribly difficult to see why. The city’s astoundingly lengthy history is, by itself, enough to mesmerise and wholly consume a visitor’s time for days, if not weeks, on end. Add the city’s vibrant culture to the mix: a stunning plethora of boutiques, restaurants, breath-taking architecture, grounds and sites of cultural interest to the mix and you’ve got a recipe for a truly special break from fair London.

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All photos courtesy of respective locations.

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from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/bath-city-guide/

Ken Howard & Friends – The Auction

In both the circles of artists and laymen, Ken Howard requires no introduction. The artist and painter’s penchant for poetic composition, and ability to capture spaces with an endearing and candid sincerity has made him one of the country’s most respected and beloved artists. Beside Howard’s OBE, which he received during the 2010 Birthday Celebrations, he has been elected a both an Associate and Academician of the Royal Academy and is also a former President of the New English Art Society- to mark just four highlights in his long and decorated career.

Along with the work of personal friends, many of whom are fellow former and current Presidents and of some of the world’s most prestigious art societies, Ken Howard’s work will be featuring at ‘Ken Howard & Friends- The Auction’ on Thursday 26^th October at Chelsea’s John Bly Gallery.

The fifty-fifty auction is organised in close conjunction with Kids for Kids, an initiative that provides much needed help to the critically forgotten children of Darfur, Sudan. Kids for Kids’ work is simply remarkable. By offering goat loans and the creation of sustainable development programmes, Kids for Kids greatly aid communities living in near inhospitable regions, often ravaged by drought.

Inspired by this noble cause, the auction will bring together oil paintings and watercolour works composed by Howard and fellow Royal Academians, members of Royal Watercolour Society and the New English Art Society.

For art buffs, ‘Ken Butler & Friends – The Auction’ serves as a great opportunity to study, and potentially own, the works of some the nation’s finest artists. The auction will feature work by the likes of Ken Howard, Richard Pikesley, Francis Bowyer, Alan Cotton, Maurice Sheppard, Bob Brown, Salliann Putman, Diana Armfield, Andrew Macara, Sir Quentin Blake, Toby Ward, Melissa Scott-Miller, Susan Ryder, William Bowyer, David Parfitt, Mary Jackson, Tom Coates, Michael Sandle, Patrick Cullen, Ann Le Bas, Fred Cuming and Charles Bone.

As Kids for Kids founder Patricia Parker MBE observes: “This is a rare opportunity to see works by our leading artists from the highest echelons of the art world, paintings in different mediums, shown together… It is a real honour, and very touching, that such famous artists want to help the forgotten children of Darfur.”

The collection will be available to view from the 19^th October up to the evening of the auction on the 26^th during the opening hours of the John Bly Gallery (Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Private Viewings can also be arranged on either Thursday 19^th and Tuesday 24^th of October; one would be required to apply for a ticket so as to avoid disappointment.

We’ve shortlisted a few pieces of our favourites from the auction. For those unable to visit, the entire ‘Ken Howard & Friends – The Auction’s collection can also be viewed online.

Drawing for Kids for Kids

by Michael Sandle RA

From the Bacinni, Venice

by Ken Howard OBE RA

Udairpur Sunset overlooking the lake

by Patrick Cullen NEAC

Alternative Drawing for the façade of Angers University Hospital Maternity Unit

by Sir Quentin Blake CBI RDI

Summer Flowers

by Melissa Scott-Miller NEAC RP

The Auction itself will take place at 6:30 for 7:00 p.m. at The John Bly Gallery 1st floor 533 Kings Road, Chelsea, SW10 0TZ. Celebrity auctioneer, John Bly, will conduct the auction.

On account of limited space, the event will be ticketed. These can be attained by contacting them. Although there is no charge for entry, donations are graciously accepted. More information, can be found at ‘Ken Howard & Friends- The Auction’.

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All photos courtesy of Ken Howard & Friends.

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from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/ken-howard-friends-auction/

Teenage Kicks – Tips for Teenage Bedrooms

A teenage bedroom has to meet the needs of the busy and demanding stage between childhood and adulthood. Gone are the days of giant boxes of toys and shelves of cuddly teddies (apart form the extra special ones). Now the room has to fulfil many different purposes such as studying, sleeping and relaxing. Here’s some tips on how to create a cool teenage bedroom that they’ll actually want to spend time in.

Joining forces

It is crucial that any decision making about a teenager’s bedroom should be done together. Don’t forget they’re evolving into adults with their own opinions and views with ideas of how they want to express themselves. So talk about room layout, which furniture you have and where it will go with them, consider colour schemes and maybe create a digital or physical mood-board try to understand each other’s needs and ideas.

Zoned areas

It can be useful to create different areas for different purposes and using different colours is a great way of doing this. A light and bright study area should ideally be near a window as natural light is best and an interesting view will help too, whereas a relaxing area can take strong and darker colours.

Feature element

Having a bold focal point will give the room interest and is an ideal opportunity for self expression. This could be a wall mounted bike/surfboard/skateboard, a gallery wall of photos, wall stickers or a giant map. It’s good to go with the interests of the teenager for this as it will reflect their personality. Alternative ways to make a feature space could be through wallpaper, cladding a wall in chipboard or painting an area in a bold colour.

The fifth wall

The ceiling. Here’s where you can let your/their imagination run wild as ceilings are often overlooked spaces. Posters, art, large stickers or taking the chance of painting the ceiling in a different colour can all work well in a teenager’s bedroom.

Storage

Wall mounted storage works great in teenage bedrooms as it maximises the floor space. An open clothes rail instead of a wardrobe is an effective space saver and adding shelves in less conventional places such as the space above the door works well too. Good storage and organisation of a study area will make it more appealing to use and wall planners and shelving are practical for books and stationery and can look good too.

Freestanding furniture

Flexible furniture that can be moved around when necessary is great in a teenager’s bedroom. A roll out bed stored under an existing bed is perfect for when friends stay over and it also prevents the under-the-bed-black-hole where items can easily be lost. Day beds that also work as sofas as a place to relax are ideal for creating an area to switch off and relax after studying.

Paint it black

Adding a few touches of black within a room adds a sense of maturity, clearly identifying the room as having moved on from a child’s room. Black out blinds are also great for encouraging a good night’s sleep. The only drawback might be getting them to leave their room…

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Images Copyright: bialasiewicz, skdesign on 123RF Stock Photo.

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Idealist City Guide: Cardiff

As a city, it’s difficult to not observe Cardiff as a Janus-like entity. Like the mythological figure whose two facades face opposite directions, one looking forward and the other looking back, Cardiff too, is poised with a likewise dichotomy: it looks to the future in much the same way it looks to its past, all at the same time. Having become the official Welsh capital as late as 1955, Cardiff has jumped into its role as a notably modern, progressive city on both the European and global stages.

The city’s architecture certainly reflects this, seen through the bold and daring silhouettes of the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre. And still, interspersed in tiny pockets and urban crevices are echoes of its ancient past: Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch, the Bute building and the Coal Exchange paint Cardiff as a historical space- a city with a many-chaptered story to tell. And I suppose it’s precisely this, which gives Cardiff its charm.

Cardiff’s many boutiques, galleries and restaurants pack this charm and energy in spades, making the city a fantastic option when the weary drone of London bustle grows a touch too monotonous.

Shopping

If you consider yourself a lover of contemporary furniture, it is vital you visit Monument during your time in the city. Over the past thirteen years, the family-run company has been working closely with leading European manufacturers to ensure the highest quality at the best value for the client. For lighting and furniture that sports a Midcentury, Scandi, Modern Industrial or even Boho touch, few places in Cardiff come better qualified than Monument. Their varied and international clientele, including interior designers and architects, can attest to the company’s passion for distinctly modern furniture and lighting.

If retro style is more your thing, we’re confident you’ll fall in love with Jacob’s. Its three-storey, converted warehouse store means that it is a cathedral to all things vintage; from bespoke lighting, furniture, vinyl, vintage clothing, army surplus and even comic books- all things old-school can be found within its walls. With more than thirty stalls, many of which work closely with to the television and film industries, it won’t be long until you find that retro-inspired accent piece and mojo-packed conversation starter to inject new life into your home.

Art buffs will simply adore the Martin Tinney Gallery. Since opening its doors in 1992, the gallery is now considered to be Wales’ premier private commercial art gallery. The Martin Tinney Gallery specialises in showcasing the best Welsh talent. Since moving to a renovated townhouse with a purpose built extension, the art can be enjoyed over three, gorgeously-lit floors. The gallery stock Wales’ greatest living artists, including Harry Holland, Sally Moore, Shani Rhys James and Kevin Sinnott, whilst also boasting a stock of influential 20^th century works from the likes of Gwen John, Augustus John, Ceri Richards, David Jones, Sir Cedric Morris, John Piper and Graham Sutherland- to name a few. With an international clientele that include The Tate Gallery and The National Museum of Wales, the Martin Tinney Gallery can similarly assist you whether it is an individual purchase you are making, or an investment into a collection of premier Welsh art.

If contemporary is more your flavour, you simply cannot afford to miss the BayArt gallery. Situated amongst the busy streets of Cardiff Bay, BayArt is a defiantly artist-led institution. Butetown Artists, many of whom have won international accolades and prizes in the contemporary art field, occupy sixteen studios above the gallery. BayArt also offer interpretation of the art that adorns its exhibition halls, hosting seminars and workshops to develop and enrich admirers’ understandings of modern contemporary art.

Let’s Eat

Cardiff is a truly international and multicultural city- and certainly, the diversity of the culinary delights offered by its many restaurants certainly attests to this observation. Whether you’re after a lunch from a modern gastro pub, continental cuisine or far eastern flavours, all can be found here.

Working under the mantra of ‘we love cooking, eating & gin’, The Potted Pig is a restaurant that is passionate about modern British cuisine. The restaurant does not restrict itself to a single concept or culinary philosophy. Rather, they pride themselves on dishing up tasty, seasonal cuisine with ingredient sourced from local suppliers, who they work closely with. Their gin menu is certainly not lacking either. With over thirty different varieties behind the bar, you’d be sure to find a new favourite tipple here.

Yakitori #1 offers up modern Japanese cuisine from only the freshest and sustainably sourced ingredients. Their extensive menu sports delicious sushi, grilled meats, rice and noodle dishes in traditional Japanese styles and others that you may not have experienced before. Whether it is a light bite or a several course meal, dishes are designed to be shared at the table. An open kitchen allows for diners to watch the chefs as they cook, adding to the theatre and spectacle of the experience.

In their own words, Madeira Restaurante is all about ‘authentic and passionate Portuguese food served in the heart of Cardiff.’  Since opening its doors in 1998, the family run restaurant have been offering an extensive menu of freshly prepared, Portuguese dishes that boast a variety of meat, fish, poultry and vegetarian options. Its stone-clad walls and rustic interior beams with an Iberian charm and is the perfect setting for dinners. One would have to book to avoid disappointment.

In Shaam Nights’ own words, the restaurant is ‘a rather elegant dining experience and sets itself apart from the rest both inside and out.’ Illuminated by the dim, ambient glow of lanterns, and sporting gorgeous stained glass wall features and tiled flooring, Shaam Nights boasts a truly authentic Syrian dining experience. The restaurant’s masterfully put together menu is influenced by the diffusion of cultures and civilisations that called Syria home over time; consequently, Arabic, Persian and Ottoman influences can be found on the menu. Featuring dishes that were historically served to Caliphs and Sultans on special occasions, Shaam Nights delivers a truly opulent Middle-Eastern dining experience.

Getting Here & Place to Stay

We Londoners are spoiled by the many connections we have to the UK’s other metropolitan hubs. Cardiff is no exception. If you do not feel like getting behind the wheel, services are easily caught from Paddington Station- a mere three hours later and you’re there. However, to make the most of what the city has to offer, it is imperative you look beyond the day trip. We’ve shortlisted three of the best hotels in the city that beam with a character and energy all of their own.

Cathedral 73 are, in their own words, ‘a dignified Victorian townhouse with funky, fashionable 21st-century accommodation’  – certainly, its many spaces live up to that identity. Cathedral 73 offers nothing but the highest levels of service, including proper afternoon tea, a trendy night time piano bar and the being driven around in the hotel’s very own and iconic classic yellow Rolls Royce. Rooms feature all the trimmings, including: King-sized beds, bed linen from Linea, custom-made curtains walk-in showers, deluxe Conran bath and body toiletries and Smart TV and Wi-Fi access. With both room and suite options available, rooms are styled in a airy, uncluttered yet classically inspired style making Cathedral 73 a youthful and luxurious option for your stay in Cardiff.

The New House Country Hotel is situated on the rolling hills away from Cardiff’s city centre. Boasting a gorgeous period exterior, complete with fountain and creeper-clad walls, the New House Country Hotel is a superlative luxurious country getaway.  The hotel boasts an array of rooms to suite a variety of arrangements running anything from a standard double to a bridal suite. Within, playful yet classically styled spaces create a relaxing, airy ambience. The rooms feature an ensuite bathroom, Mydffai toiletries, television, Wi-Fi and Tea and Coffee and hair dryers, to ensure all your bases are covered. The Sequoias Restaurant offers a dazzling array of lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, private dining and wine and drinks options.

If it’s a traditional bed and breakfast experience you’re after, The Lincoln is a fantastic option. The hotel prides itself on its premier B&B service, always ensuring the clients are looked after when food is required in the evening. The hotel’s central location means that most of Cardiff, and even South Wales, is all within easy reach. Likewise, The Lincoln have an arrangement with local restaurants that means you can enjoy the eclectic range of cuisines on offer and be billed directly to the hotel. If you would prefer to stay in, a take away service and bar ensures all the your needs are covered. All rooms are tastefully decorated by Victorian design and feature a double bed, an ensuite, complementary Wi-Fi, television, radio, a telephone and tea and coffee facilities.

Cardiff, certainly when compared to London, is a city still blooming, bristling with tabula rasa-like energy that excitedly waits for the chapters of its future to be written. In quite the same way, it’s a city with a lengthy history, and has wears sophistication and complexity attached through its period buildings and ancient streets. Cardiff is a tremendously exciting and eclectic place, and certainly when looking to recharge both the home and batteries of the mind, is a fantastic option that is just a mere stone’s throw away.

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All photos courtesy of respective locations. Feature image (c) travelwitness 123RF Stock Photo

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from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/idealist-city-guide-cardiff/

Indoor plants to enhance your home

Indoor plants have moved on from the lonely spider plant neglected in a corner of a room: they are now a fully integral part of interior decor. With plants ranging from collections of small succulents to big and bold plants making a statement, any interior photo from the last few years will confirm this growing trend.

Benefits

Plants literally breathe life into a room by filtering out pollutants and releasing oxygen and photochemicals which suppress mould spoors and bacteria. This makes them ideal for homes, especially bathrooms and bedrooms where clean air is essential. They also add humidity which helps to counter dry air caused by central heating which can be a problem of modern living. Adding green life to a home shows that the property is cared for enough to keep another growing plant alive and is particularly important if you don’t have any green space outside.

Plant suitability

Looking at a plant’s origins helps to determine the suitability of a plant to a specific area. Plants that come from hotter tropics prefer to be in warm rooms with moisture in the air so bathrooms are perfect. Succulents and cacti originate from dry and arid climates so sunny window sills and very little watering is best. Some ferns on the other extreme are very thirsty and need frequent watering. It’s always best to look at care labels when buying plants to find the optimum location and level of care needed for your plants to thrive.

Which plant should I buy?

In addition to finding out how much water and light a plant needs, it’s worth bearing in mind the plant’s size and shape. Is it fast growing? Will it need repotting soon? What is the leaf shape, size and colour? Thinking about these questions will ensure you select the right plant for the right space. Popular and easy to maintain indoor plants include palms, peace lilies, Chinese evergreens, succulents, fiddle leaf fig trees and air plants.

How to arrange plants within the home

Take inspiration from website and magazine photos that contain plants. Grouping different plants together adds impact to a room, as does a collection of similar plants. Think about the height of a plant, as large leaf plants such as palms work well in large containers or baskets on the floor whereas others suit plant holders that maximise space and give added height. I often use stools for plant holders that double up as extra seating or side tables when needed. Arranging plants in odd numbers works best so think in threes and fives, perhaps using similar materials and colours in the pots. Terracotta is a classic material for plant containers that never goes out of style.

Bringing the outside in

Having greenery within the home provides a link with nature and being outside. Indoor plants help to achieve this by allowing the eye to connect plants inside and outside. This feels even more necessary now that the nights are drawing in and we don’t spend as much time outdoors, a perfect excuse to bring some plant life into our lives.

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Images Copyright: bialasiewicz, skdesign on 123RF Stock Photo and Clare Murthy Photography at Fiona Brass Interiors.

The post Indoor plants to enhance your home appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/indoor-plants-enhance-homes/

An Heirloom Colour Scheme: Georgian Green

Just as heirloom tomatoes and carrots are appreciated by today’s gourmands, heritage hues from iconic eras in European history are all the rage in interior design. One legacy hue that seems especially fresh and new for fall is Georgian green.

Much loved in drawing and dining rooms in the Georgian period (1714-1830), the original yellowish-green colour has broadened into a tonal palette that includes seafoam and blue green variations. This palette of greens and blues is fairly neutral, and also calm and soothing. If you’re lucky enough to have space for a formal dining room, here are a few ideas for dressing it up with a Georgian green-inspired palette.

Set the Backdrop

The walls are a great place to start. The most familiar scheme will be one with a version of Georgian green matt paint on the walls, perhaps interspersed with white trim. Little Greene Paint & Paper has been making wall treatments since Georgian times – they have a wide range of historic greens all available at John Lewis. Their Boxington matt emulsion is just one of many that could anchor a Georgian green scheme.

Wallpaper can also work really well to introduce all the main notes of the palette without committing to a solitary hue. This allows you a lot of flexibility to choose and use furniture pieces and accessories that pick up or echo the colours in the intensity you prefer. Check out this gorgeous Sanderson wallpaper design for inspiration. £65

Design the Dining Area

For dining tables, you can certainly pair monochromatic or wallpapered walls with paler woods for a light and airy neoclassical Scandinavian vibe. But magical Georgian green can also hold its own against darker woods like walnut and mahogany for a more Georgian or Colonial feel.

This dark ash black lacquered dining table from Lombok would look terrific against a gentle green backdrop. £495 Adding not quite matching bistro chairs completes a look that can skew retro, Asian or very contemporary depending on how you accessorise. £165

Adding Finer Touches

Another bonus to basing your design strategy around a colour like Georgian green is the fact that it mixes particularly well with copper or gold-toned accessories, another popular trend these past few seasons.

Imagine this copper chandelier gently glowing over a dining table against serene green walls. £240 Or this elegant copper bar trolley standing by loaded with drinks paraphanalia. £249 You could also gild the lily by setting your table with gold finish cutlery. £95

Whatever your style (and, more to the point, whatever the style of your existing furniture ), Georgian green can elevate your decor game in the dining room by adding a touch of history, glamour and serenity.

You May Also Like

• Cultured Colour Scheme: Wedgwood Blue
• A Rich, Bohemian Colour Scheme: Aubergine
• Colour to Warm a Minimalist Interior

All photos courtesy of respective brands.

The post An Heirloom Colour Scheme: Georgian Green appeared first on The Idealist.

from The Idealist https://www.theidealist.com/heirloom-colour-scheme-georgian-green/