Bright.Bazaar

Happy Weekend: Parisian Rooftops

2012-01-28T00:01:00.024Z

Photo prints by Eye Poetry: (Left to right) 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Well, folks, I'm signing off for the week because I'm lucky enough to be in Paris for a few days of French Fun! Just days before I left, two new prints I had ordered from Eye Poetry arrived ready to be framed and hung in my bedroom. I ordered the top two rooftop images you can see in the four shown above and plan on hanging them side by side on one of the bedroom walls. Why did I choose them? I felt instantly inspired and charmed by their 'toy town' look (love tilt shift!) and what better than to wake and see beautiful Parisian architecture each morning? Can't wait to come back and share my Parisian adventures with you all. Have a lovely weekend!

Portfolio Peek: Marcus Hay, Interior Stylist

2012-01-27T00:01:00.036Z

Styling by Marcus Hay

Let's ease ourselves into the weekend with an inspiring peek inside the portfolio of Stylist, Marcus Hay. Born in Germany and raised in Australia, Hay has had over 16 years experience of styling for advertising, lifestyle and marketing/branding projects. Although now working out of Manhattan, Marcus originally found his love for creativity when hanging out on set with his Photographer father, John Hay. Meanwhile his mum, Janet, helped him discover a love for paint and fabric swatches, from which he would help visual merchandise his parent's decorating stores. He moved to NYC in 2005 to join Real Simple as Style Director and now works for a range of clients across America, the UK, Europe and Australia. Phew! Pretty impressive, right? You can tell Marcus has been using colour since a young age because he works hues into his work with seemingly effortless simplicity - teals, aquamarines, golden yellow, coral; you name it, Marcus can work it! What's inspiring you about his portfolio and home (the later half of the post shows snapshots from his apartment, which recently appeared in Elle Decoration UK)?

Sneak Peek: Harlequin's New Folia Collection

2012-01-26T00:01:00.029Z

Harlequin

I think it was the juxtaposition of naivety and sophistication that first caught my eye about the new Folia collection from Harlequin. Inspired by the distinctive style of 20th Century Scandinavian textiles, the collection marries the clarity of design from the era with a series of bright, bold and all round delicious colours. Dominated by botanical motifs, Folia is the perfect collection from which to create a new look for spring; I love that on close inspection one can see plums, figs, pears and olives amongst the meandering leaf trails. Plus, the diverse colour palette used (including midnight, ink and cerulean blue and forest, olive sap and apple, amongst many others) make the wallpapers and fabrics ideal for using in existing schemes. My personal favourite from the new collection is the Flavia fabric (used to upholder the sofa in the first image) but the yellow and grey Akin fabric (last image) also has a classic, timeless feel to it that I like. What's standing out to you from the new Harlequin range?

Take Your Pick: Yellow or Green Bookcase?

2012-01-25T00:01:00.021Z

IKEA via Livet Hemma

Hurrah! We've reached the middle of the week so a customary Happy Hump Day, folks! I stumbled upon these two bookcases from IKEA and knew in an instant that I liked them both. Clean, sleek and modern in their design and colourful in their execution they felt perfect for a Bright.Bazaar home. The only problem? Deciding which one I like better. The yellow finish provides an uplifting, vibrant and bold statement to the space, plus it pairs effortlessly with the black and white colour scheme. Whereas the green provides a more serene feeling, blending well space around it. I think I'm verging on preferring how the yellow option looks; it just feels a little more playful and graphic, but which would you pick?

Four Ways: Original London Underground Luggage Racks

2012-01-24T00:01:00.053Z

Styled by Poppy Norton

Many of my overseas friends speak of how charming travelling on 'The Tube' in London is (commuting on it with the mice isn't quite so charming, but let's gloss of that!) so I think they are going to love these luggage racks that go on sale from February at the London Transport Museum. The original 1960's luggage racks are from Metropolitan Line trains (the purple line) which have now been decommissioned to make way for new trains. So, this is the perfect opportunity to own a piece of original London history instead of those terrible tee-shirts sold in stalls all the way down Oxford St. (Know the ones? Yeah, kinda bad, huh?!) The racks have been cleaned and adapted for use around the home, shown here in four of my favourite ways. It's fun to think that these racks have been carrying briefcases, shopping bags, suitcases, coats and who knows what else for almost 50 years! Perhaps it's time they helped add some London style to your home? Which way would you use the luggage racks?

10 Things I Learned & Loved This Weekend

2012-01-23T00:01:00.043Z

1. This striking cluster of pendant shades and exposed bulbs in a central London bar.
2. Marking recipes I'd like to try in my new cookbook by Tana Ramsey on Saturday morning.
3. Seeing the exposed bulbs inspired me to find ones for the flat; I loved this table lamp.
4. I like the colours and patterns on these quirky and fun 'biscuit' pillows.
5. Framed my new print from Evermade UK.
6. Headed out for a walk on Saturday afternoon in my favourite blue and white stripes!
7. How awesome is the February O Magazine cover that was hand drawn with chalk by Dana Tanamachi? (Photo: Ruven Alfanador, Set design: Sam Cook, Lettering: Dana Tanamachi)
8. Would love to own this beat pendant shade by Tom Dixon one day.
9. Love these iron and twine nesting baskets.
10. This parcel label-shaped card with Manhattan's neighbourhoods marked on it is rather fun!

Sunday's Bright Links No. 67: Orange Hues

2012-01-22T00:01:00.048Z

1 | 2
Elsewhere
Might make this DIY surprise lantern for a wedding this summer.
Dreaming of travelling to the Dodogne, France.
DIY gilded Thank You cards.
Mr. Bazaar helped spread his colour loving nature all the way to Chicago!
Useful painting guides: one and two.
Designwali shared photographs of the bowl she won on Bright.Bazaar.
Now this is what I call winter!
A very sweet nautical themed engagement shoot.
Cool blue hues in dining rooms.
How to make a pendant light with a vintage glass funnel.
A local Parisian flower market.
How super fun is this San Francisco themed birthday party?

Bright.Bazaar
A beautiful sunrise across London, colourful stripy and spotty tableware, stylish packaging and plenty more in last weekend's 10 Things I Learned & Loved.
A little winter respite in the form of Real Living's Feburary issue packed full of summertime and nautical inspirations.
Two interior trends for spring (and Mr. Bazaar on video!)
Inspiration for three different home office spaces.
Three of my inspirations this week included a vintage-industrial dining space, a patterned entryway and a colourful pantry.
A beautiful yellow fireplace.

Happy Weekend: Beautiful Yellow Fireplace

2012-01-21T00:01:00.032Z

Yellow ceramic tiles by Lubna Chowdhary | Scanned from Elle Decoration February 2012 issue

Well, what a week this has been! It started with an generous invite from Modenus to join Blog Tour 2012 in New York City in March. I'm so excited to be joining some lovely and very talented bloggers in one of my favourite cities in the world. Of course, Mr. Bazaar will be on the lookout for colourful designs during the trip, so expect pins, Instagram snaps, tweets and more of everything that inspires me during the trip. In the meantime, and with the cold temperatures here in London, I'm still dreaming of open fires and crackling logs. I came across this delightful fireplace with divine yellow ceramic tiles by Lubna Chowdhary and it instantly brought a smile to my face. I think it would be perfect as in the summer as it would in winter because the yellow hue makes a fantastic statement in the room. What are your weekend plans, folks?

Three Inspirations: Dining, Entryway & Pantry

2012-01-20T00:01:00.035Z

1. Dominic Blackmore for Ideal Home | 2 | 3. Chris Everard for Livingetc

It wasn't until I finished laying out this post and came to start writing that I realised how all three inspirations centred around getting organised. Perhaps it's something to do with the New Year? Or, more likely, it's a reflection of my OCD approach to organisation! Either way, these three spaces have me super inspired as I head into the weekend. The first is an excellent example of how to delicately add colour, even when using bright hues. The Tiffany blue school chair breaks the neutral linens that adorn the table, whilst the tomato red pendant draws the eye down to the table creating intimacy in the space. As for the industrial storage unit, well, you wouldn't have to ask me twice to snap that up! I dream of having a home big enough to take an entryway the size of the one shown above. The patterned paper adds interest to the all-white space and the baskets hide clutter - just what my (much smaller!) entryway needs. Finally, I just had to include this colourful pantry; the perfectly lined up bottles, jars and bags really made me smile. Which space do you like best, friends?

Sainsbury's S/S 2012 Home Interior Trends

2012-01-19T00:01:00.062Z

Sainsbury's styled by Sally Cullen and photographed by Paul Raeside

On a chilly day last autumn I headed to Sainsbury's press preview of their spring/summer collection for 2012, where the brand had styled room sets with each of their forecasted trends for the forthcoming 2012 season. Whilst I was there I shared I spoke with some folks from Sainsbury's, sharing my thoughts on their proposition in the marketplace and revealed my top product pick - so expect Mr. Bazaar to pop up once or twice in the film above! I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw and have decided to share the two trends, Caravan and Coastal, which spoke most strongly to me. Caravan has a colourful and bohemian feel to it thanks to the mix of pattern, texture and folk inspired detailing. The eclectic colour palette details a range of bright hues that break up the floral prints and delicate glassware. Now, although the second theme, Coastal, isn't an original trend for the s/s season and is often done so very badly, I think this take on it has been done rather well. It captured my imagination for seaside escapes, light and airy spaces and addiction to all things Nautical - not to mention my love for navy blue! Standout product for me? It has to be the anchor cushion - a steal at under £10. After all, there's nothing like popping out for milk only to return with milk and an anchor cushion, right?! Which trend is for you? What's catching your eye?

Three Ways To A Statement Home Office

2012-01-18T00:01:00.042Z

1. Dominic Blackmore (Ideal Home) | 2. Ferm Living | 3. Livingetc

When it comes to the home office I'm always on the lookout for new ways to make the space more productive and inspiring. These three different spaces are great examples of how to add your personality to a space to make a great statement whilst maintaining a workable environment. The first, Colourful Industrial, shows how you can add warmth and depth to a rustic look with the addition of a single bright hue. I love how the hot red colour draws the eye to interesting vignettes created from necessary office stationery - and how great are those wire baskets on the wall?! The second space, Graphic Stripe, demonstrates how a classic black and white stripe can create a sophisticated and timeless statement in a light and airy room. Here it's best to let the stripes do the talking and keep the rest of the scheme simple yet functional. Finally, Temporary Colour, is a perfect solution for renters who are looking to add colour, personality and storage with minimal lasting effect to the space. Multiple colour block box files add all of these three elements, coming together to create a quick and easy statement feature with no lasting effect - ideal! My vote goes for Colourful Industrial, but which space gets your vote?

Real Living: Summer & Nautical Inspirations

2012-01-17T00:01:00.055Z

All tears from Real Living | Cover | Hardware shot by Chris Warnes and styled by Erin Michael | Suntrap, bedroom, table by pool all, blue doors shot by Chris Warnes and styled by Sarah Ellison | New Nautical shot by Tory Amos and styled by Erin Michael | Out door showers shot by Chris Warnes

OK, so don't get me wrong, I love living in a country with seasons and the recent crisp, clear days here in London have been a delight. However, when I saw the February edition of Real Living I was swiftly dreaming of long, hazy summer days. So today I thought we could swap hemispheres with our Australian pals and jump into some summertime and nautical inspiration. As I flicked through the pages I closed my eyes imagined the warmth of the sun's rays against my back and the anticipation of diving into a glistening, still-as-a-millpond swimming pool. I've always thought of outdoor showers as wonderfully indulgent and these examples don't dent that dream! The renovated 1950's beach cottage that graced the cover was an airy and modern home, perfect for summer days and nights but the real treat for me was the blue doors seen above - so fun! What's catching your eye?

10 Things I Learned & Loved This Weekend

2012-01-16T00:01:00.039Z

1. This beautiful sunrise made an early start on Sunday all the more worthwhile.
2. Candy coloured facades are such a joy!
3. Wrapping parcels for a friend by candlelight was surprisingly restful.
4. Liked the blue and yellow hue of this barge I walked past on Friday evening.
5. I love the sentiment behind this mini goals chalkboard.
6. Spots, stripes and colour? This tableware is perfect for Mr. Bazaar!
7. Love these happy sailing cards from one fine day.
8. Like the sleek packaging on this toiletries range from Conran.
9. Navy and spotty? Major tie win!
10. Used some Christmas vouchers to get these limited edition tan leather briefcase.

Sunday's Bright Links No. 66: The Simple Life

2012-01-15T00:01:00.055Z

Aran Goyoaga | Design*Sponge

Elsewhere

Yuiry and Julia launched a stunning new photography website and blog; I loved this wedding they shot in Denver, Colorado.

Twenty four hours in Berlin.

This post did nothing but deepen my love for cafe lights.
Food We Love is a new (to me) foodie online magazine by Salis Studio.

Outdoor wedding inspiration from the intimate ceremony of Coriander Girl.

Wonderful wallpaper inspiration.

Fresh veggie inspiration in this beautifully styled post on Apple Parsnip Soup.

Enjoying taking a photographic trip through Hong Kong.

How adorable is the roof (complete with cafe lights!) on this kitchen?

Liked these men's fashion ideas.

An IKEA apartment in the Paris Metro.

Bright.Bazaar

Last weekend I lusted over Paris notecards, Naxos dinnerware, a foodie calendar and much more!

A preview of Lindsey Lang's first ever ceramic and textile collection.

Marks & Spencer's spring/summer 2012 homeware collection.

I shared what my kitchen means to me.

Home Tour: Calm and Colourful on Long Island, NY.

January by day and night in London.

Happy Weekend: January In London

2012-01-14T00:01:00.037Z

Photography by Will Taylor

The past few days bought beautiful winter weather to London. You know, those crisp, clear blue skies kinda days where the air is bracing but not freezing. Feeling snap happy as the weekend approached I looked for outdoor visuals to inspire me. At the height of the day, the rooftops of the Georgian architecture in central London looked breathtakingly beautiful as they stood proudly under the swimming pool blue sky. Seeking a temporary reprieve from the dropping temperatures I dived into this Italian deli. I loved the subway tiles and green pendants but truth be told, I loved the decor (and food!) full stop. Then, as dusk fell, a whole different atmosphere was created as I walked through London. Symmetrical fairy lights framed the contours of this building with colourful splendour, and a quiet walk by the water felt very restorative. So, here's to the weekend and this wonderful winter weather. What are your plans, friends?

Home Tour: Calm & Colourful, Long Island, NY

2012-01-13T00:01:00.043Z

House Beautiful | Interior design by Ruthie Sommers | Photography by Don Freeman

Oh boy, I've only gone and fallen head over heels in love with this divine home in Long Island, NY. The perfect mix of colour and calm, the home illustrates how to strike a balance with different hues. From the moment I set eyes on the sky blue (Blue Seafoam by Benjamin Moore) I knew I was in for a treat as I clicked through the images over on House Beautiful. The owners Margot Brunelle Fooshee and her husband preserved the 18th century floorboard by sanding and waxing them, adding vintage touches such as old pendant lights to complement them. Zinc countertops and reclaimed chairs painted an upbeat, sunshine yellow hue complete the kitchen. Personally I love how the master bedroom has a simple, pared back feel that's bathed in natural light; an oasis of calm from the energising hues throughout the rest of the house. What do you like about this home?

West Elm: Modern Meets Rustic-Industrial Kitchen

2012-01-12T00:01:00.058Z

The kitchen is one of my favourite places to be when I'm at home. Actually, scrap that. It's the favourite place for me to hang out when I'm at home. Whenever I have a party, or it seems attend a party, the kitchen seems to be the beating heart of the event. I think there's a juxtaposition of both drama and serenity to kitchens; a sense of theatre as a meal comes together with pots bubbling and pans searing hot, then the calm of clearing away plates and glasses under the soft glow of the hob light once guests have departed. The hum of the dish washer. The sound of a kettle boiling. The smell of pastries warming in the oven on a Saturday morning. All these things awaken or soothe the senses and I often find myself appreciating these quieter moments when relaxing in my apartment. That said, I'm renting at the moment, and as much as I love my apartment let's just say the kitchen isn't to my taste! So I found myself cooing out loud at my Macbook (enter confused fellow coffee drinkers in Starbucks from stage right) when these inspiring snaps of West Elm's rustic kitchen collection landed in my inbox. Likening the acacia wood pieces to a casual, New England oyster bar, the brand have kicked off 2012 by adding a bistro table, prep counter and dining table, to the island and dining chair that made up the original collection. I may not have space for the lovely set of dining table and chairs in my current place but I have the perfect little spot for the industrial stool. What inspires you about this rustic kitchen range?

Marks & Spencer S/S 2012 Home Collection

2012-01-11T00:01:00.060Z

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

I've written here before about the vast improvement in high street retailers' homeware collections over the past two years or so. Marks and Spencer is another brand that continues to take their homeware offering from strength to strength. They've successfully teamed up with some notable Design Legends, namely Sir Terence Conran, which sees the introduction of bedroom and kitchen collections to the existing living and dining ranges. A good number of my top picks come from the Conran range, which has a classic, stylish simplicity to it, with more than an air of high quality - the clothes valet is made of solid walnut, for example. As well as the sophisticated Conran collection, there are three core themes, Spectrum, Chalk and Geisha, across their latest collection. Spectrum is packed full of bright, luminous pastels and bold graphics, such as the geometric rug seen above. Chalk has a more natural and pared-back feel with the fabrics and textures reflecting organic and natural fibres. The third theme, Geisha, demonstrates lavish and vibrant colours such as deep fushia and magenta, inspired by oriental opulence. Which products are catching your eye? How would you incorporate these into your space this spring?

Lindsey Lang's Debut Homeware Collection

2012-01-10T00:01:00.027Z

In just a few short days, Lindsey Lang will be launching a new company and a debut collection at a new homewares and interior accessories trade event in London called Home. I'll be heading along to support some of my favourites like Mini Moderns at the show but I'm also looking forward to seeing Lindsey's beautiful new collection in person. I love her graphic and colourful style; it feels like a breath of fresh air, especially knowing that all of her textiles are hand-sewn and printed in Great Britain. The collection is split into four areas - Bluetone, Bold, Chevron and Yellowstone - and is perfect for adding a bold and graphic accent to your kitchen or living room. Which product do you like best from Lindsey Lang's debut collection?

10 Things I Learned & Loved This Weekend

2012-01-09T00:01:00.051Z

1. Enjoyed reading Terrance Conran's Essential Colour book.

2. I happened upon these beautiful tiles whilst out walking in London - I felt so inspired by the colour.

3. Industrial style shelving with colour blocking? Home decor win!

4. These confetti bags from We Are Citrus are a sure fire way to brighten a present or card.

5. I never tire of these colourful latte bowls in Anthropologie.

6. My 'A Year in Food' calendar from Whimsy & Spice arrived.

7. These Paris themed notecards made me excited to visit the French capital.

8. Love the rustic and organic feel to this bottle opener.

9. The colouring of this Naxos dinnerware conjures up images of the azure Mediterranean sea.

10. I couldn't resist adding another striped number to my wardrobe.

Sunday's Bright Links No. 65: Pink Hues

2012-01-08T00:01:00.046Z

1 | 2

Elsewhere
Loved this sweet little home in a converted chapel.
Top notch illustrator Judy Kaufmann has started a great new blog.
A beautifully photographed engagement shoot.
I was excited reading about Justina's wedding plans.
Beautiful images of a Jordan's family holiday in Rome.
So rocking to see my LA buddy, Dab, over on West Elm's blog.
Enjoyed this restaurant review of The Fat Radish (what a beautiful restaurant!).
These posts by Matt Bites and Cannelle et Vanille on citrus fruits brightened a cold week in London.
Thank you to Riell for this sweet post of images of her unwrapping the tray she won from Mariksa Meijers on Bright.Bazaar late last year!

Bright.Bazaar
Some of my bright photographs of London for a colourful New Year.
Two new spring trends from H&M Home.
Three ways to a beautiful guest bedroom.
CASTLE: Colourful home accessories from an Australian brand.
My addiction for stripes reached fever pitch again!
Rustic and organic inspiration.

Happy Weekend: Rustic & Organic

2012-01-07T00:01:00.036Z

1 | 2

With age so many things feel start to feel different, yet that Friday Feeling never seems to cease. The knowledge of having two days stretched out in front of you to recharge the batteries, dive into some inspiration and catch up with friends is such a precious one. I plan on meeting up with some old university friends for lunch and a few drinks on Saturday, then on Sunday I'm keen to explore more of London. How about you? This morning I'm feeling inspired by this mix of rustic and organic, two themes that compliment one another perfectly. The weathered and worn textures of these rustic metal and wood surfaces are juxtaposed beautifully with the soft freshness of delicate blooms and deep green moss. I'll take the locker for my imaginary boot room and the centrepiece for my next party, please! Have a good one, friends.

Stripe Addiction Take Two!

2012-01-06T00:01:00.065Z

Stripes. I'm continually in the mood for them. Whether it be wearing them, decorating with them or photographing them. There's something intoxicating about their graphic simplicity and preppy feel. So, as my love for them reached fever pitch again last night (I indulged in a post on them here once before) I couldn't help but dive in and pull together a round of stripe inspiration! This time I've included spaces from some stylish blogging friends, including Nina's monochrome office, Annette's classic Italian apartment (where I was lucky enough to stay this past summer and trust me, it's divine!) and Bri's colourful L.A. loft. Plus there's some gorgeous ceramics and Unison bedding that I'm majorly lusting after. All in all a lovely dose of Friday inspiration! Do you decorate or accessorise with stripes at home?

CASTLE: Colourful Home Accessories

2012-01-05T00:01:00.036Z

I'm so excited to press Publish on this blog post I could squeal! Sometimes I happen upon a brand that just resonates so well with my aesthetic; the graphic and colourful simplicity of Castle's home accessories is one such example. Founded in 2008 by Rachel Castle, the brand began by offering a capsule range of bedlinen originally made for friends and family. Castle soon garnered commercial interest (rightly so!) and now offers a range of colourful and often handcrafted and printed pieces for the home. As I clicked madly through the products on Rachel's site, I kept recognising UK props and products used to style her lifestyle images. All become clear when I discovered that she used to live over here in the UK working for The Conran Shop! I recognised the artworks as there is one hanging above the bed in Mr Jason Grant's Sydney home - I'm so pleased to discover the origin! Personally I'm crushing on the 'do the cha cha' artwork and the spotty bedlinen. How about you, folks?

Three Ways To A Beautiful Guest Bedroom

2012-01-04T00:01:00.025Z

1 | 2 | 3

For the first three ways of 2012 I thought I'd pull together some ideas for guest bedrooms. Perhaps you had guests to stay over the holidays and realised the spare room wasn't quite up to scratch. Or maybe you're looking for a project to work on during the weekends. Either way, here are three different ideas for adding interesting features to a guest bedroom. First up we see how a twin bedroom doesn't have to feel childlike; the use of smouldering grey hues, vintage lighting and luxe textiles creates an inviting and adult scheme. Secondly, we see a fresh and feminine guest bedroom which is a fine example of how a gallery wall can work to frame a simple headboard. (I must add, I love the bedside table in this space!) Finally, the third bedroom provides inspiration for contrasting hues. Given a guest bedroom is only ever a temporary space, why not dabble into something a little more daring than your usual decor? I think this charcoal and mustard combo is a real winner. Which space gets your vote?