Thursday 24 July 2014

Donna Wilson's creative home

Donna Wilson has to be one of my all-time favourite designers. Not only does she create some of the happiest textile designs around, she also helps bring good design to the the lives of others. Her recent project at the Royal London Hospital, for example, involved painting lush green murals on the walls of the children's ward for the patients to enjoy, and she is now currently working with Aberdeen residents to design a unique tartan for the Scottish county.

This creative spirit is also carried through into the designer's home where Donna mixes bold colours and clashing patterns and vintage furniture with modern accessories.

Below are a few of my highlights from her home, including a dining room filled with vintage Ercol - swoon! Head over to The Telegraph to see the full tour.

[Images: Rachael Smith via The Telegraph]

Sunday 13 July 2014

Rifle Paper Co.

If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I recently bought some prints from one of my all-time favourite shops, Rifle Paper Co., and it was while I was happily browsing their site that I noticed they now do wallpaper.

The collection includes paper printed with pineapples, zebras, fluro peonies and famous city landmarks among other things, so it definitely gets the thumbs up from me! Take a peek and let me know which is your fave. (You probably won't be surprised to find out that the pineapple paper is mine!)
Pineapple in Sorbet
Pineapple in Sorbet
City Toile in Parchment and Robin's Egg
Rosa in Indigo
Safari in Hunter and Blush
Peonies in Yellow
There's four colour combos for each print and you can buy 8.5" x 11" samples for $5 each - but, be warned, shipping to the UK is not cheap.

Shop the full collection at Rifle Paper Co.

[Images: Rifle Paper Co.]

Sunday 16 February 2014

My Trip to the Vitra Haus!

I've been meaning to write this post about my trip to the Vitra Campus for far too long now, and I can't believe that it has taken until now! Sometimes life just takes over doesn't it?

Anyway, last year I was invited on a trip to the wonderful campus in Weil am Rhein, and below is my round-up of my time over there.

The Vitra Campus not only holds the manufacturing facilities of contemporary furniture manufacturers, Vitra, but also its design museum (designed by Frank Gehry, no less), a show-house by Herzog + De Meuron, and various other architectural structures. Armed with this information, and having seen some wonderful images from friends and colleagues who had been in recent years, I was beyond excited!

Vitra were wonderful hosts on our trip - they provided us with insightful tours of the manufacturing facilities, of the campus architecture, and finally of the much-photographed, Haus. And it was here that you can really see what good design can do for an interior. Below are some of my pictures inside the Haus, and around the campus.

The exterior and interior of Herzog + De Meuron's 'stacked' Haus.

Below are images of the fourth floor in the Haus - my personal favourite. Look at that wallpaper!
Next up is the mini 'studio flat' on the third floor of the Haus - this small space showed how clever design can work wonders for small spaces.
As I wandered freely around the spacious Haus, I came across a mixture of fabulous displays - from elegant dining spaces, to colour-filled kids spaces. Below are a few snap-shots I took whilst walking around - which is your fave?
 Check out the GIANT Alexander Girard Wooden Dolls on the kids floor!
As it was a beautiful sunny day in Weil am Rhein, we took a final wander around the campus. Below is Frank Gehry's Design Museum, which, interestingly, was the prototype for his Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and the entrance to Tadao Ando's Conference Pavilion.
Private trips and tours are available at the Vitra Campus, find out more on the Vitra website.

{All images: Laura Blanksby}
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