Leafy Greens

I’ve always hankered after a certain type of interior: spacious, light, white, and FULL of plants. Some people aren’t a fan of the houseplant, but I say to you people: “sort it out”. What makes your home feel more alive then something that is living? Huh? And this doesn’t mean weird pet fish in a naff built-in tank.

Think green.

Like this.

(most images via here)

That bathroom! AMAZINGNESS.

I think this obsession stems from the fact that my grandfather was very green fingered, and although I cannot remember ever having a houseplant in any of my childhood homes (my mum thinks they’re “really creepy”), we always had masses of fresh flowers and the doors thrown open to the garden. I just love nature, yeah?

My ultimate fantasy is to live in a big beautiful house in a forest, surrounded by tons of trees.

But even in my city pad, I will always have a touch of the Kramer Vs Kramer.

See? how even one, big, luscious plant can make a difference?

Just like these gorgeous spaces:

It’s quite a 70s look. Perhaps that’s why my mum isn’t a fan. I happen to love that look though. Macrame pot holders . . . the lot! Fucking deeeeeeece. So if you want to buy me a present (why wouldn’t you?), I’d like some huge leafy ferns please.

Colour

I Love Lamp

Via here.

*sigh*

I’m house hunting at the moment, which is a total ball ache in London. If you want to live on your own you have to accept that you’ll be paying $$$. I keep getting distracted by looking at things on the internet that have no relevance to my search (or indeed, life) like this GORGE apartment in – where else? – Stockholm! (via here)

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Neu New Nu

I’ve recently been reading lots of different articles about people who have started to live minimally – and by that, I mean with literally the fewest possessions they need. Although I like the idea of owning far less, I often wonder if I would be able to do it? I mean, I’m a magpie by nature, and come from a long line of hoarders. My maternal grandfather still has a garage crammed full of paperwork from a company he sold in, like, 1972. I have many things that were given to me or made for me by him or my other grandfather, who passed away about eight years ago. These things are special to me, I can’t imagine not owning them. Yet, I feel bogged down by “stuff”, moving house is always a total nightmare, half of my stuff resides permanently in storage awaiting the day I own a massive house (one day…one day), and I don’t actually need any of it.

I’ve been toying with the idea of selling everything that has no sentimental value or that I don’t absolutely LOVE, and putting all the money towards one amazing thing – like a summer house, or an Eames lounger and ottoman. Recently, I moved all my stuff into storage (the second one I have filled – there is already a storage unit full to the brim of my stuff) and the sense of liberation I felt was palpable.

What do you think – should I go for it? I have some seriously nice stuff…if you’re looking to buy…

Charles and Ray (above) would be proud of me if I did it…wouldn’t they?

 

 

Claire Martin of Mill Co’s Home

Claire Martin is quite the entrepreneurial spirit. Mill Co, the company she runs with her business partner, Liz Birkbeck, is a creative consultancy with a difference. Operating as a co-operative, Mill Co can create a bespoke team of creatives to form incredible projects for their clients. Because they represent photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and even DJs, they can provide a uniquely all-encompassing service. Check out their website here!

Clearly, Claire has a brilliant eye for detail. Her house is warm and glows with friendliness. Homely, yet edgy. Comfortably worn wooden floors and industrial brickwork form the background for an eclectically edited collection of curios. And god knows I love a curio…

I have always wanted one of these...

Love this!

Matilda

A Mill Co for Oasis publication in the coffee table!

Female accoutrements...

Who is Hal?

I pass this artwork outside a house near where I live in London all the time and I always wondered who Hal is/was. Is it from a film, or maybe a song? Is it some famous dialogue that I am too dumb to know about? I’ve knocked on their door a few times to ask them but there is never anyone at home when I pass.

*** EDIT: It’s from ’2001: A Space Odyssey’ and I cannot BELIEVE I forgot that! I even wrote an essay on it at university, what a doofus ***

As an aside, I absolutely love the colour of the house (which, by the way, looks like an Australian mid-century villa and has some wonderful planting and landscaping around it). I kind of miss the old shop now, which was also painted that deep slate grey (one of my fave colours)…

I love that someone has this brilliant piece attached to their house, and it reaffirms my affection for this area of London which is populated with artists and designers and architects. I’ve met some fascinating people since I moved to South London!

Colourways

Elephant and Castle in South London is never particularly delightful, given that it is basically a rubbish dirty shopping centre on a roundabout. However, it does have its bonuses. Namely, the excellent tiles that clad the walkways that interconnect under the roundabout. The use of colour in these bold stacking tiles is absolutely perfect, slightly differing on each walkway. This one is my favourite:

The sea green and plum tiles are wonderful together. I love how they have that slightly ‘off’ look like the colours don’t *quite* work, a bit like a Missoni print. Speaking of which, the interiors range from the Italian print-masters is always worth a look. I love the pixelated-type print silk cushions, and the colours are – as ever -  really ace.

My Little Aussie Pony

I absolutely love these simple graphic cushion covers from Pony Rider, an Australian design duo. There really is some Antipodean aceness happening right now. If you can find it, Inside Out is a slick Australian interiors mag that I got hooked on whilst staying with my parents in New Zealand, featuring the best in Aussie and Kiwi design.

If you want to have a good old perv at some beautiful, nostalgic and suitably decrepit interiors, you could do worse than checking out Sibella Court and her shop down under, The Society Inc.

The Home Of Matthew Burgess

Matthew is a tres talented DJ who lives in this beautiful apartment on a tree-lined street in Lewisham, South London. The apartment is in an enormous mansion house, one of many that were originally built in days of yore in order to lure rich merchants away from Peckham and down into Lewisham. I for one would have been sucked in, it’s gorgeous. The height of the ceilings is PHENOMENAL, and they have all the original moldings still intact. Beautiful. As well as this, it leads out onto a huuuuge green and lush garden with massive trees and loads of birds cheeping away! It’s so tranquil. Matthew (who is probably my cousin, by the way) also has a carefully edited collection of very, very brilliant vintage chairs. As you’d expect from a DJ, there are piles and piles of records everywhere, which add another dimension to this otherwise coolly minimal space.

Amazing vintage chair

Yep, they're originals...

Beautiful ceilings

Rose-tinted essentials...

LOADS of records

For information on Matthew’s night Lowlife, see here. To buy his ace album, see here.