Her home: India Knight

There are people, ladies, to be exact, that reign lovingly in my heart. 

Ines de la Fressange is one. 

India Knight is one. 

Edith Piaf is one. 

I have written about author India Knight's home before.

I absolutely love her style, her point of view, her writing. 

My Life on a Plate will remain forever on top of my list of feel-good reads, and I highly recommend it.
Neris and India's Idiot-Proof Diet: A Weight-Loss Plan for Real Women  is amazingly encouraging ang liberating from guilt and feelings of inadequacy.
Her latest work Comfort and Joy: A Novel sits on my "Dear Santa" list.

So you understand that I was thrilled to find that Red magazine features an interview and a home tour .

Pricelessly personal and very contemporary British. 

Very much what makes my heart sing.

What's more the article is on-line (thank you, Red!)

and I can indulge in my love of Ms. Knight's propos recueillis.

Decorating with maps

I have wanted to put together a post about maps in decoration for ages. In our shop we stock some wonderful antique school maps that I also meant to put here, too, and I shall, at some point! I promise to post some more pictures from my files next week. For the week end I am posting this picture that I scanned from the lo-ve-ly March issue of Country Living.

Bon Weekend!

Louise Loves fabrics

A new find. A new extra-nice find. Beautiful fabrics a la Cabbages and Roses, only more affordable.

What I loved most? This quote: "In my garden, it's only a weed if I say it's a weed, otherwise it's a wild flower!" At Louise Loves via Country Living.

Cath Kidston Magazine

As promised in my previous post, here is a look at Cath Kidston's new catalogue.
There is a definite shift from "catalogue" to "magazine". The publication features as a magazine in the company's homepage, too,where we are urged to request their "new magazine".

The change is made definite, as on the spine there is a number 1 printed and there is a price of 1,5 pounds, printed, too, although I did receive it free of charge and there isn't a charge if you request it from their website. Inside there are magazine-like features, like the one below, about Dublin, celebrating the opening of the first Cath Kidston shop in Ireland.

There is also a competition for a mother's day card inspired by and promoting her new book, Make,which, by the way, is quite nice and useful, not just pretty pictures, and comes with a cotton bag for you to customize.

There is also a special collection of presents for Valentine's day, as you'd expect from a Country Living kind of glossy.

All this shows that retailers, too, get the message of the times. If you want our custom, you've got to do more than showing off your stuff: create a lifestyle, and then promote it. It's beneficial for the retailer and the spoiled for choice customer.
That stack of fabrics above is my favorite picture of the catalogue. I love the harmony and freshness of the composition.
Finally, for now, instead of showing you the front cover, as happens usually, I am showing you the back cover with many intersting photos from the cat...sorry, magazine.

ENJOY!

Christmas fairyland

This year's fairyland by Country Living, UK. That cover is very Cath, doggy and all.





And this is last year's wonderland, again by Country Living. I like my being consistent in my tastes and inspiration!

Cath Kidston in Vogue

The Queen of Roses has found her way to the pages of British Vogue. She deserves every page and line of it. I love Vogue, I've read it since I was a baby, and this spread just shows how forward Vogue is, acknowledging not just the jazzy designers, but also one of those, the one, to be exact, who offers handfuls of beauty and enjoyment to the everyday lives of thousands of real life women (and men) around the world. Pride of place to Stanley. I think she'd do that herself!
A lesson to being eclectic; classic, country and modern.
The dining room/library is my favorite room of her house. Warm and serene, and inviting.

God save the Queen of all things beautiful, tender, cheerful and cozy.

Happy 15th anniversary, dear Cath, and many, many more to come!

A charming English cottage

While I am on the other side of the pond, meaning dear UK, and before I move back to my special summer posts of fabulous homes in Greece, may I show you about the home of a special lady, who graces the "Sisters In Style" section of my sidebar sometime now. She is a graceful and very helpful shop owner, too, as I have tasted first hand, when I bought some fabulous porcelain handles and a tin box that now grace old shelves and drawers in my new bedroom.




See more of Sohie Perks Ward's cottage in the August 2008 issue of Country Homes & Interiors.
Also do not forget to stop by her on-line shop and her newly established blog here (Say Hi from me!)

Fresh and happy home

This is home to the family of interior homeware company Rice, as published in the February issue of Living etc. I am eyeing this kind of lit du jour for my office. Ikea has one for 99 Euros and I can put one of our super comfy mattresses. People are usually shy with color and pattern when it comes to small places. I am all for color and pattern in small places, as long as they are tastefully combined. This guest room proves it.

Here is the family in their Danish home.

The kitchen units are from Ikea as is the tap. I have been looking for "shower" taps. They invariably cost about 500 Euros and upwards. This one from Ikea costs c.270Euros, which is half the price. It does look quite high going, though! I think I may opt for an olde English tap instead.

Not my cup of tea. Those people are not shy when it comes to using heirlooms. If you love it, I suppose...

This is the playroom and office. Difficult mix. It is a home office, of course, in which case it is better to have the kids playing around and checking on them.

Love the lampshades. They look like Rice plant workers to me!

And here is a photo of one of Rice's treasures. White with splashes of color. Beautiful bedspread!

(Photo from The Style Files)

Union Jack cushion

I found this cushion in the July 2007 edition of Country Living UK. It is by Lucinda Chambers. Love it!
Lucinda Chambers is the creator of the well known Jubilee wall hanging at The Rug Company.

My dream living

On the same issue of Elle Decoration I have spotted this photo which examplifies my favorite style: natural materials, neutrals with a touch of warm color, possibly ethnic or vintage, and big openings. My decorating paradise!

Moroccan inspirations

The July issue of Elle Decoration, UK edition, has some interesting photos documenting a take on Moroccan interiors. I have always liked Cote Sud's photos of real Moroccan homes, but apart from liking them, I wouldn't say that that style of decoration is my cup of tea.
That is why I liked some ideas from these pages. A touch of ethnic, which many people are looking for, especially in a holiday home, but not overwhelming or too colorful.
Look at the texture in this picture. The velvety modern sofa, the ethnic inspired shade and the tiles (I l-o-v-e tiles, ceramics, anything, you name it).
We have in the shop a metal lamp which has a similar effect. I like the white/cream color of these, too, or slightly more. It is lighter than silver. The effect on the walls is the same, crochet-like. Love it.
I stock this Designers Guild curtain fabric. My favorite is yellow. (Will post). And I plan of creating a similar effect with our chest of drawers. As soon as I sell the dark one, I'll get one in cream. With some bean bags in textured fabrics, it will create a beautiful corner.

As I said, I do not like ethnic to be too-ethnic. But I could talk myself into this absinthe room of her own.

So unexpectedly and totally feminine.

Cool and Hot

I love the organized chaos effect.
The warmth of the color.
The extravagance of the all over color scheme.
It must be so fresh in there in the summer, with closed windows to keep the fierce heat away.
Perfect for midday writing cum siesta.