Friday 26 February 2010

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!

love, Irene



Wednesday 24 February 2010

Tory Burch's Central Park Appartment







                                                           

(Click on images to view larger)
 

From Point de Vue, France, and The Happy Turtle, for my friend Melissa at The Preppy Apron. xoxo



love, Irene

Tuesday 23 February 2010

For the signature crafter

That handicrafts are a major trend, is quite obvious. Is it a bell ringing about hard times to come? Is it nostalgia for simpler times? Is it plain desire to create something readilly appreciated? Each handicrafter probably has his or her reasons. And issues.
That fashion victims would fall for it, is another of fashion's whimsies. Mesdames, voici la baguette mezzo punto by Fendi.The limited-edition Baguette Mezzo Punto includes a canvas baguette, needle, thread and how-to charts to help you embroider the logo—or whatever design you choose! 



Whatever other people's reasons are, these are the designer's own:
"Fendi is a creativity factory that supports talent without boundaries. In these challenging times in which the world is changing rapidly, we wanted to exalt pure creativity by putting attention on traditional materials and low technology techniques. We wanted to rediscover the power and the beauty of ‘Fatto a Mano’. Fendi strongly believes that creativity and the flow of ideas are the fuel for the future. Forever.”  Fendi Accesories Creative Director Silvia Venturini Fendi



Would I buy it? At a thousand dollars? No. Will someone think of and realise copies of it and of other popular shapes and sizes and sell "Embroider your bag" kits? I hope this someone reads this, because then, at say $50, I might buy and make one, too! Fendi baguette party anyone?

love, Irene

Sunday 21 February 2010

Mediterranean Sun


In obvious need of some bright, sunny, insouciant weather. 
( From Cote-Sud, August 2009. I bought it while on holiday, forgetting that I subscribe. It was worth it. I still like it!)

love, Irene

Saturday 20 February 2010

Boycott? Why not?

I have shopped Ikea many times, especially shelving, closets and frames for our new home. I like their style and the prices are affordable compared to high end ranges. However, as it turns out, the brilliant Ikea people sell to the Greek market 20% on average more expensive than to other European markets, eventhough Greece has been facing an economic war thanks to the international money makers.

The first photo is from the German catalogue, the second from the Greek one. They called us p.i.g.s. Perhaps we are for supporting their multi-national corporations. If only I knew earlier, I'd never buy from them.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Relax in the sunroom

I found this photo today from a blog that I haven't bookmarked..It is the host's sunroom, all dressed in linen and white and all those muted, relaxing shades, with a pop of colour  from a fabric that looks like Designers Guild to me. I very much like it. ( If you've stopped by here and I followed you, please let me know and I shall give credit. But I will remember how I got to that blog!)

Updated: I've found it! It's Lola B . (Lovely and special). Interesting how I found it again: I logged in to my twitter and Melissa has just posted about her place , too!

An abandonned Greek hotel

Now...

 

 


...and then...

 

  

  

 

Minoan Prince Hotel, Ierapetra, Crete, Greece

"Former glory" pictures:Terrokritten (simply amazing)
Old times photos: the hotel website (quite wierdly still up)

Friday 5 February 2010

Designers Guild at Maison et Objet 2010

Candy Stripe sofa=Love!

I love the new graphic flowers. They are a little retro, yet so now!


Luxe



Brown and green and so Designers Guild


For the little girl in me!


I have fallen in love with this chair! Reminds me of strawberry filled chocolate!



Now some views of the booth. Notice the turquoise color, very Designers Guild, but also fashion's Spring/Summer 2010 favorite color.


Flowers, always a major inspiration.




Maison et Objet, A l' annee prochaine!

Now I look forward to my first Spring orders! I'll keep you posted!

Greek shop interiors

 

 

 

 

 

The styled, the polished, the photoshopped, the color-matched, the re-vintaged...abound in the real world and in the blogosphere. Some heartbreakingly authentic emporiums, working or abandonned, in Greece via Flickr. Did I hear shabby?

Thursday 4 February 2010

Athens Design Walk 2010


5, 6 & 7 February 2010
Friday 18:00–22:00 - Saturday & Sunday 12:00–19:00

POLES APART

13 Graphic Design Studios resolve 13 contradictory elements within the creative process.

The walk takes place in the vibrant area of the city, next to the Acropolis, leading the visitor between cult shops and hip bars to discover works by award-winning graphic designers, in one of the most inspiring neighbourhoods in Europe, where ancient Greece, West, East, yesterday and tomorrow meet. For the 2010 walk, double decker, the London-based curating agency, is challenging 13 Graphic Design Studios to create a piece of work inspired by the contradictions / oppositions with which every designer has to deal, and which arise from fundamental questions in design methodology. The resulting exhibition, POLES APART, will give a unique visual insight into the creative process – as well as its curious contradictions.

Participating designers will create a piece of work based on the following dichotomies:

1. Void vs. fullness

2. Noise vs. silence

3. Beauty vs. Ugliness

4. Interesting vs. boring


5. Thin vs. bold


6. Word vs. image

7. Symbolic vs. literal

8. Landscape vs. portrait

9. Positive vs. negative

10. Anarchy vs. order


11. Digital vs. analogue

12. Foreground vs. background

13. Original vs. copy


Instead of settling for just one side of the dichotomy, the designers will incorporate both into their work and use them as creative fuel, with no restrictions on medium or scale.

Take a look at the Design Walk 2010 website here with interesting posts on Design Walk 2007/8/9, too. The stimulating Flickr group can be found here.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Our products in the press

Bedhead made of sustainable solid oak wood, natural rubber and organic linen/cotton fabric. Lavender pillowcase made of organic linen. Pillowcases sold as a set of two. Also available in off-white, and as part of a double or king duvet cover set.

Stool made of sustainable solid oak wood. In two sizes 36x36x40 & 36x36x75.

All photos Maison et Decoration Greece.

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