Do you say Fall, or is it Autumn?

And… suddenly it’s Fall.

I don’t know about you, but those last few days of summer felt especially poignant this year. Soon we’ll be well and truly bundled up, socially distancing outside, but until then there are still a few softening glimmers of sunlight to remind us of warmer days.

Cheers, Arren


Despite, well, the way things are Paris Design Week still managed to inspire earlier this month. I totally stan for India Mahdavi, and this wildly bright, fun and entirely OTT space from her did not disappoint. You’ll most likely know Mahdavi’s work by Sketch restaurant in London, but puh-lease don’t judge her for it’s pretty-in-pink Insta success.

Here she’s altogether more esoteric and artistic, mixing Chris Wolston’s utterly crazy/fab anthropomorphic Nalgona Colombian wicker chairs, fabric from textile artists Les Crafties, lighting by WonderGlass and a tile-topped table from Maximilien Pellet. It’s basically a fever dream of design fabulosity.

Photo: Nicolas Lequeux

Photo: Nicolas Lequeux


I spent a thoroughly fascinating time peeking behind the curtain on the work, inspirations and point of view of design firm Campbell-Rey today when they were interviewed by M. Emilio Pimentel-Reid for Interiors Academy. Helmed by Duncan Campbell and Charlotte Rey, the young award-winning firm tackles both interiors and product design with aplomb.

Their Francesco side table is definitely deserving of ooh-ooh-aahs with it’s mix of Connemara green marble, yellow travertine and patinated brass-on-steel legs. First commissioned from Campbell-Rey by interior designer Francis Sultana, the pert piece is now part of their ongoing furniture collection, which they let slip in the interview they have plans to grow.

Oh, and that snap below? Well, let’s just say that paired with The Rug Comapny’s Key Shadow carpet, the Francesco table looks all the more stunning.

Watch the IGTV interview here.

Photo: Campbell-Rey

Photo: Campbell-Rey


Post-reno we’re in the midst of rejigging our double-height gallery wall. The walls are freshly painted (hello Benjamin Moore White Dove) but the question is, what will stay, and what will go, and what could replace those bits and bobs that have fallen out of favour? Definitely these!

The items in question are Abstract Masks from People of the Sun, an award winning social enterprise in Malawi that connects traditional artisans with a world wide design audience. A collab with designer and artist Julia Gamborg Nielsen, these stunners are a graphic interpretation of African masks, skillfully woven of palm leaves. I. Want. Them. ALL.

There’s lots more must-haves from People of the Sun to check out right here.

The full Abstract Masks collection

The full Abstract Masks collection

Elizara, one of the master weavers behind the Abstract Masks collection

Elizara, one of the master weavers behind the Abstract Masks collection

Hot seats and beachside villas

It feels hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, so thank heavens friends introduced us to Botica’s Spanish Valencian Orange Gin. Poured over lots of ice and served with good tonic (or, in our case Italian mandarin soda), it’s the perfect antidote to this July heat.

Cheers, Arren


How incredible! Designed as an intensely creative endeavour between Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T Design Studio and South African furniture makers Houtlander, the Hlabisa Bench features a stunningly sinuous pink basketweave backrest woven by Zulu master weaver Beauty Nxongo.

Watch Nxongo at work on the bench here, working in locally harvested palm that is all dyed by hand. Oh, and if pink is not your thing? The Hlabisa Bench is also available in a slightly more sober, though no less graphic pattern - Take a gander here.

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Image: Beauty Ngxongo, master weaver of Zulu baskets, and Stephen Wilson of Houtlander

Image: Beauty Ngxongo, master weaver of Zulu baskets, and Stephen Wilson of Houtlander


“A creative village by the ocean where music, art, design, food and wellness play together,” is an apt description of the ace new Potato Head hotel in Bali. Sustainability is the focus, with award winning architecture designed by OMA and collabs on furnishings with big name design talents like Faye Toogood and Max Lamb. There’s a lot to love, but - thanks to the current situation - we’ll have to wait to enjoy it as the project is in hibernation until later this year.

In the meantime, you can ogle some of the fab pieces included in the rooms, like Lamb’s Study Chair. The cool seat is made by local Balinese craftspeople from a confetti-patterned recycled plastic material from Smile Plastics (watch the video below).

Each chair comprises of 833 recycled plastic bottles - seriously stylish and sustainable or, as Potato Head would say, #GoodTimesDoGood.

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We’re dialling in more of those summer vibes with interior designer Alicia Ruach’s take on a laid-back beachside villa..

As Rauch explained to House & Home, “I love the contemporary beach house vibe! The warm wood tones and crisp whites juxtaposed with black accents add a punch of drama and interest. This style is a sophisticated coastal retreat that you would find on the picturesque coasts of South Africa.”

It’s good to dream, right?

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