Flowers, Patterns, Memories

Arren Williams May 28, 2021

Well, here we are. The grey days have given up and we’ve slid deliciously into lovely lilac season, which sidestepped briefly into wisteria hysteria and will soon shift into peony pandemonium.

As flowers bloom and the temps rise, so it feels like we’re stepping finally out of the dark and returning slowly - and carefully - to ‘normal’. Personally, I can’t wait to get my second shot and may start randomly hugging people on the street. You have been warned…

Large and in charge, chunky yet funky. While I might be paraphrasing Latrice Royale’s description of herself, this is exactly what popped into my tiny mind when I spotted these fab bar stools from Only Good Things.

To me, the Sir Burly stool hits the nail on the head from a style perspective. Cool and modern, yet functional, with just the right amount of wit. Designed by Dowel Jones, a firm fave of mine, these hefty little loves come in both counter and bar height, and a range of white/black/natural oak combos. I’ll take two, please.

Sir Burly in white/natural oak seat. Interior design: Artem Rechitsky

Sir Burly in black/black oak seat. Dowel Jones for Only Good Things

By any marker, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House in LA is an architectural marvel. Built in 1924 of 30,000 concrete blocks it’s quite the Mayan Art Deco Moderne fantasy, and is the largest of four FLW ‘textile block’ homes built in California. And yep, you might recognize it, from appearances in everything from 50’s B-movie horrors to classics like Blade Runner and, more recently, Westworld.

So, of course it’s super cool to hear that Eso Surfaces has announced a partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to reproduce a series of four designs inspired by the houses, This is all of course fuelling my dreams of cladding a fireplace in the Ennis 3D tile or building a pierced concrete block wall in the futuristic Albin design. Check out all the designs here.

Ennis and Millard tiles, Storer and Ablin blocks. Eso Surfaces

While the gorgeous My Home in Porto - both designed and run by our talented friend Juan de Mayoralgo - is now sadly closed, its memory and influence live on. This shot below is a particular fave, especially the perfectly imperfect two-tone hexagon floor tiles, and the memory of our stay there came flooding back when I spotted a particular rug the other day.

With it’s similar colourway and bold tiled design the Coronado rug, designed by artist John Zabawa for EQ3, feels just about perfect for an interior that needs a major hit of pattern (don’t they all?). And it’s one of those designs that could as easily slide into a modern space, as one with trad details, like My Home in Porto. Definitely one to bookmark!

Finally, if you’ll permit me a bit of horn tooting, I’m extra-happy to say that my latest project, a bed, bath and beach collection for Hudson’s Bay, recently launched. We first started working on it back in early 2020, with the plan to come up with something bright, patterned and optimistic, and I think we really hit the nail on the head. The inspo came from favourite high-points in design and, as I truly believe, “Living with colour and pattern is definitely where it’s at!”

There are 3 patterns, and I love ‘em all, but Ponti is a definite standout. Find it in yellow and beige for the bedroom (see below), and then turquoise and blue for the bathroom and beach. Plus the intense shades of the Portuguese matelassé coverlets and toss cushions are to die for. You can check out the whole shebang here, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Ponti duvet set, Texta coverlet, Trig and Miel toss cushions, Skye bed. Hudson’s Bay

Make it in pattern

Arren Williams June 25, 2020

Pattern can really pep up an interior and give it a point of view. For me it’s a must, since a mix of patterns adds depth and sophistication. After all, why should everything be beige?

Cheers, Arren

Monochrome or bright? No matter your mood, artisan Naila Janzen - the creative mind behind Winnipeg’s Rox Textile Art - can hook you up.

Janzen describes her work as ‘functional art’ - Bold patterns show up in cotton quilts that look good both tossed over the arm of a sofa, or hung on the wall to admire. Then, patchwork comes into play in graphic cotton cushion covers, which are totally giving me a naval signal flag vibe. My suggestion is that you snap up two or three of those cushions to wake up your sofa, pronto.

Love. It. All! Shop the whole shebang here.

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Australian design powerhouse Sibella Court has just released a collection of tiles with TeraNova that have me going gaga. Honestly, I could probably do with an intervention at some point, because my love of good encaustic tiles knows no bounds, and HELLO, these are marbled!!!

Sirocco is the pattern’s name, and comes in a gorgeous array of tints. That one on the top is a smoky teal called Ocean and the on-the-money shade beneath is Brick. Ink and Ochre round out the Sirocco palette, though the full Tradewinds collection includes other patterns in both encaustic and stone. Shop the lot here.

The question has already been asked as to whether TeraNova ships, and the answer is yes, so keep an eye out - You can bet some of your fave designers will be using it soon…

Why, WHY, do you have dull white lampshades in your house? Shake it up, people!

Thank heavens Bespoke Binny’s shade collection in standout African wax prints definitely makes the case that adding personality to your lamps is an absolute must. The designer behind the brand, Natalie Manima, has been perfecting her craft over the past 7 years and now kindly shares the wealth with virtual make-your-own-shade classes that include all the bits and bobs you need.

More info on the Virtual Lampshade Class here. Not feeling handy? Don’t sweat it - You can scroll through Manima’s extensive collection here.

Way Down South

Arren Williams May 14, 2020

Australia is amazing. And stylish. And cool. And I have never been.

A visit is definitely on my ever growing bucket list. Until that happens, I thought I’d share some brand new faves from that part of the world.

Cheers, Arren

I’ll never not say no to art with a strong, graphic point of view, so the work of artist Emma Lipscombe is right up my alley.

I love how restrained each piece is, yet bright and playful at the same time. Each is painted in oil on timber board, and sized a diminutive 31cm square, they’re a snap to sneak into a gallery wall.

The shot below, styled by Natalie Johnson and Lisa Burden for Real Living mag, shows how fab Lipscombe’s work looks layered into a contemporary space. Not your thing, perhaps? Well, they can also look equally at home somewhere more relaxed, rumpled and deshabille. Get the vibe here.

While the redoubtable Patsy Stone believes you can never have enough hats, shoes and gloves, I’m of the same mind when it comes to occasional tables. In our living room, we currently have 3 that get dragged hither and yon, just so a cocktail can perch within arm’s reach.

Here’s a perfect little number from architect and interior designer Daniel Boddam. His M-Side Table - part of a series inspired by architectural forms - is both stylish and sturdy, set just-so in this interior he designed in Hunter’s Hill.

I love this look, and how well the table works with Jaime Hayon’s rice paper pendant light for &Tradition. It’s so simple and chic against all of the room’s trad details.

I am a longtime fan of Popham Design’s contemporary concrete tiles, made the old fashioned way in Marrakech. The patterns are always spot on, giving a designer just enough leeway to mix it up and create something special.

So, it’s their Squarish On Four tile that drew me to this swish guest bathroom designed by Studio Parker. That off-kilter mod pattern, paired with brushed brass fixtures and a chunky built-in vanity is making it all happen. Yes, to all of it!

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