up the wall

I love wallpaper but in our home its banned by he who must be obeyed (not really I get away with all the decorating decisions, the wallpaper ban is the only concession I have made!).

I have thought about sneaking in a decorator and getting a few rolls up on the wall. But I am not brave enough to risk being made to take it all off again. I guess he has a point it is quite permanent and not like a paint which is cheaper and quicker to change. I haven't found a business project yet where the client is adventurous enough to go with wallpaper either. But its doesn't stop me admiring some of the ranges that are out there. My favourites this year are Farrow and Ball's Chelsea papers in Stone, Cole and Son and Cowslip. Plus a new collection from Catkin Collection, I love Birdhouse and Porcelain, would look fantastic in a cloakroom or if your feeling very decadent the inside of cupboards and wardrobes, a great way to put to brighten up the day. http://www.catkin-collection.co.uk/

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

www.id-homes.co.uk

Maximum Impact

I love blue as a colour for interiors but with our sour summers and cool light it can look

horribly flat and cold. Challenged with blue being the only colour that a client would have in his house (despite there not being much natural light in the house) meant getting creative with accessory colour. Particularly as the scheme had to stay masculine (no hot pinks or lilacs to add vibrancy). In the end mustard's, golds, yellows especially in soft fabrics like velvet had a magical effect of just bringing a scheme to life (and his!). I am voting it my favourite colour combination of the month!

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

www.id-homes.co.uk

hotel couture

The interior designers dream job has got to be designing hotel bedrooms. Gone is the need for too much practicality (storage and all that) and much more the need for supporting the brand values of the hotel and flights of fantasy to entice customers back. In Milan the ultimate whimsical rooms must have been created for Hotel Moshino. Its billed as a "fantasy, fairy tale world" a contemporary take on wonderland. There is definitely a wonderland theme with cloud shaped lights in the lobby and iconic dress lamp shapes. The restaurant wall features frocks as wall art and the rooms range from Alice room with a giant teacup room and little red riding hood complete with its own fabric wolf. Where else can you sleep on a giant velvet or silk ballgown or a bed of velvety rose petals.

I am completely enthralled by the look of the place. I am smitten by the luxuriousess, the glamour and the quirkyness. Look out Milan here I come!

http://www.maisonmoshino.com/

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

http://www.id-homes.co.uk/

land of my fathers

Croseo a cymru, welcome to Wales! I loved growing up in Wales, the welsh cakes for one can't be beaten. We welshies seem to stick to together. I am in Bath working for a welsh client, have a welsh structural engineer and welsh builder working on a refurb. It seems only fitting that I should source welsh products to put in the scheme. I was quite take with Elan Bach fabrics. The company was set up by Bernard Ashley (husband of Laura). There is no signature look, the designs range from contemporary to cottage. Unusually the fabrics are printed rather than woven which means that any design can be printed in one of a 100 colours. http://www.elanbach.com/I have just become a stockist of their fabric (discounts to friends and followers of course). I;ve just recieved my first order and the fabric is lush

(Samples can be ordered easily on line.)

http://www.blodwen.com/ is still one of my favourite sites, it only sells products which have been hand crafted in Wales. They stock a really interesting range including a range of vintage welsh blankets and throws which are amazing.

I can remember a smattering of welsh, not a very useful language to know though. Love going to visit rellies, going over the seven bridge and seeing the Croseo a cymru sign and cheering for the welsh rugby team!

da boch chi

Goodbye

Lisa@id-homes.co.uk

http://www.id-homes.co.uk/

the art of deco

I went to see Noel Cowards Private Lives earlier in the year, it was a decadent treat!
I managed to get the one and only seat left for a matinee performance (a treat in that I snook off for the afternoon abandoning work - just as well I am my own boss).

Anyway there were 2 great things about the play; seeing Kim Cattrall in the lead (I am a huge Sex and the city fan) and the 1920's interior stage sets. I am not a huge fan (so I thought) of Art Deco but was surprised to find I loved the colours, furniture design and fabrics. Soho house Berlin opened a few months ago and the rooms there have got a definite Deco feel to them. Still not entirely sure it is a look I love but its certainly a look that is growing on me. I think the problem I have with it is that it borders on being a little bit too "granny" even Soho's modern take on the style it isn't enough to shake it off

the jury is out still not sure - art deco love or hate?

what do you think?

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

http://www.id-homes.co.uk/

collectors item

It has been the most glorious day. Made the most of the sunshine but am now feeling a little weary after a day in the sun catching up with the gardening. I thought I would get in a quick post before bedtime. Its going to be a mad week so finding time to post is going to be a challenge next week!

It never ceases to amaze me how with a little imagination a stylish display can be constructed from just about anything. Why put anything away when everyday objects from Keys to Cooking utensils can become their own piece of exciting art.
Who would have thought that a collection of Pez sweet dispensers would have made the coolest wall decoration in the whole world! Yesterday was also a very busy day, managed to get some DIY done which included getting the collection of mirrors I am going to build on up on the wall. I am looking forward to looking out for some more over the coming months, 5 up and possibly another 12 to look for!

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

www.id-homes.co.uk

cute as a button

I am hopelessly addicted to Button backed

furniture, Who knows where this addiction started! But I have noticed on my travels that it is a love that is being adopted by lots of designers. It is one of Ilse Crawfords trademarks oodles of furniture in the hotels she has designed abound. I have tried to rail in my use of it at home but it has creeped in ever so slightly into my living room. I have invested in a massive 1.1 *1.6m footstool, very practical it opens up with bags of storage inside. Not so practical its covered in a gorgeous berry coloured Mohair Velvet which is always picking up fluff. Who cares though I love it! (Until the end of September I am offering 10% off footstools (any size, any fabric, any design) just email for a quote.

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

http://www.id-homes.co.uk/

Love where you live

I have seen the light

I was browsing through some interior mags and came across an article on this house fab house in Fulham. I am a lighting freak and was very excited and jealous to see my most favourite lighting used on mass. Tom Dixons Beat lights in a very sexy basement bar and Julian Chichesters Flip light (its on my must have list) both lights are incredibly atmospheric and going to be future classics. I also love the kitchen lighting line-up. If you've your thinking about buying some new lighting get in touch with your local electrician and see if its possible to run extra cable to have more than one pendant in a room . It's a sure fire way to create instant impact. I have spotted some fab and affordable Pendant Lighting at http://www.gardentrading.com/. I've got to find 3 pendants to go over a breakfast bar and feel a little spoilt for choice. If the budget will stretch to it I am also tempted to look at http://www.jimlawrence.co.uk/ who have an equally yummy choice of products.

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

http://www.id-homes.co.uk/

colour trauma!

When faced with the decision on what paint colours to sign off on, so many calm and normally collect clients go to pieces. This shouldn't happen! Especially when you have already spent days whittling the choices down, considering what works with the light, the space, their existing belongings their personalities. I met David Oliver from Paint and Paper at his colour workshop, he calls in Paint Paralysis. I can at least relate to the problem. About 3 years ago I had a 16 week leadtime (from placing the order to installation) to choose colours for our hand painted kitchen. The day before it was delivered the company demanded a decision so they could provide the paint for the painter. I had agonised for 15 weeks and 6 days! I guess we have an innate need to get things right first time, we feel we can't make mistakes.

I have a final colour sign-off meeting this week with a client. I have decided to make sure I have glasses of wine to hand to make sure that the client is relaxed and to minimise paint paralysis setting in. It is a daunting task for them to decide on a whole house scheme, walls and fabrics so I do feel for them. I think this job is 10% design and 90% hand holding!

One of my favourite blogs on colour is mariakillam.com sign up on her home page and get a free monthly colour tips. She runs what sounds like a really practical colour course. Sadly it is in Vancouver or I would be checking it out.

Would love to hear from anybody on what is their favourite paint colour, or colours they would avoid. I have used Farrow and Ball Light Blue recently in 2 different houses. It looks great in a Traditional Home, but looks a really fabulous contemporary colour in a modern setting. When I was in the states I picked up a load of Benjamin Moore paints which look good, but sadly not available over here.

Look forward to hearing from you

Lisa@id-homes.co.uk

http://www.id-homes.co.uk/

the sweetest things - part 2

And now for the boys. Gone are the frills and girly pinks. Bring on strong lines, strong colours and bags of personality and energy. Colour needs to be carefully balanced though. There is a school of thought suggests that primary colours can be over-stimulating. Great for a play room but not so good in a room where all you want to see them do is sleep!

lisa@id-homes.co.uk

www.id-homes.co.uk