Starting a New Business

I was reading an article in the Guardian recently about three people who have each started up a design related company after being let go from their job. I guess we all like reading stories about people who manage to turn a situation around as it gives us hope and life doesn’t seem so scary. Don’t get me wrong – I know this is by no means easy and not an option for everyone but I still like hearing about such successes. One of the companies mentioned in the article was Anorak, who specialise in outdoor products such as travel, camping and gardening accessories.

Rug love: Matthew Williamson

I love this Peacock rug Matthew Williamson designed for The Rug Company’s Designer Collection.  Matthew is not a bad fashion designer either which is where you usually find his creations.

Still Shopping: Pretty Random Object’s

Joanna from Pretty Random Object’s certainly knows how to do cute. I love her new bird planter which would be a perfect upgrade for my succulent plant.

A New Blog and Fabric love

Today I have fallen in love with Schumacher Fabrics all over again and found a new blog. Whilst innocently browsing the web I came across this most wonderful blog, Little Green Notebook run by the very talented interior designer Jenny Komenda.  You have to check out her daugther’s bedroom makeover. She recovered the headboards in super cool Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon, painted the side table, turned an old mirror into a funky hot pink framed chalkboard, created art for the walls, repainted an old lamp, revamped white bed linen, revamped a mirror, constructed pelmet boxes for the three windows and the list goes on …… Amazing and all doable!!!

and if that ain’t enough Jenny has just completed her office makeover.

After I stopped drooling over all the colours I searched the web for some Schumacher fabric and just purchased a metre and half of Hot House Flowers! Yippee.

Designer: Yar Rassadin Design

I am totally loving Yar’s light bulb in reverse. The Tin Lamp was presented at the Saloni Milano earlier this year and is available through Triode Design.

Makeover heaven

Wow – Ab Chao is the makeover queen! I absolutley loved the stunning makeover she did for her daughter’s room but this one tops that by a million trillion miles.

Blog: Eat Drink Chic

Amy is the very generous graphic designer behind the blog Eat Drink Chic. She runs a lovely blog and also shares a few of designs with us for the total sum of … freezies. Check out the free downloads here.

Christmas is coming and I am thinking handmade is the way to go for me this year so some of Amy’s free downloads might come in handy.

Get Voting

And I am not talking about the Lisbon Treaty – don’t get me started on that one.

No I am talking about voting for The Best British Designs launched in 2009, brought to you by Elle Decoration. Check out the shortlist and place your vote here. The winners will be announced in the December issue of Elle Decoration.

There are two categories – Best Design and Best Surface Design launched in 2009 -

You can only pick one but here are my three for the Best Design from Elle Decoration’s shortlist -

1st pic – Steve Watson – Prop Lamp 2nd pic – Chauhan Studio – Lula Kitchen Accessories for Habitat 3rd pic – Tom Dixon (just because I love everything he does) – Pressed Glass Lights

and for the surface design – here are my top three from the list -

1st pic – Abigail Borg – Polka Polka wallpaper (I have a real thing for florals with dark backgrounds) 2nd pic – Harlequin – Illuminate wallpaper 3rd pic – Sanderson – Dandelion Clocks wallpaper

WOW! Kate Hume – my new favourite designer

First up I am sorry but I can’t remember which blog I was on that lead me to discover Kate Hume but Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! I love the warm neutral interior Kate designed for her client’s Amsterdam Town House. It is the height of grown up cool! When I win the euro millions on Friday night I am definitely going to hire Kate to decorate my home.

Package design

Well I love tea and I love clever packaging design and would love to try my hand at origami so how exciting to see all three together. How zen would you feel after having this tea?

Designed by Nathalia Ponomareva who hails from Russia. While the tea infuses the bird shape gradually expands.

First spotted over at Misty Lane who spotted it here.