Blog Archives
Best of British kitchens
Photo credit: Metropolitan Home
Sure, British food has long been the butt of many jokes stateside (despite the fact that most of it is all lies!), but their kitchen design has been head and shoulders ahead of ours. Apartment Therapy has a roundup of the best of the bunch. Thanks to Ally for bringing this to my attention!
Happy chic
I was flipping through the February issue of Matchbook Magazine (love, love, love) and inhaled the feature story about designer Jonathan Adler entitled “The Headquarters of Happy Chic.”
He has a great eye for interiors. There’s so much to like, not only in the article’s colorful pages, but on his own retail site including the playful ’60s motif “Carnaby acid”, his British flag needlepoint stool and his gorgeous navy regent arm chair.
It’s all eye candy. Check it out!
A Room for London
Who wants to spend the night in a little boat house above Queen Elizabeth Hall overlooking the Thames River? Apparently, everyone!
The above one-bedroom architecture installation, “A Room for London” opened for bookings (from July to December 2012) at midday (translation: noon) last Friday and all nights were sold out in a matter of seconds.
Who could resist the central location, the stunning views and the chance to be a little part of London history? For more opportunities to holiday in this style of living architecture, check out Living-Architecture.co.uk or follow their Twitter.
Toting London
Until the first GPS-powered tote bag has been invented, I’m happy with this alternative: a Maptote brand cotton grocery bag, bearing a map of London.
It’s available in white/lime green or black/orange (very Halloween, people!) and is made in Brooklyn, New York.
Just imagine how British your groceries will look in a bag like this …
Keep Calm etc.
By now, you’ve seen the “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters everywhere. But did you know that there is a London-based husband-and-wife company called Keep Calm Gallery that sells timeless British prints (as well as designs from up-and-coming designers). Here are just a few pieces from their very British collection.
When life hands you lemons …
The first time I saw this print, I was watching the ever-lovely Emily Henderson makeover the living room of the equally-lovely Joy Cho on Secrets from a Stylist. Watch the episode here!
Joy had a wall full of pictures and prints that she wanted to continue to display in an engaging way and Emily was on the case. This charming print was just one of over a dozen on the wall, but its sunny yellow disposition caught my eye.
After a little online digging, I discovered the print was from the Etsy shop of New Zealand-based designer dearcolleen and I’ve since sent the tea towel version to one sister-in-law in New Zealand and another sister-in-law in England. Gin and tonic is the cocktail of choice in most UK households and we love that tradition. It just seemed like a fitting tribute to our favorite elixir.
As a side note, if you’ve never watched Secrets from a Stylist, you don’t know what you’re missing! Full episodes are available online so you can have your own mini marathon any time you like. With or without gin and tonic.
