Spring 2012

affordable contemporary art & design from the best british based

artists & designer-makers

www.cavalierofinn.com

paintings | ceramics | sculpture | textiles | lighting | furniture

Come & see our next exhibition curated in our home-cum-gallery in South East London on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th of May 2012or visit us at stand A9 at the Affordable Art Fair in Bristol from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th May 2012

click here for more details

our new o nline shop

click here tovisit

In the past three months, while we have been

putting together the content for this issue we

have also been talking, listening and keeping

our ears to the ground about the future of glossy

magazines. We weren’t the first digital interiors

publication and we certainly won’t be the last

but we can safely say that ‘digital’ is the way

forward. We’re thrilled to bring you on this

exciting journey so early on as we explore this

new publishing format.

For this issue we have again persuaded

five of our readers to open up their homes and

our generous contributors to share their many

and varied talents to help us all move into the

new season inspired and ready to fulfil the

potential of your own little nest.

Carole KingEditor-in-chief

Daniel NelsonArt editor

Arianna TrapaniEditor-in-chief

We will always promote British design

by featuring up and coming, as well as more

established home-grown designers and of

course this year we have even more reason to

be proud to be British.

The pending royal jubilee and the

Olympics mean that there is a plethora of

patriotic products out there which we couldn’t

ignore. After all, after interiors and design,

shopping is our next big love.

We hope you enjoy!

Carole, Arianna and Daniel

Photographer John Deed

Cover image: Photographer Andrew

Boyd

76 Designs for Life – How one couple’s archive discovery changed their home and life

26 From Here to Modernity – A live-work home with just a touch of mid- century vibe

94 Colourful Living – A garden maisonette just bursting with colour

50 The House at Number 57 – The stylish home of stylist Marie Nichols

110 Home is Where the Heart is – Small but perfectly formed. The home of designer Catherine Hammerton

36 Trends – Barbara Chandler’s refreshing forecast

13 Scandinavian Spring – Get simply Nordic in the summer house

86 A Touch of Flock – A glimpse of the life of furniture designer Johnny Egg

64 Pretty Florals or Striking Stripes – a round up of the new seasons fabrics

70 A Splash of Spring – Bring the outside in with pretty floral displays

118 Young Designer – Nancy Staughan

Homes Features

5

107 Easter Baking – Orange and Pistachio Cake

120 Simple, Easy, Easter Decorations

126 How to make a Fabric Notebook

Make and do

128 Tel Aviv – Chedva Kleinhandler takes us on a tour of her beloved city

132 Cosy Cottages and Hidden Hideaways – within our own shores

Home and Away

6

11 Stop press – a last minute roundup of design news

136 The Great Date Guide – Miss Mary’s suggestions for spring dates

104 Popartrockgirlyeah! – Investigates grown up kitsch

106 Flowerona – Looks at the latest floral finds for your home

124 Aspiring Kennedy – A light hearted look at life by an American in London

138 Heart Home Diary – What to see this spring

Regular features

43 Step into Spring – looks to carry you through to Summer

142 Hidden Gems – Boudoir Blush

68 The Look for all Budgets – Scandi Style

40 Jubilant Jubilee – Embrace all thing British in your home this anniversary year

Shopping

60 Video interview with Rob Ryan

21 Selina Lake – talks about her new book

Interviews

Columnists

Rona Wheeldon Helena del RioKatie Treggiden LaurenBryan Knight

Andrew Boyd

Writers

Jon Day

EllieWalker-Arnott

Oliver Gordon

Victoria Dockrell Claire Marie Slight

Stylists

Elkie Brown Vanessa

Leigh-Anders

Marie Nichols Karl OpenshawJeska Hearne

Liggy GriffithsPR &Advertising

Ally Mumm

Photographers

To all of the wonderful contributors that have helped to make Heart Home possible, we thank you...

Hannah Bullivant Mary Higgs

Illustrators

Gemma Milly

Mark BoltonJohn Deed Paul CraigJames Balston Emma Gutteridge Avishai Finkelstein

SophieWarren- Smith

Hannah RicciKatie Cotgrave Barbara ChandlerMichaelaMildenhall

ChedvaKleinhandler

Designers

Helen O’Byrne Roberto Banfi Ellie Trerise Tomasz Staszak Clare Lane Sarah Cotterell

Louise Gorrod Joanne Fordham

Dreamwall is the UK’s leading wall-covering specialists in Faux wall-covering solutions of Brick, Slate and Stone.

The panels have also been very popular in the commer-cial market over the last 9 years, boasting high profile clients including Harrods, Next, River Island, Lee Jeans, Hackett to name just a few.

01472 750552info@dreamwall.co.uk www.dreamwall.co.uk

Read Hannah’s popular blog DreamwallStyle at dreamwall1.wordpress.com

wall coverings with a difference

Read more

Photographer Barbara Chandler published her

book Love London before Christmas with 180

photos of the capital, teamed with over 100

quotes. “But I wanted more people to see my

photos than buy a book or visit a gallery,” she

said. So now

there is a

Love London

range of

tea towels,

cushions, aprons, totes, and make-up bags – and

they’ve gone into the London branches of John

Lewis available from Easter.

April sees the launch of LLUSTRE

an exciting members-only website

featuring a curated selection of

beautifully designed products

for your home. Membership is free but offers a

whole range of fantastic benefits. Exclusive limited

edition pieces from designers available only to their

members and up to 70% off the recommended retail

price on pieces from designers’ existing ranges.

Llustre Llaunches

The Homemade Home for ChildrenDesigner and stylist Sania Pell, releases her second

book The Homemade Home for Children in which

she turns her attention

to a younger audience,

creating a collection

of 50 contemporary,

child-friendly projects

for parents to make for

their offspring. Full of

innovate ideas Sania’s

unique approach is sure

to inspire any parent to

create something special for their child.

Stop press!Furniture Painting WorkshopsLouisa Blackmore, the founder of West Egg runs regular

workshops on Furniture Painting in London and Dedham, Essex.

These workshops are a fun and informal way of learning to use

chalk paints, waxes and other materials required for furniture

painting. There are 6 places available per workshop and are

suitable for total beginners. Visit their website to book online.

Editors Arianna Trapani and

Carole King are jetting off to

NYC on 20th March as part

of BlogTour. This is the brainchild of the lovely

Veronika Miller founder of Modenus. The ‘Tour’

involves bringing up to 15 bloggers to cities where

they are immersed in the latest exhibitions that

are taking place at the time of their visit.

Love London joins John Lewis

BlogTour NYC

11

01425 626147 • info@biancalorenne.co.uk • www.biancalorenne.co.uk

With the huge success

of Danish dramas such as The Killing

and Borgen and last years amazing Oscar

winner; In a Better World, it’s not just the

woolly jumpers of Sarah Lund we want, it’s the beautiful Scandinavian

interiors too.

Photographer Jon DayStylist Elkie Brown

13

Heart Shopping

SCANDINAVIAN SPRING

Keep the colour pallet simple and light with whites, greys and blacks and use splashes of colour introduced with soft furnishings, candles and flowers. Mix old with new for a more eclectic look.

White linen tablecloths are beautiful draped long over a table. Pick up vintage linen sheets on eBay and from car boots and you’ll find they are much cheaper than new linen tablecloths.

Heart Shopping

14

StockistsDried hydrangeas are great to use any time of the year. Simply displayed in vases or bottles or tied together to create a welcoming garland.Use natural materials such as wood, linen, wool and cotton for an authentic Danish look.

Ticking stripe fabrics are a very clean way to add pattern.

15

Cluster candle sticks, tea lights and flowers together on a decorative tray to create a stunning focal for your table.

Mix tones and textures to create a truly stunning table. Experiment with mixing your white china with china in shades of grey. Make a statement with your glassware and use smokey tumblers. Use low hung lighting and candlelight for a more intimate feel.

Heart Shopping

16

Mixing floral fabrics with black and white stripes creates a really fresh and modern look.

Stockists

17

Napkins can be made out of any fabric you want. Tie with ribbon and add a stem or two of fresh flowers for a real spring welcome.

Bring nature in, especially at this time of the year with twigs of blossom, Hyacinths from the garden and fragrant narcissi.

Heart Shopping

18

Grouping objects together, such as glass bottles and vases suddenly creates a stunning focal point on a sideboard or fireplace.

Stockists

Thank you so much to Patricia for the loan of her very lovely summerhouse and warm cups of tea.

19

bluebellgray

Tel: +44 (0)141 221 0724hello@bluebellgray.co.ukwww.bluebellgray.com

read more

hunkydoryhome.com

Restored antique & vintage furniture and decorative home accessories.

Tel 0207 060 2975 Email info@westegg.co.ukwww.westegg.co.uk

Homespun Style with Selina LakeTop Stylist Selina Lake always knew she wanted to be a stylist from an early age. With an impressive career to date she now releases her third book, Homespun Style. Here she talks to us about her latest venture.

By Arianna Trapani

21

Heart Interviews

With a passion for designer makers and collecting

vintage fabrics and china, Selina is one to have always

admired the craftsmanship and quality of pieces.

Also a big fan of Etsy her current favourites are Doris

& C, Vicky Trainor and

Ninainvorm’

Homespun Style

has just been released

and it truly is a book that

simulates Selina Lake’s

colourful creativeness.

Selina will be hosting

a Homespun Book event

on Friday 13th April. See more details.

Read the full interview on the Heart Home blog »

Showcasing inspiring homes from around the

world; Homespun Style reflects the growing trend

for crafting, stitching and making. A book that is

full of ideas for every room in the house, ‘it’s about creating a mis-matched, cosy home with loads of personality’.

An idea that Selina had been thinking about for

quite sometime as she started to research homes with

a hand-crafted feel. ‘I think it’s quite relevant at the moment, with the current economic situation and so I wanted to produce a style of decorating which is easy to achieve and which supports craftspeople and makers. Plus I’m a big fan of making my own cushions, up-cycling and buying second-hand’

The difference between this and her other books

is that Homespun Style focuses on decorating

with handmade pieces. However colour is still

a prominent theme as well as decorating with

affordability, ‘all of my books have plenty of ideas for your home which are assessible as well as affordable with interesting ideas for colour schemes’.

selinalake.blogspot.com

Homespun Style by Selina LakePhotography by Debi TreloarPublished by Ryland Peters & Small22

- Grace Bonney

It’s about creating a mis-matched, cosy

home with loads of personality

“

“

From Homespun Style by Selina Lake, published by Ryland Peters & Small, photography by Debi Treloar

23

QQQQQQQQ QQQQQQQQ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Dear Easter Bunny

Silk Crepe Dancing Girls Sundress Orla Kiely £300.00

Yves Saint Laurent Gold-plated Cuff Net-a-porter £365

The Easter Activity Hamper Fortnum & Mason £55.00

I Love Animals: Cillirose LampAlessi £125

MISSONI HOME Rose 50 Cushion Selfridges £109

Bow BridgeStraw Quinn Bag Kate Spade $318.00

Pantone Espresso Cup Amara Living £5.00 each

Chloé Tri-tone Braided Raffia Ballet Flats Net-a-porter £385

Navy Polka Dot Silk Scarf, Paul Smith Accessories Liberty £90.00

The Deer print by Missemai Bodie & Fou £154

Bird and Cake Side Plate, Mellor Ware Liberty £18.50

Editor Arianna Trapani chooses her Spring wishlist...

Heart Shopping

QQQQQQQQ QQQQQQQQ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Britannia large magnetic notebook £10 Paperchase

Soft Safari Dress£190 Karen Millen

Emily Saloon Chandelier £350 Graham and Green

Bluebell 3-seater Sofa in Coral £1060 Sofa.com

Stoneware Heart Plates £45 set of 3, The White Company

Catherine Hammerton Cushion £60 Cavaliero Finn

Pat Albeck Butterflies Tea towel £10 Emma Bridgewater

Liberty Print Sunglasses £120 Liberty’s

Vivienne Westwood Marc de Champagne Truffle EggFortnum & Mason

Esteban Incense Sticks £4.95 John Lewis

Editor Carole King chooses her Spring wishlist...

25

26

Heart Homes

This striking house is situated in the busy creative

hub of Camberwell, an area of London which

has a starring role in the first print from the new

“Buddha of Suburbia” collection. The “Camberwell

Beauty” design is a beautiful butterfly composition

(available exclusively from the Mini Modern Shop)

which duo Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire

have dubbed “Psychedelic Edwardian”. This design,

along with many of their other designs, is used in

their own interiors, creating a style throughout

which appears seamless. Keith explains:

“Everything we try to do, we aim to mix and match,

even if we are using a different colour palette. So at

the moment we have brand new wallpapers on the

wall from the new collection, as well as designs such

as “Tick Tock” from 4 or 5 years ago”. This element

of practicality is one of the trademarks of Mini

Modern design, as well as a sense of playfulness

and lots of vibrant pattern.

The inspiration for their designs comes

from a variety of places… “..especially from our

childhoods. A lot of our visual references are

Mid Century Modern rubs shoulders with independent contemporary design in the stunning South London home of cool Brit design duo, Mini Moderns.

Photographer Andrew Boyd Writer Michaela Mildenhall

From Here to Modernity…

Camberwell Beauty dubbed “Psychedelic Edwardian”

27

“Everything we try to do, we aim

to mix and match”28

Heart Homes

29

very close. It can be anything from 1950s textiles,

or games we collect…or even TV shows”. Mark

interjects at this point, “We’re really interested in

social history, and of course we’ve both watched a

lot of telly!”

Mark Hampshire explains a bit about the

history of how they came to buy the property;

“We originally set up Absolute Zero Degrees

- our design agency - in Greenwich. We also rented

a flat. Being a young business it is important not to

overstretch yourself in terms of overheads, so one

of the key things for us was to buy a property that

could encompass our business and our lives”.

When Keith and Mark were looking to buy a

place about 8 years ago, affordability was a key factor,

but there were other considerations that influenced

the eventual choice of Camberwell, as Mark goes on

to mention:

“We chose it because it was zone 2, had an

Art and Design College pedigree, as well as lots of

30

Heart Homes

as the mortgaging options were a bit backwards.

Mark explains, “There are 15 units in this area, so

basically 15 mortgages!”

Luckily, being designers, the decoration of

their new home was always going to be an altogether

easier and much more enjoyable prospect. So

what was the inspiration behind their style? Keith

enlightens us:

“I suppose we are as eclectic in our tastes as

what we produce. We’re not furniture snobs, so if

useful businesses for supplies etc. It also has a lot of

artists, designers, photographers and ceramicists,

all working together in the same area, which of

course we liked”.

The eventual property they chose was a

modern one (about 9 years old); the developers

were quite enlightened with their foresight in

building a property which could be manipulated

for businesses purposes as well as for living. The

financing though was something of a headache

“We’re not furniture snobs”

31

the most useful solution is Ikea then we will use

that; especially for inexpensive storage, which we

need lots of.”

Keith goes on to add, “having said that, we do

have some trophy pieces!”

Mark further mentions, “in terms of furniture

it’s a mixture of Conran, Heals; that kind of thing.

The sofa is a Robin Day re-issue from Habitat

which we got the minute they re-issued it….the

proportions are superb”.

The Mini Moderns love to travel and always

make sure to bring home some extra special

souvenirs from places such as New York or Sorrento.

They also like to pick up collectibles at the Mid

Century Modern Fair and other such places.

It’s probably fair to say that you don’t get

to have as many unique bits and bobs about the

home without acquiring some suitably impressive

bartering skills. Keith and Mark attend numerous

exhibitions and trade fairs, and have made some

great swaps with like-minded stallholders such as

“People Will Always Need Plates” and illustrator

James Brown.

Now that’s definitely got to be one of the perks

of the job!

minimoderns.com

32

Heart Homes

The ground floor studio with mezzanine office is as artfully accessorised as the rest of the house. 33

Policeman & Guard Salt And Pepper Set £8 hunkydory home

Heart Homes

34

Heart Shopping

35

Get the look from Mini Moderns

Classic Penguin Tea Towel

Carry On Jeeves £9.99 from

The Gifted Penguin

Set Of 4 Whitby Mini Moderns Plates £17.95 from hunkydory home 1970s Classic

Retro Phone £48.95 from MyHaus

Newgate Pluto Starburst Clock, £85 from Heal’s

675 chair by Robin Day, £175 from Case Furniture

Policeman & Guard Salt And Pepper Set £8 hunkydory home

Bizz Egg- Rice Brown & White cotton printed hanging lamp £49 from Gong

Robin Day for Hille Club Chair £925 Firefly House

Retro Two Tone Mid Century Bookcase With Drawers

£675 from Alexander & Pearl

‘Coffee Pot White’ Magnetic Notice Board, £135 from Beyond The Fridge

Style steal

35

Heart Columns

36

I ‘m getting a little wary/weary of

“trends”. There is an insatiable

appetite for them, massaged up

by exhibitions and the media

– yes, that’s me, I know! A “trend” is

such a tasty tag to use for an article,

a display, or a shop window. And the

“forecasters” – those seer-like outfits

which make money out of design

predictions – seem to pop up all over

the place with ever odder names.

Yet do we really buy because

of trends? Sometimes we even buy

despite them – yearning for a sofa

or rug that will transcend fashion to

stand the test of time.

Even as I write, I realise how

boring this is starting to sound. Of

course we have and need trends,

otherwise every decade would look

the same, and how drab would that be.

Good bye pop, op, 50s, deco, nouveau

and the rest, right back to Anglo-

flaxen. But I do think the pace and

TRENDSLOVE THEM

ORHATE THEM

By Barbara Chandler. Design writer for the London Evening Standard, columnist for Homes & Gardens & Author of Love London.

Lazerian’s laser-cut folded paper lightshades

breadth of trends is now quicker and broader. Interior ideas/

styles/colours fused with fashion flash instantly around the

globe, peak and wither, fuelled by blogs and video – and

yes, internet mags. But really it doesn’t matter if something

“dates”: it just shows how much you loved it at the time, and

how much you are loving it now.

ABSTRACTFrankly, I’m sick of hearing about/seeing retro,

vintage and even heritage. Maybe I am just too old,

since I can remember (some of) it first time round.

(But NDY – Not Dead Yet). I want new shapes,

materials and patterns for our new millennium.

There’s now a genuine computer aesthetic

which can be thrilling

– designs worked out

on the computer (often

from sketches) and

then perhaps made by

computer processes like

3D printing or complex

CAD controlled machines.

I like the new asymmetric/geometric shapes for

furniture, rugs, ceramics and glass, echoed in linear

fabrics and papers. And

these designs are very

mixable – you can easily throw in

a few florals or those endless country motifs (foxes,

owls et al, the forest is upon us, see below). I like

Lazerian’s laser-cut folded paper lightshades.

And patterns by Morag Myerscough. And Lorna

Syson’s fabrics (though these have been billed as

retro). I love the Menhir rug by Barcelona design

duo Damaris & Marc for Ligne Roset. Even our

own High Street Dwell is doing a great mirror.

COUNTRY MATTERSWell, yes, lots of pattern is currently a country

breeze for rugs, walls, cushions, curtains and

china, with drifting leaves and

meadow flowers. Here flit

butterflies amidst the

cow-parsley, cutesy little

birds hover aloft, and

bunnies bound, with

timid deer and brooding

owls. At best, these

designs open a window of fresh air into dull city

rooms. At worst, they are trite and clichéd, and

you could tire of them quickly. Personally I like

the moodier darker versions, being sick of all

those girly pouting pastels elsewhere so lauded.

Sanderson’s newest wallpaper gives leaf motifs

a sophisticated abstract twist. And Andrew

Tanner’s adorable china plate has a nest of eggs

watched over by a broody finch in surreal tones

of mauve and turquoise.

Andrew Tanner, English Hedgerow interactive plate

Linking mirror by DwellLo

rna

Syso

n, B

radb

ury

Wor

cest

erbe

rry p

rint

37

Heart Columns

38

NEW BLOODI love the way designers get their act together so quickly now, turning

ideas into products, and getting them onto market when they have barely

left college. Of course, many have done a couple of extra years as an

M.A (at say the R.C.A or St Martin’s), which gives them more experience

than new-grads. And many designers I’ve met recently (particularly in

textiles, for some reason) are “mature students” with teenage children

who’ve fought to get back to college. These “newbies” find new places

to sell – on the web, pop-up shops, even markets (for example Design

Bazaar).

But the overall result is confident edgy design, that comes quickly

to market. Kirath Ghundoo is a relatively new-grad up and running with

her “Mix ‘n’ Match collection of wallpaper - seven striking patterns for

an eclectic (now there’s one of the biggest trends for you) feature wall.

Other names of note are Deryn Relph and Colleen Ellington.

And watch out for a whole clutch more at “One Year On” at New

Designers in June/July at the Islington Business Design Centre.

ART ATTACKArt is almost mainstream now, with huge queues for the

big shows, which get booked solid in advance. And art

has been making an impact on design which will certainly

continue. I’ve seen a headboard influenced by Mondrian

and Sonya Winner actually calls

her fabulous rugs After Matisse,

and they do indeed look like giant

paper cut-outs. She works with

shapes in tissue paper because

“the computer is too flat.” The

final design - 26 colours in five pile

heights - is hand-tufted in wool in

India. Paul Kelley’s nests of tables

resemble the geometric paintings of

coloured squares by Josef Albers, an

artist who studied and then taught

at the Bauhaus School in Germany.

He’s also inspired a range of cushions by Naomi Paul.

Deryn Relph, Retro Rainbow collection

Sonya Winner, After Matisse Rug

Naom

i Pau

l, Al

bers

Cus

hion

Col

lectio

n

RIGHT ROYALStuff to celebrate the Queen’s June Diamond Jubilee

in general, and London in particular is flooding the

market. We’re getting a bit sick of it. But intrinsically

charming are the designs drawn by artists or designers

and then turned into product. Like Lizzie Allen at

Habitat, the Street Party range by Michelle Mason

at House of Fraser, and fab stamp designs by Zara

Siddiqui-Lester of The Colour Union. I also like the

delicacy of London Life at Wallpaper Direct. But for

the real thing you cannot beat The Royal Collection of

fabrics and wallpapers by Designers Guild.

Wallpaper Direct, London Life Collection

Michelle Mason, Street Party Range at House of Fraser 39

Jubilant Jubilee

Changing Guards at Buckingham Palace wallpape, £189 per 3m roll from Lizzie Allen

Pips Jolly Jelly Mould, £14.99 from Hope and Greenwood

God Save the Queen print, £112.50 from Pedlars

Corgi and Flag Hanky Box, £15.50 from Thornback and Peel

Flo-Jo’s Bunting Making Kit, £17.95 from Liberty

Whether you go for regal shades of purple or go bold and brash with red white and blue - this year is all about embracing all things British in your home.

By Vanessa Leigh-Anders

Heart Style

40

Queen with Bunting & Queen at Windsor, £8 from Msmugs

Queen Button Art Print, £270 from Hello Geronimo

Set of 3 Union Jack Trunks, £99 from John Lewis

Queen Print from Vintage Stamp Collection, £40 from Annie Little

Jubilee Bee cushion, £70 from Natural History Queen Elizabeth tea towel,

£12.99 from hunkydory home

Stratos Soldier Wall Stickers, £95 from Bambizi

41

Little London Sewing Kit, £12.75 from hunkydory home

Pearly Shirely and Pearly Stanley Prints, by Lucie Sheridan, £125 from A little bit of Art

Stamp Mirror, £120 from Alex Garnett

Diamond Jubilee Stamp rug, £765 from stamprugs

Hooray Ice-Cream tea towel, £9 from Mr PS

Regency Nesting Cake Tins, £14.99 for 3 from The Contemporary Home

Royal Collection Jubilee Crown cushion, £75 from Designers Guild at John Lewis

Cushions, £94 each from Jan Constantine

Heart Style

42

Fashion expert Helena del Rio leads us in the right direction with this season’s key looks.

Heart Fashion

Illustrations Joanne FordhamFashion Helena del Rio

43

Heart Fashion

Neons & Boyfriends

Necklace spikethepunch from Etsy

Christian LouboutinYolanda 100 patent-leather pumps£495 from net-a-porter Whistles Marriane

Satchel, £195 from ASOS

ACNEjade crop cable knit

£220 from mywardrobe

Mih jeansLondon Boy cropped low-rise jeans£195 from net-a-porter

Velvety Red with White Index watch,

£165 from Toy Watch

44

The Peplum

7 For All MankindThe Skinny mid-rise jeans£180 from net-a-porter

Blouse £14.99 from H&M

lemon round oversize sunglasses

£22.00 from TopShop

Pot Gloss$19 from Face Stockolm

Lia midheel sandals£195.23 from J Crew

Crystal Stretch Cuff$30 from BaubleBar

45

Heart Fashion

Tangerine

Drawstring wool dress £350 from net-a-porter

Mirage Necklace$152 from Juliet and Company

New Bond Street Florence, $448 from Kate Spade

Monica VinaderFiji Gem 18-karat rose gold-

vermeil bracelet£195 from net-a-porter

Gardenia eau de toilette

$60 from Calypso St. Barth

Camel Suede Ankle Boot £145 from Ash Footwear46

The Roaring 1920’s

Temperley LondonFringed silk dress

£1,250 from net-a-porter

Lipstick£13.50 from

MAC

Eau d’Hadrien Eau de Toilette

£50 for 50mlfrom Amazon

I Kissed A Frog multi clutch$328 from Kate Spade

Camel Suede Ankle Boot £145 from Ash Footwear

Jimmy ChooTema crystal-embellished satin and suede sandals£795 from net-a-porter

Lace set of three 18-karat gold-vermeil

stacking rings£330, Monica Vinader

from net-a-porter

47

Heart Fashion

Boys

MCQ Alexander McQueencotton-twill chinos

£160 from Mr Porter

Leather-bound organiser

£245 from Mr Porter

Vanguard Crew Jumper£95 from All Saints

Ridge Boot£125 from All Saints

Tortoiseshell Classic 2140 Wayfarers

£120 from mywardobe

Chanel Allure Homme Édition Blanche Eau de Toilette Concentrée Spray 100ml, £62 from Selfridges

48

Heart Shopping

QQQQQQQQ QQQQQQQQ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Dear Easter BunnyEditor Daniel Nelson chooses his Spring wishlist...

Matthew Hilton for Case Profile Dining Chair John Lewis £199

Decorated Milk Chocolate Egg£37.50 Fortnum & Maison

Hove cushion habitat £12.00

Vitra Utensilo RedHeals £204.00 - £253.00

Oscar Armchair by SCPMoleta Munro £2,350.00

Handcrafted Squirrel Lamp Couverture & The Garbstore £49

Black Sherlock Holmes Print Premium UmbrellaLiberty £150.00

Snoopy Light by Achille and Pier Castiglioni Haus London £595.00

Moritz Side TableMade £99

Fair Isle Crew JumperYMC £90

Leather Laptop Cover in Tan with Brass ButtonOEN£100.00

49

The House at Number 57

Photographer Andrew BoydStylist Marie NicholsWriter Liggy Griffiths

You either have or haven’t got style and Marie Nichols has it in spades; the Stylist shares her journey through setting up her dream home, making it in the industry and how a trip to Australia influenced her signature style. But what next for someone who has already achieved so many ambitions?

50

Heart Homes

51

Marie bought her terrace

house in Tunbridge

Wells six years ago

with her husband Simon, a

graphic designer who she met at

Art College. They live with their

miniature Dachshund, Dudley.

“As soon as we saw it, we knew it

was right for us” she said. As first

time buyers they had taken on

quite a challenge with a property

that was deemed uninhabitable, it

also took them a year to complete

the purchase. None of this

deterred Marie; “I had already

planned what I was going to do in

every room and was so excited”.

Marie studied photography,

but having decided this was

not for her, she got her break

when a magazine offered her

work experience in their Homes

Department “and that’s how I

discovered styling” she smiles.

52

Heart Homes

“As soon as we saw it, we knew it was right for us!”

54

Heart Homes

“You see so many new things all the time, that’s why a lot of stylists’ houses are white. I could ever be that as I love colour and pattern too much”

55

Looking at Marie’s house it is

evident that she has a signature style. She

reluctantly describes herself as “eclectic”

wary of the cliché; however it is clear she

is anything but. Her home is a beautiful

balance of fresh colour, warm patterns and

carefully selected vintage pieces. “I love

old stuff!” she says, “I could never have a

room totally out of a brochure because I

love mixing things, and I think I’ve learnt

that with this house. I tend to start with one

piece that I think; I’ve got to have that” she

says. “When you’re in this industry you see

so many new things all the time, that’s why

a lot of stylists’ houses are white and really

neutral. I don’t think I could ever be that as

I love colour and pattern too much.”

After six years working as a Deputy

Stylist at an interiors magazine, Marie

made the bold decision to move to Sydney

and work as a freelancer. “They have such

great magazines out there, I’d read them

and think- this is what I want to be doing.”

Despite being nervous about her decision,

work came flooding in and she and Simon

ended up staying for 14 months, only

returning when their visas ran out.

Sydney has evidently left its mark on

the stylist, “my personal style has changed

since being there; I would always go for an

older property, but now I quite like chalet

style bungalows, but done in a more modern

way.” Since returning to her home town of

Tunbridge Wells, Marie has been busier

than ever, a constant reminder that she

made the right decision to pursue her dream

of going freelance.

56

Heart Homes

“I don’t think I could ever have a room totally out of a brochure because I love mixing things, and I think I’ve learnt that with this house.”

57

ceramics, vintage flash cards and Union Jack

flags (picked by Simon) made into cushions

by Marie’s Mum who, incidentally, is a

Seamstress. Could this be another dream

come true for Marie perhaps?

www.theshopatnumber57.comwholelottalovely.wordpress.com

“I think decorating in a room should evolve and your style changes”

So what’s next for someone

who has achieved their dream of

setting up the perfect home and

embarking on a career change so

successfully? Well if you’re Marie,

you chase new ones. Despite her

recent affair with more modern

design, she is rekindling her love of

vintage and setting up an on-line

shop selling re-purposed home

ware with the help of her husband.

The couple evidently work

well together, Simon has recently

given up time to design the website

and hopes to get more involved as

the venture progresses. Luckily for

Marie, he is also happy to give up a

Saturday to scour

markets searching

for hidden treasure

(which he is

clearly not bad

at either). Their

collection of gems

for sale include

quirky Australian

58

Heart Homes

Style stealGet the look from Marie’s home

Antiqued Wood And Metal Roulette Clock, £36 from Artisanti

Arthouse Red Butterflies Filled Frame, £9.99 from

Arhouse

Paris Vintage Desk Clock, £37 from JasmineWay

Beaucoup Chest Of Drawers, £925 from Sweetpea & Willow

Willow Heart, £12.95 from Nordic House

59

Heart Shopping

Festival Chair Hot Pink, £95 from Berry Red

Bethany 8 Arm French Bronze Chandelier, £275

from Alexander & Pearl

Gatsby Leather Armchair, £610 from Darlings of Chelsea

RobRyan

Writer Daniel NelsonPortrait photograph Gene Nocon

60

Heart Interviews

“ I like telling stories”

Rob Ryan may have worked for clients such as Vogue and Elle but he still finds time to work on what he loves, creating cut paper art. We explore the wonderful, romantic world of Cyprus-born Rob Ryan.

61

Born in 1962, Rob Ryan began as a painter in 1987

after graduating from the Royal College of Art in

London. “I never really painted much in the first

place,” Rob says. “I painted words. It was a very

graphic form of painting.”

In 2002 he began to work principally with

paper-cutting although he still views himself as a

fine artist. Years later his intricate papercuts have

taken the world by storm and collaborations with

Paul Smith, Fortnum and Mason and Vogue along

with a plethora of other companies jumping to work

with him. His work lends itself to screenprinting

which has allowed work to appear on ceramics to

fabrics opening up a wider world of people who can

enjoy his romantic and intriguing world.

“One year I did the Christmas campaign for

Liberty; I was on the escalators at Oxford Street

tube station and as I travelled up the escalator

every single poster was my work. I know it was

temporary but I must admit – I was chuffed!”

Play video

62

Heart Interviews

Watch the video interview inpartnership with Crane.tvPlay video

“The funny thing is, I

never really stopped reading

children’s stories”

63

With Spring in the air this upcoming season, it is all about flowers and stripes. Whether you prefer something soft and feminine or bold and daring, these trends are sure to win you over. Here Heart Home rounds up some of its favourite fabrics to celebrate London Design Week.By Carole King and Arianna Trapani

Pretty FloralsStriking Stripes

1

2

3

11

Heart Features

64

4

5

6

14

13

12

7

8

910

65

1. Sarawak, Moroccan, £27.50/m, Villa Nova2. Irma, £37/m, Harlequin3. Wild Rose, £30/m, Designers Guild4. Teal Butterfly, £80/m, Bluebellgray5. Forget me not, £30/m, Designers Guild6. Cosmos, £30/m, Designers Guild7. Tribeca, £36/m, Sanderson

8. Pear, £27.50/m, Villa Nova9. Orsina, £37/m, Harlequin10. Blithfield-Grenville, £120/m, Tissus d’Helene11. Ceylon, £48/m, Sanderson12. Joelle, £37/m, Harlequin13. Malibu, £63.80/m, JAB Anstoetz14. Mandarin Flowers, £42/m, Sanderson

26

15

2122

23

24

25

Heart Features

66

16

18

17

19

20

21

25

15. Sarawak, Plum, £27.50/m, Villa Nova16. Forget me not, £30/m, Designers Guild17. Saffron Butterfly, £80/m, Bluebellgray18. Banbury Tulip, £15/m, Ashley Wild19. Poppies, £39/m, Sanderson20. Flower Field Linen, £80/m, Bluebellgray21. Wild Rose, £30/m, Designers Guild

22. Ardleigh Lupin, £15/m, Ashley Wild23. Malibu, £63.80/m, JAB Anstoetz24. Orsina, £37/m, Harlequin25. Blithfield-Grenville, £120/m, Tissus d’Helene26. Madame Butterfly, £85/m, Designers Guild

67

SCANDI STYLEBRIGHTEN UP YOUR HOME WITH PRETTY PASTELS AND SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRED FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES

By Sophie Warren-Smith

Spring is hopefully not too far away so give your home a new lease of

prettiness with the new Scandi style range from Heal’s. We really think they

have excelled themselves this season as it has a gorgeously divine colour

palette which enables the products to fit into any current scheme you may

have as well as injecting some yellow pops of brightness in the form of lights

and candle holders. As always, we have created our guide to suit any budget

to help you restore some Spring serenity to your house.

Heal’s

Heart Shopping

68

Yellow ball pendant, £60mydeco

THRIFTY INVESTMENT LUXURY

Marlow open shelf unit, £599Furniture Village

Apple cushion, £25 Bouf

Candy stripes rug, 170 x 240cm, £284 Wovenground

Green bell ceramic pendant, £199Funktion Alley

Cade tall shelving unit, £800Habitat

Ballooning cushion cover, £28Roddy & Ginger

Fresh pastel stripe rug, 170 x 240cm, £385John Lewis

Giant122 pendant in blue, £312Anglepoise

Ligna solid oak bookcase, £1,6354 Living

Meg cushion by Donna Wilson, £37.99SCP

Colour carpet rug by Hay, £756The Lollipop Shoppe

69

A Splash of Spring

Forget the monochrome tones that represent the winter months, spring is the time to liven up our homes with vibrant fresh greens, yellows and crisp white.

Photographer John DeedStylist & writer Karl Openshaw

70

Heart Style

Wine crates stacked either on top

of each other or side by side make

great little compartments in which

to show possessions.

71

Use large canvases painted in tones

of grey, black and white as the

backdrop for the colours of spring.

72

Heart Style

73

The moss covered chair is a fun decorative

accessory to add. Great if you have a garden

room or balcony.

Use old bottles that can be picked up for a

few pennies at car boot sales.

74

Heart Style

Arrange ceramics in groups,

keeping similar shapes, colours

or textures together.

Jonathan Adler ceramics are

always quirky and fun and great

to mix in.

Add colour to black and white and

pastel collections with the many

floral gems that are available at this

time of year.

75

Designs for life.When Chelsea Cefai finally landed her dream home, she also discovered a treasure trove of rare designs which changed the direction of her life.

The journey beganwhenChelsea fell in

lovewithapropertythatwasvirtuallyonher

doorstop.“We’dlivedaroundthecornerfrom

thishouseforquiteafewyearsandI’dalways

keptaneyeonithopingthatonedayIwould

see a ‘For Sale’ sign.” It was an event that

wasclearlymeanttobe.Thesigndidindeed

go up eventually and Chelsea and husband

Garymanagedtosell theircurrentproperty

withinaweek.Fiveyears later theyarestill

living in theirconvertedVictorianproperty,

whichislocatedinthehistoricmarkettown

of Rugby. One of the main features of the

houseChelseaoriginallyfellinlovewithwas

itsunusuallayout:

“It’sadoublefrontedVictorianproperty

sotheroomsarelaidoutsquarelyoneither

side of the entrance hall, rather than the

usual long narrow format you get with a

Victorian terrace”. Chelsea realised that

Photographer Mark BoltonWriter Michaela Mildenhall

76

Heart Homes

77

housingtwobusinesses,twodaughtersandDustythe

catwasalwaysgoingtobeabigdemandonspace:“I

knewthelayoutwouldworkperfectlyforfamilylife;

with plenty of usable space and separate working

areasforourbusinesses”.Aftertheinitialexcitement

dieddown, theCefai familyhada real taskon their

hands,buildinganextensiontothereargroundfloor.

Chelseaadded,“Wealsodecidedtore-pointtheentire

housemorethanhalfwaythroughtheproject,hencea

constantcloudoforangebrickdusttocontendwith!”

Onthedecorationfront,Chelseahasarealknack

for putting together different looks, a good eye for

colourandhadnoproblemwithpullingitallin.“I’ve

never felt uncomfortable or nervous about mixing

styles and love to experiment with different styles.

Wehavelotsofusable,familyspaceandthethingswe

findandlovearewhatmakeitpersonal.”

Everythingflowsfromafewinitialideasandkey

pieces:“Inspirationforeachroomusuallystartswith

something quite simple like a picture or a piece of

furniture.Inthelivingroomwehaveapieceofartwork

byTerryFrost,whichhangsabovethefireplace”.

Butamajordiscoverywasabouttosealthefateofthe

overallconceptionofthedecor.

78

Heart Homes

79

80

Heart Homes

“We’d lived around the corner from this house for quite a few years and I’d always kept an eye on it hoping that one day I would see a ‘For Sale’ sign”

81

“We were completing the final stage of the

renovationsinthekitchen/diningareasandIcame

acrosstheworkofSheilaBownasatanauction.The

illustrationswereidealtodisplayinthedownstairs

spacebutwhen Idiscovered thereweremore than

200originalpatternsIhadasuddenurgetosavethe

entire collection!” Chelsea further explains “Flora

Dora our online shopwas launchedwith a limited

rangeofprints, fabrics,cushionsandpostcards.So

farwehave released10ofSheila’soriginaldesigns

fromthe50sand60s.”InfactChelseaisverymuch

a vintage design aficionado with a passion for the

preservationofBritishdesigninparticular.

“I knew the layout would work perfectly for family life; with plenty of useable space and separate working areas for our businesses”

82

Heart Homes

“Inspiration for each room usually starts with something quite simple like a picture or a piece of furniture”

ThisissomethingwhichChelseawantedtoreflect

inherhome,althoughthereisarealmixofdécor

throughoutthehouse:

“Thereisquiteacleardifferenceinstylebetween

thetwofloors.Thistypeofhousecancarryamix

of stylesverywellandI’mstrongly influencedby

severaldistinctiveperiods,predominantlythe40s,

50sand60s.WhenwemovedhereIstilllovedthe

antiqueFrenchbedmyhusbandbought forus in

ourveryfirsthome15yearsago!”

www.flora-dora.co.uk

84

Heart Homes

Style stealGet the look from Chelsea’s home

85

Heart Shopping

Fabric Clock, £25 from Gift Wrapped and Gorgeous

Sean Connery Framed Print, £18.99

from Arthouse

Sagaform Retro Teapot, £24.95 from Cloudberry Living

Venetian Mirror, £245 from French Bedroom Co

Kitchen Pendant, £54.99 from tch

Big Rose Pink Wallpaper, £43 from Wallpaper King

Oriel Sofa £1,925 from Rume

Heart Features

86

A Touch of Flock

For our Spring issue, Heart Home were lucky enough to spend some time with bespoke furniture maker, Johnny Egg. We found him with wife Lucy in the aptly named Egg House. They share their Essex home with two dogs, one cat, a handful of chickens and hundreds of furniture prototypes…

Photographer Paul CraigWriter Ellie Walker-Arnott 87

Heart Features

Though Johnny has been crafting

furniture since the age of sixteen,

when he was a cabinetmaker’s

apprentice, his career really took

off in 2003 after he exhibited at

the prestigious 100% Design show.

Since then, his flamboyant style has

been embraced by interior designers

and nowadays his furniture is

stocked by contemporary design

store Heals.

Johnny’s work ranges from

elegant and understated to

wonderfully wacky. Using bold

patterns and vibrant colours,

Johnny takes traditional shapes

and distorts them to create clever

and innovative pieces of furniture.

He specialises in sharp lines and

seriously stylish mirrored and

gloss finishes, as well as softer

shapes, designs and textures. And

that’s where Johnny’s trademark

finish comes in. Johnny loves to

add a twist to everyday items, be

it telephones, light fittings or the

inside of drawers, with a touch of

“Travelling the world gave me a taste for what’s around in different countries”

88

89

Heart Features

“I’ll have things in the house,

sometimes for six months, before

I realise that I actually do like

them!”

flock. The idea originated from the desire to create

something soft inside his furniture.

After his apprenticeship, Johnny travelled to all

four corners of the globe aboard cruise ships, meeting

his wife Lucy when working in an onboard casino.

They decided to settle down and they have lived a

much quieter and laid back life ever since. Now,

instead of card dealing, Johnny is happiest walking

his dogs or having a quiet drink in his local country

pub, The Compasses in Littley Green.

Prototype models for upcoming new safe collection90

91

Heart Features

It was once he was back on British soil, that Johnny

rekindled his love for carpentry, and his home is now

the place where Johnny decides which pieces he’ll

take further. Living with his designs helps him decide

whether or not he really likes them. “I’ll have things in

the house, sometimes for six months, before I realise

that I actually do like them! Then I’ll carry on and

actually make it as a product,” he says.

The inspiration for his designs comes from the

world around him. “I am inspired by so many things:

colours, fashion, the shape of cars...” he says. “I

“I enjoy taking something old and then updating it”

Johnny at Metro Retro

Enter competition

Win

92

normally start with a shape. The shape of old furniture

is a constant inspiration. I enjoy taking something old

and then updating it.” During our visit, Johnny took us

to one of his favourite British haunts, Metro Retro, a

warehouse filled with mountains of covetable vintage

furniture. It was easy to see why he is so inspired by

the shape and feel of old design.

This year Johnny is launching an impressive four

new collections. We had a sneak peek at Safe, which

features chunky wooden cupboards constructed to

look like retro metal safes, and Pashley, a range of chic

black and neon pieces. Though increasing the website

is the focus of his attention now, Johnny does have

aspirations to have his own shop one day, so watch

this space...

www.johnnyegg.comwww.metroretro.co.ukwww.compasseslittleygreen.co.uk

Johnny at his studio

94

Heart Homes

Photographer James BalstonWriter Claire Marie-Slight

Colourful Living

A perfect demonstration of how to make the most of the space you’ve got, Tina Bernstein’s Holloway home is bursting with colour

and full of daring, unique interior design flair.

95

96

Heart Homes

Colour has always been the main source

of inspiration for German graphic designer Tina

Bernstein; being influenced by brands such as

Missoni from the age of fifteen, she was always

certain that a bright, airy apartment would best

suit her interior design style – and so, after buying

her North London home, she set out to create just

that.

Having purchased the Holloway apartment

some seven years ago now, Tina initially found the

flat in a real state of disrepair; there was a lot of

essential work to be done before she could move in.

Not one to shy away from restoration jobs though,

Tina set about project managing the renovation

herself; hiring a team of five experienced builders

and creating architectural drawings to help

mould her vision of the property. Tina’s efficient

management technique meant that the whole

project took just two months to complete – and

was not one day, nor one penny over.

Asked now what first drew her to the home, Tina

comments that she always thinks very carefully

about how she would navigate and move around

a space; and, with this in mind, the whole idea

of renovating a property – gutting it completely

and starting from scratch – really appealed to

her. A naturally bright and airy space, the roof-

top maisonette has the feel of a second floor flat,

despite being reached through only one flight of

stairs, and she comments that she felt inspired

to use bold colours and unusual designs to really

make the most of the light, bright feel of the place.

As an interior designer, Tina explains that

it was the power over choosing even the littlest

of details that made the prospect of renovating

the whole property so appealing to her. From

“I’m a creative by nature”

97

“I thought very carefully about how I navigate and move around a space”

98

Heart Homes

99

in particular, Tina points out her sofa; purchased

in Germany from a friend, she spent some time

with him sifting through four hundred fabrics in

the search for the exact shade she felt would fit the

space.

After months of hard work on the flat, Tina

celebrated her favourite renovation project yet

with a large celebratory house-warming gathering

two weeks after she moved in. Even now, seven

years on, Tina still loves how she’s used bold prints

to make the most of the small space and, with the

launch of her own company Colour Living, she’s

encouraging others to embrace bright colours in

their interior design styles too.

colourliving.co.uk

choosing how many plugs to have in each room,

to how exactly to connect the stereo – in this case,

with a 30 metre cable running underneath the

floor and the office – Tina explains that she really

relished the opportunity to have so much say over

the design of her home.

As well as designing how best to use the space,

Tina also decorated the flat herself, down to

choosing every material, fabric pattern and item of

furniture. She wanted to fill the space with hand-

made objects and surround herself with colours

that would never fail to inspire her and lift her

spirits.

Asked which item of furniture she treasures

100

Heart Homes

“My passion is to have a library like Karl Lagerfeld has in Paris”

“Colour has always been the main source of inspiration”

102

Heart Homes

Style stealGet the look from Tina’s home

Kartell Panier Table, £177 from mydeco.com

Marimekko Mariskooli Bowl, £19 from Skandium

Missoni Home Jazz Towel, from £13 from Amara

Fornasetti wallpaper “Mediterranea”, £80 per

roll from Cole and Son

Kartell Gnome Stool, £199 from Made in Design

103

Heart Shopping

Sheila B Art Print, £49.95 from Easy Art

Heart Columns

104

Michaela Mildenhall, otherwise known as Pargy, is the author of the blog which hunts down the best in bold and daring design from the past and present.

you thought that kitsch interiors were

all about cheap tackiness, high cartoon

camp and shallow sentimentality then

think again. Kitsch is a very exciting concept, and

some of the biggest names in design are currently

experimenting with this style and taking it in a whole

different direction.

Kitsch is often mistaken for bad taste but it’s

actually quite a complex idea, questioning the

concept of what is good or bad taste. It also has

a chequered past. First we had the cutesy-pie

kitsch charm of the 50’s. This then mutated into

the garish and super sexy 80’s version. Kitsch is

now the comeback kid in interiors, except that it’s

gone and grown up, becoming polished, witty and

virtually unrecognisable. This new breed of kitsch

is breathing an air of exuberance into otherwise

average interiors.

The word kitsch has German origins and was

basically a term used to describe cheap, sentimental

mass produced ornaments. The biggest decades

for kitsch however are the 50’s and the 80’s. In

the 1950s we saw the “Tiki” type of kitsch; with its

proliferation of Tretchikoff’s “Chinese Girl” pictures

and nightmare nick-nacks from hell. The 80’s saw

the emergence of a less innocent kind of kitsch,

spearheaded by Artists and photographers such as

Jeff Koons and Pierre et Gilles. This type of Kitsch

was heavily sexualised, glamorous and worshipped

at the altar of pop culture.

Over in the world of furniture design, a group of

influential Italian designers that called themselves

the “Memphis” group, took bold geometric shapes

and mixed these with kitsch colours and humour.

These pieces of furniture were also created in

the 1980s, and are highly collectable today.

Contemporary designers are becoming very excited

about the Memphis style right now so I’m sure

you will see exciting developments in this area. So

how do you incorporate this over-excitable trend

into your surroundings? Well, clearly kitsch is not

for everyone (and most definitely not for the faint

hearted). I personally think it works best when you

really embrace it. If you’re a fashionista, dandy,

hedonist or joker, then I’m sure you will work it

well, if not, don’t panic; here are some pointers!

The elegant Naturo Fantastic range from Lladro.

Above all else kitsch is extreme and joyful. Forget

less is more; more is more!

Rumble at the jumble; or even the charity shop

for fabby vintage finds. Some retro kitsch is becoming

very sought after and you might end up buying a future

antique!

For walls, why not try out some vibrant kitsch-style

wallpaper (I think Amy Butler works the trend very

well). Alternatively, you could get some cheap copies of

Tretchikoff (in the true spirit of Kitsch) or a selection of

postcards featuring the work of Jeff Koons and Pierre et

Gilles.

There are some great kitsch accessories in the shops

at the moment. Kitsch lamps are particularly striking.

Think about modern designer pieces for your home.

The key is to go for well executed design that has really

good detailing. Typical Kitsch themes are cute animals,

cartoons, crazy florals, femme fatales and pretty sailors!

MoooiHorseLamp.

Blaue Blume petit four stand from Undergrowth Design and Temple Tulips wallpaper from Amy Butler, available at Graham & Brown.

105

By Rona Wheeldon

Floral Finds for your Home

A lovely way to display

your home-made cakes

is on this up-cycled

vintage china cake stand

from designer, Esther

Coombs. The stand

features hand-drawn

illustrations of English

heritage buildings and

is decorated with red

blooms. £138

Rona Wheeldon is the writer behind the floral-inspired blog, Flowerona

Beautiful ‘Red Roses’

painting by the

very talented artist

Charlotte Hardy – a

perfect way to add

colour to a room.

£595.

A bouquet

of felt flowers

in a patchwork

pot make up this

pretty Floral Bunch

Doorstop from

Laura Ashley. £26.

The Milo flower bottle

from LSA with its

quirky glass flower

stopper would make a

lovely, original present.

£33.

Cornwall based

St Eval Candle

Company make

fabulous candles,

including this Rose

Garden design in

a pot £10.80, with

its matching vase

£12.80.

From Designer’s Guild’s is

this beautiful fabric from their

Gran Paradiso collection called

Carmen Poppy, featuring

these pretty over sized poppy

blossoms using vibrant colours

inspired by the flora of Sevilla

and Granada.’ Price is £51/m

106

If there is any time that lends itself particularly well to a sweet treat, it’s Easter. Forget the heavy wedges of wintery bakes, springtime calls for a cake that is light, fragrant and sweet, and that looks as pretty as a picture.This Orange & Pistachio Cake is perfect served with a dollop of crème fraiche; its sour note just cuts through the sweetness of the cake. Don’t forget to add a few seasonal flowers either; whether a vibrant bloom on the cake itself, or a few wispy sprigs on the side of the plate. Photographer Emma Gutteridge

Writer Louise Gorrod

Sweet asa Nut

107

Heart Styling

250g unsalted butter (softened)

1 orange

1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp of vanilla extract

100g ground almonds

120g pistachios (shelled)

250g caster sugar

4 medium eggs

40g plain flour

For the topping:

1 orange

60g pistachios (shelled)

50g caster sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 150C / Gas 2. Line and grease a cake

tin with baking parchment. I like touse a loose bottom square

tin 20 x 20 x 4 cm. However you can bake this cake in a loaf

tin of 22 x 12 cm or a 22 cm round tin.

2. Firstly, grind your pistachio nuts to fine green crumbs

and set aside. If you’re using a vanilla pod, split it and scrap

out the seeds and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until they are

light and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time. Now add

the zest of one orange, the vanilla seeds or extract and then

fold in the ground almonds and pistachios. Finally sieve and

fold in the flour.

4. Transfer the mixture into your cake tin and pop it into

your oven. It should be done in 45 minutes, but as each and

every cooker can differ, it pays to have a peep after 30 min-

utes. It’s done when a skewer inserted into the middle of the

cake comes out clean. If you find your cake isn’t quite cooked

through, but desirably golden enough on top, just loosely

cover with foil and continue baking until it’s done.

5. When the cake is cooked, leave it to cool in the tin before

turning out.

6. For the topping, first roughly chop the pistachios and set

aside. Next add the juice of an orange to a small pan along

with the sugar and bring to a boil for a moment so that it

thickens. Remove from the heat and add the zest of the or-

ange and the chopped pistachios. Mix everything together

and spoon over the cake. Decorate with a dainty flower

should you so desire and enjoy.

buttercupdaysuk.blogspot.comemmalucyphotography.com

Recipe Orange & Pistachio Cake

108

110

Heart Homes

Home is where the Heart isPhotographer Oliver GordonWriter Katie Cotgrave

Stamping her style on a Victorian flat conversion couldn’t be easier for inspirational designer Catherine Hammerton

As a talented designer and owner of a thriving

online home wares store, Catherine Hammerton

oversees the production of all her exciting product.

From digitally printed fabrics and wallpapers to

soft furnishings, Catherine is passionate about

ethically sound designs. Most recently she has

added beautiful ceramics to her collections and

hopes to expand in kitchen textiles too. “Based

at my studio at Cockpit Arts, in Holborn, this is

where I coordinate the madness and dream up

new ideas!”

Since her days at The Royal College of

Art Catherine has lived with her partner Ian,

who works in the film industry, in a Victorian

conversion flat in West London. Both originally

from South Wales, “We’ve been here nearly 8

years now, where does the time go?” The couples

rented flat consist of one bedroom, bathroom

and an open plan kitchen and living space. Bright

and full of style the townhouse has been divided

up into three flats. “We have had some fantastic

neighbours over the years,” laughs Catherine,

“A band of kiwi opera singers was one of my

favourites! Just wonderful to hear them practice.” 111

Rabbit head from Emily Warren, bottles Shan Valla, Rob Ryan framed cut-out, bird and nest from Holy Smoke112

Heart Homes

“I love having all of my family photos and trinkets around me – that’s what makes our flat our home”

113

“Before we lived here I studied and

lived in High Wycombe, a small town in the

beautiful county of Buckinghamshire.” States

Catherine, “classic student mayhem, sharing

with three other textile girls, but brilliant

fun!” Now in rented accommodation the

couple have been lucky to have free reign

over the decor and style of their home. With

white-washed walls lots of light is reflected

throughout the flat, it also keeps everywhere

looking fresh and bright. “I am a great lover

of car boot sales and junk shops,” explains

Catherine. “I love a bargain and our home is

an eclectic mismatch but one that reflects our

journey together over the years.”

Having family trinkets and photos all

around transforms the flat into a characterful

home. “I try not to fill the house with things

I have made, as it seems weird to fill our tiny

space with my own work,” states Catherine.

Through their student days Catherine and Ian

have received lots of lovely gifts from friends

and family, now the flat is full to the brim of

stunning items they were able to invest in.

“Our flat is very lived in, it’s eclectic and

colourful,” states Catherine. “I love our living-

room-come-kitchen. It’s cosy by candle light

and lined with artworks, objects and pictures

from friends and family, so I always feel like

they are around me,” explains Catherine. The

couple take inspiration from lots of local fairs,

“I love Kempton antiques in Twickenham for

furniture and all things weird and wonderful,

the Vintage textile and fashion fair in

Hammersmith is fantastic for trims, buttons

and oddities” explains Catherine.

“Our flat is very lived in, it’s eclectic and colourful”

114

Heart Homes

115

Future plans for the flat include

retiling the bathroom, “it’s currently an

awful 80’s peach nightmare! Luckily

my dad is an architect and on hand to

transform it so watch this space!” states

Catherine.

From producing her own line in the

UK Catherine is passionate about British

Design, and this can be seen throughout

the stunning London property. Home

truly is where the heart is in this small,

but perfectly formed flat.

catherinehammerton.com

116

Heart Homes

Style stealGet the look from Catherine’s home

Stoneware Jug, £17 from Berry Red

Pastel Pouring Jugs, £18.99 from Mollie & Fred

Quilted Cushion, £44 from Berry Red

Roberts Revival Dab Radio, £149 from Leekes

Glazed Bird Tealight Holder, £4 from Tesco

La Cafetière Stove Top Kettle, £35 from Red Candy

Heart Shopping

Printing Press Word, £15 from Seld

Red Refectory Clock,

£23.95 from Dotcomgiftshop

Hand Stitched Throw and Pillowcase, £145 from Idyll Home

Vintage French Armachair, £600 from Miv Watts Design

117

Heart Style

120

Jeska from Lobster & Swan shakes off the winter blues and jumps straight into spring by getting all creative. Here she shows how to brighten up any corner, mantelpiece or table with these simple craft projects that can be made in less than an afternoon.

Celebrate...decorate

By Jeska Hearne

121

These vintage-style, kite tail tissue

garlands take minutes to make.

All you need is about twenty five

4” tissue paper squares and some

fine string, cotton or wool. Simply

pinch each paper square in the

middle and twist once to make a

bow shape then knot your string

around the centre of the bow and

continue in this way until you have

the desired length of the garland.

For the twig wreath you

can repurpose a birch

wreath and strip off any

old leaves. Tie bows and

knots of ribbon, braid

and fabric scraps around

the ring; fasten beads

and shell buttons with

wire in between. Then tie

some string for hanging

and place a floral paper

rose bouquet at the top to

cover the join.

Heart Style

Spring twig spray, just like the wreath is

very easy. Tie scraps of fabric and ribbon

and wire flowers on gathered twigs, pop

in a vase and done!

Spring favour crackers. Making use of

old packaging, cut down the old tubes

from foil and cling film dispensers, wrap

them in layers of pale and dark tissue

paper. Secure the tissue with tape and tie

a matching ribbon at one end. Fill with

candy, lollypops, tin toys, balloons, and

charms, then tie the other end closed.

Decorate with paper flowers or name

labels. These look lovely as place settings

or piled high in a basket or bowl.

Sourcebook

Twig Wreaths: Butlers Emporium, Hastings

Floral wreath topper and ribbons from Etsy

Balloons, tin cars and other favours from Black-out, Brighton

Cath Kidston paper labels from Amazon

Chocolate and boiled sweets from Carluccio’s

All other sweets from Cyber Candy

Tissue paper from Storm Trading

Flower rosettes: Stylists own, find similar at VV Rouleaux

123

Rather then being daunted by the prospect of finding a job after graduation last year, textile designer Nancy decided to simply go it alone and hasn’t looked back.

Heart Columns

“It feels pretty scary to leave university

when you’re not sure what direction to take,”

says Newcastle-born Nancy Straughan, 23. “I

didn’t have a plan but I received such positive

feedback on my final project that it felt like

the right step to take it further on my own.”

Since graduating from Leeds College of

Art in November, Nancy has thrown herself

into her craft by moving to London with her

graphic designer boyfriend, Paul. The couple

share a flat in Stoke Newington and Nancy

has moved into a studio space with several

fellow creatives in nearby Haggerston.

Friends and family were Nancy’s

first customers, but it wasn’t long before

her striking designs were catching wider

attention and drawing in commissions for

Fabric fancy

Writer Hannah RicciPortrait photograph Paul Price

I love Norway and Sweden and their wonderful textile designs

118

bespoke designs for fabric and wallpaper.

“I decided to take the self-promotion

approach, which is incredibly hard work

but seems to be really paying off. Through

my blog, Twitter and proactive networking

I am trying to grow my profile organically,”

explains Nancy, who also takes and styles

her own photos.

Scandinavian design is Nancy’s main

source of inspiration. “I love Norway and

Sweden and the wonderful textile designs

greatly influenced much of my student work,

she explains. “I’m also drawn to mid-century

1950s design and early Laura Ashley fabrics.”

Nancy tries to draw every day and

starts her designs with pen and paper

doodles or cut out paper shapes. “I try not to

be too precious at this stage and I prefer the

result that this approach creates.” From a

catalogue of photos she takes of the natural

world like tree bark and rain drops, Nancy

adds texture to bring her designs to life

before outsourcing digital printing.

Next up is a line of beautiful silk

dresses that Nancy has teamed up to create

with a talented seamstress she discovered

on Etsy. In the longer term she dreams of

opening her own shop to sell her wares.

“I often spend my weekends browsing the

wonderful local independent interior stores

in north-east London. There would be

something so nice about people choosing

my creations when there is so much

amazing choice out there.”

Site nancy-straughan.comBlog nancystraughan.blogspot.com

I’m drawn to mid-century 1950s design and early

Laura Ashley fabrics

119

By Lauren Bryan Knight

There’ssomethingaboutBritish

boysthatreallyworks-andI’m

talkingaboutafeaturebeyond

theinherentknowledgeofhow

towearawell-tailoredsuit.I’m

talkingabouthowtheEnglishman

hasperfectedthedelicatebalanceofwell-coiffed

manners&schoolboynaughtiness.Charmingwit,

withadashofmisbehavior&self-depreciation…

watchoutladies,it’sadeadlycombo.What

HughGrantstartedsomanyyearsagoisnow

comingfullforminthedeliciouslyregalform

ofPrinceHarry.Andwhileweareonthetopic

ofboys…let’sgettoBritishwomen.Buttoned

Up?Frigid?I’mnotsurethat’sactuallyit.With

ladieslikeQueenElizabeth,LadyMargaret

Thatcher,&MaggieSmithresidingasculture’s

mostprominentfigures-it’sobvioustoseethat

somethingisworking.Maybeit’sthetea….I’m

ApparentlyAmericansmissedthememo.

Orperhaps,itwasmisinterpretedoverthe

Atlantic.Whateverthereason,it’sobviousthat

wemisunderstoodthepurposeofrainboots….

Errsorry,“wellies.”Yousee,allofusinNorth

Americathoughtthatwellieswerepartofthe

officialwardrobeofLondoners,andthatsomehow

trompingaroundthecityingiantrubberboots

wouldserveasasortofcamouflagetoblend

usintothehighstreetscenelikeablackcabor

adouble-deckerbus.Littledidweknowthat

schleppingaroundindesignerrubberbootswould

nothelpusblendin,butwould,infact,onlyserve

tomakeuslookliketourists.Fearnot,thisgirl

nowseesthedifferenceandherBurberrywellies

nowsitinthebackofherclosetawaitingtheir

nexttriptothecountry.

Diary of a Texan living in the UK

Aspiring Kennedy

124

startingtowonderifthatstrongbackboneisn’tthe

besttypeofbaitforallthosenaughtyBritishboys.

Afternearlytwoyearsofwaitingpatientlyon

thisfairisle,itfinallyhappened.Yes.IsawQueen

Elizabeth,upclose&inperson.Obviouslythisrun

inwasnotattheneighborhoodWaitrose-though

IdosuspectthattheQueenwouldbeshopping

atWaitroseoverASDA.Instead,afterthemost

serendipitouschainofevents,Ifoundmyself

perchedwithafascinatoronmyheadsitting

nervouslyonthefrontrowofWestminsterAbbey.

HereIwas,theownerofadiscardedticket

forthecelebrationoftheKingJamesBible’s

400thAnniversary.Astheceremonyopened

withatraditionalhymnandtheirmajesty’s

begantoglidedownthelongaisle,mybody

actuallybegantotremble.TheQueenprocessed

bymeandnoddedinherclassicmanner.

PrincePhillipfollowedbehindherwithawell-

practicednod,and-asIbeamedwiththefoolish

giddinessthatonlyanAmericancanmusterin

suchsituations-PrinceCharleswalkedbyand

offeredhispolitenod.Howeveruponnoticing

Aspiring Kennedy

theenormousgrinonmyface,hebrokehis

composedfaceandsmiledback.Hesmiledat

me!ThePrinceofWalessmiledatme.I’deven

goasfarastosayhenearlychuckledatme.As

theprocessioncontinuedontowardsthealtar,I

joinedinthefinalverseofthehymnand

madeamentalnotethatthiswasa

momentIwouldneverforget.

By Hannah Bullivant

You will need:* 2 pieces of thick cardboard, cut 18 by 24cms (I

used Mount board)* Various pretty papers cut 15 by 21 cm’s (A5)* A piece of fabric for your cover* 2 thicker pieces of paper to line the inside of your

cover. Vintage wallpaper works brilliantly. * Embroidery thread to hold the book together* A large needle* A drill and small drill bit * Clamps* Mod Podge or PVA glue* Scraper (or credit card)

seedsandstitches.blogspot.com

Home made notebook tutorial

Learn how to make a home made notebook with this simple tutorial using vintage papers and fabrics. This would make a wonderful memory book, or use it to deposit advice for mums-to-be or to hold treasured family recipes. With plain pages this would also make a lovely, unique notebook.

126

Heart Features

127

Clamp the book together against a table top. Ensure that the left hand (spine) edge of your book is hanging off the table by about a quarter. Mark three equal holes down the left hand edge 2 Cm’s from the edge with a pencil. Using your slimmest drill bit, drill 4 holes through the whole book.

First, make the cover. Lay your fabric on the table, wrong side up. Place the two pieces of card on the fabric leaving 4 cm’s of fabric around the outside of the book, and 3 cm’s in between the card (this will be the book’s spine.)

Knock your paper together then carefully insert it in your cover, making sure the paper is sitting snugly in the spine of the book.

Once dry, stick your thicker paper on to the inside cover. It should be cut a couple of cm’s smaller than your card. Use the scraping technique to ensure it lies flat. Let it dry.

Whilst it is still clamped, thread the book together using a contrasting coloured thread.

Tempting Tel Aviv

It’soneofthoserarewinterdaysinTelAviv

andI’madmiringthegreyskiesagainstthehotpink

wallinthelivingroomofoneofmyfavoriteartists.I

chosetostartourtourofmyfavoriteTelAvivdesign

spotsinSamyD’sandYohaiBarak’sapartment

becausetome,thecoupleandtheirabodeepitomes

everythingIloveaboutTelAviv;It’scolorfulyet

moody,artfullydesignedbutfulloflife,itchanges

witheveryhourandeverylight,almostlikeithas

aheartbeatofitsown,andeverypieceinithasa

uniquestory.

SamyDavidandYohaiBarakmovedtothis

apartmentnotlongago,inabuildingburstingwith

artistsanddesigners.Theydedicatedastudiounder

theapartment,suitedforthebiggerscaleartthat

Samyiscreatingnowalongwithhisinteriordesign

work.Samyisknownforhisbolduseofcolorinhis

potterywork,andsoit’snotsurprisingthatevery

wallintheapartmentboastsadifferentpaintcolor.

Thereareveryfewplacesyou’llfeelmorewelcome

thanhere,whichfitsperfectlywiththecouple’slove

Design blogger and journalist Chedva Kleinhandler, takes us on a fascinating tour where she shares her love and passion for her beloved city, Tel Aviv.

Photographer Avishai FinkelsteinWriter Chedva Kleinhandler

Samy David & Yohai Barak's Ceramic Studio128

Heart Travel

ofhosting,astheyareplanningtowelcomepeople

totourtheapartmentandthestudioandhearmore

aboutSamy’sworkandprocess.

GloriaMundimeans“worldglory”;itmay

seemlikeahaughtynameforahomedécorshopthat

isalsoacafé,butitwasactuallyveryhumble,tonote

thateachpieceinthisbeautifulshoporiginatesfrom

differentpartsoftheworld,andthattheywereall

pickedsustainably,inordertokeepthisveryworld

ingoodshape.Thisgorgeousspotisrunbyex-

lawyerIlanitdeVriesandherchildhoodfriend,Felix

Hadad.IllanitlivedinAmsterdamfor18yearsand

fellinlovewiththenotionofgivingoldfurniturea

makeover,andsohere,alongwiththeScandinavian

décortheyimport,sheandFelixsellgorgeousone

ofakindex-flea-marketfurniture,likecoffeetables

madeofwoodenwindowshades,armoiresmadeof

cratesandmore.

Samy David & Yohai Barak’s Ceramic Studio

Home Decor shop, ‘Gloria Mundi’

129

Wewalkthroughoneofmyfavoritestreets,

andoneoftheoldeststreetsinTelAviv.Allenby

StreetwasnamedafterFieldMarshalViscount

Allenbybackinthedays,anditstretchesalltheway

fromthebeachthroughalotofthemostinteresting

partsofthecity.Youcanfindthemostfascinating

typesthere–ofanything:shops,architectureor

people.It’sallveryhaphazardandunintentional,

andit’sseemsthathasalwaysbeenthecase,butthis

exactlyisthecharmofAllenby.Justsitbackinone

ofthemanymanycafesandprepareyourselffor

people-watchinggalore.AtthecornerofAllenby

andBenYehudastandsmyfavoritesecondhand

shop.IwishIcouldclaimtohavejustwanderedhere

unintentionally,butIactuallyreadaboutMugrabi

inthepaperandonlywenttheremonthslater.I’m

gladIdid,becausenowI’mthereatleastoncea

week,marvelingatownerAvi’samazingfindsand

ideas(hepaintedanold1950’sfridgeaminthueand

storesvintageshoesinside!)andtempted,especially

bytheuniquearthecurates.Likemanyotherstores

inTelAviv,Mugrabitoomoonlightsasacafé–

whatcanIsay,it’sacoffee-crazedtown!–AndI

havespentmanydayssippingagreatcoffeeand

workingonmybloghere.Afterthevisualoverdose

view from

Allenby StreetSecond hand shop ‘M

ugrabi’

130

Heart Travel

ofAllenbyit’sgoodtobebackatNeveTzedek.It’sa

quieter,luxuriousneighborhood,justnearthebeach,

fullwithprettylittleboutiquesandFrenchtourists

thatalsohavesummerhomeshere.TheVarsano

Hotelmanagestoblendin–itspreadsthrough

anentirestreetoflow,typicaltotheareahouses.

YaronandGuyVarsanoarebrotherswhoareinthe

realestatebusinesswitharealpassionfordesign.

Theydecoratedthehotelbythemselves,seekingthe

assistanceofvariousexpertsondifferenttopicsbut

ultimatelyjudgingbythequestion“wouldwewant

tostayhere?”.Theresultcouldn’tbemoreinviting.

Thevintageglasspanesthebrotherspickedforthe

windows,thelampsandtheoutsidecouchallspeak

tothedetail-loverthatIam.

The Versano Hotel

Home Decor shop, ‘Gloria Mundi’

131

Cosy cottages and hidden hideaways

THE BEACH HUT, CORNWALLvia Unique Home Stays (from £1,075 for a 3 night weekend stay)

The Beach Hut is the ultimate place to stay if you want

to really get away from it all. The 1920’s hut can be

found at the end of a rural track on a secluded beach.

Surrounded by Cornish cliffs and quiet stretches

of coastline, the solitary spot is your own private

wilderness and is the perfect location for a romantic

weekend away.

The hut, with its wooden floorboards,

whitewashed walls and plenty of seaside charm, is

literally a stone’s throw from the sea - you can watch

the waves from the comfort of your bed and fall

asleep to the sound of the surf.

While your days away wandering along the rugged

coastline or sunbathing on the sand, and spend your

evenings snuggled up on the veranda with a blanket and

a bottle of Cornish wine. You won’t have to see another

soul, but if you decide to venture out of your coastal

bubble the town of Bude is just a quick drive away.

By Ellie Walker-Arnott

Leave the stresses and strains of everyday life behind and retreat into the

countryside this spring. Whatever your budget,

we’ve found three of the best secluded spots for a

weekend away ...

Heart Travel

133

Cosy cottages and hidden hideaways

Hole Cottage can be found deep in ancient forest

on the northern slopes of the weald, hidden in

a woodland clearing on the Falconhurst estate.

The cottage, which sits in an idyllic location

beside a small stream, is all that remains of an

impressive late medieval hall.

With its slow paced and peaceful feel, a stay

at Hole Cottage is a little bit like going back in

134

time. Without wi-fi or TV, you’ll have to amuse

yourself. Laze in the spring sunshine surrounded

by lush greenery or spend your days meandering

through ancient woodland.

You could forget all about the outside world.

But if you fancy a trip back to civilisation,

Cowden station is, surprisingly, only a 15

minute walk away through the trees.

HOLE COTTAGE, KENTvia Landmark Trust (from £509 for a 3 night weekend stay)

Heart Travel

Whitegates Cottage is in a peaceful spot at the

foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds. With its painted

green door, orchard garden and thatched roof,

the little cottage could be the setting of a fairytale.

The cottage is nestled in a quiet corner of the

Gunby Estate with the impressive Gunby Hall on

its doorstep. Gunby Hall is an impressive National

Trust property which sits within pretty Victorian

walled gardens.

Whitegates Cottage boasts traditional mud

and stud walls and charming original features,

with cosy beamed rooms and a pretty open fire.

You could spend your weekend hidden away

in your own tiny picture perfect cottage or use

the cottage as a base from which to explore

the picturesque Lincolnshire countryside and

coastline.

135

WHITEGATES COTTAGE, LINCOLNSHIREvia National Trust Cottages (from £208 for a 3 night weekend stay)

Miss Mary’s suggestions for Spring dates

For those of you lucky enough to live in the

country, the sight of a gambolling spring lambwill

bearegularoccurrence.Formillionsofuslivingin

thecitythat’ssadlynotthecase.Spring,tome,isall

aboutnew lifeand the inquisitivenewborn lamb is

the perfect sign that springhas sprung. To bring a

sliceofthecountrysidetotown,agreatspringdateis

atriptoacityfarm.ThereareatleasteightinLondon,

andoneofmyfavourites isMudchuteFarmonthe

IsleofDogs.There’snothingmoreincongruousthan

hopping on a tube to go and look at some sheep

grazinginfrontofaskyscraper,butatthesametime,

nothingmorewonderful! This is the perfect spring

dateforatowniewishingtheywere livingtherural

dreamoracountrybumpkinmissinghome…

You’llfindcityfarmsdottedallovertheUKbut

wevisitedMudchuteCityFarm,whichislocatedon

theIsleofDogsandisfreetovisit.

www.mudchute.org

Forme,“SpringBreak”doesn’tmeananannualtrip

toCancunwithabunchofUSteenagers(anymore!)it

meansaweekendawaytorelaxandunwindwithmy

otherhalf,somewhereinthegreatBritishcountryside.

Due to my springtime obsession with lambs I can’t

thinkofanythingbetterthanaweekendinabeautifully

renovatedshepherd’shut, like theShepherdsReturn

at theHollow inWestSussex. Located in a country

gardenjustanhourfromLondon,butsurroundedby

fields,thisistheperfectweekendgetaway.Charming

andsimplewithanincrediblystylishinteriorit’severy

stressedcityworkersdream!

Take a look at the inspiring Canopy and Stars

website for more special places to stay across the

country,butthisparticularhutsleeps2,from£100a

night.

www.canopyandstars.co.uk

Mary Higgs is the author of popular website The Great Date Guide.

By Mary Higgs

136

Thepromiseofspringtendstogetmealittleover

excited about the prospect of summer! Sunshine,

warmth, evenings spent outside… Sadly the British

climatedoesn’talwaysplayfair,so,ifyou’redesperate

forsomesunshineandcolourthenheadtoabotanical

garden. InLondon a greatweekenddate is a trip to

the fabulousKewGardens.Theamazingglasshouses

are full of vibrant tropicalflowers,butKew is alsoa

beautiful spot to experience spring in it’s own right

withlushcarpetsofbluebellsanddaffodilsmakinga

colourful display. For amore adventurous dateKew

hasa sensational tree topwalk, 18metreshigh,200

metres long and designed by the architects of the

LondonEye. Fromuptopyou’llgetastunningview

ofall the springflowers,not tomentionaverygood

excusetograbholdofyourdate’shandontheexcuse

ofyourterriblevertigo!

Most major cities have botanical gardens. We

visited Kew Gardens in West London, which costs

£13.90foranadult.

www.kew.org

All this excitement about spring is cause for

celebration, and what’s the best way to celebrate?

With a cocktail of course! Gone are themonths of

mulled wine and sloe gin, now it’s time for some

freshandfruitycocktails–umbrellaoptional…The

UK boasts plenty of fantastic bars but one of my

favourites is the quirky Paradise byWay of Kensal

GreeninLondon.Withaneclecticinterior,including

a candlelit karaoke room, and a huge roof terrace

Paradise truly is one of London’s hidden gems. I

askedthemfortheirsignatureSpringcocktail–the

answer?The“ParadiseGinMule”.

Ingredients:

50mlMillersgin

Largechunkofcucumber

20mllemonjuice

20mlgomme(sugarsyrup)

Gingerbeer

Method:

Pour the gin over the cucumber

and muddle. Add the lemon and

gomme,topupwithiceandshake.Strainthemixture

into the glass over crushed ice and topwith ginger

beer.Garnishwithpeelsofcucumberandmintsprig.

Theverdict?Delicious.Springinaglassthatwill

giveyouaspringinyourstep!

Youcanfindthe“ParadiseGinMule”atParadise

byWayofKensalGreenanditwillsetyouback£6.

www.theparadise.co.uk

HIDDEN HEROES - THE GENIUS OF EVERYDAY THINGSThe Science Museum, 9th November 2011 – 5th JuneTickets: £6, £3.50 concessions.Hidden Heroes shines a spotlight on the overlooked inventions we couldn’t live without. The exhibition reveals the efforts made to establish each product, as well sharing quirky titbits of information such as Napoleon’s role in the evolution of the tin can and the connection between a descending plane and bubble wrap.

HeartHomeDiaryDESIGNERS OF THE YEARDesign Museum, 8th February – 15th July. Tickets: £11, £10 concessions, £7 studentsThe Design Museum’s Design Awards, ‘the Oscars of the design world’, showcase the most innovative and progressive designs from around the world, spanning seven categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics and Transport and Product.

© Luke Hayes

I SALONI 2012 Milan Fairgrounds, Rho, Milan, 17th - 22nd April 2012Tickets: from €23.00. Trade Only. General public may attend Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd only - €36 for 2.Featured this year along with the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the world’s foremost showcase in the Furniture & Home Decor sector, are the biennial trade shows Eurocucina with FTK (Technology for the Kitchen) and the International Bathroom Exhibition, as well as the annual International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, and of course the SaloneSatellite, this latter dedicated to the creativity of young designers.

MARAPRMAY

M1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

20 21222324252627282930 31323334353637383940

By Katie Treggiden

© Saverio Lombardi Vallauri

138

Heart Diary

BRITISH DESIGN 1948 - 2012Victoria and Albert Museum31st March – 12th AugustTickets: £13.50The V&A’s upcoming exhibition, British Design 1948–2012: Innovation in the Modern Age, celebrates the best of British post-war art and design from the 1948 ‘Austerity Games’ to the summer of 2012. Over 300 British design objects highlight significant moments in the history of British design and how the country continues to nurture artistic talent and be a world leader in creativity and design.

INPUT288 Upper Street, Islington, N1 2TF, 16th March - 3rd April 2012Tickets: Free entryCoexistence are hosting an exhibition by the British furniture brand MARK. It is a collaboration with the Danish textiles company Kvadrat and will show what goes into a piece of high quality contract furniture in four areas: Design, Skills, Materials and Teamwork.

A1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

01234567891011121314151617181920 21CM

© Jamie Reid

© Victoria and Albert Museum

© MARK

© Jaguar Heritage

139

BAUHAUS, ART AS LIFEBarbican, 3rd May - 12th August 2012Tickets: £8 online, £10 on the doorThe biggest Bauhaus exhibition in the UK in over 40 years presents the modern world’s most famous art school. From expressionist beginnings to a pioneering model uniting art and technology the Bauhaus’ utopian vision sought to change society in the aftermath of the First World War. Bauhaus: Art as Life explores the diverse artistic production that made up its turbulent fourteen-year history and delves into the subjects at the heart of the school: art, culture, life, politics and society, and the changing technology of the age.

AI WEIWEI: DROPPING THE URNV&A, 15th October 2011 – 18th March. Tickets: FreeOn his return to Beijing in 1993 Ai turned his attention to classical Chinese artistic traditions and crafts. Many of the works he made during the 1990’s such as Untitled, 1993 act as a commentary on China’s transformation during this period and the impact of capitalism on cultural heritage and traditional artistic practices.

M 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

01

AT HOME WITH THE WORLDGeffrye Museum, 20th March – 9th September. Tickets: Free

As we prepare to welcome the world to London in 2012, we ask how ‘English’ are our homes? This exhibition will highlight domestic

objects which have come from overseas or been influenced by other cultures to tell a fascinating story about how many of the designs, decorations, materials and social customs with which we consider to be ‘English’, might have originated elsewhere. This will engage you in a dialogue about your home, exploring how other cultures have shaped our ideas about what makes a home and about the way we live.

23456789101112131415161718CM

A PLACE TO CALL HOME: WHERE WE LIVE AND WHYRIBA, 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD, 16th February – 28th April. Tickets: Free admissionEnjoy a new RIBA exhibition, guest curated by Sarah Beeny, charting the story of the design and appeal of everyday homes in the UK. Through archival and orginal material, it explores the characteristics of a British obsession and the drivers that have shaped how and where we live - from late 18th century speculation to the present day via suburban expansion and post-war experiment.

© Makoto Yamawaki140

Heart Diary

Want to get email with fantastic competitions, exclusive discounts and captivating blog posts?

Would you like to be the first to read the best new interiors magazine in the UK? Yeah?

Just pop your pretty little email address in to the box at hearthomemag.co.uk/mailing and we’ll tell you the very moment it is out on the virtual shelf...

Join the Heart Home mailing list

Dani Miller is on a mission to bring a touch of old Hollywood glamour to the ladies of Winchester through her enchanting lingerie boutique.

Illustrator Gemma Milly

Writer Victoria Dockrell

142

Heart Shopping

“I want Boudoir Blush to feel like

a beautiful ladies dressing room”

“The boutique is styled as an elegant

and alluring vintage boudoir”

When Dani Miller opened her Winchester

lingerie boutique in February 2007, she

aspired to create an independent boutique

where you could source beautiful lingerie

that fitted impeccably, previously something only

available in London or abroad.

Her experiences working for a Saudi Arabian lingerie

company in Dubai and growing up in the Middle East,

inspired her to fill a gap in the lingerie market in her

home town of Winchester. “I want to make it a glamorous

place for women to go, where they can feel at home and

enjoy being fitted”, Dani says. She is very much inspired

by the bygone era of old Hollywood glamour, claiming 143

“It really surprised me that women in the UK could buy a gorgeous bra and not buy the matching bottoms!”

“I love all the old 1950’s MGM movies where women

were women and their fashion reflects that”.

Dani felt that there was a lack of personal, in-

depth service in the UK lingerie market and that

“it was time to show the women of Winchester that

you don’t have to compromise on the quality or

prettiness of your lingerie, no matter what size you

are”. She wanted to create somewhere where women

could feel confident knowing that the staff knew their

stock, the fabrics and how their ranges would fit.

Dani says she was deeply influenced by her time

in the Middle East where women are happy to spend

significant amounts on themselves and their lingerie.

She claims “they always have matching sets; it really

surprised me that women in the UK could buy a

gorgeous bra and not buy the matching bottoms! …

I honestly believe English women have a problem

spoiling themselves”. She believes that British

women underestimate the psychological effect that

your lingerie can have on confidence and personal

well-being and she intends to re-educate them, one

lady at a time.

Boudoir Blush stocks well known British and

international brands with a strong emphasis on

quality and fit. Dani tries to source individual and

pretty ranges which are still wearable on a daily basis.

Her main customer base is women aged between

30 - 55 who crave an alternative to the usual high

street offerings. Her favourite brands right now are

Chantelle and Mimi Holliday which she describes as 144

Heart Shopping

“wonderfully chic and feminine”.

Building on her inspiration of classic glamour,

Dani wants Boudoir Blush to feel like a beautiful

ladies dressing room, and has tried to create an

atmosphere where women feel at ease, almost as if

they were at a friend’s house trying on clothes. This is

reflected in the décor of the boutique which is styled

as an elegant and alluring vintage boudoir. Dani says

her favourite parts of the shop are the walls. “They’re

either painted bright red or lined with flamboyant

wall paper… it’s always a talking point” she says.

Customer service is also a very important to Dani, she

says “I always wanted to make sure we made friends

with our customers so that they could come and ask

us our advice with outfits or looks they were trying to

achieve”.

Dani has recently undertaken a re-branding

exercise for the boutique and bought in designer

Gemma Milly to redesign the bags and stationery. She

wanted to create something

which reflected the

old-style ‘Dior’

advertising in the

1920’s, and is very

happy with the

results which she

believes have really

captured the essence

of Boudoir Blush and its

philosophy.

Boudior Blush9A Parchment Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8AT01962 841344

Next issue out 14 June 2012

Photographer John Deed

Spring forward...

Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to read the Summer issue.