Inspired by Cecil Beaton

I recently came across a fantastic collection of fabrics from Beaudesert (better known for their marvellous four poster beds) who have taken inspiration from Cecil Beaton’s sketches and created a collection of fabrics and wallpapers that really are glorious. Beautifully drawn in a range of enticing colours and printed onto silk, linen and cotton, the fabrics are absolutely charming and do full justice to the style and taste that Cecil Beaton represented. Go to www.cecilbeatonfabrics.com to see more.

Love your home

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, we hope that you are getting that loving feeling, and of course we think it is highly appropriate to show your home some of that affection as well as your sweetheart. Here are some of our favourite products in inject some subtle romance into your home.

This article first appeared on the Cambridge News website

You can’t get more romantic that this ‘Love Letters’ wallpaper from Andrew Martin – up close you will see names and addresses in beautiful hand writing and date stamped in the 1830s. A beautiful backdrop to any interior scheme and unusual enough to make a statement, it would be great to use on all walls in a room, or just inside a wardrobe to make you smile in the mornings.

It’s true! – all you do need is love (and, we would argue, a fab home). These wooden panels will make a joyful statement in the right place in your home – they are very striking so need a neutral backdrop and some eye-catching furnishings to balance them up. And possibly two very cute children to complete the look!

The Rug Company do some truly beautiful rugs and none more so that this Love Heart rug designed by Vivienne Westwood. It perfectly balances romantic and stylish and is an investment piece that will last you for many Valentine’s Days to come and all the days of the year in between.

New bedding is always a treat but these pillowcases make a perfect accessory too and if you want to make a statement this Valentine’s Day, well these should probably do the trick. They come in red, blue, pink, black and cream lettering and are in cotton poplin.

And finally, I just couldn’t resist this Heart Door Knocker from Jim Lawrence – sweet and stylish, it brings just a hint of romance to the entrance way to your home. Beautifully made as with all things from Jim Lawrence, it is hand forged and come in four different finishes.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all at Angel and Blume!

Calling all art lovers!

The International Art Fair in London starts on 16th February and based on previous years, I would say it is well worth a visit. I have a small stack of complementary invitations courtesy of Cambridge based Strover Gallery who are exhibiting, which will save you the entrance fee (giving you that bit more to spend on art!). Give me a shout if you would like one.

Storybook fabrics

We noticed a real trend in fabric designs over the past year for illustrative designs with a hand-drawn quality so we thought we would show you just a few of our favourites. Although all these fabrics would make up beautifully into curtains, the real trick with using them is to see as much of the pattern detail as possible, so think about using them for roman blinds, cushions, light-weight upholstery, lampshades or even on a canvas as a piece of (reasonably priced!) artwork.

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge News website

This Pin-Up fabric by Pierre Frey was inspired by 1950′s style promotional brochures advertising holidays at the seaside and has a wonderful nostalgic quality to it.

Lovely and fresh, this is Arboretum print also from Pierre Frey, which was inspired by the botanical sketches often found in children’s school books.

Continuing with the botanical theme, this fabric by Osborne and Little called Grand Tour Vedute features framed images of eighteenth century wooded landscapes. This is available on pure linen or in a pure cotton semi-sheer which would look beautiful with the light filtering through.

For anyone with a penchant for maps, this fabric from Zoffany is perfect – a beautifully drawn map of nineteenth century London with detail right down to street level, this could be a real timewaster (or an educational tool, whichever way you look at it!)

And finally, this classic Lewis and Wood print was designed by the 17th Century naturalist Thomas Bewick, this design was taken from the first two volumes of the History of British Birds and it has an accuracy and level of detail that is really charming in print.

Pierre Frey www.pierrefrey.com

Pin-up £166.32  per metre
Arboretum £158.40 per metre

www.zoffany.com
London fabric £85 per metre

Osborne and Little  www.osborneandlittle.com
Grand Tour Vedute £48 per metre

Lewis and Wood www.lewisandwood.co.uk
Bewick Birds £61.20 per metre

Film Friday – It’s Complicated

We haven’t brought you a Film Friday for a while so to make amends, I’ve got an absolute corker on the interiors front! It’s Complicated starting  the lady of the moment, Meryl Streep and a none too shabby supporting cast of Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. It’s a Nancy Meyers film, so we would expect something lovely from the interiors (she brought us Something’s Gotta Give, Baby Boom and The Holiday to name but a few) and it doesn’t disappoint. Meryl (Jane in the film) owns a bakery – last picture below – and that is, naturally, pretty fabulous too.

With thanks to the gorgeous www.hookedonhouses.net for the images

Buy, buy, buy, sale, sale, sale

My email inbox has been alive this week with sale notifications and I have to say, there are some good bargains to be had for the discerning shopper (like your good selves of course!) Here are just a few of the sale items from our favourite suppliers that caught my eye, although a word of very serious caution before you view which is to do as I say don’t do what I do – whilst writing this blog I have just purchased a cushion for myself from the Chelsea Textiles NON SALE area (don’t you hate it when that happens!)

Niki Jones

I love Niki Jones’ style – all the products on this site have a different look whilst being usable products that will fit into a range of interior schemes. The sale is on now with some items up to 50% off.

Roger Oates

These are just the best stair runners you can buy and the clearance section of the website has some real bargains. There are also some great pieces of runners made up into rugs. Really worth a look.

Graham and Green

Graham and Green is one of our firm favourites so a sale is just the cherry on the cake. I’ve had a quick look and the sale looks promising but I can’t spend too long on this website – it’s just too dangerous!

Habitat

Good news – it’s not out of business! but sadly the Cambridge store is no more. There is still lots to buy on the website and happily, some of it is on sale. Long live Habitat!

Chelsea Textiles

I had notification of the sale and apparently there is lots in store to look at. As normal, their gorgeous cushions are available to buy online and this is where the problem started – the sale items are mixed with the rest – buyer beware!

Embrace the New Year!

I always feel that as the Christmas decorations come down, a home can look a little sorry for itself. However, there are lots of ways to inject a little New Year optimism and to start to look forward to the spring. Here are just a few ideas to get you started!

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge News website

Replace your Yuletide floral decorations with some hyacinth bulbs which come in lots of different colours, although pink, blue and white are the most common. Match your colour to your room scheme and as they flower, their familiar smell will fill your home.

Candles are great in your home all year round and give a lovely light at this time of year. You can get just about every scent your heart could desire but I love the idea of this Lemon Drizzle Cake candle from Cox and Cox – although it could be fatal for those New Year diet resolutions!

With the weather still on the parky side, make sure your stock of logs is going to make it through to Spring. I love this log basket from Graham and Green which will enhance a fireplace and keeps your winter fuel immediately to hand.

It’s never too early to get your nesting box ready to give our garden birds a safe place to procreate in the spring and this handsome trio from Sophie Conran gives you a nesting box, a feeding table and an insect hotel – fantastic!

When you get the urge to spring clean, there are some lovely products on the market to make the task less painful and more productive. This great feather duster from Baileys Home and Garden not only works well but has a touch of humour about it too.

New storage is always welcome at any time of year, but if you are thinking of a bit of a sort out before the spring cleaning commences, these lovely zinc storage units are stylish and function. Available from the Holding Company in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Product details

Cox and Cox Three hyacinth vases £18.50

Cox and Cox Lemon Drizzle Cake Candle £20

Graham and Green White log basket £95

Burgon and Ball Sophie Conran Wildlife Havens £14.95

Baileys Home and Garden Ostrich feather duster £19.50

The Holding Company  Zinc cabinet with drawer £239

The English Home

Happy New Year to you all and we hope you had a good Christmas break.

The lovely magazine The English Home is out (February edition) and we are rather thrilled that we have a mention in the trade secrets section. Here is our piece – you will have to get the magazine to read what the other interior designers have to say!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We wish you a very happy and restful Christmas break and a good 2012 to follow, from all of us at Angel and Blume.

With thanks to Simon Whitmore for our Christmas photograph.

Winter Calm

At this time of year it’s hard to see through the fog of tinsel, glitter and Christmas glitz. But it’s nice sometimes to take a moment out and regain a little bit of calm. Which is why i’ve posted these lovely images from the most recent Colefax and Fowler collection.

The soft winter whites, muted blues and heathery greys create a wonderful peaceful atmosphere with a light, airy Scandinavian feel.

Whilst the silky sheen of the floor length drapes and the soft glitter of the glass accessories add a shot of glamour, creating a quietly luxurious feel.

The perfect antidote to Christmas mayhem!

All images: Colefax and Fowler