Set Sail with Nautical Stripes from William Yeoward

How great are these striped fabrics by William Yeoward for Designers Guild. I love nautical stripes all year round but I think they are especially suited to the breezy months of summer and one look at these lovely images has me reaching for my straw hat and deck shoes and dreaming of lazy summer days by the sea.

The Polperro collection is inspired by Cornwall and the fabrics perfectly reflect the fresh, relaxed atmosphere of the English Coast. Describing his new collection Yeoward explains “There is something about the English coastline that is so unique. There is a quality of light and a sense of freedom for me that is found here. I love the colours of the landscape, the boats, the sailcloths, rolling pastures and the ocean spray: these to me are the essence of my being.”

I love the variations on the classic blue and white colour palette. The inclusion of a jaunty red stripe instantly adds cheerful seaside twist to a dark blue and white. And the soft dusty red and yellow stripes above have the perfect amount of faded glamour to evoke relaxed country-style coastal living.

Image Credits: Designers Guild

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Festival of Britain 60th Anniversary

The Festival of Britain was held in the summer of 1951 and was a celebration of recovery and the promotion of good design in the rebuilding of towns and cities following the end of the war. Celebrations are being held this year to mark the 60th Anniversary and there are some great interiors products on the market to mark the occasion.

Kevin McCloud has produced a collection of six fabulous paint colours (Mid Century colours) for Fired Earth that really capture the spirit of the era. From very bright Race Yellow and Festival Orange to very smart Skylon Grey, they work beautifully together to create a bold dramatic look.

Sanderson Fabrics has produced a gorgeous collection of 50s fabrics and in amongst them is the beautiful Festival print which is a reproduction of a design created especially for the Festival of Britain. There are five great colourways and it’s tough enough to use for upholstery.

Mini Moderns have created this gorgeous wallpaper in three colourways which completely captures the mid-century modern feel and features architectural landmarks of the Festival including the Skylon, the Royal Festival Hall and the Dome of Discovery.

If you feel in the mood to celebrate but are not in the market for refurbishing your home (!), you might be more inclined to one of these lovely prints from Lizzie Allen (left) or Paul Catherall (right) available from the online shop at the South Bank Centre. Happy celebrating!

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Angel + Blume ♥ Coco

Our choice for Film Friday this week is the beautiful Coco Before Chanel. Everything about this film, naturally, exudes elegance.

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Open Plan Living

We are so often asked to look at the layout and furnishing of extensions to the home and particularly to kitchen and open plan areas which can be areas that suffer from lack of light and space..

This project for a lovely family was great fun to work on and we were so pleased with the end results. These images were taken for a feature in House Beautiful magazine (see our website for more details) and really do capture the open and airy living/dining/kitchen space created by the architect.

We helped with layout, colours, furnishings, lighting and accessories and having been back to see the owners, we can report that the whole project has been a great success!

Image credits: Spike Powell Photography

 

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Salvage treasures – as featured in Agenda magazine

Uncover hidden gems and ensure your home stands out from the crowd. Victoria Harrison of the interior designers Angel + Blume lets you in on some trade secrets.

 

Images: 1 from Decorating with Blue and White by Gail Abbott, photography Mark Scott, 2 Gail Abbott

If you’ve never been to a salvage yard you don’t know what you’re missing. Like a treasure hunt for grown-ups, at a good architectural salvage yard you can uncover all sorts of hidden gems, from Victorian fireplaces and Georgian chandeliers to door handles and stained glass. All these items and many more are out there just waiting for a bit of TLC and a new home. Here’s how to salvage a little bit of history…

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Using Colour in your Home – as featured in Velvet magazine

Our latest design article is now out in Velvet magazine.

Victoria Harrison of Interior Design Talks shares insider secrets on how to decorate with colour to get the kind of home usually seen only in glossy magazines. Colour can be intimidating but with a bit of expert advice you can add warmth, interest, drama and character to your home.  Follow these simple, easy tips and you can use colour like the experts.

Start with neutrals
Most colour schemes are based on a palette of colours that you’re instinctively drawn to. Neutrals show up that point well because the colour difference is subtle. The neutrals that you pick out as your favourites will then form the basis of your scheme to which you can then add stronger colours.

Bold colours
Stronger colours are traditionally used on walls; however you can easily apply them to woodwork, alongside neutral wall colourings. You could also use bolder colours on a feature wall if you have a good reason to; for example, as a backdrop to a collection of framed photographs or art. The best way to introduce strong colours into your colour scheme is by accentuating a fabric or accessory within the room.  Not only are these much easier to change if you tire of them, but this approach allows you to bring the room together.

Working with light
Light in a room can change dramatically during the day. There is also a huge difference between natural and artificial light, and it can be really hard to predict how the light in a room will impact on the paint colour. For example, you might choose a particular colour in a shop only to find that it looks totally different when you get it home. The solution is to paint your chosen colour onto a large piece of card (minimum A4 size), pin it on the wall and look at it during the day and at night to see how it changes.

Adding Accessories
Remember that your colour scheme is not just about paint, but includes a layering of different colours and materials. These obviously include fabric and accessories but flooring is also important to consider, and is frequently overlooked. One of my favourite ways of adding colour is to create a fairly light, calm background scheme using neutral tones for walls, floors and major furnishing items. You can then add you main accent colour in rugs, cushions, occasional furniture, accessories and even flowers.

All images credit: Fired Earth. Read the full article in Velvet here.

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Kitchen Corner: Foolproof pancake recipe

I am so excited…it’s Pancake Day! Here’s my easy foolproof recipe:

One batch (makes 6-8 pancakes depending on the size of your frying pan)

1. 100g plain flour
2. 1 egg
3. 200ml milk
4. 50ml water
5. 2 tbsp melted butter
6. Pinch of salt

If you are mixing the batter by hand, place the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Crack the egg in the middle and mix the milk and water together in a jug. Beat the egg with a fork or whisk while adding the milk and water mixture a bit at a time and gradually bringing in the flour until you have a smooth batter. It should be quite thin and just coat the back of a spoon or ladle. Alternatively you can mix it all together with a handheld whisk or food processor. Then add the melted butter and a pinch of salt and let the batter rest for a little (about half an hour).

Heat a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Melt a knob of butter and use some scrunched up kitchen paper to wipe a thin layer of butter onto the pan. Spoon some batter into the pan using a ladle, swirling the pan around at the same time to cover the bottom as thinly as possible. Use a spatula or palette knife to loosen the edges and flip the pancake over when it is golden brown underneath. Flip the pancake using a utensil, or flip the pan if you’re feeling brave! Cook on the other side for a few more seconds and turn out onto a plate. Place the pan back on the heat, coat with butter again and repeat!

I love mine with lemon and sugar, such a classic! For me it has to be fresh lemon juice and granulated sugar (for the crunch!) but why not try maple syrup and bananas, berries and whipped cream or chopped nuts and chocolate sauce. Don’t have a sweet tooth? Savoury pancakes can be just as delicious! Try roasted vegetables and creme fraiche or smoked salmon and cream cheese. The possibilities are endless! However you have them, I wish you a fabulous Pancake Day!

Image with thanks to: Donegal Daily, Pasha Events

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Girls need cushions

We all know that girls (and the more highly developed boys amongst us!) love a cushion and there are so many brilliant options on the high street now that it almost seems silly to try and make your own. Not that I am dissuading any of you from making or commissioning your own creations but you may want to look at these little beauties first.

Graham and Green as normal, never disappoint and if you love a bit of fake fur……..

Try Niki Jones for great eye-catching designs and lovely attention to detail

Designers Guild for a burst of colour and they have some really fab new designs this season

Quirky and patriotic – lovely cushions from Jan Constantine

Go on, treat your self to a cushion – you are so worth it!

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Modern Cambridge Penthouse

We recently heard from our lovely client who we designed this super swanky apartment for some years ago – he has moved to the bright lights and big city and is thinking of renting this fab central Cambridge apartment. (Anyone who is interested should give us a shout first and we will pass your details to him!)

The apartment is perfect for parties, having an enormous and spacious living room containing the ultra eye-catching light box over the kitchen which changes to any colour your heart could desire and a roof terrace that is about the same size as the living room. Two other bedrooms, two bathrooms, underground parking and all mod cons – what more could you want?!

Email us at info@angelandblume.com for more information.

Images: Mark Box

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Bathing beauty

If you are looking for something super swanky for your bathroom, look no further than the wonderful Lefroy Brooks. I came across this company recently when it was recommended to me by a local architect and immediately fell in love with their designs. The products are wonderfully built as well as designed so their products really will last you a lifetime. For more information, visit www.lefroybrooks.co.uk.

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