The Loveable Collection by Mineheart

After a brief flirtation with wallpaper a couple of years ago I recently ripped all of ours down in a desire for a return to minimalism, but these new designs from Mineheart could convert me all over again.

Their white cast iron lace wallpaper is inspired by decorative metalwork and gives the look of exquisitely ornate fretwork, almost like giant panels of three dimensional lace. It can be used to create a light romantic feeling and is strangely reminiscent of weddings, tea rooms and old fashioned conservatories.

The Chesterfield design has the appearance of soft padded leather. It creates a seriously luxurious feeling and is evocative of a gentlemans club, boudoir, (or perhaps alternatively... depending on your point of view.... a mental institution!) Alternatively opt for white Georgian style panelling to give your rooms a bright elegant boutique hotel feel.

The painted white wooden planks design (complete with nail holes - above left), is perfect for a minimal shabby chic look (think beach huts, holiday homes, magazine shoots) and the black wrought metal gate design (above right) is inspired by architectural ironmongery and the pattern has echoes of Moroccan design.

Conjure up your very own Italian palazzo with 'Stone Angels', inspired by architectural details and renaissance sculptures.

The range also includes a choice book designs - opt for the vintage library look or create the bright minimalist look of a designer office, fashion shoot or art gallery in all white.

www.mineheart.com

Clare Goddard

As part of our curated collections exhibtion at Interiors UK we are delighted to be featuring the work of our friend Clare Goddard. I honestly adore Clare's work and was so pleased when she agreed to be involved.

Clare creates spoons and vessels such as jugs and bowls using the paper from discarded tea bags. Each one is uniquely handcrafted - they really are exquisite.

 You can view more of Clare's work on her website.

Interiors UK 2012: The Design Village B&B rooms

I'm at Interiors UK until Wednesday so all this week I'll be sharing some of my favourite design finds from the show. You can also check out news and images of the curated collections project Graham and I have put together for Interiors UK over on Obsessionistas.

First up, in the Design Village Designers Block asked Donna Wilson, House of Hackney and Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan to each come up with a design for a B&B room.

Donna Wilson's design (above) is called Squirrel Tree Forest and features playful knitwear and throws in her signature style. How cute are those little blue cloud cushions? There is even a knitted doughnut complete with sprinkles!

Next, is 'King Size', a bold and high impact geometric design by Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan.

'Dalston Rose' (below) is by wallpaper, bed linen and homeware company House of Hackney who create prints and products that are steeped in tradition but with a non-conformist twist.

They are all pretty fabulous but I have to confess that my own personal favourite is Donna Wilson's. Which one do you like best?

Friday Links round up

Busy putting the finishing touches to our exhibition for Interiors UK today. I'm looking forward to seeing Donna Wilson's B&B installation and also to meeting up with a few of my Twitter friends.

Here's a round up of some of my favourite links this week.

• Amazing crochetdermy

• Heals are giving away a Donna Wilson print. All you have to do is sign up for their newsletter.

• Growing old stylishly. Advanced Style: The Movie.

• Style lessons from Silent movie stars.

• A new exhibition of the work of Norman Parkinson shines spotlight on vintage chic.

• Make a statement in this Olivia Rubin speech bubble sweater - they have some fabulous final discounts in their winter sale.

I'll be blogging and tweeting some of my favourite design finds from Interiors UK all next week.

Have a great weekend.

Helen xx

Image: Stag crochetdermy by Shauna Richardson (via Stacey Shepherd).

Scandinavian minimalism & grown up glamour

Scandinavian minimalism meets grown up glamour in this Malmo apartment.

It doesn't get much better than this.

I mean that ceiling!!

Images: Marcus Lawett, source Residence (via Emma's Design Blog).

Curated Collections at Interiors UK

Apologies for the lack of posts this week. I have been busy working on a project Graham and I are putting together for Obsessionistas which we'll be exhibiting at Interiors UK with Designers Block next week.

We've teamed up with WGSN-Homebuildlife, the global leader of online trend forecasting for the home and interiors markets to present a series of curated collections interpreting the three key Macro Trends from WGSN-Homebuildlife for the interiors market in Spring/Summer 2013.

If you are planning on coming along to Interiors UK please say 'hello'. We'll be based within the Design Village.

Here's a sneak preview of some of the collections I've been working on.

1. Welsh textiles from Damson & Slate and Melin Tregwynt and brass bowls. 2. 3D printed objects.

Images by me.

I want arm candy

We have a bit of a thing about ice creams in our house. Not necessarily the real edible ones, but those fibre glass point of sale ones you see outside shops and cafes at seaside resorts. Mr P is obsessed with photographing them. No trip to the seaside is complete without the shriek of "There's one" followed by the sound of the car screeching to a halt. Whoever happens to be in the passenger seat at the time then has to jump out to snap the aforementioned object.

So I whooped with delight when I saw the new Mulberry campaign shot by Tim Walker

Images: Tim Walker for Mulberry

Plumen

Styling by Poppy Norton, Photography by Ian Nolan

I'm not a fan of ugly energy efficient lightbulbs so I was interested to come across these sculptural low energy bulbs from Plumen. Perfect for using as a decorative light on their own as well as with pendant and lamp shades, they screw into any standard bulb fitting and give off a warm, white light.

Here domestic lighting is stripped back to its purest and simplest form and the humble light bulb is presented as an object worthy of being considered and appreciated in its own right.

They last eight times longer and use 80% less electricity than traditional light bulb offerings too.

Available from Heals.

Sketch by Elizabeth Graeber.

This week....

I was sad to hear of the death this week (at the age of 99) of Eve Arnold, one of the greatest female photographers of the twentieth century and one of the first women to join the Magnum photo agency. An exhibition of her work that I attended some years back left a lasting impression on me. Some of her most iconic images can be seen here.

Here are a few links I enjoyed this week.

Terence Conran on making things.

This amazing memorial on an island in Norway was designed to commemorate suspected witches who were burned at the stake there in the seventeenth century.

Could this Olga Sweater be my next knitting project?

Frank Gehry's house has won the American Institute of Architects 25 year award .

Unravelling 2012 - planning the year ahead - a workbook (Thanks Emily).

xx

Mid-century merchandising

The art of window display in the mid 20th century from the Flickr collection of Sandi Vincent (via Aqua Velvet).

1. Window display Hermès, Paris by Annie Beaumel;  2. Christmas window for the Design Centre, London by George Him;  3. Christmas window display for the department store De Bijendorf, Rotterdam by W. Smits;  4. Fashion display for the Jelmoli department store, Zurich by Hans Erhardt. (Graphis 94, 1961).