Archive for the ‘Interiors & Decor’ Category
Have a gander at the unbelievably slick abode of my friend Luanne, as it appears in this month’s House & Leisure.
Everytime I walk in to this sexy space, I get an overwhelming urge to paint every wall in my house white, stain the floors dark and import some of Lulu and her man Jonny’s imagination and magic. They be two very clever creatives.
All photographs: Frank Features
If you like what you see, then buy this month’s issue of House & Leisure that deals specifically with giving small spaces more soul.
Hello lovely ifor1 readers!
Justine has kindly asked me to write a décor inspired post for you every Friday and I’m only too happy to comply. Here’s my first piece of décor and design candy for you.
xx Vicki, I Want That
One of my favourite purveyors of gorgeous pieces for the home is the ever-interesting Imagenius on Cape Town’s trendy Long Street. It’s an emporium of inspiration, a destination for design and a stopover for those days when you need a visual pick-me-up.
 All I see are little signs saying 'Buy me! Buy me!' Owner Jacqui Hunter fills her space with quirky finds from here and abroad (top tip: she stocks Tord Boontje products!), commissions can’t-live-without products (like beautiful leather purses and bags) and scouts out local jewellers, artists and ceramists to do her store proud.
You’ll also find a fab selection of weird and wonderful trinkets like windup robots, miniature brides and grooms and notebooks and paper products to satisfy your inner stationery slut.
These are a few of the things that have recently caught my eye at Imagenius.
Everyone needs a robot in their lives, don’t you think? The mirror ball is to inspire me to disco up my life, the suitcase-chair gives armchair travel new meaning (and I have the perfect little corner of my bedroom in mind for it) and the Tord Boontje vase is just another product from this Dutch design genius that I really, really want.
Find Imagenius at 117 Long Street, 021-423 7870.
 This time it was “Mondrian: From Naturalism to Abstraction,” but at least the TV was finally on. (Photo: Chad Holder; Dwell, April/May 2005) I love this! The blog is called Unhappy Hipsters, is written anonymously and sums up the power a witty caption can yield over an image. Check it out for a good giggle…
If I could imagine my ultimate workspace and then dream it into reality, it would have to be the Visionaire offices in New York. Check out this shoot of the space by Todd Selby, of cult interiors photography blog theselby, who photographed co-founder and editor of the magazine, Cecilia Dean, in her happy place. Lucky girl.
All photographs: Todd Selby on TheSelby
 tweet tweet So here’s a pretty cool comparison: about a year ago, I bought this black birdie wall vinyl from a UK website and paid close to R1000 for it – and that’s without shipping costs.
 a zen moment The great news is that that same vinyl and others, like the beautiful organic pattern one I’ve just stuck up on my newly-painted bathroom wall, are now available locally from MyWallTattoos, and the even better news is they’re much more budget friendly! This one, which at 1m x 1m is lovely and big, was only R520 – I think that’s seriously good value.
You can choose your size (small, medium, large) and colour and even though Scruff wasn’t convinced of the silver on grey, once he saw the beautifully muted end-result, he admitted it was ‘very subtle’, ha!
 Aww, how could I resist? Look what I bought at the second Quirky Me open day – a canvas print by Lauren Fowler by my favourite poet, profound thinker and all-round Great Man, Dr. Seuss.
It’s so great to see fresh, innovative thinking and Ingrid Corbett, owner of the recently launched Quirky Me, has it in bucket-loads – all carefully colour-coordinated, of course!
Her house is her showcase and I heard more than one shopper enviously ask her if she couldn’t please come and work her magic in their home-spaces.
I don’t blame them – I am currently trying to coerce the lady herself to drink tea with me and hopefully divulge some of her top tips…
If you’d like to view more of Ingrid’s wares, email Ingrid on reachingrid@gmail.com
Wow, tagged along with my sister today to her friend Natalie’s flat – she lives in Happy Valley (cool name, huh?) – the HK equivalent of Tamboerskloof or Parktown North.
Loved her flat, in particular the art (my favourite was by Natalie herself) and the wallpaper, especially the graffiti goldfish. Whitewashed parquet flooring, a celebration of festive colours and incredible antiques, including a 250-year old bed that she bought in Portobello Market in London.
Camomile tea, custard tarts and the delights of Lola, Natalie’s daughter, and her Frenchie bulldog, Clea, all added to the happy ambience of a cosy Hong Kong afternoon.
Oh my, I was lucky enough to have lunch today with a friend at the exclusive new Sea Five boutique hotel in Camps Bay (yes, I hate my life) and couldn’t resist snapping some of the exquisite interiors.
Decorated by Francois Du Plessis, it’s a calm, beautifully balanced space where natural textures like wood and concrete surfaces emphasise the cosy comfort of woven wool lamp shades, exquisite linens and touchy-feely throws. I literally wanted to sink into the nearest couch and never leave.
I loved the way they hung the rattan dining chairs from hooks on the wall in the compact breakfast area – a refreshingly original storage solution, plus most of the walls downstairs are painted various shades of grey, so obviously I approve!
My best, though, was the penthouse suite, with its 180 degree view of the beach, enormous bath and four poster bed made up with the finest Italian linens. Yup, would not say no to Scruff taking me there for, oh, I don’t know – some little thing called a FIVE year wedding anniversary, hint hint!! Actually, since he doesn’t even read this blog I think I’m hinting to deaf ears. Sigh, poor me!
This fabulous Llandudno abode, as featured in the latest Elle Decoration, belongs to my friend Mia and her super talented hubby, Dave Scholtz, who also happens to be the architect who designed it. Yes, they actually live in this sublime space – lucky things!
And the hits just keep on coming… I’m a huge fan of the work of Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and when I read that they’d just finished the interior of Dos Palillos, the new restaurant of the boutique Casa Camper Hotel in Berlin, I had to track down images to include on the blog.
The idea behind the interior was to set up the 10 chefs, headed by Albert Raurich, elBulli’s former chef – as the performers and the 30 diners as the spectators in the performance experience of creating incredible food.
The huge expanses of glass in the windows of the restaurant – which is located on the ground floor of the Casa Camper hotel – allows passersby on the street to also participate as they watch the interaction between chefs and diners.
I love the clean lines, the warm glow of the space and the finesse of the Bouroullec aesthetic. If you’re in Berlin, please try and go, take photos and then tell me all about it!
 Now that I think about it, it still needs...
Ta daaaaa, it’s finished. It only took two years of living in an empty shell, but at last, at last, in the very last days before we leave for holidays, my once-empty lounge is finally finished. Well, almost…
![December 2009 157 [640x480]](http://www.ifor1.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/December-2009-157-640x480.jpg "December 2009 157 [640x480]")
I sent Liebe to an interesting fashion and interiors collaborative launch last week and she sent me more than 30 photos afterwards in an email saying, ‘It was that awesome!’.
The Dressing Room – which carries labels like Michelle Harper, Vertigo, Aldo, Marion and Lindie – is a one-stop clothes, shoes and accesories shop for film productions and photo shoots. ‘I could have browsed through the racks all night,’ sighs Liebe.
She was also raving about the Give It Bag handbags, clutches and sling that come in super cute customised designs. ‘They’re the perfect, guilt-free purchase because they’re all made from recycled materials,’ Liebe adds.
As for the scatter cushions and oversized totes from Lula Fabrics - made up in Melissa Kerkhoff’s signature graphic prints, well, they were gorgeous enough to make me wish I hadn’t missed the event… Next time!
Quirky Me December 17th, 2009
 Friendly poodle 
Popped in to the launch of my friend Ingrid’s (who used to edit Real Simple magazine) decor, accessories and homeware range, Quirky Me, on Saturday and have to say, Magazine Land’s loss is the decor world’s serious gain.
The open-day was held at her (unbelievable!) house, where guests sipped champers or homemade lemonade and listened to jazz as they shopped. And shopped. And shopped…
I went home with an amazing wrought-iron bird feeder to hang in our newly-planted trees, but am going back for a sandblasted mirror, perspex bunny and driftwood word. Hand-knitted blankies, engraved breadboards, restored furniture and carved wood accessories tempted me too! Take my word for it, it’s def worth a look.
Contact Ingrid: 082 417 1885
You may remember a few weeks ago I posted about the coffee table from Klooftique that had become such a sore point between me and Scruff. Well, I won. Ha!
Here is proof of the amazing design and wonderful service of Klooftique – who dealt with my requests for custom elements, a different finish and an unobtainable wood with absolute calm. Thank you, I love, love, love it – and so does Scruff!
It’s official: the new section of the Cape Quarter shopping centre in GreenPoint is the place to be on a sunny Friday afternoon.
I meandered around there last Friday and couldn’t believe how buzzy it was with tourists, shoppers and business people escaping work for an early (long) lunch.
 So tempting...
I popped in to the new addition to the Nap Living family and so badly wanted to buy these charcoal and white felt throws, but hunger overtook all other urges so I happily sat down to a roasted tomoato tart tartin and homemade iced tea.
 Food shop food shop food shop... Food!
Yum!
I used to own a pretty impressive collection of retro furniture – cobbled together over years and thanks to many hours rummaging through markets, dusty second-hand stores and websites dedicated to collectibles
Friends thought I was crazy to sell it all off when we moved into our newly built and very contemporary home, but my mid-century collection looked out-of-proportion and out-of-place in our new-century home. And besides, Scruff was getting that pained ’she’s impossible’ look, so, you know, I did what I had to do…
Still, I can’t help myself: the magpie in me is alive and well. I collect antique teapots and teacups, love finding pre-loved gems in hidey-hole thriftstores and often waft about Cape Town’s many retro furniture stores in a state of sentimental bliss.
So when Sam Morrison emailed me about Prop Stars – a retro collectibles rental space in New Doornfontein – she immediately had my undivided attention…
‘It’s hard not to get swept away by Graham Weakley’s passion for all things retro,’ Sam says, after a visit to the huge old building Graham and his equally retro-fied partner Eunice Kok, transformed into their shrine to decades past. ‘
‘Unfortunately, nothing’s for sale because of the huge rental demand from film, TV and events. And believe me, I’ve begged,’ moans Sam.
Well, that’s that then: if the blonde yogi-warrior-in-heels can’t ‘ohm’ them into submission, nobody can…
So here’s my dilemma: when it comes to coffee tables, Scruff and I have very different tastes, which is why we’ve avoided buying one for about, oh, I dunno – a decade?
Everything I like, he thinks is too over the top and everything he likes is, well, a little bit kuk.
So the news that I’d fallen in love with this particular design – spotted in the window of Klooftique after attending an exhibition at Salon 91 a few weeks ago – did not go down well…
Not because he found the design particularly offensive. Nay, rather because the price tag made him feel a tad weepy.
What to do? Make the man of your dreams happy or make the coffee table of your dreams yours?
Sigh. It’s not easy letting the love of your life down. Still, I’m pretty positive he’ll grow to love the coffee table, given time…
Roll Over November 11th, 2009
‘For budget and style-savvy fabric shoppers, try Nigel Lardner-Burke’s new Fabric House - just across the street from The Palms on Woodstock Main Road for premium quality fabrics at ridiculously low prices.
The shop requires a bit of browsing, but fabrics are cleverly organised by colour and weave to help distract from the bargain-basement vibe. I’ve spotted top fashion and interior designers perusing the stacks of fab fabrics, so is def worth a visit’ - Willow Constantine, Style Scout.
 Ceramics by Catherine Brenner
Was browsing around Florida Road and found Artisan Contemporary Gallery where I found these intricately beautiful ceramics by KZN artist, Catherine Brenner…
The organic textures and colourful play on fabrics like lace makes a nice change from the onslaught of all-white that’s starting to overwhelm the world of ceramics, or at least it feels like that in Cape Town, anyway.
‘My husband, Matt, and I are obsessed with lighting in our apartment,’ says Style Scout Sam Morrison, adding: ‘we have more lamps than we do places to put them.
So our friends weren’t surprised to hear that we have once again ‘invested” in a new chandelier after finally deciding to replace the existing one in our passage.
We first spoted the Willowlamp a few years back at Design Indaba, and have lusted after one ever since.
Designed by local creative geniuses Adam Hoets & Sian Eliot , these gorgeous handmade lamps and chandeliers are made from what we know as bath chain. It’s mindblowing the level of intricate detail and amazing art that can be formed with such a mundane object.
They’ve won numerous awards and have gone global in the US, UK and in Europe, and I’m ecstatic to say that one will soon be hanging in our well lit home.
When I interviewed Clive Rundle a couple of weeks ago – minutes before his SA Fashion Week show was due to start – he was supremely stressed out: the show coincided with the move to his new-look store at The Firs in Rosebank, and the timing couldn’t have been worse…
The store is now officially open and, as Clive says, it’s a whole new look and direction for his brand. I love the spiral, metal staircase with crazy curtaining, clever use of mirrors and industrial-looking hanging rails that all help to make the compact space look, and feel, expansive. Makes for happy shopping, yes?
 The White Shirt, Clive-style
Check it out: one of my favourite decor blogs, Design Sponge, is now publishing a book. They’re looking for contributors, so if you’re keen, get hold of them!
 I'm just potty about these pretties!
Allow me a small moment away from fashion, if you will… All the craziness of the past few weeks means that I’ve been neglecting my House Project (you know, the one where you furnish it?) and the empty spaces are driving me crazy.
Today I woke up on a mission, so I phoned the cabinet-maker (he’s only 4 weeks behind schedule); the guy installing the wallpaper (6 weeks behind schedule) and the electrician (who is permanently MIA, and when he does arrive, somehow manages to do very little).
Now I’m cybershopping and saw these brilliant vases on the Elle Decor blog, by top local ceramicist Louise Gelderblom. Would look brilliant on my soon-to-exist TV unit… For those of you not blessed enough to live in Cape Town, where the artist lives and works, buy yours through her recently-launched online shop.
‘I love this banana bowl by Harry Allen of Areaware. I stumbled across it in Hejfina in Chicago – a chic, urban lifestyle store that you absolutely have to visit if you’re there…’ – Juliet Hutton-Squire
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![December 2009 157 [640x480]](http://www.ifor1.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/December-2009-157.jpg "December 2009 157 [640x480]")
