The Swelle Life

Bathtubs You Can Paint!

I was doing some online daydreaming which is actually part of my job these days as an Ideabook contributor for the hugely inspiring Houzz.com (see the widget in the sidebar), and I found these gorgeous cast iron slipper baths which can be painted! I love anything customisable and my imagination began to run wild. Blush pink? Dusty blue? The exterior comes with a grey primer finish so you can do whatever you like. Pastel stripes? That's the challenge of customisation, I become hopelessly indecisive. You can also take the standard Black Imperial cast iron feet or upgrade to chrome, white or antique gold. Oh boy.

Above is the Imperial Ritz style which comes in two sizes, and below is the Imperial Waldorf and Imperial Bentley showing other tap configurations and colour possibilities. And then there are other paintable styles that have modern feet or bases and that's where my mind begins to become overwhelmed!

What do you think of the hardwood floor? Laminate flooring would make the most sense if you want that look in the bathroom. A friend has rustic planks in hers which is a huge space and with it being all wood it has a completely different feel, as if it's another room in the house that happens to have a bath, shower and toilet. I mean you can dance around in there and not run into anything! (Yes, I can attest to that.) I lalso love glass tile and hope to one day have a huge bathroom that is covered in pool blue tiles, looking straight out of a David Hockney painting.

Bil Donovan Adorns the New Dior Suite, St. Regis NY

Where do I start...these images are pure joy! I'm humbly grateful to Bil Donovan for sending these to me (plus another tremendous treat further down). This is the new Dior Suite at The St. Regis New York. It's a stunningly decorated suite made spectacular by the presence of a nine by five foot watercolour painting by Bil Donovan who is Dior Beauty's resident artist. The photos alone left me breathless, so I can only imagine how the room feels with such a powerful thing of beauty looking on.

So many important and exquisite details were considered in the decorating of these rooms by Caroline Rippeteau and Bree Dahl that I couldn't bear to simply summarise, so here is the article from the The St. Regis magazine which tells of all the glorious finery:

   

In his painting for the Dior Suite, Bil Donovan has portrayed figures wearing two original Christian Dior dresses, one from Marc Bohan (1960-1989) and the other a creation of Gianfranco Ferré (1989-1997).

 

And Bil gave me a very special gift to share, a fifth painting from the Dior collections that wasn't included in the Suite's original:

 

I interviewed Bil Donovan earlier this year and featured some of his incredibly beautiful paintings, you can read it here

THANK YOU, BIL!!!

Versailles Series: Le Théâtre de la Reine

Last week we saw Marie Antoinette's wee bedroom (I just read that this was indeed her original bed) and that was the last view from inside the Petite Trianon. Walking outside, I had no idea which way to go. I stared into a small marsh trying to see one of the bullfrogs loudly croaking and did. And off in the distance was the Temple of Love filled with people, in the middle of nothing (I think, maybe I would have seen something had I gone out there).

I saw pathways in at least half a dozen directions and didn't know which one to take, I didn't want to miss anything. I hate maps and the one for Marie Antoinette's domain was so busy I didn't even bother to check it. In case you haven't figured it out, I'm not one to plan a route, I'd rather just go and see what happens. (When I was much younger I drove, or rather 'fled' to New York City once with a friend and stupidly refused to look into just how I would get to Manhattan where we had arranged to stay with her friend (who was an assistant photographer to Annie Leibovitz at the time. I wonder what she's doing now). I wound up in the Bronx talking to a gas station attendant through a drawer. Well, I talked and he didn't. You couldn't even see the guy, he was behind opaque black bullet proof glass with duct tape all over it and I knew I had to get back in the car and out of there fast. So I  followed a police car into a sketchy apartment complex for help getting out and they thought that was suspicious - it was 3 a.m. - so the two officers got out of their cars and walked over to talk to us. They saw my Ontario plates and one asked in his thick New York accent 'Ontario's beautiful  - whaddya doin' here?' I explained and they gave us directions, and as they were walking away they stopped to talk, looked back at us and came back over. The one said 'Hey, can you do us a favour? Our friend over there (pointing to another police car parked at the side of the building) is sleepin'. Can you bang on his window and scare 'em?' I said 'No thank you, I don't want to get shot in the face'. We arrived at the place in Manhattan soon after and I've never been happier to be in a stranger's tiny, weird-smelling apartment. I no longer 'just see what happens' in those situations.)

Back to Versailles. Here's the rear view of the Petite Trianon:
  

You can see one of the paths on the left:

Then I found myself in a garden of manicured hedges and those neat rectangular trees that look like tree lollies: 
 

When I walked out I found myself in front of a building. I didn't know it (remember I don't look at maps) but I was entering the Théâtre de la Reine, or the Queen's Theatre, and what a surprise!

 

I'm going to quote what the Chateau de Versailles website tells us about this small, breathtaking theatre, le Théâtre de la Reine:

Richard Mique’s work, architect of Marie-Antoinette

While the Opera of Versailles was a theatre of court, the small room at Trianon was a theatre of society, as many existed then in residences in the countryside where, to pass the time, the owners and their guests would put together plays or operas. During her childhood in Vienna, Marie-Antoinette had gotten used to these familiar performances. She wanted to do the same with her close relations, princes of the royal family and some rare friends.

In 1780, on the orders of Marie-Antoinette, Richard Mique built this theatre whose severe exterior contrasts with the refined interior which, through its harmonies of blue, white and gold, recalls the opera of Versailles, only smaller since it has a capacity of only a hundred people: the domestic service on the floor and the guests on the first floor behind the boxes with grids. But the greatest luxury is not in the wooded room painted in a false, veined white marble and adorned with sculptures made of pasteboard, it lies in the machinery used for the scenery changes, which was fortunately preserved. On the stage of Trianon, plays by authors who were fashionable at the time, such as Sedaine and Rousseau, were acted out and entire operas were sung, and everyone agreed that the Queen was very good.

The view from the foyer of the theatre

 

To see the previous posts in the Versailles Series click here!

Photos © The Swelle Life

It's a Miracle! My First Homegrown Herbs

  

My first home-grown herbs, fragrant and peppery oregano

It might just be a little pot with herb sprigs, but it's my first attempt at gardening and it was a success! Love the Garden sent me everything I needed including soil, seeds - mine were oregano - and a bottle of Miracle Gro. I found a pretty pot to sit on my kitchen window sill, put it all together and in a week or so saw the first sprouts appear. Next thing I know I've got a jungle of green, peppery leaves and I'm ripping them off to use in sauces and on pizza. Every basil plant I've bought has died a miserable death, so I'm really hoping that I'll have better luck growing my own herbs and my reputation as Plant Killer will be redeemed.

(I have to admit there might be a horrific scene when I return to England. When we left for our six-week visit to Canada I put it, along with a flowering plant, outside. I did the same the last time we went away and everything was fine - plants will not go thirsty in England and I placed them so they couldn't be blown over. But, today I heard that there's a flood warning for the north east - apparently we had a month's worth of rainfall in one day. Let's hope they drained well...if not, this will be the first time I've apologised to oregano.)

If you love gardening you may want to 'like' Love the Garden's Facebook page (that's a lot of emotion happening there) and you'll get all kinds of expert tips and advice on growing plants and flowers and updates on their gardening projects.

Here's an infographic illustrating how Brits are getting into homegrown:

 

Grow your own infographic from LoveTheGarden.com

Floral Friday! Wallington's Walled Garden

Now we enter the walled garden at Wallington at last. After a beautiful walk in, past the mansion and past the lush lily pond with baby coots frollicking about and a bed floating in it, I came upon the wall and went through the wood and iron door. On the other side was the most stunningly landscaped garden with sheep grazing on the green hills that overlook this romantic dreamland.

 
 
  

I love the texture of this plant that I don't know the name of.

 

 
    
   

 

   
     

 

Photos © The Swelle Life

Versailles Series: Marie Antoinette's Petite Chambre

I've been dying to get back to my tour of Versailles! We're back on track now with Marie Antoinette's bedroom. I know what you're thinking, "This can't be it." Well, this was just one, her bedroom in the Petite Trianon, her private chateau (which really was private - husband Louis had to ask permission to enter, not that he really cared to).

It's very modest in contrast to its salons, though surely better than anything we have, but still very small (which is why the angles in the photos are short):

Either she was incredibly petite or she liked to sleep in the fetal position. I don't think she had a choice here!

The reflection in the mirror looks odd due to my crude eradicating of the tourists (yes, I know I am one, too, we're all guilty of ruining each other's photos) 

Marie Antoinette's other 'throne'

Now I found this a bit odd. As you stand in the doorway to her bedroom you will find a tiny salon to the left. I guess this was her ensuite sitting room and there's nothing strange about that, but it just felt so awkward, kind of shoehorned into the space. Though still lovely and not lacking in the handcrafted detail of the grand salons, done in white with gorgeous silvery blue tapestry accented with lots of gilt, of course.

That second mirror on the outside wall seems strangely placed?

 
    

Lots more to come next week (and the next week, and the next week...)!

Photos © The Swelle Life

Floral Friday! The Walk Into Wallington

(Apologies for missing Versailles which I promised for yesterday. We travelled back to Toronto to find that the cable and internet were out. So Rogers made a liar out of me. Ach. However, I am flagellating myself for not delivering, it's way overdue.) 

The proper title of this post is actually 'The Walk Into Wallington's Walled Garden' but that's a big of a tongue twister. Last week I showed you the incredible pond, dense with lily pads and frollicky baby coons, which is actually what's behind this gate after you've walked a couple of minutes through the forest:

And we continue the tour which makes no chronological sense at all because I'm taking you back to the beginning!

 

The mansion at Wallington is a real treasure trove of curiosities. Last year I showed you the dollhouse rooms but there's so much more and I'll get to it one day ...

   

Next week we finally get into the walled garden which is so beautiful you won't be able to stand it.

Photos © The Swelle Life

Floral Friday: Six Baby Birds and a Bed in a Pond

First - I've been travelling this week and am now in Toronto for my summer visit home. Next week I will get back to Interiors and Exteriors on Thursday and finish showing you Marie Antoinette's domain at Versailles...

I think Monet would have appreciated this scene. Carrying on from last Friday's intro to my visit to the walled garden at Wallington in Northumberland (in the north east of England in case you're not familiar), I take you to the pond which was a wonderful surprise on my way to the gardens. After walking through a forest we came upon the lily pad covered water and I noticed some movement on the surface - it was six fluffy black baby birds! I think they were coots, a marsh bird. They were so light that as they ran with their spindly legs the lily pads didn't even move.

 

Two other babies look for food amongst the firm yellow flowers:

 

What is that off in the distance?

Why, a bed of course!

I can't find anything about this bed which makes it even more mysterious. It's an installation, but who put it there? I don't really care why, it was neat. Like a (very) small-scale Cristo and Jean-Claude.

It started to pour. Luckily this was on my way out after being through the garden (see some of those next week) and it wasn't enough to deter me from taking another shot:

Photos © The Swelle Life

Floral Friday! Contrasts at Wallington

I went back to Wallington in Northumberland today to photograph their stunning walled garden which I missed when I visited last year. And had I actually known what I was missing I wouldn't never have been able to leave. Last time, I spent a couple of hours in the mansion, particularly in the dollhouse rooms which you can see here and here (I never did post anywhere near what I had altogether, I hope to dig out the rest one day).

These gardens quickly became my new favourite place and I'd love to go back with a picnic and just take it all in without my eyeball pressed against the viewfinder. A serene, huge pond covered in lily pads with baby coots (a black marsh bird) running atop greeted us on the way to the garden gate, and I couldn't pull myself away. (Somewhere my husband is nodding firmly and slowly with eyes glazed over.) Oh! And there was a red and white bed floating in it! Come back next Friday to see what I'm talking about.

To start, here are some of my favourite shots from a small patch in their enormous and breathtaking garden. The gardener seems to have wanted to create a bit of drama and planted a few varieties of vivid flowers with leaves so dark they appeared black. I especially love the first photo, the flowers appear as if they were painted.

 
 
  
 
 
 
 

Photos © The Swelle Life

Versailles Series: Marie Antoinette's Chateau, the Petit Trianon Pt. 1

Originally built by Louis XV between 1762-1768 for his long-term mistress, Madame de Pompadour (who did not wear a pompadour), the Petit Trianon was eventually given to Marie Antoinette by Louis XVI when he became the King of France (and let's not forget Navarre) in 1774. Unlike the elder mistress of his grandfather who died four years before its completion, Queen Marie actually did live in it.

At 19, she'd already been married for five years after being shipped off from Austria by her mother to marry the future king of France and didn't care much for her royal duties.  She spent much of her time in the (relatively) little chateau and its gardens with her few friends, and later with her children.

It is said that even King Louis wasn't allowed to enter his wife's domain without her permission (impressive) and that he really didn't mind. (You can take that both literally and figuratively - he was more into his hobbies than his wife and they didn't consummate their marriage until 1777, according to a letter Marie Antoinette wrote to her mother. However, considering they were 15 and 14 years old when they married it makes the whole thing far less gross. )

And our tour continues! (The really cool rooms start with the next post.) As you walk into the grounds of the Petit Trianon you see...

 
 

 

     

  

 

Have you seen that Seinfeld episode where George's dad puts a pool table in a tiny room and every time someone goes to shoot they slam their cue into the wall, themselves or someone else? This room reminds me of that.

 
 

 

  

 

 

 

 
  

Everything must be gold!

 

 

 
   
 
 

 
 

 

Lots more to follow and it gets better. This tour is a slow burner!

Photos © The Swelle Life

The Last of Paris...

 

 

 

 

One of the views from our hotel balcony...I miss it

 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
   

Photos © The Swelle Life

Paris Week: Jardin du Luxembourg Pt. 2

Carrying on from last week's Pt. 1, here are more glimpses of one of my most favourite places, Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. And now I cry.

 

 
 
 
 
I understand now why Parisians are so slim. There are scales all over the park so you can keep that bread and pastry intake in check.

This may not be the best view:

 

 

 

These kids were antagonising the pigeons for about half an hour. I guess they know how to make their own fun.

 
 
  
  
 
 

Photos © The Swelle Life

Versailles Series, Pt. 1: Bassin de Neptune

While in Paris I visited Versailles for the first time. Why I didn't go when we lived there I have no idea, maybe I fell into that trap of thinking you have lots of time, then it's gone. Here is the first of what will be many, many posts from Versailles. I walked for 6 hours straight, didn't eat, got a bit of sunstroke and took over 1000 pictures,  and I didn't even see the main palace. (And I'm not finished with my show and tell of Paris, either!)

This series is all about Marie Antoinette's domain, the Petite Trianon and the Grand Trianon.

Admittedly, this introduction, starting with Bassin de Neptune, is the most boring of the scenery. How's that for a lead-in! It's the very first thing I saw when I left the grounds of the palace to go to the trianons of Marie Antoinette's domain. It was stunning in person and I'd wish I had a picnic with me, but of course it can't compare to the structures and the lavish rooms of the palaces, or the gardens, in photos. I could have edited heavily and got into it quicker, but I'm showing all of the angles for those who haven't been and want a feel for what's it really like to be there.

The Bassin de Neptune took over a century to complete (and you thought condos were scandalously behind schedule) and features in Versailles' spectacular fountain show. I did not see this spectacular fountain show. But it's just as well, I seriously could not take in any more beauty than I already had, it was gorgeousness overload and all I wanted to do at the end of the day was drop to the ground and sleep. I don't recommend that, however, there are a lot of dogs about.

I hope you like green.

   
 
 

 

     

 

 

The trees have been sculpted to look like giant hedges. How do they do it? And how often to maintain the sharpness of the edges? I can't find an answer, so if you know, please tell us in the comments!

 

This is the tree-lined path to Marie Antoinette's domain - a long, serene walk with horses and sheep providing the periferal scenery. This little lamb likes to walk around with his tongue sticking out, as so many of us do:

Photos © The Swelle Life

Paris Week: Jardin du Luxembourg Pt. 1

One of my most favourite places in Paris is Jardin du Luxembourg. We got to know it well in 2009 when we lived next to it, and found it still had all of its magic when we were there again last week.  It didn't even give me allergies.

In the spirit of brevity, a concept with which I am only vaguely familiar, let's let the photos tell the story...

 

 

 
  

"I am very sorry to have to tell you this, Mademoiselle, but this will be the last horsie ride."

"Oh, wow... I need to take a moment. Damn."
 
 
 
    

 

 

 

 

Even the snack bar is pretty.

   

Photos © Denise Grayson, The Swelle Life

Paris, in lieu of Cupcake Monday (coming later!)

Sunday was our first full day in Paris after arriving late Saturday (and gorging on crepes for both dinner and dessert - savory + sweet = regret sometimes). Now, I was aware it was Sunday, and that Monday tends to follow, but my responsibilities around Cupcake Monday completely eluded me. Somehow, in the 403 photos I've taken so far, none of them are of cupcakes, pastries, macarons or food of any kind. I had great food today but it was not photogenic. In fact, it would have looked gross had I shown you and you would have asked why I was doing that to you. Cream sauces. However, I did see some great Easter windows at the many chocolatiers on St-Germain where we're staying, but I have a habit of being either in observer/photographer mode or shopping mode, the latter of which I was doing as the Easter Bunny, and I really have to try to merge those modes. (Admittedly I have one of those brains where a new thought pushes out an old one.)

So for now, here are photos from my day, and I promise I will bring you the sweet, pretty things later today and throughout the week because as sure as Sarkozy is horny I will eat a lot of them.

This is the view taken our first night from our hotel balcony, you can see Notre Dame and the Centre Pompidou:

  
 

 

  
  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Photos © The Swelle Life

Interiors & Exteriors: Two New Old Teacups

Can you take another week of vintage teacups? I've just added two more cup and saucer sets to my collection and couldn't wait to photograph one of them especially, I bet you can guess which.

The beautiful handpainted turquoise and gold floral set is from Noritake, but oddly the mark on the bottom of the teacup is only a partial print of their Komaru symbol with no writing other than what looks like three errant letters, and as far as I've found there wasn't an era in Noritake production where only the symbol was used. I wonder if it's a second? On one side of the exterior the handpainted flowers remain, but the gilt decoration is completely missing, as if it was never there. Considering the other side shows hardly any wear, and the inside  is full ornate, it seems intentional for whatever reason. More than likely it's pre-1921. But it's so gorgeous and so delicate, it's like eggshell, none of this matters. Let's call this piece mysterious and curious!

The other set is a perfect little miniature George Jones.  In 1907 Trent Pottery became Crescent and after 1921 the marks said 'Made in England', so that puts this set somewhere between 1907 and 1921. It's incredible that so much of this delicate china survives 100 years.

For the two previous vintage teacup and teacup posts see the Interiors & Exteriors archive

 
  

   
 

All photos  © The Swelle Life

Interiors & Exteriors: My Favourite (Nearly) Antique Teapot

  

Following on last week's column where I did a show and tell of my favourite teacups (what's the past tense of 'show and tell'? Showed and told? Show and telled?), I introduce my beloved teapot. It's a Noritake, circa 1920s that I fell in love with at first sight in a Bristol antique shop. Noritake produced this style in Japan for the English market (this wasn't what the Japanese were into, of course). I don't use it for tea, it sits on the mantle as the centrepiece of the living room.  I'd like to use it maybe once or twice but because of something the antiques shop owner said, I don't dare.

Its beauty lies in its colour, style and delicate detailing: handpainting in turquoise and pinks with a bit of yellow and green, all finely outlined in gold, all of that glorious gilt, the delicate handle and spout - if you know what this style is called please let me know, is it double scroll? - and its uncommon pedestal style. I would have happily paid three times as much as was being asked, it's exquisite and pure joy. Luckily I didn't have to as I didn't really have the money!

One teensy thing - I can't help but imagine how it could be even more beautiful if the bottom half was painted as well. That struck me at first, I wondered if the artisan went for the lunch and it got fired before he was finished! Noritake produced so many generously ornate pedestal teapots that I can't help but think twice. But I do love it as it is.

I'm always on the lookout for beautiful antique or vintage teapots and am especially interested in Noritake's pedestal styles, so if you have any great finds to share, please do!

 

To Sip a Cup of Roses...

To sip a cup of roses you need some whole dried fragrant rosebuds with hot water poured over in a pretty teacup.  Mine come courtesy of my lovely friend Kate who got some as a gift at the Charles Anastase show last September. I think that beats a bottle of water!

The tea is soft and tastes perfumey, as you would imagine, and it's gorgeously aromatic. So be sure to indulge in a sniff with every sip! (I didn't feel like drinking the rest of  my third cup so I just held it to my face and repeatedly huffed it. Best to do that when you're alone.)

Update! My brilliant Kate offers this suggestion for the leftover tea (after huffing it, of course): "I freeze left over tea into little ice cubes.  Something pretty to put into home made limeade in the summer!" For Kate's fantastic limeade recipe see here!

My small collection of teacups and pots are among the prettiest things I own. I've decided to show my absolute favourite teapot in a separate post because I love it that much (it's a 1920s handpainted Noritake pedestal pot and you can see a preview in the shots below), but for now here are some of my favourite cups and saucers which include my newest Wedgwood, a stunning little deco set with lavender and pink flowers, even on the inside of the rim (I love it when the pattern is carried through to the inside, it's so stark otherwise). It was the obvious choice to host the rosebuds.

Befitting such a gorgeous set was the box it came in. Look what you get when you buy something from Wedgwood's Harlequin collection (it's perfect atop the ivory French bookcase which needed something but I wasn't sure what):

Below is an adorable cup and saucer Christmas tree ornament from Wedgwood, if you haven't guessed. I wouldn't dare hang it on the tree, that slippery ribbon would slide right off the needles and it would probably break, and who wants to see this sweetness only once a year? So it sits on my French antique aqua painted side table where it and the other breakables act as a magnet for the hands of friends' small children (my daughter has never broken anything of mine so I forget that she's not typical). You can actually hear my teeth grinding.

This trio is from Royal Albert's 100 Years collection. They re-released an iconic style from each decade starting with 1900, and I had difficulty choosing whether to get the 1930s Polka Rose or the 1990s Hartington Lane. I know, you can't believe it either, that I went with 1990s design over the 1930s. The Polka Rose is a mint green tiny polka dot pattern but it just seemed such an obvious choice for me, so I went with the lilac set from the far less enchanting era, you don't see lovely purples all that often and I do love them.

If you look closely at the saucer and dessert plate below, you'll see a subtle (but more obvious in person) cross-hatch pattern all over the lilac. That is pretty much what makes it 90s, I can't really explain why it does but I think you might know what I mean? It's not a pattern that would likely ever be repeated as such and it bugs me a bit, actually! (I know, total weirdo.)

The most discernable features of good china are its pristine sheen (no relation to Charlie), and the gorgeous gold gilt detailing. I will just sit and stare (not for too long, don't worry), you can see how solidly made and perfect the pieces are, and you can feel it in your hands.

 

Come back for Interiors & Exteriors next Thursday if you want to see more of my favourite teapot!

New French Furniture Love: Out There Interiors

My love for French furniture is well documented here, but what really makes my heart explode with giddy glee is the painted variety, especially when done in soft and pretty pastels. So imagine my delight when I discovered Out There Interiors and saw these lovely and adorable pink and blue pieces. Better yet, the prices are affordable so I don't have to suffer unsatiated in my French furniture lust, I can actually own them!

The Princess chest of drawers is a great shade of soft pink and my daughter and I would be fighting over who gets it. I love the distressed gold handles and decorative locks and its shapely Bombay-style curves. I would happily kick out what I've currently got in the alcove on my side of the room for it, it's not a bad piece but it's ivory and it doesn't give me the smiles I would get upon seeing the pink when walking into my room, and I do love my colour.

Pink is wonderful but it's great to have a options that bring happiness. I have a super soft spot for washed-out turquoise, it gets me every time. The aqua Demi chest is beautifully distressed to look as if it was passed down through the generations and is finished with pretty pewter handles. Dreamy.

Out There Interiors is a UK-based online shop with a showroom in West London offering many exclusive items that they design and manufacture themselves, and all are from ethical sources. Their delivery costs are very reasonable and they are stated on the product pages so there's no shock at checkout. And they're very friendly, too. Can you tell I'm smitten?

 

Photos from Out There Interiors

Interiors & Exteriors: Saltburn-by-the-Sea

  

Now I love our beach, the aptly named Longsands that spans Tynemouth to Cullercoats, and the neighbouring idyllic King Edwards Bay with the Priory Castle overlooking the North Sea from its beautiful, craggy cliff. But last weekend I really fell hard for the beach and seaside community of Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire. We were visiting our lovely friends in their new home in Yarm for the first time and they spoiled us in all kinds of ways, and one of them was taking us to their local beach to share the beauty.

Not only was the beach gorgeous and expansive with an impressive look-out pier, there were all kinds of charming little shops, restaurants and ice cream stands, and of course anything one needed to surf (no, I didn't, that would look ridiculous).  It was a clear, sunny day and people from all over had come to pretend it was spring. I have never seen a queue so long for fish and chips, and in England that's saying a lot.  (It was worth the wait!)

This post  is for this week's Interiors & Exteriors feature and it's long enough sticking to the theme, so I'll post the beach shots separately. Are you craving fish and chips now? I am.

In the town, just a quick uphill walk from the beach, there were some great shops. I was already lagging behind and we needed to eat lunch so I didn't go in, but I wanted some photos of the wonderful window displays of Northern Lights Interiors

As I was snapping away I saw a woman smiling from inside - you can see her below! and I smiled and waved. As I headed down the road she came out after me and asked if I'd take photos of the storefront, they'd been having trouble getting them without cars in the way and I was happy to oblige. I even had a man ham it up for me!

 

We passed a random rusted-out door that appeared to lead to nowhere with a keypad right in the middle. I'll bet if you pushed the right numbers it would transport you to another dimension. Prove me wrong!

  This photo would have been so much cooler if I'd waited just 10 more seconds...

 

On display at Arts Bank were lamps and tables in vibrant patchwork by Jane Atkinson and a metal sculpture by Ray Lonsdale. Each contains a 'secret meaning' in the form of an object placed in the head. Now, if I'd read the brief beside this life-size contemplative man instead of taking a photo and reading at home, I would have looked and been able to tell you what was in his head! 

 
   

Photos by Denise Grayson

Designers Guild Daydreaming - Now Includes Lacroix!

Each time Designers Guild releases a new collection of wallcoverings, fabrics and furniture I find myself hopelessly entranced in their exquisite spaces. They have a knack for combining colours, textures, prints and shape in a way that appeals with both minimal and lush presentations and keeps me guessing as to which my heart longs for most!

If that wasn't enough, they are now working with Christian Lacoix. The house that is, the man himself is not technically involved, he's busy making costumes for the opera and theatre, and publishing books - his collaboration with Camilla Morton entitled Christian Lacroix and the Tale of Sleeping Beauty: A Fashion Fairy Tale Memoir is on its way to me and I cannot wait to get my hands and eyeballs all over it. But the offerings from Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild are just as good as we'd hope; the house's creative director Sacha Walkhoff was M. Lacroix's second in command for over seventeen years.  So yes, the house does still exist and under Walkhoff's creative direction, the house now shows menswear and accessories, womens accessories, eye wear, a line of stationery, fragrance and of now furnishing fabrics under worldwide license with Designers Guild.

As you can see, the floral and butterflies are my favourites of the Arles collection and as I write this I am looking around for something I can reupholster in it:

And I wholeheartedly adore DG's own collections. Off I go into la-la land...

    

The Carlu circle wallpaper in the top left photo below is what we have in our living room (in vanilla as seen) and in our bedroom (in nickel).  You can see it as the backdrop in the Swelle Boutique box beside the slider under my banner, I shoot all of my pieces in my living room. It's been 16 months and I still absolutely love it  - I knew it would endure beyond fleeting lust!

Images from Designers Guild

LFW: Orla Kiely's Enchanted Forest

   

I so look forward to Orla Kiely's presentation at each London Fashion Week. She transforms the Portico Rooms at Somerset House and it's like stepping into another, very beautiful, world. This season the setting was a forest, complete with birds perched in trees and in wooden birdhouses, and two cabins showing her collection film. Unfortunately I only had a few minutes this time and had to run off without sitting down to watch it, but from what I saw the way it was shot reminded me a bit of Un Chien Andalou!

Oh yes, and the clothes! There is so much to engage the senses that you almost forget about models and clothes until you see what felt like omnipresent beings. Very nicely dressed ones. Everywhere you looked there was the same platinum-haired model in a different outfit of course, superimposed on the walls and peering out from behind the barren tree branches. The colours were all very muted, as if they were meant to blend in with the scenery, bar a nice shock of tangerine.

I included this very blurry photo of Orla because it captured a sweet moment. I was taking a photo of the film from outside the cabin when she walked out, realised she was in my shot and made a very humble 'oops, sorry!' expression. It's ok, Ms. Kiely, you can step into my shot any time! She's awesome.

And have you seen the Orla Kiely cars? The microsite for the Citroen DS3 by Orla Kiely is a pretty neat interactive catalogue of the range. Click the image to see it.

 
   
 
 
 

 

Photos by The Swelle Life

Judith Frankland's Wonderful Car Boot & Museum Living Room

Judith's mother and aunt in 1955.

The first time I walked into Judith Frankland's living room I was taken aback. I had never seen a room like hers, ever. There are knick-knacks, or tchotchke as Judith likes to call them, everywhere you look - rainbow colour, texture galore, kitsch - and personal photos and artefacts from moments in fashion history I've only read about. I was in awe. I was just getting to know Judith, we'd only spoken on the phone before that day and the sight of her flat told me there was a heck of a lot to explore with my new (then) platinum-haired fashion designer friend, and it wasn't going to be done in one afternoon. It took about thirty minutes before I'd absorbed enough of my surroundings to be able to settle into it, I could not stop looking around. I found it a challenge to engage in conversation which says a lot as Judith is so full of fascinating stories.  A year and many visits later I'm still noticing curiosities on the tables, the walls and the shelves. And I'm still hearing new stories.

She has a pink microvave. She doesn't use it. Her kitchen is a bit like a 1950s version on acid, and the bathroom is lushly decorated with marine-themed objects. Of course it is.

There's a method to the madness. A quick glance around might have you thinking 'A crazy lady lives here' if you're devoid of imagination. Take a closer look and you'll see that's it all arranged quite meticulously and is dust-free. These are all things that she or someone who well knows her aesthetic leanings has picked up at flea markets and car boot sales, including her TV. She loves nuns and The Sound of Music. She has an original Sex Pistols t-shirt from Seditionaries, they were printed inside out, as well as the handkerchief. Not the fake kind Damien Hirst unwittingly paid thousands for, poor chump. These were made by Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood on their kitchen floor and somehow they remain in her possession; Judith's had many things stolen and even left some at John Lydon AKA Johnny Rotten's flat one time. Considering how much Judith has moved around in the last 30 years it's really a wonder anything's left.

And in case you're asking 'Who is this Judith character?' see her blog Frankly Frankland here or in the sidebar for a closer look.

  Judith has the first issue of Anarchy in the UK, pubished in 1976. That's the whole newspaper in there and she's offered to let me have a look and take some pictures of what's inside. Oh yes, please! You can't see this and not ask 'Who's that on the cover?' It's Soo Catwoman, a well-known figure from the London scene of 1976-77, the period we now know as punk, although as Soo says on her website it "defied description and didn't get its name for quite some time, having taken everyone by surprise." And as you can see, Judith is a fan of Tupac. Yep, she loves him. That's what great about Judith, you can't shoehorn her into a label!

The original Sex Pistols handerchief. I didn't ask Judith if she ever blew her nose on it.

There's the Sex Pistols t-shirt, among other items. That terrifying looking thing on the shelf is a form for making ventriloquist dummies. She sometimes helps out a friend who makes them by creating tiny little outfits with matching hats.

 
That's Judith in one of her designs, that fantastic skirt.

 

Judith designed and made the outfit featured on Visage's Fade to Grey single cover, worn by her good friend Steve Strange. The blond man with the glasses was also a friend, I believe he was in an 80s band and I'll check on that. He passed away. Judith lost a lot of friends to AIDS in the 80s.

  One of Judith's many abilities includes incredible flexibilty. Or maybe they're mannequin legs.

Her coffee table. It is under there.

 

 
 "Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the pinkest of them all?"

 
 
 
 

Photos by Denise Grayson

 Judith in her wonderful living room. When we shot, she felt the decor may not be 'enough'! Skirt and tie by Judith Frankland; jacket, shirt, and shoes are charity shop finds. Photo: Denise Grayson

Style guru, self appointed expert, critic, preacher? No way! I'm an upstart and a woman like many who loves - and in my case 'lives' - fashion and the world that lurks around it, a world I have stepped in and out of all my life living in London, Vancouver, Milan, Los Angeles and my beloved Paris. I have an excitable, excruciatingly inquisitive mind; I never stop thinking, plotting and some would say talking!

I am not a lover of the term "On trend"; I like to say "On form". Micro mini to maxi. If it feels right on the day I'll wear it - no sheep mentality for me. The only thing I follow is the weather - a hard job in Olde England. I, like zillions of others, love to wear clothes, dress up and be noticed, and I shall be incorporating a weekly look alongside my banter. I mix bargain buys, charity shop finds and my own creations. I'll be begging a hairstylist friend once in a while to do me a 'do as I'm not good with tongs unless provoked.

When Denise offered me this weekly spot on The Swelle Life I was so flattered and jumped at the chance to let off some creative steam and share my experiences, past and present. And we'll have a good old romp through my ever-expanding wardrobe, so come join me every Tuesdsay as I throw myself back into the lion's den to launch a new collection later this year.

Judith in one of her fantastic creations, a two-tiered skirt in a bubble of 'school boy' fabric over plaid ruffles in pink and purple.  Photos: Denise Grayson

A Brief History

My life so far has been full of surprises and more than my share of drama, which I seem to attract! My roots - well, the ones on my head are grey now - but the ones from my past were very colourful, from punk to New Romantic and a lot more along the way. Now you may think "Aha - trends!" but at the time they were fresh. I was in the right place at the right time at the right age. These were groundbreaking times, full of self expression and the desire to have a unique look. Often peoples' perception of punk is different from mine. In the early days, the look was bright, not just black, ripped and safety pinned. One of my outfits was an orange lurex two-piece, purple tights, odd dayglo socks, pink kitten heels. Bows all over my head, a plastic mac with small kids' toys attached (ok, with safety pins). That was one way I would troll up on Bromley high street on my way to college. I loathed college, and it wasnt keen on me either, at least the boring head honchos weren't. We would buy boiler suits and dye them bright colours, all very DIY and inexpensive. As my mood darkened mainly due to my dislike of that dreaded place, I started to embrace the all-black and tartan style and a bit of a bad attitude that was to become the punk stereotype.

 Judith in the mid-80s with friend and artist Tim Southall. Photo: Richard Sawdon Smith

The Blitz

Then the Blitz and Steve Strange came hurtling into my life where weekly we paraded around proud as peacocks. It was out and out glamour as we danced to the brilliant DJ Rusty Egan. Steve and Rusty started this night in the small wine bar in Holborn that held around 250 people. Lucky fashion plates, it changed the course of my life and gave chances to many others. I had met Steve through my degree show which was later labelled New Romantic and he bought several pieces from this collection.

Every week in the (less than) palatial South Kensington bedsit I shared with my friend, designer Richard Ostell, we would spend hours coming up with what to wear. Poor Richard had the labourious task of using a can of Elnette and a lot of elbow grease to create a bouffant for me without a hair extension in sight; in fact I'm not sure they existed then. We were optimistic, fame hungry, party animals with a fondness for cocktails and the fine things in life, but booted back to reality when the bank statement came as the majority of us were students. Apart from that it was a fantastic time!

At the Blitz you would rub shoulders with luminaries from the world of art, music, fashion, journalism and photography: Gilbert and George, Brian Clarke, model Marie Helvin, even John Lydon AKA Johnny Rotten, and many others. But not Mick Jagger. Steve Strange famously denied him entry one night - his look didn't pass! And then of course there were the stars of the near future strutting their stuff: Sade, Spandau Ballet, George (later to become Boy), and Midge Ure to name a few.

I had my "15 minutes" when I was handpicked to appear in David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes video. I followed this with a video for Visage's Mind of a Toy single, designing and making the costumes - more on both in a future post. The site Shapers of the 80s gives a very accurate look into this era with some great pictures. A few colourful if somewhat chaotic fashion shows were next and then off I was on my travels.

 

Milan and Onward

After a few moves I settled into running clubs in Milan and one-nighters throughout Italy. We brought from London the fabulous Gerlinde Costiff and hubby Michael with the "girls" and DJs from their legendary club, Kinky Gerlinky. Leigh Bowery hosted a night sporting two pairs of shoes at once and a toilet seat around his neck for starters. Showcases followed for Seal, Right Said Fred, Dee-Lite, Ru Paul, Lahoma van Zandt and super DJ Larry Tee from New York. Fashion shows, parties for MTV, the list is long. It was a crazy, fast time.

After some years in Milan I flew the nest to LA where I started a clothing label selling in various shops around the city. Next it was Paris where I happily started to export to Japan. A busy, satisfying life with lots of work and all rather glam in the way only Paris can be.

These days I'm treating my mind and body with respect, and as a friend brilliantly put it after his abstinence over the holidays, "My liver loves me." I'm channelling all my energy and my retirement from the wilder side of life into creativity. I have many frocks to make, places to see, people to meet, and things to learn - writing well being one of them. Be gentle with me, please! I'm full of surprises and hope you can be lured back even just to look at the pictures!

Join us next Tuesday for Balenciaga Hears the Sound of Music - how a journalist described Judith's graduate collection. She'll share photos of her fantastic creations and tell the story of that fateful night when David Bowie came into the Blitz and chose her, three friends and the fabulous black lace wedding dress from her collection to appear in the Ashes to Ashes video. A great story all around - and as promised, there will be surprises!

Introducing the Painted Houses Project!

If you've been to The Swelle Life before you've surely noticed things look a little different around here! This is a very visual, colourful blog and I wanted to present it in a way that makes the most of that look and feel while giving profile and easy access to my favourite features, many of which are new as you can see in the far sidebar.

One of these new features is the Painted Houses Project. It's a collaborative project that relies on your submissions, so I'm calling on fellow colour lovers to send in photos of beautiful, out of the ordinary hues in their world, whether it be in your neighbourhood or from your travels. It can include houses, doors, buildings, shops, cars, whatever you may find outside in a public place that has been made special with extraordinary colour.

Colour is not something to be afraid of, it's to be celebrated!

My new banner image is based on a photo I took in Bristol last April, shown below. I played with the hues to get the pinks, blues and purples. And yes, I know, it's very colourful! You know how I love my blues. Following are other photos taken around Bristol, a vibrant, beautiful city with so many gorgeous pastel painted houses in the Clifton area. I posted most of these last year but am including them again to kick off this project.

To submit your photo to the Painted Houses Project you can email me by clicking the Contact button in the banner menu, and be sure to tell us where in the world it is! Original photos are preferred and they will be posted as they come in.

Feel free to spread the word so we can put a great collection of 'street colour' together!

Mr. Swelle would never go for it, but how I would love to live in a pink house!

 

 

What a difference a little bit of pink can make on a street!

 

Pretty painted doors are wonderful!

What a difference this bold red door (in Bath) makes on this very old stone building:

 

An adorably bright restaurant or boutique counts for the project!

Seing an old car with a perfect retro paint job in the street will brighten anyone's day:

I hope that inspires you to submit your own photo!

Painted French Furniture Lust

Mademoiselle Hettie Console from Sweetpea & Willow

I want this console table so badly I would give up Coke. If I resisted buying a big bottle every two or three days and put the money in a piggy bank instead, it would only take me 3.8 years to buy it! Well, it's a relief to know that I don't drink £1,175 worth of Coke in six months.

I have lusted after this table from Sweetpea & Willow for about a year and here I am again. There are few things that we desire with any longevity so it's a surprise when the wanting doesn't wane over time. Where I would put it I'm not sure but I would be willing to kick something to the curb to make room. Wait, no, I'm talking crazy. We would all work something out.

The carved detailing on the edges is painted ivory which makes it that much more interesting and beautiful, and you can choose your own colours from a palette of 15 shades, right down to a different one for the top surface, top edge, outer body and interior. The possibilities are almost too much to contemplate. Pink + ivory + grey. Blue + pink + ivory. Violet + bleu marine + parme. I think the original would do just fine and keep my head from exploding.

All of the above also goes for this powder pink and silver side/coffee table, also from Sweetpea & Willow. Marry me! I wanted it for our living room when we bought our house but wishing didn't put it on a truck en route to our house. And I wished really hard.

 

And then another favourite daydream site of mine where I got a lovely and simple aqua glass chandelier for my daughter's room is the The French Bedroom Company. They got in on the teasing. Yesterday I got an email showing me this dressing table, 'La Table de Rouen' in a blue so gorgeous that if I'm to believe it does match what I'm seeing on my screen it's likely to be haunting me in a year's time, too, if lucky ducks don't snatch them all up. It's on sale. TFBC put out a gorgeous catalogue as well and you shouldn't dare think of bringing it into the bathroom.

I had a couple more to show but these are my favourites and I can't bear anymore, I actually find this a bit painful!

Weekend Fashion Film Treat: The Good Life

Every so often something truly great comes along and I'm gushingly grateful. Something that evokes an emotional response of the extraordinary kind, as in not the kind of the thing you experience in day to day life, and connects with a part of you you would almost forget existed if it wasn't so thrillingly nudged every now and then. (Say what? In short, I lose it for beautiful things that tap into a dream state and I can't tell you why. I don't know exactly.)

Photographer and film maker Alice Hawkins made The Good Life which showcases some of the best of AW 2010, it's a moving editorial of sorts. But for me this film is not about fashion.

This is how it's described on Showstudio (yes, them again. What can I do, they're awesome):

"Proper doesn't have to mean prim - Alice Hawkins gives the bourgeoisie mood of the A/W 2010 collections a terribly British spin in a tongue-in-chic ode to Margot Leadbetter, Beverly Moss and quintessentially English class consciousness."

I didn't grow up here so I don't know the 70s TV show after which this film is named, I don't have a reference for Margot Leadbetter, and Google can't seem to tell me who Beverly Moss is, though something tells me I should know. But that's all fine, I prefer no context for this film. As I mentioned I'm not viewing this as a fashion film, though it's tough to ignore the familiar outfits, and the fact that I fell in love with that Dior ribboned sweater on the catwalk, the one that the wonderful Jean Sherman is wearing at her vanity table (which looks a bit different on her).

The Good Life is like David Lynch doing the The Housewives of Orange County (without the boob jobs, trout pouts, useless husbands and ingrate kids). It's a bit film noir and completely dreamlike. The way Hawkins shot it is dramatic and stunning, she plays with light and dark to create the passage of time - the bright, waking sun of dawn with birds chirping, the washed out look of dusk, and the deep shadows of a mysterious night. Yet her passage of time doesn't necessarily make any sense, all weaving in and out in quick seconds and at the same time dragging slowly, which is a huge part of its appeal. Any of the scenes in The Good Life could be seamlessly edited into Lost Highway or Mulholland Drive.

The film also taps into the standard feminine idealism - perfect house, clothes, hair, family, life - and every waking second is bliss, all smug smiles of true contentment. It's as if their air is not the same as the one we breathe. Why, they don't even need it! They exist on a different, Lynch-esque plane.

I imagine Hawkins asked her cast? subjects? to play the impossibly glamorous, self-satisfied woman. But something tells me, if their stories are true, that they felt right at home and quite deserving of such a portrayal.

After writing the previous paragraph I read this, which would have me believe these women are indeed only a slightly less exaggerated version of their 'characters' and that's exactly why they were chosen. I don't think Hawkins like actors, she's intrigued by real people and exaggerating their fun parts. The article also touches upon why the film reminded me of pageants - the unnatural poses, the frozen smiles, and the complete and utter belief in what they portray, which I would sum up as nothing. If you asked them to stand there and smile without moving for a whole hour, they would, no questions asked. Hawkins is into all of that, "she's attracted to those who 'make an effort'". Works for me.

 
 

Wedgwood's Beautiful Baubles and Blues Pt. 2 (and Teacups!)

So I'm back with more Wedgwood baubles and the teacups I was talking about in my last post. Thanks to Alexandra for letting us know in the comments that the baubles are not only still available in the U.S., they are on sale! And they have even more designs! Now why does the U.S. site have more options than the UK site? It's a British company! Stop being stingy at home, Wedgwood, they've got more than they need yet we're deprived. Oh, the injustice.

I'm kidding of course (almost). I so want that teacup and saucer so I can display it on my mantle year round. And how about that three-tier cake? Oh, wait - back up. I just checked and they're gone, as they should be!

As for the teacups, I was at first lusting after Wedgwood's Cuckoo collection, those are three with the large floral patterns in the first collage which come in pastel blue, pink, green and peach. Then I saw the cup and saucer set from their Harlequin collection with the gold stripe deco handle and I instantly cheated on the Cuckoos. And the pink and gold daisy mug, wow. If I had those two I think I would have to put all of my food in a blender so I could drink out of the cups as much as possible. (Ew. On second thought I would just look at them a lot. I eat a lot of pizza.)

The dotty cup and saucer in 1950s minty turquoise - the absolute best colour in the world in my mind - is from Royal Albert. I have one of their sets coming for Christmas, I had to order my own gift as it was low stock and I would have missed out. Does that mean I can use it as soon as it arrives? It's a gorgeous lilac floral set of just one cup and saucer and I can't wait to have it, but that was before I saw the deco cup and lost my mind. Even the box is a dream.

I mentioned in the last post that I was going to do a little story on how I've brought blues into the house. (And by that I mean colours and not PMS. Though to be fair both qualify.) Then I realised that it's not the best time for photos as I've got Christmas decorations up, but I will do it. Especially now that we've got an antique tallboy sideboard painted in a saturated cerulean blue which I found today through sheer luck at our local market. For £80. And they delivered it free. That never happens to me, I'm not that girl! It made our kitchen and I can't stop staring at it. After the holidays I'll do my show and tell. I'm going to stare at it now! (It smells a bit funny but that's ok.)

It's UP TO YOU

I'm always up for supporting Canadians - or anyone for that matter! - who make it their mission to bring interesting things to the marketplace, and Up To You fits the bill. From my old hometown of Toronto comes this new concept shop of curious objects, for those who like their days infused with a little humour, oddness, and fun. Such as? Well, wouldn't you prefer your coffee mug to leave neat, swirly designs instead of the usual boring ring? The frustration of nearly ruining your oak top or white table cloth becomes "Aw, look at that...how pretty!" I also like the corrugated coffee cup and coaster combo being the texture freak that I am. And although I would be craving it constantly, I would love to sit my cup on top of that thick bar of chocolate. Which of course isn't really chocolate but don't you want to sink your teeth into it? (I know that I would put my teeth on it just a little bit. And maybe lick it, but just once.)

You can tell I'm in a cup phase, I haven't mentioned anything outside of their Kitchen and Tabletop category. There's everything from lighting to toys to T-shirts. And funny things that made me laugh such as 'moldy' sandwich bags to prevent the office jerk from stealing your lunch. (Who does that? No, really, who does that? At one place I worked we were always getting our lunches stolen. And even if someone was dumb enough to forget what they brought and mistake someone else's for their own, there's no excuse for eating my friend Kerri's sushi that she was so looking forward to all morning, or the tasty samosas I had bought next door and put in that fridge just 20 minutes before. Yes, it was 11 years ago and it still stings!)

Wow, where were was I? Oh yes, funny stuff:

 

They have book covers that will make you look smart and hide your shame at the same time! Worried what the judgemental-looking stranger across from you on the metro will think of your Danielle Steel novel? It would help if they didn't put her name in a gigantic point size front and centre but since they do, how about Complete Japanese to the rescue? Konnichi wa to you!

You can visit the Up to You shop online or have a browse in person at 1483 Queen St. East in Toronto - they've got all of their products displayed in an actual flat so you can have a voyeuristic shopping experience. It's like going into someone's cool house and buying their neat stuff!

Scenes from a Rural Niagara Zoo

There's a zoo in Stevensville, Ontario, not far from Niagara Falls. It's called Zooz. The other day my parents and I took my daughter and I was pleasantly surprised by our day. Usually I come away from public family places exhausted and not wanting to see another human for a week, but this time I left not dreading going back next year! That's a compliment. We even had the rehearsal and sound check of a Guns N Roses cover band as the soundtrack to our time at the playground near closing time (they have concerts on weekends as well). The singer didn't sound much like Axl Rose but the music was solid and made me want to do this in the sand. 

Now, I'm not sure I like the idea of caged animals unless they're being protected, but they've done a nice job creating marshes and lakes, have metal sculptures juxtaposed nicely against the foliage, and they do a hippo and giraffe feeding. Apparently the hippos spray 'urine and feces' on each other and will do the same to spectators as well. Funny how no one walks away after they tell you that. 

He, or she (I didn't see that 'part') looks sad but hopefully isn't. At one point, this pensive baboon who looked so much like an old man, actually unnerved me a bit by looking right at me. I suddenly felt self-conscious taking photos.

A pile of lemurs which looked like little freaky-eyed pandas

Every zoo needs a water park. Actually, when you have kids with you, and it's freaking hot, it does.

 

 

A rare sighting of Coca-Cola in its natural habitat

 

Giraffes are such unusual and fascinating creatures. They had a male and a female named Noah and Rainbow. If I had to name them I might have gone with Mr. Furley and Tori Spelling.

 

 

 

It's a Swelle Giveaway!

I'd like to mention straight away that this contest is open to Canadian and American residents only as delivery is limited to these countries. Sorry for that, but there will be a giveaway following that anyone readers can enter. 

This giveaway comes courtesy of CSN Stores who offer everything from shoes to dining room furniture to housewares. The prize is a one-time use $80 gift certificate to be spent on any of CSN Stores 200+ websites - in other words, the winner gets a shopping spree! The selection above is some of my picks of items you can buy with the $80, such as a Flirty apron or Jasper Conran dinner plates; or apply it toward something bigger like the duck egg blue Eames-style chair - nice!

To enter, simply do the following:

1. Tell us in the comments what you would buy with your $80 from CSN Stores

2. 'Like' The Swelle Life on Facebook

3. Follow The Swelle Life on Twitter

For an extra entry each you can re-tweet this giveaway on Twitter and post it on your blog. Be sure to let me know in the comments that you have done so, with a link back to the blog post!

Please note: there may be shipping charges or in the case of a Canadian winner, international fees, for certain products.

The giveaway closes on Tuesday, August 3rd at midnight, GMT (I'll be in Toronto!). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced the following day. Good luck!

A Wardrobe that Looks Like a Georgian Dollhouse

I found this wardrobe with the facade of a Georgian dollhouse on the site I bought our sideboard from. It's The Furniture Rooms and they sell antiques as well as reproductions. Our sideboard get lots of compliments when people first come to our house and it's my favourite piece of furniture:

 

Now, that Georgian dollhouse wardrobe is one cool piece of furniture but it comes at a hefty price, £3250 to be exact. If I were considering spending that kind of money I would like to know more than this:

Georgian style dolls house wardrobe. The wardrobe opens up to a hanging rail and has a neat mini mahogany door on the front. h213 x w128 x d55 cm

But what's it made of, wood? What kind? Where is it made? Is it grey or white? Can we see inside? Those drawers look like a facade, is that right? Tell us more so we can convince our significant others that we really need this!

When something is so obviously special and comes with a weighty price tag it only makes sense to tell us everything you possibly can. I wrote about that in a previous post, how perplexing it is that the seller wouldn't tell us just how cool their thing is and take the chance that one or two images are enough to convince us to hit the 'buy' button. I describe every detail of the pieces in my shop, Swelle Boutique, otherwise, how will you know just how great they are? And there's a certain lack of trust that I feel when I see very brief descriptions that leave you asking questions, even when the item is a £30 dress or something even cheaper. It's our money and we want to know what we're getting, we can't see it or touch it and your words are all we have.

Luckily, The Furniture Rooms is a reputable company that delivered on a great piece of furniture (and a neat 70s vase) and I would buy from them again. I took a chance buying our sideboard based on only two exterior views and a very brief description. I just think they should do their pieces justice with more elaborate descriptions. It only takes another minute!

Here's an Art Deco Fan Lamp I passed on when I bought the others because it wasn't an essential, and it's now sold and oh boy does it sting:

And if you're into dollhouses you might like this and this and this.

The Gorgeous Gardens of Cragside Pt. 2 (Plus a Really Cool House)

Carrying on from yesterday's garden post here are more flowers from our visit to Cragside's formal garden and photos of the house itself which I find hard to believe was built in 1863 but my husband doesn't.

 

 

 

Being afraid of heights I got a bit freaked out walking on the foot bridge which you can see in the middle below, but it was the only way to the house from where we were. It's not terribly high so I looked like quite a wuss.

This is our house. That's what I would be saying if I was Lord Armstrong, if he was still alive. It's built into a rocky hillside above a 4 km² forest garden. And you thought you had a lot to prune. Having seen it we can't fathom the maintenance. We took the scenic route out of there and drove for about 10 minutes, trying not to scrape the sides of the car against the rocks, before we were finally out. It is a truly stunning and awesome landscape.

 

 

The house boasts a sandstone rock garden that is said to be Europe's largest.

 

Cupcake Monday! The Maison Moschino Edition

 

The Sweet Room

Sweet dreams. This bed made up with cupcake and pastry pillows is just one of the deliciously themed rooms at Maison Moschino in Milan. I tend to roll my eyes when design houses get in on yet another portfolio-expanding venture, but what the fashion set is doing in the world of hotels is really incredible. If looking at these photos is satisfying in itself, imagine staying there? 

I'm going to be doing a more in-depth post on designer hotels, there's just too much eye candy not to. But for now, how about heart-shaped food and cookie and cupcake chandeliers?

Chandelier in the Sweet Room

Belsay's Extraordinary Measures, Indeed

Ron Mueck's Drift. 2010

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens has quickly become one of my favourite places in England, or anywhere else for that matter. My first visit in April resulted in some fantastic photographs thanks to Belsay's various photogenic, magical muses, both permanent and ephemeral. English Heritage began using the historical site's attractions to host full-scale art exhibitions in 1996 such as Fashion at Belsay - which included Stella McCartney's crystal horse housed in the medieval castle, fortunately back for a reunion when I visited - as well as 2007's stunning Picture House project featuring an installation by Viktor & Rolf.

Belsay's latest art exhibition, Extraordinary Measures, showcases the work of some of England's most  ingenious and curious creative talents. Each handpicked artist visited the site to gain inspiration, then set to work with the central idea of scale in mind. The exhibition as a whole has a kind of shrinking and growing effect, something like an Alice in Wonderland experience with malevolent insect fairies and fish-bashing babies in place of the murderous Queen of Hearts. While much of the exhibition will bring a smile to the observer's face, equal parts will strike a nerve in their own peculiar ways.

I was lucky as Stella's Spot to be invited to their press which included an introduction by curator Judith King, a short film, and tour of each of the installations which were most times explained by the artists themselves as nearly all were present.  

Extraordinary Measures runs at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens until September 26th in Northumberland. There's a warning about nudity (the same goes for this post!) and strobes which accompany Mat Collishaw's zoetrope in the castle. Pity for anyone who can't watch as it's the most impressive piece of the exhibition, in my opinion.

Here are my photos from the day, beginning with one of my feel-good favourites, Slinkachu's miniature reproductions of rather normal events made curious by the incongruency of their settings. The actual installations were set up last year throughout the gardens and grounds and Slinkachu photographed them to preserve what was the most fleeting part of the exhibition - they were left to be snatched up by the hawk-eyed or carried away by animals or the wind. So in the place of the figures are the photographs.

 

 

 

Tessa Farmer's A Darker Shade of Grey was one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. I felt sick looking at it, yet it was the installation I took the most pictures of. What I'm showing here is the most palatable of the work; it was actually the crispy insect carcasses and not so much the taxidermied rodents that elicited the visceral response. There is something morbidly fascinating about dead animals, especially ones arranged in battle scenes and adorned with crab shell armour with scorpion artillery fighting malevolent insect fairies.

Come again? Fair enough. Farmer's narrative centres on the war between the Northumberland native red squirrel and the outsider, the grey squirrel who is apparently kicking red's fluffy tail. With the help of the skeletal insect fairies who think their grey foreign counterpart shouldn't be penalised for being successful. There's a metaphor in there somewhere but after hearing Farmer speak about her work I don't believe there's a hidden message, it's simply a dramatised version of conflict between two species.

This reminds me that I saw a skinned whole squirrel at the food market last weekend, marked with a stuffed toy version so you'd know what it was. I would rather eat the stuffed animal.

 

 

There was a bit of condensation in some of the glass cases from the rain - the hazy effect is not me trying to impart a dreaminess on this scene especially as it was more of a nightmare! This mouse is being attacked by a militia of the bug-riding malevolent fairies made from insect parts - it looks like they're holding bayonets! 

No animals were sacrificed for the sake of art. Farmer purchased the taxidermied squirrels and rodents from Ebay, the red squirrels being of Victorian origin. You really can get anything on there. A journalist asked after taking in the full spectrum of the painstakingly fashioned scene,'Why go to all this trouble, wouldn't it be easier to just paint?' And then the artist ordered the evil fairies to descend upon him and poke his flesh relentlessly with their tiny, crude weapons. At least that's what I was imagining might happen when I heard the question. Oh, Dude.

  

Scalesdale is an interactive, evolving model village located in the castle kitchen created by Newcastle architects Jenny Gillat and Tim Mosedale. Visitors will decide how the community develops.

Mat Collishaw's The Garden of Earthly Delights is just the coolest thing. It's a zoetrope or spinning wheel that runs for 90 seconds at a time (I think), and in that short span you are mesmerised and disturbed by the scene that appears to be unfolding in front of you. I say 'appears' because those babies whacking fish with clubs to a soundtrack of layered, unnerving noises that is giving me shivers as I recall it now (I'm serious, real shivers which is odd because it's more creepy to me in memory than it was in person) aren't really moving at all. It's like an animation. Me and the journalist next to me didn't realise that they weren't moving until he asked a question and was told so. I don't know how Collishaw configured and callibrated the zoetrope to create such a compelling effect, but he's done a few of these so the man has certainly mastered the task.

 

 

Woodland Unhappy Families by Freddie Robins is an homage in yarn to the classical Greek architecture that inspired Belsay Hall. Set behind a window nestled in the quarry gardens, two knitted birds play the characters in a sorrowful tale of love and loss from Greek mythology.

 

Wild Horses by Ciaran Treanor was made possible thanks to his award of the Belsay Fellowship in 2009 that enables a young, emerging artist to participate in the major contemporary art exhibitions at Belsay. The Newcastle University architecture student referenced Belsay's stables outside the castle for his installation of gestural figures that, from specific vantage points, appear as running, jumping horses.

Ron Mueck is a master at creating utterly convincing sculptures of the human figure. Here he has placed his various 'people' (and one giant chicken) within the rooms of Belsay Hall to play with scale. Standing next to Spooning Couple was a fascinating experience. Observations of how real the two look and how sweet they are juxtaposes with the fact that they are obviously not real as they are less than half the size of adult humans. But you want to believe they are. And you can't help but want to put some pants on the guy.

 

This was certainly disconcerting. I first felt as if I should just let the poor guy be naked in privacy, he looked so uncomfortable (yes, I was aware he wasn't real, he's nearly 10 feet tall sitting - those are some high ceilings in that house). But the emptiness of the room was actually quite inviting, the contrast to the feeling one would get sharing a small, low-ceilinged room with the giant Wild Man. Now that would be uncomfortable.

 

(Sorry for pointing that thing at you.)

Youth, Ron Mueck.

 

 

A giant panel of windows in the Quarry Garden is an awesome sight to behold. Mariele Neudecker's From Here to There is Not That Far is an ambitious undertaking that was well worth the effort. It was a bit surreal, walking through it's doorway felt as if I was passing over into another dimension which is what the artist intended; in developing the idea she was drawn to the moment in Alice in Wonderland where Alice passes through one reality to another, entering a rich and luscious garden.

Bathtub Lounging

 

I'm busy working away finishing the shop but wanted to share a little quickie I saw on Etsy, this sofa made from a cast iron retro tub from Ruff House Art. I'm particular to the turquoise painted shell and the psychedelic cushion makes it look inviting. I imagine you'd want plenty of throw pillows behind you while actually using it, but the bare white porcelain against the bold colour is quite striking. Custom orders take four weeks to make from the U.S. Rubber duckie not included. Sitting on it naked is optional.

The Hauntingly Beautiful Dollhouses of Wallington, Pt. 2

 

Carrying on from Tuesday's post on the enchanting dollhouses of Wallington, here are more rooms with unbelievable detail, like the little buckets under the shelf in the pantry on which several plates of food are waiting, as if the family is about to sit down and eat at any minute. Or how each of the mirrors and picture frames are completely different and highly ornate as was the style at the time.

If you enjoy these, well good! There are lots more from the Wallington house to come...

 

The Hauntingly Beautiful Dollhouses of Wallington, Pt. 1

 

I'm working like a mad woman to launch Swelle Boutique (it's nearly there!) but I wanted to leave you with something special should it be a couple days before I'm able to post again. I visited Wallington a few weeks ago, a National Trust property in Morpeth, Northumberland (that's in the north east of England) with a grand mansion and gorgeous lawns, lakes, parkland and woodland. There's also a beautiful walled garden which we didn't have time to see, but it was cold and gloomy so we'll save that for a lovely day.

I'll tell you more about Wallington in future posts (there is quite a bit to show) but for now here is the first part of the dollhouses from the 17th century mansion's dollhouse room which contains one huge house - like an apartment block - and several smaller ones, the interiors of which are magnificent and shabby all at once. The detail of the period furniture and decor (early 1900s) is breathtaking and some of it is in quite a state of disrepair - evident in the wear on the fabrics and wallpapers and headboards askew - and it creates the feeling that these rooms have actually been lived in by the heavy chested tenants (see below, they are heaving!) for the past century. The effect is utterly charming.

The photos are a bit blurred, the rooms in the dollhouses were very dim and I was shooting through their tiny windows. But it kind of lends to the ghostly feeling and apparently I'm lucky to have had the opportunity to take the photos, it's only been a year since they've allowed cameras. 

Want to see more? Here's Part 2

Sweet Paul: The Magazine

There's Sweet Paul, the crafty food and prop stylist; Sweet Paul the blog; and now Sweet Paul the Magazine. The New York based Norwegian with one of the most delightful, useful and fun blogs around has been working hard to put his debut 'Delicious Spring'[ issue together, a beautifully photographed collection of 'easy and elegant' recipes, DIY crafts for the home and crafter profiles, entertaining ideas and whatever else Sweet Paul's innovative and charming mind conjures up for us. 

You can find out more about Sweet Paul here, and browse the magazine here.

Dog lovers: This issue includes a recipe to make your own Peanut Bone dog treats! (You could even share a few, they sound pretty tasty!)

I looove Eggs Benedict, I'm making these this weekend!

Scenes from Bristol, the Pastel Painted City

After three posts about Bath (here for an adorable cupcake shop, here and here) I finally get to my shots of Bristol, from my trip down to the south west of England last weekend to visit my brave friend Sophie. I call her 'brave' not only because she shared a room with me for three nights but because she just posted and tagged me in a photo on Facebook of me riding a mosaic pig in Bath. I don't recall signing a waiver!

Anyway, Bristol is a really cool city. It's very diverse ethnically (for a British city) and it's got a buzzing kind of energy. It's very green and on our way to brunch on my last day Sophie took me through a forest  across the street from her house that was just magical. It had wildflowers all over and a stream flowing through it and I swear I saw fairies fluttering by and everything, singing in Bristolian accents. Of course my camera was packed away tightly in my suitcase as I was on my way back home and hadn't a clue of what earthly delights lay ahead of me (and I was trying not to be annoying with my camera on my last day, the other person always has to wait while you get your shots), but I have a project for next time. 

I especially loved all of the pastel-painted houses. Every city should have pink, yellow and baby blue buildings. It's the right thing to do. Who doesn't want to live in the land of Edward Scissorhands?

 

 

A Banksy left over from his exhibition

Definitely Banksy, but with paint splatters of unknown origin added fairly recently:

I thought the splats looked stylised and intentional - look at the blue one in the hanging guy's armpit. That's not random. Not sure who put them there (why would Banksy do this?) but care was taken, this wasn't some wiener shooting paint balls from the street. Some wiener with a ladder, maybe? 

 

 

(Banksy's tag beneath. But NOT Banksy in the lower right. Maybe THAT'S the wiener!)

 

 

 

 

 

We saw these two girls in costumey hats, struggling with their big old suitcases down the street. As they were fumbling they rambled on with a curious drone like two Marlas from Fight Club,that nutter of a character that Helena Bonham Carter played. I knew I had to take a photo. After I said 'thanks' and began to walk away one of them said "Make tea not war." Good thing she did, I've now cancelled my cruise missile testing in favour of a nice cup of Earl Grey.

 

I tripped right about here, nearly took a header. In front of a group of people, of course. I've lived here for years now and still those uneven stones get me every time I go out of the house, they're all over England! I consider them a threat to national security, something must be done! 

The breathtaking view of the suspension bridge from the back patio of a bar in Clifton, the most beautiful part of Bristol. 

Drinks and scenery.

 

 

A Peek at the Beautiful City of Bath, Pt. 2

It seems to be Bath week here at The Swelle Life! We saw a sorbet-hued cupcake shop on Monday, yesterday was the first batch of pictures of the scenery and today we see the rest of my shots that are blog worthy, taken last Friday in probably the most beautiful city I've ever seen. I took nearly 700 photographs of Bath and Bristol (I haven't even gotten to those yet!) and in doing this post I feel as if I'm back there again. My lovely friend Sophie who showed me around like a pro (she loves her Google maps) should expect me back sometime soon!

   

 

 

I like that Grace Kelly is gazing at us through the window

  

 

 

 

Jamie Oliver's restaurant which had an hour wait so we moved on before we chewed our handbags

 

 

A Peek at the Beautiful City of Bath, Pt. 1

Yesterday we looked at a cupcake shop in Bath and today I'm showing a little tour of the city I didn't want to leave. The weather was perfect; clear, warm and sunny, and it was probably the greenest city I've ever seen. I didn't have the right lens to accurately capture the gorgeous hills that served as a backdrop to much of the scenery but I found them to be one of the things that made Bath so beautiful and picturesque.

Here's a bit of what it's like to live in Bath (and if you do, know that I hate you just a little):

We saw a few horse and buggies around town. I didn't realise the groom was waving until just now. Sorry, Mr. Groom!

 

How could I be in Bath and not visit the Roman Baths?

 

The terrace:

Views of the Great Bath:

 

At the very heart of the site is the Sacred Spring.  Hot water at a temperature of 46°C (115° F) rises here at the rate of 1,170,000 litres every day and has been doing this for thousands of years. In the past this natural phenomenon was beyond human understanding and it was believed to be the work of the ancient gods.

 

The circular plunge bath which had projections of Roman male bathers on the wall (something the ladies could enjoy and a few guys, too):

 

 

The head of Minerva which was found in Stall Street in 1727.

Artefacts which include what looks like a comb. Pretty tiny for hair, though.

Brooches, one of which dates back to the 1st century AD.

Stones with pictures engraved into them, such as a discus thrower, lion and racing chariot. Sounds pretty Roman to me. These were found in the Roman drain in 1878.

See Part 2 tomorrow - I think this one's long enough!

A Look Back at Picture House at Belsay: Forest Bedrooms, Teacups & Silver Dipped Ballgowns

Geraldine Pilgrim (corridor productions)
Dreams of a winter night

In some recent posts we saw Stella McCartney's stunning Lucky Spot installation at Belsay Castle, a horse made of 8,000 crystals assembled on wires in a hauntingly beautiful medieval room. The horse was a revival of sorts from a project that began a few years ago when English Heritage invited 15 of the most original and experimental film directors, artists, actresses and designers from Britain and around the world to bring Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens (oh, those gardens! More to come on those) to life with a series of cutting edge art installations.

Picture House opened in spring of 2007 and transformed the neo-classical mansion in Northumberland, its 14th century castle and Grade I Listed gardens with electrifying works of fashion, sculpture, music, design, poetry, music and video.

The next art exhibition to take place on the glorious grounds at Belsay is Extraordinary Measures and I'm thrilled to say I've been invited to their press day to tour the works, hear from the curator and take pictures. It's about a place "where size is off the scale. Where the miniscule is made massive and huge surroundings hide surprises. Where ancient buildings always hold something new" - it sounds like Alice in Wonderland meets the coolest treasure hunt there ever was.

Here's a preview:

Hey, it's the miniature old couple from David Lynch's Mulholland Drive!

And back to Picture House at Belsay, beginning with Viktor & Rolf's centrepiece of silver ballgowns, from their latest collection at the time, drenched in dripping silver in Pillar Hall. Their piece referenced the Dutch tradition of dipping a child's shoe in silver to preserve it as a keepsake. "We were inspired by that same desire to preserve a memory," said Viktor Horsting. "To treasure the past. To freeze time."

 

Geraldine Pilgrim (corridor productions)
Dreams of a winter night

 

Quay Brothers
Coffin of a servant's journey

 

A collaboration between Boudicca and Mike Figgis

 

Tilda Swinton created this piece called Belsayland for Arthur Middleton's bedroom, working alongside her husband, playwright and visual artist John Byrne, and their children. It was realised by Neil Murray in association with Northern Stage.

Corollarium. Northumbria University graduate, Francesca Steele, was awarded the Belsay FellowshipGeraldine Pilgrim (corridor productions) which provided her with the opportunity to exhibit alongside the more well known names.

 

Imogen Cloët and Jacob Polley
The Recollection Rooms

 

Peepshow. Costume designer Sandy Powell created a 'peephole' into Lady Middleton's bedroom, where viewers could spy on the inhabitant.

Photos: The Telegraph

Cupcake Monday! The Marie Antoinette Edition

How perfect is this scene from Sofia Coppola's stunningly gorgeous film Marie Antoinette? It's every girlie girl's dream to lounge on a silk damask chaise longue in an 18th century gilded French palace surrounded by pink iced cakes while being pampered with a pedicure. With your shoes on. I prefer mine off for the full effect but maybe that's just me.  

I went nuts with images from the film a while back, so if you'd like more drool fodder take a look here.

And now, let us eat cupcakes:

Gorgeous! From I Love Muffins

Gilded, from Peggy's Cupcakes

Tower of yum! From Yummy Piece of Cake

Look at what's on those plates and notice the macaron tree beside her. They used Ladurée in the film but the French pastry maker wasn't established until 1862. Oh how I hope those didn't go to waste.

Old Castles, Spring Gardens and Stella McCartney's Crystal Horse Pt. 2

Carrying on from yesterday's post (hence the 'Pt. 2' in the title), here are more photos of my visit to Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland, north east England.

 The stables at Belsay

Belsay Hall is an early 19th century mansion with a Greek doric style slanted roof. It's not the most gorgeous of exteriors, it's very stark but the interiors were interesting. A family by the name of the Middletons actually lived here until 1962. It is now a proper of English Heritage.  

 

 

These Delft tiles lined both sides of the fireplace in one of its large rooms

Belsay Hall from the rear

The scenery from the side of the mansion:

 

Back to Belsay castle, a 14th century medieval castle. The main structure, a substantial three storey rectangular pele tower with rounded turrets and battlements was constructed about 1370, and was the home of the Middleton family. I cannot believe people lived in this, oh how mighty cold it must have been (see photos below). Future generations of the family resided here until the early 19th century when they built and moved into Belsay Hall. 

I have no idea what this is, it was in the ruins part of the castle. Some kind of oven? Maybe Wendy Brandes will know.

The spiral staircase from beneath

This is the room where Stella McCartney's crystal horse was displayed

You could go out onto the roof by the turret and take in the view of the countryside.

The view from the top. Those white specs on the grass are sheep.

 

 

I am going to have to do those glorious gardens in another post as this one is getting long, but I have to show you more of Lucky Spot, the horse that was conceived of by Stella McCartney as part of English Heritage's project to transform Belsay in 2004. It is made of 8,000 Swarovski crystals and when the light floods in through the medieval windows the crystals produce brilliant prismatic patterns across the walls.

 

 

 

I've gathered some images of the other installations that were commissioned for this project and I'll post those tomorrow. It includes Viktor & Rolf.

Old Castles, Spring Gardens and Stella McCartney's Crystal Horse Pt. 1

Today we took advantage of a gorgeous spring day and went off to explore some of the beautiful Northumberland countryside. We drove to Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens and I think I may have stumbled upon paradise. (I thought I found it when I went to Maui but it seems to exist way up here in the north east of England, too.) I just got a new camera and this was the perfect place to try it out, the gardens were spectacular and flooded with mid-afternoon sunlight. 

  
A room in the cellar of Belsay Hall, an early 19th century mansion

 

Belsay Castle. The turret part of the castle is 700 years old

 

And this image below is a bit of a teaser, I have so much more to show from this piece and the project itself. It's an installation conceived by Stella McCartney as part of a project involving thirteen British creatives that was commissioned by English heritage to transform Belsay in 2004. More on that tomorrow!

All photos by Denise Grayson

Take a Seat...Dressed up Chairs!

 

I saw these curious chairs dressed up all smart in Tata-Naka outfits in their presentation room at Somerset House during London fashion week. I don't know the name of the interiors company that does them but they collaborate with designers to create some unusual and smile-inducing pieces. It's like sitting in a well-dressed woman's lap!

London Fashion Week - Hanging Out at Orla Kiely's House

I so love Orla Kiely's fashion line. Season after season the Irish print master and accessories queen combines her original signature prints with the most adorable, smart and feminine dresses, coats and knits that never, ever miss. I want to be that girl. I am that girl, I just need the clothes! Her eight hour long presentation (complete with champagne reception, thanks for that) was set up as a very Orla Kiely-esque retro living room and something like a bedroom, minus the bed.

The shoes were also great and they looked a bit familiar. I asked a very nice journalist I met if she knew whose they were and she said 'I think they may be Topshop.' Then it clicked, I had seen these or a very similar 70s leather platform also with an embroidered upper on the Topshop site - which are of course gone now. Orla Kiely did make a brief appearance while I was there but I didn't move quick enough to catch her (champagne).  

I think Orla Kiely should sell instant living room kits. Her interiors remind me of my childhood home if I give my memories a major bit of a makeover. 

 

 

I think this bow and flower print coat was my favourite piece from the collection.

Things to See in Paris: Paul Guillaume's Amazing, Miniature Apartment

I still have many, many photos from the two months we lived in Paris last year and amongst them are these charming and impressive (awesome, really) miniature replicas of two rooms in art collector and ardent supporter of artists Paul Guillaume's Paris apartment. You can see he really liked Modigliani. In fact, the artist painted Guillaume's portrait in 1915 and according to this model, he displayed it in his study - you can see it in the far right top corner:

 

Amedeo Modigliani. Paul Guillaume, Novo Pilota. 1915

These models on are display in the lower level at Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris which is famous for its series of Monet's Water Lilies paintings, housed above in two rooms:

Back to the apartment - this is Paul Guillaume's dining room, complete with hallways where more of his collection was hung (you wouldn't want to drink too much wine at one of his dinner parties and stumble into a wall - emBARRassing!):

To give you an idea of the scale:

She was beginning to turn into a werewolf, starting with her hand.

This is the room where these models were displayed, it was on the right wall. As for what this room was, I didn't catch it. But it would make sense if it were a full-size (obviously) replica of another room - complete with the actual original paintings - of Guillaume's. It could be called 'the one with no Modigliani'.

And a few curiosities I found in the other galleries downstairs, first Coco and her pup (the artist liked to paint ladies with their dogs):

I just really love these Matisse paintings:

And finally, Maurice Ultrillo's La Maison Bernot, which must mean 'House of the Big Asses' - look at how he painted the ladies' derrieres:

We know what he liked.

This is a shoe. A high heeled one. Really!

It took me a few minutes to figure out how this is, first, a shoe; and second, how it's a high heeled style. It wasn't shown with a foot actually in it and that nearly broke my brain. Once I realised it wasn't meant to be wrapped around the ankle or manipulated in any way to fit the shape of the foot, I could see that the ball of the foot goes on the flat part in the front, and the heel sits on that little ledge with the back and side panel. Seems so obvious when I describe it that way.

So what is it? It's the Mojito, a prototype made by Julian Hakes, a British architect who wanted to challenge our perception that shoes should look a certain way. "Most shoes are designed from the outside in - they are designed to look good on the foot," says Hakes. "'As an architect I did the opposite and designed them from the inside out - I looked at how the foot moves, how it transfers the body's load. For me, it wasn't much different from designing a bridge." I bet it was quicker, though.

The first thing we notice is there is no foot plate. The shoe supports only the ball and heel which Hakes says is perfectly functional and makes the wearer feel like she's walking on air. It protects the ball and the heel, "that's where the load is transferred when you walk."

The final design is made of carbon fibre, leather and rubber - are you also wondering how the heel of the shoe supports the heel of the foot and whether that's good for it? Not to worry. Hakes says "It's not artificially supporting your foot where it doesn't need support so it's good for core stability." I believe it but I'd love to see it. Better yet - take a pair for a little trot around the house.

There are currently no plans to mass produce the shoe but Hakes is making them on a one-off basis to meet individual requests. Too bad, it would be a nice change to the chunky, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink styles dominating right now. (I'm not complaining, I love those. Just sayin'. Contrast is good.)

Source: The Daily Mail