Every home needs shelves. Fact. But stylish shelving is elusive, so imagine my joy at finding these modular ‘Croquet’ shelves, designed by Michael Marriott, at Clerkenwell Design Week. Made from powder-coated steel and oak, they come in a selection of retro-contemporary colours and in sets of 3 and 5 for a great range of combination opportunities. What’s more, they are available at a 10% discount until 4th June! From verygoodandproper.co.uk – just enter CDW2013 at the checkout.
A modern classic.
Croquet modular shelving by Michael Marriott, available from verygoodandproper.co.uk
Check out their stacking Canteen chairs too…
Stacking Canteen chairs, also available from verygoodandproper.co.uk
By the way, we are 100% independent and not in alliance with any particular brand. We only promote things that we love and that we want to share with you.
I’m celebrating Easter in Salzburg, surrounded by beautiful decorations – magnificent shop window displays, intricately decorated cookies, huge Easter trees hung with coloured eggs, rabbit shaped bread rolls, every possible Easter animal made of chocolate, huge vintage-style egg boxes, yellow ribbons galore… you get the picture. Sadly, I missed the Easter Market on 23rd March, but there was one stall left in operation today:
Easter market stall in Salzburg
Easter eggs, zero calories
Easter bunnies for sale
I could have gone as mad as a March hare, but with steely resolve I bought just one thing – and not the cutest thing I’d seen, but the most intriguing: A pink silicone cup cover with a little white rabbit on top (a little white rabbit with a playful kick if you look closely). I’m not sure whether it’s to keep your drink warm, to keep flies and wasps out, or what. Please illuminate me if you can!
Freelance writer and IKEA-obsessive Rachel England gets all gung-ho about our Swedish flat-pack friends…
“IKEA, with its modestly-priced and hilariously-named home furnishings, calls to me. Every day, as I stumble upon piles of clutter in my house, or lament the too-harsh lighting in my bedroom, I can hear it singing; beautiful melodies telling tales of aspirational living. It compels me to religiously study its doctrine: the IKEA catalogue (of which more copies are produced every year than the Bible), and its siren song grows louder and more consuming until I have no choice but to journey to its blue and yellow kingdom and atone for my slovenly sins by purchasing the products that promise to make my life so much easier, so much better.
The shining gateway to the blue and yellow Mecca (the towers of IKEA Croydon, no less).
Over 32 million of IKEA’s iconic BILLY bookcases have been sold since 1978 – one of which belongs to me; IKEA’s LACK coffee table is one of its most popular items and I own three of differing sizes and finishes; and new reports suggest that one in 10 Europeans are conceived in an IKEA bed. I’m not a baby mamma yet but rest assured when the time comes, I’ll be part of that statistic.
The legend that is the IKEA BILLY bookcase…
You see, I am an IKEA fangirl, worshipping at its flatpacked alter of interiors inspiration. Here, my ruthless organisational sensibilities are lovingly tended to with ERIKS and MOTORPS, and arrows on the floor indicating which way to walk so as not to get all up in the business of other shoppers. And at the same time, my dreams of a soft, romantic bedroom or pretty country-style kitchen are bolstered by shop-floor hidey-holes promising everything I could ever want and more within 500 square feet. There is no judgement here: my clash of pragmatism and lofty dreaming is accepted without question.
But it’s not just the OMSORGs and (rectangle-shaped) REKTANGELs that appeal. Nowhere else on Earth is there such a readily accessible showground for the vast spectrum of human behaviour and relationships. Indeed, anthropologists could do far worse than IKEA on a Saturday afternoon to observe the psychological intricacies of our species, which can usually be found in irritated couples and beleaguered parents. Fair enough, that’ll be me one day I’m sure, but where better to seriously consider abandoning your family in a moment of despair than a store which simultaneously promises the instant restoration of sanity with a few stackable TROFASTs? For now, though, it’s just hugely entertaining; another avenue of escapism provided by IKEA’s benevolent decorating deities. If only that teenage girl’s mother would be more understanding and just go with the purple version. God.
And then, of course, there’s the food. So tasty is this Swedish fare that folk are known to visit IKEA just for the munch, never mind the endless racks of stuff in Market Hall that you didn’t even know you wanted, nay, needed. Planning your aspirational home life is tiring work, hence a restaurant to be visited before you start shopping, a snack bar to sate appetites after shopping, and a food market allowing you to take home that almond fudge thing you like so much but can’t pronounce the name of, providing a tasty post-flatpack assembly reward. Which you will need, because once you’re out of those blue and yellow doors, and tiny bags full of screws and nails are strewn around your inadequate and mismatching living room, the spell will fade and no amount of praying to the MALM Gods will help you realise your interiors vision without at least one expletive yelled into the ether. But that’s never stopped me going back again. And again. And again…”
Wish you’d asked for help with your flat-packed furniture?
It is a rather nice treat, once in while (at least!) to spoil yourself with an indulgent afternoon tea. As the Diamond Jubilee weekend is almost here, and we’ve had some glorious sunshine, I think it’s time to stop delaying those plans for that Bank Holiday garden party!
If you’re a city dweller, then you’ll be spoilt for choice with all the Jubilee-themed afternoon tea menus out there. If you’d rather invite folks round for a day out on the lawn, then all you need to recreate that awfully British tea party is some vintage-style accessories and, well, plenty of cake!
If you haven’t got those perfect china tea cups or crystal glassware (as I’m sure there’ll be a glass of bubbly as well as tea!) then you can always hire them, or for small-scale parties, head to the charity shops to see what you can find.
As breakables aren’t always ideal with kids around, Talking Tables have come up with the perfect solution – their coated paper flat-packed cake stands, printed cups and fun cake decorations are the perfect way to create a fun, or pretty, Jubilee table display.
Treat yourself to afternoon tea at a quintessentially British establishment…
“A patriotic pit-stop”: The John Lewis 5 O’Clock Tea Club, held at the Oxford Street department store.
Recreate it at home with vintage hire…
Prim and Proper Vintage Hire, based in Berkshire, have lots of vintage glassware, china and table linen available to hire for garden parties, weddings and other stylish occasions! Contact Amy for pricing and availability.
Prim and Proper Vintage Hire chinaware
Prim and Proper Vintage Hire also do lovely vintage hampers!
I’m gonna say it. I’m not bothered about the Olympics. To be honest, if the Jubilee didn’t mean the potential for street parties, an extra-long weekend and the excuse to eat many celebratory cakes, I wouldn’t be particularly fussed about that either.
However, these mammouth events did get me to thinking about this great nation of ours. And it is great. Despite the dubious governmental decisions of late, the rather bonkers economy and the incessant rain as soon as a hose pipe ban rears its ugly head, this place we live isn’t half bad. It’s full of incredibly talented people, making and doing all manner of rather marvellous things.
So, in homage to Britain, the Brits and, hell, why not, the Queen … here are some truly cool Britannia-inspired bits and pieces … Enjoy.
Andrew Martin Armstrong Union Jack Sofa: £4095
London Print Duvet Set
London Skyline Cushion: £19.99
Beatles-inspired Dining Room: Southern Living Magazine
Penny Post Postage Stamp Wallpaper: £49.90 per 10m roll
