Interior Design Sense

I am always in awe of a designer who can mix lots of patterns, textures and colours in one room and make it appear so effortless and cohesive. Katie Ridder is one of those designers. Jo featured some of her work back in ’07, and I needed to showcase more of her work after drooling profusely over her portfolio again recently. I adore every single one of the spaces below. Gorgeous!

Happy Friday everyone! I am off work today (YAHOO) and trying to get up the strength to start some of the projects that have been on my “to-do-as-soon-as-the-holidays-are-over” list. Or I might ditch all that and since it’s a balmy day (just above freezing) I may ditch my list and go for a walk down to some of my favourite shops. While I am contemplating life (and on a serious note, thinking about the horror in Haiti and people like this who are making a difference), I thought I’d leave you all with some lovely photos from the portfolio of art director and lifestyle stylist Lucy Berridge. There’s a couple ideas here that piqued my interest – the fridge built into the wall off in a corner, the thin red trim around the door frame, the lattice on a closet/armoire…

Mix design, travel and food with a shop that I’m sure we’d all die to see in real life. Take a man with a great eye and an obvious love of entertaining. Send him out to find treasures from all corners and what you’ll get is Nathan Turner, the man and the shop. Ah the shop! If you can’t visit in West Hollywood in person then at least there is 1stdibs.

It’s simple really. Simplicity is beautiful. Form and function, not trends and fashion. Quality and materials, durability and sustainability, light and space. “A single room where the sunlight plays over a rich surface of stone, beautiful hardwoods or structural fabrics can be decorative in itself.” Simple yes, simply stunning.  Danish architectural firm  NORM Arkitekter.

Someone else bought the house I wanted.

WINKS – weekend links. Here we list what has come in during the week, things we’ve found and things we think you’ll want to see. If you’d like to see your blog or website featured email us and if we think it fits with our readers we’ll link you. So what’s in this week?

• Ali Sandifer Studio – beautiful hand crafted furniture. “The collection largely integrates storage into its form, striving to make furniture that is both intelligent and attractive. We take pride in hand-producing our work in house. This intimacy and knowledge of craft is essential to the way we design.” Environmentally sensitive pieces made to last. I just want to run my hands over those curves!

•  maison et toi – an online gallery of the most gorgeous (and needless to say expensive) 20th century design. I’d most likely sell my soul for quite a few of Raji Radhakrishnan’s “objects of desire”.  A girl can dream! More here as well.

• Another stunning rug range from Designer Rugs. Minnie Pwerle was, until her death in 2006, one of Australia’s most important indigenous artists. Minnie was born in 1910 but didn’t start painting until 1999. Her works are based on the body paintings on the women in her Atnwengerrp country. Stunning modern rugs steeped in an ancient culture. I want to move into that first room.

• The new rustic. Brooklyn based Nightwood reconstructs and reincarnates furniture and textiles with a down to earth vibe. Myriah Scruggs and Nadia Yaron repurpose, re-use and re-love.



Dear Dexter (I hope I may call you Dexter),

It’s really not fair. Not only are you a great photographer, you get to hang out in the coolest houses. I know it’s work but look at that view! I mean Dexter your job has perks. I’m trying hard to find fault but it’s impossible. Your work is stunning. The light in your photos is so bright, so white but it only makes the shadows so much more inviting. It’s no surprise you’re based in Spain. No it’s really not fair. I want to be you.

(Portfolio of American born but Barcelona based photographer Dexter Hodges.)