Catwalk x Interiors - Issue 2: Suited and booted (for cocktail drinking)
It’s funny how inspiration really can come from anywhere. It’s not like I’ve been able to visit grand houses, museums or art galleries of late, like you, I’ve been making my own fun. When I was playing around with beauty products and a Wedgwood Christmas decoration as chess pieces (yes, that’s how my brain works!) I really honed in on how gorgeous the chalky pale blue Jasperwear looked next to a deep burgundy Mac lipstick of mine, and with a bit more thought and research, poof, a colour palette was born.
Wedgwood christmas decoration and Mac lipstick in action. This is the Flora Fantasia Wallpaper in Noir Stripe from House of Hackney
I order samples ALL the time; wallpaper, fabric, paint, fringe, trimmings… it’s these small deliveries that have kept me sane over the past year. I need to know how things look and feel in real life, as well as ordering samples for the designs that I create for my clients.
I frequently play around with physical samples so that I’m not screen-bound for eight hours a day, to feel them in my hands and see what colours work with what. And for me, the more unconventional the better.
Physical samples used in the Catwalk x Interiors Issue 2 scheme
I’ve had the Poodle and Blonde ‘Food Babies’ Camel velvet swatch for a while, and I’ve been waiting to find the just right off colour that will accentuate it’s 1970’s appeal, but without creating a 70’s tribute look. Placing the rich camel pattern next to the aforementioned pale blue and burgundy shades, it all sang in a Del-Boy-does-south-of-France kinda way. Stick with me.
Poodle & Blonde’s ‘Food Babies’ velvet in Camel
I remembered a fashion shot that I came across in the September 2020 issue of Vogue Italia, an advert for Marciano Guess. I love the simplicity of the two-tone palette; this petrol/teal/mid-blue appearing in a mixture of fabrics, chiffon, cotton and high patent leather (those boots!), together with the deep merlot velvet sofa and shiny taffeta-like material of the curtains. The use of the colour-blocked carpet really stood out to me, it’s such a bold choice to commit to such a simple palette, which is what makes the image so striking.
Vogue Italia - September 2020 issue - Marciano Guess advert
Inspired by this image, I wanted to get inside the mind of the fashion model and create space for her; a full living room scheme with the coolest furniture, soft furnishings, and accessories, ALL the accessories. I got to know the model (in my mind) and created for her what I thought would be the perfect model-off-duty space. Her voluminous yet slick raven hair grants a 1960’s mood, the outfit; that of Cat Woman in the boardroom, in blue, she clearly deserved a space as flawless as her.
Combining the caramel and blue tones within the Food Babies fabric with the teals and burgundy works so well. It’s a cosy combination and calming on the eyes, but I felt that it needed some additional colour and pattern. I found just the right pale blue shade in the Versailles inspired Cole and Son ‘Giselle’ wallpaper. It’s such a fun juxtaposition; sophisticated, metallic, French regal palace, with 1970’s, pretty much brown, velvet curtains… it works! Can you see what I mean by Del-Boy-does-the-south-of-France now? Cool huh?!
The Iammi B-Flora Klein vase (colour based on the eponymous Even Klein blue) adds just the right thwack of colour to punctuate the scheme, along with the cobalt blue within the Versace cushion (yes Versace, we’re manifesting here) and the YSL handbag - let’s not forget this is a fashion model’s home.
The interior products are from go-to brands of mine; small businesses and creatives. The Coucou Manou cabinet is something that I’m manifesting for myself for it’s beauty and craftsmanship.
The beautifully decorative Susi Bellamy ‘Tasseled Duck-Egg Bouquet Large Oblong Cushion’ captures the gold and teal tones in a perfect swirly fashion, and the extra chic ‘Maison Lancel Cocktail Or Coffee Table Bar’ from Vinterior opens up to present a mirrored interior, in which to place your fabulous cocktails and delectable snacks.
The paint swatches I’ve used pick out the main elements of the palette. From left to right they are:
French Ochre - Craig & Rose, Tuscan Red - Little Greene, Theatre Red - Little Greene, FTT 018 - Mylands and Teal Tension - Dulux.
Cole & Son is the wallpaper company gift that keeps on giving, I’ve used a few designs now, one of them has lasted well over ten years, which it my opinion absolutely grants the price per roll. This is the the absolutely stunning Giselle wallpaper in Blue by the fabulous brand, with all the Marie Antoinette feels.
Poodle & Blonde is a favourite interior brand of mine, headed up by creatives Whinnie Williams and Kierra Campbell. Their brand is inspired by times-gone-by, vintage and second hand, and always with a touch of whimsy and fun, and sometimes with a nod towards Whinnie’s many pets!
Due to the brand’s love of animals, their cushions are sustainably made with recycled plastic bottle filling instead of duck feathers and they work with UK-based, family-run businesses in small-production runs.
The ‘Food Babies’ design took Whinnie three weeks to hand-embroider onto vintage slub silk which was then digitally captured. The story we were told as children of the stork that delivers babies has been given a modern twist - these particular storks deliver take-away food instead! A much better story in my opinion!
The dream interiors brand which is Poodle & Blonde
The beautiful photography artwork is by Emma at A Quiet Style. This piece is called Summer III and is perfection in its calmness and colour palette. The glass and fringe pendant light is the ‘Vintage Light’ from Rothschild & Bickers and last but not least (I’m also committing to a bold carpet in this space) the burgundy carpet in Anne Garnet VC531 from Brintons’ Velvet Collection, isn’t is just the right shade of burgundy? No, it’s not like your nana’s! It’s a gorgeous deep, warming colour that looks truly amazing next to the teal velvet of the Crawford Chaise sofa from Arlo & Jacob, in colour ‘Fiord'.’
Summer III by A Quiet Style
Yes I do realise I used this sofa in a different colour in Catwalk x Interiors Issue 1, but its just so fashion and this achingly cool teal colour is perfect for the scheme, which I could’t un-see when I placed it next to all the other elements of the space. Promise to use a different sofa next time.
If you have been inspired by this and your desperate to unleash your inner fashionista into your home interior, I have a service for that. Get in touch to find out more by clicking here or contact me for more info.
