Interior Decoration A-Z by Betty Pepis

Found this little gem recently on ebay and decided it was an essential purchase! Top tips on modern decorating- From 'Art wall' to 'Zebra' and everything in between. Worth it's weight in gold for some of the images alone. 

Light at the end of the tunnel: Artek Bright White lights

I'm beginning to think Summer may never arrive. Fear not though, as Artek may have come up with a solution. The new Bright white lights were conceived so that the light itself takes centre stage rather than the fixture. The light they emit provides up to 1,000 times more light than a cloudy day, a short winter day, or standard indoor lighting so they are great for combating Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. If the miserable weather continues I might have to invest in one! 

New Directios: New Cassics book covers by Alvin Lustig

LOVE these dust jacket designs by Alvin Lustig from the 40's/50s. They are so simple but the combination of colour graphics and textures within them is beautiful. Considering some of the designs are nearly 70 years old, it's amazing how they still look modern and relevant today. The groundbreaking designs did wonders for the sales of the New Directions books when they were launched.

The Crates by Naihanli and co

Saw this at Designs of the year at The Design Museum. Apparently the inspiration for the series came to Naihan while unpacking shipping crates full of artwork for the Milan furniture fair. 

There is a whole range of pieces including: Desk, Dressing tables, wardrobe, sofa, chest of drawers, workstation, T.V. cabinet, bed, book case... the list goes on. It's basically an entire mobile lifestyle system.

I  think the concept is great. The idea of being able to just close everything up, wheel it on to a van, into your new warehouse/ loft space open it up and everything be where you left it is genius. (However, it becomes somewhat less seamless should you be moving to a top floor flat in a Georgian house conversion!)

And should the mood take you, you can literally pack the kitchen sink!

ModMansion of the week: The Lime works- Faversham, Kent

Just found this incredible property. It's a conversion of 2 1930's grade 2 listed water towers. I love how they have glazed floor to ceiling the concrete supports for the 2 water towers to create this incredible bright, open plan living space. The triple height dining area in the central tower of the building is stunning and the house also boasts a library, gym and rooftop pool which would look more at home in Beverly Hills than the Kent countryside! Oh for a spare 3.75 million!

Teacher's Pett

Finding the perfect seaside retirement cottage wasn't exactly at the top of my to-do list but having discovered Pett Level I can put it on there and officially cross it off!
Nestled on the south coast of the UK between Hastings and Rye is Pett level road; home to a cluster of modern homes scattered between rundown 1960′s bungalows.
I first discovered Pett level road a few years ago when driving past I noticed the big white house that I recognised from channel 4′s Grand Designs. (The home of music manager Tom Watkins and his partner Darron) 
I was in the area again recently, so naturally I had to stop the car and have a nose around. I found that a few more bungalows had been gobbled and in their place this little modernist haven.

(Pictures from top to bottom: The Big White House, Link Cottage, Grace Dieu, Ocean View, Stilt House, Sea House)

These are a few of my favourite (concrete) things...

This year Phaidon will be publishing a book called Concrete looking at some of the world famous buildings of the built from the stuff. I’m a  big concrete fan and it got me thinking about my favourite concrete buildings. Here are my top 3:

Number three- Oscar Niemeyer’s 1991 Museum of contemporary art in Niteroi, Brazil:

Number two- (a very close call!) Chamberlin, Powell and Bon’s 1960′s Barbican estate in London, England

Number one- Saarinen’s 1962 TWA terminal at JFK airport New York, U.S.A:

Clerkenwell Design Week: Steelcase and Frank Lloyd Wright

 

Clerkenwell Design Week: Knoll studio- new collection

A few pieces from the new Knoll Studio Architecture& Associés Lounge collection Designed By Pierre Beucler and Jean Christophe. There is also an ottoman and bench not pictured. Love the collection. The retro styling is really playful, the contrasting colour combos are fun and as always with Knoll it's fantastic quality. 

I can't help but think the designers had this image (an Alexander Girard sofa, part of a whole range that he designed for the Braniff Airlines Lounges in the 1960's) pinned to the mood board on their studio wall though!