Floral patterns are generally something I stay away from as I often find them fussy and old fashioned even when many designers have given them a more contemporary twist. However, the new wallpapers by my favourite perfumer, Miller Harris, in collaboration with wallpaper designer Karen Beauchamp, of wallpaper company Cole & Son, take beautiful 18th century botanical illustrations and classic designs such as the damask and update them in the form of simple repeats and flashes of colour. Of the 3 different prints developed all available in three different colour ways my favourite has to be the triple sea fig (below), the delicate florals set in a simple graphic repeat and offset against a muted dusky yellow backdrop; perfect for bringing colour and the illusion of light and warmth in a small space or basement flat with little natural light.
I was reminded of the buttery yellow used in the famous 'Yellow Room' originally created in the 1950's by Nancy Lancaster and John Fowler, of Colefax & Fowler, one of the foremost English decorating firms of the 20th century. Colefax and Fowler have recently recreated this iconic room with the help of the World of Interiors editor, Rupert Thomas, photos of which can be found in the December issue of the magazine along with a sensitively written article not just about the visual appearance of the room but Nancy Lancaster personality which are intrinsically linked.
For further reading on Nancy Lancaster and her work it is worth taking a look at the richly illustrated title, 'Nancy Lancaster. English Country House Style' by Martin Wood. You can purchase it at this link: http://www.pottertonbookslondon.com/epages/BT4004.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT4004/Products/384
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| Triple Sea Fig |
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| Pomflower Damask |
To view the full collection of Miller Harris wallpapers or order a sample visit: www.millerharris.com or to experience the wallpaper in situ visit the Miller Harris tea room at the flagship store on Bruton Street, Mayfair.
Although I have been reading a great deal recently my drafted blog posts have not come to fruition partly because my art history degree has left me with an inability to write concise snippets of information rather than rambling and going off on tangents. My lecturers despaired at times as did I but I have now decided to use my blog to overcome this and begin a little project I have been meaning to feature on my blog for some time now, hopefully improving my writing at the same time.
As I frequently browse design boutiques and websites I thought it would be fun to begin a wish list feature to record all my findings for future reference ( when I eventually begin my interior design course) and share interesting and beautiful finds with all of you. This is not an original concept but after finding the hastily scribbled note books I kept during my previous job at an interior design firm, I felt a desire to continue this former habit even if my surrounding have changed.
After picking up a beautifully produced catalogue from Danish firm, Gubi, I think I will begin with what the Architects Journal proclaimed to be the first example of Bauhaus design in the UK.
Conceived in the 1930's by industrial designer, Robert Dudley Best, the aptly named Bestlite is a series of lighting configurations for table, floor and ceiling. The Bestlite took inspiration from its German counterpart, the light fittings by Christian Dell, the simple, functional design and monochrome finish of both the Bestlite and the Dell Lamp Type K reflecting the Bauhaus desire for both functionality, adaptability and beauty, compounding both machine based mass produced objects and fine arts in order to bring art back into contact with everyday life.
Such a practical approach to design stemmed from the goals of architects and artists during the Arts and Crafts movement emphasised in William Morris's lecture 'The Beauty of Life' where he declared that if art was to begin in the home you must have "nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful". Modernist architects such as Bruno Taut continued this, urging designers to re-consider all elements of the domestic interior from the positioning of walls and furniture to the placement of lighting.
Although the Bestlite didn't initially become a celebrated feature of the domestic modernist interior, more likely to be seen in the vicinity of a Royal Air Force base, it is now featured in many contemporary design stores such as Aram, the main UK stockist, the Best name, associated with both product and manufacturer (Best and Lloyd) still a household name in the world of design and interior decoration. The atmospheric black and white photos found in the Gubi catalogue, now manufacturers of the Bestite beautifully situate the Bestlite variations in the clean, functional spaces so synonymous with the Bauhaus period. I included my favourite shots below.
For further reading or to purchase your very own Bestlite:
www.bestandlloyd.co.uk
www.aram.co.uk
www.bestlite.dk
(Quote and information on William Morris taken from Charlotte Gere's new book, 'Artistic Circles - Design and Decoration in the Aesthetic Movement' - a fascinating book on how the idea of the artist was transformed and the interior decorator was born during the mid 19th century. I might do a post on this book when I have explored it further)
