WILLIAM SMALLEY GEORGIAN FLAT IN BLOOMSBURY

Architect William Smalley has done a great restoration job in this rented rather than owned flat in the heart of Bloomsbury. He restored the flat to its original Georgian proportions and even scrubbed the original floorboards by hand. A labor of love and a stunning result, for this so well proportioned flat, filled with the right pieces and furniture. Love the big windows, the light, and the simple interiors and colours. 

ROOM 39 NEW DESIGNS TO BE LAUNCH AT TENT LONDON

Friend and designer Petra Green, from Room 39 will be launching her new range of designs at Tent London this September. I have seen her new prints and patters already, when she was showing me her work in progress and I totally loved it. Don't miss her stand at Tent this year, it promises to be the best!

EAST DULWICH FESTIVAL – CHARLENE MULLEN HOUSE AND WORK

Continuing with my exploring of the open houses/studios as part of the festival, my next stop was at Charlene Mullen's gorgeous house. I met Charlene Mullen back in 2008 when she first exhibited at 100% Design in London. I thought her work was super stunning and I really liked her, she is very friendly,  approachable and down to earth person. 

We live quite close to each other - for London standards - and we always said lets meet for coffee, etc...but we never seem to have the spare time to do it, so I was super pleased to finally come over to her house/studio and have a chat with her, I even got to hold her gorgeous cat, Ralph, (pictured below).  

Above, a view of her studio and selection of her cushions, that you can see spread out in her house. I am sure you recognise her work and have seen it all over the press. She is one of my favourite English designers. You can visit her house/studio next weekend too, as the Festival will be still on, more info at its website. As well as her work you can see and buy the gorgeous extra large ceramics from Daniel Reynolds and the amazing blankets from Eleanor Pritchard.  

OMG, her house is to die for, and the bespoke kitchen, hello give it to me, love the colours, 

cement and wooden floors, the 60's style house and the big windows. 

Photos by me

EAST DULWICH FESTIVAL – COLOUR MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY

Hola, nice weekend? I am back from spending the last three days, not working much and instead socialising like crazy. It was the Dulwich Festival over the weekend, and I visited Pulse yesterday, as some of my friends are exhibiting, (I will post a little review of the show in the next few days). I talk a lot, specially if I am passionate and interested in a subject, so that is what I did, talk and more talk, eat and have fun.
I met with Kate and Lynne on Sunday to do a little exploring of the festival. We started at Simon March's (pictured above) shop, Colours makes people happy. I have known him for a long time, so it is very nice to pop around his shop now and again, to see what he is up to. Simon is such a creative person, full of ideas and skills to put them in place.

His is passionated about colour and has got a great deal of knowledge about paints. Need some advice on what colour to use or some interior advice? He will be happy to help.

Simon's kitchen is as colourful as the rest of the shop. He collects dutch ceramics, home-wares, food packaging, etc...all so cute, I always leave his shop feeling inspired, specially by colour. Next time you are South East of the river, I strongly recommend you to pay him a visit, you will find wall paint, quirky lighting, cushions, paint brushes, wall art, and a long etc...of beautiful objects.

Photos by me 

BEING INSPIRED BY...

1|2|3|4|5|6

Feeling inspired by wood, a simple colour palette, cement, plants...I am working on a new line of bags and purses, (number 5),  still in the prototype stage, using Argentinian leather for the handles, and the latest houses geometric pattern. Quite a lot going on right now, just applied for a Trade show in London, cutting 42 meters of fabrics to make up the cushions, preparing for printing the new tea towels,   and a long etc...quite enjoying the whole process, and making sure I do look after myself, by watching what I eat and following my exercise routine, I walk, do Pilates and an a exersices plan to keep me fit. I need to be healthy so I can perform well at work, be a good friend, daughter, partner etc...

MAKE & DO – FEELING CREATIVE?

I got to know about make&do, while in Spain, at our last creative meet up, where Ana Beltra, told me about her recent product's launch and her work. We kept talking about our creative work, life etc...that is how it goes when you seem to connect with someone isn't?

You can find these ready to make kits at her shop online. They have a selection of different boxes with all the materials, you will need, to create your unique handmade project. I think it is a brilliant idea, specially if you don't have lots of time to source the different bits and bobs. The kits are perfect for a present or if fancy some hands on project yourself.

Wrapping presents, making a simple T-shirt into an unique one, decorating, etc...you can find tutorials and ideas at her website and facebook page. 

DAY OUT AT THE PETERSHAM NURSERY

I am back from a busy week and a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK. I am at the production stage right now, taken fabrics to print, deciding on colours, designs, sizes, etc...making the prototypes of the new cushions, bags and purses, hooks etc...Thanks Silvina, for helping with the making of the leather handles and the sewing of of the bags, four eyes and hands are always better than just two...

The last three days have been quite relaxing and fun. Saw lots of friends, and got to visit new gorgeous places, like the Petersham nurseries in Richmond. What a nice place, full of plants, flowers and anything to do with gardening. It has a huge cafe that spread across the whole nurseries, nice food, (quite expensive for my pocket), delicious cakes and teas. It was a sunny lovely day in London, and I was with my designers friends, we meet now and again to talk business, support and learn from each other. I consider myself very lucky for having them, a supportive network of friends, all trying to achieve the same goals and heading to the same or similar direction.
Have you been in this place? Great  for a relaxing day out with your friends.

Photos by me

NEW DESIGNS – WORK IN PROGRES

Time to make decisions, I have finally got the fabrics printed, and I am very pleased with most of the colours. Trying to get the exact tonnes you want and see on the screen is almost impossible, specially when printing digitally. So I have to do a lot of testing and sampling until I am happy with the designs. This is a very expensive and slow process, but I am hoping to have them ready in about a month. I will be making cushions and tea towels out of these geometric houses design, to go with the English Romantic collection and colour wooden hooks, I think the B&W fabric goes perfectly with the new neon colours, which are in stock in my shop. 

I like the mix of the geometric, with the old fashion flower stitch and the landscapes. Below some colours I have to decide on, your help and feedback is always super welcome, so please help me to decide on colours!! 

I am making purses, pouches and bags out of the fabrics too, not being very successull so far. I am more of a designer than a seamstress, but I will get there. I am trying different sizes, models and fabrics, I wish  my mother was here to help me on this new prototypes, she is the one with the knowledge, I offered her a ticket to fly to London, but she doesn't seem to be willing to come over here just yet...haha, can't wait until June when I will be going home and will bring her back with me. 

Photos and designs copyright chocolate creative

CRATE EXPECTATIONS – NEW STOCKISTS

I love to see how my customers use chocolate creative's products they stock in their shops. Crate Expectations is a gorgeous store, full of colourful and beautiful products in Melbourne, Australia, run by Gerogie Bird. Her shop is filled with Australian brands and designers from all over the world. I really like how she has used the wooden hooks to decorate the walls and hang the various accessories through out the space. If you are a local, make sure to stop by, she is very nice and I am sure you will find beautiful things to take home with you. Read more about Crate Expectations and Georgie over at the Design Files blog.

CASA DELPIN – CLEVER LIGHTING SOLUTIONS

I am speechless after seeing Casa Delpin, in Puerto Rico in the pages of the Dwell magazine. The renovations of the original house built in the 1940s, were by Fuster architects. They have used the natural light in a very clever way, a true balance between light and shadows. The impressive old features, the floor tiles and the cement structure were kept to create an spectacular open space where outdoor and indoor life come together. I think I have found my ideal space, light, tropical vegetation, open plan, floor tiles, cement, the perfect background for my vintage pieces.

Photos by Raimund Koch