GET THE LOOK

Following this year's Christmas neutral theme at home, I chose the B&W landscape table lamp, together with the black casas and Skiing chalet cushions to create an eclectic and calm look. I focused on adding layers with different patterns and textures. Natural linens, green branches and handmade decoratives details, such as the paper spoons framed on the walls, live together in my living room,  next to some of my old etchings and vintage finds. 

All products available at my shop online | Photos Piero Pierini

CHRISTMAS DECORATING AT HOME

One of my favorite times of the year has arrived. I love Christmas in the UK, but not so much back in the islands, my house is here and it is where I can get to decorate it and enjoy it just before I leave. I like visiting the different events in the capital, admire the lights, and feel the cold, as once I get to Gran Canaria, the mood change into flip flops, beach and sun cream...

I don't tend to spend Christmas in the UK, as part of my family lives in Gran Canaria, and the rest in Germany, so traveling is always on the cards for me.

I start thinking of Christmas around October (I should do it much earlier, to get things ready for the shop, but I never manage). I choose a theme, and get the decorations out, I buy a few new things each year, and plan a bit how I am going to decorate the space, then of course nothing happens until later in December...

Since I travel, I never buy a tree in London, but I always decorate the house, even if it is just for a few weeks before leaving. I am not so much into colours, and prefer to keep the space neutral, maybe that will change in the future, but right now I like to keep things simple. This year, I have recycled some of my old decorations, and added some greens I bought in the local florist together with my cushions, lampshade and wall hooks.

The black & white landscape lampshade is from my shop, the white ceramic mug is from talented Byung, and the rest of the objects I found in vintage shops and car-boot sales. The glass dome I bought almost 17 years ago!

Following the simple neutral theme this year, I chose some mono-crome wall hooks, and added some handmade decorations, and greens. My mother made the Christmas stoking this Summer, I am taking them with me as she made one for each of us.

I am very pleased with the enchanted village wall hooks, a collaboration I recently did with designer Sian Zeng,  they are available at my shop online, where you can find a much bigger selection of colours and shapes.

I desperately needed a plan chest to store my art prints, so when the school around the corner was getting rid of it, I snapped it up just at the right time. It was covered in dirt, old paint etc...but nothing that can't be fixed after many hours of scratching, sanding and cleaning. 

This is the last post from London, so see you all from Gran Canaria, I hope you have fun decorating your homes, and remember to follow me on Instagram for some adventures under the SUN!

Photos by Piero Pierini

Bespoke handles – Loft renovation

One of my customers, Delyth has sent me these images of her fab recent loft conversion and house renovation, where she has used a range of bespoke handles and wooden knobs to finish the cupboard doors, in the loft and the bathrooms. She came across my range of bespoke handles when she was looking for door knobs and handles to finish her project.
I really like the useful storage solution in the loft, and how she has used the wooden handles to finish the white cupboards.

Delyth has used the Bridge design in natural beech wood as door handles, we made them to meet her custom specification.

A selection of rectangular painted wooden knobs combined with natural square ones add and interesting design element to the bespoke bathroom cupboards.

The botanical print looking fab in her dining room.

Continuing with the practical bespoke built in cupboards through out the house and final touches from chocolate creative handles and wall hooks range.

Scandinavian style children room

I love to see how chocolate creative's customers use its products in their homes. These photos from Nils twins nursery are a good example of how creative people can be. True Scandinavian style, crisp whites combined with happy colours and natural wood. Yellow is a great colour to work with, specially if you match it with neutral colours such as black and grey. Keep it simple adding some graphic elements with cushions, soft toys and wall art to complete the look. The yellow wooden knobs match perfectly the look, adding some colour to the bespoke dresser that Nils used from her former company Hout Cuisine, where they specialise in making wooden fronts for ikea kitchen cabinets. For the full selection of wooden knobs and bespoke handles go to chocolate creative's shop online.

Summer offers and discounts: Blue lake discount

SALE NOW ON!
25% off the Blue lake designs, including cushions, lampshades, wall hooks, wooden knobs, and purses. Enter the code {BLUELAKE} at the check out stage to benefit from the discount.
 Sale ends on 31 August 2016. Shop online at chocolate creative.

Photos by Piero Pierini

Decorating a children's room

Children's bedrooms are the most fun to decorate, I don't have kids myself, (I live with a cat), but If I did, I will create a cosy and interesting space for them to sleep and play. I love styling little one's rooms, and enjoy very much when I have to put together ideas for the photo-shoot of my products. I am not a fan of strong colours, plastic toys or very modern furniture, so my choice would be to rescue some vintage furniture, mixed with contemporary practical accessories, mixed patterns, textures and add their personal touch, with their drawings, books and clothes. Their bedrooms should be a magical place where they rest, dream and play with their friends and parents.

 

The products above can be found in my shop online. They are handmade by Gassy and I.

A pet, would be a great addition to the children's life. They turn a house into a home. I know that not everybody can have one, but having them makes a house even more special, they have a very positive and loving energy, they give more than they take from us.

  The wall hooks are a fun way to decorate the walls, creating some interesting storage solutions.

Vintage ercol side tables, landscape lampshades, wooden pencil holder, vintage cards game and some greens complete the look. 

Products available at chocolate creative | Photos Piero Pierini

Apartment in Primrose Hill by Amos Goldreich Architecture

When it comes to interiors, I don't have a defined style, I can either go for something very clean and modern or a more vintage old and eclectic style. Either way, white walls or neutral colours are my must. I am very interested in renovation projects of old properties, I will always be more in favour of rescuing an old property than in building a new one. Even a small simple flat can become a beauty if well renovated.

 

This flat in Primrose Hill has been renovated by Amos Goldreich Architecture studio. A small 60-square metre space has been converted in a practical living space filled with light, contemporary furniture, and added touches of colours by using colourful homewares. You can see the before and after pictures of the project here. How by using quality materials and clever space solutions they have created a beautiful and cosy flat. I like the simplicity of the open layout and the white bespoke furniture units. I can see my range of wooden knobs and bespoke handles being used in projects like this, adding the final touch.

 

Project by Amos Goldreich Architecture | Photos by Rory Gardiner

Bright Friday: give back on black Friday

I have something very nice to share with you all. This Friday, November 27th, I’m collaborating with independent brands papermash and Sian Zeng on Bright Friday. As an alternative to Black Friday discounts we’re donating 15% of sales on Friday to Doctors of the World UK, a small charity who offer vital healthcare to vulnerable groups, primarily refugees across Europe, in Calais, Lesbos in Greece and in Germany. In London, they run a clinic in Bethnal Green who serve groups who feel uncomfortable accessing traditional GP surgeries; the homeless, refugees and sex workers. A friend who works at one of the largest aid agencies really recommended them to me as a smaller charity who are doing great work (they’ve been in the Calais camps for a long time) and who would really benefit from our support.

Here’s a comment from the Executive Director of Doctors of the World, Leigh Daynes: “By supporting Bright Friday you are directly helping refugees, who are fleeing conflicts and war zones and are in search of a better life, even more urgent as we move into the winter and conditions deteriorate. To find out more please visit www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk.”

There are some items from our shops below, and you can visit our Bright Friday website for more info as well as our shops. We’d love it if you could help share the word too, via Twitter and Instagram, (@brightfridayuk). If you don’t want to buy anything, we don’t mind at all but please consider texting DOCTOR to 70660 to donate £3 directly (plus network charge.) The charity has been super supportive of our little idea and we’d love to make it a great fundraiser for them.

Thanks to all for taking the time to read this post and thanks in advance if you decide to take part in this event.

Bright Friday | chocolate creative | papermash | Sian Zeng | Doctors of the World

{BRIGHT FRIDAY}

{bright Friday} a bright idea, in collaboration with papermashuk and sianzeng. We are working together on something that we will announce soon. In the meantime we are doing a competition over at Instagram. For the following two Fridays I will post a photo of something bright in my Instagram account; if you wish to take part in this brightfriday competition all you have to do is to post a bright photo on your Instagram feed, and tag #brightfridaycompetition @chocolatecreative @brightfridayuk. I will then announce the winner on Monday. The prize would be a product from chocolate creative's shop. Good luck!

 The set of fluro hooks (above) were the first prize to be won this Monday.

  Photos Piero Pierini | Styling Margarita Lorenzo | Copyright @chocolatecreative

STYLING AND SHOOTING FOR MY BRAND

Part of my job at chocolate creative, involves styling and art directing the photoshoot of the products I design. We normally take the photos at my house, as it is where the business was based up until last year, and it is where I have some interesting props and pieces of furniture. I enjoy this part of my work very much as it can be challenging and creative, but as usual, its subject to budget, space and time, although one day I hope to have a bigger space where to take the photos, but for the time being I make the most of it, I guess that is a skill too…

These photos were taken by Piero Pierini, and are of the latest range of bespoke handles and knobs I stock on my shop online. When designing I always think of myself as the potential customer, (maybe not a good idea), but if I don't see the practical use of a product or I like it visually I won't be able to produce it. Having creative freedom was the main reason I started chocolate creative, I tend to have a lot of ideas that never see the light, for production cost reasons or luck of time, but this process keeps me happy and motivated to carry on.

The bespoke handles, knobs and hooks can be used in many ways, to hold curtains, to finish custom made wardrobes, to storage scarfs, hats, coats, etc…in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom. I am hoping to get some photos of my customers to show in here very soon, I find very interesting to see how people use the products.

 

Photos by Piero Pierini

DECORATING WITH CUSHIONS

The first product I ever designed and made for chocolate creative was a cushion. I did it out of need, I wanted some new cushions for my bedroom and living room, and it was an easy medium to try my first pattern designs. Cushions continue to be my favourite products to work on, despite what my mother once said a few years ago. On her first visit to a trade show in London, only after 10 minutes of stepping into the venue, she commented: "Marga, do you think the world needs another cushion" . This phrase has stayed with me ever since, and I often wonder if that is true?? Well, all I can say, is that YES the world needs more cushions, for as along as people continue to buy them, I will continue to make them!!

  

 

Updating the look of a room can be easily done on budget. Sometimes, all it needs is a new fresh coat of paint, and some new accessories: cushions, lamps, bed linen, wall art, curtains, etc… 

I hope these photos, (most of them of my house, apart from the one of veronica's home, and Liberty store in London), inspire you on how to update your home. My style is very eclectic, I like to mix vintage with new designs. I collect old paintings, and mix them with my own prints. The same goes with the furniture pieces. I tend to change the wall colours now and again. The main bedroom is currently painted in blue, the guest bedroom in white, as well as the rest of the house, with the exemption of the grey corridor and black wall in the living room.

English romantic collection: Red and Blue lake cushions £45 each. 

I recently got a prize from Atmine, it was the gorgeous bed linen from Loaf, that you see in the photos, so I decided to add some new cushions to go with the pink, white and grey bed linen set. I tried several combinations with different designs and patterns. You can see how different a room can look, depending on the wall colour, wall art and cushions you choose.

English bridge cushion £60

There is a lot of inspiration out there, in the form of interior magazines, blogs, pinterest, design events, shops, etc…I believe that living in a comfortable, and beautiful space can add quality to your life. Homes are very important, is where we rest and spend time with our families and friends, so why not to make the most of what we have?

There are millions of products and hundreds of shops/designers out there, from a very low budget to the most expensive gorgeous things money can buy, the range is vast, so start making your house a cosy HOME!

Woodland cushion £45 | and Green casas cushion £55

Photos by Piero Pierini | Styling by me