During this redecoration process I think what I fear the most is making a huge mistake, settling and ultimately not being happy with the end results.
I know that what is a mistake for one person might not be considered as one to another. Decorating will always be known as objective and personal. There are several fundamental formulas and guidelines in design but thanks to you and your comments and support, I now truly believe that planning and knowing what you love is the key to any successful interior.
Incorporating personal items and aesthetic will help us relate to our environment. We want to feel comfortable in our own home. We want pieces that evoke positive emotions and memories for us and our family while planning out our composition. Otherwise, the tendency to feel disconnected can become all too apparent and that is exactly what is happening in our house at the moment.
Now that we’ve scanned magazines, books and websites and have found ourselves with reoccurring elements, colours and patterns, we are feeling more and more confident in all of our choices. Fear should no longer play any role in this project. Mistakes, although not entirely avoidable, will not overshadow the process of designing for it. After all, this is supposed to be a fun project, and thanks to you, it will be.
So what are your fears when designing for interiors, whether it be your own or for a new client?
Suddenly I find myself thrust into the world of re-decorating our home.
It had to come sooner or later so, as a husband and a father, I am a fool for thinking that my life would always revolve around Ikea couches that are full of crumbs, covered in pen ink and general squashed beyond all recognition and comfort. For the first time in my life, I find myself actually choosing my own designs, layouts and furniture. It’s a very strange feeling to not really understand where your taste in interiors comes from.
I’ll tell you now. I am not the interior person of Holley & Gill. I tend to work on the “sales and business stuff.” Michelle sends me to a website and I click on images I like. I am completely un-influenced by most goings on in the real work of interiors and design. I travel a lot for work and run a record label out of the basement in my spare time. I feel comfort in quality and well made utilitarian items. I tend to hang onto clothing items until they fall apart. I don’t like the off the shelf “newness” feeling and wish I could buy everything thrift or vintage. I know what I want. I guess perhaps I am the ideal “social modern day consumer?” someone who instinctively buys what they really associate and connect with?
Don’t expect me to have a name for my style. I scroll through 12,000 images on Flickr and just pick out the ones that register something in my brain. I guess that’s just how I work. I have always been someone who just explores and connects with something. Whether it is an image, brand, photo, product or music. I guess that maybe everyone else is plugged in that way too?
*footnote
After putting these photos together and showing them to Michelle for the first time we were both actually quite shocked that many of the photos Michelle had already bookmarked or marked as favorites through various other sites and links.
So for some time now we’ve been to-ing and fro-ing in regards to reinstating a feeling of ourselves, us, back into our living/dining room. Having two children along with a roller coaster ride of a life has left us uninspired and disconnected in a room that should normally be filled with personality and fun.
So, we sat down and had a chat. We were always hesitant in even beginning this process as we would dismiss it as being too large or too expensive and not a priority. The more we talked, the more we realised how much we needed to do this. This room needs to be inviting to us, it needs to be an extension of who we are coupled with the stage of life we’re living in now.
“Family” needs to be what would hit you first when you enter. We won’t be neatly tidying up all signs of children’s items behind closets or cabinets, but as parents, we still want our personalities to be conveyed through our choices or fixtures, art and furniture.
So, we have a long road ahead. We know our floor plan drawn tonight is the way to go. For me, it will be about letting go of all my designer notions and for just this once, really, and I mean, really let go. Bottom line, we want a room we can all be happy and content living in, not one that someone else would be happy with.
What are your design suggestions in creating a room that is genuine and true to you?
To purchase the book The Family at Home by Anita Kaushal, have a look here.
There are many different places that tug on people’s heart strings, for me, it’s la ville de Paris. I have not been there yet but have this unmistakable allurement towards this city and have had for quite some time. It’s not something I can explain, it’s simply something that’s within me. I have no family ties or history to Paris that is known but somewhere deep exists a need and a want to be there one day.
Even dreaming about roaming its roads I get butterflies in my stomach with excitement. Somehow I can sense its intimidating nature. A larger than life city filled with effortlessly sharp and fashionable residents can make anyone feel insecure and displaced but for me, it’s all part of the challenge of getting to know it better. For now, it’s all about patience. Patience and knowing that one day I will get there and only when the time is right. I know it can’t be now, but the day I sit and sip a cappuccino in a busy cafe with nothing but an open day ahead will be a day my heart will relish in forever.
So where does your heart take you, what places do you wish to discover?
If you’ve never heard of 3sixteen, then this is your lucky day. 3sixteen, a men’s fashion design company based out of New York, are changing the face of their industry by using local manufacturers and creating a whole new fan following based on their openness, genuine, personable and down to earth provenance approach. The fashion industry is known for it’s impenetrable wall of jaded perfection along with the sad underlying reality that much of the clothing is made in large factories overseas. They are fighting this reality and so far are gaining the upper hand. This is what Holley & Gill as a whole thrives for everyday and how could we not but be inspired by these guys, we know you will be. We love the styling of the imagery in their Spring 2010 lookbook shot at the Ace Hotel in their hometown.
In collaboration with filmmaker Hilton Carter, they put together this great “day in the life” video that really gives a raw insight into the day-to-day work and goings on at their company.
The music is by The Radio Dept. “Where damage isn’t already done”
Since everyone is excitedly awaiting the new line of Liberty of London for Target, we thought we would turn the attention away from the new products and back to its origins, the flagship store itself. The brick and mortar located on Great Marlborough Street in the W1B district of London.
If you’ve ever had the distinct pleasure of setting foot in it, you know that when you enter those doors, you’re not only experiencing a department store but an abundant history of luxury and design. The old and creaky wooden floors, the elaborate hand rails and the spectacular chandeliers are all part of what make Liberty of London so entrancing.
The latest fashion accessories lie against the backdrop of traditional architecture without either failing to accentuate one another. When you turn a new corner, more design classics alongside modern emerge from the shadows and you feel that every item you discover is a treasure in itself.
Renowned for their traditional silks and fabrics, Liberty has also gained respect and popularity for launching careers of so many up and coming designers. With so much history, this department store still remains to this day a leading destination when in London. This emporium now thankfully shares its legacy with the rest of the world with their new line for Target, a line that will no doubt be coveted by many.
Since process is taking center stage these days and becoming more and more important, we’d love to share ours with you here today.
To begin with, all of our products are designed and prototyped in our small studio giving us the opportunity to step back and look first hand at how the fabric design and hardware behaves and interacts with its surroundings. Our designs can sometimes sit in our studio for months just being observed and pondered over day after day before we make that final decision to either scrap and start over, or move on to making production samples.
We then drive across the city to our silk-screen printers and finalize the layout of the design to have the printing acetate and screens made. Once the final screens arrive the intense test printing stages begin. We are not interested in pressing buttons on vast printing machines that spit out fabric that is identical in repeat, lacks raw uniqueness and doesn’t present challenges to us and to our printer. We never pre-print rolls and each cut of finished fabric is allocated to a specific piece of furniture. Our printing process involves 3 people and takes many hours to print just one length of cloth for one individual piece.
Once dried, the printed lengths of cloth are walked through the corridors of an old warehouse building, now converted to small studios, to our upholsterer. All our furniture is made with what we encourage and call the “stand back” approach. Everyone involved in the making of our products is granted the right to stand back and visually review the piece through the craftsmanship process. If we, the printer or upholsterer aren’t completely satisfied with the finished product then it’s scrapped, simple as that.
Using handed sanded wood on the inside, our upholster molds and folds the fabric by hand around what becomes the final product. Each piece is scrupulously inspected for any oddities that are not “individualistic” to the product. We pride ourselves on telling our customers that “no, your piece of furniture will not look or feel exactly the same as anyone elses.” That’s the amazing thing about our unique design and production beliefs.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Please feel free to link up to your process in the comments field below, we would love to hear from you!
It seems to me that there’s somewhat of a duality that exists within decor and I often find myself stuck somewhere in between. Let me explain.
On one side there is pure harmony, balance and a thoughtfully composed design. Rooms exist as a complete unit. No specific anchor or element stands out and the eye can wander freely without any unnecessary interruptions. You’ve seen and I’m sure admired them. Rooms which have a composition that exudes perfection and confidence. Each and every item was purposefully bought and meticulously laid out with not one looking out of place.
I often gravitate towards such designs. The thought process alone to create this effect is envious. However the prospect of my life somewhat invading these types of spaces can be terrifying and daunting in regards to its upkeep.
On the other side, eclecticism and freedom reign. Items are bought solely for the purpose of enjoying them and not necessarily because they fit within a certain spectrum of colour, size or texture. Yet together everything still coexists with such ease and lightness that no amount of planning could ever have created. In this instance, piles of books can become part of the furniture and children’s toys lend to the feeling of playfulness that this type of decor projects.
For me, living somewhere in the middle of this dichotomy is ideal as long as I can let go and rely on my instincts to take over. Sometimes easier said then done though. So where do you feel your design taste lies? Traditional, eclectic or somewhere completely different?
I know that what is a mistake for one person might not be considered as one to another. Decorating will always be known as objective and personal. There are several fundamental formulas and guidelines in design but thanks to you and your comments and support, I now truly believe that planning and knowing what you love is the key to any successful interior.
Incorporating personal items and aesthetic will help us relate to our environment. We want to feel comfortable in our own home. We want pieces that evoke positive emotions and memories for us and our family while planning out our composition. Otherwise, the tendency to feel disconnected can become all too apparent and that is exactly what is happening in our house at the moment.
Now that we’ve scanned magazines, books and websites and have found ourselves with reoccurring elements, colours and patterns, we are feeling more and more confident in all of our choices. Fear should no longer play any role in this project. Mistakes, although not entirely avoidable, will not overshadow the process of designing for it. After all, this is supposed to be a fun project, and thanks to you, it will be.
It had to come sooner or later so, as a husband and a father, I am a fool for thinking that my life would always revolve around Ikea couches that are full of crumbs, covered in pen ink and general squashed beyond all recognition and comfort. For the first time in my life, I find myself actually choosing my own designs, layouts and furniture. It’s a very strange feeling to not really understand where your taste in interiors comes from.
I’ll tell you now. I am not the interior person of Holley & Gill. I tend to work on the “sales and business stuff.” Michelle sends me to a website and I click on images I like. I am completely un-influenced by most goings on in the real work of interiors and design. I travel a lot for work and run a record label out of the basement in my spare time. I feel comfort in quality and well made utilitarian items. I tend to hang onto clothing items until they fall apart. I don’t like the off the shelf “newness” feeling and wish I could buy everything thrift or vintage. I know what I want. I guess perhaps I am the ideal “social modern day consumer?” someone who instinctively buys what they really associate and connect with?
Don’t expect me to have a name for my style. I scroll through 12,000 images on Flickr and just pick out the ones that register something in my brain. I guess that’s just how I work. I have always been someone who just explores and connects with something. Whether it is an image, brand, photo, product or music. I guess that maybe everyone else is plugged in that way too?
“Family” needs to be what would hit you first when you enter. We won’t be neatly tidying up all signs of children’s items behind closets or cabinets, but as parents, we still want our personalities to be conveyed through our choices or fixtures, art and furniture.
Since everyone is excitedly awaiting the new line of Liberty of London for Target, we thought we would turn the attention away from the new products and back to its origins, the flagship store itself. The brick and mortar located on Great Marlborough Street in the W1B district of London.
If you’ve ever had the distinct pleasure of setting foot in it, you know that when you enter those doors, you’re not only experiencing a department store but an abundant history of luxury and design. The old and creaky wooden floors, the elaborate hand rails and the spectacular chandeliers are all part of what make Liberty of London so entrancing.
Renowned for their traditional silks and fabrics, Liberty has also gained respect and popularity for launching careers of so many up and coming designers. With so much history, this department store still remains to this day a leading destination when in London. This emporium now thankfully shares its legacy with the rest of the world with their new line for 
So we thought we would share with you our spring desktop wallpaper. Enjoy!
