1- For your: house, home, apartment, flat, bungalow or chateau
2- Home Interior Trends curated by Claire Phillips-Stanford
3- Recognising talented folk & featuring exceptional goods
4- This blog is dedicated to design devotees everywhere
5- The shop: www.springsummerautumnwinter.co.uk
Tip of the week:
If you have never heard of Dawn Woolley I thoroughly recommend you take time out of your daily schedule to peruse the work of the current RCA PhD student.
Dawn originally trained as a fine art printmaker at Manchester Metropolitan University, completed an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art and has since developed a photography-based practice that encompasses digital video, installation and performance as well as photo-based installations. She has exhibited worldwide and her artwork is held in a number of private collections in the UK and in the Museum of Photographic Arts in Kiyosato, Japan.Take a look at her inspirational work and discover what is unusual about the images she has created.
I didn’t think that I would be posting dolls on my site until I discovered Sarah Strachan who produces undeniably some of the of the finest modern examples I have seen. What I love is the fact that the textile prints are hand painted and she reproduces classic designs by the one and only Lucienne Day. So much time is spent executing the 50’s and 60’s refined dolls and they definitely merit £85 price tag.
www.sarahstrachan.com
Rowen & Wren are going from strength to strength with the new range of desirable products and the styling of the S/S items. Divided into three distinct collections the Refined Rural collection is perfect for those dreaming of the urban rustic life or others who have ecsaped to the country. Natural colours and textures are blended to create a refined contemporary style with handmade and industrial accents. Timeless Living offers classic furniture with fresh modern accessories alongside the Distant Home range which reflects the global influence where cultures meet and traditional textures are found.
1st stop: Anthropologie, King’s Rd
If a prize for the best all rounder for styling existed at S/S/A/W I would award it to Anthropologie, for not only the shop but also the catalogue and the online store. Every angle of the inspirational shop, catalogue and online shop (see the photographs) is meticulously styled often to match the products, which are always effortlessly presented and very aesthetically appealing.
Introducing: Blodwen
A/W 2012/13- Heritage
I wanted to have a chat with Denise Lewis the owner of the luxury brand Blodwen at Home@Top Drawer in London to congratulate her on her range, but she was busy chatting to Labour & Wait, who coincidently was my first store of the week.
Blodwen is a Welsh online shop committed to the preservation and revival of traditional rural skills and the promotion of local artisans. It is a great place to seek timeless homewares handmade using centuries old skills that can be passed on to the next generation. My family passed on my grandmother’s Welsh blanket which is now in the hands of my sister, not mine unfortunately. Blodwen believe you should pay for quality and you can be certain of this when you purchase a Blodwen product, as the tradition of handing down of goods would not be feasible if the quality is not there. Uncover and discover traditional earthenware, rugs and furniture packaged with a contemporary twist which will add character to the modern house.
Song Dong: Waste Not
The Curve, Barbican Art Gallery, London, UK
If you are a collector, visually excited or inspired by collections you will not fail to be moved by Beijing artist Song Dong’s exhibition ‘Waste Not’ currently underway at The Barbican Curve Gallery.
Following the death of Son Dong’s father in 2002, consumed with grief his mother Zhao Xiangyuan continued to live in their small Beijing house. Taking the Chinese philosophy ‘Waste Not’ to the extreme and disposing of nothing, Zhao obsessively collected household items as if she were continuing to provide for the family under a regime where shortage prevailed.
Song Dong became increasingly worried about her living conditions and in 2005 he suggested to his mother that they turn the collection of objects into an art project allowing nothing to be discarded or lost; ensuring care would be taken to meaningfully recycle and preserve the contents. With the help of his mother and sister, Song Hui, they emptied the premises culminating in this internationally acclaimed exhibition, which was first shown in New York at MOMA in 2009.
What remains today is this fascinating portrait of a family, whose household paraphernalia is displayed in categories, toothpaste tubes are lined up on a wooden board, clothes are neatly folded and shoes worn over time are lovingly positioned in rows. The significance of the installation is more poignant following the death of his mother in 2009 and it is important that her obsessive behaviour is applauded not frowned upon. The exhibition is incredible, moving and undeniably unique, go and see this, you will not be disappointed.
Now showing until 12 June 2012
Admission Free
