The Birds and the Bees

There was a rare burst of spring recently at Grosvenor Waterside. Birds, bees, and even butterflies were in abundance, though mostly in decorative form. Jess Lavers had just completed her latest project, a show apartment overlooking a Thameside wharf between Pimlico and Chelsea. Rather than the inoffensive beige and blandness one might expect from a show flat, this one had bags of character and style. 

Birds and Bees Wallpaper designs by Barneby Gates

Creature Comforts

Part of the fun of writing this blog, is thinking up snappy titles for each post. Occasionally serious, but usually just a little bit silly, some pop straight into my head, while others require endless brain racking. This story however, had lots of contenders, from 'Pet Project' to 'Country Life/Living/Homes & Interiors' to 'Beam me Up'. Now that last one really would have been too silly.

On with the post. I've been working with Interior Designer, Sally Dernie, almost since her career started. From elegant drawing rooms to bachelor pads, family homes to chic apartments. Apart from gorgeous good taste, they all had one other thing in common, namely, they were all city homes. So it was great to be driving down winding lanes in Kent on my way to shoot a rather different project for her. It turns out that Sally, who has her own horse, rather likes the countryside, but there is also clearly a hint of urban sophistication in this project, which blends in beautifully with the beams. The owners of this house also keep horses, and dogs, and several cats, who all demanded their moment in the limelight before I was able to get down to serious work...

With such a menagerie, plus 3 young kids, this home couldn't afford to be too precious, and despite Sally's creative touches, it remains a rugged rustic retreat.

Even the outbuildings look great...

Screen Presence

There is much we love about our 1970's flat, but the cumbersome storage heaters, are not things of beauty. The main one in the living room was positioned slap bang in the middle of one of the walls, thereby disrupting any sensible furniture arrangement. It was also no longer in full working order, so when we made the decision to replace it, we also shifted the position to a more convenient spot. The replacement, while substantially smaller, was sadly no less unattractive, and the occasional table with lamp and knick-knacks that we placed in front, did little to disguise it.

A screen was the obvious solution, but despite scouring antique shops and ebay, there didn't appear to be anything suitable, so we decided to make one. Not being particularly adept at woodwork, we found a company online that supplies blank mdf screens to any spec, complete with hinges. The fun bit was then choosing something to cover it in. After considering various other options, we went for wallpaper, which opened up countless more choices. Having always been fans of Fornasetti, we settled on, not the well known Themes & Variations but the equally eccentric, Mediterranea.

Skulls Update

If you've ever been into a Davy's wine bar, you'll know that they are a company with a long and proud tradition. Premises are stuffed with vast antique barrels, old signage and other booze related paraphanalia. Although the company was established 140 years ago as a wine merchant, most of bars, such as the one I recently shot in Canary Wharf, are however comparatively new.

While its tradition is the strength and focus of the brand, updates and refurbishment are going to be necessary at some point. Here, Nelson Design have successfully trod the fine line between maintaining tradition, and injecting a shot of modernity and humour. I particularly liked the somewhat subversive wallpaper. Look closely!

If you still haven't got it, look at the extraordinary effect of the light creating a negative image here.

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Award for novelty loo of the year! On opening the door, I laughed out loud.  The wallpaper has a slight 3D relief to it, which makes it very realistic.