Daphine by Lumina

Like most design bloggers magazines are a key source of inspiration for me. When something catches my eye and is not referenced in the accompanying article I often drop the designer, architect or magazine a quick email to follow up on my find - with mixed results I might add as not everyone responds.
Thanks to architect and designer Vincent van Duysen's office I did get to the bottom of finding out where the light in this picture came from. The image is from a spread in Vogue Living featuring Vincent's apartment and these lights are dotted around the apartment. Being in grave need of task lighting at home and hoping to find elegant solutions I emailed his office and they kindly replied. The Daphine floor light by Lumina was designed in 1972 by Tommaso Cimini. It comes in black and silver, in a desk version and with a dimmer if required. I need to go to ecc lighting and furniture to see it for real.

Images: Vogue Living, Lumina

Out to sea

Maps are a great addition to kids bedrooms and play rooms especially when they get to the questioning stage of where's this and why etc and for talking about the news, good or bad in the world. These wallpapers are by Ralph Lauren. I'd love to do a child's room based on one of these as the colours are a bit different - a departure from pink and light blue.

Images: Out to Sea, Expedition by Ralph Lauren

Spanish Style

This dining room is in a house in Andalusia in Spain designed by Thomas Urquijo and was photographed by Tim Clinch for the book Spanish style. I do love a round table and the drama of the light fitting. Even though I really like the room I feel it is missing a splash of colour - but I suppose that could come from people and the food - especially in Spain.

Image: Tim Clinch

Turquoise - Pantone colour of the year

Farewell Mimosa yellow and hello Turquoise. Pantone announced the 2010 colour of the year before Christmas. See link for all the background. Sydney is right on trend as on a good day like today the sea looks like this.

Images: Sculpture by the Sea, Pantone

Time to table scape

I always feel after Christmas is a great time to take a step back and look at your side tables and mantlepieces and re-evaluate what is there. Mine are covered in cards and lights and garlands at Christmas so once Jan 6 rolls round the house looks very bare when I have taken them all down. So I've been going through some cupboards, pulling out some prints that haven't been displayed for a while and earmarked others for framing. Then off to get a few flowers and I'll be back on track.

Images: Tom Scheerer via Glimpse of Style, Phoebe Howard via ABT, Notebook

Samantha Robinson

My favourite find on my trip away was Samantha Robinsons porcelain bowls and vases which I saw in a lovely homewares shop in Huskisson. These photos really do her work no justice at all - they are so delicate in real life and the colours are beautiful. I'm still reluctant to display such treasures while co-habiting with two small boys but soon they'll be older and I'll be able to invest. Her website is beautifully designed also - well worth checking out.

Images: Samantha Robinson

Back from the beach

Yes back from the holidays. This is the side of the fantastic beach house we rented with our friends. As my girlfriend and I are both interior design students we were delighted with the house and all its good ideas like the row of hooks along the wall (the (hot) outdoor shower is behind the greenery on the left) and the wooden gate is actually some very snazzy metal that looks like wood but is a bit more sea-air proof. Lots more great pics to share as we go through the year. As I know in Ireland everyone is freezing I'll try not to post too much beach until the cold snap passes!

Image: AL