TRICIA GUILD LAUNCHES NEW BOOK

Tricia Guild introduced her new book in her flagship store on Kings Road yesterday morning. "A certain style" is a mix of smaller and larger, still exclusive, homes where she wants to show us that "I do not want to be put in a box" when it comes to decorate different styles and ways of living. Browse between a minimalistic house in Ibiza to a family home in Gloucestershire.She also introduced the new dramatic collection "Zepherine". Bohemian and personal och cosy..... a mix of old and new.
She always serves you a delicious breakfast, french pastries, Greek yogurt with fruit compote and muesli and fruit salad in small tall glasses. And of course, with freshly made cappuchino or tea...

THE DOCK AND MORE FROM LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL

Third day at London Design Festival and one of the highlights was this collection by the new exciting Spanish designer Jaime Hayon. He also found that the show rooms walls (painted white) was to dull so he draw on it...fun
Moooi has opened a new and very good looking showroom next to The Dock at Portobello Dock (Ladbrook Grove). Go and have a look next time in London...
Marcel Wanders and Tom Dixon in a discussion about how to take control of your own design and not having to wait for big Italian producers to "find" you. Well, they have succeeded in that, but a lot of hard work and big egos are a big part of it.....
At the V&A the London Design Festival gave tribute to Italian furniture producers and design maintainer Giulio Cappellini, here posing with his family at the launch party yesterday evening!

TRAMSHED, MOROSO AND SCP FROM LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL

More from London, here, installation by BMW and Kvadrat (fabric) and extended car....in the Tramshed (Riverton Street, EC1)
The milking foot stool and similar bar stools are an "it" item this week/year. SCP on Curtain Road EC1.

Embroidery, history, memories and geometrical patterns. All mixed together in a new eclectic mix. Moroso as earlier shown in Milan, Rosebery Av EC1 (also showing Flos lighting).
I will be back tomorrow or tonight with more!

ESTABLISHED & SONS AT LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL

Last night was the start of London Design Festival with open showroom in the Clerkenwell Design District. Today I did an interview with one of the leading figures of Established & Sons, Sebastian Whong. We had an inspiring and exciting talk in his office on Wenlock Road N1 (Establishedandsons.com). Their local pub opposite their showroom had been "freshened up" with neon coloured bar chairs, tables, lamps, clocks etc from their more "up to date" neighbours!
Well worth a visit if not so for their low priced and big variety of ales!

CREATIVE CAMPDEN WEEKEND- A SUCCESS

This weekend was the Creative Weekend in Chipping Campden. 30 different creative people or groups joined together and opened their showrooms, helt talk, had workshops etc. All put together by Arthur Cunyngham and his wife Rachel, Paula Lingard etc...
I was part of it and talked in the Old Court Room about my work as a Freelance Journalist and Interior Designer. The idea is to make people understand that Campden is a very creative place and put on the map as Creative Campden for the future...watch this space for more!
Above, Liz Alchin and Christina Kingsmill shared Christinas courtyard garden as a showroom

PURPLE RAIN at FORMEX

A few weeks ago I went to a gift and interior design show in Stockholm. Formex, has become one of the most interesting interior shows in Scandinavia these last couple of years.
Not much had happened since the last show in February but what felt new was the colour purple, from deep purple to lilac. A trend that is shared with fashion at me moment....Mauve mixed with black and warm grey at Mateus (www.mateus.se).
Mixed with greens in Mairos new fabric that will be shown at Chelsea Design Week next week.
Stripes is one of Linums strong patterns, this Autumn in purple and green....(www.linum.se)
At one of the cafes at the fair the press breakfast was presented in gift boxes. Inside was luxuriously packaged yogurt, sandwich and brightly coloured macaroons. Not so environmentally friendly but beautiful and different.
Purple mixed with the blues at Paradisverkstaden (www.paradisverkstaden.se).
Paradisverkstaden is best known for its ceramics...here the latest "forms" inspired by nature.
From purple nearly over to pink at Guzzini (www.guzzini.com).
Deep, deep purple in table linen and china from Himla (www.himla.se)

SLOW ROAST SHOULDER OF LAMB

Coming back from Sweden started a new season with local lamb and game. I started by buying half a lamb from the local pig- and lamb farm (near Ebrington in The Cotswolds, UK). To slow cook shoulder of lamb is not only very easy it is absolutely gorgeous. Takes four hours so you need to plan your Sunday dinner....
This is what you need.

One shoulder of lamb (lammbog)
4 sprigs of rosemary
1 whole garlic
Olive oil
Flaky salt
Freshly milled pepper

Blast the oven. Sprinkle olive oil in a large roasting pan. Crush the garlic cloves (with skin on) and place half of them together with 2 sprigs of rosemary in the pan. "Massage" olive oil into the lamb shoulder and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the rest of the garlic and rosemary on top of the shoulder. Cover the pan tightly with aluminium foil and put into the hot oven. Turn the heat down to 170 degrees Celsius and leave it in for four hours!
Serve with mashed root vegetables like potatoes mixed with carrots and parsnips, and greens like spinach or broccoli. Add some red wine to the pan and make a nice juice. Lovely!