Ralph Lauren Home - New Collection

My lovely friend, and PR Manager for Ralph Lauren Home, kindly invited me to join the exciting unveiling of the new collection, California Romantic, this week.

Unbeknown to me, each season the basement showroom of their New Bond Street flagship store goes under dramatic transformation to showcase new collections - from wall panels to plaster finishes, everything gets ripped out and refitted out for the new collection. One might say this is quite an extravagant demonstration of retail merchandising, although for the leading American lifestyle brand it is a necessary expense. I had the exclusive pleasure of a sneak preview 3 weeks ago, when Charlotte and I caught up for an early breakfast at very chic Cecconis... wallpaper drops were partially hung, plaster work under construction, abundant piles of new product overflowing onto newly fitted carpets... it was AMAZING!

This collection is all about creating a beautiful and romantic space with African inspired texture, leather hides, and natural materials - both through the linens and the woven details in the home accessories. Apparently starting out as a strong African theme, the collection was softened and feminised quickly with the change to a Californian setting. Immediately the collection was transformed to possess that very commercial and aspirational, All-American Ralph Lauren look.

New decorating concept at ANTHROPOLOGIE

In a very exciting press release today it was revealed that in just over two weeks, Anthropologie is set to launch a new decorator's concept at twelve existing stores across UK and the US. This includes our very own designer district King's Road store. With a wide array of decorating product on offer and expert assistance, I'm sure it will be beyond busy in no time.

To launch the workshop-style concept in London on 27th March Emily Chalmers, author of Modern Vintage Style and owner of hip Shoreditch boutique Caravan, will be offering one-on-one personal design consultations with customers. Jemma Ooi and Nathan Philpott, founders of Custhom, also advocating the concept will be on hand to demonstrate their screen printing techniques on postcards, and allowing customers to take home a handmade sample.

I hope this is the first of many workshop sessions they propose to run for interior enthusiasts far and wide. Well done Anthropologie - I look forward to attending the launch!

Event Details:

Sunday 27th March, 1pm – 4pm

Anthropologie, 131 – 141 Kings Road, London, SW3 4PW

Spring paint collections

Finally I can share my shoot images with you!!!

I can honestly say I have never planned more! Surrounded in press loans for about two weeks before the shoot day and until a week and a half afterwards... oh to have an assistant. Sketching began shortly after my inspirational blog post, and finished shortly before we started shooting. For me, coming from a writing background where drafts after drafts are the only way to get anything right, I see my sketch book as a culmination of ideas... with the last few becoming the real article.

With very special thanks to Malcolm Menzies who photographed the shoot and completely saw and captured my vision, I give you our Spring paint collections.

With the idea of showcasing different paint groups, I developed situations which took paint as a decorating medium out of context, to add interest and intrigue.

Wooden utensils by Robert Dyas; paints by Farrow & Ball

Laundry sack, linen tablecloth and check napkins by Sally Bourne;
ceramic lovebirds by Borrowed Blue Wedding; paints by Little Greene

Birdhouse, wooden scoops, metal trug, and garden tools by Garden Trading;
wicker covered glasses, wooden plant labels & pencils, and fingerless gloves by
Hen & Hammock; paints by Farrow & Ball

Wise Men bottles by Channels & paints by Sanderson

I am hopeful these will also be featured by a magazine as an entire collection or as individual images showcasing each paint group, so watch this space for a tear sheet soon...

Happy Spring decorating x