STYLE NV - SHOPPING - From Russia With Love

As winter sets in, get some styling inspiration from those who really know how to stay glamorous in the cold.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=139

STYLE NV - SHOPPING - Eerie Expectations

If you love hauntingly beautiful Miss Haversham style, faded decadence have a look at this Great Expectation interior styling shoot http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=128

All shot on the same location as the King's Speech.

STYLE NV - My weekly Shop Friday 28th October

I've got that Friday feeling and a new shopping list! http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=127

STYLE NV - RAVE - Sophie Cook Ceramics

There is a human quality to Sophie Cook's vases. Her arrangement in rainbow of tall, short, fat and thin porcelain remind me of a queue of people. Their thin necks holding up the lip 'heads', above a round body. I feel that Sophie herself, to some extent considers the vases to have personalities, when she says that she likes to see them "as a three dimensional still life that when viewed from different angles create new relationships between the pieces".


Each piece is hand thrown on her wheel and because of the fragile nature of porcelain, only three vases can be made a day.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=126

STYLE NV - Trends - Irregular Shapes

In stark contrast to the geometric pattern trend of 2010 - 2011, irregular shaped furniture was seen across all the London Design shows. Inspired from 50s design, corners were rounded and lines were curved.




http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=125

My Weekly Shop...

Add a splash of colour to your home this week with STYLE NV'S my weekly shopping list, 
http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=124

My Weekly Shop...

There is a brand spanking new shopping list on Style NV's wonderful website blog!
http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=119

My weekly shop

What's on STYLE NV's shopping list this week ?
http://tinyurl.com/3qqkzk2

Friday 26th August - My weekly shop

 Whats on STYLE NV's shopping list this week ?
http://tinyurl.com/3gktp7v

HOMES WE LOVE - Kasper and Julie Rohn

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/homes.php?path=homes.homeswelove&gallery=24

Happy Birthday to Eero Saarinen -

There is something quite sensual about Eero' Saarinen's designs. Simple, curved, organic shapes that mirror the human body. If it was not for his sudden death at a very early age, there would no doubt have been many more iconic, Saarinen pieces, still in production and, in high demand. STYLE NV pays tribute to his life, on what would have been his birthday.
http://tinyurl.com/3wwbqmv

MY WEEKLY SHOP

What's on Style NV's shopping list this week ?
http://tinyurl.com/3s9ph56

Retromania

The campervan in front was driving tediously slowly and whilst I willed it to pull over, it  got me thinking about our desire for all things vintage and our need to constantly look back in design. What makes retro design so good that we always need to look back?
http://tinyurl.com/3rx4tr3

MY WEEKLY SHOP

 Friday 12th August.
1) Colinton two seater sofa in Dalton Zinnia...
http://tinyurl.com/3gh67ee

STYLE NV Fruit Decor STYLING TIP

Racing around the supermarket, shopping list in hand, thinking that Supermarket Sweep would be a cinch to win, we never stop to appreciate just how truly beautiful food can be. But we shouldn’t just use it for eating, here are some styling ideas with fruit.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=97

STYLE NV RAVE - Glocalisation Art Canvases

Those guys at Made.com are just so darn inspirational, aren't they?!


Collaborating with the Chelsea School of Art and the non-profit organisation Monkey Biz, that provide beads and beading materials to 450 women living with HIV in Cape Town, Made.com run a Glocalisation competition for Chelsea's students to design a series of wall panels using the traditional South African beading techniques. The entries were judges by Lucia Van der Poste, Nina Campbell and Made.com's Chloe Macintosh. The winners have had thier designs made up onto canvases and sold by Made.com. Some of the proceeds will go back to the winners and to Monkey Biz.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=88

STYLE NV Chatting With Lene Toni Kjeld of Walldecoration

Danish print designer, Lene Toni Kjeld of Walldecoration, whose bold retro inspired, block-like prints are turning heads, talks to STYLE NV




http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=87

STYLE NV Happy Birthday to SIR PAUL SMITH

For three creative and party fuelled years, I lived in Nottingham, studying art at Trent University. I found the people of Nottingham to be warm, fun and more importantly very design conscience. So it comes as no surprise that their most famous son, the designer, Sir Paul Smith, is so highly respected there. The little shop on Byard Lane was a mecca for any self respecting Nottinghamite and on Saturday mornings the shop was packed.




Sir Paul Smith was born in Beeston in Nottinghamshire today, the 5th of July in 1946. At the tender age of 15, Paul left school with dreams of becoming a racing cyclist. Frogmarched to work at a local clothing warehouse by his father, at first, Paul was not interested in fashion at all. But when a terrible cycling accident occurred, his ambitions were thwarted and he spent six months recovering in hospital. It was then that he met a new group of friends. "Just by chance I met a lot of people from the art college and became interested in things like art and fashion," he recalled. "Back at the warehouse I started to make displays in the showroom. . .the boss was really impressed and he gave me all the buying to do for the men's wear when I was still only 17."*



http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=86

STYLE NV - TREND - New Minimalism

I'm on a diet this summer. The Slimmer's World slogan "A Moment on the Lips is a Lifetime on the Hips" constantly resonates in my head and this fact, that there is a reaction to every action, holds true in trends.




Interiors in the 90s were still pale and minimal; IKEA told us to 'Chuck out the Chintz' and opt for simple sparse interiors. Decoration was minimal; only items that were graphically aesthetic and functional could remain on show. but slowly, we began to decorate. First there were retro analglypta wallpapers, then technology moved on so intricate laser cut prints could be cut, a whole plethora of patterns exploded, vintage became in vogue, colour got confident and before you knew it, minimalism was out and eclectic craft was in.



And the cycle needs to turn again, but we learn from what preceeds us and whilst STYLE NV predicts a return to minimalism, we are not asking you to paint your entire flat white, quite the opposite infact.



Colour blocking is a major trend right now on the catwalk and perfect for new minimalism. It's strong, simple and modern. The idea is that you mix two or three very bright plain colours together for a strong, vibrant and modern look. saffron, teal and magenta or jade, poppy and lemon.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs.php?path=blogs.read&id=84

STYLE NV REVIEW - The Piccadilly Community Centre

We said our goodbyes on the island, half way across Piccadilly. My friend, on her way back to work, pointed at a building and remarked that this was the best art installation she'd ever seen. She was pointing at a community centre. On the outside of the building, A giant ‘CHEQUES CASHED’ banner was hanging, an old fashioned charity box stood to the side next to a dead bouquet of flowers and a distinguished candle in a glass jar. Surely she must mean a gallery space on the first floor or something? "No V" she said "it's a massive interactive art installation, this guy has completely transformed the whole building into a community centre, you've got to have a look". It looked intriguing, why not, I thought.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=78

STYLE NV - FLOWER POWER - The Hydrangea

Half way through the year and no doubt most of those New Year’s Resolutions have died a death, and whilst June may not always be the sunfest we’d like, it does give us the most daylight hours, which in turns means flowers in abundance. It is hard to choose which flower should be named Flower of the month in June, but maybe the hydrangea has the edge.


Country, rustic and the very epitome of the wording ‘blooming’, hydrangeas burst out in June; they remind me of those vintage 60s swimming caps that old ladies wear! What STYLE NV loves best is that one hydrangea can even be an entire flower arrangement; stick a stem in an old medicine bottle or a old baked beans tin (this is real Constance Spry territory here) and instantly you have a cute arrangement. Hydrangeas scent is subtle, so fake hydrangeas work really well.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=74

CRAFT - New distressed mirrors for sale

STOP THE PRESS!!! HOLD YOUR HORSES!! READ THIS SENSATIONAL NEWS!!






STYLE NV's latest collection of distressed mirrors are now on sale!

Prices

Small mirrors £115

Large mirrors £130

Extra Large mirrors £140

For more details email us at info@stylenv.co.uk

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Piet Mondrian

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Piet Mondrian who was born today, the 7th March in 1872. Mondrian iconic linear grid paintings in primary colours have inspired designers for decades. I confess that my first contact with Mondrian’s grid style was not through study of his paintings, but actually the L’Oreal‘s Studio Line TV advert that was first aired during the 80s. “Sculpt your hair - anyway you like it!” sang the jingle, while models with gravity defying hairdo jumped through Mondrian paintings, whilst playing the saxophone - and their hair didn’t move an inch! I so wanted to have hair like that and I remember thinking how cool the grid with block primary colour patterns were, but at twelve years old, had no idea who on earth Mondrian was. So it’s about time STYLE NV paid tribute to the main man.




http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=64

STYLE NV - COMMENT - The Great Fake Debate

I was walking down my local high street to the shops, one day this week. It was a typical, cold, damp, February afternoon, with no glimmer of hope and I was wearing my floor length, real fur coat. Yes, it’s real - judge me if you like but hear me out; it had belonged to my grandmother and it’s at least fifty years old. I would never buy a new real fur coat.

Anyway, as I was walking down the road, two girls were walking behind me. I overheard one say to the other“that fur coat is sick, totally sick”. Panic sank in and I froze. I’d been caught out, they knew it was real. I wasn’t in the most salubrious of neighbourhoods and I begun to fear for my own safety. These girls would soon be chasing me down the high street, pelting me with eggs, screaming “murderer , murderer”! Shopkeepers and onlookers would throw me dark looks and I’d outlawed from town. As I began to speed up, the conversation behind had not abated. “Look at it” I heard one say, “ it’s real oright, it’s so sick man, totally sick”. I started to look into the eyes of shopkeepers, standing in their door ways – my eyes begging for mercy “it’s a really old coat” I pleaded, “it used to belong to my grandmother and I was feeling so cold today - please no eggs”! As I planned in my head my Lara Croft style getaway (something along the lines of several back flips and parkour over the roof tops), it hit me that these girls were actually paying me a compliment. They weren’t bothered that it was real or fake, my ‘sick’ fur coat was apparently really cool.
This little fur anaecdote got me thinking - whilst faux fur continues to proudlly fluff its feathers in the the ethical limelight, how green are your faux fur cushions and throws really? http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=62

HOMES WE LOVE - Chez STYLE NV

I have been deliberating uploading my own home for months - egoism is not really my thing, but as Rachael and Graham have reminded me, this is a collective and I have been out ruled! It's very hard to gush about one's house as although this is my boyfriend's house, it would be fair to say that I've had a very strong influence over the design and decoration of the house.




http://www.stylenv.co.uk/p_portfolioInfo.cfm?g=50

STYLE NV - Chatting with Sarah Angold

Sarah Angold's Perspex jewellery and pendant lights remind me of giant fantastical creatures from the deep. Her studio launched the lighting range at 100% last September. So successful was the launch that it has taken all this time to have the time to chat to STYLE NV - and it has been worth the wait.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=60

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ARNE JACOBSEN

A big fat Happy Birthday to the most famous Dane ever, Arne Jacobsen. Although he is probably more well know for his furniture designs and arguably the pioneer for modern Danish design, Jacobsen always considered himself first and foremost an architect, despising the label ‘designer’. His career was predominantly in architecture and it was only in the 50’s did his chair designs become popular.

Last November I went on a press trip with Orgreen. I had the pleasure of visiting the Fritz Hansen factory and museum. Fritz Hansen manufactured Jacobsen’s chairs for over sixty years and I was there to see the launch of Orgreen’s redesign of Jacobsen’s famous Swan chairs, the Skyline edition.

It was fascinating to learn more about how Fritz Hansen made Jacobsen’s chairs and the precision and craftsmanship that goes into each one. Click here to watch a series of short films on how Fritz Hansen makes the Egg, Swan and Series 7 Chairs.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=58

STYLE NV TREND - Green Envy

Where fashion and celebrities dare to tread, interiors follow. Hot off the catwalks and the stars' backs comes ones of this season ‘s colours – jade green. They say that blue and green should never be seen, but we think rules are there to be broken. Here is STYLE NV’s pick of jade green interior accessories to keep you and your home the envy of all others!

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=57

STYLE NV A tribute to Lucienne Day

Yesterday marked the first year anniversary of the death of British textile designer, Lucienne Day and today STYLE NV would like to lay tribute to such a remarkable woman.




Inspired by abstract art, she pioneered the use of bright, optimistic, abstract patterns in post-war England, and was eventually celebrated worldwide

Désirée Lucienne Conradi, was born on 5th January 1917, in Coulsdon Surrey. She came from a fairly well off family, her mother was English and her father Belgian. She went to a convent school and from a very early age she was focused on designing. She studied at Croydon School of Art and then, from 1937 to 1940, she studied at the Royal College of Art, where she was a top student. It was there, in her final year, that she first met the furniture designer Robin Day, whom she later went on to marry.

Lucienne drew on the English tradition of patterns based on plant forms that went back as far as Morris. She took motifs drawn from nature and transformed them into something absolutely new. Part of her success was the implied message of regrowth and optimism for a Britain only just recovering from war.

She was also deeply influenced by European abstract painters like Kandinsky, Miró and Klee. It pleased her to think that people who could not afford to buy a painting for their living room could at least own a pair of abstract patterned curtains. Many of Day's printed fabrics were made in long production runs, which kept the price affordable. She made the link between mass production and fine art.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=56

CHATTING WITH ABIGAIL BROWN,

Welcome to the world of designer and crafter Abigail Brown. Through careful observation and drawing, Abigail has created a menagerie of charming vintage fabric birds and animals, which all have unique characters. Her creations have come to life in this lovely little film that she produced, a sort of pastiche to the late and great Oliver Postgate, of Bagpuss fame.

STYLE NV caught up with Abigail recently to talk about her work.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=55

I can’t remember the first time that I saw Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but it had a profound effect on me; more so than I ever realised. It's being screened again at the British Film Institute in London to mark the 50th anniversary of its release and I went to go and watch it to relive the magic. I only realised then that I had subconsciously picked up many of Holly Golightly’s idioms. Like the way she mixes french phrases into her speech– I just mix them in to make those dull words like something a little more special – quelquechose just sounds so much more enticing!

When I first watched it, I was too young to fully understand the real meaning behind those jazzy’ lines, so I concerntrated on her style. Her clothes, designed by Givenchy, were simple, accessories were bold and her apartment, that her friend and publicist, O.J Berman again described as “ a dump” was classy yet quirky, and these two words sum up STYLE NV precisely.

Holly’s apartment is not about high end glamour. True her clothes certainly were , but if you look her apartment, it isn’t really that grand. The kitchen is plain, the shelving units has brackets screwed to the wall and her coffee table is an upturned crate (albeit with copies of Vogue on top). She was supposeed to be a It girl wannabe, looking for a sugar daddy, relying on stupid rich men to pay for her to go to the powder room. She didn’t have much money herself, but she had a quirky, glamorous style that was simply fabulous! She drank her morning milk from a martinin glass, kept ballet pumps in the fridge and her sofa was a half a roll top bath.

Set Designers Ray Moyer and Sam Comer designed Holly’s apartment, and were later nominated for Oscars for their designs but here are STYLE NV’s shopping guide to get the Gollightly look.

http://www.stylenv.co.uk/blogs/blogEntry.cfm?b=54