This week I'm in love with...

Stripes! Well, not just this week. I've always had a thing for stripes. No idea why. I wonder if a psychologist could tell me. Maybe I'm a not-so-closet control freak and am fascinated by order and rules and clear boundaries... maybe. Who knows. Who cares?

Here are some stripey things I love :)

How Fabulous is this satin ribbon lamp from Isabel Stanley design

 

Livingetc.com

These striped Louis chairs are the ultimate in vintage chic

Simple. Striking. Masculine. Feminine. Timeless.

Best friend discounts from our friends at Uno

Potato, Potato

You say “backsplash”, I say “splashback”!

A year or so ago I was working on a residential project and the architect in charge of the build was US-trained. Very knowledgeable guy, years of experience but when it came to the kitchen detail he kept referring to the splashback as a “backsplash”. I couldn’t find it in my heart to correct him.  I just thought if I said “splashback” often enough, he’d get the idea and correct himself. When I suggested a mosaic tile to go on the wall behind the sink, as this would make a lower maintenance SPLASHBACK than a stainless steel one, he agreed that mosaic tiles would indeed make a great backsplash!

Fast forward to last weekend and I’m watching Extreme makeover home edition on TV. As usual, the dream team is creating a magical home from foundation to furnishings within a week. Cut to the scene where Ty is telling us his plans for this family’s huge new kitchen/diner. Lo and behold, he’s picked out some lovely hand-painted tiles for the... you guessed it... backsplash! And that’s when the penny dropped. It was an American thing. I remembered the US-trained Architect I had worked with all those months ago and realised that when I was proudly saying “splashback” in perfectly put on Queen’s English, he was probably wondering why I kept calling it that!

That revelation inspired me to compile a list of things you might come across while building or decorating your home and the British/US translations that might come in handy. If you can think of any more that I've let out, please feel free to leave a comment!

British	American
Splashback Family room Larder Flat Loo Lift Serviette Wardrobe Power point Cooker Curtains	Backsplash Den Pantry Apartment Bathroom Elevator Napkin Closet Socket Stove Drapes

Corporate chaos

I was going to write this piece for my column in ThisDay but I felt this would be the perfect medium for me to vent, without worrying (as much) about word limits and political correctness.

Not enough people know this but there is an area of overlap between interior design/decorating and branding. One should not exist entirely independently of the other. However, when interpreting your brand in the interiors of your workspace it need not be literal. Whenever I meet with commercial clients to get a brief for designing their offices, boutiques, bars, etc.. it is really important that I get a clear idea of their brand identity and the image they are trying to project. I take away as much literature, stationery, logos etc as I can. For me, the space in which your customers or clients meet you says in so many words what your 'mission statement' or slogan may try to capture. I do not however colour match your logo and cover every wall and surface with that exact same shade of blue or lime green!

An office not too far from me has all its interior walls painted lime green. As they were decorating I peeped in through the window and wondered how on earth they'd be able to do any work and be productive in such an acidic space. A few days later I drove past and they'd hung up tangerine coloured curtains! I wondered what they were thinking when they made those choices. What were they trying to say? What kind of business could this be? Great colours, yes. But put together it was just so intense and so.... much!

A couple of days ago I saw one of their business cards. Their logo is green and orange. Oh, I see! Now it made sense. They're a young company, bringing an innovative product to the market. The graphic designer who came up with that logo probably thought Green = fresh. Orange = bold, daring, avante garde. It totally makes sense. On a business card. But in their offices, the spirit of that message could have been interpreted in a light and fresh space. Maybe some modern furniture. The odd splash of orange or green here and there in a potted plant or a piece of artwork. Maybe the floors or ceilings could be clad in an unusual material, creatively used. Possibly some really funky yet simple lighting. That would have said to me: young, innovative, ground breaking company. And not just "I took my business card to Dulux"!

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