INTERIORS WITH OMON.

This week I'm in love with...

2011-03-15T15:36:00.000+01:00

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

2011-03-08T13:39:00.001+01:00

Potato, Potato

2011-02-25T19:07:00.003+01:00

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

2011-02-19T14:56:00.001+01:00

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"!

BLiNG vals offer.

2011-02-10T15:14:00.001+01:00

Santa's little helpers

2010-12-10T12:16:00.000+01:00

Hello there!

From the guys who brought you the Sexy Summer Threesome, we are back again with a retail experience you will not want to miss. The Santa’s Little Helpers Christmas fair is happening this weekend and we’ve got something for everyone! Home accessories, gift items, jewellery, ICE watches, clothing and fashion accessories, Christmas cakes and desserts, cupcakes, mulled wine, hampers... and the most amazing gift wrapping service you have seen in a long while.

So whether you’re looking to do some last minute Christmas shopping, buy a gift for friends and family, something special to treat yourself or some delicious treats for the kids, it’s all happening in Lekki this Sunday.

Sunday December 12^th, 2010

Blue Mahogany Studio, 1B Omorinre Johnson Close, Lekki Phase 1

12noon - 8pm

Christmas begins here!

See you soon,

Omon and Emeka

Xxx

2010-11-17T20:26:00.000+01:00

We had a young lady come over to the design studio recently. She's working in a furniture company run by a male MD. She's having a great time in her job and says she is definitely learning a lot from them and the projects she has been involved in. However, she feels she's missing something. Her hope was that in internship with us would teach her a little something extra about interior design with "a woman's touch". I initially wasn't sure how to take this but I decided it was a compliment.

It got me thinking though, about how male and female designers or architects might approach a project differently. It reminded me also of a project I was asked to look at a couple of months ago. The prospective clients were are well known restaurant in Lagos that had recently had a huge makeover. They'd flown in an Italian interior designer who had put together a gorgeous scheme. But after millions of Naira spent, they called me in to have a look at the space because it was still missing 'something'. Turned out the designer (very talented I might add) was male. I am not sure how relevant that was to the outcome. He was also gay but again the relevance of that is debatable.

I've put together a few images and wonder if you can tell which ones have 'a woman's touch'.

Photographs courtesy of www.oliversteel.com and www.sheilabridges.com.

Beauty is...

2010-10-08T00:47:00.000+01:00

not just in the eye of the beholder, but in all the senses.

We had a few people over for dinner this weekend. Simple nibbles, everyone brought a bottle... It was meant to be one of those evenings where you enjoy good company and have a great time with minimal effort. After just coming back from holiday I was still in a 'chilled out' state of mind. I wasn't about to slave away in the kitchen, spend ages agonizing over flower arrangements and then eons more picking out the perfect hostess outfit. This time I couldn't be bothered to be bothered.

That's what I thought until the first guest called for directions to the house. And then I felt that little flutter of anxiety. OMG, how can we entertain and the house not be absolutely, perfectly... beautiful? What to do, what to do? When in doubt, whip out the props! I've found that the right lighting and a strategic bowl of fruit can do wonders for a room. And scented candles? Absolute magic.

Two lanterns just outside the front door make people feel welcome and a little bit special as they approach. Almost like you rolled out a red carpet, just for them. I cheekily snuck in a squirt of room fragrance by the entrance so that as you walk in you are welcomed by this lovely calming feel-good scent. Dim lighting creates a nice 'restauranty' ambiance and flickering candles dotted around the room suddenly turn our living room into this glamorous entertaining space. Trust me, almost anything looks glamorous in candlelight! Ipod and dock, check! Set to shuffle and turn down just so. By the time you get to the dainty canapes laid out on sleek black platters, you have no idea that really they are just little crackers with a bit of cream cheese, salami and black pepper that literally took us 10minutes to rustle up!

If you ask anyone who was there that night (apart from that weird guy with the tacky belt who looked like he'd rather be at a Timaya concert), they would all say they had a great time and the evening was just... beautiful!

Uno Home Accessories presents...Sexy Summer 3Some (Home accessories, lingerie and delicious cupcakes and desserts)

2010-09-03T14:51:00.000+01:00

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10 days to the Sexy Summer Sale Event!!!

2010-08-25T16:26:00.000+01:00

Ceiling paper

2010-07-22T15:03:00.000+01:00

Who ever said wallpaper had to go on the wall? Loving my office even more now with the new lighting.

SATC2

2010-06-02T13:06:00.001+01:00

As far as movies go, SATC2 was fun and entertaining enough to keep me amused for 2hours 20mins and not even notice the time. And the interiors were pretty cool as expected. Thank goodnesss for the solace of darkness, otherwise I would have looked pretty weird making notes on my blackberry throughout most of the movie. Interesting combination of patterns and texture... perfect balance of masculine and feminine... I wonder how they keep that headboard white... the fabric has most likely been treated with a good stain repellant... pretty flower arrangements... Roses and hyacinths? Nice. I wouldn't have thought of that....

The clothes were as bold as expected and in some cases even more crazy that one would have imagined, but Carrie's home? It was just so.... right. It wasn't anything super fabulous or trendy or overly sophisticated and impossible for mere mortals to achieve. It was in fact quite cosy and homely. Definitely the product of a creative mind. A mixture of expensive velvet sofas and vintage silk, with interesting glass bottles and vases that could have been picked up in a flea market for a few bucks. Tasteful with just the right amount of quirk. No wonder Mr. Big never wanted to leave the house! I could just imagine living there. So much so that I've taken a few tips with me that I will definitely be using in my own home.

Sex and the city, yay!

2010-06-01T16:04:00.000+01:00

I'm off to the movies this afternoon. I'm calling it research. Seriously! Sex and the city came out recently and so far all the comments I've heard from friends who went to see it boil down to "no story line whatsoever, but Carrie's home looked amazing!". So of course I have to go see it. Who cares about a plot when you can get a good full hour of inspirational interiors, while digging into some guilt-free carbs?

Look out for my comments and tips on "how to get the look" in my column this weekend.

We're back!!!

2010-05-19T14:55:00.000+01:00

For about 18 months I wrote a weekly column called Home and Landscape for ThisDay Newspapers. For the first year or so it was terribly exciting and it was great to get so much feedback from avid followers of the column, commenting on useful tips they got and sending in specific questions relating to their design dilemmas. After a while though, trying to juggle a busy interior design practice and come up with fresh ideas for a double page spread each week became... slightly tedious. I took a much needed break from the writing and I'm glad to announce that from Saturday 29th May the much awaited return of my weekly offerings will be a reality! Hurray! Well actually, this time they'll be bi-weekly but fresher and well worth the wait.
So don't forget, 29th May, Saturday ThisDay.

Violets are blue

2010-04-29T15:47:00.000+01:00

Despite the fact that my interior design company is called Blue Mahogany, blue is actually one of my least favourite colours. Just thinking about it, the only time I have ever come up with a blue scheme, it was pretty much unavoidable as the clients' corporate colours were blue and white. The closest I have ever done without prompting is duck egg I believe, and that was only as an accent colour.
Seeing as I am a strong believer that although the interior designer's style will come through to some degree, interior design is really not about what my personal preferences are. So I've set myself a challenge: Design a blue room. I mean, really blue (whatever that is...). To be really strict, I've decided that turquoise doesn't count either! Oh my... let's see how this goes.

The right lick of paint

2010-03-29T18:13:00.001+01:00

We recently had the walls in our design studio painted to create visual impact but also to serve as a notice/scribble board for the creative team. We briefly toyed with the idea of hanging up a white board but that just seemed way too boring and predictable. Instead we painted on a black emulsion stripe which now serves as a blackboard that we can scribble on with chalk during meetings and brain storming sessions. Another stripe was painted on using a grey metallic paint which actually contains metal properties that allow magnets to stick directly to the wall once painted! How cool is that?? I think this is definitely my find of the month.

Team fun

2010-03-19T13:06:00.000+01:00

Tonight the Blue Mahogany team is clocking off early and heading into town for a nice meal (I've already decided I'm having anything with dodo!) and a chance to just unwind and talk about stuff other than work. I'll upload photos later. Have a great weekend all!!

I'm loving....

2010-03-04T15:49:00.000+01:00

...these bamboo pots. I found them yesterday and it was love at first sight. They are so simple and fresh and would work just as well in a clean contemporary space as in a warm ethnic inspired home. They're hand made using bamboo canes and adorned with jewelled necklaces with glass beads. Fab!

Faking it

2010-02-24T12:01:00.001+01:00

If you're going to fake it, make it believable. I absolutely adore fresh cut flowers. They always add something to a room and to one's mood. They add life! That's what it is... life. In the colour, the texture, the scent...
Since moving back to Lagos I've realised that fresh cut flowers are not always an option though. Getting the perfect arrangement without any wilting roses or sad lilies is a bit of a tall order and where you can find it, it costs a lot more than a few bob! When I did the figures and calculated how much my weekly flower fix would cost me in a year I decided to spend it on new shoes instead and the rest on some gorgeous silk roses that look just as real as if I'd flown them in this morning. Sometimes I even make bouquets with a combination or fresh and artificial flowers.
So yes, I do understand why lots of people opt for artificial flowers and plants. What I do not understand or condone is the plastic stuff that looks so fake it wouldn't fool a blind man. What's with the blue plastic roses? Purple lilies? Seriously!

It must be love

2010-02-16T15:48:00.000+01:00

I'm currently decorating my new office. It's going pretty slowly. Deliberately so, as I am taking my time to select each piece or design element that goes into it, trying out different configurations, toying with various ideas... When it is done it will be the prettiest, most comfortable, eclectic, unique expression of my inner thoughts, desires, aspirations and pleasures... in an office. I find that I am my most demanding client. Possibly because I have multiple personalities and tastes, but also because I see so many beautiful things and fall in love with lots of different design ideas, that my mind is just one huge kaleidoscope of possibilities which I would love to but could not possibly represent in one space.
So each day I add something new, take something away, move something else around, make a decision, 'un-make' another.... So far I have a desk which I absolutely adore! The one I initially wanted was Italian and would have set me back a couple of thousand Euros. It was stunning. Definitely a show stopper. Quite honestly though, It wasn't me. The desk I ended up going for was one I designed myself. Locally made, bravely executed and eventually perfected. My desk. It says so much about me and that is why I love it so much (aside from the fact that it is pink and shiny!). Simple yet bold, feminine, delicate but strong, striking without being overly flamboyant. I love the fact that it was made by a local carpenter but in such a contemporary design. I love the fact that I picked the perfect shade of pink from my Dulux colour chart. I love the curvy legs and the way the glossy lacquered finish reminds me of raspberry candy. I love the simple glass top that floats delicately on top and I love knowing that although it looks so dainty and fragile it quite easily supports my huge Apple monitor, in tray, pens, books and all the other things I throw on it. I love that I can see my pretty shoes through the glass top. I love that it makes me smile when I look at my desk and I can see a little bit of me in it; and I don’t just mean my reflection in its shiny surfaces!

A journey of a thousand miles...

2010-02-04T15:45:00.000+01:00

The first step may be unsure, but it is indeed the most significant. When decorating, starting a new blog, making a life changing career choice or picking out the right gift for a couple you never met... more important than anything else is that you actually take that first step.

So here I am. Slightly unsure, extremely excited and full of hope for what I believe will be an amazing journey for you and I... Here I am making my first of many blog entries.

I am not one for cliches (hmm, that sounded very much like a cliche) but I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be a fantastic year in so many ways. I do hope you join me on this journey as we explore the beauty, experience the excitement and discover the pleasant surprises this year has to offer!