Set in stone

You saw it here first.

Part of the collection from Jason Minty’s most recent worldwide shopping spree, this box has every tick for me.

Classic art deco, it features white stone bricks, and is reminiscent of the monumental architectural style of the era.

Think Chicago and New York.

The MCA on Sydney Harbour.

Perfect in the Macleay Regis.

Its shape is beautiful, the oblong stonework softened by the curved outline.

And made almost whimsical by the exquisite brass and malachite inlay, wrapping around like a luxurious ribbon.

Used for centuries as a pigment, in furniture and in jewellery, malachite is beyond comparison with its variegated shades of lustrous green.

A true natural wonder.

Perfectly teamed with the thin strips of curving brass.

We are loving all things golden, and the craftsmanship in this is superb.

And then you open this masterpiece on its smooth brass hinge, to reveal a beautifully warm wood lined interior.

Such an interior can protect the contents from the outside elements.

Cigars? Kid gloves? An old letter penned on crepe-like parchment?

Perhaps there’s nothing at all. 

And that’s perfectly OK. 

For it need be nothing more than decorative.

Because it does that perfectly.

Opulent simplicity

Is it wrong to have a new favourite thing every week?
I think not.
This spectacular bowl has me totally mesmerised. Hand-made in black glass, its beauty lies in its irregularity.

I love how the gorgeously textured exterior challenges you to question what the material is, while the almost circular shape is made more beautiful through its subtle asymmetry.
Organic yet restrained.

The elegant convex sides invite you to peer inside, to glimpse a view of the reflective black pool they enclose, creating an illusion of depth that belies the shallow height of the edge.
And you know how we feel about a high gloss black surface at Becker Minty.

With a diameter of 50 cm it makes quite the dramatic statement, and while you may wish to fill it, for me it's enough for it just to be.
For form, of course, really does follow function; and if the function is to be beautiful, then this bowl is indeed perfectly formed.

Urbane safari

If asked to choose my favourite furniture, I would nominate all things Campaign: pared back, clean lined and cleverly designed, it appeals to my love of history while ticking the efficiency and utility boxes.

Attributed to the conquering Brits who transported Georgian chic to all climes, each piece was meticulously designed so that the warring officer class could have home comforts wherever they sallied forth. Required to re-camp and de-camp at irregular intervals, the furniture needed for such travels had to be easily assembled, folded, stowed and transported.

You could say it pre-empted the modern flat-pack, although in truth it took much of its inspiration from the ancient Romans, the original flat-packers with their folding thrones and demountable cities, creating microcosms of Rome all along their campaign trail.

This fabulous folding stool really puts the camp back into campaign.

The zebra skin seat may have been a little ambivalent in its straddling of traditional and contemporary, so just to erase any doubt, they popped it on a brass frame, and took it to a whole new level. 

So Becker Minty.

It’s a contemporary piece, made in Italy, the cradle of all things sophisticated. And while the Italians too did their fair share of damage in Africa, there is nothing remotely outdoorsy about this.

Clever, compact and oh so glamorous, it’s perfect for even the smallest of empires.

And did I mention there’s two? 

Happily ensconced

This elegant wall sconce has completely changed my apartment.
I don't normally post about my own abode, but this particular acquisition has proven a triumph.

The appeal of this fabulous piece lay in its obvious classical inspiration, the touch of gold that I have always loved but am especially embracing right now, and the contemporary addition of black opaque shades.

Like many of Becker Minty's amazing furniture pieces and decorative accessories, this was made in Spain. And like many of our Spanish-sourced pieces nods to the classic aristocratic lines of the late 18th and early 19th century, but with a rustic edge and a contemporary cool.

I would go so far as to say that the addition of this single item has brought with it a major transformation. Wall lights as a concept are a clever idea and they're making a comeback, providing a softer alternative to a harsh downlight, without taking up any of the valuable surface area of a floor lamp or table lamp.
In the case of this example, it has added volume, colour and texture to a zone that although very small, was feeling like a vast expanse of bland.

And there was a pair so I bought them both. For, while I don't have the perfect spot for the second one, it's sacrilege to split a set - partly out of respect for the object, but also for the fact that you may live to regret splitting them, and you'll never find them again.

But for now I am happy looking at just the one. It's one of the first things I see when I arrive home.
A stylish fixture with a flattering light: the perfect tone.

A real corker

This is something I happened to see at a client's house recently, and it really appealed to me: a small side table in the form of a champagne cork.
It lives in a contemporary environment of clean straight lines and shiny modern surfaces, serving to provide a contrasting shape, colour and texture as well as adding a touch of whimsy.
And let's face it, its function is essential - who doesn't need somewhere to put their drink?
It's also reasonably light and easy to move, so no matter where you're drinking it's there to support you: champagne cork table - pop it anywhere you like.
Cheers to that.

Sleeping with the Stars

I recently attended a lecture by uber-fab Interior Designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, he of Million Dollar Decorator fame.
He counts amongst his illustrious clients such luminaries as Cher, Elton John & Tamara Mellon, creating houses that are both comfortable and elegant.
Luxurious sanctuaries.
On a grand scale.
I love, love, love his work, and although the style of his projects can vary considerably, all share a common thread of opulence through texture, and feature sumptuous fabrics, employing one of my favourite concepts: a textile on a wall.
He especially loves it above a bed.
As do I.

Decoration above the bed draws the eye upward, adding height to a section of wall that can often feel low if there is only a bedhead, or nothing at all. It can balance the other high pieces in the room such as curtains or wardrobes. It's the perfect place to add colour and texture, or repeat those appearing elsewhere. And nothing does all of that quite like a textile.

But I must admit its appeal for me is also safety-driven: a large framed painting or photograph over my head inspires little more than nightmares of death by artwork.

And as for a mirror over the bed, I find this pointless.
Now don't misunderstand me, I do love a mirror.
It's one of the oldest (and best) decorating tricks in the book, creating an illusion of extra space and bringing more light into a room.
I love it in all the usual places, and especially love an entire mirrored wall.
But not, I repeat, NOT over the bed.
This is something I have often seen on real estate websites, in panoramic landscape form. This shape not only serves to stretch the room out where it's unnecessary, it creates a sense of low ceiling, which is something you don't want, no matter how cosy the space. And to die in your sleep covered in a thousand shards of your own fragmented refection would be truly tragic.

So for a truly stellar bedroom experience, with texture, colour, drama and warmth (and putting safety first), remember: rug up.

Duel

'Two' seems to have been a bit of a theme for my blog recently, but I assure you I'm not all about a pair. I love a cluster. I'm all about balance through asymmetry, and I have an ongoing friendly struggle with a client who loves everything in pairs, often with a single item in between. I call it the 'shrine' style of decorating, and I tend to find it a little stagnant.

I prefer objects to encourage the eye to run smoothly about the space, resting on the key pieces and the spaces in-between, then gently moving on.

However, I do absolutely LOVE this perfectly symmetrical World of Interiors cover. It is not quite current but I've only just received my copy, and it's the mail I look forward to the most.

             

This magazine always inspires and delights, and this particular cover features SO many of my favourite things - a wall sconce, a wall-mounted mask, a rococo commode, a bit of taxidermy (not quite sure where you find a unicorn these days) and then they doubled it all.
Taking it from whimsical to fabulous.
And when combined with a wide-board oak floor, a controversial wall colour over every architectural feature and finished with an unexpected pendant light it's truly fantastical.