a wee whisper...

genie mack...tomorrow is world interiors day...and not a one knew too much about it...

i read about it this morning on daedal review and i don't think elaine or lorraine knew too much about it either...

what a surprise...world interiors day...

the day is the brainchild of the international federation of interior architects/designers and the theme for this year is 10% for 90%...the main goal of World Interiors Day is to direct public attention towards the profession of Interior Architecture/Design, to enhance knowledge and understanding about the profession, and to encourage cooperation between professionals...

people tend to say that i'm in everything but the crib...but i’ve never heard of this event and have never attended an event marking it...

elaine at daedal review is starting a campaign now to organise a proper celebration of World Interior Day next year, and i've already given her my backing...who else is with her...

thanks for the mention...carnival of shopping with be @ home...

i've been included in a review of the most unique, informative and intriguing blogs on the web...

go me...if i do say so myself...

be @ home is a home design and projects blog, that covers everything from home decor to furniture, such as bedding and wall decorations...you can check out the carnival of shopping for a bi-weekly round up of notingly worthingly blogs on a par with the likes of me...heh heh

http://pocketchange.become.com/

http://pocketchange.become.com/category/become-updates/carnival-of-shopping

http://pocketchange.become.com/category/home-and-garden

more from laura day living...

the latest issue from laura day living went live today on her website with a big focus on summer, kids, family and...FUN...

check out a wee sneak peek below and go to the link for more superbly stylish inspirational ideas for your summer...

http://lauradayliving.com/home.html

paul smith london paris...

today i can offer you a closer look into the paul smith london storefront, rue de grenelle, paris - which features an authentic vintage vibe paired with a new age flair...best described by paul smith himself...

“The very exciting point about the Grenelle shop is that it is in premises that have been empty since the 1980’s and is in a very ‘interesting’ state of decay! The walls are unpainted for many years, the floor tiles are the original, 80 year old shelves, everything dates back to the 1930’s when La Tourrette was opened by Monsieur Tourrette as a ‘Bougnat’; the left side of the shop selling coal, the right side selling wine. The business was run by Monsieur Tourrette and continued through the generations, including his daughter and then later other members of the family. In the early 1960’s it was opened as a little cafe and from then until its closure was a famous haunt of many intellectuals including Jacques Prevert and his brother who were regular visitors along with actresses and writers...”

http://www.paulsmith.co.jp/shop_locator/france_rue_grenelle.html

new...

new...

doesn't the word new revive you...it does me...!!!

there's something about starting something new that generates a bit of a buzz for me...starting a new job in Dublin 5 years ago was one, making new friends while i was working in dublin...finding myself with a new girlfriend 2 and a bit years ago...

booking flights and making a trip to start a new life in america was another...starting a new chapter...i'm getting married to that new girlfriend from 2 and a bit years ago in 8 weeks, and we're starting out our new life together as a married couple...

and to add to our blessings, i was offered a new job yesterday...all my hard work and endeavours have paid off...i guess i've spent about 2 months job-searching since i received my work authorisation papers here in the states...

it was frustrating at times...applying through online agencies and adverts in papers, and receiving no feedback...or receiving an automatic email with a gentle let down...

i knew if i could get myself in front of someone i would be able to deliver on selling myself...i think its safe to say i'm quite personable, and i have a strong portfolio with a diverse range of projects to show for my hard-work since graduating in 2002...

so get myself in front of someone i did...

that led to an interview last week, which led to an invitation to accept a job offer yesterday...

i'm very excited...i'm going to be a CAD specialist for the store planning and design team for one of the worlds biggest retailers...i'm excited about applying my skill sets to a new role and meeting new challenges...

new job...go me...wish me luck...

charlie pride drinks here...

the coquine bar...london...

if your like myself, and your a great one for hunting in vintage stores, trying to find the perfect piece for a room, or rummaging the shelves of long forgotten items and then rummaging the noggin to imagine how you can craft something into another use...then you'll draw great inspiration from designer lee broom...

check out his 'decanter lights'...

launched recently as part of his latest bar...coquine in london's west end...

the massive renaissance art pieces framed in huge solid chunky frames look amazing...what a fabby detail...

and look at the haphazard put-togetherness of this cluster of decanter lights...

i love the deep colours used in this bar...

i wonder will the new ever wear of these crystal chandeliers...

http://www.coquinelondon.com/

fashions latest must have...a hotel...

having posted about the armani hotel in dubai previously i got very excited when a friend from uni posted a link to the edinburgh missoni hotel on my facebook...

is the latest fad for the fashion houses...a hotel...

fair play if so...

but what's the draw...what's the need...why would a fashion house want a namesake hotel...???

rosita missoni is reported to have said "edinburgh is spread out beneath us like a discarded ball dress" while standing in the penthouse of the missoni hotel, on edinburgh's royal mile...

already versace has a place in australia, christian lacroix has one in france, ralph lauren has a hotel in jamaica...but missoni is going the extra mile with plans to open 30-strong chain of hotels...

you might wonder why edinburgh, or why indeed scotland...it's hardly the epicentre of the fashion stakes...it was the epicentre of my world when i lived there, but what did it have to offer the missoni brand...

this is what missoni herslef had to offer...

"I admit that in the rain, Scotland can seem cold and dark and terrible, but in the sun you see its true beauty. I first came here 30 years ago for the festival, and went walking, out through the highlands, and I remember the heather and land - the colours were magnificent. Edinburgh is severe but very stylish and I tried to reflect that in the designs."

so many amazing pics to choose from...the website gives an excellent overview...

i love the sharp, bright snazzy colours, i love the creative use of moaics, the bright pinks and alluring turquoise, the blacks, greens and golds...it's a great design, creatively executed...i hope the other hotels offer a slightly alternative design stance from the edinburgh precedent though...

thrift store chic...by interior design susie graham...

last month i introduced you to susie graham...a san francisco based designer, who i met while at university in edinburgh...

as i mentioned previously, susie is all about the eco-friendly, green and sustainable design issues - consulting for an interior architecture and design firm in san francisco that focuses on earth friendly solutions for both residential and commercial spaces...

susie has shared with me some snaps of her apartment in san francisco...

here are before and after images of a chair saved from sudden death on the street...painted it and it's good as new and rather comfortable according to susie, the leather is in good condition too...

in the images below, everything is secondhand...the real wood side table was on the street like the chair, again susie painted it with some low voc paint...

in the lounge shots below, the cushion covers - susie made from an old skirt, and the vases are from thrift stores...the table and leather sofa are also vintage/thrift store...the lamps were a gift...

susie likes to call her stylish apartment a combination of eco design/vintage chic on a budget...

susie, once again it's been great to catch up with you and be able to work together with you to formulate the content for this post...

your apartment is absolutely fabby...i think a trip to san fran is a necessity...

http://www.garnerdesign.com/Garner_Design_/HOME.html

nosey rosie, sharon rose and a wall hanging...

sharon rose mc keever is a school friend of mine and someone who's making a mark for herself in many ways back in ireland...

inspiring women with her handcrafted, distinctive clothes and accessories for four years she is now bringing her funky style to children...but she managed to inspire me and my interior palette with her wall hangings and cushions...

sharon rose has always been passionate about art and design...from our school days i would often find sharon rose hanging out after school in the art rooms, working on coursework and projects...sharon rose studied at the scottish college of textiles in galashiels, and she was a frequent visitor to edinburgh and maybe now and again she'd find herself on my sofa after a night out or we'd meet each other on the ferry crossing from stranraer to belfast on a visit home for christmas or easter...

sharon rose's foray into the world of fashion has brought her under the radar of legendary textile artist zandra rhodes and designer julien macdonald...

now living in baltimore, co cork sharon rose is a member of the west cork design guild and the crafts council of ireland, and a regular exhibitor at showcase ireland...

some of her customers include mary black, juliet turner (who i met at a tango club in parnell square once) and jeremy irons...and you can see why...

more recently sharon rose has gained a fast momentum with nosey rosie, a new irish childrens brand...a stylish, smart sassy girl who wants to be the worlds greatest detective when she grows up...teaming up with award winning writer orlaith o'sullivan, sharon rose has brought her own artistic skills to the nosey rosie book with delightful illustrations...naturally, the charachters wear the nosey rosie collection of spikey hats, waistcoats, dresses, hoodies and bandanas for girls and boys...

but for me...its her wall hangings and cushions that i find inspiring...working with yarn, and exploiting all of its possibilities, much like in her fashion styles...i'm captivated...

can't you see this in the foyer of the shelbourne, or somewhere fittingly prestigious...i can...

thank you sharon rose for all the info, it's been great catching up with you...

http://sharonrose-designs.vpweb.com/

http://sharonrose-designs.vpweb.com/noseyrosieandfriendscom.html

labour and wait...

stylish and retro and a little bit different from the norm...

in this east london shop you will find everyday classics...

"products that almost don't look as thought they've been designed at all but have just evolved into the most practical form they could take"...

i really enjoyed flicking through the online store...simply because they carry items that are robust and sturdy and look good...they will never go out of fashion in my books...

http://www.labourandwait.co.uk/