Eye Spy

After a few mentions in various blogs of the home country's best interiors mag, Canadian House and Home, which I used to buy every now and again years ago, I decided to check out their blogs.

It is interesting, looking at the spaces now, after a few years as an expat in Britain, how different North American decor looks to me now. I find many of the spaces seem very sterile, new and dull.

The image above from their website is an example. Lovely room - looks of juicy hits of colour in a calming, neutral space. But it just feels...empty and souless. Like a showroom. Everything is too new and crisp.

Maybe I have just been too influenced by Sibella Court's style of flea market madness. I have mentioned her in previous posts. Her eclectic way of putting old finds with beautiful patinas and natural materials peronalise spaces in a way you just can't 'purchase' at Pottery Barn!

There is something incredibly 'individual' about these kind of rooms where loved items have been collected over time and are cherished for all their knocks and imperfections.

One great thing I did find through the House and Home site was a link to this bedroom photo by NY photographer Douglas Friedman, so I went over to his site to check it out.

I love the way the vintage prints have been used as an 'extended headboard'.

Look at these yummy, sunny shots. The one below makes you want to take a seat with a nice glass of something bubbly!

Apparently he has done quite a few 'celebrity' shoots, which are a bit more formal, but I have to say- I really, REALLY hate the pretentious shots with the homeowners in them. They are so naff and grotesque they embarrass me! It is odd how strongly I react to them...like I can't look at them directly for some reason.

Is that a little...odd? (!)

One More for Sibella

The interiors blog world is abuzz with the release of stylist Sibella Court's new book, Etcetera, and I am enjoying seeing images of her vignettes cropping up day after day.

Her unique love of natural elements and relaxed set ups in a styling world of 'perfect' scenes, really stand out. You can picture yourself actually living in her rooms, instead of constantly cleaning up after yourself. I have to admit, some of the tableaus go a little too far into the messy realm for my comfort, but her 'natural history museum display' aesthetic is gorgeous.

Here is a perfect example

It is the kind of disply I would be naturally drawn towards and want to peck through. Very tactile and claws on.

Instead of showing the same images that are floating through the ether, I thought I might post some more obsure ones from the website of her store, The Society Inc., in Australia.

These are shots from various magazines she has styled.

Here are a couple with a more ethnic feel.

She does this great thing where she layers rugs on top of each other, in a Morrocan style, to create a mosaic of pattern and texture. It gives this great 'gypsy kasbah' feel. Slightly sloppy and a bit of a health and safety hazard (that one's for you, Bubby), but warm and inviting. You just want take your shoes off and get your talons dug in.

Some nautical shots.

I saw this image months ago, and have not been able to get the pulley system she uses here out of my mind! Brilliant.

There is a sort of childlike sense of play to her sets...like she is dressing the room in masquerade. Very fun and tongue in cheek.

I am glad her looser athetic is influencing so many stylists, as the immaculate, sterile shots you normally see in magazines are getting a bit stale and lifeless. Here's to a bit more personality in design shots!