THE CHOICE - 5 CONTEMPORARY CHESTERFIELD SOFAS

If you are looking for a modern yet full of character sofa, you might want to look for a tufted one.

A contemporary chesterfield sofa is the perfect combination of heritage style and sharp profile: neat and modern lines meet the plush comfort... perfection!

1. Living It Up - Finn Sofa £779
2. Sofa&Stuff - Haresfield £1,610
3. Funique - Cliff 3 Seater Sofa £930
4. Made - Connor 3 Seater Sofa £799
5. Made - Flynn 3 Seater Sofa £699

LONDON MARKETS - PORTOBELLO

Portobello Market in West London is one of the most famous street markets in the world, and in 2015 celebrated being 150 years old.

Stretched for around two miles, it offers endless opportunities to buy antiques, second hand clothes, old print and maps, used books and records... but really all sorts of everything, old and new.

A lots of unique independent shops surround the market and on Saturdays hundreds of dealers open their kiosks at the antiques arcades. Here anyone can find something really unique!

The market it’s constantly changing and it's truly impossible to show or list all what is there. But have a look at the photo gallery below and you’ll get a good idea what you might find at Portobello!

PS. Below you find 10+ website and contact details of the shops worth visiting. Enjoy!

CONCRETE DESIGN

Rough, honest, beautiful material... in 50 shades of grey!

All the following objects are handmade and you can find them on Etsy, see prices and website references below. Enjoy your solid shopping!

ART FOR HOME

Everybody can hang something on a wall. But here... we are simply talking of something else.
Enjoy the gallery.

Source: Pinterest, apartment34.com, yatzer.com, apostrophe9.tumbler.com

DESIGN EVENT - LONDON DESIGNJUNCTION

Did you have the chanche to partecipate at the London Design Festival this year?

If not, here below you find a gallery of objects and furniture that have been exposed at Designjunction, last year held at two stunning industrial spaces: the former Central Saint Martin’s college and nearby Victoria House.

Designjunction every year hosts more than 180 cutting-edge design brands and over 50 design-led pop-up shops, all spread across the two historic venues. Enjoy!

HOME TOUR - LAURA & VINCENZO

Stunning beginning of the century apartment in Northern Italy. Large windows and high ceilings let tons of light flow in, enhancing the ethereal frescoes of the ceiling.

The owners, two mid-century furniture fanatics, love to collect memorabilia from the best european flea markets and they've been able to skillfully mix them with some branded pieces and the historical context.

Bravo!

BATHROOM - WHITE TILES

When it comes to pick the tiles for your bathroom the choice is infinite.
Today let's narrow it to white, and see what people could come up with, playing with finishes and patterns. Inspiring.

Source: Pinterest. Just search for bathrom + white + tiles

INTERIORS

And here come some of my works: design experiments for London's victorian houses.

I hope you like them!

WHAT TO BUY NOW - H&M HOME

H&M... have you ever thought of shopping there for your home? If not, let this post inspire you. 

Below you can find a list of the products from the SS2016 collection that I consider interesting.

Some will definitely be mine.

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ZIMBABWE 02

Here we are talking about buying art in Africa.

Mutapo is a pottery gallery run by the ceramic artist Marjorie Wallace. Her fine porcelain objects are scratched, pressed and incised with the most modern linear designs and decoration. The result resembles often the traditional baskets. Her products are also sold at Conrad Shop in London.

Mutapo Pottery - 2 Gelfand Hse, Speke Ave, Harare - Mutapo Pottery

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ZIMBABWE 01

Who think that in Africa you can only buy old style ethnic goods can't be more mistaken.

In Zimbabwe for example you can fine the most contemporary, refined and hand made objects you can dream about. From the finest ceramics to the impressive stone sculptures and beautiful hand printed textiles.

Below you can find 3 very different examples: a sofisticated design gallery run by a lady with impacable taste in Harare, a little shop with hand made products produced by the local women in Vic Falls, and a production of local stone sculptures again in Harare.

Check them out!

Kiki's Gallery - 34 Haslemere Lane Umwinsidale, Harare kikisgallery.com

 

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ISTANBUL 02

Here come other suggestions on what to buy when you visit Istanbul. Like the previous post, it's actually more a photo gallery on findings, that hopefully can inspire your tour. This time I've covered the area around Pera Tower and the Grand Bazar.

What can I say, Turkey is well recognized as an amazing producer of so many exceptional goods: fabrics, leather goods, ceramics... a real joy for an interior designer/home lover! Enjoy!

Shops on Yuksek Kaldirim street:

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ISTANBUL 01

Are you planning to visit Istanbul? You shouldn't miss the opportunity to go shopping for some of the most amazing design products I've seen around. Most of them are hand made and the prices... well, the best surprise!

Below you find a sort of photo gallery of my findings, that hopefully can inspire your tour. The shops are mainly in Tophane and Karaköy, the new trendy area. Enjoy!

Atölye 11 - Karaköy - Mumhane Caddesi 47, atolye11.com

CONTEMPORARY BLACK KITCHEN

Do you have a bright kitchen room? Why not a dark contemporary kitchen: super sleek!

PREPARE TO MOVE

Here a list of things that need to be done when you move to your new home:

1. Notify that you’ve changed address to:
Work
Banks
Pension company
DVLA for your driving licence
Mobile phone company
TV licensing
Water, Gas & Electricity Broadband suppliers

2. Register with:
BT, eletricity supplier
Thames Water, water supplier
Broadband supplier
Council tax

FROM EXCHANGE TO COMPLETION

Here is timeline:

PRE-EXCHANGE CONVEYANCING
You send to your solicitor your signed copy of the contract.
You send to your solicitor a non-refundable deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price).
A completion date has been set.
Either party is still free to pull out at any time.

EXCHANGE
Solocitors go through the contracts by phone to check they are identical and they agree that the contracts are exchanged.
Your solicitor call you and afret getting your approval she/he sends the deposit to the seller's solicitor.
The agreed terms become binding on the buyer and seller.

POST EXCHANGE CONVEYANCING
The buyer must send the purchase price less the exchange deposit.

COMPLETION
Funds are sent by your solicitor to the seller.
The seller must vacate the property.
You receive the transfer deeds and title deeds.
You receive the keys from the estate agent and may move in.