The Cath Kidston Appreciation Society

Wowzers! Have you seen the latest issue of Cath Kidston‘s catalogue-cunningly-disguised-as-a-magazine?! I thought my love affair with the holy CK was at an end, and I was suffering from EFOS (Extreme Floral Overdose Syndrome), but perhaps I’m not quite over the mighty Cath yet?! Check out this gorgeous green office with sexy desk, amazing vintage map, quirky retro accessories – grrrrr, baby, yeah!

I like the little London souvenir props throughout this shoot…(it was photographed in Palace Road location house for those that care – I’d know Jane’s bright green dresser anywhere!)…and I’ve fallen big time for the gorgeous new Britannia fabric which has been used to cover the armchair…so cool. Now, we don’t usually feature fashion on HomeShoppingSpy, us being an interiors blog and all, but since this is also a DIY themed shoot – and show-cases some of the beautiful Cath Kidston wallpapers – let’s make an exception!

Oh, if only I looked as glamorous as these young rosy-cheeked gals when decorating! The sad reality is that I wear paint-spattered Primark pyjama bottoms, an old T-shirt that used to belong to the other half (MASSIVE and MINGING), and a pair of 99p sunglasses instead of goggles because I am ill-equipped and also stingy. SIGH.

Now, I’m no kill-joy, but it appears these crazy girlies have got a bit distracted from the task at hand! Check out the new Cath Kidston floor tiles in the shot above by the way – woop woop! Phew, all this hopscotch and general merriment, not to mention the mere THOUGHT of actually decorating is SO tiring – tea time! Try the handle, love…

School-boy error coming up, brace yourselves…oi, wotchit, big foot…

OOPSY. Are you a Cath Addict? If so, you’ll LOVE this chintzy bathroom…so pretty, but a TAD too much for me!

And you’ll go weak at your flowery knees for this bedroom beauty…

I leave you with the PLEASING news that Cath Kidston has just launched a collection of seeds in pretty packets, which are perfect for propping up on a shelf in a shabby-chic shed. Like anyone actually HAS one of those. But you catch my drift. Over and out, blog buddies. – Ellie

Foxy wallpaper

Good news, wallpaper addicts! Turkish company Studio Nommo has just launched an online shop and now delivers wallpaper internationally, so you don’t have to live in Istanbul to get hold of some of the coolest wallpapers around…

This new collection of papers features designs from young and inspirational designers and illustrators – it’s a real breath of fresh air. It’s hard to choose but my favourite is this magical foxy design by Ashley Alexander…it reminds me of Cole & Son’s Woods wallpaper, but with a twist! It would look great in a children’s room.

I love the way these designers treat wallpaper as a canvas for pictures…no boring repeated leaves/flower patterns in sight here…instead, you’ll find illustrations that tell stories; houses, sunbathers, typewriters, windows…

Check out this blackboard-effect computer wallpaper – who knew technology could look so good? And I’d love a feature wall of the teapots and kettles paper in my kitchen…

Pop along to the new Studio Nommo website to see the full range and explore the designers in more detail. You can also shop for gorgeous wall stickers, and design your own wallpaper by uploading an image or photo – just remember to click the ‘English’ language button on the home page, or you’ll be a bit confused by all the Turkish. Like I was. For quite some time. Oh dear… – Ellie

Dandelion o’clock

Are you a fan of Sanderson‘s retro Dandelion Clocks design? Uh huh? WELL, have we got a treat for you today! Check out this fabulous rug from the new collection at John Lewis – it’s shot here with a Content by Conran Matador chair in ‘Caterpillar’ green and it looks so good I could literally LICK it:

Mmmmm. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, ladies and gentlemen, let me spit out the fluff and introduce…(drum roll)…the Dandelion Clocks roller blind, complete with co-ordinating coloured Eames chairs. Hurrah!

(The blind’s also from John Lewis.) This pattern has been incredibly popular since it launched in Spring last year and it’s interesting to see how many different ways it’s been used – it’s one of those designs that works well in so many schemes. Check out this bedroom from Ideal Home:

Dandelion Clocks looks fab on a feature wall behind the headboard, and it sits nicely with the exposed brickwork, too. This next ranch-style bedroom is from interior designer Lori Andrews who went for the tangerine and charcoal version. Lovely!

And here are some pics courtesy of Sanderson and The Home Show:

I’m considering this wallpaper for our dining room (although I’ve done about six moodboards for it already and keep changing my mind!) – and I think it would look fabulous with IKEA’s Makros dandelion light fitting. – Ellie

Hot diggedy DAWGs

Woof, woof – check out this fabulous Osborne and Little ‘Best in Show’ wallpaper, with flock fuchsia doggies on a graphite metallic background. I’ve seen the black and white version of this, but I’ve been meaning to share this John Lewis pic with you for ages – what a cosy corner! Perfect for a chilly day like today!

I LOVE the giant Anglepoise floor lamp – it’s expensive, but we’ve seen gorgeous cheaper copies in the new Tesco, Next and Bhs collections for spring 2010, so don’t despair! Hot dogs are popping up all over the place at the moment…

These wall stickers are from Brume, a fab place to find unusual wall art, blackboard stickers and window film.

Dog cushions are IN at the moment. Not really my cup of tea to be honest, but according to Debenhams, the Ben de Lisi dog cushions have all sold out nationwide! Here are cushions from Debenhams and John Lewis, and a funky Linea mug from House of Fraser:

And if you’re a dog fan, check out these dog magnets, too…

Right, I’m off to test a cheese grater. Oh, the glamour. – Ellie

Harlequin – things that make you go OOOOOOH

Harlequin‘s new wallpaper and fabric collections are OUT, and they’re absolutely GORGEOUS. The first range is called Bakari – inspired by ‘the organic textures and physical elements of the natural world’.

It’s a tranquil collection featuring soft willow patterns, leaf designs, cow parsley, seed pods and stunning shell-like, wave shapes. I really like the ‘Willow Sheer’ best – it’s so pretty as a delicate panel.

The other new range, called Lalika, is a collection of rich, opulent, exotic designs, inspired by Persian and Indian textiles and architecture.

I really like the paisley-meets-fretwork ‘Azara’ design (shown as a throw on the pink bed above) – striking as a fabric or a wallpaper. The ‘Susa’ wallpaper below is another highlight – and all the patterns in the collection work so well together, without being overpowering.

It might be raining, grey, and Monday, but I have several reasons to be happy. Firstly, these lovely new Harlequin images have cheered me. Secondly, my ‘with love from ellie x‘ name tape, which I was obsessing about last week, has arrived in the post, which is VERY exciting for a crafting geek like me. Thirdly, on a similar crafting geek note, I have just been given a lovely vintage date stamp, like librarians use – perfect for letters and cards etc. And lastly, the boyfriend has just revealed he’s kindly buying me the silver Moroccan pouffe I’ve had my eye on for months for my birthday. It’s the same as the one in Graham and Green but he found it cheaper elsewhere, tee hee. I’m also very excited because I’ve just been invited to the launch party  (happening next week) of the new Hobbycraft magazine – let the craft revolution continue! I’ll give you all the gossip after the event, but for now, it’s back to work I go, I O, I O. – Ellie

NEW from Massey & Rogers

Fans of the budgerigar-obsessed design duo Massey & Rogers will be delighted to hear that Barbara and Helen have created a new collection of wallpapers.

The ‘Streetlight’ papers are inspired by urban living, and feature street lamps and, unsurprisingly, the trademark budgies! I met Massey & Rogers at a fair a few years ago, and fell instantly in love with their cheerful designs. Let’s kick the week off with a little look at their work…

Fabric buttons, cushions, purses – so many beautiful birdy buys here! I particularly like the woven wastepaper bins they make, but I’d have to use them for something other than rubbish – they’re far too lovely.

As well as the new wallpapers, there are some new bird prints in the ‘Streetlight’ range, which would look cute in a simple white frame.

I’ve got a lamp base that I picked up at a car boot sale for £1, and I’ve painted it white. It’s just waiting for the perfect lamp shade…perhaps I need some budgies in my life? – Ellie

SNEAK PREVIEW: Vivienne Westwood wallpapers

What do you get when you mix fashion with interiors? Spooky wooden mannekins dressed in beautiful clothes made of wallpaper, of course. Vivienne Westwood has teamed up with Cole & Son to design her own collection of papers, all based on her signature fashion designs.

Keep your eyes peeled for her iconic ‘Squiggle’ print – as seen in autumn-winter 1981/82, (her Pirate collection, dahling,) as well as a pretty ‘Cut-Out Lace’ design inspired by her spring/summer 2007 collection, and ‘Insects’, which is based on Elizabeth I’s wardrobe.

This new collection’s due to be launched on 27 September at Focus, so it should be available later this autumn. I quite like the new designs, but I’m more intrigued by the way they’ve shot them – who knew that paper clothes could look so good? Now we can finally make use of the thousands of rolls stacked high in the Ideal Home office… – Ellie

Penguin wallpaper from Isak

I love this cute penguin wallpaper, £30 per roll, from Isak. It would look lovely in a nursery of course, but I think it’s quirky enough to use as a feature wall in any room of the house!

Check out the Isak collection for beautiful fabrics, blankets and a fab range of retro tea trays for serving in style. – Ellie

 

 

NEW Harlequin wallpapers

Feast your eyes on these delicious new retro wallpapers from Harlequin, lovely people.

My favourite is the top left design, the aqua-coloured lampshades wallpaper – it’s called Illuminate, from the new Identity collection. How cool does it look with a white lampshade in front of it…you could ‘get the look’ with IKEA’s classic Knappa pendant light, £19.99.

So, that’s another wallpaper I’ve fallen for! How am I ever going to actually commit to any single design with temptation like this at every corner!? My all-time favourite is still Cole & Son‘s Cow Parsley, which is on the feature wall in our living room. What’s your number one wallpaper of all time? Are you fickle when it comes to your walls, or do you have an enduring classic you’ll never tire of? – Ellie

Farrow & Ball releases ‘Del Boy’ wallpaper…

This new ‘Bamboo Papers’ wallpaper from Farrow & Ball is everything we’d expect from one of the world’s finest manufacturers of paint and paper. It’s beautiful, oriental, chic and delicate. Block-printed, it shimmers with metallic paint and oozes sophistication – and it’s rather expensive, at £62 a roll. But there’s something I just can’t ignore…

I’m sure I’ve seen this pattern somewhere before. According to the lovely people at Farrow & Ball, the Bamboo Papers are inspired by an iconic 19th century Japanese print, featuring bamboo as a symbol of good fortune. But I’m not so sure. Think back, all ye wise interior design experts, to the Peckham flat belonging to Del Boy Trotter in TV sitcom, Only Fools and Horses. It’s a gallimaufry of retro patterns and sickly seventies colours, and with the plastic pineapple ice cube bucket and red pub-style carpet, it’s about as far away from Farrow & Ball style-wise as it’s possible to get – but look to the left feature wall. Case closed. – Ellie