The Caravan of Love: Hi Summer 2012 @ Next

If the Next Hi Summer 2012 press show didn't entice its visitors to go on a staycation this Summer, then I'm not sure what would!

The caravan of love was indeed the star of the show, fully decked out with the key home collection of the forthcoming season, Cream Tea gives more than a nostalgic nod to all things British - with strawberry prints taking over everything from deck chairs to picnic hampers. Union jack cake stands and felt-embroidered bunting are sure to play a part in the country's Jubilee street parties, whilst the red, white & blue theme carries over into the Olympics, with London applique cushions and red telephone box lanterns - this really is the time to celebrate being British!

"Oh I do like to be beside the seaside..."


The coastal theme couldn't have leant itself better to children's wear, with key outfits housed in Next's very own garden sheds (cleverly painted up to look like cute, Norfolk inspired beach huts.)

Bold, vegetal brights are even more dominant than they were for SS12, with rainbow chinos and colour block dresses being the staple to the Colour Pop trend throughout the whole of the kids collection. As for keeping totes looking cool on the beach, the shoe collection has to be one of the most exciting yet. With primary coloured patent wedges for older girls and neon coloured jellies for their younger sisters; boys can have a pair of espadrilles in whichever colour they prefer!

www.next.co.uk/press
http://web.mac.com/ryancsullivan/Photography_website/Home.html
http://ksht.co.uk/

Designer bark

Today's post sees me reminisce back to my degree show (back in July 2010.) Seeing the geometric patterns printed onto the shades below reminded me of my friend, Rosie Moss' http://iamyarnandglue.blogspot.com final project - proving that graduate shows really are the place to spot future trends.

                   Design Bark                           Rosie Moss

For me, it is the contrast between the bold, symmetrical patterns against the natural grooves of the bark, which make the shades by DesignBark http://www.designbark.co.uk not only eco-friendly, but innovative. Whilst Rosie's designs echo her own individual style, with her love for muted, earthy colours, Design Bark have chosen a punchier palette which again juxtaposes the notion of the elemental with the manmade.

Colour in those January blues

To sum up the past few weeks, my inspiration for today's blog post comes from tears that I collected a while back now. Styled by Good Homes magazine's lovely Emma Clayton, this vivid showcase of colour really does scream Hi-Summer - something, which we are busy prepping for at Next HQ.

We may not even have said hello to Spring but I am already excited for the tropicana motifs, neon wired lanterns and Moroccan inspired accessories which form part of the brand new Hi Summer '12 collection. All are sure to turn anyone's weather-beaten back garden into an exotic retreat. So, forget the January blues. Embrace bold & brash colour like I have with fabric & doodles, and get set for Summer!

Portobello Road: Tile tales

Portobello Road has to be the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Amidst the festive stalls selling mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, these 1920s tile hooks immediately grabbed my attention. With unusual colour combinations and symmetrical floral designs, Chloe Alberry antiques have definitely concentrated on a niche market by transforming these hand painted ceramics into something new for the home.

Focusing on the painterly designs, I even dug my old sketchbook out – digitally adding hints of the muted colour tones to my black and white linear drawings...

www.chloealberry.com

Time for tea with Pip Studio

Getting into the festive spirit, this week has seen me hit the fairy-lit streets of Oxford Circus. Yes, I too thought I must be mad! However, I had a surprisingly calm run of the high street on Friday evening. It would seem that whilst some of us were stocking up on gifts, others were more concerned with hitting the pub for post work drinks. Tip for all!

Whilst hunting down the perfect present for my favourite people is enough to get me excited about the month ahead, I have to admit that I found just as many treats that I would love to receive myself. So, just in case Santa is listening - my wish list has to start with Pip Studio... her entire collection will do!

I just love the vibrant colour combinations, along with the playful print compositions. The use of graphics is inventive; combining florals, stripes, birds and polka dots - the designs conjure up a real sense of twee delightfulness, whilst still managing to tell a tale of the unexpected. In my opinion, nostalgia and innovation have never been combined so masterfully as they have here.http://www.pip-studio.co.uk/

Upholstered Loveliness

Moving flats has seen me take even more of an interest in treats for the home this month, although I've found myself far too busy to log the delights that I've stumbled across (I'd like to say because I've been decorating, painting and restoring finds from the junk shop, but the reality revolves more around the mundane practicalities of sorting utility bills & hammering in picture hooks.)

So, to spread some cheer on this foggy, mid November evening - I thought I'd share the patch-worked side table below, which I absolutely fell in love with on a trip to a string of random home stores yesterday... If only more inanimate objects could be upholstered - the world would be transformed into a much prettier place.

Stitched Up Home

Hello blog... it's been a while!

Greek getaway - tick. New flat - check. After being slightly preoccupied over the last month - it's finally time to get back to blogging, and I couldn't think of a better way to kick start my October highlights than with folkloric upholstery and soft furnishings - which are most certainly on their way back. Think Bokja, Designer's Guild and Rochebois and ouila! Our homes needn't hibernate in the dreary colours of Autumn. Instead, save the plums, olive greens and mustards for your wardrobe and let your abode do the talking!

Seeing this heavily embroidered, Turkish inspired chair in River Island, has to be the last place that I would've expected to find such a beautiful piece of furniture. Alas! Despite us being on the cusp of bitterly cold days - this chair actually fitted in well with the Aztec prints and Moroccan colours in and amongst the fashion collection. Although the garments weren't as vivid and bold in colour, this chair speaks for itself and is sure to beat those Winter blues.

Moving away from talk of the impending snow and dark days, we have been busy prepping for our SS12 press launch at Next HQ and we too, seem to be embracing heavily embroidered surface design. If the cushion pictured is anything to go by, then I'm hopeful that Next Home will be full of cultural inspired treats, in time for the New Year!