Dino Sanchez

At the moment something that is really starting to sweep the design world is D.I.Y furniture. For a long time revamping and up cycling have been insanely popular, but we are now seeing designers creating products that allow you to build it yourself, they have a massive amount of versatility, look amazing and you have a fun story to tell. For me, nobody does this better than Dino Sanchez, he designs lighting kits, where you have creative freedom in colour and angles. They only take 10 minutes to set up and all you need is a screw driver! I love the simplicity of each and every design, he takes each light down to the bear essentials and doesn't mess around, the wiring and cords become a asset rather than something you want to tuck away. I also love his Stacks:Lamp, a series of three different sized boxes each with a lightbulb in. They are perfect for a shelf or bookcase and you can really play around with different looks and levels. Dino's minimalist yet sensitive approach to each design is spot on. Browse more of his work here, and you can buy his lamps at Vitrine.

Sophie xo

DQtrs

So today is the first Sunday I have had off in a while, I was really excited, I was going to go for a walk, get coffee, do some shopping....it could have been so beautiful. And then it started to thunder. I hate thunder, it's my worst enemy, it turns me into a quivering pile of mush. So I have resigned myself to staying indoors (despite the fact the sun is now out...I just can't risk it!) However, I wanted to continue on from the spaced themed prints I showed from Agent Gallery Chicago the other day with these little beauties from DQtrs. For a while I have been a massive fan of their range, it's experimental and really pushes boundaries with photography and textiles. My favourite piece just has to be the moon throw – it's insane! Match this with anything from modern bed to victorian chair and you have a statement winner. Also their Underworld series of cushions are beautiful and inspiring - my favourite is the jelly fish! By featuring a reflected image of various underwater scenes, it creates a dream like world where bright, exotic colours and creatures combine to create a stunning addition to a plain sofa. They have such a massive and unique range I urge you to check it out.

Sophie xo

Olympic Posters

Groannnn. It may shock you to hear that as a Londoner, I really can't stand the Olympics! It starts today and I'm already counting down the days till it's over! All of the roads are closed, everywhere is jam packed with people and is making very grumpy commuters (like Moi) even grumpier! But I feel it is my duty to do at least one olympics themed post! So for me the best thing to come out of any olympics is the art work, be that from the ad campaigns to the street art created in response to it. I especially love the vintage posters from the 40's to 60's they are so iconic and retro, and really show the times and culture of the hosting nation. I have picked out a few of my favourite posters from various collections. Enjoy!

Sophie xo

Selfridges, Framed Moscow 1980, £35.00

London 2012 Store, Chris Ofili: for the Unknown runner, £7.00

Ebay, Paris 1924, £3.95

Not on the High Street, Moscow 1972, £12.71.

Etsy, collection of Vintage stamps, £0.82.

Trigo Coffee Table

One of favourite colours at the moment is mustard yellow. Everywhere I look it's there! I know that this colours became super popular about a year ago, and at the time I must admit I just wasn’t convinced. But it has finally won me over (all be it 10 months after it's fashionable) granted i'm a little behind the trend wagon, but never mind! I have fallen in love with a particular piece that features this beautiful yellow. The Trigocoffee table is right up my street, bright splash of colour, but cool and modern. I love that it is such a statement coffee table but could easily blend in with any surrounding. The legs are designed with a geometric mind set and made of a strong metal piping in that stunning yellow. The top has a mirror effect to it but comes in a beautiful smoky grey. Plus it comes in a cute little side table too. You can get it from Made right here.

Sophie xo

Constellation Charts - Agent Gallery Chicago

So this is one for all the geeks out there - me included. These beautiful maps are state of the art constellation charts. They are a wonderful addition to any home, and a real conversation starer in all things space age and science. They also appeal to a pretty wide audience, for all the space nuts out there and for those like me – who have an uncontrollable obsession with cartography. These maps are graphically strong and stunning, the deep inky paper with the highlights of silver work so well together it's brilliant. Now my only issue is which one do I prefer? They are all so cool...maybe I could just get them all and rotate? These ones are from Agent Gallery Chicago on Etsy.

Sophie xo

Antii Sullivan

Just what I like to see, something beautifully crafted, with a handmade quality and completely original. Antii Sullivan's work is inspired by all natural forms, it has a nostalgic element too it that I love! She uses a lot of natural colours, which only adds to her subtle, whimsical style. I especially love the Tiu Dropar fabric, which features a series of exotic looking teapots. It is actually a digitally printed, but I think it has the look and feel of a screen printed piece. Another piece I am particularly fond of is this Tsunami tote bag, I just love those colours, the deep blue with the tiny illustrative white foam creeping in. I love this style, a word that springs to mind is nonchalant, it's casual but beautiful and knows where its at! Check out more work here.

Sophie xx

Ps: There is an extensive range of stationary too...score!!

Viya's wicker works - Hand Woven Plates

The weather over here in London has been absolutely beautiful today! As I lay sprawled out on my bed with the fan inches from my face (in a ridiculously English attempt to cool myself down) i'm still reeling at the fact that it hasn’t rained...it's the first day in weeks it hasn’t rained! So I am feeling in a very summery mood, and while having a little browse came across theme beautiful hand woven placemats, bowls and plates. For me they just scream out Mediterranean summer time, hot nights sitting outside with a nice bottle of wine, trying to slap the gnats away! Woven plates are a traditional way of serving bread, fruit or sweets and I love their completely rustic vibe. These ones are from Viya's wicker works a brilliant little Etsy shop. Each one is hand woven using completely natural materials, they also have a small hook on the back, so you can hang them on the walls to create a really rustic feature when they aren’t in use. I just love this look, mixed with some terracotta planters, brightly patterned table cloth and some fresh flowers a summer tea party is set! See more designs from Viya's here.

Sophie xo

Lauren DiCioccio - sewnews

I don’t know how many of you have ever tried embroidery but heres a small tip, it's really hard. It take hours to get into the rhythm of a pattern and it rquires a lot of patience to get the hang of it – especially when you have fat fingers like me! Which is why I admire Lauren DiCioccio's work so much, this girl has some serious patients! I especially love her project called sewnews, the idea is to reflect on the newspaper, and to focus on the idea that the paper has now become a nostalgic piece, what with the internet and t.v giving us our hourly news updates. She picks a paper (often The New York Times) and finds an image that is powerful, she then wraps the paper in a layer a muslin and starts sewing. I love the fluid, incoherence of the pieces, they have an unfinished quality to them, which only adds to their appeal. The faces are always spot on and by using a layer of different threads she creates a realistic portrait of the person or object. I love this entire project, and it really inspires me to get creative! Shame I can't buy one so it can sit above my desk and have it inspire me constantly! View all of her amazing work here.

Sophie xo

Kid Eco - Playhouses

I remember as a kid when my Mum and Dad bought a new fridge, me and my Sister got probably the single best gift ever. A giant cardboard box. The possibilities where endless, we settled on making a mini house, with cut out windows, curtains, a kitchen and a roof – the works. For some reason cardboard boxes are just the best thing ever when your a kid...or a cat apparently. Which is why I feel so in awe of these cardboard play houses, a seemingly simple idea, the craftsmanship and engineering that go into each one is amazing. There are so many variations, teepee, castle, spaceship, puppet theatre, igloo etc. I think my favourite one has to be the garrison, its traditional and is massive at an impressive 210 x 210 cm. Could it get much better – yes – it comes in different colour ways and can be decorated so the kids can have hours upon hour of fun! They come from Kid Eco a company that specialise in Eco friendly children’s toys and are doing a fine job of it!

Sophie xo

Joanathan Adler - Teal and Gold

For a long long time one of my favourite colours has been teal, I love how exotic it feels and it reminds me Morocco and the sea. It's one of those colours that for me always feels vibrant and full of energy, and in a home that's what you want to inject, a burst of vitality. So this selection of pottery from Jonathan Adler is right up my street, the beautiful gold pattern set on that bright glazed teal is just perfect. My favourite is the Electra Vase (top) it is described as “Crisp and refreshing, like a dip in the Aegean Sea.” Just what I was thinking! I love the shape, the weighty bottom with that tight snug neck make an unusual intriguing silhouette. I have selected a few different options from across ranges, but they all have that same Mediterranean feel to them. Jonathan Adler for me is best known for his quirky little pieces that revolve around majestic animals as butter dishes. I love his work it's humorous and full of character. But these vases have a completely different feel, they ooze a much more relaxed chilled vibe, which I love. Find out more information here.

Sophie xo

Tea and Cake London

So...I have found a book. It's probably the best book ever – in the world. Its called Tea and Cake London, it's a list of the best cake and tea cafes in London...what more in this world could be more beautiful than the best places to eat cake and drink tea in my home city!! My two favourite things combined in a book – just amazing. It features 70 different hot spots, and is split up into several chapters so you can pick your mood and go from there. Plus it's coupled by some beautiful imagery of the best looking cakes in town that make my mouth water. It is written by journalist Zena Alkayat who I think we can all agree had the best job ever when writing this book! It's from Black Dog Publishing you can buy it in all good book shops and Amazon.

Sophie xo

Qlocktwo by Biegert & Funk

So I don’t know about everyone else, but sometime I really cant be bothered to read the time – I know i'm insanely lazy. My watch is a cute tiny little traditional watch, but sometimes when i'm sleepy I just cant be bothered to figure out the hands. That why I love digital clocks, they are simple to read and suit my lazy personality to the T. So this clock from Biegert & Funk is just perfect, its called Qlocktwo. It is designed to spell out the time too you - the perfect lazy mans clock- it's insanely cool, ticks the futuristic box and is a real conversation starter! It runs on a quadratic matrix, that means that only some of the letters light up to spell the time, it updates every 5 minutes (but for those time conscious there is precise time in the corner). It comes in a vast array of different colours, but on this occasion I will be boring and say that my favourite is just the plain black! It simple and elegant, but futuristic and it quenches my need to tech-savvy. It also comes in several variations: wall clock, desk clock and watch and comes in several languages.This stunner doesn’t come cheap though at £795...one day! Find out more right here.

Sophie xo

LSA Firo

I currently have my eye out for any new beautiful looking pieces of glassware for my kitchen. A sudden shock hit me over the weekend when I realised I only had two wine glasses left – spot the one who doesn't drink much, and is very clumsy! So I have been hunting for some nice glasses (It get's a little embarrassing when you have company and someone has to drink wine from a mug) and I think I have found the perfect candidates. For several years LSA have been the company for glassware, and over the last few years they have increased rapidly in popularity. Their collections now spans over around 1000 products and each year they launch 250 new or redesigned pieces. Each piece is hand made in europe, which means that each and every piece is individual. What I love is that you can see the small imperfections like bubbles in the glass, it gives you a real sense that its an individual piece and no two are alike. The particular collection I have fallen in love with is their Firo range, using recycled glass this range has a casual bistro style to it and a light sea-green colour. The wine glasses are a pretty funky ball shape that fit snugly in your palm. But I am really loving this dome serving platter, it features a solid oak base and is topped with a beautiful glass dome. It just makes me want to bake a beautiful cake so I can show it off! Check out all their ranges – it's pretty large – here.

Sophie xo