91 MAGAZINE
interiors / vintage / crafts
JUNE 2014
91 TEAM MAGAZINE
Caroline Rowland
Editor & Art Director
Hannah Bishop
Sub Editor & Researcher
Pippa Blenkinsop
Editorial Assistant
charlotte hughes
Design Assistant
Gillian mackenzie Sub Editor
Editor’s Letter Hello folks and welcome to the 9th issue of 91 Magazine. Firstly a big thank you to everyone who has subscribed following the changes that came with our last issue. It’s truly touching to have your support. While we may have lost a few readers, we hope that you, our loyal subscribers, continue to enjoy what we do, help spread the word and encourage your friends and family to subscribe too. Don’t let them miss out on the creative inspiration we have on offer each issue! Secondly, when this issue goes live, I’ll only be a few weeks from welcoming our baby into the world, how exciting! If you’re not already on our mailing list make sure you sign up to hear the news, not only baby related(!), but about some other very exciting projects we’ve got coming up in the next few months that we think you will love. For now, enjoy this brand new issue, and enjoy the summer! (or winter depending on where on the planet you are!) Lots of Love,
Caroline x x x new venture award winner 2012
91 Magazine is a Patchwork Harmony publication. All content is copyright of 91 Magazine and its individual contributors. Images can be used only with a link back to www.91magazine.co.uk and where possible, the contributors website. Cover Photograph : Sarah-Louise Kimmer/LapinBlu
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contributors Darla Champigny Lawyer and blogger www.casadari.com
Kasia Fiszer
Photographer www.kasiafiszer.com
RUTH garner
Blogger and writer www.ruthlgarner.com
jessica gray
Surface pattern designer www.jessie-g.com
kerry layton
Illustrator www.seventytree.com
Corinne Lee-Cooke Illustrator www.violetlakestudio.co.uk
holly marder
Writer / Stylist / Blogger www.avenuelifestyle.com
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Laura Pashby
Writer & blogger www.circleofpinetrees.com
JEss Payne
Designer/Maker www.ditsykins.com
emily quinton
Photographer and blogger www.emilyquinton.com
Catherine Sprunt
Fashion & lifestyle writer www.catherinesprunt.com
yeshen venema
Photographer www.yeshenvenema.com
Sophie Warren Smith
Writer & stylist www.sophiewarrensmith.wordpress.com
jemma watts
Photographer www.jemmawatts.com 5
Contents Page 54
Page 8 91 News
Page 10
Shopping: Storage solutions
History of Vintage: Cathrineholm
Page 12
Page 34
Vintage Lovers Guide to Boston, USA
Page 15
Folksy Seller Spotlight: LapinBlu
Page 21
Style Notes... from Yvonne Eijkenduijn
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Page 30
Interiors: Scandi Boho
Page 43
Designer Makes: Outdoor cushion
Page 46
Style: Club Tropicana
Interiors: Culture and Romance
Page 62
Creative Business: #letsgetvisual
Page68
Handmade Days: Crafty Fox Market
Page 72
Ladies Online: Decorator’s Notebook
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Folksy Seller Spotlight: LapinBlu
Style Notes from Yvonne Eijkenduijn
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21
History of Vintage: Cathrineholm
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Creative Business: #letsgetvisual Home tour: Scandi Boho Ladies Online: Decorator’s Notebook
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Style: Club Tropicana
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NEWS
Our top picks of the latest, most stylish buys for your home this season By Sophie Warren Smith
Here at 91 we’re always on the look out for something a bit different! This eyecatching ‘Gold Digger Fabulous garden hose’ is made in Scandinavia with a plastic surface that is dirtrepellent and UV-protected. The length is 20 metres long and it’s part of the De Luxe collection, when the sun hits the hose it glimmers like gold, £119.95, the reindeer wall mount is £249.95 and hose nozzle kit. £99.95. www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk
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Every season Liberty edit their selection of favourite designs from their Art Fabrics Collection. We love this Forget-Me-Knots print which displays contents of a modern Liberty lady’s handbag, including Liberty print products like their address books and diaries. We also adore this dainty floral Kayoko fabric that is loosely based on a design found in the archive pattern book from the 1920’s. Both are 100% cotton and are £22 per metre. www.liberty.co.uk
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Folklore founder, Danielle Reid, has curated a ‘Core Collection’ of specially sourced products that will be available instore at their Islington shop and online. This new collection embodies their belief that ecology and ethics should be integral to good design and everyday life. The range includes a stoneware collection, Scrapwood wallpaper, their bestselling ‘Ink stool’, Hay seating range, Iris Hantverk’s artisan brushes and a stunning range of lights. www.shopfolklore.com House Envy have lots of exciting and beautiful new products on their website for this summer. We love these ‘Rho’ wall hooks, they come in three different designs and if, like us, you can’t choose one then opt for all three and hang in a row, or have one for each member of the family, 20.5cm H x 12cmW x 12cmD, £4 each. www.house-envy.co.uk
Bluebellgray have launched a brand new range of hand painted tableware this summer. Featuring the signature painterly florals synonymous with designer Fi, each piece of stoneware features pretty and bright sunflowers, peonies and anenomies. All plates, bowls, mugs, a teapot and storage jars are microwave and dishwasher safe with prices starting from £7, available from August. www.bluebellgray.com
Brights and industrial are two trends for this summer, so this neon orange grid storage shelf will tick both boxes. The freestanding unit is made from sturdy galvanised wire with a tough powder coated finish and can be used in any room, with the two shelves offering practical storage. It measures 62cmH x 31.5cmW x 27cmD, and costs £60. www.oliverbonas.com
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{Organise your chaos} Hide away unsightly essentials in these pretty storage vessels
Metal trunks, ÂŁ250, Cox and Cox
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Storage boxes, £33, Idyll Home
Storage basket, £6.99, H&M
Storage boxes, from £4, Oliver Bonas
Miniature suitcase, £65, Liberty
Storage basket, £63, Bloomingville
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Darla Champigny travels Stateside to check out what Boston has to offer visiting vintage fans Illustrations by Corinne Lee-Cooke
SoWa Vintage Market Venture to the edge of the trendy South End neighbourhood on a Sunday afternoon and you’ll find yourself at a cultural happening: SoWa Sundays. Choose from shops, galleries, a food truck court, and arts, farmers’, and vintage markets. The SoWa Vintage Market offers a range of one-off home and fashion pieces from
mid-century furniture to vintage Chanel. The year-round market’s thirty vendors frequently rotate their wares, giving browsers a “new treasure hunt” with each visit.
www.sowavintagemarket.com - 460C Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118
Farm & Fable Another must-visit destination in the South End, Farm & Fable, brings to life a previously derelict building with its selection of new and old kitchen
essentials. Flick through vintage cookbooks the owner has collected on her travels, buy some quirky recipe cards, or even take part in a cooking class.
www.farmandfable.com 251 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 12
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ACQUIRE If ACQUIRE were a person, she’d be described as petite and well turned out. Started by an interior designer, ACQUIRE sells beautiful things for the home,
presented in a thoughtfully selected mixture of new, vintage, antique, and repurposed. What’s more, ACQUIRE is in the North End - Boston’s Little Italy - so why not treat yourself to some tasty cannoli post-visit?
www.acquireboutique.com 61 Salem Street, boston, MA, 02113
Nomad On the other side of the Charles River, you’ll come across a shop with a worldly feel. Nomad stocks art, clothing, accessories and home goods that reflect a passion for travel and fair trade. Sign up for an Art & Soul Tour to experience the culture behind their products first-hand.
www.nomadcambridge.com 1741 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
Oldies Marketplace For something further afield, hop on the train from North Station to Newburyport – only an hour’s journey. Oldies sits on the waterfront in a big red barn covered with a quirky display. Wander in and out
of the various vendors’ areas to admire the eclectic array of old household goods and furniture. There is no negotiating at this marketplace since sellers aren’t present, but prices are fair and the experience unique.
www.oldies-ma.com - 27 Water Street. Newburyport, MA, 01950 13
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SELLER SPOTLIGHT
LapinBlu Interview by Pippa Blenkinsop
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isiting LapinBlu’s Folksy shop is like entering a wondrous new dimension of the woven world. Forget traditional crochet blankets and baby bonnets; instead LapinBlu combines this timely technique with ingenious design to create contemporary homewares and gifts that are both beautiful and useful. We caught up with Sarah-Louise Kimmer, the talented maker and mother behind the brand to learn more about LapinBlu – past, present and future…
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Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do. I’m a coast-loving country girl, now living near the best of both in West Sussex with my husband and our daughter. I spend my days juggling being Mama Bear, working with my husband’s business and my own handmade business, LapinBlu. I do everything from designing and making my collections, styling and taking product shots, stocking my online shops, working with stockists and lovely customers and packing orders and promotion. Alongside making and selling my products, I write, curate and take lots of pictures for my blog, www. lapinblu.com, where I talk all things handmade, home interiors, family, adventure and lifestyle. We also moved into our new(ish) home at the end of last summer, so I’m dreaming of the time to get lots of projects done! Have you always been creative? Yes, I’d say it’s in my blood with my mother being an amazing artist and my grandmother a talented crafter. My family always encouraged my creative pursuits growing up; I loved painting, weaving, embroidery, papercraft and sewing. I then studied Art, Photography and Interior Design, but for various reasons at the time, I didn’t pursue creative avenues further for some while. I always kept my hand in by making for friends and family, our home and wedding, and the arrival of our daughter. When did you learn to crochet?
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I taught myself to crochet about three years ago, mainly through books and youtube videos. I quite literally got hooked and very quickly wanted to produce my own designs. Since getting back to my creative roots it’s led me to explore and combine other techniques such as tapestry, drawing and painting. What is it about crochet that appeals to you? I find the making process very meditative and calming; I love the fact that something can be made just from a ball of yarn, a hook and an idea. Even if things don’t go right the first time, ripping it out and trying again can be incredibly rewarding too. What is the inspiration behind your creations? Anything and everything, but it usually starts with colour. I love vintage, Scandinavian and modern styles, muted brights, whimsical florals, fun patterns – anything that makes me smile really. There’s usually a little of all of these mixed through my work, whether it’s in the design, the colours, or the overall feel. I like the idea that my customers love to spend their hard earned money on something I made. It becomes woven into the fabric and stories of their home, so for me it is important that it is beautiful, useful, or both. Talk us through your creative process I often think on an idea for quite a long time before I set about it. By that point, I’ll usually have a firm idea of the colours I’ll use, and since 17
I’m drawn to quite a particular set of colours, this has led to a recognisable palette within my work. I’m quite hands on when making something new, so it’s a case of playing with an idea until it works and then making notes for the next one (which I’m not very good at remembering to do!) What led you to start your own homewares business? A culmination of little things really- I’d always wanted to do something for myself and late hours after the arrival of the Bear (Sarah-Lou’s nickname for her daughter) led me online where I would get lost in the rabbit hole of gloriously inspiring blogs. I started my own blog, and then kind of just jumped feet first into selling online not long afterwards. I always think of the motto ‘just start somewhere’, as you never know where it may take you! I’ve learnt a lot along the way about myself, following my gut, and about making and selling. I continue to learn every day, and hope that one day my daughter will be inspired to follow her own dreams and desires, whatever they may be. Why do you like selling through Folksy? I like the fact that Folksy promotes UK craft, and that you don’t feel quite so overwhelmed as you can with other marketplaces. Folksy have been incredibly supportive of me and
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my work, for which I’m so grateful; I feel like they really listen to their community in terms of suggestions and developments, so are building a selling platform that works for sellers and their customers. Since I’m constantly time limited, I also like that once your shop is set up, you can just pop by now and then to spruce up the shelves as it were. I need to work on my own promotion a little more though; I still haven’t quite got the hang of tweeting! How important do you think photography and styling are when selling online? Product photography is key. Customers obviously can’t touch items, so when browsing, imagery is the first thing to make them want to know more. You have to try to give as much of an idea as possible of size, texture, colour and purpose all in one shot. Aside from pricing, it’s one of the trickiest things to get right, and it’s something I constantly play with. I tend to go with images that make me happy to look at! Do you have any product styling tips for people that are looking to start selling online? Gosh, I’m still learning a lot myself here, but I’d say always use daylight, and keep things simple to start with. Add in props that show how the item was made, or relate to its use - then just play with it! Experiment with backgrounds too, be it colour
CREATIVE BUSINESS
or texture. Look at other images you like and work out how you can make that work for your style and product. You don’t have to have a big flash camera either; although I have a DSLR, I use my iPhone a lot too, especially when I’m strapped for time.
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of the same would be just grand! I’d love to work more with independent stockists and perhaps collaborate with other designers. Other than that, I’d like to crack on with the house this year; I’m looking forward to enjoying our first summer here together.
What does the future hold for LapinBlu? Hopefully, growing from the foundations I’ve been working on so far. I have lots of ideas in various stages of design and planning that I want to develop and I’m keen to see where my blog might go this year. Everything I’ve done with LapinBlu has brought me so much happiness. I’ve had so many fun opportunities and made lots of new friends; more
visit LapinBlu’s Folksy shop
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loves....
warm pixie
pom pom galore jasmine white buttel bears
Finest Imaginary melody rose
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Style Notes... from Yvonne Eijkenduijn
We catch up with Dutch blogger, author and photographer Yvonne Eijkenduijn to find out the stories behind her favourite vintage finds
Words and photography by Holly Marder
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hotographer, author and founder of the Yvestown blog, Yvonne Eijkenduijn and husband Boris have spent the last five years renovating their 1896 Belgium home, infusing each light-filled room after another with their “Scandinavian Pretty” sense of style. A white base layered with whimsical florals sets the stage for a striking collection of vintage finds which mingle happily among items both old and new. Yvonne shares some of her favourites with us, and the stories behind each of her treasured pieces.
Vintage Ercol chair “A vintage Ercol chair was on my wish list for a very long time, but I couldn’t find any in the Netherlands because they’re very British. I kept track of online marketplaces such as Marktplaats until I came across a man in The Hague who was selling one for an absolute steal at just 50 euros!” Pleased with her original Ercol, which was manufactured in Buckinghamshire in 1920, Yvonne had it reupholstered and it has found a permanent home in the couple’s light-filled living room. “I like the design; it’s quite Scandinavian in shape, but is actually a quintessentially British piece. I always like to mix Nordic pieces with English, and it’s funny because the chair seems to have both of these qualities.”
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Red bench When Yvonne’s blogger pal Caroline Sleijffers from Lille Lykke relocated from the Netherlands to Singapore, she couldn’t help but regularly scour the Dutch online marketplace for fabulous second hand finds. The moment she clapped eyes on a fire engine red bench she knew it was the perfect piece for her friend Yvonne. “I loved it immediately for it’s shape and bentwood feel and went to pick it up right away for an absolute bargain. Then Caroline did some investigation and found out that the bench was worth much more than I had paid for it as it’s the ‘Småland’ bench by the Swedish designer Yngve Ekstrom.” Yvonne kept its vibrant red colour to add contrast to a wall of Cath Kidston floral wallpaper, “every room in my home needs a bit of red to offset all the pastel colours.” she explains.
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Coffee table Another blogger friend, Ingrid - creator of Wood and Wool Stool - didn’t quite have the right spot for her quaint little coffee table, so it sat unused in her garden, where it weathered to its current state. “I saw it there and told her I would take it with me and give it a good home; I love swapping and exchanging items with friends because it’s a way of collecting original pieces.” explains Yvonne. Yvonne left the little table as it was, drawn to the distressed look it had acquired during its time outside.
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Tala Vegetable Rack A British piece picked up during a trip to Whitstable in the UK, Yvonne bought this Tala vegetable rack for a steal at just 14 pounds. “I thought it would be much more expensive when I found it in a little antiques shop, so when the shopkeeper told me the price I bought it right away.” The rack is used to store the couple’s fruit and vegetables and has become one of their most prized possessions. “I love that it is in my favourite fire engine red and looks so great against the floral wallpaper in our mud room; it’s very useful but also very photogenic.”
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Dresser and plates The couple’s newly renovated dining room features a pink painted cabinet custom made using reclaimed wood and styled with a collection of vintage plates. “I think plates are a very nice decorating alternative instead of paintings and art. Sometimes you don’t want to eat off a pretty plate, but would rather hang it on the wall because it’s a piece of art.” Yvonne has combined new plates with favourite vintage pieces to modernise an old-fashioned concept.
Tea set Yvonne’s candyfloss-coloured cabinet houses a precious collection of vintage china which she has amassed over the years. “I have two sets” she explains, “the ‘Rose Bouquet’ by Johnson Bros and the blue ‘Greydawn’, also by Johnson Bros - both go really well together. They were made in the 1920s and were never again manufactured.” Yvonne began collecting when the china sets were relatively unpopular and now has a complete set of what are today regarded as valuable antiques. “I was recently in the UK and was at a little antique shop that was asking about 15 pounds per plate; I feel as if I have a gold mine in my cabinet now!”
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Wire chairs Among Yvonne’s favourite finds are her vintage Eames Bertoya wire chairs, which she found on the Dutch online marketplace, Marktplaats. “I had wanted to buy a pair for quite some time because they are such a lovely design. When I finally found some for sale they were being sold as a set of four, so I shared the purchase with a friend and we each kept two,” Yvonne explains. “They are not really farmhouse vintage - which is a style I like - but they compliment the rest of the pieces. They are still vintage but they have very clean lines and therefore go with a lot of things.”
Yvonne’s top tip
“If you want to mix modern vintage with antique vintage, you have to make sure the lines are very clean. I don’t have a lot of frilly antiques, instead I go for pieces with cleaner lines that have a Scandinavian feel.” www.yvestown.com
History of Vintage
From accessible to collectible Laura Pashby delves into the story behind Cathrineholm - the highly desirable Norwegian kitchenware, originally designed to be stylish, functional and accessible.
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f you have a yen for mid-century kitchen style, then you will probably have come across Cathrineholm enamelware. Its vibrant colours and the distinctive lotus pattern have become iconic symbols of the Scandinavian design movement. These hard-wearing and stylish pieces have a visual appeal that makes them extremely collectible. Cathrineholm was the name, not of a designer, but of a factory, located outside of Halden in Norway. In 1907, the factory began as an ironworks, making wrought iron and agricultural equipment. It moved into manufacturing
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enamelled advertising signs and developed over time into the production of enamel kitchenware. In 1955, Cathrineholm employed a contract designer named Grete Prytz Kittelsen. Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of Scandinavian design, Kittelsen had a famously clean and understated design aesthetic. Her career was prolific: she produced countless works of art in fine jewellery and enamelware, exhibited in North America, and won prestigious awards, including the Lunning Prize, for her designs.
Vintage Cathrineholm bowl from House of Seance on Etsy
Grete Prytz Kittelsen’s goal was to marry beauty with purpose: ‘I try to create useful items with an artistic content’. Simplicity, minimalism and functionality became tenets not just of her work, but of mid-century Scandinavian design as a whole. She held the democratic principle that beautifully designed pieces should be available not just to the wealthy, but to all. Whilst working at Cathrineholm, Kittelsen designed the form of the enamelware pieces, selected the colours and worked on developing the enamelling process. She is feted for her use of clear, plain colours and elegant shapes. Kittelsen was also responsible for a number of Catherineholm enamelware patterns, including ‘square’, ‘stripes’ and ‘bands’.
The most recognisable and popular Cathrineholm design is the lotus. Produced at the factory from 19621965, it consists of petals surrounding the exterior of each piece. It has been widely attributed to Kittelsen, but whilst the form and colours were hers, the lotus is believed to have been created by Arne Clausen, an artist employed by the factory, who was asked for a decorative flourish with which to adorn Grete’s designs. Kittelsen’s view was that the addition of the flower ruined the dishes, clashing as it did with her belief in absolute simplicity. The public disagreed, however: the lotus pattern was an instant hit across the world. An advert from the 1960s described the Cathrineholm range as: ‘smooth as glass, easy to clean, virtually indestructible and exceedingly
the new Arne Clausen collection from Lucie Kaas 32
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Vintage Cathrineholm Enamel Bowl from VintageSilverLining on Etsy
versatile.’ Its colour choices were considered to be ‘fashion-right and up to the minute’, although they now have a particularly retro flavour, with shades including ’avocado, butterscotch and seal blue’. In 1972, the Cathrineholm factory was taken over by Standex, with production ceasing altogether in 1975, when the factory closed. The limited period in which it was produced only adds to Cathrineholm’s collectibility. It is an increasingly rare find in junk shops or car boot sales; most of it exchanges hands on Ebay or Etsy, or through antiques dealers. Prices have increased considerably in recent years, particularly since 2010, when artist Lisa Congdon’s extensive collection appeared on her ‘A collection a day’ blog, and, as a result, in Country Living and Martha Stewart Living magazines. The very dishes which Grete Prytz Kittelsen wished to be accessible for people to buy and use in their everyday lives are, ironically, becoming the preserve of the collector.
If you’ve fallen in love with the lotus, don’t despair: Lucie Kaas has recently released a line of contemporary lotus print bowls called the Arne Clausen collection, as a tribute to the pattern’s creator. These colourful ceramics are currently available at luciekaas.com. Or, for an inexpensive way to add a mid-century flavour to your kitchen, try Etsy for Cathrineholm-inspired prints Handz often has a lovely selection. If you do decide to search Ebay for an original enamelware piece, be creative with your search terms- be sure to try alternative spellings of Cathrineholm. The lotus pattern was also used on Deka plastic bowls and Lyngby ceramic ware, although these can be similarly hard to find. Finally, keep an eye out: who knows, you might just uncover a long-forgotten piece at the back of a charity shop, ready to be called into everyday use once more. Find contemporary designs at: www.luciekaas.com/en Or vintage pieces on: www.etsy.com 33
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Scandi Boho We take a peek into the creative family home of Kerry Layton, creator of Seventy Tree and discover how she mixes nordic style with handmade and vintage finds. Words by Catherine Sprunt / Photography by Kerry Layton
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erry Layton, the creative brains behind Seventy Tree, returned to her home town of Exeter in 2013, along with her husband, Daniel, 13-year-old Maisie and fouryear-old Bertie, with baby Otto on the way. Now a family of five, they live in St Leonards, a quiet residential quarter just outside the city centre. With lots of families and a high street of independent shops, cafes and delicatessens, the neighbourhood boasts a mix of Georgian townhouses, mid-century architecture and daring new-builds, and forms the picturesque backdrop to Kerry’s beautiful Instagram snapshots of family life.
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With two young boys and a teenager at home, Kerry is thankful for the extra space their new home provides: “Our daughter has her own room with an electric piano and all her drawing materials. She is hugely into Manga and anything to do with Japan. Sometimes we have to insist she comes out as she’d spend all day up there if she could! However, it is important that she has somewhere to escape to especially with two noisy young boys around!” The boys will eventually share a room, but at the moment the family spend most of their time downstairs in the
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kitchen/diner, which is flooded with light. They retreat to the cosy living room to read and watch movies. A self-confessed collector of ‘things’, it’s no surprise Kerry finds it hard to single out her most treasured possession, though her collection of Atelier Stella ceramics is high on the list. It’s a wonder her home isn’t bursting at the seams with odds and ends, but with a smart eye for style and a knack for choosing pieces that complement each other, each collection creates a considered vignette that is homage to her love of collecting. A Minus Tio City Sunday magazine rack has been artfully repurposed as a holder for 40
Kerry’s expanding assembly of trays; “more than any human needs!” says her husband. But it’s these clever displays that enable ‘things’ to become art. A growing love for pot plants, on the other hand, is proving more difficult to house: “it’s becoming a bit of a jungle here!” Kerry admits. Even as a child, Kerry remembers being interested in interiors: “I must have been about seven or eight and picked out pastel coloured, triangle patterned wallpaper, with matching curtains and lampshade [for my bedroom]! I thought it was the best thing ever. My love for geometrics goes way back!” Blurring the lines between Scandinavian and
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Bohemian interiors (“Scandi-Boho!”), Kerry continues to be enamoured by bright colours and graphics. “Having children is just another excuse to embrace this! My husband is the same – more so in fact, so we work very well together.” Inspired by mid-century furniture, Pinterest, and her large collection of Japanese Paumes books, Kerry’s love of colour is evident in her collection of prints and quirky homewares for the business she runs with Daniel. Despite having three children, two of whom are under four, Kerry and Daniel dictate their own work/life balance: Daniel cycles to the studio in the morning,
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dropping Bertie at pre-school en-route, before sending out shop and wholesale orders, while Kerry works from home, grabbing spare time when she can to work on new designs, answer e-mails and send out invoices, often while nursing Otto. “There’s a lot of rushing around,” she says, “it is not the easiest set-up at times, but we have a lot of family time, which is our priority.” In true Seventy Tree style, the simplest things are often the focal point, both in design and in life, and Kerry’s home is a perfect testament to the needs of her young family. www.seventytree.com Instagram: @seventytree 41
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loves.... The Wise House
Nicolarius
LOLLY AND BOO
Claireabellemakes
THe sewing retreat
CRAFTS
Designer Makes... Outdoor cushion
` by Jess Payne
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What you’ll need: • • • • • • • •
GET THE LOOK!
oilcoth by Vanessa Arbuthnott
6”-10” foam block scissors/marker pen/metre ruler bulldog clips washi or masking tape strong cotton or nylon thread curved needle leather or denim sewing machine needle electric bread knife
Measure the seat base for your chair and cut a foam block to size – use a metre rule and marker pen to draw on the foam and cut using a bread knife (ideally electric).
Step 1
If your oilcloth has a large pattern Step repeat, use washi or 2 masking tape to mark the oilcloth before cutting. This helps you figure out if you have the placement right before cutting or marking with a pen.With this pattern, as I couldn’t fit more than three birds in the space I chose the circle shape as my centre focal point. 44
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Next add 1cm seam allowance around the edge and use a marker, metre rule and pen to draw around your foam block (include the seam allowance). Use the metre rule to aid straight lines. Mark out the sides of your cushion. Measure the depth of the foam block and add 1cm to each side. Mark your oilcloth to the top, bottom, right and left of your main cushion top. Do the same to form the bottom part of the cushion. Cut out your pattern pieces.
Step 3
Step 4
Using 1.5cm seam allowance, sew the border pieces together right sides facing each other. Seam allowance is bigger than on the pattern to create a nice snug fit for the cushion. To attach the border to the top of the cushion, place right sides together using the bulldog clips to hold the border to the top piece. Make sure all edges align and then use 1.5cm seam allowance to sew the border to the top piece. Leave most of one edge unsewn for the foam to be put inside. Do the same to the bottom part of the cushion but this time sew all sides.
Turn your cushion the right way out. Use a chop stick to push out the corners. If the oilcloth is stiff, use a hairdryer to relax the cloth. Place the foam inside the cushion cover and close the hole using a ladder stitch with a curved needle and strong thread.
Step 5
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Club Tropicana From mundane back garden to Miami beach, this summer we bring you kitsch yet cool ideas for styling your very own tropical garden party. Think pink, palms and pineapples.
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Photography: Kasia Fiszer / Styling: Pippa Blenkinsop
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Tropical tray Gather together your cocktail table essentials and display in a fruit crate picked up from your local market...
LEFT: Gold fringe garland, £14, Peach Blossom / Yucca plant, £30, Arnott Mason at New Covent Garden Flower Market / Neon pink plastic tumblers, £2.30 for pack of 15, Sainsbury’s/ Neon pink margarita glasses, find similar at Asda / Honeycomb fruit straws, £1 for pack of 10 and metalic cocktail palms, £1 per pack of 10, both Tiger / Neon pink pineapple cocktail stirrer, stylist’s own / Neon blue bottle, £6, Oliver Bonas / Vintage tropical fruit milk bottle, £6, Snooper’s Paradise, Brighton. ABOVE: Neon pink margarita glasses, as before / cocktail umbrella, £4.50 for 12, Pipii
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Exotic escape Shake up your cocktail’s style by adorning them with vintage stirrers found at car boots or local charity shops
Decorate your patio with festoon lights, potted palms, and piles of bright tropical cushions and throws to create your very own outdoor oasis Browse vintage and charity shops for that perfect flamingo frock or parrot print playsuit. And boys, it’s time to dig out dad’s dated Hawaiian shirt from the depths of the wardrobe!
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TOP LEFT: Vintage ‘Green Goddess’ cocktail glass, £5, charity shop / Ladies cocktail stirrers, £10 for three, Malvern Flea Market BOTTOM LEFT: Flamingo dress, £11, charity shop / Pink vintage sunglasses & St Tropez t-shirt, find similar at Beyond Retro / Pineapple dress, £22, River Island FAR RIGHT: Yucca plant, as before / Oranges cushion, handmade using retro oilcloth, £12 per m, vivalafrida.co.uk / Neon zigzag cushion, £32, Oliver Bonas / Blue ombre cushion, £25, M&S / Neon ombre pink and orange rug, £39, Oliver Bonas / Parrot cushion cover, £19.99, Zara Home / Orange & pink embroidered ombre cushion, £32, Oliver Bonas / Honeycomb pineapple decoration, £15, Peach Blossom / Geo wire table, £75, Oliver Bonas / Neon blue bottle, as before.
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Freshly picked Empty fruit cans make for cheap and easy homemade vases. Fill with fluorescent flowers to make them enticing and exotic
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ABOVE: Mix coloured straws, £1 for pack of 50, Tiger / Neon pink opaque tumblers, £1.50 each, Sainsbury’s / Neon mix coloured striped paper straws, £3.50 for pack of 25, Pipii / Del Monte peach slices and Dole pineapple slices, both £1.10 per can, Sainsbury’s /Neon pink busy lizzies, £3.50 per plant, Homebase RIGHT: Artificial flamingo, find similar at Rockett St George / Glitter paper, £2.49 per 12” x 12” sheet, Hobbycraft / 25 multi pack coloured pom poms, £2.50, Hobbycraft.
Hats off To get your guests in the Miami mood why not make them their own party hats? Made simply using glitter card and fluorescent pom poms
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Words: Ruth Garner / Photography: Jemma Watts / Styling: Pippa Blenkinsop
culture & romance The owners of this Brighton townhouse share their heartwarming love story, which inspires their decor, along with their passion for books, art and travel 54
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tepping into Emma and Mark Hla’s Brighton townhouse, feels like stepping into a beautiful love story. The house, bought by Mark some 15 years ago, is a sanctuary filled with beautifully curated mementos and artwork, all pointing to their romance.
adventure finally brought them back to England for their wedding and the setting up of their home.
Each piece of art around the house tells a story. From the painting Mark commissioned based on his favourite book of all time, The Old Man and the Sea, to a vibrant hummingbirds Meeting online, it was on the couple’s first date that Mark arrived with a copy painting, which he bought on their fourth date. There’s also a sweet of a Hemingway classic tucked under his arm. Emma picks up the story: “I was illustration of the pair, a gift from completely smitten. I literally skipped Emma to Mark on their wedding day, in which they’re both wearing their first home, updated my Facebook status to date outfits, complete with the vintage ‘I just felt my life change’ and phoned Hemingway book in Mark’s hand. Emma everyone saying ‘I’ve met the one.’ too is an artist, and the pieces in the Six months later I’d moved in with him guest bedroom, all painted in washes and we were engaged.” Before their of moody greys, depict what she says is big day the couple travelled around “a typical rainy day in Brighton.” Europe by train, taking in the sights, never planning anything and just seeing The house is beautifully styled, but never in a way that feels overdone. where the journey took them. This
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Understated, raw elegance is the key with stripped back natural wood floorboards, vintage furniture and a neutral palette throughout. Since Emma moved in not all that much has changed: “All we’ve done is given each space a purpose. We’ve given it a lick of paint and really merged our personalities so that it feels like our house.” As they both work from home on their independent businesses, the house is also their office space. In the living room on the ground floor, Emma has set up a beautiful, elegant home office area - complete with stunning photos of the couple, and pretty objets d’art. Emma set up Coco Wedding Venues after falling in love with the
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industry during the planning of her wedding, but being frustrated by the lack of stylish venue directories. Coco Wedding Venues is a wedding venue directory and blog focused purely on style, luxury and, of course, the pretty. It’s clear from seeing both Emma’s home and her business website, that she has got effortless style in abundance. Mark’s office meanwhile, reflects his Burmese heritage and literary interests mixed with vibrant art on the walls set against the moody grey of Farrow and Ball’s Downpipe. A small but lovingly chosen selection of books taking pride of place, including a cherished first edition copy of The Old Man and the Sea which he bought for his 40th
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birthday.
display of items from their wedding, including Emma’s Jimmy Choo shoes, Along with elegant period features that kept pristine under a bell jar, and her run through every room, there are pops gold sequined Malene Birger jacket, of mercury glass and silver, as Emma hung against an ornate mirror, along confesses to being “a bit of a magpie”. with a pretty pom pom. It’s touches like Yellow too is ever present; threading these throughout the house that show throughout the house on cushions and the couple’s natural eye for detail and even in splashes on their hallway commitment to pieces which tell a story. floorboards. This too is another sweet nod to their precious The Old Man and Favourite shops in Brighton for Emma the Sea painting. include I Gigi, Workshop and The White Company, along with House Fixing on a style can sometimes be Envy and Cox and Cox online. But it is harder in older properties, as owners the natural flair she has for arranging seek to balance styles from different anything she buys, be it vintage or eras, but Emma and Mark have done high street, which gives their home an just this. Vintage pieces, such as the understated, yet impressive look. Emma chaise in Emma’s office, are dotted sums it up beautifully: “It is a really around the house. Alongside these raw house because nothing is perfect. pieces sit more industrial-edged pieces, Everything has a raw feel, with the such as the vintage style filament industrial touches and bare woods. If I bulbs in the dining room and the metal had a bare brick wall I’d be thrilled.” banister leading up to their bedroom. The guest bedroom is home to a special www.cocoweddingvenues.co.uk 60
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#LETSGETVISUAL
photos by Allison Sadler
Sharing images online is almost a daily activity for most of us, but how can you make it work for your business and connecting with your customers and audience? Ruth Garner investigates...
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w eet, pin, update status. Repeat. This is a morning ritual for many of us, before we even step a foot out of bed. Our collective love of (and perhaps addiction to) social media is nothing new. Early adopters have been tweeting since way back in 2006 and Facebook, founded in 2004, has gone from strength to strength since then. But what is rapidly gaining momentum is the extent to which businesses, both large and small, are hopping onto these social channels to connect with their customers in new and creative ways. It makes sense for businesses to connect on social media, and I often find myself shocked when brands I love aren’t on any social platforms. Creative businesses can benefit greatly from developing their presence on social media, but it’s helpful to ask a few questions before diving in. Why tweet? If you are a designer/maker and want to connect with customers online, you first need to identify your aims. Anyone can join a social network, but making it work as part of a business model means that it will need thought and planning. Hannah Pilpel, “For interacting from MADE. with bloggers, Twitter COM (www. made.com) is your number explains their one tool .” social goals: Justyna Sowa, Decorum
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“Our main aims for social are to build awareness and trust in the brand. MADE.COM is a purely online business so it’s extremely important we show our personality, the people behind the brand and engage with our audience.” But what if you’re a smaller creative business? For Lynne Robinson, owner of online store Papermash, (www. papermash.co.uk) there are other reasons to join the social club: “My main aim is definitely to increase sales, but social media has also given me other opportunities, such as invitations to fun events and magazine interviews.” Such opportunities, which can arise out of friendly chats on social media, can also increase brand awareness; something that may otherwise have been missed. Which platform? So you’ve decided you want to up your game on social media, and you’ve worked out your aims. Now what? Picking which platforms to join is vital, as each one is unique and has the potential to reach different customers, bloggers and journalists. Justyna Sowa, partner (and social media expert) at content marketing agency Decorum (www.decorummedia.com) explains how it all depends on your target audience: “In general, your end consumer might get intimidated by Twitter and its constant conversations, but they will love to see your product pop up on Facebook, or use it among their Pinterest inspirations. For interacting with bloggers, Twitter is your number
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one tool.” The beauty of platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest is that they are visual. With most people having access to a smart phone, sharing photos of daily life is so quick and easy. Subsequently, this constant stream of beautiful and aspirational content is continuously being absorbed by those people scrolling through it. Designer/ makers are tapping into these popular channels to showcase their work directly, and larger businesses, such as Loaf (www.loaf.com), are using it to give their customers a fun, behind the scenes view of the brand: “Instagram is our latest foray,” explains Lucy Hurley.
“It’s really taking off. We’re showing our customers and bloggers our visual diary and what us Loafers are up to – it’s usually day to day nonsense, things we find inspiring and snaps from the lovely people who make our products showing the TLC that goes into them.” Another way brands are making the most of visual platforms is via blogger outreach and product placement. The idea is that a brand sends a product to a blogger, who then photographs it in their home, and uploads the images onto Instagram. Their followers then see this beautifully styled shot, and whether they are aware of it or not, are likely to be influenced by it.
Jeska, writer of blog Lobster and Swan shows how a MADE.COM chair makes a beautiful beside table
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Bloggers Jeska (Lobster and Swan) and Katy (Apartment Apothecary) instagram gorgeous photos of a mug from Loaf’s latest collection
Hannah from MADE.COM explains how it works for them: “MADE.COM doesn’t have shops, it’s one way we keep costs down and how we pass on savings to our customers. It is therefore important that people can see our products within a home environment from a trusted source. Many of the bloggers we’ve built relationships with have aspirational homes, which not only helps to drive awareness but also trust in the brand and our products.” Creative Campaigns Along with reaching out to bloggers with products, creative businesses are also connecting with customers via competitions run on social channels. While some platforms have strict
regulations about the running of competitions (I’m looking at you, Facebook), Instagram is proving particularly popular. Many creative challenges are being set up by bloggers and small businesses. “I like to call these competitions ‘creative campaigns’,” says Justyna. “they are engaging, fun, and people who take part in them have to have a genuine interest in the topic. They are also very simple to participate in and timely. Creativity is definitely the way forward!” Emily Quinton, blogger at Makelight, (www.makelight.io) runs a hugely popular competition on Instagram called ‘Floral Friday’ (#floralfridaycompetition). “I started Floral Friday because I really love 65
photographing flowers and I wanted to build a community around that. It started from the heart, but as it grew, I put my business head on and realised that by offering prizes, creating a blog post each week and working with sponsors, it would build my social media and blog following. Every week it fills my Friday with so many smiles as I watch entries coming in from all across the world!” Another Instagram challenge gone global is #MakeItSewcial, pioneered by Allison Sadler, from The People Shop. (www.thepeopleshop.co.uk) Every Monday Allison posts a photo on Instagram of a project she is embarking on that day, and encourages others to do the same. The results have been incredible: “The response to Make it Sewcial has been absolutely phenomenal,” says Allison. “It has connected hundreds of crafters from all around the world, from as far away as Australia and New York to Sweden and Japan to London and Mexico... the list goes on and on and on! Crafters from all over the globe have shared nearly 3500 handmade projects in just a few months.” This community has had other great benefits as many new people will have been driven to Allison’s blog and shop website, who may otherwise never have done so.
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Allison Sadler encourages her instagram followers to #makeitsewcial, creating a worldwide crafting community via the app.
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#LETSGETVISUAL top tips
If you’re a designer/maker or run a creative business and want to make a splash on social channels, here are some top tips from those in the know:
“Be real and be you. Take time to think about what you love on social media, and make sure you are creating that type of thing for your audience. Engagement is so important, too. It’s not just about your content and your voice but it’s about engaging with other people too. Conversations are so valuable.” (Emily Quinton, Makelight)
“We blog useful advice regularly on our blog for design, interiors and creative businesses (www. decorummedia.com/blog/). Everyone should read the Social Media Etiquette first, before getting started!” (Justyna Sowa, Decorum)
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“Be genuine and have fun with it.” (Lucy Hurley, Loaf)
“Have clear objectives for your social media platforms and make sure you have the resource to manage them. Pick social platforms that fit your target audience, your brand and the content you are going to create. Most importantly talk to your social audience, answer their questions, give suggestions and have some fun with them. It’s all about humanising your brand.” (Hannah Pilpel, MADE.COM)
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handmade days
91 Magazine gets out of the office to check out some of the best handmade and vintage events happening around the country - and for a spot of shopping too of course!
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CRAFTY FOX MARKET WHEN: 26 & 27 April 2014 WHERE: Dogstar pub, 389 Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8LQ Website: www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk
Review by Emily Quinton Photos by Yeshen VEnema
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recently spent an afternoon browsing the wares at the Crafty Fox Market in the Dogstar pub in Brixton, South London. The vibe, live DJs, happy stallholders and creative buzz all played a part in making it possibly the best craft market I’ve ever visited. Set up in 2010 by Sinead and Stephen Koehler, and illustrator Jimbobart, The Crafty Fox Market was intended to provide a much needed craft event for South London, and since its launch has
become a huge success. The market runs several times a year in Brixton and now also in Peckham at the Bussey Building. For each market the team invite guest curators to carefully hand-pick their favourite exhibitors - a wonderful way to keep the market fresh and inspiring for both shoppers and traders. Sellers clearly enjoy Crafty Fox as there are up to four applications per space for each market. The event runs for two days at a time and there are different
Top right: Toys by Chloe Owens Above: pots by Pikku Potin 69
stallholders each day, meaning you can visit both days, or choose your preference. At many of the craft and design markets I visit, I often find myself seeking out the best of the bunch: the products that are most inspiring, interesting and beautiful. This search was not necessary at the Crafty Fox Market, every single stall was excellent! Obviously there were sellers I was more drawn to than others, but the overall quality was impressive, and I left with a light purse, a heavy shopping bag and a pile of business cards for future purchasing inspiration! Shining a spotlight on new talent was the ‘Crafty Fox Uncovered’ area, where a selection of new makers
are supported by the Crafty Fox team with mentoring and reduced price stalls. I particularly enjoyed the beautiful stationery designs by CL.AM Correspondence and Nyanko Pots - a unique range of porcelain ginger and garlic graters and beautiful mugs. Other sellers who stood out for me were Chloe Owens, Pikku Potin and Alice Shields Ceramics. As well as stalls, there were several craft workshops running throughout the day, such as screen-printing with Mr. Wingate, which gave you the chance to spark your own creativity and interact with other visitors. The whole event was like stepping into a happy, creative community which left me feeling dizzy with inspiration (and with a bag full of handmade goodies of course!).
Above left: Mr Wingate’s workshop in progress Above right: Nyanko Pots stall Opposite: Stationery by CL.AM Correspondence 70
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Next crafty fox market: Sat 4th & Sun 5th October 2014
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Ladies Online We chat to Bethan John about her new online venture Decorator’s Notebook and how it all came about. Interview by Laura Pashby
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How did the Decorator’s Notebook blog develop into an online shop? I started the blog three years ago as a personal scrapbook and didn’t think about anyone reading it at first! I love things that are made by individual craftspeople and I liked to seek out these items for the blog. From here it seemed like the natural step to have a shop where the products could be bought, so it was something that evolved really. Did you have a background in interiors? I’ve always loved interiors. I grew up in the Changing Rooms generation and our house was a really creative environment. Working as a journalist on interiors magazines, I noticed that everything had started to look the same and felt there was a gap in the market for more interesting products, presented in a holistic way.
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Can you tell me a little bit about the School for Creative Startups and how it helped you to set up the shop? It’s a brilliant course for anyone with a kernel of a business idea. It’s designed for creative thinkers, teaching all the essentials of business and management, but in a very visual way. We built up a fantastic network of contacts and learnt the fundamental skills that we needed. How would you describe the Decorator’s Notebook brand? Beautiful homewares with interesting origins. It gives the feeling of being close to the maker, with the convenience of online shopping and same day shipping. Everything is selected for its design aesthetic or understated beauty, but equally for its background story. Decorator’s Notebook is a collaboration between you and your brother Joe. How
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do you find working together? People are often taken aback by the fact that we work together, but we’re a good team; we have the same drive but different strengths. We have a shared vision of Decorator’s Notebook and where we want it to go. We’re very close.
philosophy of sourcing in an ethical way and are made in Bangladesh by a social enterprise working with women who have been victims of sex trafficking. Each bedspread is absolutely unique and has the name of the lady who made it embroidered in the corner.
What’s your business philosophy and how does it shape the way in which you source your products? I always strive to find the best of everything. For example, I spent months researching beeswax candles, trying to find the perfect ones. I eventually chose some made in the Yorkshire Dales through a social enterprise where people with learning difficulties live and work together. I try really hard to find products that come from fascinating places and are made in an ethical way.
Can you tell me about a typical day for you? I work from home in Somerset; I really appreciate not having a commute! I’m mainly at my computer working on the blog and social media, or doing pr and interviews. I also discuss ideas with Joe using Skype. At lunchtime, I always go out to walk the dogs; we have our own, but also do socialising for hearing dogs. It’s so nice to get out into the fresh air; it really focuses me ready for the afternoon.
Where do you search for inspiration? Pinterest: it gives me a sense of having a collective consciousness and you can see how trends in interiors are shifting. Sometimes just an image of a place can strike an idea; nature is a massive part of our collection. Blogs are also inspiring and I often come across different makers in that way. What is your favourite item currently on sale in the shop and why? Closest to my heart are the beautiful Kantha sari bedspreads; when I unpacked the first box of them, I actually cried. They embody the
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How have you used social media to grow your business? When we launched the shop, we already had an audience of people who liked our aesthetic and products thanks to the blog. I use social media channels every day to find out what people are doing, whether they are a blogger, another shop owner, maker, or customer. It’s really important to reach out and connect because otherwise you become just a warehouse and website, and that’s not what Decorator’s Notebook is about. What advice would you give to anyone considering setting up their own online
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shop? Research saves you from making a lot of beginners’ mistakes. When I had the idea for the shop, I immediately jumped to thinking about what kind of ribbon I was going to use to wrap my parcels! However doing the course showed me that I needed to begin with a clear business model, to work out what I was going to sell, and who was going to buy it.
What do you love most about running your own business? The opportunity to do something that follows my own personal interests - it’s just lovely being able to do that every day. I get such a kick out of finding something that’s absolutely perfect. I chat to so many interesting makers that are doing what they love, so it’s great that I can help them by doing what I love.
Online store: www.decoratorsnotebook.co.uk Blog: www.blog.decoratorsnotebook.co.uk 76
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“when I unpacked the first box of them,, I actually cried.”
Pattern design: Jessica Gray
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