I have a small problem with collecting things. I have had this ‘small problem’ for a great many years actually – and they do tend to ebb and flow a bit; white Crown Lynn and my present favourite, brightly coloured enamel…
It would seem, possibly, that me talking about black and white is a bit rich. Well it is really. For the usually colourful me – black and white are as close to neutrals as I will ever go. My theory with the ever-popular combo (black and white) is that a splash of colour makes them work better – gives them more dynamic – and that black and white (in its own way) can add to a bright colour scheme.
I have been thinking A LOT about black and white lately because I have been working with a client/friend whose favourite colours ARE black and white. She has been paired with a lot of grey up until now, but she has decided it is time for a change.
So black and white it will stay, but with less grey and a liberal smattering of green, yellow, pink, turquoise and a tiny bit of orange. It has been fun watching her broaden her colour palette, and it has had this strange effect or making her more and more excited about the possibilities. I can see we are nicely at the point where I am no longer needed and she can get on with making her home entirely her own. It’s a funny thing to be perpetually working to make yourself redundant. But that is how it works.
We were on the hunt for a fabric for some curtains for her daughter’s room, and we found this very Designers Guild-esque fabric from Marthas. It will be going with hot pink walls in a teenager’s bedroom (do we say teenager – or should it be youth?). The fabric is just $42 a metre, and is available from Martha’s in Newmarket Auckland – but you can also get a cutting sent to you from their website www.marthas.co.nz. The fabric is called Matteo.
Now it wouldn’t be a colourswatch if I didn’t include a cushion. It isn’t that I do this consciously – quite often I finish these columns and I go – “ohhh, there’s another cushion in there! How did that happen?” This one is a great example of black and white – the white is a lovely soft white – with the organic pattern of birds and boughs running across it. The cushion is from Madder and Rouge in Newmarket and possibly available online as well at www.madderandrouge.co.nz for $120.
I have a small problem with collecting things. I have had this ‘small problem’ for a great many years actually – and they do tend to ebb and flow a bit. I have over the years collected white Crown Lynn, blue and white china, chairs of all descriptions, cushions, woollen patchwork rugs, rugs, coloured glass and my present favourite, brightly coloured enamel. I am just about at the point where I can’t fit any more in the house as I have about 11 teapots, 5 saucepans and lots of old canisters. Most of it comes from Trademe and various junk shops but I spotted this beautiful B/W version from IKO IKO in K Rd in Auckland this week. It is from a company called FOLKLORE and it is $59.00. It may possibly have to stay here with me and be added to my collection…
Also while I was at IKO IKO I spotted these gorgeous plates. They have a slightly sinister look to them, and much as I would have liked to display them on a wall (that is how they would look best), I just wasn’t up to organising all of that for the photo. So you will just have to see them as is. They are from an Australian company called Robert Gordon, and they are handcrafted. They are a little pricey at $39 each but they are small works of art, not just something for you to eat off. Please note that IKO IKO are currently updating their website, www.ikoiko.co.nz and soon just about everything that is available in their two iconic stores (in Auckland and Wellington) will be available online for those of you not able to visit.
Just a quick note – keep a look out for next month’s Living Etc (which I am just reading an air freighted copy of), which has a great piece on using black and white (with a splash of colour). It is my favourite magazine – and is $9.95 and available at Whitcoulls and some supermarkets.
Our book this month is a bit of a departure for me. I wouldn’t describe my interiors (or thoughts on interiors) as chic. I would call them funny and liveable, but I am really drawn to this book even though it is very ‘grown up’. High Style is written by the design duo of Ron Wooderson and Jaime Rummerfeild. They design slick, gorgeous, old Hollywood-inspired interiors. But in saying that they also bring a sense of fun and whimsy to what they are doing – and a damned good dollop of sexy as well. They work with black and white as a base for a lot of what they do but infuse it with emerald greens, vibrant reds, and eye-popping yellows. I think that is why I like them so much.
They have a store in LA called High Style, and some very high profile clients. The book brings the homes of Kelly Preston (wife of John Travolta), and well as many TV and movie people for us to look at. As well as a lot of practical advice in the first part of the book, there is a lot to look at in this book – it is an absolutely PERFECT coffee table book. If you are wanting a bit of black/white old style glamour in your life – this is the book. High Style by Ron Wooderson and Jaime Rummerfeild in published by Chronicle Books and is now available in NZ for $120. Delicious.
We have a perfect little finish for you this month. Dee Roulston is a fabulous crafter, blogger and mother of four (with another one on the way!).She does the most AMAZING fabric crafting, making the most divine dolls. I have one that is an emo doll in a pink dress with purple hair that looks just a little like my daughter… she also does pirates dolls in sorts of shapes and sizes for both girls or boys. For the dolls she uses just the loveliest combinations of fabrics, as you can see from the photo. This one is in black and white with a gorgeous hint of bright sunny yellow. If you want to see what else the talented Miss Dee is doing, go to her Facebook page Tiny Eyes, or go to her blog, dee-construction.blogspot.com
Words and photos Anya Brighouse, 17 August 2011
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