Nouveau Swan...

Björk's infamous Marjan Pejoski designed Oscar gown has had a Giles Deacon remix for the red carpet at the Royal Academy last night. I actually really like it, but it wouldn't it be great if a sub law should be passed that only the Queen can wear swan.

Topical Taylor...

Fashion Designer and blog ingenue Charlotte Taylor has just announced a Jubilee Print competition, the prize being afternoon tea at Liberties. For details, head to her blog. As inspiration she has rustled up a regal twist on her signature penguin print, which is rather charming.

Saturday sleep in...

...would be so much better if I were peeling myself out of one of these:

Twils











BRC Designs











Twils

                                   Lago

Thomas Althaus

Ewan Robertson for Lago Studio                

Letti&Co

Twils  

Flat envy...

Now I know this is design world suicide, but I'm just not that enamoured with Paris. I could, however, happily live there if I were to own this flat (mostly as I'd never want to leave it, and thus be spared any interaction with Parisians). I'd tweak the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, but the basic layout and structure and almost flawless. It's almost painful to think how much extra floorspace those amorous amphibians enjoy, compared to us Brits or New Yorkers. The Saint Eustache apartment is the handy work of German/French interior designer Josephine Gintzburger, whose philosophy is to blend and contrast French extravagance with German minimalism to create unique and personal spaces.  

It's light Jim, but not as we know it...

Illuminated furniture is second only to eggnog for making long dark nights cool and cosy. Below is a rather random assortment of examples, I've tried to show the wide range of products already on the market, but it's worth bearing in mind that commissioning lit furniture can be a really affordable way to make your home unique.

For something a little less practical and a little more like Snape's Patronus (below left) or glowing Gormley (below right), the below are illuminated wire sculptures by Cedric Le Borgne.

Hang about...

 These are just dyed scraps of muslin cut into squares, ironed into triangles and hung alongside dripping fairy lights. Very simple and effective, and whilst they've been done here for a wedding, once you've put in the initial effort of making them you can bring them out to make any occasion special. Or just leave them up as a permanent fixture.

If your skills go a little further than cutting squares you could try your hand at:

And if you're up for creating your own hanging installation and need some inspiration, the below are by  London based artist Nicola Yeoman.

Or if you have no time, buckets of cash and want to go kinetic, get the professionals in. Xavier Veilhan is the modern day Calder, and his mobiles work just as well in small modernist flats (£s permitting) as they do in ornate and grand public spaces. I imagine when spinning they conjure up images of mythical solar systems.

The suitcase afterlife...

Who knew the humble suitcase had such transferable skills.

                                   

Still going strong...

We were all fairly sure that ombré would have, excuse the pun, faded out by now, but every time a distant death rattle sounds, a designer somewhere jumps in to resuscitate it. Today that designer seems to be Etsy staple BZR, whose two tone tights are sweeping the blogosphere.

It was nice to be reminded how beautiful the technique can be, as when it's done well it can be truly show stopping, ala Givenchy

And for the DIY enthusiasts, a few ideas that look adaptable to liven up your home and life.