Tuesday 31 August 2010

Inspirational Shop - Alex MacArthur

The shop front

This shop never fails to inspire - Alex MacArthur is all about "Antiques and Interiors for decadent living". From skulls and fossils to angels and divine spools of gold thread, the eclectic mix always works.

 
 Stacked chairs










Architectural salvage and religious pieces are mixed with more mundane in theatrical display. 

 

Visually the subtle blend of natural materials and neutral colours with metallics is wonderfully sophisticated.


Alex MacArthur is at 101 St Georges Road, Kemptown, Brighton.

Monday 23 August 2010

Wet Weekend in Littlehampton

Wonderfully coloured beach huts

I went to Littlehampton for the weekend to see the now legendary East and West Beach Cafe's  - despite the dismal weather, I'm realy glad I went....

West Beach Cafe
First stop the West Beach Cafe for a coffee - it may be miserable outside but we were tucked up in this modern version of the beach cafe. Designed by Asif Khan the cafe is usually photographed with the front windows swung open, but as a cafe it works just as well in bad weather. Brilliantly functional design.

East Beach Cafe

Later on we visited the now iconic East Beach Cafe for some wonderful food. The building is an astonishing object, so tactile inside and out, it is designed by Thomas Heatherwick and crosses over from architecture to sculpture.

If you visit Littlehampton do take a walk down the promenade - whatever the weather - because there is also the brilliant 'Britain's Longest Bench'.... 
The bench is 324mts long and meanders up and around avoiding bins and lamposts and dipping into the ground to allow access to the promenade.



Designed by Studio Weave the bench loops into two steel shelters at either end, where it twists into a 3d graffiti type structure, that can be climbed on. A great example of functional art, this project was made possible by CABE's Sea Change Programme and a donation from Gordon Roddick in tribute to his wife Anita Roddick, the Body Shop founder. Unfortunately the Sea Change Programme will be wound up by the current government.

One of the shelters from the beach

Thursday 19 August 2010

Florence Broadhurst



My friend Kate gave me this fabulous book - Florence Broadhurst, Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives by Helen O'Neill. I had known of her range of wallpapers, but this book takes you through her life and work, both of which are extraordinary! If you are interested in pattern and surface design I recommend you be inspired by this book.

Monday 16 August 2010

Vintage Goodwood

Got back late last night from Vintage Goodwood - exhausted, but with Heaven 17 's Temptation still ringing in my ears.
Vintage at Goodwood is billed as not merely a music festival but a festival where music, fashion and design should never be seperated. There were plenty of vintage fashion stalls but also some more unexpected shops, I really enjoyed the Kenwood Kitchen Appliance store, great store set complete with 'Fanny Craddock' cookery demonstrations.
 

Vintage Kenwood food mixer

And being Goodwood there were plenty of vintage vehicles......



Most stylish musician.... Kid Creole, who performed a great set with his Coconuts...

But the best thing ...... people watching, some people were so in-tune with their era it was frightening!
As seen outside the Soul Casino

Monday 9 August 2010

Vintage

I'm currently considering all things vintage as I plan my visit to Vintage Goodwood next weekend. This is one of my favourite vintage fabrics from my fabric collection, it came from The Cloth House.