WELCOME TO MINFORD
Matisse In The Studio
You may have noticed that there was a slight pause in Minford proceedings last week. I’d been working all hours on a big shoot and when we wrapped I basically just hit the wall.
I think it’s important to say so because in the era of social media perfection everything can look rosy when in fact that’s not always the case. After a week of walking in the park, going to art galleries, reading and doing very little except the school run I’m back to business all bushy tailed and ready to tell you about the AMAZING Matisse exhibition at the Royal Academy.
This was particularly special for me as the major focus of the exhibition is Matisse’s collection of objects. His Nice studio was full of trinkets from his travels to Africa and Thailand — inexpensive vases, pots, glassware, textiles and masks that feature again and again in his work. Seeing these objects in real life alongside Matisse’s finished work was incredibly inspiring.
As a stylist, it’s the artist’s own words that really resonate with me: ‘The object is an actor. A good actor can have a part in ten different plays; an object can play a role in ten different pictures’.
So in the spirit of the exhibition, I have rounded up a few bits and bobs that might become ‘actors in your home.’ 😉 Obviously I am now urgently needing my own hot chocolate pot. Race you…
French Vintage Hot Chocolate Pot and another one here.
THE Items to buy in the La Redoute sale
Ahhh, La Redoute. The home of washed linen sheets and kids metal storage trunks in colours aplenty. Also known for its seriously good discounts.
This weekend there’s 30 % off with the code 5833. Their frequent sales lure me every time and here I sit once more stashing things into the virtual basket (obviously a priority given that my car was towed the other day and the shower is currently leaking into the sitting room, hey-ho!). I am eyeing up bits of furniture that ordinarily would be a bit too expensive and I’m also quite taken by those marble hooks. If there’s anything that’s on your list, now’s the moment to shop.
If however, you’re overwhelmed by choice or on the fence, I’ve rounded up my favourite pieces to choose from.
Above: Set of 4 Sarubbo Stainless Steel Cutlery Set
Set of 2 Biface Designer Chairs
Black and White Stripes
Stylists can be a weird bunch sometimes, becoming fixated by a shape or a colour or a thing. Well, for a while now one of my ‘things’ has been black and white stripes. Certainly not everywhere. If you want to wallpaper your entire house in black and white candy stripes good for you but that’s not what I’m suggesting here. I’m simply saying that I am currently partial to the addition of a black and white striped item or object somewhere in the mix of your home.
Having been particularly inspired by an image of interior decorator Vincent Van Duysen’s living room rug, I’ve been pepping up my kitchen with a graphic striped plate and rather enjoying it too. A good strong graphic line in all the softness is what arty types would refer to as a disrupting the space. As in ‘ooh look at that bowl distrupting the space’.
So I’ve rounded up my favourite striped pieces including a brilliant reasonably priced fabric from good old John Lewis. Whip up a cushion and add it to the mix.
The beauty of a strong accessory is not needing to commit entirely to something you might easily change your mind on in a few years. There’s no risk of making an expensive decorating mistake. Personally I’m sticking with my black and white obsession but if it’s a passing fancy for you then none of this round up is going to break the bank.
The addition of a striped rug in this otherwise neutral interior by Vincent Van Duysen helps to add structure to the room.
John Lewis Ticking Furnishing Fabric
House Doctor Striped Laundry Bag
Holly’s House Striped Ceramic Dessert Plate
Bake Off
It’s back to work this week which means that I am doing a lot of shopping for clients and keeping my eyes peeled for amazing things for Minford readers along the way. And what do you know but good old M&S have done it again (after their total score with those amazing bed sheets). They seem to be on a bit of a roll at the moment.
I spotted this tin of alphabet cookie cutters. ‘Nice packaging’, I thought, ‘these have to come home with me’. Needless to say there were three very excited faces when I pulled them out of my shopping bag let me tell you.
Buy them for yourself for fun baking moments but I’m also thinking what a fantastic present they would make. Who doesn’t love a bit of biscuit making and as we are sadly heading to winter months particularly useful if you have bored children on a rainy day. Rain? England? Don’t be ridiculous.
Art For Children's Rooms
A big hello from me as I tentaively take steps towards coming out of a blissful near-month of holidaying *insert smug AND TANNED face here*. I am getting back in the swing of posting interior tips and inspiration and this week it’s all about what art to hang in your kiddies bedrooms.
Perhaps I am in a sentimental mood given that the summer is almost over and my youngest one starts school next week. It’s all flying by rather fast. If you’ve got little children then you’ll know that there’s a magical window between when they are first born and around about seven years old when you can dress and decorate their rooms with all the cute, squishy, stylish things you can imagine. After that it’s game over. There’s no way you can avoid laminated posters of whatever unicorn they’re obsessed with. So this post is dedicated to those sprucing nurseries or wanting to add a little extra to their spaces. Do it now ;).
Above: Kate Pugsley James and the Giant Peach Print
The Great Outdoors Alphabet Chart
Lisa Jones Brogue Risograph Print
Kelsey Oseid Creatures of the Infraorder Cetacea
