Design

March 18, 2018 by Christine

Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art

Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art: This week I was very pleased to receive a copy of the beautiful new coffee table book ‘Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art’ This fabulous hardback new album chronicles 65 Years of ‘Made in Italy’ excellence- with my ongoing love affair with all things Italian, I couldn’t wait to sit down with a coffee and flick through the pages…

The Valentino brand was established in Naples, Italy back in 1952 and has long been synonymous with luxury shoes, accessories and clothing. This latest book documents the Valentino story from the 1900’s when Mario’s father, Vincenzo made handmade shoes, to the first ever small Valentino shop in the heart of Naples and the rise of the global Valentino brand we know today.

Mario Valentino was born in Naples in 1927 and followed in his father’s footsteps. His father Vincenzo was one of the most famous pre-war show makers, he made shoes for nobility and famous show-biz stars of the time including Josephine Baker!

The book offers an insight into the character of the ‘sensitive entrepreneur’ that is Mario Valentino noting his detached attitude towards the frenzy of fashion and paints the picture of a worldly, educated man with a passion for reading and artistic-culture and an ‘obsessive’ art collector.

My favorite parts of the book are the old photographs and illustrations, the book contains 200 colour illustrations and some precious documents from Valentino’s archive. The black and white photographs featured in the book offer a real glimpse into the key moments that shaped the Valentino brand.

From the 1950’s to the 1980’s Italy saw a real surge of design talent rising up from humble beginnings to take on the long-established fashion world. Mario Valentino was a key player in bringing Italian fashion to the World’s stage.

My favourite photograph in the whole book is that of Italy’s top designers taken in 1985, which really shows the stellar talent coming from Italy at that time. The photograph shows Laura Biagiotti, Mario Valentino, Gianni Versace, Krizia Paolo Fendi, Valentino Gianfranco Ferre, Mila Schon, Giorgio Armani, Taj Missoni, Franco Moschino and Luiciano Soprani all stood side-by-side looking cheerful. Now if that line up isn’t a reflection of how a small group of Italian designers shook the old-grade of established couturiers, I don’t know what is!

Against the backdrop of the key moments throughout fashion history this beautiful new hardback, glossy book ‘Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art’ captures the emergence of an ambitious and extraordinary fashion enterprise with an enlightened founder at its helm, a sensitive entrepreneur on a quest to for beauty and originality.

Stay fabulous

Christine

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July 10, 2017 by Christine

Simple home decor updates for 2017

Knowing how to update your home decor can be a tricky and costly business. It’s very easy to start a Pinterest board of ‘enviable interiors’ and come away with your mind reeling. There are however several simple updates you can try to inject a little pizzaz into your everyday, that don’t cost the Earth. Here are a few simple home decor updates for 2017…

The Kitchen:

Kitchens are the heart of any home with hours spent preparing, eating, and socialising with loved ones, as such it deserves a little TLC. First things first, brushed steel is out with bronze and copper making a comeback. The warmer metal colour makes the space cosier and allows you to go more functional with counter tops and appliances. No need intricately patterned cupboards or expensive surfaces. A few polished brass taps or spouts are all that’s needed to liven up a tired space.

If brass isn’t your style, wood is also an option. A new found appreciation for all that is natural and textural means wood with an interesting grain draw the eye. Coupled with plain or muted colours, wood pops and creates a chic space to cook, eat, and entertain. This look doesn’t have to cost the earth either with just a few wooden touches required. Be it cabinets, chairs, tables, or stools, a well-made wooden piece will always be appreciated.

The Bedroom:

The bedroom is a space where one can hide from the world. A space that should be a real sanctuary. As such it is a space that should reflect the character of the owner. There are a number of ways to do this and none of them needs to break the bank.

Green is the colour of 2017. From olive to forest, lime to sage, green paint, furnishings, textiles, and ornaments are very popular. A versatile colour, green can be used to subdue a room and make it more relaxing or pop with brighter variants. Try adding a green throw to chair, a few green candles for ambience, or paint one of your walls green to draw the eye. Replacing furniture can be costly however bed companies such as Bedstar, offer an economical option when updating your home.

Texture is another huge consideration for your sanctuary. The bedroom is the perfect place for a woolly throw, rich wooden furniture, velvet cushions, and other pieces are a great way to add depth to your space and fill it not with just visually appealing pieces, but texturally appealing too.

Passageways and Walkways:

One of 2017’s biggest hits has been bringing the outside, inside. Large windows, mirrors, and other reflective surfaces allow light to come and make the inside look much larger. Blurring the line between outside and inside is a great way to turn a neglected space, like a passageway from a wasted area into a connection between the two worlds.

All of these spaces can be revamped in a cost-effective way with little work. From accessories to furniture, a houseplant, hanging baskets or a splash of green on the walls- a little change can go a long way in updating a home.

Stay fabulous

Christine

Images via Pinterest– (Sponsored post)

December 10, 2014 by Christine

5 Fabulous Colour Schemes for Dark Bathrooms

The last place you want to complete the morning care and beauty regime in the cold AM is a dark and dingy bathroom. Whilst allowing extra natural light into the bathroom or expanding the dimensions of the room may be impossible, it is possible to add a little extra vibrancy and life with a clever colour and décor scheme. Here are 5 fabulous colour schemes for dark bathrooms:

Piet Mondrian

Dutch artist Piet Mondrian is best known for his ‘Composition’ range of paintings, grid-based works which separate primary colours (red, blue and yellow). His works have inspired high fashion designers such as Yves Saint Laurent in the 70 years since his death and have been used as a central design in homes and public buildings.

Apply the style to your bathroom using bright flashes of primary colours throughout all square flourishes and finishes. Primary colour towels and bathmats atop a white base of flooring and tiling (sparse primary-coloured tiles can also be incorporated).

Stark White

Toeing the line between creating a crisp white appearance and accidentally producing a clinical atmosphere in a bathroom can be quite difficult. Using stark white paint from Dulux can help create a clear, crisp base upon which to building without producing a ‘doctor’s waiting room’ appearance.

A simple pastel theme colour can be added on top of the stark white to create a consistency in the room and break up the tone which flows throughout the walls, floors and fittings. Opt for textured accessories and tiles to avoid the white looking to cold and flat.

Art Deco

Channel your inner Gatsby with an art deco style bathroom with simple but stylish flourishes. Building upon small, plain tiling, add flourishes of geometric shapes and patterns throughout the floor and walls in black.

Add 1920s-inspired posters in frames throughout the bathroom, depicting your favourite vintage movies and jazz performers or reflect the limited light around with a wall covered in vintage mirrors. Finish with vintage vase and accessories. If there is enough room, replace the standard fitted bath with one of these beautiful stand-alone baths from John Louis Bathrooms.

Soft Botany

Create a soft, natural style throughout the bathroom with subtle green-white painted walls, marbled grey tiling and simple plant life. Large tiles can create a simple yet attractive appearance through the room.

Plants can help revitalise a room, giving off oxygen. Inhabitat.com offers a list of seven plants which give off the highest levels of oxygen throughout the day and night, helping to purify the room – perfect skin preparation during the morning beautify regime.

Teal and Oak

A slightly darker design which helps to create a warm, cosy feel within the bathroom. Thick teal paint on all the walls can help cultivate a welcoming atmosphere. Oak flourishes including mirror frames and towel racks can continue this warming theme throughout the bathroom and add a sense of timeless sophistication. A high quality light above the mirror is necessary to add clarity to your reflection when checking you’re suitable to show your face at work. Underfloor heating can perfectly complement this style, adding physical a toasty warm feeling underfoot.

For more fabulous Home Inspiration be sure to follow my ‘Design for the Home’ Pinterest Board.

Christine

The Fabulous Times

(Images courtesy of: Piet Mondrian- Bright Shelving, Bright Tiles: Stark White- White Tiled Bathroom, Dove bathroom: Soft Botany- Green Tiled Bathroom, Plant filled bathroom: Art Deco- Mirror Wall, Art Deco Bathroom: Teal & Oak- Teal Wall, Oak bath)

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