There were so many amazing new introductions at DecoOff that it is hard to know where to begin! One of the most whimsical and charming collections was “Ardmore” by Cole & Son based on Ardmore Ceramic Art celebrating African traditions and culture. Cole & Son describes the collection:
“Drawing inspiration from Ardmore’s colorful and quirky ceramics the collection explores Africa’s exotic flora and majestic fauna: from rare birds to big cats, elephants, rhinos and mischievous monkeys; as well as the beautiful patterns of Zulu beadwork and woven basket ware.Color palettes are drawn from the natural landscape: from the chalky, ochred desert plains and sun-bleached shimmering outcrops to the vibrant fresh greens of water-kissed rain forests and exotic coloring’s of native flora and fauna. The result, a strikingly sophisticated collection of wallpapers that includes soft and subtle explorations of the majestic landscape as well as colorful creations capturing the vibrancy of traditional African culture.”
Cole & Son always does an incredible job teaching the designer about the inspiration behind each of their creations. Every paper tells a story. In addition to their fabulous story telling skills, they also do a fabulous job showcasing their papers in a variety of interiors from traditional to contemporary and the varied methods in which their papers can be applied.
One of the most highly anticipated launches at High Point Furniture Market was the Florence Broadhurst Collection for Selamat Designs. Best known for her whirlwind personality and extraordinary creativity, Florence was constantly reinventing herself. She spent the roaring 20s singing her way throughout the Far East, served as headmistress in a Shanghai finishing school, became “Madame Pellier,” French couturier to London’s elite during the 1930s, and moved back to her homeland of Australia as an aristocrat, buisnesswoman, society maven and painter.
At the age of 60, she launched her bespoke internationally renowned wallpaper business. Her archive containing over 300 designs consists of stylized flowers, textured graphics, dramatic abstracts, overscaled patterns and metallic inks. Her experimentation with layering pattern and color helped her designs to remain relevant through the years. Her biography says that “Florence Boradhurst is to Austrailia what Missioni is to Italy, Marremeko is to Scandanavia, and Liberty is to London.”
FROM THE ARCHIVES
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The “Mayfair Crossing” collection reflects Florence’s love of nature reinterpreted with a lively color combination.
The palette of “Shanghai Nights” is saturated with jade teals, greys, and metallics. The Art Deco influences are seen in the mirrored finishes, exotic birds and fretwork.
The “Sydney Mod” collection is inspired by the Brutalist and Cubist movements with 1970s styling. Black, white and gold enhamce the sculptural and graphic shapes.
For more design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter. Thanks for reading and please come back again!
I can not think of another designer more glamorous and fun loving than Mary McDonald. Anyone who has lived vicariously through her Instagram feed knows she always travels in style (with great company!) and absorbs the local culture wherever she goes. I love seeing her inspiration manifest itself into her latest collection for Schumacher. Every detail reflects her recent adventures to Bora Bora, Puka Diamond and Moorea. The shapes and colors of the South Pacific blended with Mary’s love of fashion make each fabric, trimming and wallpaper extremely unique. The scale and pattern placement of the fabrics allow for maximum versaility to create banding and borders with just the fabrics alone. The exquisite details such as fringe, beading and embroidery are the perfect finishing touches for her collection as well as her wardrobe for the photo shoot below…
Schumacher describes the collection as being “inspired by the South Pacific, the cotton-linen prints and embellished fabrics and tapes include primitivist geometrics and a breezy floral. The colorways are effortless—Lava, Sea Oyster, and Marine pair beige and sandy tones with hues of black, gray, and indigo. McDonald tapped into her background to incorporate distinct dressmaker details. Fringes, embroidery, and beading come together to create a couture-worthy collection that’s at once casual and sophisticated—exuberant and fabulously easy.”
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter….Thanks for reading and please visit again!
Stepping into the mad, mad, madcap world of John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon is like falling down the rabbit hole into a technicolor-ed design fantasy. Painted butterflies, Japanese paper lanterns and pachyderms donning top hats delightfully coexist with a treasure trove of vintage finds in their charming High Point design laboratory. Greeted by a glittery disco ball and my favorite dance tunes, I felt instantly at home as I entered their curated cabinet of curiosities. This creative dynamic duo only arrived in High Point eight short months ago, yet they have already coerced the community of the “Furniture Capital of the World” to dream big.
After being in New York for so many years, we were ready for a change. We had been coming to High Point Market for almost 20 years and had gotten to know so many wonderful and welcoming folks in the High Point community. The size, the opportunities, and the untapped potential felt just right. Plus, the design talent is off the charts: We can make and tweak any piece of furniture in ways that we couldn’t do anywhere else in the US.
The more we dig beyond the surface of High Point, the more pleasant surprises we discover…. From tucked-away restaurants to amazing new friends to incredible design resources.
The talent pool that is right here in our backyard. The artisans, craftsmen, and furniture makers are all the best in country. We can have anything in our imagination fabricated right here. And we have a BIG imagination.
The city needs to play off of the attention market brings to our community make it a year-round destination for the design industry. We need a design center here that speaks to the trade and to the public. Plus, we need a marketing plan and brand strategy.
We work with amazing people and rarely sit still (AUTHOR’S NOTE: ..AND an unlimited supply of boundless energy and creative ideas)
We grew up in the magazine industry working independently for several publications. We were styling photo shoots and working on our own houses and then it turned into working for friends who liked our taste.
We consider ourselves storytellers and are always asking who and why when designing a space. We travel constantly and are always observing. We like to stay true to the history of a place, but we are all also about pushing the boundaries. Vintage movies and design books are another vital source of inspiration. We think of ourselves as “Paul Smith meets Cath Kidston with a spirited dash of Auntie Mame and Bunny Mellon.” We are all about finding life’s special moments and figuring out how to make them more spectacular.
A publicist friend asked us to design her Southampton house that ended up being an 8-page spread in O at Home, the offshoot of the Oprah magazine.
We are fortunate enough to be working on our own House of Bedlam renovation in High Point, a Manhattan apartment, a London flat, and a home in Florida.
We think of Madcap Cottage as a lifestyle brand that we want to share with the world. Of course, we would love to be big in Japan.
For our spark and energy and not taking ourselves or design too seriously. We want clients to walk away thinking “wasn’t that fun?”—whether that was working on a design project or coming into our shop or hearing us do a presentation at a conference.
Be passionate about everything you do, be interested, and be engaging.
Robert Kime, Mario Buatta, Oliver Messel, Dorothy Draper, Sister Parish, Nancy Lancaster, and John Fowler.
We would love to reinvent a chain hotel to make the whole experience more enjoyable, memorable, and special. From the overall design to the check-in experience to the amenities. A hotel should have a good storyline.
India… the color and light are mesmerizing. Every moment is an adventure and you never know where the day will take you or what will happen next… you may stumble upon the most glorious architecture with unexpected color combinations or a monkey could steal your breakfast …you just never know
John-Auctions
Jason Oliver- L.L. Bean Boat & Tote bags… I am obsessed with a great tote bag!
Watching old movies like “My Man Godfrey” or “Auntie Mame” with a glass of wine in our Madcap Cottage for HSN-enveloped bed surrounded our dogs, Jasper, Weenie, and Amy Petunia.
“Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (“It brings out our competitive side!”) or Carmen Miranda’s “The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat” from the film “The Gang’s All Here.”
We have a revolving tablescape on our cocktail table of 1930s-era miniature British lead garden figures that includes plants and gardens. Our “garden” is always evolving based on what we find upon our travels.
John-Fowler Pink
Jason Oliver- Eau de Nil
John-Wallpaper
Jason Oliver-A good cabana stripe always transports me to Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Capri, or any other Slim Aarons-ish setting.
Free and fabulous! Sip wine, learn about the wonders of wallpaper, and shop our Valentine’s Day wares. Gifts galore… Join the fun!
To register, please click here.
In conjunction with the 2015 Design Bloggers Conference, ADAC invites you to a series of complimentary educational programming. Designed to inspire and develop your brand in the world of digital media while you gain practical advice from interior designers, bloggers, media innovators and magazine editors.
Hear from John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon of Madcap Cottage on how two kids from Iowa and Florida followed a circuitous path—from magazines to television and with a few stop-offs along the way (temping!, cooking school!)—and emerged as interior designers with a line of products and a star turn on HSN. And how they got there. From building a brand to the role of social media and the power of the bespoke and unique in that process, the Madcap Cottage gents will discuss their fun, color-filled, and whimsical journey.
To register, please click here.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter….Thanks for reading and please visit again!