Monthly Archives: August 2011

treasure hunting

by Megan Posted on August 31, 2011

Camden Passage in Islington is one of my happy places.  Here’s why:

This is my favourite stall – it’s where weird and wonderful get married.  Luckily I managed a shot before the stall keeper told me no photos!  I want that body sculpture on the right (so Kelly Wearstler).  And the fab portrait with the skeleton in the background.  I mean, don’t you?

Some puffers (daddy, mommy, big sister and baby), coral and shells.  Sure.

A lobster plate and nuclear green cake stand.  This season’s must-haves.

Tea anyone?

My favourite chinoiserie place, C. Tapsell Antique Oriental Works of Art (plug for letting me take loads of photos and volunteering to value our Chinoiserie goodies).  Do those red vases look familiar?

Some foos going au naturel.

This foo was totally giving me puppy eyes… “take me home with you” he cried.

Some crackleware and ginger jars!  So hot right now.

All photos copyright of The Colonies.

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GREEN!

by Jessica Posted on August 30, 2011

Room design by Elaine Griffin, image from ElleDecor

Room design by Steven Gambrel, image from ElleDecor

Room design by Sheila Bridges, image from SheilaBridges.com.  i NEED that bedding.

Room design by Miles Redd, image from MilesRedd.com

Room design by Steven Sclaroff, image from here.

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ebay treasures i’ve got my eye on.

by Jessica Posted on August 27, 2011

Driftwood table.

Hurricane lamps, in honour of Irene.

Plaster bust…isn’t she lovely?

French art deco armchairs.

Turquoise blue gourd vase.

Pair of boudoir lamps.  If you look closely you’ll see she is balancing a peacock on her foot!

Bamboo birdcage.

To see some of the treasures we have unearthed, visit our shop!

Happy shopping!

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Everyday Inspiration

by Jessica Posted on August 21, 2011

Another pleasant interior from the London Evening Standard and a few items to make it your own!

19th century bamboo chair from Lassco:

ikat pillow from Etsy:

Antique writing desk from eBay:

Trellis lampshade from Etsy:

Tortoise shell teapot from The Colonies:

Black and white sketch, photography and silk chinoiserie panel from Etsy:

 

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something to cry about this weekend

by Megan Posted on August 19, 2011

I’ve just discovered Talisman.

It’s not fair.

gorgeous swivel tub chairs – would fit perfectly into my own design scheme

no one, i mean NO ONE, hates a plush blue velvet sofa. this one is utterly divine

some antlers? always great.  bronze antlers as a table base? yes, paaalease

wouldn’t you be cute under my bum?

i would give both arms for a milo baughman armchair – isn’t it ironic? dontcha think?

hand-painted Chagall sofa? sure.

sigh…

 

Why is this such a sad post?  Because. There are no prices on this website.  And a wise man once told me, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it”.

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art cluster

by Megan Posted on August 18, 2011

I’ve been thinking a lot about art clusters lately…

The works here are not to scale, this was more of an exercise to see how all my favourite Etsy pieces look together.  The background colour is Farrow & Ball Down Pipe ;)

Top row:  1, 2, 3, 4

Middle row: 1, 2, 3, 4

Bottom row: 1, 2, 3, 4

Jessica and I are available to help with art selection and arrangements.

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I see a white room and I want to paint it black

by Megan Posted on August 17, 2011

Hello friends. Today we are discussing the colour black.  For my bedroom walls.  I’m sitting on the fence as to whether to go all the way with this idea.

I am no stranger to dark walls.  My study is F&B Hague Blue.  My kitchen diner is F&B Down Pipe.  But black? I’m scared.  But very very tempted.

Check it out y’all.  My two paint choices are F&B’s Off-Black and Pitch Black.

And here is my inspiration board.

Some necessaries should I go black are beautifully aged wood side tables, oodles of frames and piles of white candles (got to play up the goth factor).  Oh, and a scandi minimalist grey headboard (see the picture in the top left corner).  Some antlers thrown hither and thither wouldn’t hurt.  Nor would sheep skins where one steps out of bed.

P.S. Raise your hand if you love the cream and black stripe curtains in the bottom left corner of my inspiration board!?  I do!

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seeing spots

by Megan Posted on August 11, 2011

I am loving the Cruella de Vil look right now –  which is to say dalmatian spots! *

sofas and cushions from Furbish Studio (a fab American shop with which we probably have an unhealthy obsession)

dalmatian curtains from Furbish owner’s home (posted in her blog, isuwannee)

Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa linen fabric (I neeeeed)

my new Topshop loafers (the only shop in the entire UK that does this print acceptably — nevertheless they spell dalmatian wrong)

 

* No animals were harmed in the creation of this post.

 

Photos: furbishstudio.com, isuwannee.com, leejofa.com, topshop.com

 

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ceiling neglect

by Jessica Posted on August 7, 2011

ceilings need love too, people.  don’t forget to give yours a hug.  when researching reproductions of historical wall papers, I came across Carter & Company‘s line of ceiling papers.  they range from 1830-1940.  that then got me thinking about what else you could do to your ceiling.  here are a few of my favourite papers from Carter & Company:

“jacobs-uberagua celestial ceiling” paper, from Carter & Company

“outline floral ceiling” paper, from Carter & Company

“ravel ceiling” paper, paper, from Carter & Company

And here are a few more ideas for your ceiling:

i really love this room.  make a smallish room look bigger by creating an eye-level focal point and continuing your wall colour through to the ceiling.  designed by Leslie Klotz, image from House Beautiful.

here the focal point is the ceiling itself and uses an all together different colour to the walls.  designed by John Willey, image from House Beautiful.

orange high gloss ceiling.  blows.  my.  mind.  i am dying to do this to a room.  major, Wow, factor.  designed by Jeff Bilhuber, image from Elle Decor.

plaster work on the ceiling?  lucky you.  highlight it with your wall colour, or try a different tone to accentuate it even more.  again, draws the eye up and shows off the height of the room.  also, Hello, yellow velvet tufted ottoman.  aren’t you pretty?  designed by William Sawaya, image from Elle Decor.

Happy Ceiling-ing!

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this chair is pleasantly surprising.

by Jessica Posted on August 4, 2011

if you haven’t checked out Made.com yet, do so.  while i don’t always like what they produce, sometimes i am pleasantly surprised, and their prices are their differentiating point – they’re really quite reasonable.

i like the shape of this “Leonard” chair, the materials – chrome and leather (though not too keen on the colour – and the look of it makes me want to sit in it which i think is a good sign.  it’s only £249.  a bahhhh-gain, as they say in New York.

photo from Made.com

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