Café Design

A thing of the past for many, scrapbooking in the old-fashioned way is becoming a lost art. Magazine cutouts have been replaced with digital images, which Pinterest makes incredibly easy to pin and store away for future reference. As convenient as that may be, the world’s largest digital scrapbook leaves something out, at least for the non-millennial brain that is so used to paperbacks and hardcopies, and wants to touch, feel, and collect “real” paper, “real” magazines and “real” books. (Yes, I’m a dinosaur 🙂 ) As much as I love pinning away (and I really, really do!) I can’t help thinking that there’s also a sense of impermanence, that “out of sight, out of mind” feeling with Pinterest. 

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Good morning, dear friends! Today I thought we’d have a look at a great design book that I’ve had now for several years and that I’ve found immensely practical in learning and understanding the quintessential English Country House Style. The book is called Colefax and Fowler – Inspirational Interiors, by Roger Banks-Pye. If you’re interested in interior design and classic English interiors (and have some time to spare), looking at old design books can be a wonderful way to educate your eye and learn valuable insights from someone else’s experience. Yes, some of these rooms may seem dated in terms of color scheme and amount of accessories, but looking deeper we notice the basic tenants of great design (which will never change) – comfortable and functional furniture layouts, atmospheric lighting plans, timeless patterns and accessories. We also get to see and appreciate original ideas implemented with the precision and confidence of someone who knows their craft well. And that’s priceless I think.

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Suzanis have been used a lot in Western decoration during the last decade or so but there is more to these textiles than meets the eye. I absolutely adore their vibrant colors and detailed craftsmanship, and how they can instantly awaken a space. Used as throws or pillow covers, these embroideries add something special to a room and I thought we can take a closer look at how & why suzanis were made.  

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A book I return to often, not just for the pictures, but for the character and spirit of its writer, Folly de Grandeur – Romance and Revival in the English Country House is a joy to read, learn from and be inspired by. Written about a historic home called The Hunting Lodge that Haslam had leased from the National Trust for over two decades, and that was prior in the care of legendary English decorator John Fowler, the book offers an intimate portrait of a house and its surrounding gardens brimming with history and charm. This is a story anglophiles will absolutely love. 

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Reading designer Markham Roberts’ piece on Thank-You notes and how they helped launch his successful interior design career, in the current issue of Veranda magazine, I was reminded of just how much I enjoy his two books, Decorating the Way I See It and Notes on Decorating. I already did a post on his second book, but it occurred to me that I have yet to share with you his first. Although I may be terribly late to this party, some books, just like wine, only get better with time. Markham Roberts’ first book, Decorating the Way I See It was published by Vendome Press in 2014 and remains a fabulous reference I reach for often. Not only are the rooms a treat, but the topics covered are great education to anyone interested in decorating.