SALE NOW ON!
25% off the Blue lake designs, including cushions, lampshades, wall hooks, wooden knobs, and purses. Enter the code {BLUELAKE} at the check out stage to benefit from the discount.
 Sale ends on 31 August 2016. Shop online at chocolate creative.

Photos by Piero Pierini

The Narrow House by FORM studio

The Narrow house is a beautiful renovation project by FORMstudio. The architects have converted a terrace building dating back to the late 19th century into a light calm oasis in the middle of the city.

London is getting extremely crowded, and the housing situation is becoming a very difficult problem to solve. Although I am not particularly in favour of converting old office/commercial properties into residential use, somehow we have to find a balance in this ever growing capital. Well, if you have the budget, projects like this are worth it. The conservation and renovation of an existing building is going to be always better than building a new one from scratch, specially in a city with such an amazing architectural heritage.

The space calls for simplicity over luxury, natural materials, neutral colours, unique art, handmade furniture and home wares…A good example would be the Folklore shop look, see below.

Wall hooks from my shop online 

Project by FORM studio | Photos by Bruce Hemming

THE NEW CRAFTSMEN SHOP IN MAYFAIR, LONDON

A few weeks ago I finally made to The New Craftsmen shop, a place I have been meaning to visit for a long time. What a beautiful and well curated space this is, dedicated to showcase high quality craft from British makers. They represent a network of makers, showing their work, skills and processes. I think it is very refreshing to see a place/gallery such as this, where people can appreciate and buy handmade sustainable products.

As a designer/maker myself I am tired of constantly being presented by high street brands with version/copies of our products being mass produced to target a much wider audience. I am not naive to think that everybody, (including myself) have the spare budget to purchase these gorgeous but rather expensive products; but I wish we all made a more conscious decision when purchasing things. The realisation that less is better, and that buying handmade products by independent designer/makers is more sustainable in a long term. I rather save and save to get a piece that I really love, and I know I will treasure for ever, than buying cheaper similar options.

The New Craftsmen shop is a gorgeous shop, well worth a visit. A very inspiring space, surely you will fall in love with many of the things on display. Here are some of my favorites pieces.

(Photos by thenewcraftsmen)

DECORATING A BEACH HUT

SUN is out, and all I can think of is spending some time by the beach, either here in England or back home in Gran Canaria. I fancy the idea of having a beach hut, somewhere not far from London, with an easy commute, of course this is not going to happen any time soon, but since I am free to dream, I have put together some mood boards for my future beach hut.

Paper napkins from papermash | Chopping board from John Lewis | towels by Lindsey Lang for John Lewis | wooden colourful knobs by chocolate creative available at my shop online. 

I find the colourful beach huts of the English coastline very charming, (we don't have them in Canary islands), they are like a miniature house, with very little space, so you have to be very creative to create a cosy and comfortable mini home. I like the idea of translating the outside colours into the indoors theme, using the faded pastels or sometimes bright reds, blues and yellows as the colour palette to decorate the inside space. In my beach hut, I would part away from the most obvious coastal look, and I will try some bold, pretty and colourful homewares, I will find practical solutions, like modern plastic chairs for the outdoor, plenty of wall hooks for hanging towels, kitchen-ware, clothes, etc…cosy blankets, cushions, and small and functional furniture, with plenty of storage. Do you own a beach hut? if so, where about?

Picture frame from Decorator's notebook | Wall wooden hooks from my shop online  

yellow and blue cushion from Kate Clarke London, 

Rocky beach cushion and wall hooks by chocolate creative | Pink dyed table cloth by Hazel Stark  Black and white throw from The Future Kept | 4 leggs Pink Vase from Room39
Outdoors white chair from Atlantic Shopping | Wood tray by Roddy & Ginger 

Hand dyed linens by Hazel Stark 

Photos by me 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SOFA AND STYLE

If I had more than 1 house, I will decorate them quite differently, I will keep some elements the same, but I will try different pieces and styles. I treat my house as a playground for my interior ideas, testing and trying furniture, colours, etc...every time my friends come around, they spend a good few minutes wondering what I have changed since they last were here. I move furniture around, paint the walls, add new cushions or vintage pieces, etc... Las week, I was invited to a press event organsied by Houzz and hosted at sofa.com HQ in Chelsea. I always laugh (I rather laugh than cry) at the fact that depending on where you are in London, views on life, people's behaviours/manners, income, styles, etc...can vary so much from place to place, people who knows London well will know what I am talking about. Get the train form Peckham to Chelsea, (a 30m ride) and you will see what I mean, needless to say I am a Peckham girl!!

For me, there are a few essentials pieces in a house, a good big comfy bed, a decent good sofa, and a big steady dining table. The aim now is to achieve a decent budget to go on the hunt for these perfect pieces. One of my favourite shops to look for a sofa is sofa.com, I like their quality, style and variety of designs and fabrics to choose from, I particularly like their latest collaboration with independent brand Thornback and Peel, the end result is quirky and fun. I would choose a more classic style for my house in London, and a more modern modular one for the house in Gran Canaria, (remember this is me day dreaming! I am allow, yeah!) I leave you with plenty of inspiration, choose from a neutral grey in linen, or a more pattern based design, there are so many to choose from!

Thornback and Peel fabrics

In love with this cosy bedroom and bed

Photos by sofa.com

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT DINING TABLE

Choices and more choices…I have started looking for a new dining table, as I am rearranging things at home, and I am going a bit crazy as I can't make a decision on which style to go for. The piece would be decided by budget, (quite reduced, almost none existing right now), and yes I know, all the ones I like are quite above my initial budget, but I rather wait, save and get what I really want. 

I am in two minds, I like the vintage look, I LOVE second hand pieces, wood that shows the past of time, etc…but as my mother alway says, "Marga, you got too many old things in your house"…I hope she is not referring to me!! and at the same time I would like to start getting more new contemporary pieces and mix them with my old ones. The search for that perfect table has started and I am even more confused, so many gorgeous pieces, by amazing brands, and makers. 

I don't spend much on clothes, but I do buy things for my home, I love furniture, specially chairs, lamps, and home-wares in general, so I never feel guilty when buying for the house. 

What is your favourite style? suggestions and ideas are welcome!

Muuto / Nest

ALDEN / Nest

Ercol / Nest

GALVIN BROTHERS

JENSON / MADE

Another Country

EBBE GEHL / John Lewis

Whitstable / HEAL'S

Links to all the vintage style photos and for more inspiration, see my pinterest board.  

NEW WOODEN SQUARE AND RECTANGULAR HOOKS AND KNOBS

Hello everybody, I hope you are all somehow getting back to work ok. I find January to be the hardest month of the year, specially after being in Gran Canaria for the past 3 weeks, but since my choice continues to be 'London', I should not complain much, but get on with work. Gassy and I are alway thinking of new products to add to the range he makes/I design, good team we make!! The NEW square/rectangular hooks and knobs are now available at my shop. They are perfect for mixing colours and shapes, use them to display your kitchenware, tea towels or vintage pots in a creative way. They are handmade by Gassy and his brother in their small studio back in Gran Canaria. We work alongside architects and interior designers, creating bespoke solutions to meet their commercial and residential project’s specifications, so if you have a request about a bespoke colours and size, please get in touch.

See the colour chart below, with all the colours we have in stock. Sometimes they sell very fast, but we make stock as we go. For sizes and materials information, please visit the shop. 

The colourful hooks provide a practical stylish storage solution for your clothes, hats, scarfs and bags. Be creative, they are perfect for adding some extra storage, specially in small places.

Photos by Piero Pierini