Superfront

Dress up your IKEA units with an awesome choice of door fronts, handles, legs, tops and sides from brand new Swedish design company Superfront. The pieces are made to fit Pax, Besta and Faktum units adding a little extra something to make them look a little less 'IKEA'. The prices aren't really reflective of an IKEA budget but still...I'm loving the brass 'circus' handles and the 'tribute' door fronts.

via @moregeous

Lyon & Turnbull Interiors Auction

Tomorrow (Saturday 6th April 2013), Edinburgh auctioneers, Lyon & Turnbull are holding their second of a new regular sale entitled 'Interiors'. As the name suggests, the sale will include a variety of different high quality objects, including art and furniture, from all different eras, at 'affordable prices'.
It's definitely worth a visit, if only to experience the excitement of an auction but especially if you're looking for a statement piece. There are some real gems.
I've picked out my favourites from the catalogue which, I've just realised, appear to be solely representative of my mid century attraction at present. Don't be misled...there are objects for all tastes!

The full catalogue is available to view online here.

Bathroom Envy III

White herringbone tiles with random pops of colour? Yes, please. If you like this bathroom you have to check out the rest of the London town house designed by Studio Too Good. It's actually too good.

photography by Bill Batten

Varpunen DIYs

We all know that Suki of Varpunen produces some awesome storage solutions but if you follow her blog you'll be able to see some imaginative (and beautifully photographed) DIY projects (as well as other inspiration). You may even be able to try them yourselves if you can decipher the Finnish translation from google translate!
I suffer from a serious case of 'why didn't I think of that?!' when it comes to all the DIY projects I see on blogs and Pinterest. I often think of documenting some projects to feature on Yeah...ok...bye but at the moment, finding the time to write posts is difficult enough! I'd love to hear of any DIY projects you've undertaken.

 all photography by Varpunen

Fort Standard

Two guys...who make nice stuff...with their hands (and machines). Hot.

balancing blocks / cage necklace / trivets / standard magnets 

Freshly Finished

At the risk of becoming the official fan site for Retrouvius, I had to share this freshly finished, five-storey refurbishment in Primrose Hill with you. I've shared work of theirs before, here, here and here (yes, I know...it's a lot).
The reuse of timber is thoroughly imaginative and the tile details are just perfect. Don't even get me started on that kitchen...

source

Family Home, Mantua

Could you guess that this beautiful home belonged to a couple of Italian architects?

via Milk

Life Story

Way back in December I was invited along to the opening of Life Story, a new concept lifestyle store situated where Broughton Street meets London Street, in Edinburgh. The interior is brilliant (worth a visit alone) and the stock is both covetable and surprisingly affordable...seriously, they should hand out baskets at the door. I want everything.
Fee and Adam Storey have drawn on their successful design experience in the world of fashion and commercial interiors and created a store with a difference. The couple believe that all too often the designers' tale is lost amidst the retailers' branding so have given the carefully selected objects a stage on which to tell their story.

Broughton Street is fast becoming my favourite street to shop in!

Dare Studios

I'm guilty of defaulting to Scandinavian or US sources for inspiration and key interior features or unusual furniture pieces and accessories, all too often. As a keen supporter of local and UK designers, I'm vowing to discover and share lots of home grown talent this year.
Take a look at this beautiful hand made furniture from Dare Studios based in Brighton. With a nod to mid century modern design and a firm grasp on current trends, Dare have produced some beautifully crafted, statement pieces. The wire based tables are also available in brass and copper and I've fallen for this marble topped, steel framed, 'strand' side table.

If you are, or know of any great UK designers/makers whose work you think I'd like, please get in touch via the 'about me' page, facebook or twitter. I'd love to hear from you...and if I love your work I'll share it here...

Malmo Apartment

This is the home of Nina Bergsten, head of sales for Swedish fashion label Acne. I've been meaning to share it with you since I saw it in Elle Decoration UK's December 2012 issue and then I discovered it had been published in the January 2012 issue of Residence via Smart Design, so it may look familiar to you (but it didn't to me).
That sofa (by Acne) is perfect...as is everything else. I'm loving the touches of gold and sporadic marble and smoked glass table tops, bringing the cavernous, ornate spaces in that nineteenth century building bang up to date with a glamour injection. So good.

source

Inside Down Under

I love this interior by Australia based, Scandinavian designer, Anna Carin. It's a good one to add to the inspiration bank for that terraced house renovation project I'll find one day. There are some great tips here for getting the most out of a narrow space. The opening at eye level between the entrance hall and the dining space borrows light and extends the view across the limited width of the house. The kitchen is my favourite space; one elevation is made up of horizontal lines creating an illusion of a longer space. The other, shorter, elevation has tall, narrow units to contrast and maximise storage space. All in all, a very clever and beautiful space.

Images from Anna Carin via Yellowtrace's pinterest board.

Framed

I know...it's already the 7th January. It took me a while to get back in the swing of things after enjoying lots of family time. I hope everyone has detoxed, recovered, purged the Christmas tat and already broken all resolutions ready for another fun filled year ahead?!
To take us all into the new year I want to share some predictions of interior trends with you over the next few posts; Something I was asked to write about recently for a local property paper, soon to be published.
I think we'll be seeing lots of beautiful metal framed pieces, powder coated in black or white, or bare naked brass, copper or steel, like these incredible lights by Iacoli & McAllister. I love the simplicity of the single pendant and the drama of the cluster but the two piece is my absolute favourite.

I've seen tables, lighting and and  accessories already and still haven't seen a single metal framed item I didn't like! I have my eye on a white powder coated frame coffee table from Catalog pictured in a previous post (more to come on that very soon). My letter to santa must have gone awray because it wasn't in my stocking on the 25th...

Lindsey Adelman

Incredible lighting by Lindsey Adelman. If I was ever to describe lighting as sexy, this would be it. Sexy.

source 

Three's a Crowd Pleaser /// Cork

Waterproof, durable, versatile and most importantly, sustainable; cork is just all round awesome. Stop thinking about cork in the 70s...It's had a makeover and it's going to save our planet*. Cork comes from the bark of cork oak trees, native to the Mediterranean area. It's extracted every 9 years giving the tree enough time to develop the superficial layers of bark, so the tree is never cut down and the surface is not damaged. These trees can live for hundreds of years.
There are some beautiful accessories and kid's toys made of cork, as well as this great tableware (also available in white and lime green). Take a browse here for more goodies.
From a practical point of view, if you're looking for a stool for your bathroom or other wet areas, you can't go wrong with one of these, by Jasper Morrison for Vitra. While we're at it check out this clutch by Monki, my new favourite clothing label.
Here are my favourite suggestions for an earth friendly holiday season.

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*not single-handedly but it will help.