Rusty Rockets

It's not that easy finding examples of a good old fashioned rust in decor, even though it's one of the best colors that works with velvet - always has been and always will be. I think though that it's gradually making a comeback and creeping into contemporary pieces. I thought it would be very Autumnal to feature this wonderful tone of russet and just to prove how topical it is, here are some rust velvet covered pumpkins! 

They're bloody gorgeous, innit? Especially in velvet, rust reminds me of the rich, warm tones used from Elizabethan times right up to the 1920's. Have a butchers at what I mean. Going way, waaay back, as an idea of how long it's been prized, the Pazryk Rug, 5th century BC, the oldest surviving carpet in the world  

       

Still got a few years tread left in it. In fashion, rust is unequaled in it's jewel like quality. Coat, fur and velvet,1920:

                             

 Liberty's, 1920 kimono

 D&G, 2007

Dress, 1930

All stunning. So what about the past, in decor? Some examples that you'd expect to see - the Dennis Severs house, museum in the East End of London

 And a retro couch used in a neo-vintage way. Lovely.

Who is doing what with it right now? Jacques Grange's showcase Parisian apartment:

Christian Lacroix's take for his Paris hotel:

Peter Marino's 5th Avenue design in New York:

Joana Vasconcelos's crochet bull on rust damask:

Michael Bechara in New York

Neo-Gothic skeleton chairs

 Jenny Brandt's delicious tufted Chesterfield at Dos Familias

and two fabulous new recreations of old luxury, Bohemian style. It's coming back, I say. Get some in. 

Jimmie Martin...Punk Mozarts

Usually I source pictures from far and wide on a theme, but this week I stumbled across the design duo of Jimmie Karlsson and Martin Nihlmar, collective known as Jimmie Martin. 

Based in Church Street, Kensington, London, since 2005 they have produced the most spectacular and cool furniture to be found anywhere. Three years ago they teamed with interior designer Sally Anne McCoy to move forward into residential and commercial design, but it's the furniture I want to celebrate here. You may have already seen their work, they were commissioned by Madonna to create the golden throne she used at her Superbowl performance and have worked with rock royalty globally, from Kylie Minogue to Liam Gallagher. Their work is a superb bland of punk, Rococo, retro and pop art.
I could rave on about each piece, but they very eloquently speak for themselves. Believe me, I seriously had to employ some restraint to only select a handful. Love these guys. Enjoy, and do seek them out further at www.jimmiemartin.com if you want to see more!

Balls Out Blue

It takes balls to commit all out to a color, particularly if it's the main, nay only one you are using. I'll always champion anyone brave enough to go for it because the result is always startling, stunning and stupendous. There's no greater design impact. To put it into some perspective, decors that bold are still classified in some circles as Avant Garde, and certainly 'radical' by most others. Possibly you can tell by now I'm not one of them. Bring it, I say. Rare is the person who can and does. 

Virginie Manivet, Paris:

Heatherly Design:

Blue Mod, 1960

BHDM Design...La Taylor in electric glory:

Love Is Speed:

Beppe Brancato

Fabrice Ausset

Elizabeth Mcgrath

Design Indulgences:

Atelier Rue Verte, Paris

..and a pair of blue, blue, blue wonders. 

Perry's Winkle

OK, so it's Periwinkle, but we quibble over terms. It's an extremely elusive color to pin down, with many making the mistake of outright lilac or blue, when it's an infinitesimal and perfectly balanced mix of both.
In any case, it's one of my favorites - ethereal and mysterious. In days of yore it was often called Delphite Blue because of the Delphinium flower but everyone from Lalique to Gaultier have cashed in on it at some point because it's just so darned appealing, if almost impossible to nail. In a perfect world, you can spot both purple and blue in it at the same time and often is pulled off only when...well, they look like this:
Cartier glass laid over butterfly wing with diamonds

Moonstone

Delphinium

Lace and fur

Boulder opal

Sea Anemone

Delphite milk glass juicer, 1938

Black opal ring of Edward Spencer, 1905

Fenton blue opalescent glass bowl

Chiffon Dior, 1950

So you can see both, yes? The blue must be present! However, the scales can tip slightly one way or the other and it scrapes by as qualifying...confused? Well, like so - 
Penthouse, Soho, NYC

Parisian Cafe

Vintage enamelware

Dom Bosco cathedral, Brasilia, Brazil

Custom truck

Villa Sommi Picenardi 17th century home in Northern Italy.

Understood precisely at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, India

Tipping towards lilac

Morocco, Kings of blue tones

Canopied bed

Wedding venue lighting, Greece...

...and the love venue granddaddy of all time...Taj Mahal. Gotta love Perry's Winkle.