Tresor-Chic

All Done & Dusted

2010-07-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

Bedroom with Maps ...

Northern Wei Dynasty Tomb figures in a Regency Dome, keeping an eye on the flat and the Guests in the Living Room!

My Steal purchase from Brighton - 1970s Pineapple Lamp.
A complete re-hanging of the pictures...

Vintage Movie Posters in the Kitchen... something to inspire the food!
The Kitchen - Carara Marble and Butle Sink.. Grey Walls courtesy of Farrow and Ball..
Open shelves and glassware.. Yes it needs editing. I know!

Below, 1940s Italian Console Table from the Decorative Fair in Battersea, with Deco Vases and Statues make a discreet welcome in the hallway.

1950/60s Murano Chandelier, courtesy of a cute shop in Rue Haute, Bruxelles.

After Hell of a lot of Dust and not a few tears but worth it (Tears - due to builders smashing some irreplaceable antiques)..

3/4 of the way

2010-06-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

Mid-Way

2010-05-17T15:35:00.001-07:00

Right now it certain looks a lot worse than these pictures...

Before & in-between

2010-04-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

There was a reason for the silence... Spring is in the air and its time to change the look of the flat! This will all be gone.. paintings to be taken down. Colour samples already on walls..

All change in the Living Room, Kitchen and Hallway.. Less Cluter, More of a Grown up sexy vibe. Lets see.

Funky Buddha

2010-03-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Kelly Hoppen meets Translucent Buddhas!

Murano Chandelier

2010-03-08T15:47:00.001-08:00

A recent purchase from Brussels. To be installed in the re-modelled hallway!

Shop Fronts..

2010-02-21T14:44:00.001-08:00

I hate to admit this.. but I quite admired this shop front .. Can you work it out? Its floor to ceiling with old Singer sowing machines! Quite eye catching.. small problem is that this All Saints Store has ripped out the heart of Portbello Road and plonked itself there... gone are all the cool antique stores, the chance to find that rare treasure... the chance to browse and while few hours. Oh well there is a protest group on Facebook - DO SIGN UP and stop the rest of the street being taken over by chains!

Doors..

2010-02-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

When walking in Shoreditch, London, I noticed this the Beautiful door with intricate iron work.. I would like to have this painted in Gun Metal grey and live behind it!

Old Chinese Trunks

2010-01-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

Love how this old antique trunk has been adapted and used as a chic coffee table.

Minimalist Christmas Tree

2009-12-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

Not really a tree BUT still my attempt at Christmas. It was the centre piece of a Xmas drinks party, complete with Polaroids .. pegged to the branches as the evening progressed.

Prints in Putney

2009-11-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

This Knitwear designer has a wonderful collection of Art in her hallway. I like the way they are displayed in a row, evenly spaced out with the downlighters bringing out these prints. The Oriental prints are 18th Century Japanese and the ladies are Victorian. Something to make the guest pause, to entertain and to amuse, just as they arrive into the Flat.

Chinese Stick Men

2009-11-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

Originally, they would have been buried with the dead and with replica clothes... over time these would have rotted away.. along with their wooden arms. Note that they are anatomically correct! Still they are a striking presence in this Chelsea Bathroom.

More guardian figures.. and quite fierce.

A Sunday Night in the Bathroom

2009-11-08T14:45:00.001-08:00

It started with this recent purchase... I found it in Bikaner in Rajasthan - its an old Haveli Window, painted with Italianate Castle.. Just had to buy it and lug it back London. At about 8.30 pm, the hammer and nails came out.. Sorry neighbours (I live in a flat). Fixed. But that meant moving some of the others around...

Always loved boats and the water.

The complete picture, after a frentic 45 minutes of re-arranging.

Also mean I could hang this little beauty that I picked up years ago when Mr Jones and I went for a walk between Rapallo and Santa Magherita Ligure (Ligurian Coast, Italy). I love the light blue frame.

These guys I could not resist - found them yesterday on Portabello Road. Possibly 19th Century and European despite the Indian outfits. Still they add some zest to the bathroom.

Vintage Bags & Clothes

2009-11-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

Loving the Gold against the grey 70s sofa.

I have always thought Vintage has a particular charm and of course individuality.. in anycase a dear friend of mine has just lauched a Vintage & Retro Clothes & Accessories business and borrowed my 1930s Singer Dummy.. I like how it wears the dress! Normally it sits in the corner of the room in its "nude" state.

And how about a button clutch... again the colours against the grey. I love grey as a colour. So much depth..

Bikaner

2009-10-16T21:41:00.003-07:00

Chiffon Saris as a table cloth - Kath Kidston meets India! The location was a beautiful restored Haveli (Merchant's house) in Bikaner.

Peacock light fittings? Does it work? Kind of in a kitsch way, I think it does.

Rohet

2009-10-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Ok this is a bit of a cheat - but its a tiny boutique hotel in the middle of Rajasthan (India) and each room is done up individually by the owners (its also their home).. so I am including this as a post. Rajasthani style in its simplicity:

Love the simple combination of Red carpets, bedspreads and flowers against white walls and dark furniture. Simple and elegant yet warm and inviting.

Note the alcove - for the modern day Rajah or Rani to chill out with a book. Love the space!

Simple shower looks out onto a Lotus filled pond .. a hot shower to the swaying pink lotus!

Men's bedrooms

2009-10-02T13:14:00.001-07:00

A dreamy bathroom

2009-09-27T01:07:00.000-07:00

Out in E1, in an Early Victorian Terrace, this Australian IT Consultant has thought nothing of sacrificing a whole room to the luxury that is Bath time.

Original Victorian Stained Glass leading up to the bathroom.

Antique Dresser/Mirror.

A very neutral and masculine Bathroom is brought alive with a touch of the exotic - deep blue paisley patterned wallpaper on just one wall complete with a old fire place. A perfect place for a deep soak!

Vintage Photographic Collection

2009-09-19T10:12:00.001-07:00

This is the sort of pad I want to have when I grow up. To me it exudes sophisticated sexiness whilst still being livable. The City Financier's passion is Vintage Photographs - some dating from the 19th Century, that he has hunted and rummaged for in flea markets and more upmarket galleries.

Some of his collection have have been silk screened by Laura Berens into very sexy glamorous cushions and prints.
Vintage photo of Geisha girls has been blown up into a bigger print and simply framed. Love the juxtaposition of the Skull - life, death,art.
Vintage 1950s coffee table found in an Antique fair in Battersea piled with vellum bound books dating from centuries past.

19th century photo of Arab Prince turned into a cushion.

Vintage Mirrors & Chandelier

2009-09-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

I love what this Media Maven, who lives in a chic part of West London, has done with the cool colours on the wall. Yet she has thrown in hints of warmth with the gold 1950s mirrors and the Cognac coloured chandelier. A mix of two different periods that work well!

A City Broker's tasteful pad

2009-09-09T15:33:00.000-07:00

Opposite of the previous post - this City Boy has chosen a couple of tasteful paintings that reflect his tastes in the Antique and modern, the portrait and the landscape. By allowing just one painting per wall, the viewer's attention is undivided.

Note the patination of the elegant table.

Collecting Pictures

2009-09-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Do you display one or if you have a passion for paintings and live in a flat, do you throw them all together? Do you mix genres? Anyway here is a little Dutch 17th century painting.. Is it lost amongst the others or do you yearn to search it out, study and savour it all the more..

Slice of Africa in North London

2009-08-31T14:47:00.000-07:00

The carefully collected pieces do the talking. Solid Victorian Table with carved legs, simple white walls and a beautiful South African tribal themed painting.

Art Noveau fireplace supporting a painting bought in Zimbabwe.

A Collector's pad

2009-08-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Antique Chinese Proclain Parrots in a Modern Birdcage, Porcupine lampshade, 1950s models of the Chrysler building and Eiffel Tower thrown together. Against a neutral Dove grey wall!

Books complete the home, 1950s Danish Chair to sit & browse.

Art Collector

2009-08-24T12:58:00.001-07:00

Paintings covering all wall surfaces - Pugin Red Walls.

Ming Dynasty Buddha and French Gilt Lamps - Orange Walls!