This is the time of year to look for gorgeous presents for your friends and family. As an interior designer, I love to find presents that nod to my love of interior design. Here is the first of my top ten gift ideas.
Curate: Inspiration for an Individual Home
This lovely book by Australian interior stylist and boutique hotelier, Lynda Gardener and journalist and stylist Ali Heath is a much-anticipated guide to creating an individual home.
This creative duo has a shared love of a monochrome aesthetic and natural imperfections. In this book they explore the eight elements that bring a space to life: palette, nature, textiles, lighting, a combination of old and new, storage, collections and art. The ten beautiful homes featured in this book include a converted warehouse, one-bedroom studio, bijoux apartment, historic cottage, country estate, new-build barn, remote shack, period townhouse and rural retreat. With beautiful photography throughout and lots of ideas and inspiration, this book will help you find your style and create a timeless home of your own.
Buy the book from Toppings in the former Friends Meeting House in York Street. The stunningshop features handcrafted bookcases with the store’s signature rolling library ladders, lining two floors and a gallery.
John Julian porcelain pestle and mortar
This porcelain mortar and pestle was called one of the decade’s design classics by The Sunday Times. John Julian was inspired to make this pestle and mortar when he lived with a chef who used one every day and is designed for everyday use as well as being a statement piece for any kitchen. It has a shallow base which gives more range of motion when you are grinding your herbs and spices. Porcelain is very durable, hard-wearing and surprisingly heavy which makes it the ideal material for pestle and mortars. Cooks like Nigel Slater and Nigella Lawson have become fans of this functional yet beautiful pestle and mortar.
Buy yours from Berdoulat in Margaret’s Buildings. Dating from 1777, the shop is housed in the most beautiful Georgian building. Check out the wonderful mahogany counters and cabinets and 1840 wine display unit. The gallery floor gives a great view over the shop and in the basement, you’ll see an old stove and wine bins.
www.berdoulat.co.uk
Membership to the Design Museum
The Design Museum in London was founded in 1989 by Sir Terence Conran It is located in a fabulous modern building in Kensington and devoted to contemporary design in every form, from architecture and fashion to graphics, product and industrial design. Its collection, publishing, events, exhibitions, learning and digital programmes invite everyone to experience and reflect on the impact of design.
Treat a loved one to a year of Design Museum membership and they can enjoy free entry to every exhibition with no advance booking required, There are also exclusive previews, access to private views and discounts on events, shops and the café.
www.designmuseum.org
Subscription to The World of Interiors
I still love reading magazines and one of my favourites is The World of Interiors. Launched in 1981, The World of Interiors has documented the rich diversity of ways in which we live, showcasing the stylish and the unexpected as well as applauding individuality. Filled with incredibly stylish real home around the world as well as trends and tips from industry insiders and design experts, The World of Interiors is like having your very own art director or interior designer. It is my monthly fix of culture, art and interiors.
A subscription to The World of Interiors magazine is the perfect gift for anyone who wants to keep up to date with fine art, antiques and interiors world.
www.magazine.co.uk
Gorgeous velvet cushions
New at Graham and Green are these stonewashed velvet cushions in a range of scrummy colours. Richly coloured and textured, the stonewashing gives them a worn-in vintage look and they have a subtle fringing. Cushions are a simple way to refresh a room and give it an instant update. Group these together on a sofa, pile them on your bed or use them on a favourite chair. I love the colour palette of olive green, mustard, coral and grey blue.
Graham and Green are located in an old bake house on Walcot Street. Look at the wonderful tiles that still adorn the walls of this fabulous emporium for interiors lovers.
