Posts Tagged ‘London’
Monday, March 4th, 2013
Here's John en route to Lassco and the Brunswick House Cafe, curiously tucked-away amongst modern buildings in London's Vauxhall neighborhood.
Gang:
OK, OK, I have been a tad remiss in my blog posts… Apologies. But running around Russia and London tired me out! But I am back…
Last week, John and I paid a visit to one of our most favorite, tucked-away spots in London, Brunswick House, a tumble-down former stately home that is now occupied by Lassco, a fabulous source for architectural salvage items and antiques, and the Brunswick House Cafe. The Georgian-era manse sits in the middle of very modern buildings in London’s Vauxhall neighborhood–and just around the corner from MI6, the British secret service headquarters made famous by James Bond–and is a totally unexpected and magical delight. Step inside, and enter a world of inspiration and tatty glamour.
Here’s a little tour…
Here's the interior of the Brunswick House Cafe, a charming spot for lunch or dinner amongst the evocative antiques.
A charming "moment" upon the stairs at Lassco. I love the sculpture tucked into the windowsill.
The sprawling second-floor parlor room at Lassco... The mansion not only serves as a trove for antiques lovers but is also available to rent for private parties...
Here's a fabulous dining area at Lassco packed full of treasures. John picked up some glorious antique prints of British fountains here for my birthday.
Tags: antiques, Brunswick House Cafe, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Lassco, London, Madcap Cottage, travel
Posted in Antiques, Color, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Hanging artwork, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, Portraits, Tastemaker | No Comments »
Thursday, December 6th, 2012
Here's John outside London's wonderful and tucked-away Geffrye, Museum of the Home. The museum sits within a magical building that was once an 18th-century almshouse.
Gang:
John and I are lucky enough to visit London several times each year, and we are always hitting off-the-beaten paths spots such as far-flung museums and great houses. Think Syon Park, Dulwich Picture Gallery, and the Leighton House Museum…
Our latest discovery is the amazing Geffrye, Museum of the Home, tucked-away in London’s increasingly hip Shoreditch neighborhood. Housed within a stunning 18th-century almshouse, the museum boasts a series of period rooms that date from 1600 until today. Plus, there is a lovely herb garden. And the museum is free.
John and I lapped up the Christmas-decorated spaces, including the living room from 1935, the parlour from 1790, and the hall circa-1630.
Next time you are in London, be sure to add The Geffrye to your must-visit list, it’s truly a treat! And after your tour, walk over to the nearby Spitalfields Traders Market for the flea market and wonderful restaurants…
A British living room from 1965...
A drawing room from 1870 with its ebullient patterns and flourishes.
The almshouse room circa-1780 that shows how a married couple would have lived at the Geffrye back in the day.
Tags: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, London, Lord Leighton, Madcap Cottage, Shoreditch, Spitalfields, Syon Park, The Geffrye
Posted in Antiques, Color, Demystifying Design, Design, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, Paint | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 4th, 2012
John and I lapped up the cheap and chic holiday decorations that we spotted at the Conran's lifestyle store in London that is housed within the historic Michelin House, the French tire company's circa-1911 former headquarters. Next time you are in London, be sure to wander through the Art Nouveau-styled building with its shop, Bibendum restaurant (Bibendum being the name of Michelin's iconic mascot who is crafted of tires), flower store, and amazing cafe.
Gang:
John and I are just back from our amazing trip to London, and we are not stopping to take a breath. Oh, no! There is too much fabulous work to be done. Who needs sleep when the world needs prettying-up, n’est-ce pas?
Today I strung Christmas lights in our Brooklyn front yard and hung a now-vintage Martha By Mail wreath on our front door.
But how do you feel about your holiday decorations?
Don’t even think you have to spend lots of money to make your home look fabulous at the holidays… Mais non!
John and I were so inspired by the tissue paper decorations that we spotted at Conran’s in London. Tissue paper is all the rage, and it’s cheap, cheap, cheap and so multi-faceted! One of our favorite sources for tissue paper decorations is Party Cheap, so check out their bells and balls and whatnot then get to decorating your home.
And be sure to send us photos of your holiday handiwork!
Inexpensive tissue-paper decorations create a magical moment in a window display at Conran's. Bring this look home: It's cheap and very glamorous!
A gorgeous assortment of colorful tissue-paper decorations hang over a table at Conran's. Stunning, n'est-ce pas?
Another view of the simple-chic dining table at Conran's with the assortment of tissue-paper bells and balls hanging overhead. What an easy holiday decoration, and yet so chic!
Tags: Bibendum, Christmas, Conran's, Holiday decorations, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, London, Madcap Cottage, Michelin House, Tissue paper
Posted in Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Lessons, DIY, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, News Flash, Weekend warrior | 1 Comment »
Sunday, December 2nd, 2012
Here's a "before" image of a project that John and I tackled on Long Island a few years back. The iVillage website has featured this project as part of their "before" and "after" series. Click on the image, above, to see the "after" image of our design and to view the projects of some of our peers...
Gang:
I hope you had a splendiferous weekend! John and I are still in London and head back tomorrow… It’s been an amazing trip.
On another note, the iVillage site recently invited us to submit a “before” and after” project, and the project has just gone online. Take a look, and let me know what you think. This was a fun project because John and I tackled much of the fix-it work ourselves, including painting the beat-up wood floors and thinking up creative ways to mask the wonky walls.
We love to hear feedback!
Tags: Before and After, DIY, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, London, long island, Madcap Cottage, Painted floors
Posted in Before and After, Color, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Design Lessons, DIY, Flooring, Framing, Furniture Recovering, Hanging artwork, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, Paint the floor, Painted Furniture, Tastemaker, upholstery, Weekend warrior | 3 Comments »
Monday, November 26th, 2012
Here's John with the divine Lydia Pomey in the swatch room at Eastern Accents, a sprawling factory in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood that makes the most amazing pillows, bed linens, headboards, and other home goods.
Gang:
I hope that everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!
John and I were in Baltimore for the holiday are are now currently in London and loving every second of it.
But let’s backtrack two weeks (we certainly keep you on your toes, n’est-ce pas?)…
John and I flew out to Chicago to tour the amazing Eastern Accents factory in the city’s Avondale neighborhood and to discuss some possible business. Might there be private label Madcap Cottage pillows in the works?
Do stay tuned!
Meanwhile, here’s a little tour of Eastern Accents.
John goes bananas for the vast selection of trims to be found at Eastern Accents, including the myriad ribbons.
Eastern Accents boasts massive machines that cut the fabrics with lasers.
Here's the immaculate and light-filled sewing room at Eastern Accents. John and I love anything Made in America.
An Eastern Accents worker sews delicious details into a pillow.
Here are bundles of down feathers ready to be stuffed into pillows.
John and Lydia peruse Eastern Accents' vast fabric library. We unearthed some real treasures that reflect the Madcap Cottage duo's passion for color and pattern.
Tags: Baltimore, Chicago, Design, Eastern Accents, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, London, Madcap Cottage, pillows, Private label
Posted in Antiques, Color, Demystifying Design, Design Guru, Fabrics, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, upholstery, Welting | No Comments »
Friday, October 5th, 2012
John heads into London's verdant Battersea Park to pay a visit to the thrice-annual Decorative Fair. The Fair is truly a treasure trove of delicious finds!
Gang:
This past week John and I made a pilgrimage to the fabulous Decorative Fair that takes place three times each year in London’s stunning Battersea Park on the south side of the Thames.
And, wow!, we were so inspired, and not only by the fabulous goods but also by the very approachable prices. I am not one for “important” antiques unless you inherited them, so it was great to see that there were so many pieces at the fair that John and I could actually afford.
Here’s a little tour…
A pair of floral-patterned armchairs that felt very "Madcap Cottage," n'est-ce pas? There's nothing like multiple fabrics and delicious details to take furniture from ho-hum to super-ho.
A gorgeous Chinoiserie-styled lantern. Swoon!
John and I adored this oversized concrete basket, one of a pair. These baskets would be perfect for sitting atop pilasters at the back of a yard.
A stunning tole metal palm tree! If John and I could have carried this back to NYC with us on the plane, we would have snapped it up!
A very yummy pair of green chairs with terrific nailhead detailing.
There were lots of dogs at the Decorative Fair. We wished that Weenie and Jasper could have been in attendance, too.
Tags: Battersea Park, Decorative Fair, Jason Oliver Nixon, Jasper, John Loecke, London, Madcap Cottage, Tole, Weenie
Posted in Antiques, China, Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Design Lessons, Fabrics, Furniture Recovering, Gardens, Interior Design, Landscaping, New York Interior Designer, News Flash, Painted Furniture, Pets, Road Trip | No Comments »
Sunday, September 30th, 2012
London calling! John and I are crazy for this big, bold, and bodacious address that we spotted painted upon a terracotta-hued column near Sloane Square in the heart of London.
Gang:
As you know, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of making a statement with your front door.
Paint your door a bright color.
Add interesting plantings in pots.
Hang up a big brass door knocker…
Or take a page from our perambulations around London…
John and I are in the British capital again this week shopping for a client, and we love the painted door numbers that your favorite two-some has spotted all over town. Simple, chic, and MAJOR impact!
Why not order a stencil kit from Martha Stewart, and create a totally bespoke door number with a little paint and a paint brush.
Genius!
If you have a column or a planter in front of your home, why not paint a street number upon it? Or paint a big number directly upon your front door.
This number 47 was totally wow-ee! I love the use of a primary color and a background hue to really create an impact.
Tags: DIY, Gorgeous, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, London, Madcap Cottage, Sloane Square, Street numbers
Posted in Before and After, Color, Curb appeal, Design, Design Guru, Design Lessons, DIY, Landscaping, New York Interior Designer, Paint, Paint a front door, Renovations, Tips for Design Small Spaces, Weekend warrior | No Comments »
Monday, September 17th, 2012
Here's John aboard the Tube in London en route to the Old Spitalfields Market. I love the upholstery that they use in the London Underground--and how about that marvelous mix of emerald green and rich blue. Glorious! And that bright green support in front of John? Um, a delicious jolt of color.
Gang:
Happy Monday!
As John and I always say, keep your eyes open and your iPhone or digital camera in-hand at all times. You never know where you might some inspiration–from a walk down the street to a journey aboard the subway. Snap photos to create a visual lexicon that you can use later.
John and I have been bopping about London, and here are some “moments” that have excited and inspired us as we hightailed it around the city.
John and I spotted these vintage metal French chairs at the Old Spitalfields Market. See what a bold stripe can do for a piece of furniture? These chairs would be nothing without that bold statement of color... Why note stripe an old chair next weekend?
Our pal Kit Kemp runs--and designs--the stunning Firmdale Hotels' properties in London with her husband, Tim. Here, Kit has crafted wallpaper from old French school charts at the Dorset Square Hotel and employed cricket bats as artwork. The hotel is situated on what was once the city's premiere cricket ground, so this "nod" is brilliant. Lesson to be learned: Take ordinary objects, and employ them as artwork. Cheap and chic!
A fabulous wing chair--with built-in newspaper holder (genius!)--at the brand-new Dorset Square Hotel in London's super fun and cozy Marylebone neighborhood. I love furnishings with a dash of whimsy, n'est-ce pas?
A rich red wall wall at the Tate Britain museum... This gallery showcases Victorian artwork, but the deep scarlet walls give the space a very contemporary spin. Why not anchor a wall in your room in a big, bold color?
Tags: Dorset Square Hotel, Firmdale Hotels, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, London, Madcap Cottage, Old Spitalfields Market, Tube, Underground
Posted in Antiques, Color, Design, Design Guru, DIY, Fabrics, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, Paint, Painted Furniture, Tastemaker, Tips for Design Small Spaces, Weekend warrior | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
John heads into the glorious landscape that comprises Queen Mary's Gardens in the heart of London's Regent's Park. Queen Mary's Gardens overflow with flowers and gorgeous planting beds, and we always make a stop at this urban sanctuary when we hop across the pond.
Gang:
John and I are in London and doing all sorts of shopping for one of our clients…
Happily, the weather is absolutely delicious, so John and I took some time this afternoon to visit one of our favorite spots in the British capital, Queen Mary’s Gardens in Regent’s Park. Regent’s Park is a stunningly maintained urban oasis in the heart of the city, and Queen Mary’s enclosed gardens–housed within the larger park–feature stunning vistas, fountains, and gobs of roses and begonias. There’s also an open-air theater in the gardens where John and I have seen Shakespeare performances in summers past while picnicking al fresco.
Next time you are in London, be sure to visit this stunning landscape. Here’s a little tour.
An intimate "moment" in the garden with John perched atop a bridge wrapped in wisteria. I love the mix of large public spaces and cozy "moments" in Queen Mary's Gardens.
A glorious garden figure crafted of succulent plants takes a central place in Queen Mary's Gardens. Why not push the boundaries in your own garden, and have some fun!
A stunning fountain in the heart of the Queen Mary's Gardens. I love the tropical plants that surround the fountain beneath a row of towering poplars. John and I used this row of poplars as inspiration for a new garden that we recently created at our Madcap Cottage in upstate New York.
Here's John in the fabulous rose gardens. Note the climbing roses that dangle from the looped ropes that hang from poles in the background. What a genius way to enclose a garden, n'est-ce pas?
Tags: Curb appeal, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Landscaping, London, Madcap Cottage, Queen Mary's Gardens, Regent's Park
Posted in Color, Curb appeal, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Gardens, Landscaping, New York Interior Designer, Tips for Design Small Spaces, Weekend warrior | No Comments »
Monday, June 25th, 2012
John always closes his eyes when I am taking his photo in front of interior design shops that cater to famous royalty. Egads! Anyhow, here's the exterior of Robert Kime's atelier near the British Museum in London. We are smitten.
Gang:
On a recent visit to London, John and I decided to pay a visit to the shop-cum-design studio of interior designer Robert Kime. If you don’t know Kime’s name, you should. He’s the interior designer to Prince Charles, and his style is glorious–a mix of antiques and far-flung finds tempered with British country house chic.
So on a rainy afternoon the Madcap Cottage gents trundled off to pay a pilgrimage to Kime’s’ divine atelier situated just a few windy streets away from the British Museum (also a must visit if you have never been). And the folks at Robert Kime–including Mr. Kime who was lovely and sort of grandfatherly and charming–could not have been more helpful or more gracious. The shop is full of gorgeous finds–from intriguing furnishings to vintage ikat textiles to amazing, ruched lampshades that allow the most incredible light to pass through them. We ogled the ikat pillows, savored vintage throws, and feasted upon Mr. Kime’s stunning wallpapers.
So the next time you are in London, do pop into Robert Kime (Note the “By Appointment to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Supplier of Antiques and Interior Decoration” emblazoned upon the sign–we just love a good royal warrant, n’est-ce pas?). You might just meet Mr. Kime himself!
The shop is located at 42-43 Museum Street and is anything but intimidating.
The various British princes in front of the Robert Kime-designed Highgrove House, Prince Charles' escape in Gloucestershire.
A selection of Robert Kime's luscious wallpapers.
John eyes one of Robert Kime's glorious lampshades with ikat fabric that is ruched just-so. You don't see shades like this much in America, so the Madcap Cottage gents are on a mission to introduce gorgeous lampshades into the US market. Good lighting is next to godliness, no?
A selection of amazing vintage textiles in the cozy basement at Robert Kime. Think lots of Turkish finds and fabrics that hail from those "stan" countries. Divine!
Tags: British Museum, Highgrove House, Ikat fabric, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Lampshades, London, Madcap Cottage, Prince Charles, Robert Kime
Posted in Antiques, Color, Demystifying Design, Design, Design Guru, Design Lessons, Fabrics, Gardens, Interior Design, New York Interior Designer, Tastemaker, upholstery, Wallpaper | No Comments »
