HOW TO: Do home style from the heart
Welcome to STYLE FILE, created to inspire us and remind us that style doesn’t have to cost the earth.
This week’s post is dedicated to the Collins family, very special friends of mine who have moved in to a house at the end of our street. We started talking about the style of their new home over a cup of tea and, before I knew it, I started creating mood boards. When you know what you’re after, pieces just seem to show up, you can then head down to Satwa (Dubai’s little India) to a fabric store and cover even the oldest piece of furniture to re-make it like new.
Caroline really does remind me of Ines De La Fressange (seen below in the red gingham dress). For those of you who don’t know, Ines became the first model to sign an exclusive modeling contract with Chanel by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Today she no longer models, but still shines as a stylish businesswoman, working with her chain of clothing boutiques and as a consultant for Jean-Paul Gaultier.
I love Ines De La Fressange for her natural beauty and flair, and I’ve created the overall mood for the Collins’ house much like the way I see Ines and Caroline: classic, contemporary, with a bit of couture.
Wood was the inspiration for the kitchen with a touch of red (an apple a day keeps the doctor away!) Elegant yet practical is what every women is after!
For Mel, the super-smart and super-beautiful girl that she is, I couldn’t go past white for her bedroom. Urban white with a touch of zen is a simple way to create a sense of calm and can be easily achieved with a few old bits of furniture and lots of white paint.
Caroline is always talking to me about her colour chart, with yellow being one of her favourites. The color yellow is the stereotypical representation of happiness and fun, it also ties in nicely with what being in/having a family entails.
The Collins hail from the UK and, I admit, there a quite a few things that the British should be very proud of, The King’s Speech leads the race for one of my favourite films ever, I love UK music and I adore the way the Brits do ‘brit-mobilia’. They lead the way in über trendy patriotic soft furnishings and accessories. Today, the Union Jack is found on cushions, sofas and even wallpaper, and it has a certain edge to it (far more edge than a kangaroo). I would hang this wallpaper in the bathroom – it’s loads of fun!
When it came to Saffron’s room I fell in love with the idea of the letter ‘S’. Saffron is the rocker of the house, although not a ‘punk’ rocker yet, so I thought about embracing primary colours and painting a feature wall in her room.
For Liam the man of the house, these cheeky little pillow cases (you are my… salvation) would have been a nice touch, however when I showed them to Caroline she just laughed. (And yes, that is a violin cheeseboard)
See, if you put your mind to it, you can come up with some amazing ideas to style your home to your personality.
