Month: April 2012

Inspiration from IKEA…..

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I was most surprised to discover this blog..written in Swedish but easily translated into English…it is a blog featuring inspiring rooms and ideas using IKEA products….I am a firm believer in IKEA products-they are well priced and amazingly on trend and although some of the furniture can look a bit cheap, used in creative ways, they can be amazingly effective! For people on a budget (and who isn’t these days) IKEA is the ideal place to source items in a variety of different styles.

I am loving the “wallpaper”in this image…..I have the two small bowls in the foreground…wonderful for snacks! Nothing beats IKEA glassware for everyday use and particularly for the odd party guest who over indulges and ends up breaking a glass or two!

Some gorgeous spring inspiration…these plant holders are perfect for a small space like my tiny balcony!

Can you believe these are all IKEA linens? Amazing tones and colours….

All IKEA furniture…it certainly helps that the room has beautiful bones…but I love the all-white scheme.

I think I might do something like this for the summer…

This one is for my friend B…so fresh, feminine and summery…

Oh the blue and white!! I LOVE blue and white and this toile duvet is on my list for sure…I already have the toile cushion covers!

A fabulous look for a boys bedroom or a study in fabulous greys and off-white…such a sophisticated combination. I have not seen this fabric at my IKEA but it might be coming soon….

One of my favourite chairs….my sister has two on her balcony and they look wonderful…they have a subtle ,washed grey and white finish and are really solid and textural.

Anyone for tea?

I know a lot of people feel that IKEA can be cheap and cheerful but I think that these images prove that with a littler bit of inventive styling and individuality,  amazing things can happen!

Can someone stop the train please….

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Zabeel Saray, The Palm

I feel like I am on a runaway train at the moment…..my projects are all in full swing, and I am about to sign up another really large scale project at the new extension currently being built at the Dubai Mall. I cannot say too much about it yet, but I am submitting samples and quotations and then saying a few prayers!!I feel very blessed in terms of the amount of work which is coming my way…..Hopefully I will know in a couple of days whether the project is definitely ours….fingers crossed.

In addition to all my work, I have had a friend visiting from Hong Kong (always fun, but very stressful trying to fit in sightseeing and dinners etc and work…after all, we’re not on holiday!) and I am also dealing with some legal issues which date back to the deep, dark days of the recession…..to say that I am stretched thin is an understatement and I am feeling about as creative as a pot plant at the moment!

This is one of my main challenges while working in the creative field….earning a living from your art or creativity, is in itself quite a stressful situation because you are constantly under pressure to deliver and, as most creative people know, that does not always happen on tap…especially when you are like I am at the moment…stretched too thin…I need a break….a place to disappear to for a few days and to just rest, unwind and refresh my mind and most importantly, my creativity.

I usually like to escape to the UK to visit my mum.. I visit the amazing art galleries and just immerse myself in green trees and plants , fresh cool air and old buildings with history, age and patina. My favourite thing to do in London is to find a great little cafe and sit and watch people….there are some incredibly wacky people and fashions and endless sources of ideas and inspiration.I also love walking around the streets and taking hundreds of photos of whatever catches my eye….just a few more months and I will hopefully be able to carve out some time for myself.

Don’t get me wrong, I love living in the Middle East…its a vibrant, constantly evolving and energetic part of the globe and it is growing so incredibly fast, but things are so shiny and new and glossy here and the pace and speed we all work at is incredibly frenetic….believe it or not, it gets really tiring to look at all that glossy glamour after a while.

image via fotothing.com
image via westwatercam.co.uk

I long for some aged, moss covered buildings which have a story and a long history instead of a glass fronted skyscraper with no windows that open!! That’s pretty much where I am at right now…..I can imagine people thinking I am mad but I am pretty sure there are other people who must feel the same way!

I took  the first photo above while visiting the gorgeous Zabeel Saray Hotel on the Palm recently…..I will post some of the other images soon…..talk about glamour….they do it on a whole new level at this amazing hotel!