.

Friday Feast...

2012-01-27T20:12:00.001Z

Bringing the outside inside without having to be out in the cold! Wrap up warm if you are out and about this weekend. Have a good one.

Friday Feast...

2012-01-20T15:38:00.000Z

Happy Friday everyone.

I'm loving this weeks simple and neutral interiors. The Artichoke light in the second pic is to die for a usual. We've been watching the Danish Political drama 'Borgen' and the Artichoke keeps cropping up along with Poulsen lamps and shades as seen in the fifth pic. Also loving the splash of red of the lamp in the fourth pic. I'm just a lighting whore!

Which is your favourite room and what lighting porn do you lust after?

Have a great weekend.

New, new, new...

2012-01-10T19:36:00.000Z

Happy New Year my Obsessive ones! A bit late I know but I literally haven't stopped...well maybe for a bit of tweeting and Instagramming...

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and a great New Year. 2012, whatever happened to 2011!? Not a great year to be honest and I was glad to see the back of it. It was a fantastic year for my design work ( apart from being blatantly ripped off! ) but not the best year health wise. I did manage to give up smoking ( after a cancer scare but all was OK thankfully ) and I'm still not smoking nearly nine months later. I really never thought I would ever give up and I smoked a lot! Believe when I say that if I can do it then anyone can!

As you can see from above I do have a few new pieces of gorgeousness. 2011 was a great year for bargains including the unit which, as you may have read before, I managed to get for £37.70! It really has become a very usual piece of furniture. The Jielde lamp was another bargain at £119 instead of the usual £350 plus. I've also started to collect pepper mills manufactured by Dansk and designed by Jens Quistgaard. I'm sure you will be seeing more designs as soon as I can get my hands on them, at the right price of course. To top it all off, David bought me the superb Scandinavian furniture book for Christmas. Furniture porn at it's best.

The last new thing around here is the slightly different look to the blog. The banner may be a tad SHOUTY but I love the Graphique Pro font so I just had to use it. Hope you like it.

Hope you all have a fantabulous 2012....

Friday Feast...

2011-12-30T19:53:00.002Z

Hope you have all had a fantastic Christmas. We had the whole family in our flat and David and I cooked together, it was mayhem but it was a great day.

I can't believe that it's New Years Eve tomorrow! Where has 2011 gone!? What are you up to? We are sharing it with good friends and will be having a drink...or two...

I'm really looking forward to 2012, it has a nice sound and feel to it for some reason.

Happy New Year!!! See you on the other side....

Friday Feast...

2011-12-09T19:52:00.001Z

Happy Friday everyone!

Two weeks to go until the big day! Happy shopping this weekend if you haven't finished present buying yet. We've actually done most of ours, just a few more to buy...oh and a tree! I'm starting to get a tad jittery because we haven't got one yet.

Have a great weekend whatever you are up to.

Obsessively thrifty...

2011-11-28T22:02:00.001Z

Evilbay will be the death of me but not quite yet.

My friend Helen came across a bureau a few weeks ago, she instantly fell in love with it and so did I. We both drooled over it for the best part of a week, discussing it's beauty and the fact that other people would probably dare to bid and it would end up going for a small fortune. The day came when it was to end and not just the listing but Helen's dream of owning it. She had put in her highest amount but couldn't bare to watch the Evilbay clock counting down...so I did. She managed to get it for £165 and we were both stunned! We thought it would go for much more than that. I was really pleased for her but gutted for myself because I loved it so much that I was obsessing about having one too.

Two weeks later Helen mailed me with a link, a link to another bureau! I couldn't believe that another had been listed. Surely it was destined to be mine. I bid on it and it was at £9 for nearly a week and then the day before it was due to end someone outbid me and I was furious! The next day I was poised and ready to beat off the competition, it just had to be mine or I would spend the rest of my days searching for another one.

I obviously won because there it is in the pic above but how much did i pay for it i hear you all asking!?...£37.70! I couldn't believe it and neither could Helen after paying quite a bit more for hers.

I think she may have forgiven me until i dropped it into the conversation that I had also managed to get my hands on a 1970's Arkana Tulip side table ( also in the above pic ) for 88 quid...

Friday Feast...

2011-11-25T19:37:00.002Z

Happy weekend everyone. Stay cosy and warm if your in a cold place.

The Saucer has landed...

2011-11-22T14:06:00.002Z

It's here at last! My George Nelson Saucer pendant has made its way to me all the way from America Land. It arrived today and in one piece thankfully.

It really is incredibly beautiful and so light. I can't wait to get it fitted above the Tulip dining table! So enjoy the tease pic above and there will be more as soon as its up in all it's glory....

Friday Feast...

2011-11-18T18:24:00.001Z

Autumn is well and truly here in the UK. I love this time of year.

I particularly like the first pic and the fireplace in the 4th pic is to die for!

Happy Friday and have a great weekend all.

Sitting up high...

2011-11-18T14:39:00.002Z

A dream came true this week...I managed to get my hands on a set of four...yes four Bertoia stools! I'm in design classic seating heaven!

I was perusing Evilbay as usual and there they were, they started shouting at me instantly and well you know me, I just had to listen. David had recently said that he also liked them and was very quick to say when I dropped them into conversation "Would you like them for Christmas"! I of course weighed it up from every possible angle as a Libran does but it didn't take me too long before I said "Yes please!!"

They really are gorgeousness on a stick and as the seller said "they're built like tanks". I have to agree because the build quality really is something rather special. I'm not too sure about the purple seat pads, I like them but not sure if I like them enough. I would much prefer black or grey but they are 150 quid each, what do you think?

So Merry Christmas one and all, mine has turned out to be very merry already!

Friday Feast...

2011-11-11T23:52:00.001Z

I'm loving the simplicity of black and white (and a dollop of grey here and there) with striking graphical typography at the moment....bigger the better!

We have the Habitat version of the clock in the sixth pic in our kitchen and I love it. It's surprising how many people have commented on it and want to buy one.

Happy weekend everyone, have a good one.

Friday Feast...

2011-11-04T18:19:00.002Z

Happy Friday!

A big welcome to my new followers and to all the new visitors in the last week. My Friday Feast was mentioned in The Telegraph magazine last Saturday! Little old Obsessilicious was one of their Top 20 Interiors blogs! I was gobsmacked to say the least! You can see all the other blogs included here, I'm in great company.

Have a splendid weekend.

Instant Calendar giveaway!...

2011-10-29T11:53:00.003+01:00

I've designed a bright and colourful calendar for 2012...where did 2011 go!?!? It's a large 45 x 70 cm poster print and features the lovable Polaroid camera and is available in my Yumalum shop.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is leave a comment and then one lucky winner will be randomly chosen. Closing time and date is 12 noon GMT on Friday 4th November 2011 and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards. International comments are welcome.

Tweet and Facebook away about it if you fancy.

Comments are moderated so it may take a while for them to appear. If you are anonymous then please leave a name/alias in your comment.

Good luck everyone!

Dream Spaces 55...

2011-10-29T10:39:00.003+01:00

Walls of wood, large windows and concrete...oh my!

The L House located in Buenos Aires designed by architect Mathias Klotz and associate architect Edgar Minond.

Via The Cool Hunter

Friday Feast...

2011-10-21T21:37:00.001+01:00

Yay! It's friday! Whether you are just chilling, DIYing or partying, have a great weekend everyone.

Loving the George Nelson Saucer Bubble pendant lights in the second pic, there could be news about one of those soon...

Colour coded Christmas...

2011-10-21T21:28:00.002+01:00

These Pantone baubles are just perfect for all the designers out there or anyone else for that matter. Dig into your turkey at the same time as matching a colour for your latest design job maybe....

Pantone Christmas baubles from Selab Studio for Seletti

Friday Feast...

2011-10-07T19:44:00.003+01:00

The nights are drawing in and Autumn is finally here after our mini boiling hot Summer last week. I sometimes long for a real fire even though I've never actually had one. Bizarre.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Gorgeousness via If The Lampshade Fits, Dwell

Friday Feast...

2011-09-23T18:17:00.000+01:00

It's nearly the weekend again! What are you all up to? Anything interesting or glamorous or just a bit of DIY?

There will be quite a lot of DIY and building work going on at Obsessilicious Towers over the next few months. We will at last be replacing our flooring upstairs and downstairs! That's the kitchen, dining area, lounge, hallway, two bedrooms, the en-suite and landing!

There is a rumour going around (started by me...) that we will be having resin flooring....grey resin...

Loving the collection of Eames chairs in the last pic.

Happy weekend!

Dream Spaces 54...

2011-09-21T19:36:00.001+01:00

WOW! WOW! and another WOW!

This place is absolutely incredible! I love everything about it, from the front door to the kitchen island!

MCK Architects, based in Australia, have updated what was an original house built in the 60's. It has been dubbed the "Flipped House" because they literally flipped and adapted the original house plan inside and out. Some original fixtures and fitting have been saved.

My heart literally flipped!

A perfect match...

2011-09-19T10:35:00.000+01:00

Herman Miller and House Industries have joined forces to produce a limited edition series of eighty Eames wire base tables (LTR or Low Table Rod). They include A through Z numbers and ornaments from the Eames Century Modern font collection. Forty were available at the Herman Miller Reach event on September 16th and forty will be available at the House Industries exhibition at the Herman Miller Tokyo showroom on October 27th. Or of course I'm sure there will be a few cropping up on Evilbay eventually...

Each tabletop is hand printed by House Industries David Dodde, assembled by Herman Miller and then packaged in a special wooden crate.

Of course I need one (or more) so badly! I'm lusting over the gorgeous crate let alone the table!

2011-09-16T18:16:00.001+01:00

Yes we loved it, we had a superb time, the weather was gorgeous (apart from the day we came back when we were running across Manhattan to the Jonathan Adler store in a monsoon!), we want to live there, we didn't want to come back and we are already talking about when to return!

Hope you enjoyed the Instagram pics along the way, David really got into using it and it did become a bit of a competition between us!

Happy weekend everyone.

Please fasten your seat belts...

2011-08-30T22:54:00.004+01:00

We are off on holiday today to a very windswept New York!

It's been two years since our last trip to the big old Apple, our fourth time there in four years, we just can't get enough of the place! Lots of things planned, restaurants booked and tickets to see Priscilla on Broadway. David did a very detailed itinerary six months ago!

I will be taking lots of Instagram pics along the way and you can now follow me here

Still got a few things to stuff into the suitcases, early train, a few scrummy Mojitos in the lounge and then we are up, up and away at 2pm. I can't wait...

Friday feast...

2011-08-12T19:07:00.003+01:00

Well what a week that was! It can be a mad fucked up world out there. Have a great weekend everyone, appreciate who and what you have in your life, I know I do. Stay safe.

Images via Dwell and Dezeen

Friday feast...

2011-08-05T16:32:00.002+01:00

Make a room pop with a dash of colour.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Inside out...

2011-08-03T16:00:00.003+01:00

I've been doing a spot of gardening! Well, when I say gardening it's more like buying a few plants that I like the look of, putting them in pots and hoping they survive. I'm not very green fingered to say the least. I also painted the terracotta pots black with masonry paint. I'm rather pleased with the contrast against the white of the Bertoia chairs.

The chairs are superb, I'm so glad I found and bought them. A bonus is that they don't easily blow over like the orange Panton chairs we were using before.

There will be more of the outside coming in soon hopefully, we are at last going to be ripping out the 25 year old uPVC patio doors and replacing them with bi-fold doors which will consist of two panels like we have now but they will hinge in the middle to open right up. Our small balcony should seem so much bigger because only one door slides open at the moment which makes it difficult to access the other half of the balcony easily.

Below are a few shots of the new chairs and table which was a bargain at 50 quid instead of 350! The boat is moored below our flat and the owners have been lovingly renovating it for a few years now. Oh and that's the Red Arrows in the last pic who just happened to be flying past a couple of weekends ago...

Want, need, must have...

2011-07-29T15:32:00.004+01:00

House Industries have collaborated with Heath Ceramics to produce these uber gorgeous house numbers using the Eames and Neutra fonts. Each tile is glazed in a matte finish with a raised, unglazed number. The clean, crisp and graphical packaging is also very nice indeed.

I'm thinking they would look rather splendid propped up on a shelf somewhere. The Eames asterisk will be mine!

They are available at Heath Ceramics for $38 each.

Daily drooling...

2011-07-28T17:46:00.003+01:00

...I want to be here right now with a cocktail or two...sigh...

Via BLDGSPACE

Friday feast...

2011-07-22T16:20:00.003+01:00

It's Friday again and it's wine o'clock! Cheers!

Have a great weekend everyone...

Summer classics...

2011-07-19T22:26:00.002+01:00

Well if you thought my chair addiction may be slowing down then you'd be wrong!

I've had my eye on the side chair designed by Harry Bertoia for quite some time now and now I have four of the little beauties. Where am I going to put them I hear you ask? They are for the balcony, well two of them are because that's all there is room for.

I came across them last week on good old Evilbay and got all excited because they were in Cardiff which is less than an hour from me. I didn't hold out much hope of getting them but I did and for £400 for the four! They are in great condition with minimal wear. The seller was lovely and she was very pleased that they were going to the home of a chair addict where they will be treasured for ever more.

I've just totted up all the chairs we have in the flat...we have 29! I think I need to stop...

More pics soon.

Friday feast...

2011-07-15T12:15:00.003+01:00

Happy Friday everyone!

My apologies for the lack of posts lately! Been busy, busy, busy but there are some exciting posts coming up.

Have a great weekend all!

And the winner is...

2011-06-27T09:39:00.004+01:00

...of the Impossible Project/Yumalum print giveaway ...huge drum roll please...TINY TIN ROBOT! Congratulations!

Thank you every one for entering. I've really enjoyed reading all your fantastic comments.

Friday feast...

2011-06-17T17:12:00.004+01:00

Well that was a quick and very exciting week what with the Impossible Project unveiling.

Hope you all have a great weekend whether it's chilling out with a glass of wine and a favourite book or hitting the town and dancing your arse off.

Above gorgeousness via Chairsmith, Plastolux, Flickr.

The Impossible giveaway...

2011-06-17T15:08:00.000+01:00

The day has arrived that I can announce some very exciting news that I have been bursting to tell you all for the last few months.

I was contacted by The Impossible Project regarding my Polaroid inspired prints and the possibility of selling them in their New York store. I was extremely excited about the prospect and incredibly flattered. This then evolved into the idea of doing an exclusive Impossible version and here it is.

If you haven't heard of The Impossible Project (then where have you been!?) they are the team of people who in 2008 saved the very last Polaroid production plant for integral instant film in Enschede (NL) and started to invent and produce totally new instant film materials for traditional Polaroid cameras. In 2010 Impossible saved analog instant photography from extinction by releasing various brand new and unique instant films. By doing so more than 300,000,000 perfectly functioning Polaroid cameras were saved from becoming obsolete.

The print is now available for $75 in their New York store in SoHo but if you can't make it there and would like one then this could be your lucky day because...yes...we are giving one away!

All you have to do is leave a comment and then one very lucky winner will be randomly chosen. Closing time and date is 4 pm Friday 24th June 2011 (UK time) and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards. International comments are welcome.

Comments are moderated so it may take a while for them to appear. If you are anonymous then please leave a name in your comment.

Good luck everyone!

UPDATE! This giveaway has now ended and the winner will be announced very soon!

Friday feast...

2011-05-27T21:36:00.003+01:00

Scrumptious greys/grays and warming tones of wood...yum.

We have decided on a new engineered wooden floor throughout our apartment, upstairs and down. Engineered because it's so much easier to put down and it will "float" on top of what is already down so there is far less mess involved. Polished concrete and resin were considered but it would be horrendous while the work was carried out and ridiculously expensive! So the search is on for the right one, we may be a while!...

Happy (Bank Holiday if you are in the UK) weekend everyone.

Pics via Chairsmith and others.

Sugar and spice...

2011-05-20T16:30:00.003+01:00

...and all things at a bargain price. I've been on the hunt for deliciousness and it's proven to be quite fruitful lately.

Firstly I've wanted an Eames House Bird for so long so I treated myself from the ever helpful Momentum in Cardiff with a cheeky little discount.

We were away last weekend for a friends birthday, the Wi-Fi in the hotel wasn't brilliant but I managed to get my hands on the rather gorgeous eight inch Cathrineholm bowl for £21 on Ebay! It's in superb condition too. David isn't keen on it though and said it would look right at home in a Romany gypsy caravan!

I've had a thing for drawers recently (the wooden storage kind!) and I came across the Fineline drawers designed by John & Sylvia Reid for Stag in the 60's. I'm thinking either for the spare room or maybe in my loft/studio. Oh yes, the price....£51! Ebay.

Last but not least the Hornsea Alpine range vinegar pot, the inside of the top and the triangle pattern is a very nice dark charcoal grey and it cost me £7.67. Ebay.

Happy bargain hunting and have a great weekend everyone.

Friday feast...

2011-05-13T20:19:00.003+01:00

Happy Friday!

It's been a very busy few weeks around here. I've been working with a NYC based company on an exciting project and all will be revealed soon. Orders have been flooding in for my Instant series of prints and I haven't stopped. They've sold like hot cakes!

We nearly moved! It was a mad moment on Easter Sunday afternoon after viewing a townhouse but we love our apartment so much that we have decided to stay put and finish it once and for all. So over the next few months you will be seeing us ripping up flooring, ripping out the en-suite (again!) and generally getting it to where we want it to be...at last.

Anyway, happy weekend! have a good one.

A match made in heaven...

2011-04-16T09:20:00.005+01:00

At last I've taken a few pics of our new Eames black chairs from Pink Flamingos. Unfortunately as much as I loved my Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chairs, they just didn't look or fit right around the Saarinen Tulip dining table. I'm sure they would look fine around the larger version but under ours they looked awkward and protruded out far too much. They played on my mind like nails being pulled down a chalkboard.

These black beauties are perfection. Having the same colour has unified the look and black has really brought out the veining of the table. We will have six of them when the other two arrive but we have discussed (and this surprisingly came from David!) that we get another black Eames upholstered arm shell so that we can have one either end of the table.

Is my chair addiction sated? For the moment yes but one thing that I do want is for that flooring to go! I put it down nearly ten years ago and it's well past it's sell by date!

Friday feast...

2011-04-15T12:50:00.004+01:00

A Friday Feast...at last!

My apologies for the lack of gorgeousness over the last three weeks but I have been extremely busy workwise.

Have a great (hopefully!) sunny weekend everyone.

Step back into Spring and Summer...

2011-03-11T18:55:00.005Z

...It may not have escaped your attention that there is a retro, mid century vibe going on with designers and High Street stores plundering the 50's, 60's and 70's for inspiration. Colours are fresh and fun with graphic shapes and more than a dash of nostalgia. Perfect for the (hopefully!) warmer weather around the corner...

1. Jonathan Adler's Mrs Godfrey Chair from $1,495.

2. Harlequin Claudia table lamp from good old John Lewis.

3. Rie planters from Habitat. Priced from £35 for the small citrus, £45 for the medium chive and £55 for the large turquoise. Available from May. I need some for my balcony.

4. Claude walnut gossip bench set $1, 890. Yep, I can just see me sat on there on the phone for hours having a good old gossip.

5. Talking of being on the phone,you can get this Trimphone by I Love Retro on Brighton Pod (great site BTW!). Available in green, white, red, turquoise, purple and orange. Priced at £36.95. Glamorous bargain!

6. The Acapulco chair is a re-issue of the 50's classic and takes it name from the Pacific resort. The frame is solid steel with a plastic cord seat. Available in black, yellow, blue and petrol blue. Handmade in Mexico and costs £295. I would love a couple for my balcony but it's far too small.

7. The Lyon tables from M&S. These two colour variations will be available soon. From £49.

8. Loving this Molecule building set from Ferm Living and priced at 54 Euros...I need one!

Happy weekend everyone and happy shopping.

Dream spaces 53...

2011-03-04T17:16:00.004Z

Loving that lounge!

Bridle Road Residence, Cape Town, South Africa. Interiors are by Reese Roberts + Partners.

Via The Cool Hunter

Picasso, Madonna, Paris and cushions...

2011-03-03T12:07:00.005Z

...it may seem an odd combination but there is a link.

I received a mail asking if I would like to feature something for under a £100 from the Conran Shop's new Spring accessories collection which was spooky because I was going to feature the above cushions anyway. As soon as I saw them I loved them but then I have always had a soft spot for Picasso.

There are three different cushions available, Femme a La Fleur and La Ceinture Jaune are shown above with the former being my favourite. They are woven on a traditional loom by French craftsmen and are available for £69 each. It's probably the closest I will ever get to owning a Picasso.

I was reminded of one of the best weekends I have ever had with David. It was way back in the Summer of 2002 (can't believe it was that long ago!) and we had booked tickets to go to the Matisse Picasso exhibition at the Tate Modern on the Friday afternoon. It was mayhem! Jostling to get a good position to view those incredible masterpieces was tiresome and annoying but it was worth it. Breathtaking. Afterwards we walked over the Millennium Bridge back towards St Paul's Cathedral, it was a beautiful sunny day and we stopped half way across looking west along the Thames and one of our favourite cities looked glorious and hazy lit up by the afternoon Summer sun.

That night we went to see Madonna at the Wyndhams Theatre in Up For Grabs, I loved it and thought her acting was actually very good. When we left the theatre it was torrential rain outside, David bought a cheap umbrella and we ran across SoHo to a restaurant which we had booked. We sat soaked to the skin and laughed our heads off much to the dismay of some of the other rather snooty diners.

The next day we jumped on the Eurostar and sped off to Paris for a couple of days, David had been before but it was the first time for me. We stayed in a small loft apartment in the Marais district which had the most amazing huge winding staircase leading to it with peeling paint on the walls and worn down stone steps. Paris was so humid and sticky but thankfully the evenings were cooler and on the Saturday night we walked down towards the Seine where we stood on a bridge with a full moon reflecting on the water.

Happy memories and gorgeous cushions!

Take a seat...

2011-02-27T11:22:00.004Z

...six of them in fact. Since buying the Saarinen Tulip table recently I have been rather perturbed that our Arne Jacobsen chairs just don't look right with it. It's the legs, they are quite wide and they stick out far too much for my liking.

So the hunt was on for something new but it was more like day dreaming to be honest because of the expense of the table. I rather stupidly ( it got the better of me! ) wandered over to Pink Flamingos where I've bought most of my Eames chairs and rockers from. I knew they had to be Eames, black and I was edging towards dowel bases.....and there they were! My heart skipped a beat as per usual which is part of the course and I obsessed about them all week. They are apparently in immaculate condition and produced in 1969. Black ones are becoming more rare and they were actually produced for the commercial sector. The ever helpful (and very patient!) Justin has been superb as usual, they are currently being shipped from America and I should have them in about three weeks. I recently bought another black beauty from him and it would look great paired with another one at either end of the table. That's me day dreaming again though because with the table and the six new chairs we are spent out!

If you have something particular in mind then do get in touch with Justin at Pink Flamingos because he will probably be able to source it for you.

What a grey day...

2011-02-25T18:41:00.002Z

Oh my god! What an absolutely stunning Time Life chair! Eames and grey all rolled into one...far too much excitement for a Friday afternoon!

Have a great weekend one and all.

Via Plasolux on Flickr

Friday feast...

2011-02-18T19:40:00.003Z

Yes it's Friday and it's a Feast! My apologies for the lack of blogging over the last few weeks but I have been incredibly busy! My Mad Men print was featured on the Swedish ELLE website and it went crazy ass good with orders!

Lot's of exciting things coming up and there is a fantastic giveaway on the horizon so keep em peeled!

Have a great weekend all.

Need some love?

2011-02-14T19:05:00.003Z

Get a bit more love to stare at every day with this Alexander Girard design on your desktop. Available as a free download at Lagom. They also sell awesome greetings cards, wrapping paper, notebooks etc.

Happy Valetines Day all.

Friday feast...

2011-01-21T19:19:00.004Z

Have a fantastic weekend everyone. I can't wait to have some lovely booze tomorrow with good friends...

Mad about the Men...again...

2011-01-21T19:08:00.003Z

I'm missing Mad Men so much! Are you!? I cannot wait for it to be gracing our screens again. I wonder if there is a therapy group for withdrawal?...

Anyhoo, I've wanted to create a Mad Man inspired print for a while now and here it is. It's available as a print at the moment but will soon be available as a 50cm x 70cm poster in my Etsy shop Yumalum. It can also vbe viewed/framed either way up.

I took the photographs of the Chrysler Building and The Empire State Building used in the design when we were last in New York. We may be going again in May...

Friday feast...

2011-01-07T18:48:00.004Z

Happy weekend everyone. Have a good one.

Via Ffffound, Plastolux

Home inspiration...

2011-01-04T16:47:00.003Z

I'm loving the tiled floor in the above pic.I came across this house built by the Danish-Icelandic architect Halldor Gunnløgsson on L'esprit Nouveau.

We have similar tiles in our kitchen which I love. As you may have already seen the rest of the open plan area including the lounge and dining area is laminate which I laid ten years ago next August. It was one of the first things we did along with getting rid of the artex ceilings and glitter wallpaper. The kitchen at the time was separated by a wall which we eventually knocked down and it was one of the best things we have done since moving in.

The laminate is tired and I've gradually grown to hate it with a passion, I often snarl and give it a dirty look as I walk past. It needs to be replaced but with what? The thought of doing anything regarding the flooring fills me with utter dread because of the amount of upheaval involved. The thought of moving the Saarinen Tulip dining table around is enough to give me nightmares!

So, do we carry the grey tiles all the way through which I think would look rather nice but would cost a small fortune (the tiles weren't cheap!) or go for something completely different like resin or concrete!? I would love to have polished concrete floors and even David is now quite taken by the idea but it would cause the most upheaval. The floors on the lounge and middle floor are constructed using concrete so weight isn't an issue...cost on the other hand would be...

New Year feast...

2011-01-02T13:41:00.005Z

Happy New Year 2011 everyone!

Hope you have all had a great Christmas and a fantastic New Year so far. We have just about recovered from our partying and are looking forward to the year ahead.

I have some exciting new projects coming up and it's going to be full steam ahead to get our flat finished once and for all. I've managed to get a few outstanding DIY jobs done at last over the Christmas break and the loft is coming along well. I do have a self enforced deadline which is July 3rd...it will be ten years since we moved here!

Pics via Livingetc, Ffffound

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

2010-12-24T19:04:00.002Z

Wishing everyone a fantastic Christmas and Happy holidays. I hope Santa brings you everything you desire.

Thank you everyone for your support throughout the year and your lovely comments. It means a lot.

Wishing you a fantastic day. Peace and Love.

A Tulip isn't just for Christmas...

2010-12-20T17:16:00.002Z

...It's here at last! Our Christmas present to each other is now in place, although David has said that it's really more for me than it is for him which is fine by me because it means it's all mine. We had delays picking it up because of the snowfall earlier this month, it was then not in the warehouse where it was supposed to be and the van of the friend who was going to pick it up had to have the gearbox replaced. I was chomping at the bit for it's eventual arrival.

It took three of us to move the marble table top to the third floor. Although I had carefully measured the flights of stairs and landings it was still tricky getting all twenty stone of it around the corners! There was a lot of huffing and puffing and it took us the best part of an hour to finally reach the top. It also has to be moved vertically as much as possible which added yet more complications.

The best part of all this is that I managed to get the table for half price! I won't go into details but lets just say my thanks go out to a very helpful woman who made it possible.

Even at half price it was still a lot of money and we have never spent so much money on each other for Christmas before and probably never will again. Was it worth it? Oh yes! It is absolutely beautiful and everything you expect or want it to be.

Next thing...the chairs! Unfortunately the Series 7's do not go. The colours are wrong but more importantly they do not sit under the table very well because of the width of the legs but new ones (unless I come across an absolute bargain!) will have to wait...we are spent out!

That's Christmas covered...

2010-12-17T19:22:00.004Z

For the last three years plus I have been doing a spoof magazine cover (sort of monthly) on the Livingetc forums called Bitchingetc and this is the newly launched Christmas cover. I try to feature forum members homes as much as possible but sometimes a little (with big devastation to my flat!) photo shoot has to be done.

I made the Eames inspired trees with cardboard and some deigns I put together incorporating the Eames bird and the Eames Office logo. I have also used the same pattern as wrapping paper. I think I may re-make the trees using MDF instead next time.

Friday feast...

2010-12-17T13:54:00.004Z

We have had an awful lot of snow and it's whiter than white...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Going Underground...

2010-12-03T19:46:00.004Z

...I have more new designs in my Etsy shop. They are obviously based on the famous London Underground signage which I like but I wanted something a bit more quirky and individual. There will be other different place names available and they can be printed with any colour background you like. Also if you have a particular word or name place in mind then let me know.

Friday feast...

2010-12-03T19:16:00.005Z

Happy Friday everyone. Have a great, relaxing and warm weekend.

Are you a Jackie or a Marilyn?...

2010-12-02T17:56:00.004Z

...I've just bought this fantastic Mad Men inspired poster which is a collaboration between Print Mafia and Hero Design Studio.

It is the second print in their ongoing Mad Men series and is a tribute to episode six of season two called "Maidenform". The poster is a two colour silkscreen and is 16" x 20". It can be hung either way up to reflect your inner Marilyn or Jackie.

The poster cost $25 and each one is signed and numbered but be quick because there are only 150 available!

I think I may be a Marilyn...which one are you?

Eames green dream...

2010-12-01T15:25:00.005Z

...Yes OK I know but I just couldn't resist this little green dream of a chair.

I had been watching it for a week on Evilbay and the price had stayed unusually low so near the end of the auction I thought I would give it a go and I managed to get my hands on it for £43! Yes, £43! I still can't believe it myself. It's in excellent condition and the Kelly green hopsack is still incredibly vibrant with no signs of fading. I have been after this shade of green for a while so I couldn't be more pleased.

I had a bit of a fiasco with trying to get a courier to pick it up for me. It was either too big (it had to fit in a 60cm square box) or the quote was extortionate. So in the end one of David's work colleagues who lives in the same city very kindly picked it up and took it to Bristol. Then another colleague who was working in the Bristol office collected it and brought it back to Swansea. It's travelled around a lot in the last week.

I may use it as my office chair, I have the same base but on castors which I may swap over but then again it would look rather nice on a dowel base...

Daily drooling...

2010-11-29T14:09:00.002Z

Poster crush...

2010-11-26T13:08:00.006Z

...I swooned when I came across these gorgeous vintage Knoll posters/advertisments. They were designed by the Swiss designer Herbert Matter. There is a timelessness about them just like the design classics that they are showcasing. They still look as fresh and vibrant as when they were designed.

Herbert Matter was a design consultant for Knoll from 1946 - 1966 and was responsible for the Knoll logo, numerous advertisements, posters and the catalogue format.

Friday feast...

2010-11-19T17:58:00.003Z

...Oh how I love the raw look of concrete. One day we will have polished concrete floors in our apartment...

Have a great weekend everyone.

Via Baan, Ffffound, Flickr

Be you...

2010-11-18T17:10:00.004Z

I have been working on a new series of typographic prints and this is the first in the series which is now available in my Etsy shop Yumalum.

I have also been looking into having a few designs screen printed which should be happening soon. The first design to get the screen printed treatment will be my Eames rocker print in silver on black or a dark grey. There will also be some new designs on cushions too. It's all very exciting...

Daily drooling...

2010-11-18T13:49:00.003Z

..warm and cosy with a killer view.

Sitting pretty...

2010-11-16T15:51:00.003Z

I managed to win a new chair on Evilbay today to add to my growing (out of control!??) collection. It's a gorgeous Kelly green upholstered side chair on a star base and it cost me all of £43! An absolute bargain, although David wasn't amused at first (before he found out how much it cost) because of the rather large impending purchase we are about to make.

I think I may end up needing a way to display all of my chairs eventually, maybe like something in the above pic!?? OR a chair museum! I would love my very own museum dedicated to chairs. People could touch (maybe...) but definitely not sit!

Pics of the new chair and more info on the very exciting purchase coming soon...

Friday feast...

2010-11-12T18:27:00.003Z

Loving the warmth of wood and a cosy fire. Have a cosy and warm weekend everyone.

Dream spaces 52...

2010-11-08T19:19:00.004Z

I came across pics of this place designed by Bruce Bolander a while ago and I loved it instantly but I couldn't remember where I had seen it until it popped up on the fantastic Plastolux. The green sofa is delicious and the view just incredible.

Friday feast...

2010-10-29T16:55:00.004+01:00

A splash of orange for Halloween. I love how grey and orange compliment each other like in the recent pics of my loft.

Have a spooky weekend everyone!

Via Plastolux, Flickr and Ffffound

Sunny classics...

2010-10-25T14:33:00.003+01:00

...my new Saarinen gorgeousness bathed in bright Autumnal sunshine this morning.

Friday feast...

2010-10-22T17:53:00.006+01:00

Happy weekend all.

Via Flickr, Design Therapy, Ffffound

Dream spaces 51...

2010-10-22T10:55:00.004+01:00

...Loving how the lounge opens up onto the decked outside area and the units with the sliding doors are exactly what I would like from wall to wall under our TV to house all of the other gadgets, amp, PC, XBox, Playstation etc etc...

The BR House designed by Brazillian architect Marcio Kogan

Via Contemporist

Died and gone to heaven...

2010-10-20T19:05:00.002+01:00

...I had a very special delivery yesterday...my main birthday present!

I knew I was getting one and it was ordered back in early July but I had to wait longer because where they are produced in Italy closes down for the whole month of August.

It's so beautiful and I can't stop staring at it. I'm very lucky and I can't believe I actually have one. There will be more pics soon when I get a chance to take some so I took this quick snap with my iPhone to wet your appetite...

Flickrlicious

2010-10-18T14:25:00.002+01:00

Via Flickr

Friday feast...

2010-10-15T17:12:00.004+01:00

Happy Friday all. Have a great weekend.

Daily drooling...

2010-10-15T15:48:00.001+01:00

...Oh for an Egg or two...

Sunny Eames...

2010-10-14T15:02:00.003+01:00

...I took this early yesterday morning with my iPhone. I came across an App on Twitter called Instagram which enables you to take a pic, add an effect to it, a comment and upload to Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and Facebook, it really is a great little App for those random moments you want to capture.

You can also follow me on Twitter

New York, I love you...

2010-10-12T16:32:00.004+01:00

I came across this New York loft a while ago and I was instantly in love with it. From the original columns to the windows to the great expanses of white to the furniture...everything about it.

I can't remember where I came across it but I think I'm right in saying that the apartment is in SoHo which makes it even more perfect...sigh...

Also loving the Papa Bear chair designed by Hans Wegner in the second pic.

Daily drooling...

2010-10-09T10:16:00.003+01:00

Loving the scale of this room, the splashes of colour and the cut outs in the blue wall. MMMMmmmmmm Womb chair....

Friday feast...

2010-10-08T14:17:00.004+01:00

Happy weekend all.

Big down under...

2010-10-06T15:53:00.004+01:00

...I'm a lot excited right now...Jo and Kim of the daily must read and truly inspirational Desire to Inspire were asked to choose the blogs they were loving for the latest issue of the Australian interiors mag Inside Out....and little old Obsessilicious is one of them!!!! I may just start hyperventilating!

To say that I am shocked, thrilled and proud is an understatement, thank you so much Jo and Kim for taking the time to peruse my little obsessive world and including me in such great company.

Click on the second image below to see the other delicious blogness included in the list including my gorgeous friend Raina of If the lampshade fits.

I need to go and lie down...

Cushion the blow...

2010-10-05T16:32:00.003+01:00

...It was my birthday last week and lets just say that I am not amused with my age.

Anyway, I had some fantastic presents (my main one from David is still to arrive but I will let you know what that is in a week or so) including this gorgeous spiral cushion from my sister. I have been trying to decide on what colour combination to have for a while but she made my mind up for me with this two tone grey number. She makes all the felt by hand including the spiral. I think I may want another one, I just have to decide what colour to have...

Dream spaces 50...

2010-10-05T15:10:00.007+01:00

...This is a Dream Spaces post with a difference...it's a dolls house!

The Emerson House is designed by Doug Rollins and Tim Boyle of Brinca Dada, it's 1:12 scale and has six rooms, a living room, kitchen, library/office, master bedroom, bathroom and childs bedroom. It boasts solar panels, sliding doors, and recessed LED lights, all the mod cons and ready to move into. Furniture will also be available soon.

I want a full size version please...

Mad about Helvetica...

2010-10-02T11:33:00.002+01:00

..whilst watching a recent episode of Mad Men (loving the new offices BTW!) I suddenly shouted to David (he was lounging on the sofa next to me) that there was a Helvetica poster in the background. I was ridiculously excited and David tried his best to look and sound interested.

Well Swiss Dots has produced a limited edition screenprint inspired by a 1960's promotional poster for the film "Helvetica". It is screenprinted by hand on archival 300gsm paper, A2 size in a numbered edition of 100 copies and each one is signed by the director Gary Hustwit. They are available to order here while stocks last at $150. I am so tempted...

Loft flooring and an Ikea hack...

2010-09-24T13:30:00.004+01:00

At long last I have started to put down the grey vinyl flooring in my loft/studio! It's been a while coming but I have bitten the bullet, it was a bit scary making that first cut but thankfully most of the edges will be covered by skirting boards which I will fit afterwards. With 26 square metres to cover there is still a way to go but it's a start.

I have also been doing an Ikea hack with the Aspvik unit I bought a while ago. I liked it but it was a bit boring and I wanted a more mid-centuryish look to it so I drilled the hole/handle in each door and then sprayed them. I'm rather pleased with it....

Dream spaces 49...

2010-09-24T10:12:00.003+01:00

The Carrillo residence in Santa Monica by Ehrlich Architects

Via Contemporist

Black beauty...

2010-09-14T17:38:00.002+01:00

I've bought another Eames chair! I just couldn't resist (and I really did try!) when I saw this sexy little number. I've never come across a black naughyde upholstered and black shell before for sale so my heart was all of a flutter. It came on a black H base but I also bought a dowel base which I think looks rather special.

I bought it from Pink Flamingos which is where I have bought the majority of my chairs.

Where is it going to go? No idea at the moment...I just had to have it...

Boxing clever...

2010-09-12T11:40:00.004+01:00

...Loving these new storage units by Habitat. It's always been a favourite UK store of mine but it has been very hit and miss for a while now but these seem to be a move in the right direction. The bocksey modular shelving system is made up of separate boxes and has a gorgeous bold retro graphic look to them. Available soon...

As bright as you like...

2010-09-02T09:50:00.004+01:00

...Inject some colour into a room with bold graphic one off pieces...

1. Spiral cushion designed and made with handmade felt by my sister. Available soon in different colour combinations at Feltlove

2. Tradig Wire fruit bowl available from IKEA

3. Pumpkin chair designed by Pierre Paulin and available from Lignet Roset

4. Origami cushion available in lots of different colours by Cushlab

5. Jielde floor lamp

6. Pop stool available from M&S

And the winner is...

2010-08-27T16:49:00.003+01:00

...Thank you everyone for leaving your comments and entering the Illustrated Living giveaway. A huge thank you to Rosie and Chris for being so generous too!

So I put all of your names in a Krenit bowl earlier and David picked out the winning name and the lucky winner is...Nick Cee!

Congratulations on winning and enjoy choosing something gorgeous.

There will be another giveaway soon so keep your eyes peeled.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday feast...

2010-08-27T16:46:00.002+01:00

2010-08-13T14:03:00.005+01:00

What better way to start a Summer weekend than with a giveaway! YAY!

Obsessilicious has teamed up with the lovely Rosie and Chris of the fabulous Illustrated Living who have very kindly offered a £30 "cyber gift voucher" (as I like to call it) to the lucky winner!

Yes, £30 to spend on something (or a few things) from their fantastic range of gorgeousness. From Pantone mugs to Ferm Living cushions to Orla Kiely bedlinen to a retro trim phone....too many delicious things to mention and drool over.

So if you fancy a punt, please leave a comment and the winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday 27th August 2010. The closing date will be Thursday 26th August.

Could you please state your name or email address to avoid any confusion.

This give away is open to the UK only.

Good luck everyone and have a great weekend!

Sneaky peek...

2010-08-12T11:52:00.005+01:00

...The spiral stairs are coming along nicely. I've sanded them and filled the holes with a metal putty which absolutely stinks but it dries solid and is ready to sand in an hour. There are five holes in each of the thirteen steps so it certainly is turning into a labour of love. I'm painting them with a white primer and the final coats will also be white. The walls are currently being covered with dry walling plasterboard to cover up the open joists at the top, it's looking so much better already. More pics soon...

Daily drooling...

2010-08-12T10:26:00.002+01:00

Sparks flew part 2...

2010-08-06T15:44:00.004+01:00

...I may have gone a shade mad but I have now taken off all of the wooden steps on the spiral staircase! It's beginning to resemble the magnificent staircase I blogged about a few weeks ago and I'm loving it...even David likes it and didn't pull a face when he saw it earlier,he also said why hadn't I thought of doing before now!?! He had told me to absolutely not even attempt it but since when do I do as I'm told where DIY or decorating is concerned?

The pic below is looking up into the loft which was plastered a while ago to get rid of the vile swirley artex. No more vile metalwork in the way to ruin the view...

Daily drooling...

2010-08-06T15:42:00.002+01:00

Sparks flew...

2010-08-04T14:47:00.004+01:00

...I've been busy with my angle grinder and I've attacked the spiral staircase to the loft!

I've been waiting for a local metal company to give me a quote for the last six weeks for a new spiral staircase and still nothing. What's wrong with these companies, I would have thought they would be falling over themselves for new business in the current financial climate!? I think what I wanted was far too minimal for him and he was most disappointed when he suggested having hearts cut into the metalwork and I said no thanks! So I have unscrewed and cut away the vile uprights and handrail which has made a huge improvement. The before pic below on the left was taken nine years ago when we moved in...

I did start painting the wooden steps a while ago but I'm not sure what to do with them at the moment? I had thought of stripping them back and re-varnishing but as you can see each step has a hole in them where the metalwork was attached...

I may fill the holes in the wood and carry on painting them or remove them altogether and get metal ones made and attach them. Now do I paint it the same grey or black or white or...