Western Mail article - July 11th 2009

Home made chic the way to go this summer Charming, folksy and quirky is very much the vibe for interiors this season.

So it’s time to have another look at those battered old chairs and pieces of chipped vintage china, as these faded lovelies can be reintroduced to the home as items of shabby chic.

For a deliciously eclectic selection of goodies look at Lou Rota’s online shop at http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/.

Her work reflects her passion for the natural world and her belief in recycling.

She uses collage and other techniques to bring unloved objects back to life.

Whether it’s a well-used desk or a salvaged polypropylene stacking chair, each of her transformations is unique.

Stag beetles march across a washed out chintz tea plate, jaded chairs are pepped up with blooms of roses, nettles and thorns, while butterflies flit over misted old glasses.

Her style is inspirational and witty.Have a hunt around junk shops for old items to transform yourself, so that you put your individual stamp on them.

I find car boot sales and flea markets irresistible, and have stacks of old china pieces I’ve hunted down.

My favourites are blue and white plates, jugs, cups and saucers.

None of it matches but that’s part of its appeal. It has a character and history that brand new stuff simply cannot touch.

If a piece of delicate bone china is too fragile to use, then collect several plates and hang them on the wall.If you are a fan of embroidery, then you’ll love Jan Constantine’s work.

She has just launched a book too, Heirloom Embroidery, and it’s an exquisite collection of 30 beautiful hand-embroidery projects designed by Jan that are suitable for beginners and established embroiders alike.

It’s a real antidote to today’s throwaway lifestyle, reminding us of the way past generations lived, when things were handed on, cherished and used.

Jan also makes fun cushions using traditional techniques yet imbuing the designs with an upbeat, modern flair.

Find out more by visiting her web site at www.janconstantine.com.For some very beautiful bedlinen take a look at www.luluandnat.com - designed by Natalie Robinson and Lulu McEvoy, a design combo with a zest for life.

Among my favourites are the pretty quilts, hand printed in India and available from cot to king-size - so everyone in the family can enjoy them.

Their designs are available from Designer’s Guild as well as from the duo’s own web site.In addition to the glorious bedlinen, there’s also a vibrant selection of embroidered bags, cushions and throws.

Wallpaper is back big time.

One of the new kids on the block is Bloompapers (www.bloompapers.com), which has an innovative approach to wallpaper.

The company offers you the chance to adorn your walls with large digitally printed images either of designs conjured up by contemporary artists or images of your own choice - a favourite photograph, for example.

Bloompapers takes your photos and magically transforms them into high quality non woven wallpaper - designed to fit the wall space you have available.

It’s a great way of filling up big walls, and makes a novel change to hanging painting or prints.

If you use one of your own images, you can also rest assured that nobody else will have the same thing.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk _________________________

Western Mail Article - July 18th 2009

There’s more to sheds than potting...

Sheds are no longer dumping grounds for mouldy old pots, decaying lawnmowers, and broken deck chairs, modern sheds are more likely to house a wood burner and a PC than cobweb-strewn junk.

Sheds serve a multitude of functions from home offices to retreats, saunas to extra bedrooms, creative dens to artists’ studios, playrooms to places to potter.

Garden sheds have long been a place of inspiration for a diverse range of people.

Trevor Bayliss tinkered away in one and came up with his wind-up radio; Benjamin Britten composed in one; Dylan Thomas famously penned Under Milk Wood in his tiny shed above the Boat House in Laugharne, while Arthur Miller, Rudyard Kipling and Philip Pullman have all produced magnificent work from their writing dens.

Harley and Davidson even designed the first of these legendary motorcycles in a shed.For the ultimate guide to the best sheds on the block, a new book called Shed Chic, published by Jacqui Small in conjunction with Country Living magazine takes a look at the options.

Writer, Sally Coulthard, has travelled far and wide to winkle out the best the shed world has to offer, from nostalgic rustic affairs decked in trailing foliage, to earthy log cabins, to sleek modernist dwellings.

Contemporary sheds can be pretty startling, providing the opportunity for the imagination to run riot.

They come in all shapes and sizes and utilise a wide range of materials: metal, glass, plastic, timber, concrete and natural stone.

A shed does provide an opportunity for whimsy.

If we live in an urban environment we can act out our rural fantasies by creating a den in the garden complete with stove and rugs and rocking chairs.

Within reason we have a license to have some fun, although planning restrictions will curb more outlandish projects, particularly if they block out a neighbour’s light, or blot the landscape in some way.

If you are starting from scratch rather than utilising an existing structure, then work out how you will use the space and also where to position the shed.

Do you want to flood the place with daylight, or would you prefer a secretive hideaway?

Will it have a dual function? And what about security?

A home office in a shed provides an escape from the demands of domestic life which can be an intrusion for the self-employed.But will your expensive gear be safe?

Make sure that your PC is covered by your home insurance policy, and don’t provide too much of a foliage screen in case that makes it easy for a burglar to nip in unseen.

If you’d like to reduce the impact of your structure, consider a grass roof that helps the place blend in with its surroundings while also providing insulation.

For most of us space is at a premium, so it maybe that we have to share the shed with tools.

Gardening tools can be suspended on vintage coat hooks and upturned pots can sit on chunky shelves - creating an aesthetically pleasing effect.

Creating visual appeal out of electrical items like strimmers and lawn mowers is somewhat harder!Size isn’t everything when it comes to sheds.

You can buy tiny structures from DIY stores and garden centres, and personalise them with a lick of paint.

If you want something with more character reclamation yards often have antique garden structures in need of some TLC - these are perfect if you don’t mind applying some elbow grease to doing them up.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk

Western Mail Article - 4th July 2009

Idle away the summer days with some nifty tricks.

Some fakes can be better than the real thing.

Take a look at the latest in artificial turf.

Lazy Lawn (www.lazylawn.co.uk) allows you to wave good-bye to the business of mowing, along with the trauma of bald patches, weeds, moss and mud.

You can pick from 10 realistic styles.

I like the emerald green shade of Lazy Summer.

If you have a concrete yard you can simply roll this out during the summer months and pack it away in the winter.

Meanwhile, bring on the sun loungers and chill out.

Artificial turf is a great idea for a shady garden, where real grass struggles.

It’s also a bonus if you have a family and the lawn gets scuffed by kids playing.

When planning your garden, treat it as you would your interior living space and divide it up into areas in order to create interest.

Stagger your flower borders rather than laying them out in long ribbons, and try and create a journey from one end of the garden to the other.

Even in a tiny garden an element of surprise can be introduced by erecting a framework for plants such as wisteria to grow on, thus creating an intriguing look-through effect.

Outdoor sculpture is becoming very popular.




For unique contemporary sculpture look at Sculpture Culture (http://www.sculptureculture.co.uk/).

Helen Sinclair, Terry Ryall and Gary Ley are based at the far tip of the Gower Peninsula, and produce their work in the outbuildings of Helen and Terry’s farmhouse.

Large sculptures tend to need a lot of space around them to give them a context.

This can be a problem if you fall in love with something that’s to big for the space you have available.

Sure, if you love it, you should have it regardless.

But it’s worth bearing in mind that, in time, it might become overbearing, so choosing a piece that looks comfortable in its surroundings might be a better option.

A sculpture that looks as if it’s an organic part of your garden will add to the charm and
harmony.

Garden structures that can be used as home offices are increasingly popular too.

Such garden rooms are also excellent if the weather turns nasty on a your barbecue.

A structure like this can also serve as an extra bedroom after a summer party.

And can even be used in the depths of winter as long as it is adequately insulated and you have a form of heating, such as wood burner.

Cosy enclosed huts like this were very popular in Georgian gardens, although, if you want a lighter, brighter effect you can opt for more glass.

Look up www.roomsoutdoor.co.uk or call 020 7720 7799 for further information.

Another option for the garden is a gazebo. With open sides providing a panoramic view, they are ideal for sheltering from light rain or intense sun.

The Savannah Breeze House is ideal for a small garden, yet it can house eight people on circular bench seating around a 120cm table.





The roof options are Cape Reed thatch or cedar shingles.

Have a look at www.breezehouse.co.uk/savannah for further information.

Just make sure that your chosen building is in keeping with the rest of your garden.

If you have a very traditional, cottage garden, for example, a contemporary building could jar.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors.

Tel: 029 2037 1277. http://www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk/

Blog created 4th July 2009 by Molly Lamb ( Cathedral School )

Western Mail Article - 27th June 2009

The call of the wild.

Wild flowers are a popular motif on homewares this summer, with designers drawing their inspiration from meadows and hedgerows rather than carefully manicured borders.

Native flora abounds - from cowslips to cornflowers, field poppies to musk mallow. And songbirds have their moment of glory too, as do butterflies and various other winged insects.

This natural theme is imparting an untamed charm to fabrics, wallpaper and china.Textile designer Clarissa Hulse (www.clarissahulse.com/0207 375 1456) has a great collection featuring briar, yarrow, morning glory, reeds and vine.

She uses vibrant colours in her designs from brilliant flame orange to cool, crisp peppermint.A graduate of Brighton Art College, Clarissa has developed a nationwide reputation for her innovative work.

Her distinctive designs, and her commitment to finding the perfect combination of colour, print and fabric have marked her out as one of the UK’s most exceptional designers.

Botanical themes have always been Clarissa’s hallmark, even when she started her career designing silk scarves and glamorous evening wraps.

Her immensely popular homewares range is always growing - in addition to wallpaper, cushions, throws and lighting, she has added bedlinen to her repertoire.

Her Klimt duvet sets are a fabulous concoction of luxuriant colour, guaranteed to add panache to your bedroom décor.






Designer Kim Robertson (www.kimrobertson.co.uk/0207 242 6103) has launched some lovely butterfly print tea lights and vases.Kim is London-based and produces work for Designers Guild, Donna Karan and The Barbican Gallery at her Bloomsbury studio.

Her work evolves from her own photographs and drawings and develops into screen prints.

She prints predominantly with water-based pigments and foils onto silks, suedes, linens and printmaking papers.She also enjoys exploring new techniques and is now experimenting with the use of digital film.

She often collaborates with other artists, among them ceramacist Liz Emtage, with whom she has created the delicate printed porcelain lighting and vases pictured.

Yet another talented designer with a vivid portfolio of work is Fiona Howard. She has an eclectic outlook on life, imagery and design.

Her fresh, upbeat and contemporary style is very easy to live with, and her hedgerow prints are outstanding.

She specialises in mugs, laminated birch tea trays and tea towels, as well as cushion covers in heavyweight linen/cotton.

The latest addition to her range is a nifty tray table decorated with lush stems of spring angelica on a soft green background.

It’s great for picnics, out in the garden or in the conservatory, and, best of all, it can be packed flat and put away when it’s not in use.

Her breezy, outdoorsy appeal, and practical touch, means she is much sought after by many big names, among them John Lewis, Habitat, Esprit and Harlequin.

A pair of her mugs at £8.50 each, and one of her ‘Wild Pod’ trays at £9 would make a perfect set for a summer tea break out in the garden.

You can also take the wildly abundant flora and fauna theme into the kitchen and bathroom.

Fired Earth (www.firedearth.com/0845 366 0400) has put together a lively collection of wall tiles decorated with bees, dragonflies and butterflies.

Yvonne Jones is a Royal College of Art trained designer, and is the owner of Chameleon Interiors.

Tel: 029 2037 1277. http://www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk/

Blog created by Molly Lamb ( Cathedral School ) 2nd July 2009


During my work experience I followed Natalie around, gaining perspective of how an interior design buisness works. I have really enjoyed my week and feel maybe an option for the future.