London Design Week - Easter Inspiration

I had high hopes for my visit to London Design Week at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour a few weeks ago, and it certainly was an impressive collection of interior design shops, but not really an exhibition as I had expected (do your homework better next time Anne...). I struggled to take photos as virtually all the beautiful displays were window displays, and as such behind glass full of light reflections. Tricky, as there were a lot of colours and details that I wanted to capture.

One of the first displays that caught my eye was this one from a shop selling tableware, and I think it illustrates beautifully that plain white china is the ultimate choice, as you can accessorise and style it for any season or event.

The mood throughout was elegant and very highly polished, it felt like wandering through a hotel with lots of beautiful compartments. So this 'casual' display of felt, burlap and damask together in the Elitis window was cute in a 'we don't take ourselves too seriously, mais ne touchez pas' kind of way

Purple Inspirations - Mateus

In December we tend to socialise more than usual - everyone wants to invite friends to gløgg parties and pre-Christmas get-togethers at home. This is when it's useful to have lots of little trays and bowls to put cakes, biscuits and canapés on. We have a combination of cream porcelain in the 'Arv' series from IKEA (this series is now made in chalky-white earthenware) and cream Wedgwood 'Edme'. So far so cream...
I've realised that my strong penchant for white and cream in all our tableware and furnishing fabrics stems from my many years of living in rented accommodation. Faced with pink, mid or dark blue, or mustard coloured carpets, plus varying shades of magnolia or other yellow walls my instinct was to neutralise with whites. White bedlinen, cream curtains, white towels, cream tableware. I must have been desperate for a calm colour-scheme. Now that the communal areas of our house are painted in varying shades of chalky white (no surprise there), I've gradually come to the realisation that it could all be a bit too neutral...
I tentatively dipped my toe in grey. And liked it. Next I went for charcoal. And liked it even more. For our New Years Eve dinner I have found a charcoal-so-dark-it's-nearly-black tablecloth in cotton from H&M. (I find H&M's styling incredibly seductive, their clever stylists really know how to sell to me) I thought a black tablecloth would be more forgiving with red wine sploshes and all those other stains that you end up with during a festive dinner party.

 Photo: H&M

And I have recently fallen for the charms of Swedish tableware brand Mateus, with their rich colours and beautiful reliefs. Imagine a dark tablecloth set with dishes in purple like this:

Photo: Mateus

Or perhaps in grey like this:

Photo: Mateus

Or even pink, as styled by my favourite interior blogger: Anette at Inredingshjälpen

Photo: Inredingshjälpen

Scandiliving sells a selection of Mateus ceramics in their Surrey shop and online.

Purple inspirations - Wik & Walsøe

Photo: Country Style Magazine

Did you ever see a more enchanting motif on a mug? This is 'Alv' by the relatively young Norwegian porcelain firm Wik & Walsøe.