Cape to Casablanca

Hertex recently released a stunning new range of wallpapers called Cape to Casablanca. The name alone (what's not to love about both the Cape AND Casablanca after all) is wonderful and I really love the feel of this range. They remind me of Robin Sprong's range of wallpapers which are also totally, totally and especially awesome!

Beldi (below) is described as a Moroccan-goes-modern tile pattern and I think they are super usable. My absolute favourites are the blue/green and the green/pink/orange. 

I LOVE this colour combination below. Anyone for coffee and dates?

Ultra-hip palm trees are included in the mix - the colourway featured below is my fave.

 Last but not least, brightly coloured macaws can be on your walls. I think this would be utterly sublime as a feature wall. I'd love to find an old steam trunk I could wallpaper with this.

Till next time nerds, only 7 hours till gin o'clock :)

x

a piece of the past

In December last year I was forced to spruce up the house quite a bit as we were renting it out over the Christmas season (it's amazing how you suddenly notice how shabby things are looking when you have to look at your house as a stranger would. Eeek!)

Anyhow, although nothing will beat white-on-white-on-white for bed linen, I did want to break things up a bit and create a bit of a mood. So, I found these gorgeous Swiss prints at my local haberdashery (Global Textiles for those in Cape Town - and yes, they still have them). I kept the bed linen very neutral (white or pale grey) and then added the floral prints on the pillow slips. The base-cloth is the most sublime, soft 100% cotton and I paired the print with plain taupe, white, grey or pale blue slips.

They've been such a hit (OK, mostly with me) that I went to see if I could find some more. I did! Fabric World in Wynberg has a BIG FAT range of vintage prints. So so lovely. They also have plain, striped and gingham chambrey which works wonderfully with the floral prints. If you like the look but can't find any near you, track down quilting fabric. Some of the designs can be a bit naff but you're bound to find some gems (like the small floral on the chartreuse and duck-egg blue background in the second photo). 

If you're worried that the men in your life will come down with hives if you bring florals home (BK once told me he doesn't like fabric that looks like "granny fabric), the secret is to a) sneak it in bit by bit and b) mix it up with something like the geometric blue and green prints (above).

The course-woven grey cotton (above) is home dyed. If you're a perfectionist, I don't recommend home dying - it's not very neat! (Don't look too closely!)

How insane are these bright colours? The one with the turquoise background is my latest find and I always have sweet dreams when I sleep on it :)

I know not all my readers are based in Cape Town, so I hunted down some other vintage prints and found these ones (below) from americanfolkandfabric.com. So stunning.

Pip Studio are of course the besterestest when it comes to beautiful, fresh florals. You can buy all these goodies in the next four shots online. 

Last but not least, if you like the vintagey, romantic styling, do do do check out Selina Lake's work. She has a number of books you can buy (deliciously lovely) and you will find tons of her work online (mostly on Pintrest).

Till next week flowery nerds x :)

botanical beauty

There's something wonderfully calming about botanical anythings. My brother studied botany so I suppose I'm biased in favour of flora, but I think that botanicals manage to be both sweet and strong at the same time.

The one below is from Pier 1 via Pintrest. How glorious is that deep buttoning?

I found these local lovelies at Mavromac (Leaf of Faith at the top and Charlottes Garden bottom left) and the bottom one is from Brickhouse fabrics.

 I will never shy away from using the interior fabrics on apparel and vise versa. I found these two at House of Fraser.

It's no secret that Pip Studio (below) are masters of all patterns and their botanical prints are no different. Yes, this setup will do me very nicely thanks very much (I'm thinking a weekend away in the country with books and thread and wool and crochet hooks :)

The clever folk at Robert Allen put together these gorgeous botanicals (called Wild Oasis). I love how they're somehow a blend of a Jacobeany-type-floral and a botanical. Just lovely.

 Zara never disappoints! You can get these gorgeous scatters online at Zara Home. Love, love, love.

 Of course, Pip Studio is also famous for their wall coverings and I'm mad for the look below. White on white on white with some bold pattern to brighten things up.

Pottery Barn always come up with cool stuff and I like this fresh, dark take on the traditionally light botanical vibe.

Till next time nerds, 

Luffs :) x

birds of a feather

I managed to tear myself away from watching the Olympics so that I could indulge in some fabric gazing.  The aloes in our garden have just finished flowering and I miss the beautiful sunbirds that came to quench their sugary thirst on the flowers. My hankering led me  to these gorgeous bird inspired fabrics...

(Image via Foter.com)

I love love love the top two prints that I found at Norfolk Textiles (top row). The one on the right just makes me grin. Too much of lovely. I found the bottom two at (left to right) www.thefabricfinder.com and www.fashionfabricsclub.com. Birds are so sweet and uplifting. How could you be grumpy with birds on your fabric?

Oh Zara, Zara, Zara, this stunning scatter has my favourite bird on it. I'd love one of these!

I found these lovely local fabrics at Hertex. They are (clockwise) Whistler, Swallow ad Tawny.

How sweet does this armchair look? It looks like it's been upholstered in Whistler. (Image via Foter.com)

I have a real soft spot for all things owlish, especially since the lovely daughter of a friend of mine loves owls. The fabric below is from Sanderson via St Leger.

Last but not least, the fabrics below are more traditional but no less lovely. I love the colouring in Giardino by Hertex (top) and I think the bottom two wallpapers from Sanderson can fresh and versatile. 

Till next time nerds and birds

x :)

awakening and kavango, with love...

So, Hertex has just launched three new ranges but I have to showcase the two I love the most, Awakening (my favourite favourite) and Kavango (my only slightly less favourite). 

Here is their spin on Awakening...

"Forget your granny’s floral prints, the new crop of flower print fabrics burst with bold colour and organic, painterly prints."

This range is primarily all about prints on stunning linen and viscose blend base-cloths. But that's not the sum of the things I love. I am mad mad mad about the palette and I love love love the oversized scale of the prints.  The next three shots are all from Awakenings. Utterly sublime if you don't mind.

If I'm pressed to choose a favourite, it would have to be the oversized paisley. Too stunning for words.

The images below are from Kavango and here is a snippet of Hertex's spin...

"A 100% locally produced collection that is perfect for upholstery, the Kavango collection of fabrics features six designs, which eschew the traditional and feature a more organic feel, perfect for clean-lined,contemporary interiors."

I think the colours in the Kavango range are great. Very gender-neutral (yes, I'm always on the hunt for these types of fabrics because of all the squabbling that goes on between spouses about what is "blue" and what is "floral" and, erm, what is allowed on my couch/bed/chair :). They're primarily manufactured from polyester which generally means that you don't have to be too precious about them. Great for holiday houses, lodges and such. GREAT that it's 100% locally produced - Whoop! Go local <3

I'd like to see a sofa made up in the second last fabric from the right (below). I know it seems boring at first glance but I think it's a winner that could work for almost any interior scheme.

Tell next time nerds x :)