Drawers filled with Style and Salvage - by Rupert Blanchard

Multi Drawer Cabinet Square by Rupert Blanchard.
Created with discarded drawers that were once part of a 40's desk, a fitted wardrobe,
a Victorian chest of drawers, a haberdashery shop cabinet,
a 50's sideboard and a 20's chest of drawers.

Rupert Blanchard is obsessed with drawers.  It began when he was a curious child visiting his Grandma's house, which was furnished with watchmakers cabinets and drawers.  His obsession and curiosity has developed into a creative talent for up-cycling abandoned, unused and unwanted drawers.  Blanchard scours junk shops, car boot sales and market stalls for discarded furniture to re-create into cabinets that will once again be wanted.  Each individual drawer has a story to tell from another era, brought together to create something extremely modern yet timeless.

As Rupert Blanchard says "The main rule I have set myself is to only use objects that no longer fulfill the purpose for which they were originally created, and to make the unwanted wanted again."

Glamourous and ramshackle jewelry by La Tonkinoise a Paris.

La Tonkinoise a Paris

I am delighted to have found La Tonkinoise a Paris:  a brand of delicate up-cycled jewelry.  Created with an arts and crafts approach, it's designer makes use of vintage rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches that she finds in Paris flea markets.  Each piece is hand-made to create unique items that mix together "glamourous and ramshackle, rough and luxurious, rock 'n roll and poetic".

By recycling discarded jewelry, La Tonkinoise's designer has brought to life rejected items to create modern individual pieces with a story to tell.

La Tonkinoise a Paris

La Tonkinoise a Paris

La Tonkinoise a Paris

La Tonkinoise a Paris

The name La Tonkinoise is taken from a Josephine Baker song of the same name.  Follow the link to hear this beautiful song ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlcW28ZUxFg

Mid Century Design in the Village

Dulwich College, Dulwich, London SE21.

Yesterday I headed off to the Mid Century Modern show being held in one of those London enclaves oddly known as a village. However, this part of London justifies the title. Dulwich Village has all the hallmarks of an English village despite being part of South East London's borough of Southwark. We drove alongside it's white picket fences, quaint shops and cafes, grand Georgian mansions and the Dulwich Picture Gallery before arriving at our destination. The magnificent Dulwich College. An impressive red brick building with large arched windows and statues carved into the stonework. Certainly a far cry from any college or school I have ever studied at. Not a pre-fab in sight!

Once inside, the design style changed to mid 20th Century as three large halls and a mezzanine level were stylishly filled for the day with Scandinavian, American and English retro furniture, 1950's textiles, huge modernist ceiling lights, glassware and glazed pottery signed by well known 20th Century designers with prices to occasionally raise an eyebrow. This was certainly a show for those people not psychologically equipped for flea markets, car-boot sales and junk shops.

Having said that there were many things that caught my eye and tugged at my purse strings:

Retro cushions and furniture at Emma Loves Retro

Emma Glibbery has a passion for retro textiles - she loves the large scale prints and bold colours. Emma re-designs discarded curtains and clothes into bright and beautiful cushions for her label Emma Loves Retro. Mid century furniture is also available, which Emma will source to customers' requests. It was the dining chairs shown in the corner of this photo that I considered buying - very reasonably priced at just over £200 for four.

Retro inspired hand-crafted products were also on show. I particular liked the whimsical designs traditionally screen-printed onto wallpaper by Lizzie Allen. All designs are hand-printed to order by Lizzie at her London studio. The paper is sourced from managed forests and any wastage is recycled at the local mill.

I'm torn between (no pun intended) the London City Gents design and the Jazz in Cental Park design. Two of my favourite cities. It's a difficult choice.

London City Gents wallpaper by Lizzie Allen

Jazz in central park wallpaper by Lizzie Allen

Retropolitan have a wonderful collection of gorgeous glassware, post war kitsch and mid 20th Century style objects. The glassware on display was truely gorgeous: solid jewel colours as well as swirling ombre effects. My only concern was that I might drop something only to be surrounded by shards of beautifully coloured glass.

Glassware and mid 20th Century ceramics from Retropolitan.

I gingerly moved on to admire a 1960's suitcase on the same stand. Perfect for filling with retro bits and pieces that I've accumulated. It would have been a great statement bag for my college books too.

Retro suitcase from retropolitan

Diesel Store Filled With Junk

I am a self confessed junky. I'm not ashamed to admit my obsession for junk and all things worn and torn. I can't pass by a junk shop without having a peak inside. A good old rummage.

This morning, I was stopped in my tracks as I rushed along Carnaby Street. It seems that someone at Diesel has my obsession for junk. The store has been transformed to create the appearance of a derelict building. It's all peeling layers of paint and rusting metal. Diesel's signature window display of edgy street fashion has been replaced by what can only be described as junk. Abandoned picture frames, neglected lamp-shades, random cups and saucers, scratched and scuffed suitcases now clutter the windows. Of course, it's not just any old junk. It's carefully selected junk. Styled junk. There, placed in amongst the junk, are Diesel's new season 'aged' jeans.

Diesel - as you would expect - are spot-on here with the trend for 'Rough Lux'. The trend for the not so perfect and slick*. The trend for surfaces aged by time*. I don't particularly like the concept of trends. Trends are a passing phase. Something soon to be replace. I would like to think that Diesel's display will inspire customers and passers-by to appreciate and embrace the beauty in cast-away objects. To recycle, re-use and re-design them. And, that includes last season's jeans.

* quoted from Textile View Magazine Issue 87

Diesel store

Carnaby Street, London

(Images by Re-Design for Life)

Treasures of Athens

Mention Athens and I used to think of the Acropolis, busy traffic filled streets and ferries to the islands. So imagine how happy I was to find some wonderful little vintage/junk shops and studios in the Psiri area. Open until late at night, spilling out onto the pavement they are a delight for anyone who enjoys a good rummage.