Right Royal Obsession

After the festivities of the Royal wedding I am feeling two things; firstly rather flat now that it’s all over but secondly overflowing with pride to be British. Having never thought of myself as a true patriot I have recently found my eyes welling up at the mere mention of ‘God save the Queen’ while unintentionally my house seems to becoming more red white and blue by the second. So in tribute to the happy couple and my newfound Union Jack craze here are a few things available at the moment.

These Union Jack silk memento cushions from RE are inspired by vintage souvenire scarf’s. They are backed in contrasting silk tie fabric and are a bold British statement for any room.

There’s something about the royals that makes you want to bake whenever they do something good. The King’s choice biscuit tin from dotcomgifts has a fabulous vintage feel to it as if it’s been passed down generations of royal baking extravaganzas. Alternatively could just be used to store your shop bought digestives but it should definitely be bought out with any cup of English tea.

On the subject of tea, a mug is a brilliant way to get a bit of union jack in your house. There is nothing more quintessentially British than the cup of tea, what could be more perfect than Emma Bridgewater’s Union Jack mug to host said tea. It comes in various sizes and she also does a range of plates and bowls to match.

Now that summer is upon us it’s time for the bunting to reemerge. Pedlars are currently stocking a Union Jack bunting in a lovely faded blues and reds. The flags are all hand printed and made in London. A must have for this season.

Finally, for those who either love Britain or just adore the regal colours of the Union Jack then this Edwardian double drop end sofa covered in vintage flags (Blighty England) is perfect. It would look brilliant in a plain room as the focal point or in an old leather clad study surrounded by books.

Congratulations to William and Kate.

3 of the best...door knobs

Nkuku, Daha Ceramic Door Knob, £4.95

Anthropologie, Lace-Strewn Knob, £10

Dotcomgifts, Red Spot Ceramic Door Knob, £4

Mad Men

Mad Men is the hottest TV series at the moment. Having dedicated my entire Christmas break to watching it I feel it is only right that I sing its praises. It is impossible not to get hooked to this sexy, stylized and provocative show set in 1960’s New York. While the story line is subtly captivating, you can’t help but notice the difference in lifestyle and how this is echoed in the 1960’s interior style. The designs, now considered retro, are being seen more and more on the current market. I love the 60’s look, especially when combined with pieces from other eras. Here are a few pieces from the Sterling Cooper office available today that Don Draper would approve of…if you haven’t heard of Don Draper then buy Mad Men first!

Low and long furniture is characteristic of the 1960’s design style. This teak sideboard with rosewood handles could be used in the office or the home. Currently available from The Old Cinema, it is one of a large collection of authentic 60’s furniture. The design creates lots of storage space in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Barely a scene goes by in the office without a glass of whisky being poured. Such a fantastic way to work, but it has to be done with these 60’s silver rimmed cocktail tumblers, perfect size for a small drink in a quick meeting. They are often for sale on ebay but you can find similar ones at Zara Home.

No office would be complete without desk lamps. In Mad Men the 1960’s lamps are in a similar monotone finishes to the rest of the office, as seen in this shot from Harry Crane’s office. They have an industrial look to them and all have the flexible arm. Find similar ones like this on ebay.

Meetings have never been as casual as in Sterling Cooper. These comfy low slung arm chairs are a Danish design simply made of chrome steel and leather. Perfect for the relaxed atmosphere of the 1960’s office. Find these at KlassikMobelkunst.com

The telephones used in the office are actually the 1950’s Bakelite phone. Both original vintage and modern replicas are widely available. Find these original ones at Robert Opie’s website. In an age of such technology it is great to see these beautiful phones come back onto the high street.

Season 4 Mad Men is now available on DVD and season 5 is due to been aired on Sky Atlantic soon.

It's the small things...

Transform a room by adding in quirky, interesting bits and pieces, these are the things that stand out and give the space a bit of character. These pieces can be function or totally useless, the emphasis is more on the asthetic. I love rooting through car boot sales and charity shops for these kind of things. Also try salvage yards and antique shops. Here are a few I’ve found recently, they are all from antique shops with great websites so check them out if you’re in need of a bit of inspiration.

James Plumb is a combination of two artists who take cast offs and disused antiques and make them into one off pieces.

This is a fantastic amalgamation of an old worn dictionary and a discarded candle sconce makes an eye catching wall sconce. They are an inspirational duo that inspires you to reconsider throwing anything away.

Retrouvius is an architectural salvage yard that has a fantastic range of furniture, lighting and accessories all reclaimed and restored.

This central line tube sign would look great either on the wall to give an eclectic look mixed with other pictures, or could be used as a retro tabletop.

Robert Young hosts a collection of fine antique country furniture, folk art and unusual vintage items of predominantly rural and provincial origin. They have everything from tables to pincushions so is a great place to find interesting bits.

This pair of vintage sign writers trestles has been beautifully converted into a set of shelves through the combination of contemporary glass and the old painted pine trestles. A brilliant structure to host more interesting pieces you might find.

Joss Graham has long been the go to man for antique ethnic textiles from India, Asia and Africa. In recent years he has expanded the collection to include paintings, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery.

An example of his collection is this Indian silk painting from the village of Orissa. The simplicity of the monochrome combined with the intricate detail of the picture makes a beautiful piece guaranteed to add interest to any room.

The Old Cinema is a whole department store filled with a fascinating collection of antique, vintage and retro pieces. It is overflowing with unique items that catch the eye.

This parts box could be used for extra storage in any room and I love the colour and interesting shape paired with the retro writing.