Lampshade Making Workshops

Are you fed up with seeing the same old plain and bland lampshades and can’t seem to find something that is so you? Why not make your very own lampshade and learn a new skill at the same time.

Why not book a lampshade making class (for Adults) with Pots of Art in Hitchin

 All you need to do is just bring along your fabric for making a 30cm lampshade (measurements should be at least 110cm x 30cm).  Light-weight or medium-weight cotton works best (with no textures, embroidery or embellishments).

You will be provided with everything else you need to make your lampshade.  Absolutely no sewing involved!

Workshops will be held at: Pots of Art – Hitchin

To book please call:  01462 420265

Provider: Tola Laseinde

Cost: £ 40 per person

Duration: 3 hours

Dates & Times: To be confirmed 

Online Shop: www.ankaralampshades.etsy.com

Facebook: www.fb.com/Dezine.Konnections.Interior.Design

Email: tola@dezinekonnections.com

If this venue isn't convenient for you, I can come to you. we offer one-to-ones, group workshops, you can even host a party or hen night with a difference (the host will be charged only half-price).

We cover Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and London. You can email me at tola@dezinekonnections.com

Why don't you have fun and learn anew skill at the same time. Make your very own unique lampshade made by your very own hands!

The Thomas Chippendale Factor ~ Happy 295th birthday Sir!

Oh how I so love classic periodic furniture. I mean the ones that take us back in time. And never go out of fashion

And today is a very significant day as we mark Thomas Chippendale's life!

Image Credit: google.co.uk

And I so love Google's Doodle. Trust them to come up trumps. All well-known Chippendale furniture pieces 'doodly' represented here!

So, who was THOMAS CHIPPENDALE? 
He was a very famous 18th century English cabinet maker as well as a furniture designer. And he's from Yorkshire, just like me :-) I wrote a piece about him for one of Interior Design Diploma assignments which is reproduced below

 "He was well known for making furniture that was more functional thus concentrating on strength over appearance. Quite famous for his cabriole legs with the carved claw and ball foot that were popular on his chairs and dining tables He loved using acanthus leaf as carved designs and pierced urn shaped splats on chairs. His style commonly featured elaborate lines and embellishments

Chippendale published a book called “the Gentlemans’ and Cabinet-Makers’ Director”. This served like an advertising journal for tradesmen.
He also had a Chinese style, sometimes called Chinoiserie which featured pagodas, bamboo turnings, claw-and-ball feet, intricate latticework and lacquering. Then finally, he had a Gothic influenced style that contained pointed arches, quatrefoils and fret-worked legs.Chippendale was best known for his desks and secretaries and he was the first to design the Pembroke table which had a drop-leaf design with an oblong or rectangular fixed centrepiece which contained a drawer underneath.Thomas Chippendale loved using Rococo, Chinese and Gothic influences and representing this in his furniture by including motifs like shells, rocks, foliage, flowers  and C scrolls..  His was a master carver with designs typically being made of His later works had French-Chinese and Gothic influences."

And now I share some of his most beautifully designed furniture ......

Lovely Jappened Chippendale wardrobe in Green and Gold at Nostell Priory.

Image credit:  nttreasurehunt.wordpress.com via Pinterest

A couple of "Chippendale" armchairs 

Image credit: tdclassicist.blogspot.com via Pinterest

Now this I adore. Rococo inspired Chippendale mirror adorned with flowers, birds, leaves and bulrushes.

Image Credit: furniturestyles.net via Pinterest

This lovely corner cabinet with chinoiserie detailing, I believe, was made for the actor David Garrick 1768  - 1778. 

Image credit: vam.ac.uk via Pinterest

}My take on Thomas Chippendale ~ His furniture pieces are classics, their value has appreciated a lot over time and I wouldn't mind owning a piece of history one day!~ 

The Glass Effect

I have always been fascinated with glass and how is applied in design of products, interiors, architecture. Glass is smooth. Glass is transparent. Glass is sleek. Glass is classy. I can go on and on about why I think glass is a good touch to your interiors. 

Image credit: gweenkent.blogspot.co.uk

Show me a home that doesn't have some form of glass in/attached to it and I'll 

Timeless Furniture ~ The Bathroom Vanity

Gosh I haven't done one of these in like  ..... ages. 

I think this baby-pink beauty is a winner. It's in the style of new Baroque    It's a revival of the old style and the pink colour puts a spin on it. I absolutely love it. The edges of the mirror have  been delicately cut out. 

The handles look like a big buckle. Too cute

Image Credit: http://www.fournimagz.com/ 

I'm curious as to where you would place this piece? In the bathroom or somewhere else entirely? Would love to read your feedback!

Yaay!! Handmade Ankara Fabric Lampshades now on Etsy

As you know I have been very busy with my new business venture which I am so passionate about. Am so happy to announce that we now have an online shop, please click on Ankara Lampshades on Etsy to get there ;-)

AnkaraLampshades Ankara Lampshades by Dezine Konnections Interior Design

Favourite

I started making Handmade Ankara fabric Lampshades and they come in

Lights, Camera, Action!

I've always had a thing for stage & production design having worked for a film and television production company in another life. I'm always fascinated with the way film sets are staged and the final design. They always tell a story. 

This one below is from the movie 'Somethings Gotta Give'. The wicker chairs are wicked! and black. Very clean and smooth lines accentuate this set design as well as the neutral colours used.

Next one up is from the 'Adjustment Bureau' movie. The ceiling lampshade

Happy 150th Anniversary London Underground Map

It's the 150th Anniversary of the London Underground Map. Can you believe it? Is it really that old! Wow. But you really can't do without it. I keep on finding old version here and there around my home. They are definitely here to stay!

Image Courtesy of  http://www.alllitup.co.uk  

I love this beautiful London Underground Map Edition of Blue Marmalade's

Introducing 'Ankara Lampshades' by Dezine Konnections Interior Design

Am sure you all have been wondering why I have been so so quiet. Well I have been getting my 'game on' in the world of handmade design. Still falling with the realm of interior design. The love of handmade pieces is currently very trendy and I don't see it tapering off. At all. 

Have you ever wanted something different within your home to give it that

DKID W-I-P ........ It won't be too long now

Sorry all my avid readers and faithful followers of my blog, I know I have been unusually silent for a while. But I have 

Something is, most definitely, brewing and it's really gonna be .................... Well I think I'll wait for you to be the judge of that. Your honest opinion really matters a lot to me. And am not just saying that!

So, work, is still, in progress. Yes I have the briefs of my new project bursting at it's seems. Literally.

But I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. All I can say at this moment is that it involves fabric (initially) and here's a sneak pic below. I don't want to give it all away, not just yet!

Does anyone know what type of material is in the images above? Will let you know when I reveal what has been keeping me so so busy.

I know it doesn't seem like much but please 'watch this space' and you'll soon find out. The future's looking good though!

Timeless Furniture: The Louis Ghost Chair

Cello playing ghosts sitting on fabulous Louis Ghost Chairs ( my desired caption for the image below)

Now I don't know about you but I absolutely adore the 'Louis Ghost Chair'. The design itself commands an audience, it's definitely in a league of it's own. 

Let's start from the beginning ........

A Headboard's Headline details!

Isn't the intricate detailed design on this bed's headboard just so finely done! Never seen anything like this. Kind of tropical and looks like a plant flowering. Am digging the cool blue colour as well. What do you think it looks like? 


The play of colours go so well with each other. The slate-colour wall and the light-blue headboard.

My Cool Shed Book by Jane Field-Lewis

I seem to be winning a lot of stuff from nice twitter users so unexpectedly. My latest win was a free signed copy of  Jane Field-Lewis's 'My Cool Shed'. There was also a bonus organic My Cool shed bag as well. Double Yaay!!!! and here's the link to prove it www.conrantalkingshop.com

Jane Field-Lewis guest-blogged for the 'Conran Talking Shop' which featured her favourite Items.

Readers were also invited to

Peter Carl Fabergé ~ The Godfather of Fabergé eggs

Today marks the 166th anniversary of the birth of Peter Carl Fabergé. He was

Four chairs with attitude !

I hope you are all enjoying the good and hot weather that has finally arrived. And TGiF too.

I'd like to share with you today some of my favourite chairs I have come across and captured with my faithful digicam. They are all unique in their own right and, if I must say, stand out in a class of their own too.

Timeless Furniture ~ Karlsson flip calendar Wall Clock

Hope you all had a good Easter. And break too.


I have kind of left this for a while so I thought it's time again for me to do a post on another design classic. This time it's on the Karlsson flip calender!

It's so so 'Retro'. I don't know about you but I've always loved it. Fits well in a home as well as in office, restaurants and hospitality environments. In any room. On any wall.

Beds of the future - A Giant Birds nest

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to 'actually' sleep in a birds nest. Well think no further as O*GE Architects have created a prototype fit for humans. You can see how cozy it looks with it's giant pillows and frame made out of mimicked twigs. Also the giant birds nest is well- padded for insulation and protection from the elements. 

It can be used for

The Millipede couch

Whenever I come across products that are different; as in style, unusual in size and  quite unique in design; I have to blog (shout) all about it. I just can't help it.

I hope you agree with

The Dearest Fitted Kitchen in the Whole Wide World

I wonder who would buy a kitchen like this? More so what would the person cook in a kitchen like this ??? I won't even want to switch the cooker on! It's called the 'Colosseo Oro' kitchen. It's got Sub-Woofer appliances made of metallic, leafing made out of 24-karat gold, lights made of Swarovski crystal, the luxurious list just goes on and on. And it only costs a mere £300,00.

Image taken by Justin Paul (courtesy www.guardian.co.uk)

The kitchen was designed by Marazzi Design based in London

For more about this very very expensive kitchen, please click on www.guardian.co.uk to read the full article.

RIP Steve Jobs ~ Apple Inspired designs

I just thought I'd do a quick piece on apple influenced designs. The loss of Steve Jobs co-founder of Apple Inc. has affected us all, differently. Be it the colour of an apple, apple-inspired furniture or just simply apple-themed designs. The passing of Steve Jobs at the age of 56 has rocked and shocked the world. And he'll be terribly missed for his vision and innovations.

Apple-themed kitchen

Image via  modern-kitchen-interior-designs.blogspot.com

Themed bathroom

Image via dhomeinteriordesign.com

iPod Touch themed bedding

Image via freshome.com

Colour Apple Inspired Contemporary office 

Image via homethelovely.com



iTable

Image via kylebucknerdesigns.com

This iTable, above, was designed by Kyle Buckner inspired by Apple's iPhone. For more info about the table and other apple-inspired designs, please visit kylebucknerdesigns.com. 

Apple chairs

Image via http://www.yiidesign.com

Apple stackable rattan outdoor furniture

Image via design345.com

}My take on Apple's Steve Jobs ~  Definitely left his mark on everyone globally, achieved what he believed in. A lesson for us all, always follow your dreams~

Breast Cancer Supportive Cup by BoConcept

I really love the tiny pink details. The Breast Cancer support sign.

                                                  

                                  

designwire daily | BoConcept’s Cup for the Causedesignwire.interiordesign.net

We’re coming up on the eve of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and design companies from
around the globe—like Suite New York’s Pink Swan Project—are at the ready to contribute
to the cause. This year, furniture retailer BoConcept has a new concept in mind to raise
money for a cure: a cup entitled............. click on designwire.interiordesign.net to read the rest of the article