Fun Tiles

I saw these tiles in The Guardian over the weekend and thought they were fabulous.

The alphabet tiles are from Pedlars www.pedlars.co.uk. and the vintage postcard tiles are from Welbeck www.welbecktiles.com.

My Marrakesh decorating challenge

I have been shaken out of my mad summer work mode to take up the challenge posed by Maryam of My Marrakesh. The challenge is to come up with some fresh ideas for the new bathrooms being built in her guest house in Morocco...

Drawing my inspiration from these gorgeous tiles from Ceramiche Provenza (above), I would work from a palate of ivory, gold and brown. (Sorry Maryam, my minimalist leanings are coming through)


I would start by placing the Provenza tiles on all walls up to chair rail height and then paint the rest of the wall and ceiling in an off white. For sink back splashes, tub and shower surrounds I would use a gold mosaic tile (example left) and for the floor I would use a sepia coloured ceramic tile like the one above from Fired Earth.

The bathtub and sinks would have to be from the Spoon XL range from Agape, because they are my absolute favourites...


Sadly, I could not find any modern faucets that I liked with a brass finish, as everything out there seems to be chrome, so I have chosen the Axor Starck X collection by Hansgrohe and ask you to imagine that they come in brass.

I want to apologize to Maryam for my lack of ochre and indigo. I also have a strange obsession with white porcelain (no doubt from living through the 70's and witnessing lavender bathrooms) which may not be appropriate in a North African setting, but if you wanted more colourful bathroom furniture Durat make great pieces from recycled materials in a fabulous range of colours.

Selldorf Architects

Another one of my favourite architecture firms who create stunning interiors is Selldorf Architects based in New York. I love the careful restraint and placement of furniture, art, lighting and accessories. Everything is clean and simple, but at the same time luxurious.

Their interiors incorporate their clients everyday life and are extremely functional, though you would hardly notice. Every object is given breathing space, so that their forms stand out and yet integrate perfectly with other pieces in the room. I really admire the choice of chandelier (right) placed above the red sculptures below (both of which hint at coral) in room painted a lovely shade of chinoiserie green. The chairs provide an amazing framework by not being to heavy but adding simple clear lines.


In this room (left), rich reds and golds are used sparingly to bring warmth without erasing the liberating sense of space and light.






I love the choice of placing these gorgeous green subway tiles (right) next to the large grey granite tiles. This a really interesting play of lines, textures and colours.





"In an ideal house the sequence of space, private and communal, has an emotional logic that dovetails precisely with the needs and habits of its occupants"

Annabelle Selldorf