Wednesday 1 June 2011
WE HAVE MOVED HOUSE!!!
Monday 4 April 2011
striking an Accord part 2...
Guidelines for Design Firm Adopters
- Publicly declare participation in the Designers Accord.
- Initiate a dialogue about environmental and social impact and sustainable alternatives with each and every client. Rework client contracts to favor environmentally and socially responsible design and work processes. Provide strategic and material alternatives for sustainable design
- Undertake a program to educate your teams about sustainability and sustainable design
- Consider your ethical footprint. Understand the environmental impact of your firm, and work to measure, manage, and reduce it on an annual basis.
- Advance the understanding of environmental and social issues from a design perspective by actively contributing to the communal knowledge base for sustainable design.
Monday 28 March 2011
there will be blue cabinets over the white cliffs of Dover...
Wednesday 16 March 2011
striking an Accord...
Last week was another of those busy ones in the studio.
Monday 7 March 2011
Delft green...
Tuesday 22 February 2011
the truest ever Farm Shop...?
In January I spoke about my predicted trends for 2011, and I mentioned that urban farming was still looming on the horizon, but was probably not quite here just yet.
Monday 14 February 2011
Daring decadence…
Luxury and decadence can come in many forms, from the pristine white of lead crystal and linen sheets to the opulence and colour saturation of jewels and tropical flowers. Of course, each person’s ideal of decadence will vary from the next, but I think that most will agree that the craft and deliciousness of the artisan chocolate falls lushly into this category. And at this particularly romantic time of the year, what could be better than combining the two – true decadence of the eyes and the taste buds.
Choccywoccydoodah in Duke Street, Brighton solidifies my own ideas of decadence in a way which borders on the fantastical, with constantly changing and awe inspiring front windows reminiscent of my childhood visits to the beautifully crafted Father Christmas grotto in Hanningtons.
The skills of the chocolatiers are proudly displayed to the world with giant sculptures, hand painted birds and flowers and pretty much life size skulls, shaded with perfection. The front window is wonderfully framed by the deepest of blacks, which ensures that the glorious colours glow from within the display, and is offset by traditional sign written script in a lush blood red.
This red continues into the womb like interior walls of the store, where clinical stacks of chocolate are banished in favour of mounds balanced on vintage cabinets, lit by cut glass chandeliers and reflected in opulent gilt mirrors. It feels like walking into a scene from a Tim Burton film – you are enclosed by the blood red and each glance reveals yet more wonders from the last. It is all beautiful, with a touch of eccentric madness, akin to the wondrous sculptures in the window which entice you in like the witch in the gingerbread house in Hansel and Gretel .
Flocks of chocolate birds rest on vintage china and reclaimed timber boxes contain more edible creations, shining like golden doubloons in a pirate treasure chest. Truffles glisten from within a stunning glass fronted cabinet, which doubles up as the serving desk and bunches of heart shaped chocolate lollies dangle from hooks like prizes in a funfair.
And a funfair is exactly what the interior is – a treat laced with a little edginess – the sauciness and naughtyness of a beautiful tattoo laden woman, with bright red lipstick, black flicked eyeliner and fishnet stockings. Hearts and flowers, skulls and birds.
So if the chocolate doesn’t get you in the Valentines mood, the interior most definitely will.
Choccywoccydoodah - http://www.choccywoccydoodah.com
24 Duke Street, Brighton
Open 10-6 Mon-Sat and 11-5 Sunday
Monday 31 January 2011
chocolate, beetroot and raspberry cake...
Wednesday 19 January 2011
the people's supermarket...
Staying with the foodie theme from my last post, I thought I would talk a little about what could be the future of shopping.