Funky Little Darlings.blog

> Fantasia in Pregnancy and Birth magazine

2012-02-06T16:02:00.001Z

Thanks very much to our friends Amanda and Mischa at Nubie for telling us about this wonderful full page feature on our "Fantasia" Giant Wall Sticker on page 111 in the February issue of Pregnancy and Birth magazine. It looks fab!

Thanks also to the Pregnancy and Birth team.

> New product - Forest Friends Giant Wall Stickers

2012-01-31T12:38:00.002Z

Our "Forest Friends" Giant Wall Stickers went down a treat at Top Drawer this month and are now available to order from our webshop. They look beautiful in our trademark pop colours but also included trees in black and white line and some with photographic wooden textures - it has inspired us to try out more layering techniques with our designs (keep checking our blog for more more designs to come).

The design (as shown) covers an area 2 metres high by 2.2 metres wide. The stickers can be spread out more to fit a larger area or scaled to fit tighter wall space... and there's even more stickers included than are shown on this image! Follow our layout or create your own look. £80.00 (including free delivery).

> new retailer "Mooch"

2012-01-27T13:35:00.001Z

We are delighted to have Mooch, based in Buckingham, as our latest new retailer.

Mooch specialises in home ware, furniture, gifts and jewellery that are a bit different, contemporary and design-led, or just plain unusual ... but definitely things you won't normally find on the High Street. Brands include Content by Conran, Fatboy Beanbags, Menu Home Ware, Normann Copenhagen and Carrol Boyes so we are in excellent company.

Mooch are taking a range of our products and you can buy on-line or visit their store in Buckingham.

> Dandelion Fields - new WallScene Wallpaper

2012-01-26T09:17:00.001Z

"Dandelion Fields" one of our brand new WallScene Wallpapers. This beautiful design is inspired by summer walks in the fields around our village... thousands of delightfully gauzy dandelions flutter and dance in a gentle breeze with some of their seed heads floating off into the ether. Set against a soft putty grey background, little birds rest on the dandelions while butterflies and dragonflies flit and fly by.

It looks stunning with the white baby Panton chair (available to order from our webshop next week) and the Le Klint 172 pendant lamp by Poul Christiansen (available from Skandium).

Available to order from our webshop today.

> our first catalogue!

2012-01-24T11:31:00.003Z

We have just launched our very first catalogue! You can download it from the home page of our website and see our products nice and large or request the printed version to view at home over a nice cup of tea.

Stay tuned...lots more to come!

> Top Drawer

2012-01-23T11:10:00.030Z

We had a great time at Top Drawer last week - a really full on, exciting few days where we met so many wonderful retailers, made new friends and had such a great response to all our products! Very, very rewarding! Thank you to everyone who stopped by and had a chat with us and to those who told us they came especially to see us!

We showcased our new collection of WallScene wallpapers, wallstickers, cushions, art prints and some Vitra products which we are going to be selling on our website.

We also met up with some great new designers whose products we are going to add to our webshop. Our webshop is being expanded to provide an exciting range of contemporary furniture, lighting and interior products to compliment our range of designs - a one stop shop for furnishing your little one's rooms! Stay tuned for more details very soon.

> NEW WALLSCENE - Flower Fairies

2012-01-12T12:46:00.000Z

Introducing "Flower Fairies" one of a range of our new WallScene Wallpapers. The flower fairies are sitting in a meadow of flowers with some flying on flamingoes (naturally!) or on a rainbow in the clouds. Butterflies, dragonflies and wispy seed heads are floating in the air and chinese lanterns hang from some of the flowers. Gorgeous.

The colour and print quality on this is absolutely exquisite - every tiny detail is sharp and crisp.

A roll contains 4 panels (each panel is 61cm wide x 2.75m high) and creates a scene 244cm wide. An additional roll will extend the scene.

Available to order now - the images will be uploaded to our website early next week or if you are visiting Top Drawer (starting this Sunday), we will have it on show on our stand L1.

> Come and see us at Top Drawer - stand L1

2012-01-09T10:47:00.000Z

Come and see us at Top Draw, Earls Court starting this Sunday 15th until Tuesday 17th January. We're on Stand L1 (second stand on the left by the entrance).

We will have a brand new range of wallpapers, giant wall stickers, wall clocks, cushions and art prints on show in our trademark glorious fluoro colours together with our first ever catalogue.

> new product - "Flower Fairies" Cushion

2012-01-05T10:12:00.001Z

Here is the design for the first of our new range of cushions - "Flower Fairies". Flower Fairies is part of our new range of WallScene Deluxe Wallpapers and Wall Stickers with Bed Linen following on very shortly. Our cute manga style fairy, wearing a dress and hat in homage to Agnetha from Abba, is flying on a flamingo across a flower strewn night sky.

Our full range of cushions arrive on Friday and we can't wait to see them!

> new retailer - "Mini Milou"

2012-01-04T12:40:00.001Z

We are really delighted to introduce our first new retailer of 2012 - Mini Milou. Based in Holt, Norfolk, Mini Milou sources new and exciting products and furnishings for babies and toddlers and they are stocking a range of our designs.

Really looking forward to working with you Adrian and Hannah.

> countdown to Top Drawer 15-17 January

2012-01-03T12:25:00.003Z

Happy 2012! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas break and that 2012 is a fantastic year for us all!

The countdown is on to Top Drawer - only 12 days away and so much to do! Bed linen and cushions arrive on Friday, new wallpapers and wall stickers early next week... so exciting!

> Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012

2011-12-23T11:45:00.001Z

> Woodland Friends - new product range

2011-12-16T12:47:00.001Z

Introducting "Woodland Friends", a new product range we are launching in early January 2012 ahead of showing at Top Drawer, Earls Court.

Woodland Friends is a charming glimpse into a copse of trees filled with woodland animals, flora and fauna. The design features a mixture of wooden textures and our trademark pop colours. The range includes Giant Wall Stickers, Bed Linen, Cushions and WallScene Wallpaper with interchangeable panels.

Available in January 2012.

Giant Wall Stickers

Bed Linen

Cushion

> Dandelion Field - new product range

2011-12-15T13:25:00.001Z

Introducing "Dandelion Field", a new product range we are launching in early January 2012 ahead of showing at Top Drawer, Earls Court.

Dandelion Field is our contemporary take on the multiple dandelions you see in fields and on verges, floating seed heads, birds, butterflies and dragonflies all on a soft, warm grey background. The range comes as a WallScene with interchangeable panels, Bed Linen and Cushions.

Available in January 2012.

Cushion

Bed Linen

WallScene - 1 x roll contains 4 panels to make up a scene.

5th December

2011-12-05T12:30:00.000Z

2nd December

2011-12-02T11:25:00.001Z

> Happy 1st of December

2011-12-01T10:52:00.000Z

Starting to get Christmassy...

> new retailer - "ARTIC DESIGN"

2011-11-30T13:20:00.000Z

Artic Design, with shops in Italy and the UK are taking a selection of our designs for their fabulous design stores.

Artic Design are inspired by Scandinavian designers (and non Scandi's...) and have a collection of unique Scandinavian and European designs.

All of their products are "carefully selected for their quality, style, originality and beauty. We stock only our favourite things that we love and many of our products has a place in our home too."

Artic Design has been open since 2009 in Italy and in September 2011 they launched their sister site in the UK.

Looking forward to working with you.

> Woodland Friends Giant Wall Stickers

2011-11-29T11:59:00.001Z

The beauty of Wall Stickers is that it is so easy to create a focal wall feature that anyone can do, in minutes.

Our new "Woodland Friends" Giant Wall Stickers shows a charming woodland scene with forest animals in a mix of our bright pop colours and woodgrains. They will bring a room to life instantly!

The range will consist of WallScene wallpapers, bedding and cushions. More to follow over the next few days.

> The Lost Garden - single colour options launching soon

2011-11-24T14:09:00.002Z

Our ever propular "Lost Garden" WallScene wallpapers are getting a super cool, single colour look. Here, the colour is Winter Grey - a really soft, warm beige/grey. It looks so chic and fresh - we just love it! It will look amazing teamed with white and wooden furniture and it can be accessorised with our "Butterflies and Dragonflies" or "Birdies" sticker sets.

More colours to follow!

The Lost Garden - single colour options launching soon.

> Aaah-lessi Nativity Set

2011-11-22T12:57:00.001Z

I have got to have this - the Alessi Nativity Scene (designed in 2007) with an ever increasing array of Nativity figures to add to this wonderful collection.

This colourful Italian "Presepe", or nativity group, features the Holy Family, a cow and a donkey is available in red or white. Designed by LPWK and Massimo Giacon they are made from porcelain and beautifully hand decorated.

New characters in the nativity scene are “Trotto & Ernesto”, the blacksmith with his horse (my current favourites) and “Pina Farina and Fiona Fish” the baker and the fishmonger.

Aren't they wonderful? I'm ordering our set today!

Get them from the lovely people at A White Room.

> Children in Need

2011-11-18T09:34:00.002Z

We are donating all the proceeds from orders we receive today to the BBC's Children in Need charity.

This fantastic charity makes a huge difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people all across the UK.

Please help us and support this wonderful and vital charity.

> currently working on...

2011-11-16T14:29:00.000Z

> Everything Begins - new Australian retailer

2011-11-15T10:31:00.001Z

Everything Begins, a fabulous high end boutique webshop based in Australia launched over the weekend. They are taking our full range of wall stickers and wall clocks and our WallScene wallpapers.

Everything Begins search for "object so brilliantly designed it makes our hearts beat that little bit faster. We search far and wide for the most interesting new artwork and objects, made by independent and emerging artists, designers and makers all over the world."

Good Luck Amy!

> flower fairies - Giant Wall Stickers and WallScene Wallpaper

2011-11-11T15:01:00.000Z

Flower Fairies - Giant Wall Stickers and WallScene Wallpaper.

... coming soon

> Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition - opens today at the National Gallery

2011-11-09T15:58:00.000Z

The National Gallery's blockbuster exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings opens today, and is, as expected, a sell out show. Taking more than five years to put together and acquiring artworks from institutions from all over the world, it showcases in breathtaking detail is absolute and astonishing mastery of brushwork and composition.

According to the National Gallery, their latest exhibition is "the most complete display of Leonardo da Vinci's rare surviving paintings ever held".

Can't wait to see it!

> exhibiting at Top Drawer 2012 (Jan 15-17th)

2011-11-08T11:03:00.001Z

Very excited - we are exhibiting at Top Drawer in January (15-17th) and it will be the first time we have done this show. It will be a great way to kick off 2012!! So many new products... but so little time - nothing like a challenge to focus the brain.

> coming soon - Forest Friend

2011-11-07T13:56:00.000Z

Forest Friends Giant Wall Stickers - designed to incorporate a mix of photographic wooden textures and our trademark pop colours.

Coming soon.

> Friday fun...

2011-11-04T09:40:00.000Z

in love with.... RASTAMOUSE!!!! Just great!

> intelligent bedroom space planning

2011-11-03T11:59:00.002Z

It is a hard task to fit furniture and storage into a compact bedroom without it looking like a furniture showroom or taking up so much floor space that it becomes unfunctional and impractical. Clever solutions, such as creating a mezzanine floor like that seen on the latest Kelly Hoppen Superior Interiors show (designed for the Drewitt-Barlows) utilise space brilliantly creating by a separate bed area and leaving the rest of the room for entertaing and relaxing in.

Here is a wonderful solution, "Ascending Retreat" designed by Thiemo Hildebrandt. Designed to fit under a staircase and sitting on three stage levels, Thiemo has created a floating bed cantileverd from a steel frame, a desk area and seat and two upper platforms. It even includes a swing rope! Fantastic!

> BMX murals

2011-11-01T13:08:00.000Z

We have lots of BMX murals being ordered at the moment. It has been used in all sorts of places and locations and looks fabulous large or small, with either the black or blue background.

Wallcoverings create the most immediate and high impact focal point for any room. Especially, if the focal wall is the one you see immediately you enter a room. They are easy to install, washable and keep their vibrant colour for years and years. We tailor all our wallcoverings to perfectly fit wall proportions, can change colours to suit existing decor and will move elements in the design that could be covered by pieces of furniture. We even offer a paint swatch matching service.

We have some more boys wallcoverings and WallScenes almost ready for release - will keep you posted!

> fabulous children's desks

2011-10-31T13:41:00.002Z

Our daughter is moving to a larger bedroom and has made lots of very specific requests (takes after her mother)!!!! A bespoke bed (naturally) and a desk for her to do her homework. She has developed a rather chic, industrial taste in design and here are some rather lovely desks you could consider for your child.

Which one would you choose?

Graham and Green's Archimedes Desk is lovely and looks great with industrial lighting and accessories (£550.00).

French Furniture Company, Studio Manzano created this minimalistic desk with Eames style stool and is perfect to fit into a small space.

Retro wooden desks shich could be bought from boot sales or slvage yards are great options for kids. Inexpensive and robust they are very trendy at the moment and when teamed with a lovely Anglepoise lamp or the fantastic Jean Prouvé's 1950's Potence wall lamp, it will be a wonderful place to sit and work at.

This one, designed by Danny Venlet comes in a range of colours (this is my favourite) but I fear it could be a budget buster!

> remembering summer....

2011-10-27T11:54:00.001+01:00

... actually, did we have one? Here's an image from a lovely lady in Australia showing off her daughter's beautiful bedroom featuring our "Lost Garden" WallScene in glorious Summer Blue. Oh for some lovely weather...

It looks fantastic with a contemporary mix of natural wood and white painted furniture and there are plenty of colours in the design to pick out for soft furnishings. Love the paper puff balls in the corner of the room... wonder if my daughter (going through a boyish/grungy/industrial phase) can be persuaded to have some in her new bedroom...

> fabulous lighting for children's rooms

2011-10-26T16:04:00.002+01:00

Getting lighting in children's room's is really important - you need good overhead lighting, bedside lamps and desk lights for older children. The choice available is endless. I steer clear of the sickly sweet 'designed for children' lights in novelty shapes in our interior projects (you will so quickly tire of them!) Instead, choose from the vast selection of affordable designer lights - they will stand the test of time, adapt with your child as they grow and really are worth every penny. Here is a concise but fabulous selection.

One of my favourites is the Norm 03 by Normann Copenhagen (our Daughter has this in her new (nearly finished) bedroom). It is a wonderfully sculptural lamp shade and when illuminated, it casts the most wonderful pattern onto the ceiling and surrounding surfaces. We have this suspended low over her bed!

The FL/Y Suspension light by Kartell is equally stunning and comes in a gorgeous array of colours. Packs a real punch of designer oomph!

Verner Panton (who designed the iconic and my beloved Panton chairs) designer these sweet little Flowerpot lamps, in ceiling, table and desk options.

I can tell our daughter is growing up... she has requested the Anglepoise Original 1227 Desk Light in black for her new bedroom - this possesses a great urban/industrial quality and I celebrate her choice!

The Canned Light Suspension is great fun and adds a hit of 60's POP - a row of these would look amazing!

Norm 03 by Normann Copenhagen (Dennis and McGregor £74.99)

FL/Y Suspension by Kartell (Made in Design £149.00)

Flowerpot by Verner Panton (Dennis and McGregor £177.00)

Flowerpot Table Light by Verner Panton (Dennis and McGregor £252.00)

Flowerpot Adjustable Table Lamp by Verner Panton (Dennis and McGregor £289.00)

Anglepoise Original 1227 Desk Lamp (Dennis and McGregor £134.99)

Canned Light Suspension by Ingo Maurer (Made in Design £165.00)

> Tate Modern - Tacita Dean FILM

2011-10-25T12:25:00.001+01:00

You MUST take your children over Half Term and go to Tate Modern and see Tacita Dean's FILM, the latest commission in the Unilever Series. It is amazing! Stunning! Breathtaking!

Set at the end of a dramatically darkened Turbine Hall, FILM, a silent 11-minute 35mm film projected onto a 13 metres tall white monolith is a myriad of spectacular images looking like a giant stained-glass window or a moving wallpaper. It is in constant motion, moving from monochrome to hand tinted to vivid saturated high colour with the iconic image of the wall of the Turbine Hall showing through most of it.

And the children LOVED it!!! They could walk right up to it, be dwarfed by it, become part of it, engage with it... and that's what was so enigmatic and alluring for them. They could run up to it and behind it and and around it and try to catch the gigantic bubbles or egg or the flowing water...

The images; an escalator steps descending the screen, a Victorian fountain spouting water, the sea with waves rolling in, pigeons, roof girders, walkways and skylights, and moving imagery, and still imagery, and spot colour. The list is almost endless, but it is captivating and enduring. We sat and watched it over and over and over. And our daughter run up to it and danced in front of it and made new friends there...

And then we had coffee and cakes! A PERFECT day out!

Tacita Dean FILM. Turbine Hall, Tate Modern (020 7887 8888, tate.org.uk) until 11 March.

> Tree Table Collection

2011-10-21T09:52:00.000+01:00

I came across these lovely tables and stools the other day by Brooklyn designer April Hannah. The "Tree Table" collection, with a nod to mid-century inspiration, injects some modern and stylish design into children’s furniture and is available in two different styles : Tree Table and Pocket Stool and Interlocking Tree Table and stool.

They are available in maple or walnut veneer with the painted edge colours in grass green, sky blue, dove white or clear coat - although my desire to inject lots of colour into the world would have me choose hot pink, bright orange, lime green and turquoise though.

> Dandelion Field - new wallcovering

2011-10-20T11:08:00.000+01:00

We are working on a new WallScene wallpaper - Dandelion Field. This will be rolled out to bedding and cushions, which we are busy working on now.

Dandelion Field will come in a roll containing 4 panels (61cm wide x 2.75metres long) and in a selection of colourways. The design shows stylised dandelions, seed heads and butterflies and dragonflies fluttering around. It can be given a fluoro colour boost by adding our soon to be launched accessory packs, containing birdies, butterflies and dragonflies in our trademark bright colours.

More images will follow over the next few days.

> Boys Art Prints

2011-10-19T14:08:00.000+01:00

Been a mad couple of days - in and out of the studio and at photograhy. Here is the first group shot of the boys Art Prints in frames. Girls shots and prints follow on tomorrow.

They look lovely either individually or as a group on a wall and will be available on our webshop tomorrow.

> framed art prints

2011-10-17T13:05:00.002+01:00

Today, we are launching a set of 'ready framed' Art Prints that can be bought direct from our webshop. We keep getting asked to offer this service and save you the hassle of traipsing to the shops to buy a frame to fit. So... here you go. The high quality square frames (32cm x 32cm) are supplied in either black or white and are handmade using wood from managed forests. They look lovely either individually or as a group on a wall.

Here are a couple of images, with the full selection and group shots available to see later today on our website.

Available to order later today on our webshop.

> lovely bedroom furniture

2011-10-14T13:10:00.000+01:00

Came across this fantastic Spanish company yesterday - they do lovely children's bedroom furniture. Already planning to use them for some of our interior projects. The liner styling and fluoro colours will work so well with our wallcoverings and high end interiors.

http://www.bm2000.net/

> interior design service

2011-10-13T14:11:00.003+01:00

Interior design is an absolute passion for us. It gives us the opportunity to try out new and exciting designs and totally transform a room. We particularly love creating designs that clients would not ordinarily have considered. For this room, the centre piece was a bespoke 'cube' bed wrapped in our wallpaper and studded with Swarovski crystals. The bed was divided into two singles by a central panel with a large cut out enabling the children to peek at each other but retain privacy when sleeping. The walls were painted a warm grey and accents of pink and orange were used throughout the room.

This shows how we approach our interior projects and how we present our designs. Key to a successful project is a spacial plan, showing what you can get into a room, storage and how the room will fuction.

To find out more about our design services, visit the interior design page on our website.

Vitra - coming soon to our webshop

2011-10-12T09:00:00.003+01:00

We are in the process of expanding our webshop to offer some fabulous items of furniture to compliment our range of high end wallcoverings and wallstickers and we are delighted to announce that we will be stocking a range of Vitra products, many of which we use regularly on our Funky Little Darlings and Colliss & Quinton interior projects.

Vitra are world famous for their statement collection of iconic chairs and furniture by design legends such as Charles & Ray Eames, Verner Panton, Isamu Noguchi, Jasper Morrison, Jean Prouve, George Nelson and Ron Arad. These are antiques of the future, manufactured to the highest quality and will last a lifetime... and they are utterly fabulous!!!!

Coming soon...

> beautiful book illustrations from 1972

2011-10-11T11:37:00.001+01:00

Aren't these fabulous illustrations? Illustrated by graphic designer Giancarlo Lliprandi for a series called "Tantibambi" in 1972, they still look fresh and stylish today. The book is about a little bird called Iris Columbo who flies across a landscape filled with colour - I love the subtle layering and patterns he creates. Very inspirational!

> new product - Woodland Wonderland WallScene

2011-10-10T10:01:00.000+01:00

Our Woodland Wonderland WallScene will be available to order from our webshop this week. Woodland Wonderland shows a snowy copse of trees filled with the lovely creatures of the woods and of course, punctuated with some of our signature fluoro colours.

> Serendipity - über cool and colourful children's shop (Paris)

2011-10-07T07:33:00.001+01:00

Now this is right up my street! This is how to design the most perfect children's interiors shop. Industrially chic (it is set in a converted garage), the lusciously deep grey walls set the tone for highlighting the incredible array of bright and zingy fluoro products - my favourite range colour combinations.

Founded in 2004, Serendipity sells a selection of antique and designer furniture... and it does so with bags of style! I LOVE it!

Serendipity - 81-83 Rue du Cherche Midi, 75006 Paris.

> new product "Flower Fairies" Wall Stickers

2011-10-06T12:58:00.000+01:00

Another sneak peek at one of our just about to be released products - "Flower Fairies" Wall Stickers. A WallScene wallpaper and bedding will also be available.

> 12 of the world's best cots

2011-10-05T13:03:00.000+01:00

Here are 12 of the world's best cots... although sadly, not one is designed and made in the UK!

1. Nest Crib - Ooba (US)
2. Alex Crib - Ducduc (US)
3. Pod Cot - Ubabubs (AUS)
4. Campaign Crib - Ducduc (US)
5. Sparrow Crib - Oeuf (US)
6. Cradle - Leander (DK)

7. Nest Bassinet - Ooba (US)
8. BE Contemporary Cot (SPAIN)
9. Parker Crib - Ducduc (US)
10. NinetoNine Zebra 02 Cot (SPAIN)
11. Austin Crib - Ducduc (US)
12. Classic Crib - Oeuf (US)

> new product - "Birdies" Wall Stickers

2011-10-04T10:02:00.000+01:00

Next week will see the launch of a new range of products - Wall Stickers, WallScenes and Wallcoverings.

Here are our "Birdies" Wall Stickers, and don't they look cute!

Available from our webshop next week.

> Our house in Ideal Home magazine

2011-10-03T11:21:00.000+01:00

In June, Nicola Wilkes and Holly Jolliffe came to shoot our house for the November 2011 issue of Ideal Home magazine.

We bought our two hundred year old old cottage, located in a small village overlooking the Blenheim Palace estate, as a quick renovation project to be sold and then move onto the next property. But, we fell in love with it, and the village and the wonderful people here. Then I got pregnant and we discovered the fantastic school... and here we remain!

The house is always evolving and we are about to start re-working the kitchen, bathroom and the exterior of the house - none of these have had much attention, except for a quick lick of paint since the initial renovation. Planning a more industrial kitchen (maybe featuring another of our wallpapers), a chic bathroom with freestanding bath and wall hung basin and loo. Our bedroom is also about to go 'grey' - in love with Farrow and Ball's Downpipe grey at the moment! Oh, and our daughter has outgrown her room and is moving to a larger one! All of this gets me very excited - absolutely nothing better than designing interiors!

Thanks to Ideal Home, Nicola and Holly.

> new mural wallcovering - "Flamingoes"

2011-09-30T12:19:00.003+01:00

We have a new wallcovering mural releasing next week - our glitzy and glam "Flamingoes" will be available in a selection of colours, with a different design featuring as a WallScene and set of giant Wall Stickers.

I LOVE pink! It is such a happy, positive colour and this design, featured on a single wall, accentuated with more grown up furnishing elements such as Kartell's Lou Lou Ghost chair and the Fly Pendant light, in deep glossy black take the design to an older audience.

> Big Ben in White/Gold launches today

2011-09-29T12:48:00.004+01:00

Sooooo excited... today we launch our Big Ben Wall Sticker Clock in White and Gold... and it looks amazing! One for the mum's and dad's we think! At 2 metres tall it is an impressive piece and compliments our black version beautifully.

The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's 'Down Pipe' grey, the perfect colour to accentuate and compliment. Hope you like it as much as we do.

Priced at £120.00, it will be on our webshop and available to purchase this afternoon.

> Winter Sky in rustic setting

2011-09-28T16:25:00.001+01:00

A panel of our "Lost Garden" WallScene wallpaper in Winter Sky... in rustic setting.

> design for an autumnal nursery

2011-09-27T13:34:00.001+01:00

Using our "Lost Garden" WallScene wallpaper in Harvest Brown as as starting point, this design for an Autumnal nursery is infused with jewel like colour and vibrancy and looks completely gorgeous.

Paint contrasting walls in a bright white (Dulux Bright White) for a crisp, fresh contrast or Whisper No. 5 (Little Green) or Great White 2006 (Farrow & Ball) for a softer, more gentle note. Adding contemporary furniture, like this walnut cot, high gloss low level storage drawers, modern shelving and our beloved Verner Panton chairs ensures the room will not date and will compliment a modern home perfectly. Finish with our Birdie Tree Fine Art Print.

Lovely!

> Colliss & Quinton blog launched

2011-09-26T10:59:00.001+01:00

We have launched our Colliss & Quinton blog, at long last (http://collissandquinton.blogspot.com/). This will be dedicated to showcasing the very best of everything hip and modern in the world of interiors, art, architecture, furniture and design. With a focus on interior trends, design movements and innovation, our desire is to inform, influence and inspire all you need for modern living.

Colliss & Quinton is our interior design and home accessories company for grown ups, specialising in residential and commercial projects and designing contemporary wallcoverings and large scale surface graphics.

Together with illustrating the best in design, we will also feature our own ideas, projects and designs along the way.

The new website and webshop should also (hopefully) be up and running in October.

> Not On The High Street love Big Ben

2011-08-22T13:45:00.001+01:00

... and have included out Big Ben on their Wall Stickers promotion. Thanks very much chaps!

> new retailer - "Little Yellow Birds"

2011-07-14T12:57:00.004+01:00

Little Yellow Birds launches today and they are taking a range of our products. To mark the launch, they are offering 10% off all purchases until the end of July (code LYBJULY).

> babyology review

2011-07-13T13:46:00.003+01:00

Thanks to Katrina from Babyology for including our designs in their wall decal round up... it has resulted in landing us some new Aussie stockists too!

Check out Babyology - it's just been voted the number 1 blog worldwide for childrens stuff.

> Tate St Ives

2011-07-12T11:13:00.002+01:00

We finally got to visit Tate St Ives last week for a much needed dose of culture.

Completely fell in love with Lucio Fontana's Spacial Concept paintings - smooth, thickly spread oils (the pink one is stunning) perforated by a sequence of holes revealing the space that lay beyond the canvas. Fontana saw this as evocative of infinity. I loved them!

So too of Roman Ondak's mesmerising "Measuring the Universe" installation. The artwork started as an empty white space with the gallery attendants marking each visitors height, first names and the date. From first glipmse, viewed initially from the room beyond, it is mesmerising, and completely draws you within - a graphic masterpiece!

And then there are the views from the roof top cafe... and the coffee... and the cakes...

Please go to see the exhibition if you can!

> lovely Cornwall

2011-07-11T13:19:00.001+01:00

We've just returned from a quick break in Cornwall - lovely, lovely place!

> new retailer - "INSIDEOUT Malta"

2011-06-29T13:17:00.002+01:00

Really pleased to be adding InsideOut in Malta to our retailer list. They will have sole representation of our work in Malta, a place I lived in for a few years as a child.

InsideOut Malta, an architectural and interior design practice working on high spec interiors, are currently building a new, state of the art showroom where our designs will be on display alongside a handful of top international companies.

Looking forward to working with you.

> Ideal Home magazine shoot.. at our house

2011-06-27T14:18:00.000+01:00

On Thursday, we had Nicola Wilkes (stylist) and Holly Jolliffe (photographer) round to do a photoshoot on the design and decoration in our house for Ideal Home magazine. You can see the results in the November issue. Lots of our wallpapers, Kartell and Scandi lighting and modern and retro accessories.

We will post some images we took later this week.

Thanks to Ideal Home for commissioning the shoot and to Nicky and Holly.... remember the smell of the Cowparsley????

> sneak peek of new Colliss & Quinton WallScene wallpaper

2011-06-20T14:30:00.001+01:00

Here is a preview of one of our new Colliss & Quinton WallScene wallpapers. "Ode to the West Wind" - a poem by Shelley laid out typographically and sold in panels.

More to come!

> highly commended and on the Junior website

2011-06-17T10:52:00.000+01:00

Still chuffed... and here it is on the Junior website! To see all the winners for all categories, click [here].

Thanks again to Junior.

> new retailer - "Ploneres 100% Design"

2011-06-16T15:13:00.000+01:00

Another new retailer... our first one in Poland. Ploneres 100% Design is a high end webshop dedicated to sourcing the best in design and we are delighted they are taking our range of children's products.

Thanks very much to Agata - looking forward to working with you.

> in the press

2011-06-15T15:09:00.001+01:00

Just seen that our Little Ben Wall Clocks were featured on the Consumer page of "The Week" magazine at the end of May in "the best of clocks" feature.

> Highly Commended in the Junior Design Awards 2011!

2011-06-14T12:23:00.004+01:00

Back in January, we were invited to enter the Junior Design Awards, created to showcase the world's finest children's products, and we came 'highly commended' in the "Best Interiors Collection for Decor".

Junior describe our collection as "an arresting array of bright, colourful wall stickers, working wall clocks and psychadelic murals".

Thank you 'Junior' for recognising us and and for continuing to champion great design for children.

> Modern Art, Oxford - Haegue Yang

2011-06-13T15:47:00.002+01:00

We were invited to the opening of the "Teacher of Dance" exhibition by Haegue Yang at Modern Art, Oxford on Friday.

Taking conventional household materials such as lighting cables and bulbs, infrared heaters, and drying racks, she wraps them in fabric and knitted materials in the most incredible palette of colours and textures. Her Venetian blind installation, suspended in one of the rooms was a mesmerising play on colour, texture, form and visual distortion... incredibly inspirational!

The exhibition is on until 4 September. Modern Art Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP. Tel: 01865 722 733.

Thanks to Mike and Carrie for inviting us.

NB: Images of the two installations above, are from previous shows.

> new resolution - must blog every day!!!

2011-06-13T15:12:00.000+01:00

Just been so busy lately that we haven't got round to blogging. Must rectify this!

We plan to add lots more to the blog; new designs, latest ideas, what we're up to, where we've been, shows, interiors and events.

Going to be much more dynamic!

> very busy!

2011-05-20T12:59:00.002+01:00

Struggling to make any blog entries at the moment - almost completed the London kitchen and it is looking incredible, more brochures, new retailers, more international retailers, new products in design, Weymouth Cottage shot for Coast magazine (July issue) and our house being shot for Ideal Home magazine (for November issue).

> in the press

2011-05-03T14:50:00.000+01:00

Thanks very much to Jenny Hastie for such a fab feature in the May issue of Tesco's "Home" magazine.

We are featured as the "Best of British"and it's one of the loveliest write-ups on us and our products we've had!

> in the press

2011-04-26T14:14:00.002+01:00

Our hot pink Little Ben made it onto the 'Must Haves' page of "Real Life", the Caribbean luxury lifestyle, property and design magazine.

Thanks to Kyle Fulton for the feature.

> new retailer "Dennis & McGregor"

2011-04-21T10:13:00.001+01:00

We are thrilled that Dennis & McGregor, a 'design-led products for living' store are the latest retailer to be taking our products. They have just launched a 'Designer Kids Collection' and are stocking our full product range.

Dennis and McGregor launched in 2009 with the aim of providing high quality design-led products for homes and offices and showcases some of the world most exciting brands in product design.

Karen - it has been a complete delight speaking with you over the past couple of weeks and we are really looking forward to working with you.

> diary of an interior designer

2011-04-20T14:03:00.003+01:00

Having started the kitchen re-design in London (with our Colliss & Quinton Interior Design company), we thought we would create a "Diary of an Interior Designer" section on our blog. We will add some photos showing the progress, stresses, strains and triumphs and finish with photos of the completed project in mid May.

The flat is Grade 1 Listed and the kitchen (the fifth room we have worked on) is a small, 5 sided room with a fireplace which must remain. It has taken 15 months of planning, meetings with English Heritage, Structural Engineers and Architects...

No going back now!!!!!

view of the kitchen before works began

during the rip out (and showing the listed fireplace)

the completely and utterly dreaded gas metre

me having another caffine boost to cope with the stress

... and a 3d rendering of what the finished kitchen will look like!

> new retailer "Funky Lama"

2011-04-18T13:01:00.024+01:00

We have our first retailer in Belgium - "Funky Lama". And our first orders too!

Funky Lama finds things "for hip kids and tendy mamas" and for "all cool kids in your life" and they are taking our collection of WallScenes, Deluxe wallpapers and Wall Stickers.

Looking forward to working with you.

> Highly Commended in the Junior Design Awards 2011!

2011-04-13T10:59:00.005+01:00

We absolutely delighted to hear that our Funky Little Darlings Interiors Collection has been "Highly Commended" in the prestigious Junior Design Awards 2011 in the category of Best Interiors Collection/Decor, hosted by Junior Magazine, ‘the worlds finest parenting magazine’.

The Junior Design Awards are ‘the only awards that recognise excellence in style and design – and everything beautiful in a child’s life’. We were selected from “hundreds of high-calibre entries” and Junior Magazine emphasised that “it was a challenging prospect to come up with our shortlist and final winners, so many congratulations on your well-deserved success!”

A special 164 page Collectors Edition of Junior Magazine (July issue – on sale June 3rd) will showcase all the award winners and shortlisted products.

We are really proud of this achievement, especially as it is the first time we have entered a Design competition. Thank you Junior!

> the London kitchen interior project has begun

2011-04-11T10:10:00.033+01:00

After 15 months of planning, meetings with English Heritage, Structural Engineers and Architects... we have begun works on our clients kitchen, the 5th room in the flat we have designed.

The finished kitchen, will feature bespoke units, Corian worktops, travertine tiling, Amtico flooring, a fabulous Kartell pendant light and the most incredible LED lighting system working on three levels.

It is also the smallest, most awkward kitchen we have worked on and in the shape of a pentagon! But is is so going to be the most perfectly formed!!!!!

(3d rendering supplied showing part of the room).

> Fisherman's Cottage - Coast Magazine

2011-04-08T12:38:00.000+01:00

Fisherman's Cottage in Weymouth harbour was photographed today for "Coast" magazine. We completed the interior design for our clients back in May and the magazine photo's are amazing - you will be able to see them in the summer issue!!! Until then, here are some snaps we took last year - looking forward to a hot and glorious summer!

> very busy!

2011-04-05T10:53:00.000+01:00

Lots happening; new retailers, new products, interior design, brochures... very exciting... and the sun is shining!

> Big Ben... and fans!

2011-03-28T14:30:00.001+01:00

Thanks very much to Saadia who recently bought a Big Ben from us and said "it takes pride of place in our home. We love it". Pictured next to it are her two daughters who also sent us suggestions for more wall clock designs!

Look out for our white and gold versions available on Monday 4 April.

> mural of the moment!

2011-03-23T09:13:00.018Z

Our "Fluoro Dragonflies" wallcovering mural is very popular at the moment... great for banishing the Winter blues and welcoming in the Spring with bright happy colours!

> teaching a school art class

2011-03-11T14:05:00.002Z

We've just come back from teaching an art class at our daughters school. The infants are studying the Amazonian Rainforest and we were invited to work with them to create a suitably jungly scene. Lots of sticking, cutting, gluing and painting... lots and lots of mess but loads of fun. Children are so completely amazing, and it always inspires me to see the creativity in their drawings - some fabulous results.

Assembling it next week and will post the results!

> The many faces of Big Ben.

2011-03-10T11:12:00.000Z

And more to come!! The new gold and white/gold ones have now arrived in the studio and are ready to be photographed.

> Junior Design Awards - finalists!

2011-03-07T10:43:00.001Z

Got some great news last week... we have been selected as finalists for the "Junior Design Awards".

The "Junior Design Awards" are "the only awards to celebrate excellence in design and style for children's fashion, lifestyle and interiors, travel, food, toys and books". We are in the "Best Interiors Collection - Decor". Judging takes place this month but the winners have to wait until the July issue to see the results!

So exciting and makes all the hard work worthwhile!

> FREE Delivery on all our products

2011-03-04T13:07:00.000Z

We want to offer all our customers the most exciting products, manufactured to the highest quality with the very best service... so as of today, we will be shipping all our orders FREE OF CHARGE to mainland UK addresses! Get ordering!

> printing onto fabulous 'new' mural paper

2011-03-03T12:11:00.000Z

We are always searching the market for better materials to use with our designs and we have found the most incredible new wallpaper to print our mural wallcoverings onto. The wallpaper is a mixture of paper and cotton material with a very fine texture - the ink prints onto it beautifully. The result is a fabulous, super high-end finish and easy to install (paste the wall)! We are absolutely thrilled with it and will be using it for all our murals from today.

We are also offering a free sample service - order an A4 sample of your chosen design from our webhop so you can see how fabulous the print and finish is.

And finally... all our murals will now be shipped FREE of charge to all UK addresses.

Happy ordering!

> published... and on the cover!

2011-03-02T14:56:00.001Z

So chuffed! We have just received copies of the "Wallpaper Patterns" book we are featured in! 19 spreads and on the cover too!

Available from Ginko Press, and also featuring designs by Karim Rashid, Timorous Beasties, Kit Kemp, Atelier LZC and Hotel Fox, it is described as "a valuable reference book for designers and everyone who likes patterns"

> Dandelions and Cowparsley on "Red" website

2011-03-01T13:03:00.001Z

Greener Abode is a brand new 'eco' webshop selling a host of uber cool homeware designs. We were delighted to see that "Red" magazine chose our "Dandelions and Cowparsley" Giant Wall Sticker image to highlight the launch on their website.

Greener Abode are selling all of our Giant Wall Stickers, WallScene and Deluxe Wallpapers.

> Spring is in the air

2011-02-28T12:57:00.005Z

After the most depressing and thoroughly wet Half Term break, Spring must be in the air... lots of "The Lost Garden" WallScene wallpapers in Spring Green and "Fluoro Dandelions and Cowparsley" Wall Stickers are flying out the door.

> very busy!

2011-02-15T12:45:00.003Z

Apologies for the lack of postings just recently... very busy with a huge variety of projects. We design packaging, brochures and product for clients as well as interior design with FLD and Colliss & Quinton.

Current projects include designing a "Space Station" themed room for a primary school, some amazing benches and planters for a Chelsea Gold Medal winning stone company, a fab bespoke kitchen in London, stone flooring brochures, corporate ID, new packaging for our products, as well as completing work on our Spring/Summer range.

We're also expanding our website to offer furniture, lighting and other interior items... great fun, and very, very exciting!

> mural of the moment!

2011-02-08T12:26:00.000Z

Getting a lot of orders for our "Helter Skelter" wallcovering mural at the moment. Our dynamic, colourful design depicts a crazy circus floating off in the dusky, star ridden skies! Lovely.

> new retailer "Lovers Lounge"

2011-01-27T09:18:00.000Z

We have another new retailer - "Lover's Lounge". They have a wonderful selection of products, from fabulous furniture to wall stickers, supplying the highest quality items at competitive prices.

We are delighted they are taking our products and look forward to working with them.

> new retailer "Pink Hat Interiors"

2011-01-24T11:30:00.001Z

New retailer, "Pink Hat Interiors" in Wales - run by Ruth Hambly. Interior Design and decoration with stong eco credentials.

Looking forward to working with you Ruth.

> London bathroom - finished!

2011-01-20T10:04:00.003Z

And finally, the London bathroom we have been working on, in a Grade 1 Listed property, is completed! After many, many delays and obstacles to overcome, it looks amazing!

Being Grade 1 Listed, we had to work closely with English Heritage and retain all the existing features - the bathroom is split onto two levels, 1.2 metres at it's widest part, full of awkward angles and even included a set of stairs. Quite a challenge!

We used the wonderfully sculpted Phillipe Starck 'Edition 2' loo and shower set, long random sections of travertine stone tiles, black American walnut for bespoke counter tops and drawers and Amtico flooring. Keuco accessories and walnut framed pictures complete the look.

Thanks Jo and Jose for being such wonderful clients!

> new retailer "Rose & Grey"

2011-01-14T09:29:00.001Z

We are absolutely delighted to be selling our range of products with Lyndsey at "Rose & Grey". She has a fabulous webshop with an amazing range of products "chosen with love and care".

Really looking forward to working with you, Lyndsey.

> "Fisherman's Cottage" being shot for Coast magazine

2011-01-11T14:11:00.002Z

We are very excited to hear that "Coast" magazine are to shoot Fisherman's Cottage for their Summer issue (we designed the interior with our Colliss & Quinton interior company last year).

Fisherman's Cottage overlooks Weymouth Harbour and is an absolutely charming holiday cottage - a fresh, contemporary twist on a traditional fisherman's cottage!

> new retailer "K Bijou" (Japan)

2011-01-10T14:36:00.000Z

Another new retailer - K Bijou run by Kiyomi, whom we met one snowy day in December. She is stocking our products on her website, designed for the Japanese market.

> new retailer "Found Home Store"

2011-01-07T12:53:00.000Z

Another new retailer to add to the list - Found Home Store, run by Jo Cannon. We are really pleased to be selling with Jo - she has a wonderful range of unusual and eclectic products all carefully handpicked, with design at the heart.

Looking forward to working with you Jo!

> NO VAT INCREASE!

2011-01-06T13:44:00.000Z

We're not implementing a general price increase as a result of the rise in VAT. However, we will be reviewing all product prices in line with supplier price increases at the end of January. Our aim is to keep prices at current levels wherever possible, but there may inevitably be some increases from this time.

> Colchester Hospital

2011-01-05T15:45:00.000Z

Thanks very much to Wayne from Kier Eastern for sending in some photos of the completed wallcoverings for the new Chuft ward at Colchester Hospital. In all, we supplied six sets of wallcoverings, with "Fluoro Dragonflies" used in no less than three areas.

Thanks also to Tangramm Architects for using us for another of their hospital projects.

> Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T11:20:00.009Z

Wishing you all a truly wonderful, happy and prosperous 2011.