Walpole appartments

Back in September I got to have a sneaky look around some smart new apartments in Mayfair. Based within a grand georgian building, tucked just around the corner from The Ritz, property developers Oliver Burns have created 5 opulent State apartments in what was once the home of Britain's first and longest serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole.  

I was on hand to help set up the rooms for publicity shots, and to get them styled and ready for the Press launch.  Fabulous props were brought in to complete the luxury lifestyle look and beautiful flowers dressed every room.  My favourites the dusky antique pink hued Amnesia Rose, and below the seasonal burnt orange of the Physalis (Chinese lanterns) added to the warmth of the rich gold tones.

The Dormy House

 I was chuffed to be asked back as part of the lovely Dormy House team for their annual catalogue shoot. Its a real family affair - the whole Trinder clan get involved which just adds to the atmosphere on set.
(A little out of my comfort zone, but I am feeling the plush turquoise crushed velvety loveliness of this upholstery - very bling, bling. Check out the matching buttons on the headboard below too - yum!)

Aswell as prepping room sets, I was on hand as ever to help with the flowers and even whipped up a little fruity wreath with some fallen crab apples and forraged ivy for the Christmas kitchen shot.

(Photo by Darren Cheung)

You can see the finished product as the catalogue is out now

Red, white and blue

As a stylist, I appreciate good design in all its forms and am lucky to be able to try out different styles in my work and home.  

Ultimately, for me a home should be a place to take refuge, to relax, and recharge.  I look for warmth, and simplicity in objects, and if I have a constant I would say its a fondness for natural materials, whether that's a beautiful grained wood, slubby linens, natural hues... oh and stripes, because there's something just so clean and classic about stripes especially in fresh blue and white.

So you can imagine, I was in my element on this shoot with Hannah Deacon for Ideal Homes.  I was so busy I barely got to sneak a few shots, but loved the linen and stripes so much I couldn't resist grabbing these.  Beautiful glossy ceramics too. You can see the rest of the shoot in July's issue of Ideal Home, out now.

Picnic lunch alfresco

Now that the weather is picking up I am looking forward to lunching alfresco. On a sunny day it really is one of life's little pleasures to take time out from busy routines and snaffle a few home made sarnies sprawled out on the grass.

If the sun shines for long enough I might even risk a little dip in the water! These shots were from a BBC Homes and Antiques shoot by the riverside in Henley with Charis White. I styled the hamper and braved the cold (it wasn't as warm as it looks) to pose in the last shot!

Pretty potting shed

I'm longing for a garden of my own. If I had a little potting shed as pretty as this I could happily while away many an afternoon nurturing seedlings, and pootling about. This gorgeous garden house, styled by Charis White for BBC Homes & Antiques, is far too lovely to be called a shed. Bedecked with breezy swallow print curtains using Up in the Air from Vanessa Arbuthnott's Sky collection.  The chest of drawers was covered in fabric too by local company, Kitsch-en-sync. Purty!

Bright and breezy

I'm so glad the mornings are getting lighter. Its wonderful to wake up to bright sunny rays streaming through the windows. Have decided I am definitely not a winter person.

You couldn't fail to wake up in a good mood with this perky decor though, shot with Katrin Cargill for Homes and Gardens last year. The stripey papered ceiling and bed canopies give a real quirky spin to classic reds and whites.

Kelly Hoppen Wallpaper shoot

Back from a long Blogger break. Been rather busy working on lots of Interiors shoots. Below are some snaps from behind the scenes of a shoot with Abi Bourra for a new range of wallpapers designed by Kelly Hoppen for Graham and Brown.

The Dormy House Shoot

A few weeks ago I was invited along to help out on a shoot for The Dormy House with Katie Sellers (check out her website for some truly inspiring images) The shoot was at a location house in New Cross, which has fabulously high ceilings, sash windows, old radiators and a great staircase all of which make for very photogenic backdrops to any product or editorial shoot.

On this occasion we were going to be working on catalogue shots for The Dormy House, a furniture company run by the lovely Anna Trinder and family. They were looking to update the catalogue, and to get some festive cover shots for the autumn/winter launch.

The floors and walls can be a bit wonky in some of these old location houses but I think it was I who was a tad skewiff in this one! Lovely lamps though.

Pretty little dressing tables. I L.O.V.E the platinum crushed velvet stool, after all velvet is the touchy feely fabric de jour don't you know?! There is something so pretty about these soft greys, silvers and winter whites, they gave the finished shot the feel of a crisp winters morning.

A luscious Christmassy cushiony bundle and below, serious bag envy! I want that satchel.

Deliberating over how best to shoot the study desk and chair combo. You would not believe the infinite number of variations we tried for this shot, but we got there in the end!

Many of The Dormy House products are available in different colours and paint finishes. I'm loving the new French Grey and Katie's printed luggage tags.

Katie admitted to having a bit of a thing for birds, and claimed to have them all over her home in different forms. I fell for this sweet bird print by Karin Akesson available from www.alittlebitofart.co.uk

The final shots on the last day, and photographer Darren Chung moves lighting into place, while Katie makes the final tweaks to the Dining table.

All packed up and ready to go. Thanks Katie and The Dormy House peeps for a great few days.

Sumptuous Silk

This week I have been working on a shoot with Catherine Huckerby doing some PR shots for Gingerlily purveyors of beautiful silk bedlinen. We shot in a converted old Victorian school.

Talk about tall ceilings, these were completely ma-hoo-sive.

As you can see from the pics below its a great location with floor to ceiling windows, interesting features like wood panelling, and ornate fireplaces.

There are more modern touches too like this light brick fireplace (bit of a wonky shot!), and clean white walls and floorboards. I love the way the owner has displayed treasured family photos in a simple arrangement on an otherwise bare stairwell.

We set up the first bed shot. Softest dove grey silk sheets and sexy black velvet, silk and beaded bedspreads and throw cushions create a smart and sumptuous setting.

Set Builder Stevie in motion, taking a wall painted in Sanderson's "Starling" back to white. And taking a well deserved break. Check out that fireplace too. Mmmm.

Our beautiful and talented Photographer Rachel Whiting, and her able assistant Corin fire off some shots on plain white backgrounds known as cut outs. These will are the type of shots used for magazine shopping pages. Having some good cut outs definitely helps to get the products picked up and featured by key magazines.

At the end of day Cat, takes a moment while chasing couriers and location staff. Is the work of a stylist never done? A great couple of days.