June 2012

Trendenser iPad Magazine Review

by Kelly Sparkes on June 29, 2012

This is a blog post of firsts for me, my first iPad magazine, my first attempts at styling and my first move away from programme auto on my Camera.

I’ve always been sceptical of iPad magazines.  I like the anticipation of the arrival of my magazine and the tactile quality of the pages. I also like the fact I can draw on it, rip things out and read in the bath without the worry of ruining it.

The problem is that although I’m brutal in the fight against clutter in the rest of my house, I can’t seem to throw magazines away (you never know when you might need that article in wallpaper* from four years ago), so they are slowly taking over my office, pile by pile.

Trendenser Front Cover
Listening to Frida Ramstedt at ‘Meet the Blogger’ made me want to give iPad magazines a chance.  Frida started one  of Sweden’s first interior design blogs seven years ago in her college dorm, when she should have been studying for a finance exam.  Today  it’s one of the most read blogs in scandinavia, and she is a millionaire from it.

The iPad magazine is the next step from her blog, she describes it as ’a digital magazine that captures and takes advantage of the fast, furious and curious side of the interior design world’.  You can really hear her voice when reading it, probably because she created it with such a small team.

Trendenser Frida Interview

You can have video in iPad magazines and the pages are interactive, allowing the page to be uncluttered.  This works really well for the ‘Before and After’ feature and for the article ‘The Styling Experts Bedroom Favourites’, which allows you to see their favourite choices for a bed, then scroll down through the rest of the objects in a bedroom, linen, bedside tables etc.  There are links scattered around to allow the reader to go off and learn more or buy stuff, very much like a website.

My favourite article was the one that grabbed my attention at the preview at Meet the blogger, ‘How to create a still life’.  You can scroll down and see the still life built up, item by item, very interesting.

Trendenser Still Life
It’s not all rosy, some of the language is questionable, for example, ‘creates a more living feeling’, and as you would expect for a magazine that’s sold as ‘Scandinavian home and interior design’, it has a bias towards Scandinavian style.  Some of the articles read like adverts, one in particular is like a page from the Ikea catalogue.

Saying that, I did really enjoy it and will buy it again.  I’m looking forward to reading about Frida’s wedding in the next issue and I’m obviously desperate to read about the picnic trends for 2012 (well, maybe not…).

Trendenser Next Issue
How do you feel about iPad magazines? Let me know if there are any you think I should check out.

Saucy Soho Stories in Soho Square

by Kelly Sparkes on June 26, 2012

On a rare break from the rain today, when trying to find a square of grass to eat my lunch on, I stumbled upon ‘Soho Stories’ in Soho Square.

Soho Square Speakers
I took the earphones and audio guide style unit so that I could listen to people telling their stories. I heard tales from the old days of Groucho Club by Bernie Katz, dating anecdotes from Boris Johnson’s sister and a man reading a story from his iPad, about his true love that got struck down by lightning (I kid you not!).


The event, which is running daily between 1 and 2 pm for the rest of the week, is to launch and promote a new phone app ‘Soho stories‘, a GPS-based phone app celebrating 60 years of Bohemian Soho. As you wander around Soho with the app, it uses GPS to pinpoint your location, then whispers relevant hedonistic histories in your ear. Surprisingly it’s produced by the National Trust who are embracing the risque topics for tourism.  I’m sure it will cause a bit of a stir with their more traditional members.


This is one of the reasons I love London so much, you never know what you are going to end up doing when you venture out.

As a bonus, I also spotted two BT ArtBoxes.


I’m not that chubby, it’s the mirrors, honest ;)


I see myself wandering around soho listening to the app in the near future :)

Meet the Blogger 2012 – Roundup

by Kelly Sparkes on June 24, 2012

Two weeks ago I was in Amsterdam for Meet the Blogger 2012, and since then I’ve been trying to write a post about it whilst travelling in Italy, begging for votes for my headboard design and trying to squeeze in some time for the blogging your way course.

Yesterday I realised that I was pretty much regurgitating the same stuff my two friends and companions for the trip, Sam and Mary had already written about beautifully on their blogs.  So rather than writing a full post, when I’m so keen to tell you all about the other fun stuff I’ve been up to since then, I decided to do an overview post.

Meet the Blogger 2012 CollageMeet the blogger was held at the impressive Conservatorium Hotel.  I’m not sure it was the best venue for a conference, but would definitely stay there in the future.  Sam wrote the following post about the hotel, her fabulous photos really capture the mood of the place.

Conservatorium Hotel by Sam Lennie of Bright Space

The event itself was only half a day, which was a shame, but they packed lots in.  The highlight for me was the keynote speaker Frida Ramstedt of Trendenser. I’m completely in awe of, and inspired by Frida, she is living proof of what can be done if you put your mind to it.  This quote, taken from one of her slides is the main thing I took away with me.

dont focus on what you can do today
Frida’s new Trendenser iPad magazine launched during the presentation and she gave a us a sneak preview.  I was really impressed and have subscribed. I will post a review next week.

For the full overview of the event and lots of blogging tips take a look at

Highlights of Meet the Blogger 2012, by Sam Lennie of Bright Space

Meet the Blogger 2012, by Mary of HOP Interiors

The rest of the weekend was spent exploring the city, mostly by Segway!  Mr S has been trying to get me on a Segway for years, but it took the peer pressure of the group to finally get me to try it.  Here’s a little video that Mr S made, for you to laugh at :)  Hope you had a great weekend everyone!

KLC Interior Design Open Learning Diploma – Module 2

by Kelly Sparkes on June 14, 2012

KLC School of Design Sign

After ten months of working weekends and getting up early to fit in a couple of hours before work, I’ve finally submitted module two of my KLC Open Learning Diploma in Interior Design.

I took the boards in personally as I couldn’t risk them getting lost in the post and it was such a relief to arrive at KLC and hand it over.  Now I can sleep easy knowing they are safe and not getting damaged by the cats or unruly nephews…

Anyway, I thought I would share some images of my work and show my friends where I’ve been for the last ten months!

 

Project 1 – Colour Matching

I was asked to choose a fabric/wall covering or tile containing at least four colours and build up a room scheme around it.  I used ‘Harlequin Gardenia’ fabric as my colour inspiration.

Colour Matching Board

Colour matching board, based on Harlequin Gardenia fabric

I enjoyed this project and will definitely be using this technique in the future to inspire a colour scheme, especially if I need to incorporate existing furniture or soft furnishings.

Project 2 – Bathroom Planning

For this project I needed to plan and design a bathroom for Robert Hillier, a client who is a tall, large man.

The first step was to create a concept board.

Project 2.2 Mr Hillier's Bathroom, Concept Board

Bathroom concept board inspired by the words ‘Contemporary, Luxurious and Masculine’

I then worked on the layout of the room and created an inked plan.

Technical Drawing Bathroom

Hand inked plan of bathroom, I’ve lost could of the amount of times I had to redo this!

Finally, I put it all together in a furniture book to present to the client.

Project 2.2 Mr Hillier's Bathroom

Accessories page of the furniture book

I’m dreading creating the Axometric drawing for module 3!

Project 3

For this one the tutors gave total creative freedom, only specifying that the scheme should be developed for a contemporary, high-end sitting room.

Sitting Room Concept Board

Concept board, I used the words ‘Contemporary, Dramatic’ and ’Glamorous’ for inspiration

Next I looked at the concept board and pulled out the shapes, colours and textures to source the items for the room.

sitting room sample board

Sitting room sample board

I just hope my design isn’t too dramatic for the tutors taste!

Project 4 – Period Window Treatment

I chose the Regency period for this as I was inspired by the window treatment in room 5 at the Geffrye museum.

Window Elevation with French Doors

Window elevation with French doors, I added a door handle before submission.

The design was supposed to fit into a modern interior, so I would have liked to omit the tassels, however, the KLC tutors said that ‘passimentere’ (what a great word!) was essential for this period.

Regency Window Treatment

Regency window treatment, passimentere included!

Project 5 – Bed Treatment

This project was timely as I’m re-designing my Mum and Dads bedroom and four-poster bed.  It’s was great to do ‘live work’ without feeling guilty for neglecting coursework.

Bed Treatment

Rendered Sketch of bed treatment

This project made me realise how important a sketch can be.  It really helped when deciding on the fabrics and how to hang them. I hate to think how long I spent on this sketch, it was the thing I was dreading most about this module, but I’m quite proud of it now, so I thought I would share a close up of it :)

Bed Treatment Sketch

Closeup of Bed Treatment Sketch

I will post photos of the finished room, but it may take some time, as Mum & I have lots of sewing to do between now and then!

As it’s been a full-on few months I’ve decided to give myself the rest of June off KLC work so I can concentrate on the ‘Blogging Your Way’ course’.

Now I just have to wait for my results…

Fingers crossed!

 

Savoir Beds Design Grand Prix Headboard Competition

by Kelly Sparkes on June 11, 2012

Luxury Bed maker Savoir beds are running a competition to give design school students the opportunity to work on a ‘live brief’ to design a bespoke headboard.

I heard about this competition last year from a fellow KLC student, the lovely Mary-Ellen on her blog HOP Interiors.  As I read the article I thought, ‘I could never do that’, yet here I am, six months later with the confidence to give it a go!

This year’s theme is ‘Organic’, and it makes me think of nature, trees, leaves and the undulating curves of Gaudi architecture.  I look up the dictionary definition for ‘Organic’ for inspiration.

Browsing through my gardening books and flickr I’m filled with ideas, and begin to solidify them in my sketchbook.

Headboard Sketches

sketches of some of my original ideas

I decide to go with the design based on the Travellers palm as I love the symmetry of the fronds, the vivid colours and the way they cross to create a geometrical pattern.

The brief requires an isometric drawing and an elevation, so I try my hand at sketchup, yikes!  Seemed like a good idea at the time…

Approximately 100 hours later, after lots of help from google and trial and error, I’m kind of happy.

So design finalised, I have to find an ‘organic’ fabric to make it from that’s luxurious enough to grace a Savoir bed.

Organic cotton or linen would make the design look too rustic.  I thought about ‘Peace silk’, made without harming the silkworm, but Silk isn’t practical for a headboard.  Taking the ‘derived from living matter’ part of the dictionary definition literally, I think of Salmon skin leather, it’s beautifully textured, practical and luxurious.  Best of all it is completely organic and made from the waste skins produced in the food industry. Exotic fabric from rubbish, brilliant!

I decide to go for the Bordeaux colour, as it is very similar to the red in the travellers palm and I think the green would be too obvious and a bit much…

Like most competitions these days it’s an annoying facebook ‘likey’ thing, and only the top twenty most popular people on Facebook get through to the final stage.

Unfortunately this means I have to beg for votes to be in with a chance of getting in front of the judges.  So pretty please vote for me if you like the design and have a facebook account.

  1. Go to the Savoir Beds Grand Prix Page
  2. Log into facebook
  3. Click ‘Go to App’, then ‘Accept’ (I know, annoying)
  4. ‘Like’ the page in the top right
  5. Click ‘Vote’
  6. Fill in your name and click save
  7. Click ‘Go to entries’
  8. Browse the entries (don’t worry there are only 80) to find mine, look for the image of the Travellers Palm (the entries are shown in random order).
  9. Click the little green ‘like hand’ in the bottom left, under my image.
  10. If you get number of votes goes up e.g. ‘you and x users have voted for this’ then your done!
  11. Pat yourself on the back for getting through that ridiculous voting process! :)

I completely understand if you gave up at step 3!  Thank you if you managed to vote and if not then thanks for reading this far!

Some people I’ve spoken to think Salmon Leather is a bit odd, would you buy a headboard made from it?

Update: 09/07/2012 designlint has been shortlisted!!  I’m one happy bunny today :)  Huge thanks to everyone that voted, I really appreciate your help x