A Monday Afternoon (Anthropological) fantasy.

My colleague just introduced me to the beautiful homeware shop Anthropologie. Here's what's on my wishlist so far...

Top of my list: This sort-of postmodern chandelier. Most chandeliery-type ceiling hangings have glary bulb lighting but this one has a lovely, gentle glow. At £3,000+, the pricetag is a little overbudget so I'd settle for this £90ish birdie lampshade, which I suspect would also give off a warming rosy light.

Who wouldn't want a mural of Arcadia in their homes? I'd love mine on a freestanding/moveable wall in the centre of my big open-plan factory converted apartment. Perhaps separating the claw-footed bath from the gently-peeling French desk. (It is Arcadia/fantasy land after all).

And whoever says they don't need a tassled, Brazilian teatowel is lying.

For loose leaf cuppas taken inside that claw-foot bath whilst gazing at my Arcadia mural and contemplating a return to my gentle-peeling French desk...

*

Monday afternoon fantasy over... Back to work in the office. In other words, back to melamine desks and filing cabinets - not claw foot, china cup of loose leaf tea or a whiff of Arcadia in sight.

Stag lamp

I'm a bit obsessed with stags. Stag cushion, stag antler mount, and now I've added a stag lampshade to my collection. I stumbled upon Greenwich art/interior studio Lush Designs and commissioned one of these:

I was also rather taken with these...

The downside was, I ended up buying a short and slightly wonky (or maybe that's just my floorboards), boring black base from Habitat. Wish I'd gone with this one instead, made of rough, raw concrete...

Saying that, the base is from Made.com - and I'm STILL waiting for a replacement for the broken desk they sent me last December. Shoddy customer service. Awful delivery service. Nice desk though:

Stag chair. (Finally!)

I've wanted to post this since day one of this blog. One of the reasons I began cutting out interiors was because of this: An amazing chair made of entwined stag antlers...

The first time I saw this was in Francisco Costa's home in a Vogue feature. Here, it's the home of another designer, snapper by The Selby. Not sure about the thick cushion pads - would rather it was beautiful but impractical, I think.  

Through the keyhole

I loved reading Abigail Ahern's book last year (and posting a blog about it here). 
So I was excited to learn that Todd Selby visited her at home recently. Here are the pics of her London flat from his website. Suspect it would be fairly easy to replicate the dark painted floorboards, stripped brick walls (if you're blessed with a house with good foundations), and the moody colour scheme with showpiece lighting...
Other key ingredients:

1. Freshly-painted front door and window frames. 

2. Acid bright chairs (modern shapes only) alongside a kilim rug

3. Claw-footed bath, showpiece lighting and not much else in your bathroom

4. A striking picture. You can make one. (Hint: Try this link).

 5. Clashing seating - the bolder and more modernist, the better.

6. An antique fishmonger's crate, of course. (There's one here).

7. Painted floorboards (not just white or oak)

8. Yet another showstopping light fitting

9. A giant floor spotlight.

10. A particularly high ceiling. This is where some of us may struggle. 

For a replica Chesterfield, check out my Meet Bruce post. 

Warning: Longest blogpost ever. Read only if you want to kit out your kitchen

I live in a small flat with an even smaller kitchen. It isn't even a kitchen - more of a strip of worktops along one wall of my sitting room. There's exactly one square of worktop space, a small sink and some very nasty black tiles that are impossible to disguise (or replace - because it's a rental). 

These are the kitcheny bits and bobs that I'd buy if I had my own large kitchen. My favourites are the cow glasses, the antique bread tins and the completely impractical (but adorable) eggcup cosies.

PS: After this final 'where to shop' post, I'm reverting back to the old Peaches and Trifles blog styles of customising, reinventing and homes to lust after. 

Remind me of Malted Milk biscuits (£25 for six, Freshly Forked)

Bit salty at £70, but antique white linen (Linenme) doesn't come cheap

Yes please! (Magpie Living, £16 for two)

The Original Home Store

Out of Love (check out the Fresh Juice and Wine versions too)

Bojje

Jessica Hogarth Designs

£24 each! But check out those dimples. (Linda Broomfield). 

The primrose teacup is by Alison Appleton

Doris & Co (£70 - twee little messages printed on the side)

Instead of traditional work units, I'd display my food in clear glass jars on this dresser. I'd also have a larder. It's £925 from the Orchard Furniture company.

Eggy soldiers with hats. £40 for four. Gulp. (Samantha Holmes)

Cake tins: Would rather buy new than find old, vintage tins that might taste of old metal, mould and stale cheese. (The Chic Country Home).

Glasses: Look pretty. But last time I had a set of metal mugs, it tasted like drinking tea over a new filling. Jury's out on these. Good for picnics though - might overpower the taste of warm sandwiches tinged with Tupperware. (Teacosy Home)

Stunningly expensive. Good, robust rope handles. Personalisation element means a good option for a wedding gift. From The Oak and Rope Company. Check out the company's outdoor swings in my previous post. 

The Vintage Tea Cup

Primrose & Plum. Might be a better option to find them second-hand, for a bit more character. Try a Swedish Loppis. 

A touch of Indian raj. Also look reassuringly robust. (Nkuku)

Big, lose-your-nose-in-them French coffee cups. £66.50 for six. Dibor. 

Linda Bloomfield. I'd love the whole dinner service. The shapes look slightly off kilt and they're stained wonderfully pale pastel and creamy shades. £399 for a service.

Brilliantly decadent butter dome. The Rose Shack.

Melody Rose, What would granny say?!

Nom mug. Autumnal Sunday afternoon cuppa-worthy.

Wine glasses, Silver plated. The Orchard

Serving bottles! Novel. (Door 77)

Regal teacups and china. Another gem from The Orchard

Thornback and Peel - like the background of this blog