Month: Nov 2024

Eclectic Inspirations: From Ancient Crafts to Modern Brands

Organisational Aesthetics

Look up from the main hall at Ashridge house and you will marvel at the amazing craftwork and design choices of those with an eye for style and culture hundreds of years ago.

Love the smell of this had to take a photo so I can remembered it has Sweet Pea
Fast forward to November 2024
Really love what the brand formally known as Haekles is doing to assert their values around environment and social responsibility. They have changed their name and got new packaging that is not about creating a dressing table ornament. It is about creating a vessel for their product that is compost-able. It makes me love them even

Overall my visits this week made me notice the extent of my eclectic appreciations, I can be enthralled by ancient design and crafts through to being captivated by 21st century crafting of our cultural practices from brands like Formaly Known as Hackles.

Creating a Japandi Office: Peaceful Elegance Meets Functionality

Creative Workspaces, Organisational Aesthetics

Sleek and sophisticated fittings and Furnishings for Hard Working Zone

Boucle textured seating
Elegant breakout area
Japandi meeting room
Plants bring organic

An Effective abundance of textures

While visiting some London City offices recently, I found some authentic Japandi. Working as a facilitator corporate trainer/ instructor I was able to see how the combination of textures used in the external meeting rooms and breakout area fittings created a captivating and calming atmosphere. Colours are neutral and highlighted by the colours from natural elements such as metals and woods and watery looking glass panels.

A spacious training room with rubberised table
Minimalist and well considered details
Natural wood accents
Beautiful combination of natural textures.

If you want to create the Japandi look in your home office here’s five things to remember

  1. Natural elements wood, marble, wool and metal
  2. Paired back details
  3. Double the circulation space for that sense of spaciousness
  4. Juxtaposition of natural textures such as mats verses glosses
  5. Tiny elements of metal craftsmanship to admire

Comment below to share what your favourite elements are in Japandi office or home interiors. Do you like light Japandi or dark Japandi?

Creating a Unique Light further Inspired by Museum Displays

Personal Reflections

I recently visited the V&A museum and took these two photos that caught my eye.

Elaborate hanging at reception, seems to be made of glass hand blown no doubt
The members room beautifully appointed where we sat and chatted the entire time. Such a lovely place to be.

These images caught my eye because they reminded me of the structural architectural importance of lighting and ceiling hangings.

I am in the middle of making a light that combines these very elements. `It has its own base and completely integrated. It is as if the above images combined to make a table lamp. See images below.

Where do you go for lighting inspiration.

This one will be available in the shop soon.

For other marbled painted lamps I created and sell, click on this.

Visit table lamps

The Healing Power of Art in Your Workspace

Personal Reflections

Visiting my local hospital I found it enjoyable to pause and explore the art.

Charring Cross Hospital uses art well. The images below are what captured my thoughts this week when I visited the hospital for a check up.

Not only was I mesmerised by the colours, the vibrancy of the paintings, I noticed how easy it was for me to feel calmed and be part of a community of gallery viewers enjoying the art at my local hospital. You saw it, it made you contemplate when when you walk through their corridors or approached the lifts.

David Wiseman’s huge artwork on the first floor of Charring Cross hospital
Lovely small artworks on display at Charring Cross hospital in the main entrance
The wide array of artwork at the entrance of the hospital in Fulham

I never noticed the art before, it was a stressful moment for me but the art helped me to feel calmer. But it is a lesson to us all about the role that art could play in our own workspace.

Art is known to uplift, bring joy, elevate, bring hope or help our racing thoughts pause from its meditative transfixing properties.

So don’t forget to include art purchases if you are renovating your own home office and wanting to style your shelves.

Let me know in the comments, how many pieces of art do you have in your home office? How many on your shelves? How much art is on your wall to create an aesthetic virtual meeting backdrop?

If you want to see the art I created small enough to display on shelves, click on this link to browse the art that I sell on Etsy.

Click to browse art