GET THE REPLAY OF THE VISION BOARD MASTERCLASS - LIFE IN COLOUR

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01 Aug 14

Ways to display and the Law of Grouping

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A collection of vintage mirrors grouped all together makes this room feel glam. Image from Graham and Green

There’s no better way to add a punch of personality to your room than creating a feature from a personal collection. The one thing to avoid at all costs is a home that looks like it’s ripped from a page in a catalogue. Make your house a home by adding a dash of individuality, a collection of objects that are unique to you, that tell a story. It can be as easy as a collection of pictures of your favourite people.

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A single colour, like blue will help give your collections a unified look

Every room needs a focal point, somewhere that draws your attention and interests the eye. Rooms feel just niggly if there are random bits and bobs, bobbing around the room like flotsam like jetsam. Ladies and gentleman…drum roll… let me introduce you to the Law of Grouping!

So you have a collection of family photos, gorgeous! Now I think they look fab if you group lots of them all together. I think a selection of different frames look more interesting (I’m never a fan of matchy matchy) but pick a theme. For example all-white frames or all-metallic, all-mirror or all-wood. A totally random mix never hangs well together. If you’re a real stylista then you’ll simply have to print out all your photos in black and white. This always looks sophisticated and means your prints will look great in any colour scheme.

cf4f7da2f6b2b13eeb73a21ee8cfefdfA group of photos look good on a designated surface like a circular table, a grand piano, a book case, or mounted together on a wall. They don’t look good on windowsills or on top of the TV. If you’ve ever done any of these, go to the bottom of the class!

Sally Conran

A relaxed grouping of pictures and objects by Sally Conran

You can apply the law of grouping to other items too. I love a collection of framed prints grouped together to fill a wall. You can be orderly by choosing a collection of prints of the same size and displaying symmetrically, or go bananas group a medley of different shapes and sizes. No surprises that that’s the way I roll, it just looks more individual, like a personal collection that’s grown gradually and organically over time. You can even add to it, which you can never do with a collection of matching prints. Again I think it’s good to think of a theme so they look like a cohesive collection. Think about framing them in a similar colour, or pick a topic like flowers, or an artistic style like Scandi graphic design.

Choose a theme if you are grouping artwork together on a wall

Choose a theme if you are grouping artwork together on a wall

The same theory can be rolled out to decorative ornaments. Create a tablescape with items of varying shapes and heights. Again choose a theme either by colour code or style, like 60’s pottery, blue glass, or natural textures.With all these displays the trick is to keep free and fluid and don’t be afraid to jiggle and re-jiggle your items until you are happy with the composition. In the stylists industry there’s even a word for this science. It’s called ‘tweaking’ and us stylists, do it a lot!

Arrange your items loosely for am effortlessly stylish lived in look. emmas.blogg.se

Arrange your items loosley for am effortlessly stylish lived in look.
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So have fun creating your personal displays, scour car boot sales, chazza shops, as well as your favourite high street stores or art shows until you can create your own personal display that makes your home pop with personality!

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July, you were a joy. Long, hot days spent slowing July, you were a joy. Long, hot days spent slowing down, dancing at festivals and celebrating Mum’s fabulous 80th birthday. Rounded off with a full moon and a little more magic and manifesting. ✨

1. only one thing for it, resting up in my hammock from @dunelmuk 
2. resting and rejuvenating at Brightons seafront @beachboxbtn 
3. Picked Dahlias from my garden 
4. All from a box of tubers from @dahliabeach 
5. dining out with my bestie @sophieabbottartist at The Blue Man in Brighton
6. Moroccan mezze is delicious 
7. Mum proudly showing off  her veg garden prize rewards!
8. Lucy looking cheeky, caught in my bed again 
9. Celebrating Mums 80th at home
10. Laying the table with Mums original wedding china 
11. Hosting a fabulous art talk with @vanessagbranson and @jonathan_brook at @broadwicksoho 
12. Catching up at @broadwicksoho with my colour collective 
13. Looking at palettes for an exciting new project 
14. Sunshine calls for yellow nails
15. with my girls at @lovesupremefest 
16. Cold beer on a summer’s day 
17. Catching up with the team at @harlequinfw 
18. Still sticking with it and loving it @teamyo_weight_training 
19. New love affair with all things red. trousers @zara trainers @addidas bag @essentielantwerp 
20. Buck full moon magic for manifesting what comes next!
Every time I share even the smallest glimpse of th Every time I share even the smallest glimpse of this house on Instagram, my inbox absolutely fills up. Where did that come from, what’s that colour, how on earth did you do that so I thought it was finally time to pull together the questions I get asked most and give you the honest answers! 

I’ll never get tired of answering these questions, so keep them coming. And if there’s one thing about this house you’re still curious about, tell me below!

Comment ‘BLOG’ for the full run down!
It takes a village to make a collection… and thank It takes a village to make a collection… and thankfully mine is full of ridiculously talented people.

From the designers and makers to the photographers, stylists and glam squad, this shoot was the grand finale after months of hard work. My favourite bit? Seeing everything come together in front of the camera.

You might spot my brother @edwardrobinsonid in this reel too. He’s a stylist and Design Producer on Interior Design Masters, so pinching him for the day always feels like a result. A proper family affair.

This is my very first solo bed linen and cushion collection and I honestly can’t wait to share it with you.

Coming soon…
One of London’s best interiors secrets… Chelsea Ha One of London’s best interiors secrets… Chelsea Harbour Design Centre ✨

It’s where interior designers go to discover an incredible selection of fabrics and wallpapers, helpfully all under one roof. And the good news? It’s open to everyone!

You can:
• Explore the latest collections
• Spot emerging interiors trends
• Pick up free samples
• Source fabrics and wallpapers for your home
• Get free expert design advice
• Find help with measuring and ordering

And while you’re there, pop into the @sanderson1860 showroom, where you’ll find my own collection of wallpapers and fabrics created with @harlequinfw . 

Go and have a look - I’d love to know what catches your eye!

Save this Reel for your next interiors day out and share it with someone planning a decorating project.
One of the questions I’m asked more than any other One of the questions I’m asked more than any other is, “How do you choose the right paint colour?” My answer is always the same… please don’t rely on those tiny paint cards! They’re simply too small to judge a colour properly.

For my mum’s annexe makeover, we started with the inspiration, not the paint chart. She wanted to bring the magic of her garden indoors, so green was an obvious choice. I suggested introducing pink too because it’s one of my favourite colour combinations and always feels fresh and uplifting.

Once we’d shortlisted a few shades, we ordered tester pots and painted large A3 swatches. Trust me, this one simple trick will save you a lot of expensive decorating mistakes. Tape the samples to the wall, move them around the room and compare them together in different light before making your final decision.

We also used a beautiful painting by @sophieabbottartist to refine the palette. I love building colour schemes from artwork because the colours have already been thoughtfully brought together.

The final colours? Slaked Lime, Pea Green and Hellebore by @littlegreenepaintcompany 

Now it’s time to get the paint on the walls… come back soon to see the transformation.
June has been one of those months that fills your June has been one of those months that fills your creative cup. From inspiring days wandering London’s galleries and catching up with the design world at WOW!house and the Maison&Objet dinner at The Mandrake not to mention the coming together of my two favourite hotels in a design collaboration . But the summer heat called for slower moments with long lunches in the garden, sea swims and soaking up the sunshine. A beautiful reminder that inspiration often comes from balancing creativity with rest.

1. Hanging out in my favourite London spot @broadwicksoho 
2. and always head for the loos. top marks to @martinbrudnizki 
3. Hanging out to the Wow House @designcentrech with @mad_about_the_house 
4. Enjoying @interiordesignmasters and a close final between @liagoldinteriors @shaginterior 
5. Shop opening for @liefcollectivelewes in my local Lewes celebrating the wonderful jewellery designers @rawsolace  @vivienne.ridley 
6. London weekend on the south bank fuelled by coffee
7. Mesmerised by the colour palettes of @hurvinanderson at @tate 
8. Moved to tears by the big @traceyeminstudio retrospective 
9. Time for a big clear out and new mini makeover in one of the spare bedrooms pending ….
10. Wonderful lunch with friends hosted at the stunning home of @annastandish.interiors 
11. The only way to deal with the heat wave along the south coast was to hit the beach 
12. Pool party and a triple Sophie threat @sophieabbottartist @sophie_darling_ 
13. Hosted a Summer solstice celebration at home which involved making wild flower crowns…
14. … and a beautiful cooked lunch at home 
15. Reaping the rewards of Mums vegetable patch 
16. Planning a big colourful makeover in Mums annex inspired by her favourite @sophieabbottartist painting 
17. Celebrating the @elfennmarrakech x @broadwicksoho rooftop collaboration with @vanessabranson
18. The iconic @elfennmarrakech red and white stripes and Moroccan lanterns take over the London roof terrace at @broadwicksoho 
19. Celebrating women in design with @maisonetobjet at @themandrakehotel 
20. Beautiful dinner hosted by @maisonetobjet at @themandrakehotel  with sensational hotel interiors by @talafustokstudio
After a few very busy weeks and all of this unbeli After a few very busy weeks and all of this unbelievably hot weather, I need to remember sometimes to simply be more Lucy. 

Her Sundays are like nothing else. Curling up on my colourful cushions, finding the cosiest spots and always inserting herself into any task that requires no dog. Never underestimate the power of doing nothing and focusing on the things that fill your cup!
Marrakech is one of my greatest creative inspirati Marrakech is one of my greatest creative inspirations and one of the best places in the world to shop if you love colour, craft and beautiful things that tell a story. I’ve been visiting for years, leading retreats and filling embarrassingly large amounts of luggage, and I still come home buzzing every single time.

This city has never subscribed to the idea that less is more. It is pure, glorious, unapologetic abundance and if you are a maximalist at heart it will feel like coming home.

Swipe for my little black book of favourite shops, rug dealers, ceramicists, fragrance makers spontaneous finds - the places I return to again and again and recommend to everyone who asks.

And yes - bring an extra suitcase and fill it with things that just make you smile!! You will not regret it.

Comment ‘Maximalism’ and I’ll send you my recent blog post with web links and addresses. happy shopping!

@soufnyartgallery 
@studiolidmarrakech 
@pophamdesign 
@maison.blaoui 
@heritage.berbere 
@cotebougiemarrakech 
@elfennmarrakech
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