Black Vase – West Elm.

What I’m doing in this flat is quite possibly in violation of some renters’ law: the comprehensive yet unspoken/unwritten set of rules that is policed by no one but adhered to by everyone who is under a tenancy agreement of sorts. You homeowners can go outside and play, this post does not apply to you… superior humans.
Picture frames all aligned at the same base-line (the floor), make-shift storage space under the stairs/behind the IKEA EKBY, free-standing clothes-hangers that buckle under sale purchases… yeah, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We do not invest in big furniture, and when we do it’s made of cardboard (or breadcrumbs?), comes flat-packed and you probably transported it home in a bus yourself. Built-in storage is literally my wet dream. Maybe not literally.

Also, what is a drill, pray tell?

If it helps to further understand, these laws are accompanied by an Amazon recommended-product list full of sticker-back wall hooks and cheap draught prevention kits BECAUSE YOUR LANDLADY DOESN’T BELIEVE IN CURTAINS, so you spend the balls-cold weekend sealing off the windows with a combination of bargain-store fabric and clear plastic, and hope for the best. Doesn’t hide the fact that now your overpriced London flat looks like a blanket fort that Troy & Abed would approve of.

Ladder-shelf – Dwell. Blowfish – Boulesse. Coral decorative object – West Elm.

Perfume – Dolce & Gabbana ‘The One’. Watch – Larsson & Jennings. Bracelets – CARAT* London

Glass vase – Muji. Hourglass – Bitossi via The Conran Shop. Candle holder – Trouva

So me taking a measuring tape to the walls, is in clear violation of the above. A MEASURING TAPE, you guys. Then proceeding to ordering furniture that perfectly slide into the little indent in the wall next to the fireplace. We’ve even bought a drill, and have plans of making fist-sized holes into the walls come weekend; you know, for fun. My logic is this: Live a little. Why pay such a ridiculous amount to live in a relatively attractive, albeit ill-heated space and then further offend it by not making it a home? Because stupid, that’s what. Rant over. Here are some corners I’ve been refreshing in the last couple of weeks between the bliss that was my horizontal-and-TV adventures.

Marble vase – Dwell. ‘Hello’ sign – West Elm.

Aroma diffuser – Muji

Chair – Eames. Desk – IKEA

Rose-gold sunnies – RayBan

Dress – 2ND DAY. Flared Jeans – Frame Denim. Bag – Saint Laurent. White top – Zara.

It’s one thing to be circling a beautiful piece of furniture and imagine one day taking it home to display it like a trophy, and another thing to be able to sit down on (a very yellow) sofa and talk to the designer of the piece himself about what he had for breakfast. I am no expert, in anything – except maybe making e-commerce check-out pages and pizza pockets – and with a ‘blogger’ background I’ve always seem myself an observer* of the industries, be it fashion, food or in this case, interiors. But frankly, I revel in this fact, because I still get to see things curiosity (and ask how you spell Gabbana), and a lot of things are still exciting for me. Collaborating with brands like The Conran Shop being one, asking some of my design heroes what they would tell their 10-year old self on camera, being everything else.

‘You can still carry on playing’, was in fact Russell Pinch’s (awesome) answer to that question, one that set the mood for the rest of the evening where a very cheerful crowd (including some of my adored readers) sat around the panel for the LDF #TheConranshopEdit Designer Panel Discussion, glass of prosecco in each hand. What a great night to be reminded that we do what we do best by playing like a kid – letting your imagination go wild, not taking things too seriously and once in a while eating glue.

*On the downside, this does mean I can’t contribute as much informed opinions/judgement, but on the upside I’m the girl in the conversation circle that is eating all the canapés while the rest are busy talking (a full-mouth is tactically also used to wave off my turn to shed my thoughts on any given topic)

Jader Almeida

Click below for the recap & interviews ↓ (PLEASE excuse the holding thumbnail WTF Youtube)

Magnus Long

Russell Pinch

In collaboration with The Conran Shop. Video by Philippa Langley.

Jader Almeida’s Licce Rocking chair from #TheConranShopEdit

Let me start by addressing fellow Londoners, WHY HAVE YOU NOT TOLD ME ABOUT THE CONRAN SHOP BEFORE? I feel straight-out betrayed that I am discovering this place – this, Ali Babba’s den of treasures, in my tenth year in London. While it might have something to do with the fact that to me, London ‘Chelsea’ is but a figment of imagination, a faraway land where tall elves frolic in designer garb and their children scoff at us poor people in big red taxis, it still does not explain why I haven’t even scouted the place with condescending hipster gait back in the days. Which reminds me, there is another store in Marylebone, which does suit my bill better (I smart). Now I wish I had done that since I would have much better taste in belongings, in general. So I stood serenading this shop – twice, as the heavens were chucking down something mighty on the day I visited, and it was one fantastic shelter all right.

The reason I visit, is because I am now essentially ‘cheating on fashion with furniture’, to borrow the words of one Carrie Bradshaw, and have decided to skip MFW and do London Design Festival. I’m working with the Conran Shop to behind the scenes of the #TheConranShopEdit Designer Panel Discussion event on the 24th September, with questions from YOU. So come, and get lost between the sheets in the store with me, see #TheConranShopEdit of hand-picked edit of extraordinary furniture and lighting, and talk to the panellists: living legends and up-and-coming talent of furniture design. Most importantly, come see what I’m talking about – RSVP now! See, I’ve decided on spending more time amongst great taste and hope some of it will rub off. To my international readers, please join in on the fun by either leaving a comment here, or via Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat (ID: SparknCube) by sending my your comments and questions to ask to the panellists on the day. Or just send me boob pics, you know how much I like those.

Event collaboration with The Conran Shop. Photography and graphic design Park & Cube

Shimmer Side and Coffee tables by Patricia Urquiola from from #TheConranShopEdit

Piet Hein Eek’s Hand-folded lamps