Marrakech Design Retreat!

I’ve been visiting Morocco for over ten years, and last year I thought it was high time for me to share my favourite places with some other design aficionados. So, after several months of organising, I’m excited to say my Marrakech Design Retreat is on! Running from 30th September to 7th October, we’ll be staying at the delightful Maison 28 in the heart of the Marrakech medina, which has been lovingly restored by American artist Melanie Royals. Have a look at your home away from home here: http://www.maison28marrakech.com .

We’ll be visiting inspirational palaces, designer riads, hidden flea markets, artisans’ studios, design shops and showrooms, the carpet souk, and we’ll be refueling at some of the best restaurants in Marrakech. Oh, and when you want to rest your feet, we’ll spend an afternoon spa/hammam break at the Beldi Country Club.

Have a look at http://www.adriennechinn.net for further information or email me on adriennechinndesign@hotmail.co.uk . Prices are £1850 per person for a shared twin room, or £2150 for a private double, meals and entry to events included. 5% of all fees will be donated to girls’ education and empowerment charity Project Soar http://www.projectsoarmorocco.org

 

Join me as we explore the iconic Jardins Majorelle, once home of Yves Saint Laurent who had rescued it, with his partner Pierre Berge, from creeping development, lovingly restoring it and the house to the former glory as the home of French artist Jacques Majorelle. We’ll then head next door to the new Yves Saint Laurent Museum, just two of the fantastic visits we’ll be enjoying on this trip.

My Shop is Open!

Oh, I’m so excited! I’m a shopkeeper at last! Well, an online one at the very least. Oh, and it’s stocked full of lovely, lovely things. Vintage 1960s pottery? Check. And art glass, you ask? Murano? Check! Mid-century Italian pottery. Well, of course. And lots of wonderful treasures from my travels through Morocco. Rugs, wedding blankets, hammam towels, jewellery, desert pottery, poufs made from vintage rugs… come in, come in! You are welcome!

Here’s a teaser taster of some of the unusual things I’ve got in store. Come and have a look at http://www.adriennechinn.bigcartel.com

Everything’s Coming up Roses

So, it’s a rainy, bleak Sunday afternoon in July — not an unusual occurrence in England, it has to be said. I’ve retreated indoors, and it’s struck me that maybe one of the reasons floral prints are so popular over here is because, well, we’re often chased inside by our rainy climate. The rain is a boon to gardens here, and when the sun does creep out from behind the clouds for a day or so, we’re all to be found puttering in our verdant plots — whether it’s titivating a window box on a ledge, hoeing a small allotment of vegetables, or dead-heading roses in a walled glory in the countryside (see the lovely Mottisford Abbey Rose Garden in Hampshire, England in the picture above). But for those (many) days, when we can only admire our gardens through the rain-spattered window, a hot cup of tea in hand, the only solution is to bring those roses indoors.

Living room designed by Mario Buatta via nonsensesensibility.com. So pretty. A deft hand at work.

Yves Saint Laurent’s Tangier house. I love the restrained use of this subtle chintz. The room looks fresh and modern.

Nikki Tibbles’ living room in “Dark Floral” by American designer Ellie Cashman via thewonderinus.com. Featured in Vogue, Sept/Oct 2014.

Florals aren’t just for living rooms and bedrooms. Here Nina Campbell uses a fresh, spring-like floral in this country kitchen.

Nina’s decorator/writer daughter Rita Konig has used this pretty lavender wallpaper in her master bedroom on rdujour.com. I like how she’s picked out accent colours on the cushions from the wallpaper.

English country in California. A masterful English interior designed by Michael S. Smith which has appeared in architecturaldigest.com

Speaking of masterful English interiors, here’s a lovely foral interior by Nicky Haslam, from kalynor.wordpress.com

Surface View offers gorgeous wall murals based on artwork from the National Gallery in London. http://www.surfaceview.co.uk

This fresh green and ivory leaf print gives this hallway a strong identity. On dwellcandy.com

If you don’t want to go whole hog, thank about adding a floral accent. Here designer Holly Hollingsworth Phillips of The English Room has done just this. On nonsensesensibility.com

The divine Dorothy Draper is one of my favourites. I love how she’s used this classic floral chintz on chairs and curtains in the Greenbrier Hotel in Virginia.

A striking floral mural from Digetex via ukhomeideas.co.uk

A vintage floral bedroom mixes and matches floral patterns in this bedroom designed by Helmi Vaga of http://www.helmivaga-interiors.co.uk

Don’t chuck out that chintz just yet!

Going Bananas

 

I’m just back from Grenada and I’ve got palm trees and bananas on my mind — especially as the view from my window is all about rain, rain, rain — the horizontal kind. Typical summer in England. So, why not bring some tropical sun into your home (even if it’s blowing a gale outside), with some lush, tropical leaves?

 

I am in love with these vintage brass palm tree floor lamps. I’m going to have to find a place for on in my flat. Pictures from fromtherightbank.com

Even since it was first hung up in the Beverley Hills Hotel, the Martinique banana leaf wallpaper was been popular. Lovvvve.

     

 

First and last pictures from sarahsarna.com , all others from martiniquewallpaper.com

Even one of my favourite interior decorators, the inimitable Dorothy Draper, used it in her iconic decoration for The Greenbriar Hotel in West Virginia (pictures below from simplifiedstyleblog.com

and, where there are banana leaves on the walls, could carpet be far behind?

I found these tropical area rugs for sale on privapumba.com (below).

 

What could be nicer than to wake up surrounded by tropical greenery?

   

 

(Pictures from top left: crealotu.com , sarahsarna.com, decorvibes.com (interior by Michelle Workman Interiors) and buyerselect.com.

How about some Martinique banana leaf curtains? Pictures from sarahsarna.com.

You can even get a tropical leaf shower curtain! From amazon.com

Speaking of curtains…

 

Pictures from cocokelley.com

Not forgetting cushions, of course…

  

From left: Kimberley-down-cushions.co.uk and on right fashionsquad.com

This new restaurant in Farringdon, London is definitely a place I need to check out:

Image of the restaurant in the Bourne and Hollingsworth Hotel on businesstraveller.com

But if you want a quick tropical fix, why not pop around to your local florist and pick up some tropical leaves?

 

 

Images from coastalshorecreations.com

 

 

 

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Oh, yes, I’m one of those people who loves Christmas. Growing up in Canada, a white Christmas was guaranteed, with snowmen, frosty noses, and even an occasional sleigh ride, jingle bells and all.

But the thing that meant Christmas was truly here was the night we’d all decorate the Christmas tree, always a real one, painstakingly selected at the local Christmas tree man’s stall on the petrol station forecourt (or garage parking lot in Canada-speak). This was, of course, once we’d moved to Quebec. Back in Newfoundland Dad had to put the chains on his tires, drive out over the icy roads to the forest and chop down a tree, tie it to the roof of the car and get it home, without it falling off (something that did happen one year, but that’s another story).

So, today’s blog is an ode to the Christmas Tree, in all it’s decorative glory.

 The fabulous tree in Covent Garden London.

And another English one, the tree in Trafalgar Square London. An annual gift from Norway.

I love this pretty pink tree. From http://www.workingventures.ca

I love this pretty multi-coloured candy tree. On http://www.kuwans.com

Just because you’re short of space doesn’t mean you have to forego your tree. From http://www.ideas-thenest.com

A frosty white delight! From http://www.kuwans.com

I have to put in my own tree, don’t I? Lots of turquoise, purple, pink and lime green. My favourite colour combination.

De Fence is Divine – Decorating Interiors with Fencing

I’m helping some friends of mine with the refurbishment of a guest house in France, and, as they’re watching their pennies, we’re doing a lot of recycling and upcycling. Recently we found some old metal fencing at a country flea market as cheap as chips, so they bought the lot and we’re not thinking of inventive ways to use it in the guest house. I’ve trawled the internet and have found lots of great ideas.

I love these quirky fencing headboards. Photo: http://www.dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.co.uk

  This old fence makes a great rustic pot-hanger. Photo: google.co.uk

This newel posts was a garden centre find. Photo: http://www.hometalk.com

I love this gorgeous upcycled console table. Photo: http://www.dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.co.uk

This garden fencing has been made up into a strkining distressed pot-hanger. Photo: http://www.dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.co.uk

A bit of cheap wire fencing makes an inventive ceiling light. Photo: http://www.dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.co.uk

How about this clever kitchen board? Photo: http://www.dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.co.uk

As an alternative to fencing, think about upcycling old windows. Here’s one made into a pot-hanger. Photo: google.co.uk

More upcycled window ideas coming up soon!

Interview on “Terry’s Blinds” Site

I’ve recently been interviewed by Tudor Davies at Terry’s Blinds at http://www.terrysblinds.co.uk (which is nice). Here’s the article:

Designer Insights with Adrienne Chinn

Posted by Tudor Davies – October 7, 2014

Adrienne Chinn is an independent and well-established designer based in London, working from her design firm Interior Design by Adrienne Chinn. Adrienne uses her natural talent for colour coordination to expertly design residential and commercial properties. She works to match designs to the personality of her clients, immersing them in truly engaging spaces. She is also a specialist at sourcing 20th century antiques, such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Adrienne Chinn.

1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?

I don’t have a unique style. I design across all genres — from Georgian to Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern to Contemporary and Traditional. It really depends on the client and the property, but I do like to mix up eras for a fresh look.

2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?

I start by measuring up the property and taking lots of photos, then I go through design books and magazines and start filtering ideas.

3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most? [And why?]

I love meeting the talented Moroccan women weavers who weave the beautiful Beni Ourain rugs. They create art in their rugs amongst the noise and responsibilities of daily life.

4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired? [Why does this work so well for you?]

I’m like a sponge. I’m always looking for inspiration — it’s second nature. Walking is great. I walk everywhere. And I carry a camera. You never know what you’ll see!

5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?

Persistence! You just keep going, one day at a time. Decide what you want to do and go after it. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.

Home Sweet Home

I may live my life with plane and train tickets stashed in the old Moroccan bowl I use as my In-Tray (I go into withdrawals if I don’t have a ticket to somewhere lurking in there), but as much as I love to travel both for work and pleasure, I love to come home. There is nothing like having your own comfortable nest, a place that’s all about you.

I believe your home should reflect your life — your hobbies, interests, family life, collections, pleasures and aspirations. I always encourage my clients to help me make their house their home. We make collections out of their possessions, paint walls their favourite colours, and frame their family photos. We blend the dining table left to them by their great-aunt with contemporary chairs and the rug they carried back from Marrakech. We re-frame and re-hang their pictures, and fill in the gaps with flea market finds, artwork from contemporary artists, vintage furniture and a few new pieces. And beautifully made curtains and blinds (even if the fabric is a dropcloth!) I don’t have a “design style”. You won’t walk into a room decorated by me and say “That’s an Adrienne Chinn interior”. I want my clients to walk into a finished room and say “This is me.”

Well, this is me. Almost everything comes from flea markets, ebay, Morocco, new artists, and hand-me-downs from friends and family. I can remember the story behind every find and purchase: the 1960s Lloyd Loom chair my ex-boyfriend and I carried back on the train from Norfolk, the Moroccan rugs I squashed into my suitcase in Marrakech, the Art Deco dog sculpture that the young French guy I bought it from at a London antiques fair lugged over from Paris (it weighs a ton) and I lugged from Battersea to Balham by foot, bus and train. The pair of late 19th century photographs of geishas in their original hand-lacquered frames I found, coated in dust, at the back of an antiques barn. The enormous original 1920s print of the dancer Lydia Fedowa I saw on the wall of the Battersea Art Fair and immediately fell in love with, arranging to pay for her in installments over a 6-month period. All of these possessions are part of my story. My home is small, eclectic and a bit cluttered (I admit). It is my place to manifest my loves, as odd and disparate as they may be. And in my home, as in your home, that is as it should be.

 

Decorating with Dropcloths

Decorator’s dropcloths — huge swathes of light beige cotton canvas used by painters to protect floors and furniture from paint drops — are terrific as curtains and slipcovers if you’re looking for a shabby chic or contemporary rustic edge to your interiors. And, at a fraction of the cost of designers fabrics, who’s to complain if you buy it from a hardware store rather than a upmarket fabric shop?

Real decorating is about thinking outside the box. It’s about creating beautiful interiors from honest materials; rescuing unloved cast-offs; and supporting talented craftspeople. Upcycling and recycling are certainly part of real decorating, as is trawling around flea markets and car boot sales. So is searching out local artists and artisans at craft fairs and using their talents to add unique accents to your home.

Here are some fabulous ideas for decorating with dropcloths, from curtains and blinds to slipcovers, cushions and headboards. Your only limitation is your imagination!

From http://www.betweennapsontheporch.net

From http://www.decorpad.com

From http://www.apartmenttherapy.com

From http://www.annabellea.com

From http://www.marthastewart.com

From http://www.thesoulfulhouse.com

From http://www.theinspiredhousewife.com

From http://www.honeydos.wordpress.com

From http://www.22inchesnalittlebit.blogspot.ca

From http://www.blog.houseoffifty.com

From http://www.quoteko.com

From http://www.hometalk.com

From http://www.quoteko.com

From http://www.blueandclover.com

From http://www.quoteko.com

William Haines – A Man of Taste

I’ve long been an admirer of the 20th century American interior designer William Haines. He had a flair for creating interiors which combined simplicity and luxury — much like Chanel did for clothes. And the furniture he designed, many designs still available through www.williamhaines.com , are as covetable now as they were when the design first sprouted from Billy’s aesthetically atuned mind. One of Billy’s most famous quotes is “I would rather have taste than either love or money”. And taste is something Billy had in spades.

Billy was talent scouted for Hollywood in 1922 and within a few years was an in-demand leading man. He was often cast opposite an up-and-coming flapper named Joan Crawford and the two became lifelong best friends. When he retired from movies in 1934, because the studio insisted he hide his homosexuality, something he refused to do, he opened an antique shop in Hollywood. It wasn’t long before Hollywood’s leading ladies, lead by Joan Crawford, were knocking on his door to have him design their homes in the new Hollywood Regency style he had invented in his own home — a style which brought together old world antiques with custom-made modern pieces, touches of Chinoiserie, exotic artifacts including animal skins and prints, and lots of mirrored and laquered surfaces…oh, and not to forget the luxurious velvet and silk curtains, swags and all. Billy pulled it all together into a look that was both glamorous and liveable. Genius. His new career as an interior designer was born.

Here’s Joan Crawford in her Haines designed living room in the 1930s…

…and again, in the 1950s, where Haines’s signature tufted upholstery can be seen on the ottoman, and the upholstered chairs show Haines’s talent for simple but comfortable furniture.

Here’s another friend, Carole Lombard, in her 1930s living room — an early Haines Hollywood Regency design, complete with antique crystal chandelier and swagged curtains. The perfect glamorous frame from a glamorous client. Even at this early stage we can see his affection for tufted furniture.

My favourite Haines designs came later in his career, in the 1950s and 1960s, when he really came into his own with his timeless furniture designs which sat perfectly in the more stream-lined interiors of the day — and which still work so well in contemporary interiors.

Some of his most famous furniture designs include the Brentwood chair, where he took inspiration from the ancient Greek klismos chair…

…the Malibu chair and ottoman…

…the Seniah chair (Haines spelled backwards), which came (and is still available through www.williamhaines.com ) in several models…

…the Elbow chair, which Haines designed so that women in ballgowns could sit on then sideways without crushing their dresses…

… tufted armless chair — a design classic…

…and the Valentine sofa, designed in 1950.

You can read more about William “Billy” Haines in the terrific book by Peter Schifando and Haines’s long-time assistant Jean H. Mathison.

William Haines, another design great.