George Clarke's Amazing Spaces GIVEAWAY

I love watching telly.....I like watching late night murder mysteries, Scandinavian Noir's and silly comedy's...but most of all I love watching programs about interiors and design...go figure!!

I've really enjoyed watching the last season of George Clarke's Amazing spaces....seeing how creative people can be with the teeniest and most unusual spaces, making them into little retreats, workshops or actual homes...

So when George Clarke's publishers got in touch about writing a review of his book from the series, it was a no brainer! Of course I wanted to see all those amazing spaces in print!!

And even better...they've given me an extra copy that YOU could win!!

More details on the giveaway further down the post...

So...George Clarke's Amazing Spaces series has mesmerized me with the wide array of small scale builds, from the quaint and quirky to the avant-guard and ambitious... The creativity and ingenuity of peoples visions, often achieved on very limited budgets and timescales are most impressive....and inspiring... 

The book , illustrated beautifully with pictures from the various projects featured, goes further in depth of each build, and showcases the ideas, the plans and the trial and tribulations overcome to achieve the finished results...

I love that there is little text boxes headlined "Lessons learnt" alongside each amazing space showcased, so that we, the readers , get a feel for the amount of planning, work and thought that has gone into each build... and it is inspiring to see that although it may not have been all plain sailing...the results are still impressive, and sometimes it is the compromises that's had to be made along the way that makes it a success...

Some of the most ingenious solutions for small space living is also explained in depth throughout the book, and serves as true inspiration, a reminder that where there's a will there is a way....nothing is impossible...

With beautifully illustrated floor plans accompanied by gorgeous images of the finished spaces, shows peoples visions come to life...

And of course some of these Amazing spaces makes you dream of that simple life, in rural settings with nothing but the bare essentials...

...Or a space-age modern , urban retreat, where the design is so well thought out that it'll leave you free to just relax....

As with the series, this book  is a true inspiration, and makes you want to create your very own Amazing space...

With plenty of tips and lessons from people who've already taken the plunge....ordinary people, like you and me, who have achieved their dream, by having a vision, hard graft and determination...

IF THEY CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU....AND I!!

Courtesy of Truedor , I have a spare copy of George Clarke's Amazing spaces to give away

So if you'd like to get inspired and see more of the fantastically creative builds featured, simply comment below this post to win a copy of George Clarke's book...just make sure you leave your e-mail address or other means of contact...

The winner will be announced at the end of the month!

Amazing spaces is truly Amazing, and a lovely book to chill out with this autumn, whilst dreaming of that simple life!

design junction 2015

Over two weeks ago, one of the most innovative and creative design shows in the world, Design junction took place in central London. A specially curated design platform that exhibits commercial and cultural design within the unusual and industrial spaces of the old Central Saint Martins college of Art and Design and Victoria House.

With "26,000 visitors through the doors over 5 days during the London Design Festival. With more than 180 cutting-edge brands and shops, a host of striking installations, 10 mouth-watering eateries and flash factories across two Central London locations, design junction 2015 was the most ambitious, challenging and successful edition to date."*

Of course I was there....albeit on a flying visit before heading off to Norway for the WHAT WILL THE WORLD DO NOW charity event...I mean: I had to, not only did I have my own concrete home wares exhibited there (more on that next week) but, with it's reputation for displaying the most innovative of design, I was curious to see what it was all about!

It seems like a lifetime ago now, but better late than never...right? So I am finally sharing the bits and pieces that caught my eye....and maybe some of these will be THE next big thing??

From the wonderfully bizarre sculptural lighting by award winning Arturo-Alvarez, that makes bespoke, handmade lighting ,using handcraft techniques to create a new language with innovative materials....

To the more retro, industrial lighting, so fitting for the old college building by British home ware store  Dyke and Dean...I love that their own brand products encourage British manufacturing and small creative based industry...

Then there was the super modern and super stylish furniture from French label La Chance

La Chance’s ambitious purpose is to provide a contemporary interpretation of the French ornamental and decorative furniture tradition. And I loved how the modern design juxtaposed with the industrial settings....

One of my favourite displays in the old college was the String Shelving....Swedish company String has built its brand around an ingenious but simple modular shelving concept that has long been top of my lust list for the home...

...And of course it helped that the String display was styled by one of my favourite interior stylists of all time, Swedish  Lotta Agaton...

Fun an quirky, and most definitely different from anything else, I also loved the colourful collaboration between UK doodle artist Jon Burgerman and modern textile brand Kirkby Design  for the contemporary design company Ligne Roset....Known for its 

collaborations with the foremost talents in contemporary design, 

Ligne Roset is a creative and innovative brand after my own heart...and wouldn't these cool designs look great in a teenage bedroom??

Over at the Victoria House location of this years Design Junction, where more than 80 independent retailers and designers was exhibiting , there was also a lot of inspiration to be had...

...Of course I have to briefly mention T&Shop, a lifestyle concept shop based in Newington Green, who also happens to be a stockist of my own Concrete home ware range..

I adore founder, Emily Grace Wright's functional and minimalistic aesthetically curated products...but more on that next week....

There was plenty of things to catch my eye, and the geometric handcrafted wooden home ware designs by Another studio, was definitely one of my favourites, displaying just the sort of quirky creativeness that I adore...

I've been a fan of UK based home ware company HAM's cute rabbit and pig illustrations for some time...and was pleased to see their range exhibited at DJ.

It wasn't all home wares and furniture at DJ's market hall in Victoria House...and I fell head over heals with Tom Pigeon's simple and geometric jewelry designs (I also adore his prints)...

And these graphic, mixed media necklaces by Nylon Sky.

My love for the Danish brand HAY is no secret , and I just had to share this super-cool tool caddy  I spotted at Nest, who's entire collection would fit nicely in my dream home ....

Lastly, I wanted to show you these ingenious ceramic planters from London based home ware shop On and On...aren't they just the coolest?? On and On curates products like ceramics, glassware, contemporary furniture, modern lighting and bespoke commissions, among others. But they also strive to find new ways to promote design and  are passionate about introducing new creative talents to brands, the retail industry, interior architects and culture initiatives, providing support for creatives through exhibitions, presentations, sponsored events and publications... A company after my own heart!

There was so much stuff at Design junction that I loved, and would've loved to feature here, but for now, this was my highlights...

I have discovered new brands and shops, makers and designers, found loads of inspiration and got to know some people I just know is going to be the next big thing...

Visiting Design Junction is now a definite MUST for next year!!

*Extract from the website