Monday 18 December 2017

CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINING

It's that time of year again!  We are so excited about Christmas and inspired by the traditional decorations and styling that we have seen... gone are the days of only silver and gold decorations and we are embracing the colour! 

We are particularly drawn to the rich burgundy, fuchsia and antique rose in the shops and on social media.  Below are a selection of our favourite images from the Wickenden Hutley archive and inspiration from Instagram and blogs.

From top left: Festive bouquet from Scarlet & Violet, Table centre piece with miniature deer style by Wickenden Hutley, Four poster bedroom by Alex Hampton Inc, Entrance Hall by Wickenden Hutley, Hydrangea wreath by The Real Flower Company,  Christmas mantlepiece image by @ritakonig, Carolina Irving's Paris home as seen in Haute Bohemians, Silverware and antique linen napkins tied with velvet ribbon styled by Wickenden Hutley, Ottoman/Coffee table styling by Wickenden Hutley

Whether you have children in the house or not, we all love to be reminded of the magic of Christmas.  The current resurgence of antique decorations means it is now very easy to create a more personal style for your tree and decorations.  

We love to recommend purchasing a few pieces every year that represent what you have achieved or where you have been (a little house for a house move, an animal for a new pet or decorations from your travels etc.).  You will soon have a good collection and will love to get them out every year and remember the various events.  Below is our selection of finds to 'Get the Look' for your festive entertaining... 



Wednesday 12 April 2017

Easter Egg Hunts!


EASTER IS NEARLY HERE!

We are days away from the long Easter weekend so whatever your plans are we have collated some of the sweetest decorative ideas to help you bring the Easter joy to your weekend with style.

From hosting Easter lunch to an egg hunt or attending a party or a weekend away there are some delicious products available from some of our favourite suppliers. 

Dressing the table with some stunning new glassware and bowls is an effective way of injecting a fresh feel to your Easter table. Fill vases with freshly cut flowers in soft colours such as roses, blossom and foliage. 

















GET THE LOOK!

1) Egg Hunt Decorations - Here 
2) Divertimenti Gold Salad Servers - Here 
3) Bottle Green Vase - Here
4) Petersham Nurseries Salad Bowl - Here 
5) Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage Bowl - Here 
6) Mini Terracotta Pots - Here 
7) Gisella Graham Easter Wreath - Here 
8) Rabbit Ears - Here 
9) Mini Wicket Basket - Here 
10) Petersham Nurseries Glassware - Here
11) Anthropologie Easter Decorations - Here 












Friday 21 October 2016

Hygge at Home

It's often said that Danes are among the happiest people in the world. The Danish culture has adapted to the winter months with Hygge. Hygge, pronounced "hooga", translates into a feeling rather than a single word - relaxing with friends over good food/wine, having created a cozy surrounding and atmosphere typically enhanced by fire or candlelight. As we step closer to winter and the temperature begins to cool down, we've looked into ways you can incorporate Hygge into your home. 


Instead of lighting a real fire, here we've placed an arrangement of candles and hurricanes inside the fireplace to create a similar feeling of warmth.


  



Incorporating natural materials like wood, leather, cashmere, wool and fur will help create authentic warmth, a log fire also helps obviously! 




Get the Look



1) Basic Pillar Candles from John Lewis - here
2) Reindeer Hide here
3) How to Hygge by Signe Johansen- here
4) Boucle Cashmere Cushion from De Le Cuona
5) Karma Cushion from Elitis
6) Cushion by Wickenden Hutley
7) Cashmere Blankets here
8) Cashmere Bed Socks from The White Company
9) Mauviel M'Heritage Copper Pans here
10) Feu de Bois candle from Diptyque
11) Log burning Stove from Chestney's
12) George Smith armchair designed by Wickenden Hutley
13) Drinking chocolate from Charbonnel et Walker
14) Kastehelmi Clear Cakestand here



Monday 19 September 2016

Tate Modern Switch House

The Tate Modern opened in 2000 and quickly became one of London's most important cultural attractions. This year in June we welcomed the opening of the much awaited new building The Switch House. The new extension has added an extra 60% of gallery space for visitors to explore. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the architects behind the original Tate building, the new structure is shaped like a pyramid twisting as it rises. The latticed clad brick work brings in natural light while helping the extension match the exterior of the original, seamlessly linking the two buildings.


View from the South
Images: Haye Davidson and Herzog & de Meuron


Beginning on Level 0, "The Tanks" is a space dedicated to film, installations and live interactive performance art. One used to store oil, these large circular concrete spaces are large in scale, raw and industrial. 



Pictured below is Seance de Shadow II (bleu) 1998 by Dominque Gonzalez-Foerster. The installation is activated when visitors engage with the space. 


The BMW Live: Active Sculpture gallery is pictured below. Here, all of the sculptures are activated by interaction. 


Pictured above; Robert Morris' Untitled 1965, reconstructed 1971.

"As the viewer walks around the four cubes, their mirrored surfaces produce complex and shifting interactions between gallery and spectator."


On Level 0, visitors are first confronted by the main staircase in all it's curved beauty. 



View down into the tanks


Seating areas around the concrete circulation spaces. 


The concrete curves continue through the levels and latticed brick exterior can we seen from the inside windows offering amazing shadows and bright, natural light. 


The new roof terrace offers stunning panoramic views of the city. 





Tate Modern
Bankside London SE1 9TG
Open from 10am
Entry is Free



Tuesday 2 August 2016

Natural Flooring - The Comparison: Sisal, Coir, Jute, Seagrass and Rush Matting

The recent heatwave has seen Londoners flocking towards rooftop bars, equipped with white washed walls and a good stock of chilled Rose – while woolly jumpers have booked a last minute staycation to the back of the wardrobe.

At Wickenden Hutley, we have been looking at natural fibre mattings as a cool alternative for tropical climbs, which can (thankfully) also provide a practical and smart alternative to a standard wool carpet during the colder winter months.

A selection of Abaca (banana leaf) and Jute rugs 

As with most floor coverings, natural fibre mattings can be used as area rugs or fitted wall to wall – but are often seen as the less robust cousin of the trusty wool carpet. 

Whilst wool (and therefore wool carpets) will happily take a bashing (red wine/ carpet cleaner/ muddy feet and paws) and come off relatively unscathed due to a natural oil content in the wool, they still require an element of TLC to keep them looking fresh.  The same applies to natural fibres, which - if used in the correct setting, can be practical and sturdy and last for years.     



Abaca rug samples

If choosing a natural fibre, the area of use (how much traffic will pass over it/ how much dirt will it incur) comfort level required (some fibres are softer than others), and colour should be considered to increase the chances of a long and happy life together.

Below, we list 5 common options for natural flooring, and hopefully run through the essentials to keep in mind when making your choice:

Sisal

Composition: Agave fibres.
Texture: Varies hugely depending on how tight the weave is.  There is a huge variety of designs on the market and the comfort is dependant on design chosen, and personal opinion.  (We suggest standing on a sample in bare feet before committing!).
Colour: A great choice, ranging from naturals through to solid colours, with multiple colours worked into some designs.  (As with wool carpet, a mottled colour will be more forgiving than a solid light or dark tone).
Practicality and uses: Commonly used as wall-to-wall floor covering, also good for area rugs – which need to be bound or whipped to prevent the edges fraying. A mid sized weave and colour looks smart, works well as wall-to-wall carpet and will look great on stairs. Tighter textures may show wear and tear more, and chunky weaves can be less practical on stairs as longer fibres would be likely to break over time.  Spills should be dabbed up asap, as if left to sit – may stain and be hard to remove (though often fade over time).  Wet cleaning methods should never be used.  Sisal can be used throughout the house – except very wet, or dirty areas.

Mellcarta 8060k at Sinclair Till


Sisal Schaft 1001ak at Sinclair Till

Coir

Composition: Outer fibres of the coconut.
Texture: Usually rough and scratchy.
Colour: Holds colour well Sinclair Till stock a range of beautiful coloured coirs, as seen in our Director, Charlie’s new house (full story coming soon..!)
Practicality and uses: Woven coir is quite sturdy and hard wearing, making it good for stairs and entrance halls.  Coir mats (a different thing to the woven matting, though from the same material) have been used for years as entrance rugs where the fibres stand vertically and act to remove dirt from shoes before entering the house. Coloured coirs have often been used in restaurants and dining areas, and a multi-coloured option will be less likely to show any stains.   Coir may be less practical for family areas such as play rooms, as the roughness isn’t suited to little feet and bare skin.


(Above and below left) Peacock Coir installed in Barnes
(Below left) additional colour ways  

Jute

Composition: Jute (plant) fibres.
Texture: Softer, silkier texture compared to other natural fibres.
Colour: Natural colours vary from grey tones through to honey and gingery tones.  Jute is good for cool greys, as natural fibres can often stray towards warmer tones.  Jute can also be dyed to achieve some bright and vibrant colours.
Practicality and uses: The softer texture makes it less hard wearing in busy areas, but the softness is lovely underfoot in living rooms or bedrooms.



Natural jute rugs at Sinclair Till


Jute at Tim Page; Elver in Petrol



Jute at Tim Page; Elver in Rust

Seagrass

Composition: Seagrass.
Texture: Hard (like dried grasses).
Colour: Natural with a green tinge at times.
Practicality and uses: Like sisal, seagrass can be used as wall-to-wall flooring, on stairs and throughout the house. It is a more brittle fibre, so may show damage a little more than sisal, and can sometimes makes stairs a little slippery in some opinions. 



Seagrass Fine Panama, Natural at Sinclair Till

Rush matting

Composition: Bulrushes (a British industry – bulrushes are still harvested from our waterways today).
Texture: Solid, but not scratchy.
Colour: Green to start – mellows to softer honey tones over time.
Practicality and uses: Woven in 3” widths, which are then joined together.  Rush matting can be used as mats or close covered (fitted wall-to-wall).  The matting should be kept moist to prevent damage and keep the material supple.  




Woven rush matting

With natural matting believed to date from the early sixteenth century found beneath floor boards at Hampton Court Palace, it has clearly withstood the test of time as the flooring of Kings!