An Afternoon with Yayoi Kusama

Yakoi Kusama is one of Japan's biggest artistic exports. Her work is surreal and deeply concerned with the ideas of infinity and repetition which help inform her signature style. Her current practice is currently being shown at the Victoria Miro Galleries across London. The Wickenden Hutley team went on excursion to the East London gallery to experience the famous mirrored infinity rooms, paintings, sculptures and installations. 

The hype surrounding Yayoi Kusama's work is very real, and so were the queues!

We waited outside for just over an hour. Once we reached the front we were ushered to the outdoor terrace to experience the "Narcissus Garden". 

873 stainless steel spheres measuring 30cm in diameter float in a pond as they reflect the surroundings and move with the wind creating interesting formations and sounds as they clash together.

Positioned alongside the Narcissus Garden is the first of the infinity rooms. 

"Where the Lights In My Heart Go". 

Once inside the 300cm x 300cm x 300cm box, we discover there are small holes which puncture the structure. The door closes behind us and these holes allow light into an otherwise dark and reflective room. The holes multiply and it feels like you're standing amongst infinite stars and we start to understand the excitement and awe that inevitably surrounds Kusama's work.

 We next head upstairs to see her Infinity Net paintings. 

The first glimpse we see of her love for pumpkins. The work is detailed and meticulous. 

In another gallery there is a hexagonal structure painted plain white from the outside. A sliding door reveals a single chandelier rotating and pulsating with light in the middle of a mirrored room. 

The Chandelier of Grief reproduces an infinity of amazing effects on reflective walls. 

The last of our visit to the Victoria Miro gallery was spent lining up for the most talked about room of them all. 

"All the Eternal Love I have For Pumpkins". 

The queue wraps around three mirror polished pumpkin sculptures which stand impressively outside the room.

 As we get closer we catch our first glimpses of the interior. 

Stepping inside "All the Eternal Love I have For Pumpkins" we are greeted with yellow and black spotted pumpkins lit from the inside like lanterns. The door closes and we are timed for 20 seconds. 

An infinity of these pumpkins is an incredible sight to see. 

Yayoi Kusuma: Sculptures, Paintings and Mirror Rooms is at Victoria Miro, 16 Wharf Road, London, N1 7W. My Eternal Soul Paintings is at Victoria Miro, 14 St George St London, W1S 1FE. Both showing until the 30th of July 2016

FLASHBACK TO A WINTER WEDDING

Before we all get totally immersed in the current warm spell and think of all things summer, we wanted to share the photos of Charlie's wedding that took place in February (it has been a busy start to the year in the WH studio on all fronts)! 

Winter weddings can seem a challenge to some, with a cooler light and less natural colour by way of sunshine, flowers and (if you’re lucky) blue skies - but Charlie was inspired by the romance of dark evenings and candlelight.  Like the starting point to any of our projects Charlie started by sourcing inspiration and a colour palette.  Rich faded tones, soft textures (velvet ribbon and feathers featured throughout) and hints of gold, would all be set off by plenty of candlelight.  Charlie's Mother's honey was used as table favours and the bee motif carried through as her marital name is now Humm!

We hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful photos of the day along with Charlie's inspirations that allowed her to create the most stunning Winter Wedding... 

INSPIRATION BOARD

PHOTOS FROM THE WEDDING

Charlie hand drew a feather motif which was then used throughout the wedding stationery on invitations, RSVP cards, details for the day and the menu placed on the tables... And of course she designed all stationery herself (perfectionism is the curse of the Interior Designer)!

  

Feathers featured in buttonholes, whilst the bouquets were tied with a faded crimson velvet ribbon. 

The local church was filled with an abundance of foliage and candles.  

When designing we consider all views of a scheme and Charlie did the same when looking at the church flowers, every guest had stunning displays in their sights. 

The dinner tables perfectly captured the feel of the wedding; elegant feathers tied with velvet ribbon were used as place settings, with simple silver cutlery and candelabra.  Small pots of honey from the Mother of the Brides’  bees were finished with printed labels and varying shades of thin velvet ribbon around their neck for guests to take home as a sweet reminder of the day.

   

Charlie hand drew animal motifs for all of the place settings and table names and put her amazing calligraphy skills to good use! 

              

Simple decoration of hellebores, cherries and macaroons on their three tiered cake. (Bottom to top: Berry and vanilla, Earl Grey and Lemon, Coffee and Walnut).

Huge Congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Humm! (and Raffia).

EASTER ENTERTAINING

Spring Is Here!

We have put together some inspirational table setting ideas just in time for Easter entertaining.  Natural floristry, antique silverware and light linen create an elegant and subtle atmosphere, like these inspiration images from Gwyneth Paltrow's collaboration with Remodelista.

More photos here 

More photos here 

GET THE LOOK

1) Summerill & Bishop Stainless Steel Cutlery Set - here

2) Linen Table Runner from Houseology - here 

3) Wick and Tallow Candle - here

4) Antique Silver Egg Cups can be found on ebay

5) Heals' Dinnerware - here

6) Linen Napkins from The Linen Works - here

7) Wine glasses from Selfridges - here

8) Anthropologie Dinnerware Set - here 

9) Houseology Glass Dome - here 

10) Flowers from Scarlet and Violet, Wild at Heart or Petalon 

11) Water glasses from The New Craftsman - here

12) Summerill & Bishop Bowl - here

WICKENDEN HUTLEY'S TOP INTERIOR DESIGN BOOKS

We are constantly looking for new inspiration in the office and now it is easier than ever to source an image with the help of Pinterest and Instagram.  With that said, when you find a beautiful new publication nothing can beat it... 

Below are some of our well known and trusted reads and some new exciting books on the market.

'English Eccentric'

Ros Byam Shaw

A truly eclectic home is one that develops over time, with pieces bought that catch the eye of the buyer for their own uniqueness, not because they 'go' with a scheme.  This book shows some stunning examples of how people are not afraid to mix patterns, colours or the old with the new. Ros Byam Shaw gives us a look into 18 different homes, each totally individual to the homeowners themselves, who range from artists and antique dealers to florists and writers to name a few, all of which show the courage to be bold and original.

'Axel Vervoordt'

Timeless Interiors

'Timeless Interiors' gives readers a rare insight into the interiors of Axel Vervoordt, one of the world's leading antique dealers. Revealed in this book is beautiful imagery taken from twenty-three houses across the United States and Europe. 'Timeless Interiors' is an absolute must have for our office as Axel Vervoordt beautifully and perfectly demonstrates how important it is to respect and incorporate the history in every project, a value which Wickenden Hutley also holds close.  

'Interiors Atelier AM'

Alexandra Misczynski and Michael Misczynski

Endorsed by Axel Vervoordt, there is everything to love about the contents of this interior design book. Husband-and-wife team Alexandra and Michael Misczynski are gifted in designing calm yet bold spaces. They have a skill for mixing seventeenth and eighteenth century objects and furniture with the modern in a combination of finishes. The result is muted, modern and refined.

'A Frame for life'

Ilse Crawford

Ilse Crawford's love and understanding for spatial design is shown through all of her designs, as illustrated in this publication. Ergonomics are always paramount as she designs for her clients' needs and considers how they will interact with and use the space. This is something many designers fail to do and which we always try to keep at the forefront of the design process.

'Interior Portraits'

Victoria Hagan

Victoria Hagan is an iconic American designer known for creating the "new American classic" look. She uses sophisticated colour choices, refined materials and a smart integration of architecture and interior design. We love how she successfully makes connections to the surrounding landscape by considering the site of her projects. Her interiors are timeless and beautiful and always inspiring.

'Eat Drink Nap'

Soho House

If you've paid a visit to any Soho House you'll already know that the interiors inside these pages are always stunning and full of character. We love this book for it's beautiful photography, style and shared secrets. Soho House opens it's doors to us as the experts give an insiders view into their design process plus this book gets bonus points for including delicious recipes! 

'Maison'

Christian Liaigre

Christian Liaire's book 'Maison' showcases masculine minimalism at it's finest, using a palette consisting of greys, browns and creams combined with dark timbers and luxurious natural materials. Liaigre's interiors are clean, calm and modern. He is a designer that keeps to the tradition of the location of each project. 

'Time and Place'

Steven Gambrel

In 'Time and Place', Steven Gambrel writes about his design point of view. His designs aim to enhance the lifestyles of those he designs for. Across a range of projects, Gambrel embraces each project's individuality with a fresh approach to colour and his ability to mix the old with the new. 

'Rhapsody'

Kelly Wearstler

'Rhapsody' is a look inside the work of the iconic Kelly Wearstler. Her personal style is luxurious, bold and glamorous and this is reflected in her work for boutique hotels as well as for private clients. Her look has been called "mod-baroque" due to her distinct mixing of layers, colours, surfaces, textures and patterns. We love her 'dare to be brave' attitude to interior design.