Interiors inspiration from an unusual source today. These portraits of bodybuilders from the West African country of Benin were featured in yesterday’s Independent. Fine figures of men, all of them, but look past the bulging muscles and the party pants – it’s those floor-and-wall-fabric clashes I’m into. Further complicated by the bunches of flowers.

What does this tell us wallpaper lovers? I’d say ‘step away from the feature wall’ is the message here. The modern way to wallpaper is surely a different print on every surface. And that includes the ceiling. These pattern clashes are so hot, so intense, so downright ahead of the curve as to be well worth the migraine they might induce.

As an admiring man in the street once shouted to our friend Meg, ‘Ouch!’

Firework prints

NEVER go on Pinterest. But I don’t need to tell you that. Now I want these… …vintage Japanese firework art prints. And a print of this, which isn’t a piece of art, but should be… …both found via Present & Correct’s always fascinating blog and Pinterest.    

Cat People magazine

If it all goes finally, horribly wrong for the print publishing world, there are bound to be some survivors and I’m putting my money on new niche magazine Cat People making it. I like the look of it, is why. An English / Japanese tome, featuring dozens of furry friends – some of them famous, […]

A moodboard and a manifesto

I’ve hestitated to post any pictures of my newly-pink seaside room here, because I know it’ll look so much better when it’s finished. But yesterday I went and got some fabric samples and started drawing together my thoughts. Here is the room, with Middleton Pink walls and a grey floor. My inspiration for the room […]

Wanted: swanky stoves

For, (politely) Pete’s sake. I’ve just discovered it’s possible to care more about how a wood burning stove looks in the house. I spent time picking something I thought was nice for this house (Morso). But, these stoves by Dutch designer Dick Van Hoff are in another league. This one’s concrete. Concrete! The fan – I’m […]