The Beat That My Heart Skipped - A blog dedicated to daily design inspirations. By Rohini Wahi. » My Inside Life

My Inside Life… The Vitrine

Rohini — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:02 +0000

We haven’t had an Inside Life feature for a really long time so I’m pleased to kick start them again with someone who has been on my radar for a while. Blaire Dessent is the founder of beautifully curated online design store The Vitrine. Based in Paris The Vitrine operates online and also holds occasional pop up storesthat presents a selection of housewares, editions, & personal accessories from artists and designers.

I really love Blaire’s aesthetic of handcrafted pieces using natural materials mixed with contrasting bright neon shades. Fresh and modern I think she’s got it just right. Over to Blair…

Before The Vitrine I worked in the contemporary art world in New York City so I have tried to present work that reflects the crossover and the relationships between art, design, craft and handmade.

I live in Paris now with my husband, (who was living here when we met), but I often travel to the United States for Vitrine related work. I currently have a 6-month shop called Product Porch with Brooks Hudson Thomas of Specific Merchandise at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego (my hometown actually), that is a combination of work on The Vitrine, as well as handcrafted furniture and art books.

I collect… works on paper (mostly drawings) with my husband

I cant live without… good face lotion

My guilty pleasure is… The TV series Weeds.

Our house is filled with… Books

I treasure my… pendant necklace recently inherited from my grandmother.

Right now I can’t stop thinking about… cooking. I think it’s a winter nesting thing but I am obsessed with food site these days like Food52 and Let There be Bite.

Currently I am reading… Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit about the history of walking.

My favourite item of clothing is… A grey and black knit Vena Cava dress I bought at Tenoversix this year.

At the top of my furniture wish list is... A new sofa.

The last thing that really inspired me was… Being in Joshua Tree, California for the High Desert Test Sites weekend in October. Great people, amazing art and installations, and in stunning landscape.

My comfort food is… cookies of any sort

On my desk are… Adonde’s stationary boxes, my Mac laptop, and too many post-it notes

This weekend I will… Go to the flea markets. It’s been too long.

Tonight I must… buy my plane tickets for the holidays! So late.

I love what I do because… I love working with such talented artists and designers and seeing so much great work.

My Inside Life…Dutch By Design

Rohini — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:25:04 +0000

My name is Venka de Rooij. I’m the founder of Dutch By Design, which specialises in really cool, funky home accessories and gifts, perfect for anyone who loves design! I opened for business in 2003, and as the name suggests, all our pieces are designed by Dutch designers. We’re always talking with new and up-and-coming designers to add new product to the site. Our products range from tea pots with personalities to boho chic chandeliers to animal-shaped bags. I live in Greenwich, London with my three year-old daughter.

I collect… Butterflies – I love anything with a butterfly on it, I think they’re just beautiful.

I can’t live without… Coffee and chocolate – I can’t go without that daily caffeine and sugar fix!

My guilty pleasure is… Indulging in my shoe habit, I don’t want to think about how much I’ve spent on shoes over the years. Ebay is my best friend.

Our house is filled with… My three year-old-daughter’s toys, drawings and art work.

I treasure my… Friends and family.

Right now I can’t stop thinking about… Lunch, as I’ve been working on a photo shoot all morning! Apart from food, I’m also thinking about the new designers I’m meeting with soon, I’m very excited about the possibility of working with them and adding their collections to Dutch by Design.

Currently I am reading… White Teeth by Zadie Smith; I read it years ago and loved it, and found it again a few days ago.

My favourite item of clothing is… Definitely my sparkly Prada shoes, they were a big investment!

At the top of my furniture wish list is… Any of the chandeliers we sell at Dutch by Design – their designs combine the old and the new, and they look very stylish. But I live in a cottage, so the ceilings are too low to accommodate one. I’d need to buy another house.

The last thing that really inspired me was… Some beautiful and colourful flowers I saw on Exmoor at the weekend when I was hiking. The pinks and purples looked gorgeous against the grass.

My comfort food is… Chicken soup with noodles.

On my desk are… My laptop, my notebook, a photograph of my daughter and a bar of chocolate – although if
I’m away from my desk for much longer my business partner will probably have taken this!

This weekend I will… Be putting together my new wardrobes. I’m redecorating some of the rooms in my house,
including my bedroom. I’m not very good with building wardrobes – the last time I tried I dropped part of it on my friend’s head and on his foot – I had to take him out for dinner to apologies.

Tonight I must… Cheer up my friend with cocktails and sushi in Soho.

I love what I do because… I work with some fantastic designers, who produce some really creative and innovative designs. They make what I do fun and every day is enjoyable.

Dutch by Design is offering all readers a special 15% discount across the entire range until Sunday 31st December 2010 – simply type in the code “beat” at the checkout when placing your order.

My Inside Life… Michelle Mason

Rohini — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:00:11 +0000

My name is Michelle Mason and I design contemporary interior and giftware products, I launched my homeware collection in 2006 with lampshades, cushions and kitchenware and am known for attracted my colourful and contemporary surface patterns. I’ve recently extended my range to include bone china and felted wool rugs.

I collect… I’ve recently acquired a small collection of Ms – an old metal one, a couple of ceramic ones and a wooden one from an old typesetter’s tray.

I cant live without… Colour. My new flat is going to be choc full of colour – a complete contrast to the last all white place.

My guilty pleasure is… Coffee and art and design books

Our house is filled with… light – our place is flooded with it all day. It’s wonderful.

I treasure my… six year-old daughter

Right now I can’t stop thinking about… 100% Design in September. I’m launching a new rug, made entirely from re-cycled plastic bottles, with Liva Firth at Eco. It looks and feels just like felt!

Currently I am reading… A Picasso biog by Patrick O’Brian and several design books to inspire decorating ideas.

My favourite item of clothing is… A skirt with a bold black and white print that I picked up from Hoss Intropia last summer in Malaga.

At the top of my furniture wish list is… The Arper Leaf chair

The last thing that really inspired me was… The Marc Quinn exhibition at the White Cube, Hoxton

My comfort food is… A streaming bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine

On my desk are… new cushions to pack and send out, a Pantone swatch book to choose new colours for my new mugs, a Moleskin notebook, my trusty Mac laptop and a cute little drawing of a ladybird by my daughter.

This weekend I will… Visit a friend on his houseboat moored just down from the Tower of London – the views along the river are amazing. And on Sunday we’re meeting friends for a picnic in Victoria Park.

Tonight I must… Catch up on some sleep.

I love what I do because… Having my own design business and the freedom to create my own products is the best thing ever. And it’s wonderful being my own boss.

My Inside Life… Rose and Grey

Rohini — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:00:23 +0000

Hello, I’m Lyndsey and I run Rose & Grey, an online boutique selling stylish furniture and accessories for the home. After living and working in London as DVD Manager for Channel 4 for many years we decided to relocate to south Manchester to be closer to family, friends and babysitters. In October 2008 my husband and I launched Rose & Grey and finally realised a life long passion for sourcing beautiful things that create stylish and unique homes. I now run the shop from my home office where I live with my husband and my 2 lovely boys Finn, 4 and Ollie 2.

READER OFFER: Lyndsey is kindly offering our readers a 10% off everything in the lovely Rose and Grey Store. The code you need to use at the checkout is RGR010. Happy Shopping!

I collect… beautiful and inspiring images for the mood board in my office.

I can’t live without… the first cup of coffee of the day

My guilty pleasure is… reality TV, sad I know but it’s a great way to relax with a glass of wine.

Our house is filled with… children’s toys mainly, though we keep them under control in charming old storage boxes, and of course Rose & Grey storage boxes with wheels!

I treasure my… wonderfully supportive and fun family and friends

Right now I can’t stop thinking about… redecorating the house, it’s a never ending project and we’re currently thinking of what colour to paint the lounge.

Currently I am reading… the instruction manual to my new Cannon Digital SLR.

My favourite item of clothing is… several pairs of pumps and flip flops I’m not very good with high heels, its comfort all the way for me.

At the top of my furniture wish list is… a huge old dining table that will seat 12.

The last thing that really inspired me was… Brick Lane. When I lived in the East End of London I really enjoyed the buzz of Brick Lane especially on a Sunday when the market was on and on a recent visit I found some time to go back there. If anything, it was even more chaotic, colourful and aromatic than I remembered.

My comfort food is… sausage and mash, roast dinner or our favourite Chinese takeaway on a Friday night.

On my desk are… my computer, my “to do” list, a cup of coffee and a pile of interiors magazines

This weekend I will… take my son to a friend’s birthday, find and outfit for my husband’s 40th, do my accounts and put my feet up for 5 minutes, hopefully.

Tonight I must… go to bed early

I love what I do because… I love the excitement of finding wonderful new products and beautiful houses to shoot them in. I love the feeling I get when customers send me nice feedback because they clearly enjoy the product as much as I do. I get to talk to and meet lots of lovely and interesting people and I enjoy being my own boss, I feel very lucky.

My Inside Life… Hunkydory Home

Rohini — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:00:59 +0000

My name is Alison Ellerbrook and I run Hunkydory Home. Stared in 2005 selling my own colourful handmade lampshades and cushions now we also offer a range of design-led and handmade home accessories and gifts – there’s something gorgeous and quirky for everyone.

I collect… Vintage kitchenware – I have a thing for Hornsea pottery.

I can’t live without… my husband and beautiful daughter, mugs of strong tea and my laptop.

My guilty pleasure is… watching trashy telly.

Our house is filled with… currently boxes and bubble wrap everywhere, but also travel and design books and far too many toys.

I treasure my… can I say sleep? I treasure sleep more than anything and never get enough of it!

Right now I can’t stop thinking about… all the things on my ‘to do’ list, but mainly about moving hunkydory into premises next month and everything that entails.

Currently I am reading… The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

My favourite item of clothing is… I live in, and couldn’t live without, my jeans.

At the top of my furniture wish list is… an oversized and very comfortable armchair that I could sink into. I also need a coffee table and more bookcases.

The last thing that really inspired me was… I spend a lot of time visiting designers’ websites and blogs and I’m always finding inspiration for the website online.

My comfort food is… chocolate.

On my desk are… a Cath Kidston sewing box, some Japanese erasers, a mug of tea, a pile of filing that grows bigger every day, scissors, a bag of white zips and a tape measure.

This weekend I will… sit in the sunshine and read my book whilst enjoying a child-free 24 hours!