Easter entertaining

Though Easter may have deeply-rooted religious meaning, it also presents the perfect opportunity to gather loved ones for a mouth-watering feast. 

We'll be setting the table soon, accenting it with our gold-dusted bunny butter dish and sugar bowl, perhaps hiding a few chocolate eggs amongst the flowers and crockery too. 

Whatever you're planning, here's to a wonderful long-weekend celebration - enjoy! 

Simple (yet effective) stencilling

Stencilling. Just the word feels a tad outdated, and the 'doing' seems a little tricky - but we've stumbled upon some ultra-easy, yet totally modern ways to do it.

Use spraypaint and lace: You can buy nylon/polyester lace at any good fabric shop, but if you can bear to cover beautiful vintage lace with paint, this works like a dream.

Cheat with a print-out pattern: there's a whole host of pre-cut stencils on the internet so take your pick. Feel like creating your own? Pinterest has plenty of templates and ideas.

Opt for wall decals: just like stickers, these decorative adhesives update rooms in seconds and are often re-usable, too. We love Abode's windblown dandelion.

Short of time? Look out for soft furnishings with cut-out details such as our bloom throw - they add the stencilling effect without the work. 

Reinventing Flowers

One of the simplest ways to transform even the smallest of your home's nooks is to pop hand-tied blooms into an old (clean) jam jar. If you don't have one to hand, a milk bottle, or even a glass, makes the perfect vessel. 

Here are some ideas we love - including pastel painted bottles and ornamental cabbages in tumblers that photographer Leila Sanderson shot at furniture designer Greg Hatton's Melbourne home. Why not give it a go, too?

Images: Leila Sanderson, Greg Hatton, Pinterest.

Reflecting upon Richard

Living so close to London’s iconic Portobello Road - overrun with antique china, as well as charm - it’s no wonder that ceramicist Richard Brendon is ever-inspired.

His own designs encapsulate a little of this vintage appeal – looking to the history of found porcelain and melding it with a modern vision to create striking teacups, saucers, and dinnerware.

In particular, his ‘Reflect’ collection truly stands out; china tea cups are coated in platinum so that when resting upon vintage-like saucers, their mirrored patina echoes and transforms the plate’s patterns.

How long have you been designing?

Technically since I studies DT at GCSE in 2003

Did you go to art college or are you self taught? 

I studied product and furniture design at Kingston University

What are you main creative influences?

Droog and Dutch design from the early 90s is what sparked my interest in design.  I really liked the way they pushed the boundaries of materials and process to create products with character and narrative.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Antique fairs – the antique markets of Portobello and Golborne Road are on my doorstep and provide great inspiration.

What aspect of your work gives you the most pleasure?

Receiving the first finished sample of a product that has taken a long time to research and develop.  It’s not until I see the finished piece that 

Where are you most creative?

In the shower

What is your workspace/studio like? 

Hilarious! I share a really fantastic space with a record label and they are some of the funniest people I have ever met. It’s an 800 square foot studio, with French doors that open out into a courtyard surrounded by other studios.

How do you describe your style?

Considered, refine and dynamic

What are you currently working on?

A collaboration with pattern visionaries, Patternity, we will be launching 2 cups and saucers in April. I’m also working on a collection inspired by the best British porcelain ever made, with a porcelain expert from a leading London antiques auction house.

When you first started out, what was the best advice you received?

Know exactly what your brand is.

And

Make as many mistakes as quickly as possible.  

What advice do you have for other designers starting out?

Surround yourself with good and talented people.  Try to have mentors you can go to for advice.

How do you achieve a work/life balance?

I don’t really, but fortunately I love what I do.

What are you other passions?

Skiing, food and drink

What is your favourite food?

I like a lot of things! Anything that is refined and perfected to be the best it can be.  I’m a big fan of the burger craze sweeping London, there are some really tasty burgers out there!

We're thrilled to share with you that a special edit of Richard's Reflect collection is now available at Roost Living. Choose from red, pink, or blue designs to prettify your tabletop and leave guests in awe. 

Insect Attraction

A variety of themes are delved into to decorate the home, but if there’s one that pops up time and again, it’s the Natural World.

With a bounty of flora and fauna out there to inspire us, it’s little wonder really. Take for example teeny-tiny insects; while they do of course have a creepy crawly side, there’s also a curious beauty to them.

This is something that artist’s Rory Dobner, Roo Abrook and Matrushka know only too well; portraying the prettiness of bugs, beetles and bees in their decorative pieces that bring a little of the outside, in.

 

Stuffed Butternut Squash

We’re on the cusp, perched right in-between seasons - is it winter? is it spring? Well, while the weather can’t quite decide what it’s doing from one day to the next, we’ve been busy in the kitchen roasting up a mouth-watering Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe (which we then swiftly followed by baking not one, but two loafs of Banana Bread, yum!). 

If you’ve a bit of time to spare, we whole-heartedly recommend trying out the squash - not only is it delicious, but you can also vary the veg and use up whatever you have in the fridge. Just remember to add things like mushrooms to the roasting tray a little later so as to get the best out of them.

What you’ll need (use the whole squash to feed four)...

1 large Butternut Squash (de-seeded)

Your choice of veggies - we used...

1 courgette, chopped roughly

1 red onion, chopped roughly

1 red pepper, chopped roughly

1 large handful of mushrooms, chopped roughly

As many garlic cloves (whole) as you like

Grated mozzarella

What you need to do...

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

2, Cut the butternut in half lengthways, drizzle in oil and roast for about 30 mins.

3. Add the veggies to your roasting tray, drizzle in oil and roast for about 30-40 mins.

4. When the butternut is ready (and the veggies, too), scoop out the flesh, mix it with the veggies and stuff the skin of the butternut with your scrummy veggie mix. 

5. Top with a good sprinkling of mozzarella and roast until the cheese browns and melts.

6. Divide the squash into portions and serve with a cherry-tomato salad. Enjoy.

Roo Abrook: Queen of Collecting

Roo Abrook is somewhat of a magpie. The British artist loves nothing more than to collect all manner of papery things – vintage and antique books (her favourite), sheet music, and lots of other objects that are in time, inspire her signature natural world collages and prints. We caught up with Roo to find out how she came to doing what she does – read on for more… 

When and why did you decide to be an artist?

I started out with a foundation course at art college, with no particular plans, which led to a degree in fine art printmaking. I then went on to run a fashion company and then work as a graphic designer. I guess I love designing in many different areas.

What are you main creative influences?

All sorts of things; from vintage finds, to Peter Blake, to retro TV shows and annuals, to museum pieces and exhibitions. Everything I grew up with and have seen since all kinda jumbled up and somehow pulled out and pulled together.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

At the moment I am inspired by antique books and nature.

Who is your favourite designer?  What aspect of their work do you most admire?

I don't really have a favourite – there are so many clever people!

What aspect of your work gives you the most pleasure?

Designing and making.

Where are you most creative?

At home, probably when I'm doing something quite ordinary around the house.

 

What is your studio like? 
A jumble of book, books and more books combined with vintage finds.

How do you describe your style? 
Eclectic.

What are you currently working on?
New designs for next year and a year-long project with Anglepoise lamps called Creating Balance.

What advice do you have for other designers starting out?
Keep at it!

How do you achieve a work/life balance?
I'm really strict... family comes first, though I suppose I'm still working in a way a lot of the time; ideas are always bubbling away.

What are you other passions?  
Music. I absolutely love it, and reading books.

What is your favourite food?
Anyone else's cooking… not mine!

What is your greatest weakness?
Trying to do too much in too little time… my time management is terrible.

Trousers or skirts? 
Black skinnies – they’re so comfy and practical and go with everything.

A selection of Roo Abrook's prints are now available online from £9.00 each.