Designer Library: Nicky Haslam: A Designer’s Life by Nicky Haslam

Famed British interior designer Nicky Haslam has an illustrious pedigree and career with enviable beginnings having spent time working as a contributing editor for Vogue and Tatler, mingling with everyone from the British elite to royalty. Haslam's client roster (since opening his interior design firm of the same name in 1972) have included, among hundreds of others, Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, as well as having been asked to design parties for the Prince of Wales, Lord Rothschild, Tina Brown, and Sir Evelyn and Lady de Rothschild. 

Nicky Haslam: A Designer’s Life by Nicky Haslam (Rizzoli New York 2015) is the fourth book installment. Showcasing his personal scrapbooks and design archives that highlight key career moments alongside the signature "Haslam aesthetic" combines a myriad of inspirations, glamorous designs, and creative ingenuity, all brought to life by his amusing anecdotes and astute observations. 

 

True inspiration comes from flipping through the pages of this thought provocateurs' enviable collection of designs. An artist since his days at Eton, Haslam's interior watercolor renderings are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as The Royal Institute of British Architects and command high prices at auction. From the most contemporary and modern to the most exquisitely classical applications of wallpaper and draperies, Haslam proves that a true artist is not limited by trend or theme, but instead can push the boundaries of creativity given the opportunity to dream big. An absolute must for any design lovers library this summer. You can grab a copy of the book here. 

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"Personal taste, in all its variations—the eccentric, the grand gesture, the flamboyant, the simple, and often downright hilarious—is the grist to my visual mill. It always was, it always will be.”    –Nicky Haslam from the Introduction 

Originally posted California Home+Design 07/22/15

All images courtesy of Rizzoli - from Nicky Haslam: A Designer’s Life by Nicky Haslam (Rizzoli New York 2015) 

The London Tube Map Brings Work of Art to Everyone

Yes I am a little Obsessed! I did warn you though..

Yayoi Kusama and her cover for the London Underground Map

1949 - H Beck London Map

No, it is not another blog post about Yayoi Kusama, but instead about how artists such as Kusama (above) and the London Underground have come together to bring a little "piece of art" to everyone.

For those of you that have ever visited London, you will know how important the "TUBE" is to get around from one point to another. The original London Underground diagram, designed by Harry Beck is one of the greatest designs of the twentieth century. He introduced many of the symbols that have become a staple to all transportation maps, such as the circles to indicate connections, color coding and other small graphic details which enable the user to not only comprehend the complex system of transportation that lies just below the surface, while producing a simple, easy to follow piece of information graphics. 

While browsing through the internet on the hunt for more information on Kusama's work, I came across this collection of Maps on Phaidon.com that were commissioned by Art on the Underground which made me feel a little "homesick" for London.

It's so rich in culture and continues to make every effort to maintain and support it's artists of every caliber and style. From the Turner Prize, to these efforts of mass marketing on the simplest of scales, each Londoner and visitor walks away with a chance to become part of the integral lines that make up the city. The tube lines.

Discover just but a few of the maps that made me smile.. and a little more about each of the artists here.

SARAH MORRIS - Painter, Film Maker

'Petrobras [Rio]' by Sarah Morris
17th cover Tube map series  December 2012

Sarah Morris - People's Bank [Los Angeles], 2004

MICHAEL LANDY - sculptor, performance artist

July 2011 - Michael Landy - All my lines in the palm of your hand

tracing of the artist’s own hand in pencil; the creases and lines of the hand are represented by lines drawn in the various colors of the Tube map

Michael Landy: Saints Alive at London's National Gallery

RICHARD LONG - Installation artist // Sculptor

01 Sep 2009- Richard Long - Earth

RICHARD LONG, MUD HAND CIRCLES - NEW YORK 1989

PAE WHITE - 

Dec 2008 - Pae White
- ...fragment of a Magic Carpet, circa 1213

 using the flying carpet motif as a suggestion of magical transport

Pae White - Installation

EVA ROTHSCHILD

Eva Rothschild, Good Times (March 2011)

Legend - Eva Rothschild - 2009 (c) TATE

JEREMY DELLER - conceptual, video and installation artist. Social commentator.

Jun 2007 - Jeremy Deller with Paul Ryan
Portrait of John Hough

John Hough,  Transport for London’s longest serving member of staff retired that June & Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller decided to honor him with this portrait.

Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2008

Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2008

DAVID SHRIGLEY - illustrator, visual artist

Nov 2005 - David Shrigley - Untitled

an abstract tangle made up of the same colored lines used on the Tube map itself

Hard Work - 2000 - David Shrigley

PAUL NOBLE - The artist that masters the pencil

Paul Noble, Untitled (December 2008)

Paul Noble -Acumulus Noblitatus

YINKA SHONIBARE - British-Nigerian artist living in London whose work explores cultural identity

Yinka Shonibare MBE - Global Underground Map

Yinka Shonibare's Global Underground Map is the artist's vision of London - and London Underground and its users - as a microcosm of the world.

Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle, Fibreglass, steel, brass, resin, UV ink on printed cotton textile, linen rigging, acrylic and wood
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

for those that are interested... there is an article on DeZeen of the newly redesigned map, which is meant to have a more literal geographical layout by London designer Mark Noad.

*images of maps via Phaidon.com

A StoryBook Christmas - My Paddington Bear Tree

As promised, here is the big reveal of my Paddington Bear Christmas tree as part of the Bartow Pell Mansion Holiday celebrations!

Following up from yesterday's post on the inspiration and before pictures of the room where Santa Claus will be greeting the children and taking pictures







Welcome inside, the Bartow Pell Mansion.. the holiday spirit is alive inside this beautiful home along the Sound and so beautifully decorated in every room.

I wanted to honor the English heritage of this story, and stayed true to the red, gold and green plaid theme - especially as this will be Santa's backdrop after all!

and found these very special ornaments, from the English phone booth, tea pot and soldier in Spode ceramics, and my favorite, the English taxi cab!

a few special handmade bows in coordinating ribbon and a dash of love...

I spent a lot of time on wrapping my gifts, using multiple ribbons and tea staining boxes for the extra vintage feel..

I found some great vintage maps of London, and the Queen and Prince Phillip grace another of my gifts, mixed in with child friendly holiday crackers which are always a special part of our Christmas morning celebrations at my in laws.

Paddington is the center piece of the decorations - of course, and I have a feeling he loves the attention!

I would like to share a special thank you to all on the Board of Bartow Pell Mansion for inviting me to participate in this fantastic occasion, and especially, Lynn Byrne for being so very supportive and making it all happen for us.

The trees will be showing throughout the month of December until Jan 6th, so please find the time to visit this gorgeous house and support this jewel in the Bronx.

For more info: visit yesterday's post for list of events or Bartow Pell

Tomorrow - I'll share a few pictures from the trees around the house from fellow bloggers and designers.

BlogTour London Sponsor: Samuel Heath at Chelsea Harbour

Birmingham-based bathroom fixture company, Samuel Heath, was a great first stop on our visit to the Chelsea Harbour  - Design Centre on our BlogTour London tour with Modenus.

Samuel Heath showroom in the Design Centre @ Chelsea Harbour

Samuel Heath, founded in 1820 with it's first plant in Birmingham beginnings were as a traditional brass founder and now is a long standing brand known for luxury bathroom fittings and architectural hardware, having been able to survive and thrive for nearly 200 years!

Every element in the varying collections, are based and formed from highest quality of European brass, hand polished and chrome-plated which can made up of 34 individual processes. It's not just a 1-2-3 kind of deal at all, and so much attention goes into each detail, with the last touch being that by hand.Having the chance to visit, touch and feel the finishes really makes a difference, but take it from me, they are all really elegant. 

Some fun statistics, which just go to show you how every brand tries to play to it's strengths but also has to reach out to so many different styles and cultures...

The Chrome finish is the best seller in UK and in Europe whereas in the United States, Polished Nickel has stayed at #1

Samuel Heath: Polished Nickel & Chrome finishes
(Collections: Georgian Faucet, Freestanding soap holder - L64, Bathroom thumb turn, P8178T )

with the Fairfield collection as one of the Best Sellers....

The intimate team framework at Samuel Heath review trends and continue to inspire with new collections of beautifully crafted bathroom fittings, like they have with the widely acclaimed Art Deco new product launch of "Style Moderne".

Samuel Heath: "Style Moderne" Art Decor inspired inspired collection

So please visit the Samuel Heath site or if you are in London, head over to Chelsea Harbour and check out their new showroom!

Stay tuned for much more from my BlogTour London continued posts.. and for some other Weekend reading

Check out this post on the "Where Do Faucets Come From?" - a great read via Samuel Heath & Modenus.

 "Where Do Faucets Come From?" - Click Here

Thanks again to all the BlogTour London Sponsors:

BlogTour London: 100% Design - MacKay Design Studio

Neil Musson and Jono Retallick, of MacKay Design Studio based in England, welcome all of the Design goers to 100% Design with a jaw dropping "molecular" inspired light fixture / art installation, and I had a chance to find out a little bit more about their inspiration and story.

As the first official day of my BlogTour London visit with Modenus kicks off, we head to the design show in the heart of London known as 100% Design.

Very much a mixture of international interior design products with lighting playing a very large part of what caught my eye... this initial piece, especially.

Just looking through their inspiration board with them, I could quickly grasp the how the worlds of the Irish artist Eva Rothschild, as seen in the Tate Britain's commissioned work played a part in the part of the overall structural shape and form.
         

Eva Rothschild - Tate Britain

This was the first time a single work has been designed to stretch nearly the full length of the space, over 70 meters and much like the work in the entrance of 100% Design by Neil & Jono, there was a minimal amount of material used while still being able to creates a complete sense of 'visual energetic chaos'.

Both MacKay Design Studio designers continually investigate the new relationships between volume and mass, surface and structure, and with the initial loose take on the new 100% Design logo, the piece was transformed and realized.

Detail: Inspiration Board 

Illuminated Lances of the Battle of San Romano, with drilled anodized aluminium tubes is part of a series of art which was very site specific in galleries in the UK, US and Middle East.

Funded by the Arts Council, these organ inspired almost Star Wars lances, made up lines of light creating forms once again changing the dynamics of the environment of which they are in. 

Illuminated Lances of the Battle of San Romano

Drilled anodised aluminium and fluorescent light through church window

drilled anodized aluminium tubes

Another very special installation work by this lighting design team, was an integral part of the London Olympic & Jubilee celebration as the bells across the town rang simultaneously in joyous rapture! Can you just imagine, how incredible this must have been?

Supernature: Guildford’s Jubilee Wood in Stoke Park

"Supernature" was created using light, sound and sculpture, to awaken all of the senses simultaneously. Although I was not able to be in London during the Olympic celebrations, I did watch each and every event throughout the summer, and this was a beautiful way to celebrate the arrival of the torch in Guildford.

MacKay Design Studio acted as creative consultants to Metal Monkeys in partnership with Mary Branson and Mat Clark. 

via Metal Monkeys

The sound and light show, was a sequenced lighting to a soundtrack which turned a Guilford woodland into a magical place. The 9 meter high columns are made up of fragments of chalk, delicate ceramic leaves and phosphorescent bugs; all elements of the woodland itself.

taking its inspiration from the very chalky Surrey Countryside.

Make sure to keep following my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feeds as well as the posts which will be covering in depth reports about the sponsors that have made it possible, as well as all of the great products, designers and artists that I have a chance to meet while visiting all of the design events throughout London with this great group of bloggers..