Our home has made it onto the pages of another new Japanese interior book, A Girly Interior in London, published by Editions de Paris. Just inside the front cover there is a beautifully illustrated map that puts Stoke Newington right up there where it belongs as an exciting and diverse London neighbourhood. We have already been asked if we can get hold of some prints of the London map for friends and customers in Stoke Newington so I will see what I can do.
When stylist Emma Cassi came to visited us in East London she was stunned by the cherry blossom mural in Olives bedroom. A mural as grand as this is a big statement but we really pulled it off. I think that there is a fine line between a mural that really works and one that is too twee or too contrived or quite frankly just not painted very well. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with a wonderful scenic artist Susanna Burton who bought my ideas to life quite beautifully. If you would like to discuss ideas for your children’s room with us please get in touch with us info@olivelovesalfie.co.uk
We had a lovely feature in the Sunday Times Style last weekend that featured our house in Hackney. Lots of the things we have at home are from our shop or from friends shops, others are vintage treasures and hand me downs that I have collected along the way, and others are things I collected during my days as a shoe designer when I used to travel regularly to the Far East.
Some people wanted to know more about the fantastic wall vinyl that I commissioned Ivy Bespoke to design for me; the Love and Peace posters from Dandy Star and Olives ark. What was a little more difficult was to tell people where I got the original vintage Miss Selfridges sign, carousel horse in Olives room or 30’s shop fittings because I started things in my late teens.
Contrary to the article I don’t buy things from Vintage Heaven but funnily enough I do Margaret know the lovely lady behind it all who always has time to chat. Vintage Heaven is just as it says and is in Columbia road one of my favourite streets in London. Margaret has an uncanny nack for finding midcentury crockery and kitchenware that seems to elude most of us. She also sells kitchen and bake ware that reminds me of my Grandma Oddies kitchen where we used to bake cakes and make toffee during our summer holidays in Lancashire. At the back of the shop you will find Cake Hole the aptly named east London tea room. A quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of the Sunday flower market outside you will be spoilt for choice with scrumptious home-made cakes and cream teas.
- Vintage Heaven, 82 Columbia Road, London, open Friday and Saturday 12-6, Sunday 9-6.
- Cake Hole, 82 Columbia Road, London, open Saturday 12-6, Sunday 9-6.
we made it onto the cover!
We received a great new book in the post yesterday all the way from Japan. It is Tatsumi Publishing Co’s new book on London living . It shows a great selection of houses and flats that belong to some of Londons most exciting independent retailers and designers. I love that the houses aren’t a cliche full of must have statement pieces. Instead they are individual and eclectic and have in many cases been put together with a bigger imagination than a wallet that is a big plus in my book. I’m not sure if it is available here in the UK but if you do manage to get hold of a copy you will find lots of inspiring and original ideas.
