Designer Review: Martin Lawrence-Bullard

As you know I love all fabrics, but top of the list are ranges designed by Interior Designers. They're different; they're dramatic and punchy; they don’t worry about the basic plains and small pattern repeats - it’s all about them! They’re generally larger than life and so are their fabrics.

Martin Lawrence-Bullard is one of the world’s top Interior Designers. He has won the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year award; had his work published in over 700 publications; a client list ranging from Jimmy Choo to Kid Rock and Sir Elton John, and now his own fabric line.

I know you’re excited. You’re thinking a man who designs for Kid Rock and Jimmy Choo - this is going to be good - and it is!

His latest collection ‘Ottomania’ is a series of re-interpreted tribal styles inspired by years of travel to exotic locations.

The ethnic/tribal theming of this collection is really my cup of tea. If it’s not yours though, look how the different colours in each of the patterns work to create such diverse looks.

That’s the power of fabric!

If you are interested in more visit http://www.martynlawrencebullard.com

Monday's Lesson: Pattern 101 Chevron v's Herringbone

Using the correct terminology isn’t a must in every situation - quite often pointing; making descriptive sounds, and saying words like 'thingy', 'whatchamacallit', and 'doobywhatsit' will do the job.

However if time is of the essence and there is no room for error, knowing the right terminology can be beneficial. So, I thought why not start by looking at two terms in the fabric world that often get overlapped, confused and misappropriated - 'Chevron' and 'Herringbone'.

I hear you saying, "But aren’t they the same thing?" No, hence why it is the subject of today!

Believe it or not, there is just the slightest difference between the two, enough that somewhere back in history there was a need to give each their own term.

The difference:
A Chevron pattern is a continuous inverted 'V' shape, like a zigzag.

Whilst a Herringbone pattern looks like a broken zigzag - a result of a break in the pattern at the reversal.

Although very similar, the patterns have had quite different backgrounds. Herringbone got its name from its resemblance to a Herring fish skeleton, and originated predominately in men’s suiting. Whilst the Chevron pattern was first seen as early as 1800 BC in rock paintings and pottery carvings, prior to be being used to distinguish rank in the armed forces, amongst other organisations.

So there you have it, you know now which term, for which pattern.

Whilst the Herringbone being a small pattern repeat and a classic design has always been around, the Chevron pattern seems to have its moments in the spotlight and is currently one of the largest pattern trends.

Large scale Chevron, great colour balance in room.

Great love seat idea.

Just the tiniest bit of Chevron makes these beds pop!

Schumacher High Voltage colour Espresso.

The Chevron pattern thins and fattens at different points giving the look of a Herringbone.

Schumacher Adras Ikat Colour Jewel.

This is my bedroom - my favourite Aura quilt cover set - in a Chevron pattern!

Love the colour combination, repetition of the pattern, and that ceiling!

If you’re interested in more ways to incorporate Herringbone and Chevron patterns into your decorating, check out my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/bobbinscissors/pattern-101-chevron-v-s-herringbone/

Drum roll please......

It's a GIRL, and the soon to be mum and dad are absolutely delighted! We can't wait to meet her in a few months’ time and I will be sure to keep you up to date with nursery developments.

Now, if you can follow my train of thought, reading the blog title ‘Drum roll please’ I thought why not have a look at music rooms, you know, drum roll – drums– music, I know you follow me.

I love the mixture of different seating in this room.

The 'not yellow' gender neutral nursery

Tomorrow is the day! After much debate as to whether to, or not to, tomorrow our close friends find out whether it’s a little boy or girl they are looking forward to meeting in the coming months.

So whilst we still have time ahead of us to ooh and ahh over gorgeous little boy and girl rooms, I thought why not look at stunning nurseries where it’s left to chance, gender neutral, where it doesn’t matter if a boy or a girl pops out [that’s a term I use often when referring to child birth, I think if I put it out to the world that when it comes to my time, it might just pop out] and it’s not yellow!

A cure for Mondayitis?

All I am going to say is, would Monday really be that hard to face if you were heading to an office that looked like any of these?