Hot Brands Cool Places The Home Issue

HOT BRANDS COOL PLACES FASHION CULTURE LIFESTYLE

The Fashion Issue The Home Issue

NOVEMBER 2010

EDITOR’S LETTER Style is the theme of this month’s magazine; we have an interview with Tricia Guild OBE, the founder and Creative Director of Designers Guild, and author of the beautiful A Certain Style.

We are delighted to announce our first US interview with Bella Mancini, a very stylish New York City based interior designer. We also chat to Selina and Lisa, founders of Primrose and Plum, one of this year’s exciting new online shopping experiences. To brighten up these autumn days we also talk to Rachel Bright who describes herself as writer, illustrator, designer, printmaker and eternal optimist!

We also have an interesting story, a few years ago, in another life, before Hot Brands, Cool Places existed, Louise and I had another dream, which was to create a lifestyle shop where everyone would come and feel incredibly welcomed. On a harbour front in Cornwall we created Just Like Coming Home, a lifestyle shop offering an eclectic mix of wonderful gifts, a gallery and coffee area.

One of our first purchases was a coffee machine and we decided to offer Lavazza coffee. What we were not prepared for was the influx of customers, many from London absolutely delighted to see the iconic blue sign in our window. So it is with great pleasure we share the thoughts behind this year’s Lavazza calendar.

Finally, in this bumper issue we review the wonderful Romantic Style by Selina Lake and Sara Norrman, and if like us, you love books you will love Living with Books which presents many creative and imaginative ways of storing and displaying books.

Until the next time, Kaye, Louise and the Hot Brands Team xxx http://www.hotbrandscoolplaces.com/ Picture Credits: Front Cover: Courtesy of Designers Guild - www.designersguild.com Stockist: 0207 893 7400 Images throughout the magazine supplied by the various companies, or publishers featured.

Please Note All information about products and services are supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, or news items.Inclusion in this feature does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.

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The Sleep Room The Sleep Room offers quality and stylish beds, mattresses and accessories online, that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Their ethos is to provide a hasslefree experience that includes reliable delivery, good value and a comfortable night’s sleep. The Sleep Room’s collection of beds range from the contemporary, through to more classic styles and even inter-changeable designs for kids.

The Sleep Room: www.thesleeproom.com / 0845 459 9937

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Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Tricia Guild OBE, Founder and Creative Directory of Designers Guild exlusive interview.

1. Over the years you and your team have sourced some wonderful designs, do you have particular favourites which you believe will stand the test of time?

So hard to choose favourites as they are all rather like children! However I do love the new Zephirine collection and in particular the new panels Bosquet and Ornamental Garden.

2. Some people are very reluctant to move away from a neutral canvas in their homes. What advice would you give them to help them embrace colour?

I find it a little sad when people don’t have the confidence to use the colours that they love in their homes. In my view, you are more likely to get bored of a neutral interior if it is not what you want than if you choose to live with colours that you love. I love white and neutral shades and always use them with bright colour in fact. My advice would be to try to think about what you and your family really love and go for it – try introducing a smaller bit of colour in your room first – a cushion or two, a throw, or paint a wall.

INTERVIEW

3. You are known for your love of colour, but if you were on a desert island and limited to two colours what would you choose?

Ooh too tricky but I would probably choose a shocking pink and a cool aqua.

4. In your book Inspiration you revealed a wonderful range of sources of inspiration, if you had 24 hours to visit one place where would it be?

India, India, India!

5. What advantages has the online environment given Designers Guild?

It is great that we have such a presence online – who would have thought that we would use the internet as much as we all do? For DG, it means that customers who don’t live near a stockist can order online and receive some of our products direct to their door which has to be good!

6. Do you have a favourite time of year? What does it mean for you?

It would be Spring – all that newness and the promise of things to come and that fabulous lively spring green colour that really signals the end of winter.

7. Your latest book, A Certain Style is stunning, what process do you go through when starting to put a book together?

I try to think about the questions that people want answered- in A Certain Style, I wanted to show how versatile our collections are and how broad our work has become.

Information about Designers Guild Established in 1970 by Tricia Guild, Designers Guild designs and wholesales furnishing fabrics, wallcoverings, upholstery and bed and bath collections throughout Europe and worldwide. The Designers Guild business philosophy is to combine creativity and innovation with the highest levels of quality: quality of design, product, service and people.

Value Statement: “We believe in quality of design, product and service combined with a committed and motivated team.” www.designersguild.com A Certain Style Tricia Guild Synopsis: In “A Certain Style” Tricia Guild’s 15th book, her trademark versatility is deconstructed-examining how her extraordinary gift for colour, her innate understanding of space and proportion and her unique approach to pattern and texture can transform so many different spaces and imbue each interior with that distinctive desirable glamour so typical of her work.

A Certain Style features over 400 colour photographs and is Tricia’s largest book to date reflecting her unique style, the book is hardback with pure silk binding, woven ribbon details and a dynamic brilliant orange edge to each page making for a stunningly visual tome. http://www.designersguild.com/uk-shop-online/ shop-home/tricia-guild-books/ Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict This book is a glorious collection of the different ways that colour, pattern and space can be used. Against a backdrop of 14 different locations Tricia shows us how using a combination of colour, pattern, texture and shape can create a certain style. The wonderfully large format of this book really allows the reader to experience the full impact of the beautiful photography and the absolutely stunning combinations of pattern and colour.

From the smallest most intimate detail of an interior to the sweeping exterior views this book is an absolute delight, full of inspiration and a celebration of style. We loved it!

Highly Recommended!

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Designers Guild Showroom and Homestores Established in 1970 by Tricia Guild, Designers Guild designs and wholesales furnishing fabrics, wall coverings, upholstery, bed and bath collections as well as a complete range of rugs and home accessories throughout Europe and worldwide. The company also produce collections and distribute for The Royal Collection Fabric and Wallpaper, Jasper Conran and William Yeoward and distribute worldwide for Ralph Lauren fabric and wallpaper.

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www.designersguild.com

INTERVIEW

New York Designer Hot Brands Cool Places caught up with Bella Mancini founder of Bella Mancini Design for an exlusive interview.

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1. How would you describe your signature style?

I think the best way to describe it is that it is a hybrid of urban sophisticated and California casual. I was raised in California but have lived in NYC for 15 years, so I am a hybrid of the two places as well. I like a space that is stylish without looking staged.

2. Which projects do you enjoy the most? The blank canvas of a new build, or a most established home?

My favorite projects have everything to do with the client. I like clients that are genuinely interested in the process and enjoy the journey, which can sometimes take many months… even years! It doesn’t matter to me if it’s a blank canvas or a new build, so long as the client cares about their home.

3. What have been some of your favourite retail finds?

The Collette bed from Crate & Barrel is a bed that is a go to for a client on a budget, but who wants something pretty and elegant. I am a big fan of the Jonathan Adler lacquer cubes – the large size makes for both a great end table or coffee table when put together. Ah, and a classic Saarinen table in white is definitely a retail staple in our office.

4. What are some of the ways that a homeowner can create a sense of flow in their homes?

I think the best way to create a good flow is to select a complimentary color palette and use it throughout the home.

It’s hard to have a nice flow if every room tells a completely different color story.

5. With interior design as your profession, do you feel under pressure to always set a good example with your own home?

Well yes, sometimes. The good part is that I don’t at all feel judged by our friends, so it’s really only my own judgment I have to worry about. I’ve finally gotten to a place where I’ve bought some really good pieces, which I plan to have forever.

I think those investment pieces make everything else that is a little worn look much better than they would on their own.

6. Describe a perfect weekend for you.

My husband allows me to sleep late without waking to negotiate sleeping late, a long run that is painless and effortless, my child sits adorably and without tantrums through a long lunch (with lots of wine and good friends), a few hours on the beach sitting in the sun and swimming, dinner at home (with lots of wine and good friends), someone cleans it up, sleep, repeat.

Information about Bella Mancini Design Bella Mancini Design creates memorable, eminently-liveable interiors while fulfilling clients’ design needs in the simplest most efficient and relaxed manner possible. Working with Bella Mancini Design is a delightful and personal collaboration, with the ultimate goal an exceedingly satisfied clientele. She handles the entire design project from inception through to the finishing touches, and as a testament to her creative talent and work ethic, most clients return to her for all their design needs, time after time, for primary residences, vacation residences and ‘redos’ as they grow and change. www.bellamancinidesign.com

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Coulson Macleod Coulson Macleod’s exclusive artwork makes the perfect Christmas gift. Handmade with love in the UK, Coulson Macleod’s signature style is distressed typography combined with vintagelooking frames and printed onto solid limestone, oak, reclaimed Victorian roof timbers, cotton canvas and recycled paper. www.coulsonmacleod.com/

Linley Linley: luxuriously indulgent gifts; imaginative designs; meticulous detailing; unique pieces - the perfect place for all your gift shopping. www.davidlinley.com/

Hot Brands Cool Places talked to Rachel Bright writer, illustrator, designer, printmaker and eternal optimist!

INTERVIEW

1. You are very creative - where do you get your inspiration?

I’m inspired by little things. Tiny moments. The minutiae of life. By anything and everything.

I once read a beautiful quote, ‘to the illumined mind, the world sparkles and crackles with light’…Ezra Pound I think – it sums it all up to me. Sometimes overhearing a conversation on the bus, or hearing a piece of music, or seeing somebody in an unusual hat walk past…it can be just as inspiring as looking at the work of other artists and writers. I am something of a creative sponge…soaking up the world around me, putting it through the Rachel filter and seeing what comes out.

Many of my ideas for cards are inspired directly by the people and events around me. I might be writing a letter to someone and a phrase will fall out of my head on to the paper and I’ll think ‘maybe other people might want to say that – it’d make a great card’ – I almost design how I think. Often the characters from my stories will come from an odd mix of my own experience as a child (and an adult for that matter) and collected fragments of things I’ve heard. Writing stories and drawing pictures for a living means I can go anywhere and be anyone. It’s like having a forever-open window of possibility.

Making up stuff… well it’s like breathing to me – I can’t help it, it just happens.

2. You seem to have a real ‘joie de vivre’; you mention on your website that you are a ‘Champion of silver linings’ and an ‘eternal optimist’ how do you achieve this happy state?

I’ve always been a natural optimist. I’d say it’s becoming even more of a raison d’être with every passing day. I just find that when you stop to notice the amazing little things that happen every day, it invites even more in. Life mirrors back at you what you’re feeling inside, so feeling happy brings more happiness my way. It’s really as simple as that.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I never have times when things aren’t going so well, but it only takes a small shift to see pretty much any situation in a new, improved light. It’s all about perspective. My top three tips for making this happen (there are lots more than 3 but in the interests of brevity I have edited) are: 1. Never take life too seriously. Why look back and laugh when you can laugh right now 2. If you are beginning to feel blue, apply distraction activities: try learning a new fact, going outside or doing something that makes you out of breath…even better do all three at the same time 3. Concentrate on making somebody else happy: you’re only as good as you’re last smiling person 4.(bonus tip) Always look on the brightside I once heard a great quote, ‘while we’re here, we might as well dance’…it’s a fantastic philosophy.

A sunny disposition has brought me just about everything I’ve wanted and everyone I’ve properly loved. I’d recommend it.

3. If you could chose one of your delightful cards to be sent to you which one would you choose?

When the Brightside first started, I was sent my own cards by friends and family quite a lot - it was so odd to receive them back to myself in the post – but the things they said inside – the encouragement and love – well I’ll never forget that. It made me think about the theory that when you do something nice it ripples across this soup we’re all sharing, further than we can fathom at the moment of doing. In this case so much so that it had rippled all the way back to me.

My favourite card from the range has to be ‘You make my heart go boom’, simply because it was the first one I ever printed when I was just starting out. And what an incredible journey it’s taken me on. There’s also one that’s yet to be printed that I’d love to be sent by anyone I know…it says…

‘I’m much more me when I’m with you’.

4. When you were growing up who were your favourite authors?

So many books have changed me. With the words of others I found my way through the maze of growing up. My favourite book as child is still my favourite book as an adult. It’s ‘The never-ending story’ by Michael Ende. It is just magical from start to finish. When I first read it I was totally absorbed, hearing about the character of Bastian Balthazar Bux (what a great name) burrowing himself away in the attic to read a book (I could indentify with the escapism of this). The idea that you can become so involved in a story, as to become part of it, captivated me. In one life Bastian considers himself a nobody, yet with a simple leap of imagination in another life he is a hero. This is what I love about books – about writing – there are no limits, no boundaries, you can be anything or anyone. Who’s to say where the line between reality and fantasy actually is.

5. Given the range of creative activities that you undertake, what does a typical day look like for you?

Well, where to start? I’d have to say, there’s no such thing as a daily routine in my life. It’s usually a case of juggling a million different activities in no particular order. That’s a conscious decision though, in fact I’d go as far as to say I actually fear routine a bit.

I’m an early riser. I absolutely love mornings – they are full of possibility and promise for me.

I’ll start the day on caffeine and creativity – I usually do a couple of hours writing in the very early morning as I find it’s when the words are clambering to get out of my head. Later on… after lunch or whatever, it can be more like crowbar central when it comes to writing. I’ve never quite worked out why the difference, but I let my brain have its quirks.

As soon as it’s light I’ll be up and out into the forest for a run with our dog, Elvis. I live on the edge of a beautiful forest…it’s a bit like running through the middle of a toothbrush (a very picturesque toothbrush mind you) – tall straight pines, purple heather sprays and sand underfoot. This is when I do my best thinking. Long distance running is a meditation for me. I’ve normally formulated a long to-do list by the time I get back to the studio, when I’ll be straight into the most urgent project demanding my attention. It could be a book, or the Brightside range, a cartoon strip, advertising copy…or something entirely different. I’ll spend a few hours drawing or working on the mac in my main studio, which is a few hundred yards away from my house. I try not to turn my emails on until lunchtime otherwise I’ll find myself in a world of procrastination and distraction.

If I’m working on final artwork, I’ll travel to my printmaking studio in Bristol, which has all the specialist kit I need (presses, vats of acid…and general dangerousness best confined to a separate place). The etching process is quite involved – to prepare a plate you have to coat it with wax on a hot plate and then smoke it with a taper. There’s lots of substances and smells unique to printmaking – it’s a special mix of getting all inky and trying not to spill acid.

Part of the reason I like it so much is that you are working with your hands – away from a computer – which seems like a rare thing nowadays. I love the unpredictability of etching too – you can’t control everything about the process – there’s always a bit of uncertainty about how a print will turn out – and inevitably it’s never perfect. But to me the imperfections make it beautiful. It’s a great analogy for life.

Sometimes I’ll be working on something just for the love of it (I sell one-off pieces in a few galleries as an artist as well). Funnily enough, this is when I get some of my best ideas for new picture-book stories, characters and live commissioned projects – when my brain is focused on something else, they seem to bubble up from the place in between. I try to balance a lot of this solitary work with visiting galleries and doing events at schools and things. There’s no getting away from the fact that to completely immerse yourself in your thoughts, it’s often best to be in a quiet room by yourself and you have to get the balance right otherwise you can feel like you’re going a bit bonkers. I consciously pepper my life with the more sociable aspects of being an artist.

I’ll normally work pretty late. There’s no conventional boundaries in my working life. Having said that, I have this new thing where I try and leave one day of the week free - with no appointments, commitments or plan – even social arrangements are banned! I call it a ‘maybe day’ It was an alien concept at first but now, if I manage it, those 24 hours are like gold dust.

It’s an oasis of time when you can do whatever you feel like doing that day, with no pressure.

The idea is you wake up and think, ‘maybe today I’ll….’ You might decide to go trampolining or to the zoo or something much more boring. You might even work, but the point is you get to feel free in spirit with no particular place to be. It’s a rare thing in modern life I think, but it’s part of being creative to me.

You know what they say…find a job you love and you’ll never work another day in your life.

I’m lucky that what I do is who I am.

6.Five years from now what would you love to be doing?

With friends. The sun on my face. In love. Thinking happy thoughts. Looking on the Brightside.

Information about Rachel Bright Rachel Bright is a writer, illustrator, designer, printmaker and eternal optimist! She trained in Graphics at Kingston University and is just completing an MA in Printmaking at UWE. She currently works as a copywriter for a successful advertising agency, as well as undertaking both print and illustration commissions. Her newly launched stationery range, The Bright Side, now totals over 40 card designs, gift wrap, gift tags, notebooks and babygros and is sold throughout the UK in independent gift retailers and the John Lewis Partnership. Rachel lives in Bristol. http://www.lookonthebrightside.co.uk/

REVIEW

My Sister is an Alien - Rachel Bright Synopsis: A charming and fabulously fun new title about getting to grips with the birth of a new sister.

In 2009 Rachel Bright was listed in the top 100 of Observer’s ‘Future 500’ talented people to watch. My Sister is an Alien is her second book, following the much acclaimed ‘What Does Daddy Do?’ Gorgeously illustrated and hilarious-it’s a zany out of this world adventure and rocket-fuelled celebration of new siblings.

Alfie is crazy about space. His favourite things are: 1. aliens, 2. rockets, 3. the moon - in that exact order. He doesn’t really think much about anything else, until his new baby sister comes along. Then he notices that she looks a bit funny, she talks funny and sometimes she smells funny and he realizes . . . she MUST BE AN ALIEN! Alfie knows he needs to be brave and take her back to the moon where she belongs - after all, she often cries for home - and that’s when the adventure really starts. . .

A positive, funny and charming take on the joys of a new sibling with gorgeous etched illustrations from a rising picture book star. http://www.puffin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141502656,00.html Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict This is one of the most adorable children’s books we have seen this year. It is an absolutely delightful and charming story about a boy and his new-born sister, but it will have a relevance for siblings of any age. Beautifully illustrated, and with a wonderfully imaginative storyline, we and our junior reviewers absolutely loved it! A hot brands cool places junior favourite!

Highly Recommended!

Summerill & Bishop Summerill & Bishop reflects the allure of a Provencal home filled with hand crafted earthenware, glassware and natural home products. Our collection of kitchen, tableware and decorative accessories will bring style and charm to your home.

Find unique and beautiful Birthday, Christmas and Wedding gifts at www.summerillandbishop.com

John Jones John Jones design and hand make bespoke frames and mirrors for homeowners, interior designers, artists and galleries around the world. Projects range from a single frame to the artwork collection of the six storey Ralph Lauren flagship store in Paris. www.johnjones.co.uk

Icone Icone offers the very best in contemporary designer lighting for the stylish home. Choose from iconic designs by exclusive brands such as Flos, Tom Dixon, Artemide, Foscarini and more.There’s 15% off everything until 2011 when you use the offer code hot2010 www.icone.co.uk

Coffee, Love and More - Falling in Love in Italy Mark Seliger produces the 19th Lavazza Calendar

Falling in love in Italy, the official title of the 19th Lavazza Calendar, a statement that Lavazza has been proudly promoting for years, thanks to a succession of international photographers asked to give their personal, unique interpretations of the “Belpaese”.

Presented to the international press in Milan, a cosmopolitan city with a strong Italian identity and a whole host of contemporary and urban passions, the Lavazza Calendar is proving to be a cult item for collectors and photography. The event was celebrated with a private party along the Navigli — the historic, once navigable canals that are now Milan’s most romantic setting — at Ecliss, transformed into a brand-new venue: an elegant “Cupid’s Garden”, where guests were welcomed into a romantic, playful atmosphere.

Following on the great values of Italy depicted in Annie Leibovitz’ edition in 2009, and the theme of famous Italian songs interpreted by Miles Aldridge in 2010, it is Mark Seliger, the famous American celebrity photographer, who has been asked to immortalise the essence of Italianess.

Seliger’s work has been displayed in museums and galleries all over the world, and he is best known for his creative shots that transform real life into art.

As with the previous editions, the creative direction of the 2011 Calendar was entrusted to the agency Armando Testa.

The topic of “Amore” — more specifically, falling in love in Italy, is one of those original, unusual themes that are challenging for a photographer but can also bring out his personality and style.

Lavazza has once again chosen to talk about Italian style because, in Italy, as it says in the Calendar, “perhaps there’s something in the air that ignites passion.

Or maybe it’s the beauty of the scenery and the architecture which naturally arouses that most noble of sentiments:love.”

In the shots taken for 2011, Seliger captures the romantic, sensual mood of a lovers’ meeting: the symbolic, aesthetic beauty of falling in love in a country where everything is art — especially through the eyes of a couple in love, or a talented photographer.

Seliger portrays love in an immediate, playful way, experimenting with classic Italian landscapes, making humour an atmosphere that can be felt in every shot, through an immediate photographic style that is universally comprehensible.

Through his lens, Seliger reveals the secrets of that timeless image of Italy as the country of love, where beauty, art, nature and history influence and invade our consciousness, leading us almost inevitably towards feelings of love. Six different stories told in a humorous or surreal way, marked out by time: “six intimate moments involving him, her and coffee.”

A Tuscan landscape, the high waters of Venice, Romeo and Juliet’s balcony, the Faraglioni of Capri, a magical Florentine garden, a love story in Naples, the perfect backdrop, adding rhythm and harmony to Seliger’s pictorial tale where the artistic suggestions blend with that quality so typical of an American photographer: a talent for using photographs to capture the mood, and in this case the sensuality, of a particular situation.

“Being a photographer is also about being able to stretch yourself, to make a situation credible, so you can show the connection between people,” explains Mark Seliger. “It’s about making up a story and then telling it, you have to make it real. What made me fall in love with Italy was the ‘combination’ of people, there’s a certain quality of life that makes Italy truly unique.”

Among the models portrayed in the 2011 Calendar, one couple stood out: the American actress Olivia Wilde and her husband, film director Tao Ruspoli, stars of the Capri picture.

“How can you not fall in love with Italy? I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t fallen in love with Italy after visiting it — comments the actress — whether because of the architecture, the people, or even just the food, it’s impossible not to love this country,” she commented on set.

Olivia felt particularly at ease being photographed holding a cup of steaming coffee because, in her own words, “another reason why I love Italy is its coffee culture. Having married an Italian now I’m even more selective. On the set of Dr. House I asked for a little espresso machine.

Initially, they made fun of me but I said to myself ‘they’ll thank me in the end!’.

Now every member of the cast starts the day with one of my espressos.”

Apart from that famous couple, the other models on the shoot were Bill Gentle, a funny Cupid who adorns the cover page and is also found on the last picture that concludes the “story” told by Seliger, while the six Calendar pictures feature the faces of Monica Castillo, Enrique Palacios, Noot Seear, Cedric Bihr, Liliana Dominguez, Alessandro Giallocosta, Violet Budd, Jeisa Chiminazzo and Ivan Olita. the place to fall in love. Perhaps because there’s something special in the air here.

Conversations Over Coffee Thoughts on the names behind the 2011 Lavazza Calendar Francesca Lavazza - Corporate Image Director for Lavazza Coffee As in the past, we’ve described Italianess as a fundamental value, and captured Italy through the universal values of Art and Music. Once again, for 2011, we’ve set ourselves the difficult yet fascinating task of describing the country through a sentiment as important as Love.

Not easy. But we’ve always loved challenges: they motivate us to the point that they become unique, very special adventures, like this one. On set, you could feel that everyone wanted to believe in love, to be a part of it, with a lighthearted, romantic attitude, without fear or embarrassment about a feeling for which Italians are world-famous.

At the invitation of Mark Seliger, who preceded every shot with the words “One, two, three, kiss!”, harmony was achieved, as well as a good result, as you can see from the eight shots in the 2011 Calendar.

But not only that. Because Lavazza’s claim is “The real Italian espresso experience” to represent our authentically Italian brand and reflect our philosophy, we wanted real couples as models, who could portray the Italian-style coffee break with real affection.

Olivia Wilde and Tao Ruspoli were perfect: an Italian prince and an American actress, not only in love with his Mediterranean charms but also the values of the Belpaese he comes from.

They were fantastic, and our shots, set in incredible locations, proved to be a unique setting.

With the colours and flavours of Italy, the pictures speak to everyone: they are miniature commercials for Italy and for a unique project and product: the 2011 Lavazza Calendar.

Above all, obviously, was espresso, our iconic product without which we would all be a little less Italian.

Because in Italy, coffee is more than just a drink. It’s a habit, an essential part of the day, it’s pure pleasure but also a social occasion, something that fuels relationships. Italy wakes up to coffee in the morning, with the gurgling of the mocha coffee-pot or gentle hiss of the coffee machine as the aroma pervades the house.

That’s also love at first sight.

Mark Seliger - American celebrity photographer The essence of love? For me, love is all about finding something that excites you, feeling that excitement, discovering what ignites your soul, and then allowing yourself to share those passions, cherish them and incorporate them into every second of your day.

It might be someone you love or something you love doing.

Passion is the ideal form of love.

What made me fall in love with Italy was the ‘combination’ of people, there’s a certain quality of life that makes Italy truly unique.

I have a lot of ‘loves’ in my life. Love for my family, my friends, for the people I meet. The job of photographer is an incredible journey, it brings you closer to the people you work with. Now I also have a lot of new friends in Italy.

Being a photographer also means putting yourself to the test, so you create a credible scenario and demonstrate a connection among people. It’s about imagining a story then telling it, you have to be true to the idea you have in your head, and the need to make it reality. But to do this you need talented people, good actors, and the people we chose for this edition of the Calendar were perfect, they created the connection I was looking for.

Michele Mariani - Creative Director from Armanda Testa The concept of Italianness has been a key part of Lavazza’s communication strategy for years, and, like the Armando Testa agency, for years we have tried to interpret this concept in a new and unusual way.

This year we decided to examine a topic that is at once ancient and ultra-modern, celebrated by thousands of books and films: “love” or, more specifically, “falling in love in Italy”.

Anyone who has been to Italy knows what we mean, for Italy is the quintessence of romance, the place to fall in love. Perhaps because there’s something special in the air here.

It’s not just the country’s mild climate, stunning vistas and charming art cities that make us so open to its charm. Like the kiss of someone we love, a cup of coffee can also inspire us to set reason aside and let ourselves go. Because a good espresso can warm our hearts, captivate our senses and kindle passion.

This is the story recounted by the 2011 Lavazza Calendar: a surreal, ethereal yet intense journey, one in which the embrace of the aroma of coffee and that of its leading figures are one.

It is a tribute to a universal sentiment that transcends language and culture, one that, in the era of Facebook and virtual relations, still intrigues us and beckons to be rediscovered.

After all, the word “amore” – love – is not really all that different from “aroma”.

Olivia Wilde - Actress and Model How can you not fall in love with Italy? I’ve never met anyone who came to Italy and didn’t fall in love with it. Whether it’s the architecture, the people, or even just the food, there’s no way you can avoid falling in love with this country.

My love for Italy began when I was a child, holidaying in Tuscany with my family. We went to Siena, and I remember looking at the huge piazza and saying: “One day I’ll get married here”.

Like all seven-year old girls, I used to fantasise about getting married in Siena, but instead I got married on an old school bus!

Italy has a very romantic, passionate identity, and Italians value love above everything else. It’s a country with a certain sensuality, even when it comes to food and cooking. In Italy, it’s not just about eating: tasting food is a sensory experience, it’s about enjoying life.

Another reason why I love Italy has to do with the coffee culture. Lots of people think of coffee as something that gets them out of bed in the morning — that’s certainly true for me, I need a coffee to be more reactive. But what I like about Italy is the culture of coffee, the idea that it’s more than just fuel, it’s an indulgence, a sophistication, an old social tradition, a time for sharing ideas. I love sitting down to drink my coffee in the morning, with Tao or also with a group of friends. It’s a moment I enjoy, a way of spending time together.

Tao Ruspoli - Italian Film Director Luckily, I grew up in a family who taught me that love is the most important thing, in life. Love for life, love for other people…

I understood that love was the most important thing in life when I was very little, and that love inspires everything.

Love for Olivia, who’s an incredible woman, she’s someone who can love, she’s really gentle, intelligent, very inspired by her work but also very compassionate. I’m not saying she’s perfect, although she’s the closest thing to my idea of the perfect woman that I’ve ever met!

Even though I work abroad, I have strong roots in Italy. I really feel them, even if I went away very young. But I came back to Italy every summer, to visit my father, who lived here. My family is huge, here, I’ve got many cousins, brothers, sisters, uncles…

I really feel very connected to Italy, because of the story of my family, my roots, which I’m so grateful for.

Love and coffee? I didn’t grow up drinking coffee, but now I drink it every day. Initially, I only drank it in Italy, because that’s where you get the best coffee… with the right amount of coffee I work better, I’m more creative and more focused. http://www.2011.lavazza.com/

The Natural Rug Company The Natural Rug Company - New Online Rug Designer where customers can design their own Crucial Trading bordered rug, price it up online and either order samples, or place the order directly on line. They are offering a 10% discount on all bordered rugs for the month of November! www.thenaturalrugcompany.com

Hot Brands Cool Places taok time out to talk to Selina Miles and Lisa Lee founders of Primrose & Plum

INTERVIEW

Sitting Pretty

1. As a comparatively new business what have been your highlights this year?

Finally launching the site after so long in the planning and receiving an order on Day 1. It’s also been a real boost to have received such a positive response from the press who have already featured lots of our products.

2. You made a decision to operate purely online, what prompted this?

Online retailing is growing at such a rapid rate and with increased confidence from consumers, and the added convenience factor, we see it as the way forward. We wanted to be a part of this exciting growth sourcing beautiful products that can’t be found everywhere else. It was also really important to us not to bite off more than we could chew from the start and it meant that we could control our overheads a lot more by initially starting online.

3. On your website you mention that we all put our personalities into our homes whatever our style, what is your personal style?

Selina – I would say that my style is quite quirky, but feminine. I love a house to feel cosy, inviting and lived in, but not cluttered and messy! Candlelight is a big feature in my house as I love the atmosphere it creates. I love a bargain and take great pleasure in finding treasures from markets, antique fairs and car boot sales. Family is really important and my kitchen is a shrine to my two boys’ bright artwork, certificate and photos, which make my house a real home.

Lisa – My tastes deviate widely and I love to mix old & new, traditional and modern. I’ve lived in several different styles of house and I prefer to be guided by what will suit the house and our way of living at the time. But I do love colour, texture and warmth in my home and for it to feel as though it has evolved rather than styled. Having two boisterous golden retrievers I can’t afford to be too precious about anything so no cream sofas or carpets in my house!

4. As best friends running a business together, what advice do you have for others who may be thinking of working together?

Hand on heart we would both say it’s the best thing we’ve ever done. With the right person it gives you confidence to know that you’ve always got support and somebody to share the highs and lows with. Starting a business can be really tough and there has to be give and take and great communication. You have to be brave enough to be honest about anything and have complete trust in each other. We are very lucky in that our personalities complement one another, but you still need to acknowledge that each of you will have different strengths and play to those.

Selina – when I arrive at the office after doing the school run, there’s often a bowl of porridge or a great bacon sandwich waiting for me, which is always most welcome. Now that’s what I call a business partner!

5. What accessories for the home should we be buying this Autumn?

Typically at this time of year, it’s about making your home more warm & cosy as we all retreat indoors in readiness for the months ahead.

Chunky knitted throws are a great way to add texture along with richly coloured cushions in this seasons key colours of teal and plum.

Whether your taste is for shabby chic or something more contemporary, metallic accents are still really popular this autumn – you don’t need to go overboard, just a few carefully selected cushions or candleholders.

Add a few beautifully scented winter candles and you’re there!

Trends in home accessories are the same as trends in fashion – you can just pick the best and what suits your home.

6. Running your own business can be exhausting, when you get time to relax what are your favourite activities?

Selina – I love to catch up with my friends whenever I can, watch the boys playing football at the weekend, long walks in the country with Woody, my mad cocker spaniel and finding some me time to relax & unwind.

Lisa – chatting with my husband while walking our dogs in the woods close to where we live is a great way to clear the mind. I also love a good book, going to see a film, play or exhibition or simply meeting up with my girlfriends for a glass of wine and a catch up. My real passion though has to be travel, I’ve had the bug for years – so many places to see and so little time but I have a long list to work my way through..

Information about Primrose & Plum At Primrose & Plum, we are continually searching for high quality, beautiful home accessories and gifts which offer something a little different. With the nights already drawing in and Christmas just around the corner, we’ve got lots of lovely things to tempt you and help make your home warm and cosy this Autumn. Our range of soft furnishings includes toasty throws and blankets, luxurious bedspreads and decorative cushions for the bed or sofa, in classic neutrals or cheerful brights. We have a great selection of candleholders, tealights and lanterns to help create a warm and inviting atmosphere, as well as some wonderful finishing touches, ideas for your table and some really useful practical solutions, such as our memo-boards and baskets.

As regular online shoppers ourselves, we understand the things that really matter - like a website that’s clear and easy to use, with informative product descriptions and photography that shows you texture, quality and detail up close so you can make your decision with confidence. As a small independent business, we work really hard on the details that make the difference. We’re a helpful voice at the end of the phone if you’ve got any questions, and if a problem does arise, we’ll do our best to sort it out quickly and without a fuss.

Primrose & Plum are best friends Lisa Lee and Selina Miles, together with our enthusiastic and supportive helpers to whom we are eternally grateful!

We hope you enjoy shopping with us.

Telephone: 01428 643040 www.primroseandplum.co.uk

Balineum The perfect pit-stop for a bathroom make-over, and their range of gorgeous things just keeps growing. Last month Balineum launched their new collection of bathroom countertop accessories and some fabulous baskets and storage solutions. Who knew the place to put your toothpaste or loo rolls could be so stylish. www.balineum.co.uk

REVIEW Romantic Style-Selina Lake & Sara Norrman Synopsis: If you love elegant furniture and soft colours, then you’ll adore Romantic Style. This isn’t a look dictated by trends or the latest styles or materials – it has a timeless quality. Using a mixture of pieces from shops, antiques emporiums and flea markets, Romantic Style gives any room a selfassured, calm and gently feminine feel.

In this book, stylist Selina Lake and writer Sara Norrman show you beautifully decorated real homes.

Warm whites and creams, vintage furniture, lace and embroidery, glassware and decorative china all feature, and while you will find ornate mirrors and antique French armchairs, less is very often more.

The book begins by exploring Romantic Inspirations – Vintage, Romantic, Simple Romantic, Elegant Romantic and Modern Romantic – four very different facets of the Romantic look.

From here, it outlines the key ingredients of any romantic scheme, with advice about colours, flowers and fabrics, collectables and lighting; where to find them and how to style them.

In the second half of the book, take a room-by-room tour of some exquisite Romantic Style homes, with detailed explanations of how to recreate and develop each scheme under your own roof. www.rylandpeters.com/books/bookdetails.php?isbn=9781849750400

Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict This book could have been written just for us; hopelessly romantic, we adore this style, What we love about this book is that clothes and jewellery become part of the interior design, e.g. vintage dresses layered with beads and scarves are on display, a beautiful vesttop is hung against a window allowing the light to shine through. A jewellery box open with its contents spilling out instead of looking untidy becomes an object of decoration.

One of our passions is fresh flowers and this book displays flowers everywhere, it’s one of the quickest pick-me-ups in any room. Debi Treloar’s stunning photography captures the wonderfully romantic mood, and the examples given show whatever your budget, wherever you live, you can start in a very small way to create a Romantic Style. We loved it.

Highly Recommended!

1926 Wood Flooring 1926 Trading are the UK’s leading specialist supplier of engineered and solid wood flooring and doors. They hold large stocks of leading brand floors, these include Kahrs, Barlinek, Panaget and the exclusive Hakwood floors, all available at massively reduced prices. For further information please visit www.1926woodflooring.co.uk

Living with Books Dominique Dupuich and Roland Beaufre

REVIEW

Synopsis: A home filled with books can be a place of inspiration. Far from being simple storage spaces, bookcases, shelves and even entire libraries reveal the personalities and lifestyles of their owners.

Living with Books takes us on a guided tour of the libraries of some passionate readers, discovering how they fit their love of books into their homes and lives. Artists, interior decorators, graphic designers, fashion designers, writers, collectors, journalists and business people: all have different ways of engaging with books as a design challenge, striking a balance between style and practicality, modern trends and classic styling, strict organization and carefree clutter.

The lavish illustrations show how the right combination of shelving, lighting and accessories, can be brought together with a dash of imagination to create a truly unique interior.

Here is a world of inventive ways to showcase books at their best, as objects of beauty and fascination for all.

Among the libraries’ owners are: Philippe Starck Terence Conran Ron Arad Manolo Blahník Paul Smith Gilbert & George Annette Messager Sonia Rykiel Kenzo Pierre & Gilles Roland Beaufre is an internationally renowned photographer. He has contributed to many decorating and art magazines since 1979, such as Décoration Internationale, City Magazine, The World of Interiors, Maison et Jardin, Marie Claire Maison, Glamour, Maison Française and Cosmopolitan. He has also published many books. Dominique Dupuich is a journalist and stylist who has worked for Marie Claire Maison, Glamour and Cosmopolitan. www.thamesandhudson.com Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict Despite living in an age of technology and increasingly paperless offices many of us are still conducting a love affair with books, but are often challenged with how to store them. Living with Books is a beautiful illustration of how using the right combination of shelving, lighting and accessories books can be displayed in creative and imaginative ways.

The authors use a fascinating approach, dividing the book into examples of how the different type of book collector displays them, from the Collectors (Obsessive and discreet) to the Grand Houses (Imposing and Authoritative). Rich with photography, this book illustrates how books can be displayed in every conceivable way from tiny nooks and crannies, to purpose built libraries.

Our book collections often reveal a very personal and intimate insight into our passions, interests, hopes and ambitions. Living with Books is a wonderful collection of ways of displaying our most treasured items. If you love books you will love this collection!

Country Cream Country Cream is the home of country accessories with style. Whether you favour sophisticated soft furnishings with a country flavour or lean more towards the classic country vintage style we are here to advise and help. www.countrycream.co.uk