Colour Blocking Brights: Bryon Restaurant

I've written about my love of Byron's restaurant designs on the blog before (here and here) so it's a pleasure to be featuring their Charing Cross, London branch today. I've enjoy many a burger here (probably one too many!) and I always admire the interior. In fact, when I saw the colourful circus-style lettering above the entrance before I stepped inside for the first time, I knew I would love the design - it's practically textbook Bright.Bazaar style! Things don't change once inside, as the weathered herringbone floor is juxtaposed with high gloss subway tiles in an array of hues from candy brights to soft sorbet and deep navy hues. What I love about restaurants is their ability to push the boundaries with their design. At home you wouldn't want a room that completely replicated a restaurant look, rather you can take inspiration from parts of the scheme to introduce back at home. This space inspired me to create a colour scheme of pink and yellow for my home office. The colourful pairing is upbeat and energising, which is perfect for keeping me engaged as I work. What's inspiring you about this colourful space, friends?
// Interior design by Michaelis Boyd Associates

Store Tour: Folklore, London

There's been a lot of buzz about Folklore - a new London store that opened in the past few months - so a couple of weeks ago Mr. Bazaar grabbed his camera and hot-footed it to Upper Street, Islington to see inside the store for himself! Inside, the shop feels welcoming and cosy thanks to stacks of layers and rustic textures; it feels like the perfect store for the autumnal season with lashings of warm wood and piles of cosy linens. I admired the subtle way owners, Danielle Reid and her husband Rob, had worked colour into the relatively calm and pared-back palette. Yet throughout the space there are flashes of neon hues mixed with opulent gold and rich noir finishes, which add depth and visual interest. Folklore work with a range of designers and makers to curate their environmentally friendly product assortment. In fact, all the products are either handmade, antique, made from recycled or found materials or easily recyclable at the end of their life. It's refreshing to see a store embrace this ethos in such a transparent (and stylish!) manner. You should drop into the shop in person as the friendly shop assistants are more than happy to explain the provenance and story behind each product. And if you're not in London, they ship internationally from their online store, too! Anything catching your eye?
// Photography by Will Taylor

Store Tour: The Conran Shop, London

Regular readers here at Bright.Bazaar will know how I take great inspiration from well executed retail displays and visual merchandising. Well, one store that rarely disappoints with their creativity in this arena is The Conran Shop in London. Led by Betsy Smith, the Visual Team have created a Techno Beach scheme for their summer windows. To be frank, it's pretty much a Bright.Bazaar dream: bold, preppy hues, graphic stripes, delicate textiles, strung cafe lights and rustic vintage touches. Yes, I pretty much moved myself in. (As you can see above, I was caught in the act!) For me, a retail experience that lets you fully immerse yourself in the product is already half way to getting the customer to the checkout. OK, so with a shopaholic like me it's perhaps a little easier but I still think this largely rings true. If you find yourself in London, slip on your flip flops and take a wonder through this delightful Techno Beach. Which details stand out for you, folks?
// Photography by Will Taylor & The Conran Shop

Store Tour: Jamie Oliver's Industrial Italian

I've long been a fan of Jamie Oliver's relaxed approach to cooking; his kitchen ideology sort of matches up with the way I like to decorate - have fun with it and express the things and people you love through your decor choices. Well, as the Olympics are due to kick off this evening here in London I thought it would be fitting to give you all a tour of Jamie's new restaurant, Jamie's Italian, which is located right next to the Olympic Park. The interior was designed by Blacksheep and they've worked stacks of decorating features into the industrial space that are perfect for introducing back at home. If you have an open plan kitchen-dining area, why not zone the dining area with a chequerboard tiled flooring? Or, if you can't change the flooring, you could use subway tiles or wood panelling on the walls for a rustic-industrial look. One of the main things to do when decorating industrially like this is to work some warmth into the scheme, otherwise it can feel cold and overly harsh. At home you could do this with some tactile linens or textiles - soft drapes over the windows, or a linen covered cushion pad along a bench by the table. It's a good idea to work an accent colour into the space, too. Here, exposed wooden beams and patterned tiling have been anchored by a strong burnt orange hue. Are there any elements you would work into your home?
// Photography by Gareth Gardner | Interior design by Blacksheep

Store Tour: Mariska Meijers Amsterdam

Mariska Meijers, a creative tour-de-force based in Amsterdam, has recently opened her premier bricks and mortar store in the city and it's just as colourful and vibrant as her established online store. Located just between the Jordaan’s 9 Straatjes (9 Streets) and the Bloemenmarkt (or Flower Market), the creative aesthetic of artist and designer Mariska Meijers is a perfect fit for the area as it matches the eclectic attitude of the 9 Streets, and the colourful floral theme of the market. Be sure to stop by and shop Mariska’s original designs across a mix of home accessories and furniture, all complimented by an ever-evolving collection of art, antiques and vintage furniture. The traditional delft blue of Amsterdam had just gained another punch of hot pink and I for one am all the happier for it! What do you like about Mariska's store?
// Photography Marjo van Rooyen | Styling Ann Christine Hartman

Store Tour: Kerbisher & Malt, London

Replicate It items: Chair | Pendant | Type stickers
I've driven past this Fish & Chip restaurant in West London a few times, always thinking to myself how awesome the interior looked from the street. Last night I was browsing the entries for the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards and I as soon as I happened upon the entry for Kerbisher & Malt I knew it looked familiar. Designed by Alexander Waterworth Interiors, the space has a utilitarian and industrial feel to it. This atmosphere is created by the wall of subway tiles, fisherman lanterns and Tolix stools. My favourite detail is the typographical menu created with wall stickers on the wall of subway tiles. The blue exterior is pretty rockin' as well. What do you like about this space?
// Restaurant and Bar Design Awards | Alexander Waterworth Interiors

Store Tour: Future & Found, London

Future & Found has had an online presence for a while, selling a range of new and vintage pieces in their online shop. Recently, however, owner Andrea Bates made the leap to the physical world by opening the brand's first bricks and mortar location. Situated in Tufnell Park, North London the store is an extension of the online homeware offering. From the moment you step inside Andrea's store you can see her vision for the classics of tomorrow (Nikki McWilliam's biscuit cushions one of many examples) and a passion for what's been before. Inside the store feels light and airy, with occasional neon orange flashes dotted amongst the merchandise. Old chairs adorn the walls; handprinted cushions sit proudly upon them. A central table houses vintage typewriters and graphic paper supplies (tempting? you bet!), while a gallery area flanks the righthand side of the store - check out the limited edition screen prints from Gail Bryson! Be sure to drop in if you're in London, otherwise you can shop Future & Found online.
// Photography by Will Taylor