Just tidied up my book shelves and found some Pentagram Papers that I was sent when I worked as a homes ed on a magazine. Design company Pentagram has been publishing curious and creative projects in these neat black books since 1975. My favourite of the few I have, is No 32 No Waste.

The focus of the book is upcycling in Cuba, a necessary trend that stemmed from the 90’s when the country entered economic crisis – a time that’s apparently known to locals as the Special Period. Now that we’re experiencing our own Special Period, the images of cobbled-together designs made out of household items chimed. Here are some home made toys using shampoo, ink and glue containers…

some party horns made from drinks cans…

and, my favourite, a taxi sign made from a plastic bottle…

Kind of humbling to see such an honest take on recycling.

The project is by Laboratorio de Creacion Maldeojo, a creative cooperative based in Havana.

Velvet, new colour clash, the usual

Three things I thought when I saw this image on Ochre’s website… 1. I’ve got a green wall like that. 2. I like the way that green wall works with deep pink, tomato red and dusky pink velvet. 3. I should really get my Nan Chairs upholstered. Project time? PS Did you know that Ochre, […]

Ensour

Ellen and Portia installed 18 bathrooms in their house so they didn’t have to have one.* Jenny Eclair dubbed it ‘the passion killer’. Yes, today’s post is about the ensuite bathroom. Here’s mine. Aren’t I lucky to have one? Maybe not, and here’s why. If you live with someone you love right down to their assortment […]

Spring look

I’ve never seen this picture of the wallpaper designer Florence Broadhurst before, but it’s going on my fridge. That’s the place where I keep a record of looks to adopt in the future. I’ve also just recently seen that Kate Spade is the latest to design using Broadhurst’s extraordinary prints, putting the  ever-lovely Japanese Floral […]

The Selby and Observer want your place

Do you, like the mysterious mask-wearing man below, think you might have a beautiful, interesting home? Say, with a collection of groovy stools lying around… …or a horse in your living room? Then you need to contact the Observer Magazine. Launching what sounds like an exciting new column with Todd Selby about hipster homes in […]