Get thee on down to Rochester, Kent for the spring sweeps festival!!

Nicky and I did…..and it was a TON of fun.

When Nicky takes me to the premier of the new Burton movie ‘Dark Shadows’…

And though I’m not carrying a camera, I DO manage to get as close as I probably ever will to my beloved….. (yes I’m talking Johnny)

Not sure WHY we look so grumpy – perhaps its the rain…cuz there’s nothing I love more than Tim Burton, aaaaand Johnny Depp.

NOT to mention Mr Richard Zanuck who I finally meet with a thrill….legendary director in his own right BUT, shining son of that uber inspirer Darryl Zanuck whose film’s I still watch ipad in hand ready to capture long forgotten footage of decorative arts genius.

Not a ton of interior inspiration to be had in this particular film though Nicky and I were inspired by the very spectacular castle floor which Burton assured us does exist ‘in the real’ (as opposed to reel).  Never mind – really I’m just posting this cuz its got Johnny Depp in it.

I finally make it to Fenton  House, a really charming 17^th century Hampsted merchant house.  One of John Fowlers last works for the National Trust.   Many Fowler moments, archetypal and otherwise but my personal highlight are these sitting room curtains.

‘So charming!’ I exclaimed, to which the very grand room steward replied ‘…well IIIIII think they’re dreadful and all those little frilly bits keep falling off….’

Grrrrrrrrrr.

Well, Fowler’s ‘ladies panty’ curtains are not for everyone but I thought it was the sweetest thing in the world that he punched holes in the ruffled edges for a sort of homemade broderie anglaise effect.  Times were hard, budgets were tight but Fowler always found ways and means with charm and whit to boot.

Rather an au courant approach don’t you think?

Spring has hit early…and my penchant for stripes is in overdrive…worse than usual.

It’s cropping up in spades already…with a bit of restraint on the runway…

and of course all I can think about is how I can get MORE into my life…

and that’s STILL not enough, and I’m thinking about those charming houses in Costa Nova Portugal….I want an entirely stripped house!

And then I receive a mailer in the post from Loch Gallery and their Barry McCarthy exhibition featuring this painting of a lighthouse and I think ‘BINGO’! That’s the one…two massive red stripes.  Wouldn’t it just be divine…

Our fabric…NH Design’s ‘After All’ in Pomogranate Red.

Launching next week at ‘Legends of La Cienega’ in Claremont Furnishing Fabrics Co Inc in Los Angeles next week!! More details to follow.

Let’s get the party started.  Should you find yourself in Toronto needing a taxi…do call Beck Taxi…and ask for this driver!!  The one with the built in disco ball!! Justin Bieber’s got nothing on him with his chromed Fisker Karma.