This is more of a trend than a design inspiration but I wanted to share it as it ticks all the boxes: local, independent, useful and entrepreneurial. Hubbub is a new service offering supermarket style delivery (online, at a certain time and multiple product) but from independent food shops . At the moment it is […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
Urban growing idea
Saw this on www.lifeonthebalcony.com for those with limited outdoor space. All the instructions are on the site and it looks so fresh. A great way to plant pre-sown annual herbs or flowers. Thanks to My Urban Garden Deco for alerting me to this!
Ms Wanda’s Wardrobe for more sustainable fashion options
Last Friday I went along to the launch party for Ms Wanda’s Wardrobe, a new company started by Esther Freeman. It began from the dilemma of loving fashion but not wanting to add to the one point something billion tonnes of textiles put into landfill every year. Her idea is to promote pre-loved, vintage and […]
Hackney Wick project
I read about this yesterday in Blueprint magazine and wanted to spread the news. The team behind the wonderful Cineroleum outdoor cinema last summer is working on a new project, this time under the 6 lane highway at Hackney Wick in East London. For those who don’t know, Hackney Wick is something of an urban […]
Trends in surface design
When we talk surface design , most people think of wallpaper. Well there is so much more to it than that. At the Surface Design Show in London a wide range including stone, wood, ceramic, leather and glass were on display in addition to the expected fabric and paper. Giles Miller’s corrugated cardboard relief pieces showed an interesting […]
The Vintage Furniture Flea on Sunday 27th March
Isn’t it typical? This is one I can’t get to but that’s why I’m telling you about it. I love having a rummage around retro and pre-loved furniture and accessories, all ripe for the picking and here it is all in one place. Not only that but they also have live music and lovely teas […]
Watteau drawings at the Royal Academy
Some people find Watteau’s paintings a little sugary; I can sympathise with that but strongly recommend this exhibition of his drawings which reveals more depth. I was amazed at how small some of them were with such precision and lightness of touch. His use of only 3 colours: red, black and white might seem restrictive […]
Yohji Yamamoto at the V & A in London
I used to think that fashion was a bit over-rated and still can’t buy in to the frenzy surrounding some aspects but…you know some things are simply beautiful and uplifting. Future Beauty at the Barbican last year (I can’t believe I didn’t report on that one – I have the pictures too!) was stunning as […]
Visiting the Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane
Yes, London is seeing a veritable rash of luxury hotel openings and relaunches: we had the Savoy last autumn then the Four Seasons and the new W in Leicester Square (already up for sale). Later this year the much anticipated St Pancras Hotel will finally re-open. I already love the interior of the Searcy’s restaurant […]
Domestic compost bins in India
I saw these compost bins whilst staying with a friend in Bangalore. They have been designed by Poonam Kasturi in order to reduce domestic food waste, a large component of landfill. The NGO is called Daily Dump www.dailydump.org (remember this is Indian english!) I love the fact that they can just sit outside the house […]