HOLIDAYS ARE COMING - Showroom fully stocked and ready

THINGS IN MY HOME - NEW FLOOR TILES

So have finally tiled my hallway floor and bathroom floor, been lusting after these tiles for quite a while, I like them because they have a slight victorian vibe to them but also quite modern with their colour ways... my house is slowly filling up with pattern!. Was very nervous about how they would look and they were not cheap at £9 a tile, but I love them. They are from Topps tiles and are called Henley. More pics of the house will follow.

VOILA! - ITS ME

NEW SHOWROOM - OPEN FOR BROWSING SLAITHWAITE

Finally got the electrics finished and we are now open for browsing on Saturdays. Slaithwaite is a beautiful industrial village near Huddersfield, which looks like it has come straight out of Lowry painting. Please get in touch if you would like to visit.

THINGS IN MY HOME - HABITAT PLANTER

Its been a while since I did a post and realise I need to do an up-date.. I have completed on buying my house and this is my first house warming present I bought for myself. Long live Habitat! I say. I was very sad to see it go from the high street but still check out its online store and found this little gem in the sale. It goes perfectly in my room. I loved Habitat for its well designed affordable modern furniture and accessories and am glad to see they still have it! Will post some more updates to the house when I get a mo.


http://www.habitat.co.uk/

DANISH MODERN DESIGN

To quote Wikipedia
"In the postwar years, Danish designers and architects believed that design could be used to improve people's lives. Particular attention was given to creating affordable furniture and household objects that were both functional and elegant. Fruitful cooperation ensued, combining Danish craftmanship with innovative design. Initially the furniture was handmade but, recognizing that their work would sell better if prices were reduced, the designers soon turned to factory production.^"


Danish modern design is not elitism, what we must remember is this...
"creating affordable furniture and household objects that were both functional and elegant."


I personally think this is where it still should be and I still think everyone can still buy affordable, functional and elegant... 


So be it..

RIP - TIM BATES - PIEFF

I was informed the other day that Tim Bates, the main designer, owner of Pieff Furniture, died on 5th Jan 2012. Unfortunately as it seems I was unable to find an obituary for him. Which appears to be the way with many of our unsung design heroes in this country. I have done a previous post on Pieff here.

http://made-good.blogspot.com/2009/09/best-of-british-design-pieff.html

and its history can be found here...

http://www.pieff-furniture.com/about

Pieff was the must have name in high-end British furniture during the 1960’s and 70’s. It described itself at the time as "Luxury furniture of the late 20th Century, characterised by its original design, flowing lines and usual blending of striking materials. Now used loosely to describe any design which is ahead of its time”.
Pieff Furniture was a family run business that operated from the 1960’s until the 1980’s, in Lye, in the West Midlands. Together with his two sons, Tim Bates and his family designed and manufactured some of the most cutting edge, British made, modern pieces. Pieff designs had a touch of Hollywood regency and were made using the most glamorous materials. The trademark offering was furniture crafted from mirrored chrome, Brazilian Rosewood, high quality leather and Pirelli webbing. With a reputation for excellence and seen as fairly exclusive, Pieff Furniture was sold through Harrods, Heals and other high-end furniture stores.
Their collection at the time, was described in their brochure as “The Pieff collection reflects a certain lifestyle. A privileged one we admit. But then, Pieff is very exclusive furniture. A fact which is recognised not just in Britain, but through-out the world. Our designers are as individual as the people who own them. And our originality can be seen in each addition to our collection. Inspired ideas bring together exciting shapes, contrasting materials, textures and tones. The results are classically simple in concept, utterly modern in execution. The designer's imagination is matched only by the craftsman's consummate skill. And to complement both, we ensure that everything that goes into making Pieff furniture is of the finest quality. The touch is unmistakable. Which is why it may surprise you to learn that not everybody is impressed with the Pieff collection. But, of course, not everybody can afford to be."

Slightly out of vogue, for some reason I do not understand at the moment. Pieff furniture was and is a Best of British..
and Tim Bates your furniture will live on for a long time and am sure will be antiques of the future. Rest in Peace.

BEST OF BRITISH AND DANISH DESIGN - FRANCE & SON - DAVERKOSEN

Reading this months Homes and Antiques there was a feature on a James France's home. It transpired that James France was Mr France's son who had set up the business. I tried to contact James to ask him if he would tell his fathers story but am afraid he declined. What we can transpire is that this is a great DANISH AND BRITISH achievement.

France & Son, where one of Denmark's greatest makers of furniture. Originally the company was called France and Daverkosen, after Mr. France moved from the UK to Denmark and met his business partner, cabinet maker Mr. Daverkosen. Later on the company became France and Son as Julian France joined in his fathers footsteps. The company was sold to Poul Cadovious in 1964 and existed under the name CADO.

France and son, made some of Denmarks most enduring furniture by some of Denmark's leading designers and I believe might have been one of Denmark's first to supply Mass Market furniture. What they achieved was that you could have the best designers, best designs and mass produce. It seems to have been set-up in 1950. The first recorded furniture I could find was by Peter Hvidt and Ole Wanscher, they got the big guns rolling straight away, followed by Sigvard Bernadotte, Grete Jalk, Arne Vodder, Edvard Kindt Larsen and Finn Juhl. To name a few. It seems around 1956 the company changed names to France and Son, not sure what happened to Mr Daverkosen. If anyone else has any info on the company would be greatly appreciated.

Most pics from furniture index Denmark