It’s rare these days that I come across a product which makes me want to reconfigure my home !!   In the case of  Young & Battaglia I liked their Stone Angels wallpaper so much that I immediately found their web-site and . . . guess what  - it seems that ALL of their designs are brilliant.

Trompe-l’œil wallpaper has been a popular trend in recent years – but it’s a difficult design trick to pull off. For me,  simplicity is the key to success, and here, Young & Battaglia really excel. They opt  for  simple white themes, combined with historical patination. Not shabby chic – but something much more versatile and potentially long-lasting.

Stone Angels

Cast Iron 

Brendan Young and Vanessa Battaglia (who are also the team behind Studiomold and Mineheart) launched in 2010. Their designs can be purchased directly or via the uber-popular Rockett St.George.  Expect to see A LOT of these guys products in the coming months . . .

White Bookshelf

It’s a trick that is often employed by interior photographers – to take the products ‘outside’. Nothing wildly new there. But the trick is to do it well and even with an element of mystery.

Since 2005, conceptual artist Rune Guneriussen has been working on site specific projects in Norway that combine installation and photography. Most of his installations are not seen by an audience, only photographed.

Inspiring stuff.

Saw this beautiful piece on Atticus and Finch - a great design blog by super talented stylist Emily Blunden.

Just a great example of what you can achieve with minimal budget but a great imagination. Congratulations Angela and Ithyle who shot this beautiful film.

. . .  ”Also available in white”.

“I wish my missus was . . .  ”  etc. etc.

It never ceases to amaze me that people still write these same old ‘witticisms’ in the dust on dirty cars and vans around town. They must be some of the most repeated and least funny jokes there are.

So –  It’s a cold  &  grey monday morning.  You’re walking on your way to work and you suddenly pass a car or van with these pictures drawn in the grime and dirt or their rear windscreen.

I would defy anyone not to break into a smile and take a second look.

Love it.

Welcome  Mr.  Bond  . . . Bevan.

Come on. What guy hasn’t at some stage wanted to feel just a little bit ‘James Bond’?

I was enjoying an early evening walk with my camera  around the beautiful greek town of Nafplion when I stumbled into my very own (sort of)  Bond film.

A quiet path led me away out of the town until arriving at a strange opening in a cliff that over-looks the harbour. I stepped inside, curious to see what, if anything, was there.

Incredibly this long modernist interior stretched out ahead, leading up to a set of mysterious elevator doors. I nosily stepped inside one of them and pressed the only button that I could see  (with no clue as to where it would end up).  ’Q's’  headquarters ?  Blofeld’s  secret lair ?

Turns out this is the ‘quiet’ entrance to the casino at the town’s Grand Hotel, built in the ruins of  the 3rd Century BC Akronafplia fortress. An incredible place certainly worthy of a martini  . . .  shaken . . .  not  etc. etc.

I was politely and immediately asked to leave.

I recently came across these fascinating images of busted superstars (thank you Chase Jarvis.) His question was whether a ‘Mug shot’ is to be considered valid as a ‘Work of Art?’

Personally – I think if an image grabs your attention, makes you think and is held in your memory – then half the battle’s already won. In the case of these exquisite shots – I can easily imagine them hanging on a gallery wall.