Contemporary Home Accessories Blog

Living Art

Filed under: Unusual Gifts — admin @ 8:38 am on the July 19, 2010

When most of us have finished decorating a particular room we often stand back and admire the work and effort that was put into it. The way that all the pieces run together, the contrasting colours, the smooth running lines of the furniture and the way that every piece in the room seems to compliment each other. It’s only then that you notice that there is a particular space on one of the main walls, a place where you could show off something really special.

People have often tried to find that ’special’ piece for their rooms, often looking through antique showrooms, attending auctions sites and even visiting galleries miles from their homes.

We at Du Veldt Interiors understand that people like to have that special piece, so we have traveled the world and found some of the best unique contemporary art, so that people can have that special piece displayed in their room.


Crocodile Bathroom

Filed under: Design Ideas — june @ 11:49 am on the July 17, 2010

Taking inspiration from bathroom in a great hotel we recently stayed in Washington DC, we decided to give our bathroom a new look. For such a small room, there’s a lot to consider! I spend hours if not days on the net deciding on taps, the range of designs when you start to dig around, particularly in Italy are amazing. From taps that make the water run red when hot and blue when cold to probably the most bizarre, a tap that has face recognition and allows you to access your emails! I know folks love to have email access anywhere these days but is the bath really necessary?

I wanted wallpaper with a crocodile textured effect, and found a gorgeous range called the Onyx collection from Osborne & Little. Natural textured surfaces, stones, minerals and seams of precious metals interpreted in high quality contemporary colourings. I finally got my crocodile in the bathroom with the Caiman wallpaper which looks just like the soft underbelly of a croc, perfect!

Remember when choosing patterned wallpaper for a small room, go for a small pattern in a light colour to avoid the walls closing in.

TravertinoCaimanZebrano


From Egg Coop to Egg Cup

Filed under: Unusual Gifts — admin @ 11:58 am on the July 7, 2010

wooden-egg-cabinetHow many times have we been invited to attend a house warming party just to find that the present we hand over is nestled down beside identical gifts and the host just looks at you with that “wry” smile saying “thanks”. Suddenly, your experiencing one of those awkward moments which can turn embarrassing very quickly. What do you say? How do you react? And more importantly how can you avoid this happening again?

Unfortunately, embarrassing moments are always going to happen, however you can minimise the risk if you think outside the ‘box’, avoid buying gifts such as toasters, kettles, pans and soft furnishings – you can also be bold and ask the host what they would like to receive as a gift but don’t count on getting a definite reply.

We at Du Veldt Interiors pride ourselves in thinking outside the ‘box’ and have came up with a selection of unusual home accessories and fabulous gifts for either yourself or for someone else. One of the best products is our Wooden Egg Cabinet which can hold up to 12 eggs. This unusual gift will sit nicely in anyone’s kitchen and will be a conversation starter from the moment you hand it over.


What rocks your inner artist?

Filed under: Art — june @ 4:46 pm on the July 4, 2010
Doug Jeck (Photo by Noel Allum)

Doug Jeck (Photo by Noel Allum)

Art is open to everyone, and we all have creative ability and we all have different styles and tastes, but what exactly makes great art?

I believe a good piece of art, in any form of media, is something that provokes a reaction. That reaction might be a pause to look at the piece, a smile, a feeling of disgust, curiosity, outrage or amusement. You may decide you like it, or dislike it or perhaps feel indifferent to it. Art, like music can also bring back memories and feelings from the past. If it catches your attention, and makes you feel or think something, then it’s got to be great.

I love artwork that is thought provoking, and like these pieces, makes me wonder what is going on the mind of the artist while creating them. Imagination is a wonderful thing, and as children our imaginations are allowed to run wild and unharnessed, but as we grow up we live at such a fast pace, that our busy lives allow no time for daydreaming.

Tania Babb, renowned, award winning South African sculptress is famous for her contemporary fat ladies, exuding energy, character and quirky fun. Tania’s creative talents have seen her work in high demand around the world, celebrity fans of her work include Ruby Wax and Victoria Spencer. See our range of Tania’s work.

Dana Groemminger (Photo by artist)

Dana Groemminger (Photo by artist)

Tania Babb

Tania Babb


Creating the Right Atmosphere

Filed under: Candles — admin @ 2:30 pm on the July 1, 2010

dining-room-ambienceDue to recent financial restraints, some residents are now opting to ditch the traditional Friday and Saturday night visit to their local pub and club and are preferring to host either dinner parties, cheese and wine parties or even just a few drinks in the garden, with some friends. Hosting parties in your own home can have you running around making sure that everything is just perfect, after all you don’t want anyone talking about you. Now, do you?

There are several options which can be undertaken to make your guests feel more relaxed in your home without topping them full of drink (although, this should always remain Plan B, just in case). Get the party started by creating the right ambiance, to help your guests sit back, relax and enjoy themselves.

This can often be created by use of the correct lighting and aroma. Be careful surrounding the fragrance of the selected room – you don’t wish your guests to be overpowered by some plug-in air freshener – scooting wildly each time someone passes – which can leave a horrible taste in your mouth and have them choking and you dying before the evening gets started.
(more…)


Finishing Touches

Filed under: Mirrors — admin @ 1:09 pm on the June 22, 2010

When it comes to redecorating rooms in our homes most of us like to think that we contain a little bit of the ‘interior decorator’ within. This is great when it comes to choosing the simple items like the carpets and even the wall coverings as many have an idea the colour scheme and even the carpet type. However, problems arise when people start to refurbish the smaller rooms in their homes.

With this problem many larger pieces of furniture have to be chosen carefully as they can be very overpowering making your room seem even smaller than it may be. Although, all is not lost. There are several ways you can deceive your eyes and make your room appear much larger than its actual physical size.

Stay away from dark colours as this will ‘draw your eyes in’ again making the room look smaller, one of the best ways into deceiving your eyes is the use of mirrors, these are the ultimate in home accessories for making any room seem larger. If you wish to impress your friends with your decorating skills then some of the best mirrors available are:


Hosting Lasting Memories

Filed under: Articles — admin @ 8:56 am on the May 28, 2010

hosting-dinner-partiesThere are many situations in life that can stay with you forever. These can include moments such as your first kiss, death of your favourite pet, your 21st Birthday bash, your wedding day or even a memorable dinner party. And as you walk through life you’ll come across certain sounds, smells and tastes, that will bring those memories flooding back no matter if they’re good or bad.

Over the last few years there has been massive up-turn in the amount of people willing to host dinner parties in order to show off their hosting and more importantly their culinary skills. This can be put down to the popularity of the cookery shows such as Saturday Kitchen and ‘Come Dine With Me’.

Hosting a dinner party is not a new concept, in fact people have being hosting them for a good few millennia in nearly every part of the world. If you decide that your going to join the millions of host and hostesses around the world and wish to have your own dinner party remembered for all the right reasons, then consider that it is not just your cooking that is on show.

Whether it’s friends, neighbours or work colleagues you invite round, people will subconsciously judge you from the minute they walk through your front door. From the scent emitted from your candles to the table cover and even the patterned themed dinnerware that your food is served on. If this is all done right, and it does all comes together, then the scent, smell, taste and company will be remembered for years to come.


Come And Dine With Us

Filed under: Articles — admin @ 8:52 am on the May 14, 2010

For decades now the people of Britain have been subjected to a barrage of TV programs from celebrity chefs telling/showing us how to cook, fry and poach food from around the world. Although there are only so many ways you can cook pasta, seafood and pork before it starts to get a bit boring.

Sensing this mood of the people the TV Execs changed the formats of cooking programs and began focussing more on cooking methods and once again we were hooked as we watched some Chef cook fish in a banana leaf on some far flung sunny island.

Then we tired of it all, once again.

So, cooking programs underwent another transformation. This time the onus was on competition. Piting chef against chef, cook against cook, celebrity against celebrity. And we loved it.

Without doubt, one of the “best” cooking programs on TV today is this gem called ‘Come Dine With Me’. Aired on Channel 4 this program focuses on a party of ordinary people, all strangers, who each have to host a dinner party and then get scored on their culinary and hosting skills.

Such is the success, that weekend “Come Dine With Me” parties happen all over the country and people use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to host their own experience.

If your planning a dinner party and you are not worried about your culinary skills, but your table ware leaves a bit to be desired then why not leave a lasting impression with some oustanding African Dinnerware..

elephant-oval-serving-platesafari-breakfast-cup-saucerzebra-square-salad-bowlelephant-square-salad-bowl


Africa Awakes!

Filed under: Exhibitions — admin @ 2:30 pm on the May 12, 2010

What comes to mind when you think of Africa?

Poverty, starvation, disease, AIDS, corruption, dictatorship, civil wars… such are the images that hace defined our perception of one of the greatest continents on Earth. In the developed world, we are tired of hearing about such a self destructive part of the world. All too often, if we are not overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness, our thoughts turn to the nature reserves and game parks, possibly the continent’s rich reserves in natural resources. Neither of these images is worthy of Africa.

turkana-girlAfrica Awakes
brings together the power and sheer scale of Africa as well as the energy and fire of the ancient and the new. Africa is 53 countries, 20% of the world’s land, 800 million people, the oldest continent on Earth, the cradle of mankind where we took our first steps. Africa Awakes is a series of photographic exhibitions which portrays the profound distortions that exist that exist in today in Africa and brings to the forefront the reality of life in Africa through the eyes of the people, through their customs. It is raw and compelling, highlighting the challenges and the contradictions facing Africa as well as the confrontation between tradition and contemporary.

Africa Awakes is a series of exhibition created to support the work of two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and NWI

ICROSS is an International organisation working to combat poverty and disease in some of the poorest countries on Earth. For 30 years ICROSS has worked with communities in Africa and Asia fighting disease and extreme poverty. Health professionals work with local communities in long term development and health programmes. We have now created New World International (NWI) to bring together professionals from every creative and artistic background in channeling their skills aand energies to fight suffering and misery throughout the world. A collaboration of artists and a consortium of professionals fro every walk of life are working together to change the world. With yor help they can do so much more. ICROSS is a registered as a charity in Ireland, Canada, USA, Kenya, and Tanzania.

How can you help?

We have been fortunate enough to visit a photographic exhibition in Paris of talented Italian Photographer, Manuel Scrima, (www.manuelscrima.com) who’s work portrays a heart warming and exciting snapshot of Kenyan people. His photographs capture and fuse the vitality, culture and essence of colour that is the huge melting pot of Africa. You can taste the personalities of the people portrayed in a way I only thought possible if you were face to face with them , these images are profound and bursting with warm vitality.

Africa Awakes is a series of exhibitions created in December 2007 by Manuel Scrima, an Italian photographer and today newly appointed manager of Create Africa, to support the work of two African non-governmental organisations (NGOs): ICROSS (International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering) and NWI (New World International).

You can buy images, and calendars on www.africa-awakes.com

You can donate money online on www.nwikenya.com

riverbed-turkana-landhome-lifered-powderwhite-powder


Buying into South African Design

Filed under: Design Ideas — admin @ 2:09 pm on the

metal-peopleIt’s a very exciting time for the South African Design community across the spectrum of architecture, interiors and the arts. No longer seen as the next big thing, the eyes of the design world are asking ‘What will South Africa do next?’

Some of the world’s most beautiful, award winning homes are located in South Africa. With interior design high on the agenda, contemporary home accessories are the unique and special items that make up the finer details of a room. Restyling a room on a budget? Accessorise with focus on one or two key pieces that will bring you years of pleasure.

A great example of South Africa’s creative talents are our range of handmade decorative mirrors by designer Sue Jowell. We have two design themes, animals and people. Each mirror is uniquely designed and handmade using copper, brass and aluminium, which reflects light very well and enhances a dark or boldly coloured wall.

Any celebrity fans of South African design?

Trevyn McGowan, a leading agent for international retailers remarks “There is an extraordinary appreciation and interest in South African design from leading trendsetters around the world, including Terence Conran, Li Edelkoort, and Jamie Oliver. We have a long list of famous names who buy our products, with the new resident of the White House topping the list!”

Interested in buying into South African Design?
Check out our range of decorative mirrors

abstract-ellie


« Newer PostsOlder Posts »