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Forbes Extensive Art Collection Goes on Auction

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:17:56 +0000

The Forbes dynasty, of the informative Forbes Magazine fame, has decided to put much of their exquisite art collection and antique furniture from their Old Battersea House, on auction. The auction, taking place in Edinburgh on 01 November 2011, features an art collection from various period artists such as: Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846) who painted Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; Walter Grieves (1846-1930); and Ramsay Richard Reinagle (1775-1862), amongst many others famously talented artisans.

The Old Battersea House built in 1699 has seen many owners and tenants, but none as famous as the art collecting Forbes family. The property for rent in Battersea was taken on a 99-year lease by Malcolm Forbes who saw the potential in the rundown home and its prime location along the riverside. The house, littered with the Forbes private art collection, also features furniture dating back to the early 1700’s such as a pair of George II Irish Mahogany side chairs, and art pieces such as an early 18^th century style cream-painted and parcel-gilt pier table, amongst much other traditionally antique furniture.

Malcolm Forbes understood the fine art of collecting and clearly passed that trait onto his children, with his sons assisting him in his quest for art. He achieved a wonderful eclectic mix of a modern and fine arts collection with several paintings of Queen Victoria adorning the walls. The art collection features many personal notes from the Queen, as well as the black and white hand-stitched stockings with the royal crest, which Queen Victoria preferred after she went into mourning over the death of Prince Albert. The art collection gives one an insight into Queen Victoria.

The Forbes family has properties all over the world and are well-known for their Forbes Richest List. The Forbes property also features property for sale in Hyde Park, which is rated amongst some of the most sought-after property in London. Clearly their art collection is not their only asset.

Fabric beds: how to accessorise to made the ordinary, fabulous

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:14:19 +0000

The difference between an ordinary plebian bed and an exceptional bed that could grace the covers of home décor magazines is simply how you accessorise it. Think of it like art: your bed is the blank canvas and the fabrics, bed linen and headboards are your pallet of paints. Fabric beds give you the advantage of already supplying you with a colour theme for your linen and accessories and they also add a touch of class and comfort to your bedroom

Choose two colours

Children’s upholstered beds are usually more colourful and ‘funky’, so you can run with the colours on the bed frame to create a cosy and fun atmosphere in your children’s bedroom. Adult fabric beds tend to be offered in a range of muted colours, so you really need to add your own stamp to your fabric bed by accessorising. As a rule of thumb for an adult bedroom, choose two colours and stick with those, any other variety you add should come in the form of patterns and textures.

Stick to one theme
Fabric beds are all about style and simplicity so don’t overdo the accessories, but instead stick to one theme. For example, if your fabric bed frame is a light stone or beige colour, choose another similar earthy tone, such as a darker brown and alternate between the two shades for your blankets, pillows and sofas. As far as using patterns and textures go, you can opt for a soft mohair blanket in brown and a few scatted cushions with beige and brown stripes.

Quick ideas for accessorising fabric beds

Go contemporary

The words ‘contemporary’ and ‘minimalism’ go hand in hand for room décor. Yet, minimalism does not have to be cold and uninviting. Go for a double bed with a metallic colour frame, such as a dark blue or light grey and then choose a complementary and neutral colour, such as green for scatter cushions and throws. All the furniture and fabrics around the bed should be kept to a bare minimum, although a couple of metallic chairs or wire baskets will fit in to the theme nicely.

Go Retro

Buy a leather or fabric bed in a neutral tone and choose one retro pattern and

two bold colours (such as orange and purple) to splash across your bedroom. Just remember, there is a difference between retro as in ‘old fashioned and kitsch’ and retro as in ‘hip and happening’. If you’re unsure of the difference, consult the latest issue of a home décor magazine and not your mother.

Go neutral…with a twist

White has always been a favorite colour for sheets and duvet covers, but it’s all too easy for white linen to make a bedroom feel like a hospital room. There is a simple solution to this: use shades of white and beige for variation. A light beige fabric bed or even a white French bed will do well in a room painted white, as long as you use fabric textures well on your bed. A shaggy, off-white blanket will transform a boring white bed into an inviting bed and a long-haired snow-white rug in the centre of the floor will have a similar effect. You may well feel at this point that your fabric bed is still too beige and that’s when you can introduce one or two splashes of colour to break up the uniformity of the room, such as a couple of bright blue scatter cushions.

Funky deck furniture and décor for an oriental theme

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:04:00 +0000

If you use the right furniture, your patio can become a useful extension of your home in summer and your deck building activities would not have gone to waste. Like any room in your home, your deck has the potential to evoke an atmosphere if you decorate it properly. An oriental theme fits in well outdoors because it is understated and naturalistic and can be accompanied by an oriental rock garden or fountain. You can undertake the Asian design yourself by stenciling flower and bird patterns on existing painted furniture and adding bold reds and blues and silk scatter cushions to your deck furniture. Outdoor Chinese paper lanterns, for instance, are inexpensive and an essential touch for oriental themes and outdoor parties. However, if you decide to go the whole hog, you can buy customised deck furniture with an oriental theme. We’ve chosen some of our favourites which are all available to buy online.

Fish watering can by Global Amici, available on amazon.com

Ornaments and paintings don’t do well outdoors – they stand in the way and get broken and damaged easily by the elements, but how about buying attractive oriental ornaments which complement your deck furniture set and are also useful in your garden? Global Amici sells an oriental fish-shaped watering can which is both decorative and useful for your pot plants. You can even buy a few and place one near each of your large pot plants and the kids will love them.

Peacock Patio umbrella by orientaldécor.com

Every summer deck needs a large outdoor umbrella to protect your furniture and keep you cool. Oriental décor.com does a range of exquisite oriental umbrellas to make you feel like you’ve just stepped onto the stage of Madame Butterfly when you walk onto your deck. You can choose from a selection of understated whites and beiges, or rather opt for bolder colours such as crimson red and royal blue. Our favourite was the peacock umbrella; in China the bird stands for the prosperous Ming Dynasty and is a symbol of beauty, rank and power. You can also complement your outdoor deck furniture with a traditional Japanese shoji screen. The screens have been used in Asia for over a thousand years and were traditionally used for tea ceremonies and outdoor processions.

Luna Outdoor Wicker Daybed by Tansu.net

Even though oriental outdoor furniture can be elaborate and colorful, there is also a large element of simplicity in oriental designs, particular if you have a weakness for Japanese house design. Tansu.net does a range of contemporary wicker furniture which is suitable for patios and pool decks as its poly rattan material is both waterproof and easy to clean.

The wicker daybeds are perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon tea and give a blank canvas for more colourful décor such as scatter pillows and throws for those cooler evenings. Just make sure you store all soft furnishings inside to keep them looking new. Teak is also a good option for attractive deck furniture sets if wicker doesn’t appeal to you.

Cherry Blossom Tung Chi Vase by Vase Showcase

No Asian theme is complete without an oriental vase or two. The advantage of using them outdoors is that you can replace the boring terracotta plant pots your mom gave you with intricately designed oriental vases. However, if you’ve invested in a genuine Ming vase, please keep that indoors instead, preferably in a bullet-proof glass case. Replication vases can be bought cheaply from various online stores and are also useful to support your outdoor party decorations and they match most wooden deck furniture; a good party idea is to put bamboo or wood sticks in the vases and hang fairy lights around them.

And once you’ve completed your oriental design, you will even find Chinese takeout a new experience; grab a blanket and enjoy an oriental picnic in the fading twilight.