10 Things for June
A round-up of all the things that have caught my eye over the last month or so – from new launches and lighting to rattan and rugs.
First up, a brand that I have loved for a long time. Known for their witty raffia bags with jolly slogans, the Jacksons have now launched a range of homewares made, like their bags, by women in Bangladesh who are given the option to work either at their local community centre or from home, depending on what suits them best. They are also paid directly.
The Jacksons at Home range starts at £38, rising to £300, and includes placemats, napkins, tablecloths and candlesticks. The cotton used is sourced locally to the makers, and hand embroidered. Jute is Jute is biodegradable – and one hectare of jute plants consumes about 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide and releases 11 tonnes of oxygen. The napkin rings are handmade from a silk and paper compound.
For paid subscribers you can receive a 10 per cent discount on the new homeware collection until midnight on 23 June. Scroll to the end of this post for the code.
I came across this Swedish company for the first time a few weeks ago when a friend was selling one as it was too big for her house. I mentioned it to another friend, who immediately said she had wanted one for ages but sadly the rug being sold was the wrong colour. And just like that it was a thing.
The designs are modern and fun and crucially in this increasingly homogenised age, different. I read an interview with a designer the other day whose style was referred to as being impossible to describe and it struck me that perhaps that is something we should all aspire to. Rather than fitting into a neatly labelled box, we might aim to decorate and dress in ways that fit our personality or our mood and not look to tick categories of English country, or urban glamour, or eclectic boho chic, or whatever it is.
I’ve shown two wool rugs here but their jute collection, which starts at £430, is gorgeous and patterned and well worth a look.
MINI MODERNS ITALIANATE LARGE SCALE MURAL
I have known and loved the work of Keith and Mark at Mini Moderns for many years. Check out their paisley wallpaper with charming scenes of suburbia hidden in the traditional pattern. Or their book of mid-century design which includes a Friday night cocktail and playlist among the history and tales of great design. Now the pair are about to launch their first large-scale paper (24 June 2024) – and when I heard it was called Italianate, how could I not share it with you?
The intricate woodcut marquetry style is actually based on the buildings of Portmeirion and has been two decades in the making as they had to wait for technology to catch up with the design they wanted to create. I’ve just finished decorating my house in Italy, but I’m going to have to come up with a spare wall for some of this, I reckon. And on that note I will be writing about how to make a feature wall really work next month, so don’t forget to subscribe and you won’t miss out.
ADELINE SIDE TABLE BY SHARLAND ENGLAND
Rattan is having a moment, with every high street store bringing out its own versions in a range of different qualities and price points. Louise Roe of Sharland England set up her company (named after her Grandmother) to recreate the pieces she grew up with. I adore the wavy edge of this Adeline side table and it’s a piece that could go from sitting room or (wide) hall to bedside table and back again.
Those who were here earlier in the week may have noticed that the sideboard version has been used in the dining room at Wow!house. Now, if you’re reading Louise, what I need is a long, low version that’s open at the back where I can place the TV soundbar so the wires drop down behind, and I can also use it to mask the internet modem, Sky box and DVD player (yes I know I’m the last person in the world to have one of those). And, on the basis that Louise probably isn’t reading this, if anyone has any bright ideas as to where I can find something similar then do let me know. I’ve rather set my heart on something that looks like this. Perhaps I will have to weave it myself.
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