Scrapwood wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek

I've been a fan of Piet Hein Eek's work since I spotted his designs in Elle Decoration a couple of years ago. I really admire the fact that someone can actually create something so beautiful out of reclaimed wood (like this headboard made by House Tweaking) or this Pallet chair by Studiomama which one day I'm hoping to make for our Summer house.
Piet Hein Eek's designs are unique and merge artisan handcraft with skilled design but I also feel (and that's me believing in good karma) that this whole approach to a more eco-friendly design, his commitment to use reclaimed wood and his handcraft can only have a positive impact on our lives, our homes and the world of design in general.
So I can't tell you how happy I am to have his amazing and unique collection of Scrapwood wallpaper on BODIE and FOU.
The Scrapwood wallpaper by Piet Hein Eek has the warm, rustic feel that real wood brings to a room. Like the Bookshelf wallpaper, this is the kind of wallpaper design that is simply perfect to create a feature wall and this one has an industrial vibe that I love very much.
Think about this Dutch home and more specifically their kitchen (which is my inspiration for our kitchen in London) and how great just one wall would look with low-level kitchen units, the other walls painted in white, maybe a couple of floating shelves from Ikea to display handmade ceramics....
With just one roll, you can easily cover up to 4 sqm which should be enough to re-invent a corner of your home, an office space, kitchen, a beach house or a kids bedroom like the photo below.

Scrapwood wallpapaper at BODIE and FOU

Je suis fan du travail de Piet Hein Eek depuis que j'ai vu ses designs dans un numero de Elle Decoration il y a a peu pres deux ans. J'admire vraiment le fait que quelqu'un puisse creer quelque chose d'aussi beau a partir de bois de recup' (comme cette tete de lit realisee par House Tweaking) ou cette chaise faite a partir de bois de palettes de Studiomama que j'espere arriver a faire un jour pour notre maison de vacances.

Les designs de Piet Hein Eek sont uniques et ont ce doux melange d'artisanat et design de pointe mais j'ai aussi l'impression (et ca c'est moi qui croit au karma positif) que son approche du design, son engagement a n'utiliser que du bois de recup', son talent a creer quelque chose des ses mains ne peuvent avoir q'un impact positif sur nos vies, nos maisons et le design en general.
Du coup, vous imaginez a quel point, je suis super excitee d'avoir sa collection de papier peint Bois de recup' sur BODIE and FOU.
Le papier peint Bois de Recup de Piet Hein Eek a le meme charme rustique et chaleureux que le vrai bois apporte a une piece. Comme le Bookshelf wallpaper, c'est aussi un papier-peint qui est simplement parfait pour creer un impact visuel (feature wall...je ne sais pas comment le traduire) et celui-ci a un petit cote industriel que j'affectionne particulierement.
Prenez cette maison en Hollande et plus particulierement leur cuisine (qui est mon inspiration pour notre cuisine a Londres) et imaginez a quel point ce papier peint aurait l'air parfait juste sur un mur, avec des unites de cuisine basses, les autres murs peints en blanc, quelques etageres flotantes de chez Ikea pour mettre en valeur quelques ceramiques...
Avec juste un rouleau, vous couvrez jusqu'a 4 m2, ce qui suffisant pour refaire un bureau a la maison, un mur de cuisine, une maison de vacances ou meme une chambre d'enfant.

Psssttt: Until 05/03/2011, you can also win one roll on my friend's fabulous blog Vosges Paris

White bookshelf wallpaper by Y & B

Last September, we launched the 'ridiculously fab' Bookshelf wallpaper by Y & B and you can see here how you can transform a plain room into something amazing and striking! In the US, Nema workshop also revamped an Espresso cafe in Manhattan. The launch of the Bookshelf wallpaper has been a major success and on the back of it, Y & B have now decided to launch a white version that I love! While the colour printed one gives an Old England feel to a room, the white version has a Maison Martin Margiela vibe that I love very much!
The white Bookshelf wallpaper will be available mid-January 2011 from BODIE and FOU

En Septembre dernier, nous avons lance le 'ridiculeusement fabuleux' papier-peint Bookshelf par Y & B et vous pouvez voir ici comment transformer une piece sans attrait en une piece avec plein de charactere ! Aux Etats-Unis, Nema workshop avait revampe un cafe Espresso dans Manhattan. Le lancement du papier peint Bookshelf a rencontre un grand succes et du coup Y & B font maintenant lancer ce papier-peint genial dans une version tout en blanc que j'adore! Alors que celui en couleur donnait un look 'Vieil Angleterre' a une piece, la version en blanc a un cote Maison Martin Margiela que j'aime vraiment beaucoup!
Le paper-peint Bookshelf en blanc sera disponible a partir de mi-Janvier 2011 sur BODIE and FOU

Expresso Cafe in Manhattan

As per the title of this blog, stating the obvious, this is the interior of the Expresso Cafe in Manhattan designed by Nema Workshop, a team of architects & designers who specialize in creating conceptually innovative spaces and this one, like or not, has a wow factor!

And if you fancy doing this at home...you know...turns a normal room sideways and almost feel like in Inception with Leonardo, you can use the new Bookshelf wallpaper by Y & B.

Available where?? I hear you saying... Chez nous here!

Via Fubiz

Chalk or wallpaper - Which version do you prefer?

The chalkboard version or the wallpaper version?
Since seeing these gorgeous grey bedrooms, I'm tempted to vote for the chalkboard version. I love how the range of grey hues (the cupboard, the chair, the concrete floor) on this image come together...I also think, given my recent posts, that I'm going through a gray phase...
However, the practical side of me thinks that it may be quite messy to do at home compared to the wallpaper version by Lisa Bengtsson which makes a great feature wall and is slightly more flexible. What do you think?

Top image via James Dwyer, bottom image from BODIE and FOU

Delicioulsy retro C60 wallpaper now at BODIE and FOU

Have you seen the new C60 wallpaper we added to the site on Friday?? It's one of the new designs by Mini Moderns. I love it because it features hand-drawn cassettes...yes cassettes...Do you remember when we were recording music on cassettes to listen to them on our Walkman!?
My Dad used to record radio programs on cassettes and he made some great compil's...
When I think about Mila, 5 years old who already knows how to skype her cousin in Paris, watches movies on our Mac and knew how to use the touch-pad mouse of the computer instinctively, I think I may have a bit of a difficult time to explain to her that her mum (errm...old) used to listen to music on cassettes when she was young :-)

But I really love the retro appeal of this wallpaper. The C60 wallpaper is available in white and in chalkboard/gold and the great thing about the white version is that you can customize it or get the kids to do it and make it very personal and at £38 a roll, I think it's a great way to create a feature wall in a small room.

Ridiculously fab Bookshelf wallpaper

I love, love, love this new Bookshelf wallpaper by Y&B (Young and Battaglia). It's such a great design and a fabulous way to get a vintage library look in no time. I just love how it looks so cosy and homely behind this old and beautiful Chesterfields sofa... It is such a clever idea which will make a striking feature wall...a bit of Old England at home :-)

I'm also very fond of the beautiful 'Books wallpaper by Deborah Bowness. Both designs can change the whole aspect of a room and create a vintage, cosy look at home

The image above is from Lynda's house who re-vamped an horrible tiny bedroom which barely fit a single bed (in her own words not mine!). Adding real books next to Deborah Bowness wallpaper, a couple of leather chairs and a few retro bits and pieces, she created a simply superb room where we could all spend hours reading...well as long as we all fit in it!
Click here for more beautiful, striking wallpapers to create feature walls

Have a great weekend!
(c) Photo no 5 by Graham Atkins-Hughes

Inspiring shot by Anna Kern

Beautiful shot of Anna Kern, styled by Cia Wedin...

I used the True blue wallpaper by Camilla Diedrich to create a feature wall in our house in France and it really lifted up the whole room.... Unfortunately I can't find a website for Cia Wedin but I found these beautiful and inspiring shots she styled...
Via Purple Area

Via Karin's style blog

Pink & Grey girl's bedrooms a la BODIE and FOU

At the beginning of March, I wrote how I didn't like pink for little girls' bedrooms but pink for grown-ups was ok.....
WELL....as I'm a very reflective person....I mean 'eventually' I'm a reflective person - because really, my first call of action is to do/write things first and then eventually think about it afterwards, rather than my other half who thinks everything first and then acts/decides upon his hours of reflection (I think his way is a bit boring if you ask me :-)

So a few weeks ago, I explained that pink in girl's bedroom was my pet hate. Well it's not exactly true!
The whole Princess/Barbie themed is my pet hate. With all the cheap, flimsy plastic things that come with Barbie and her mates, this makes me feel physically sick but pink and grey, like Bonpoint plays it beautifully in their shops is a different story.

In fact, I think if you mix soft hues of pink like this beautiful Penguin wallpaper in plum (which in fact is not really plum, more like a pale pink with a drop of blueberry), or this adorable Miss Doudou poster in hues of soft pink & yellow and add touches of grey with this Ball chair, then PINK & GREY are the definitive colours to use to create a beautiful and modern pink look for your girl's bedroom be she 4 or 14 years-old!

So here my suggestions for a cool, modern pink look version BODIE and FOU
And so you know...."Pink, pink you stink!" is something our Daughter Mila keeps saying even if it is her favourite colour !

Miss Doudou poster: £25.50
Rosie Flo's colouring books: £5.99 each
Norm 06 pendant light: £45.99
Doudou 'Poppy' violette: £19.49 and Doudou Lila
Family Tree print: £45
Pink Birds on a wire roller blind: £65
Grey ball chair: £140

Other suggestions....
Bird A to Z poster: £38
Fluoro Dandelions & Cow Parsley wall sticker: £79.99
Moo wallpaper: £38 per roll
Pink rubber vase (to be used as pencil pot holder): £20
Pink rubber washing bowl (to store kids toys):

Interview with....ISAK

This morning, we had a couple of customers respectively ordering 7 rolls of Penguin wallpaper in silver and two of the Penguin wallpaper in turquoise (we can feel Spring DIY coming!) which reminded me that before going on holidays, Sandra, Co-Founder and Head of Design at ISAK, kindly sent us back answers and photos to finalise the BODIE and FOU interview.

So let me introduce you to Sandra Isaksson who was brought up by a family of trolls in the heart of a Swedish forest. Her summers were spent sculpting clouds and painting rainbows. In the winters she carved with wind and whittled snowflakes from Skybears.
Her family found her pretty and plump and blueberry kissed but as she grew up she became terribly unruly. They found it necessary to send her out into the real world where she met a handsome fighter pilot prince.

Fastforward to 2010, Sandra now lives in rural England with her Prince Nick and two sons: Theo and Eden (nice name).
She is not only a successful illustrator (proof that growing up with Trolls did the world of good to her) who does freelance work for other companies but also the co-Founder with Prince Nick of ISAK, a company that manufactures and sells beautiful design-gifts and co-ordinated home accessories, all products ethically.
At B&F, we've always been huge fans of her Penguin wallpapers which of course, look perfect in a nursery but Sandra's Scandi style make them suitable for use in a hallway, kitchen or to create a feature like this French stylist did it in her home.

Here is an insight on how Sandra's started and what keeps her going...

I always find interesting to know how people became designers or started their business...something I think Betsy Benn, who recently launched her first two designs with us will love to hear about.

bodie and fou: When did you decide you wanted to be a designer?

Isak: I was 13 when I decided I wanted to be a graphic designer and I guess some time at Uni I realised that I wanted to do more product design as well.

bodie and fou: Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Isak: Everywhere

bodie and fou: Describe your studio/workplace?

Isak: We did a loft conversion and I now have the biggest and brightest room in the house to work from. With small children it’s convenient to be able to work from home. It’s got white walls and wooden floors.

bodie and fou: Which aspect of your work gives you the most pleasure?

Isak: I really enjoy creating new designs and new products and when people fall in love with them – that’s is incredibly rewarding.

bodie and fou: Launching your design studio/company was.....?

Isak: Exhilarating and completely necessary!

bodie and fou: Best piece of advice you were given?

Isak: I never had anyone to ask for advice. I just did it because I had to do it.

bodie and fou: When did you get your 'lucky break' ?

Isak: Oh, I don’t think Iv’e had it yet!

bodie and fou: How often do you end up with a finished product that you don’t want your name attached to?

Isak: It happens but not very often. Within Isak it doesn’t happen because we are in control pretty much all the way from start to finish but when I license art work out to other companies that’s when things can go wrong. It’s important to have a very strict licensing contract that explains what the company are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do.

bodie and fou: Who is your favourite designer?

Isak: Don’t think I have one… There are many products that are my favourite products but a specific designer as such, no. And that changes as well.

bodie and fou: What is your favourite piece of design?

Isak: Well, I love the Arne Jacobsen chairs – but I don’t have any, Eames and so many other Danish furniture designs… My favourite pieces of what I do have are bowls by Merete Rasmussen and some beautiful sculptures from her as well.

bodie and fou: What advice would you give to aspiring designers?

Isak: Don’t give up. Believe in yourselves

bodie and fou: What would your dream project be?

Isak: I would love to design stamps! And to do more freelance work for big home accessories companies.

bodie and fou: How do you achieve a good work/life balance?

Isak: Extremely difficult! When you work from home your work is never turned off, it’s always there and you never get a break from it. Home life is muddled up with work life and there are no weekends… But that’s the price you have to pay when you try to do everything! :-)

bodie and fou: Your most precious belongings at home?

Isak: Apart from the children it would be the computer!

bodie and fou: How would you describe your style at home?

Isak: Scandinavian

bodie and fou: If your studio wasn't, describe your ultimate dream workspace?

Isak: A huge top floor of a building, wooden floors, great views, huge windows and white walls. With a modern kitchen, a small library, a coffee machine and lots of design classic furniture.

bodie and fou: Can you cook and what's your signature dish?

Isak: I love cooking and my favourites to both cook and eat at the moment is probably salmon cheviché and slow cooked harissa lamb.

bodie and fou: Name something you can't resist...

Isak: Food (I so know the feeling!)

bodie and fou: What is next on your design journey?

Isak: Well, we’re embarking on a new bedding range for Isak and working on adding to the range and improving the range. But before that we’re actually going to Guatemala to source some coffee…

bodie and fou: And the mantra that keeps you going.......?

Isak: There’s no mantra… more fire in the belly. Or hunger. For more.

Click here to see Sandra's gorgeous art prints for children

Easy & stylish DIY project in the kitchen

This is the kitchen of Charlotte Sunden-Barbotin in Paris who happened to be a stylist but is also very lucky to grace the cover of Paris Kitchens 2 by Editions Paumes, one of the first books I bought from their fabulous series!

I've always loved how this pink wallpaper gave such a dynamic, convivial look to her kitchen and as yesterday someone bought two rolls of the Cotton Bud wallpaper by Selina Rose, I just thought, the Cotton Bud wallpaper would just be perfect to do something similar!

Using wallpaper is a fabulous and affordable way to update a room because you only need to do a feature wall or even just a counter like this kitchen to get a great result. Personally, I often think that a whole room wallpapered is either too classic for my tastes or overpowering but a feature wall is just perfect.
In our house in France, I did a feature wall with the True Blue wallpaper in turquoise by Camilla Diedrich in one of the bedrooms and although I probably used the only wallpaper glue on earth that actually stains!, the effect is fabulous and I only had compliments since I did it.

For more inspiration, see the wonderful books from Paumes here. We're getting new stock in a week or so as we've been cleaned out at Christmas!

Dya-think-e-saurus wallpapers by Paperboy

If I had a little boy, I would have loved to decorate his bedroom with the Dya-think-e-saurus wallpaper range from Paperboy, especially the purple and silver one below...Isn't this gorgeous?
What I really like about this range is how they feature Dinos (therefore great for the kids) without actually looking too childish (hence good for design-savvy parents) and the actual design is just well-done. It has a wonderful sense of energy and life and in fact, I'm sure this wallpaper would look great in a hallway or as a quirky feature wall or even - if you're feeling super creative - to wallpaper the inside of his cupboard.
Oh...I just got an idea!...What about getting a cheap & cheerful pine wardrobe from Ikea and then paint it purple or grey and wallpaper the inside with this gorgeous Dya-think-e-saurus wallpaper range??? OK if any of you is going to do this or something similar, I want to see pictures!
For all the little men who LOOVVVEE dinosaurs, the Dya-think-e-saurus wallpaper (which translates into ‘do you think he saw us!’) is available in 4 colours and is printed on FSC accredited sustainable forest paper like most of our wallpapers.

For more children wallpapers, don't miss the Penguin wallpaper by Isak here and the fabulous range from our friends at Mini Moderns

Paulo Mendes Da Rocha's Paulistano chair

House & Garden's Decoration Editor Wendy Harrop searches for the most stylish ideas for the home and finds... Paulo Mendes da Rocha's Paulistano chair

We love the Scrapwood wallpaper from Studio Ditte also featured on the page..

Penguin wallpaper by Sandra Isaksson for Isak

It is really refreshing to see that designers start really producing fabulous and affordable designs for children spaces. Personally I can't stand the whole Barbie thing but the love of my life is 4 years old and she has inevitably lots of tacky, pink Princess things that we nicely put away (HIDE!!) when she doesn't play with it.

A few months ago, I fell in love with the gorgeous wallpapers by MiniModerns and frankly although they are designed for children's bedrooms, quite a few of them like the Sitting Comfortably look great in a kitchen as a feature wall or in a hallway.
So now I'm very excited that we have the gorgeous Penguin Wallpaper designed by Sandra Isaksson for Isak because once again I think this one works perfectly in other rooms around the house.
Forget about the toys displayed on the photo below and just stand back a bit to imagine the overall look of the room with this beautiful, patterned paper. If you look at the house of Norwegian stationary designer Tonje Holland and the way she addes touches of colours with accessories and makes a room visually interesting using patterns on cushions then, you can easily imagine a feature wall in the kitchen, bathroom, a child's bedroom or even a home office done up with the Penguin wallpaper.

Sandra is working on two new colours of this Penguin wallpaper and is planning to launch them in September. In the meantime if you're thinking about refreshing your home office so you can stare at a nice and uplifting wall then I think this one at £30 a roll is no brainer and it's also eco-friendly, produced from paper from sustained forestry.