Harry and Sal's Design Blog

SAL: Forgive the holiday tone to my title - but you know how I love my wallpaper! Now that it looks like Kydd House may not happen - mortgage crisis, unreliable income, suffice to say long story! I am going to have to find some outlet for my designerlust. Our current place does need that finishing touch - we moved in two weeks before Oliver was born, and well, then there was Lola... You know how it goes. So now the fog is lifting and my thoughts are turning inward as I look around our current place and what needs to be done. Check out the great wallpaper guide from Domino magazine this month. Great advice on calculating how much you need, how to hang it and what styles work well in what kinds of rooms.

Labels: 625, Sal, Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 3/27/2008 0 Comments

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MEREDITH: Hello out there in Harry and Sal land. My name is Meredith and I have a little site called The Acme Sharing Company which is a place to find family activities that teach kids about giving back. SO, needless to say, I don't get to blog about my favorite yummies; toys, books, gifts, furniture, etc. Now, here is my chance, thank you Sal!

In honor of Sal's heritage, I wanted to share with you the most fabulous Lizzie Allen wallpaper. I think these palace guards would work in both a traditional playroom or a super funky modern nursery. Being an anglophile and all around wannabe Brit, I am thinking that, for me, this might just be overkill since I have already hung Union Jack flags in my son's room in lieu of curtains. God Save the Queen!

Labels: 2008, Kids, Meredith, Textiles, Walls

posted by Meredith Alexander at 2/20/2008 0 Comments

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SAL: If you do manage to get away from primary colors for your child's nursery, I sadly (or happily I can't quite make up my mind) did not - then enjoy this wonderful tree made with vintage wallpapers for your wee ones decor. These come courtesy of Enfant Terrible - an online store with a wealth of whimsy and interesting playthings and yumminess for the smallest members of your family. Speaking of nursery decor, the final product of my reinvention of Oliver and Lola's room you can see below. I shamelessly raided Ikea for inspiration - but you know what? It works, it's fun and it was totally reasonable!

Labels: 711, Kids, Sal, Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 2/01/2008 0 Comments

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SAL: I love wallpaper and I love to do what I can to be responsible about the resources I use. It hasn't always been the case, but now, I reuse and recycle where I can, I think about what goes in the trash and I think about the origins of what I buy. So I was pleased to see when reading one of my favorite blogs Jetson Green, that wallpaper company Graham & Brown now pride themselves, not only in making fabulous wallpaper, but also in making about 50% of their product from renewable resources - all their papers carry the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) logo to show that the paper comes from sustainably managed forests. Graham & Brown have a detailed Environmental Policy that you can download from their website which details more of their efforts, such as using recycled rainwater, special drainage systems to reduce runoff, and use non-acidic inks and coatings, which are more eco-friendly than conventional methods.

Labels: 711, Green, Sal, Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 11/06/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Sal introduced me to Blik and their wall art back in May. I've been a fan ever since. Sal likes the Undoboy range but I'm partial to the Asian-inspired Mel Lim. Now you can send Blik your favourite quote or poem and they will print the words for you as decals. You choose the font, colour and size. Such a nice idea. For a bit of inspiration check out their Blik This Wall competition. They've also got some very sweet new designs for kid's rooms. They've certainly been busy.

Labels: Harry, Walls

posted by cerentha harris at 10/19/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: I now have a new wall obsession. I'm moving on from the sticker/decals. Check out these panels from California-based B+N Industries. Lovely rich colours and stylish patterns. I love the idea of transforming a room with the walnut Seapod design (above). They've also just introduced a line of colour-core mdf panels (below). So the pattern inside can be a different colour to the overall design.

Labels: Harry, Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 10/05/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Is this scary? Or wonderful? Tonky Wall Stickers do these cool wall decals. The one above is inspired by tree roots. I love the colours it comes in. Although I'm done with the kid's room I keep looking at these. Maybe for our room? I will post pics of the kid's bedroom as soon as I have the energy to tidy it up properly. No sooner is it neat than one of them has dumped something out to play with. And as it's their space I don't like to be too strict about it being impeccable.

Labels: Art, Harry, Walls

posted by cerentha harris at 10/01/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY We'll be back in our house soon. Our furniture arrives from LA in a few days. I'm obsessing over the kids' room. My two year old keeps asking to go home - she has no idea where home actually is. So I want there bedroom to be wonderful. I love this vinyl wall decal from Ich&Kar. I can see it on their wall with little red ladybugs and blue birds dotted through it. And if anyone knows where to find a cool bunkbed please let me know!

Labels: 94, Harry, Kids, Walls

posted by cerentha harris at 8/16/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: I'm strangely drawn to all things yellow right now. This striped crystal tumbler is so lovely - part of Barney's own range, that also includes some rather cool black crystal high ball glasses. Black and blue are all over the interiors magazines here in Sydney (I wish they had better website so I could link to them for you). It's cropping up in homewares and on walls and rugs. My feeling is we'll be seeing a lot of purples, blues and blacks in interiors. Check out Pantone - the colour gurus - website for some inspiration. And Colourlovers has some lovely combos (plus an interesting blog). And of course there is the queen of color (and trends) forecasting, Li Edelkoort (I want to look just like her when I'm a bit older).

Labels: Dining, Furniture, Harry, Walls

posted by cerentha harris at 8/03/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: Romp. Who can resist a site with a name like that? I love these these animal silhouettes which are made from hand-cut from vintage 60-70's wallpapers - what a novel idea for your kid's room? You can even add a wallpaper tree to complete the picture. Each design is unique and patterns are often limited, so you're not necessarily guaranteed that the pattern of your choice will be immediately available. Judging from some of the designs on the site though, whatever you choose will be worth the wait!

Labels: 711, Kids, Sal, Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/30/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY: Inspired by Sal's wallpaper post I wanted to let you know about a great new book by Australian journalist Helen O'Neill. She's written a carefully researched biography of the extraordinary designer Florence Broadhurst. Mystery still surrounds the designer's death (you'll need to read the book to find out about that one). What isn't a mystery is Broadhurst's amazing talent as a fabric and wallpaper designer. Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney are fans of her work. You can check it out online at Signature Prints.

Labels: Art, Books, Walls

posted by cerentha harris at 7/02/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: A friend emailed me this, her latest obsession - Walnut Wallpaper. Wallpaper is making a big comeback these days and Hollywood-based Walnut is leading the charge. They carry modern classics like Neisha Crosland and Flavor Paper, as well as Sum Design and Palace Papersand, with some vintage work thrown in if you're after something truly original. Check out the gallery for some great decorating ideas.

Labels: Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 7/01/2007 0 Comments

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SAL: New at A+R store, I spotted Tord Boontje's decorative wall hangings. They come as modular panels, 7" x 11", and you get six to a box for $60. Not bad! Available in brass or silver they are cut from plated steel - simply stunning.

Labels: Floral, Ornaments, Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 6/20/2007 0 Comments

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HARRY While looking for a birthday present for myself I found these fantastic porcelain wall tiles. They attach to the wall by a hole in the back that slips over a nail or hook. So delicate and graphic. I like the idea of nine of them in a square on my kitchen wall. They are made by Mel Robson, an Australian artist based in Brisbane. Check out Mel's blog for more great ceramics (those little jugs are brilliant).

Labels: Art, Kitchen, Walls

posted by cerentha harris at 6/11/2007 1 Comments

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Rethink your walls beyond the limitations of conventional wallpaper. This broad and varied range of vinyl creations from Domestic transform your walls into a canvas. Above, designs from two designers UK-based - Mike and Katie. Also check out some of the latest decal designs from Blik. Personal fave - Undoboy.

Labels: Walls

posted by Sal Taylor Kydd at 5/31/2007 0 Comments

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