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Nick Knight’s Roses

He’s directed music videos for Kanye West and Lady Gaga, shot ad campaigns for Christian Dior, Tom Ford and Yves Saint Laurent, produced award-winning editorial for British Vogue. Now fashion photographer Nick Knight turns his lens on something different: roses from his own London garden. In a new exhibition running this summer at Albion Barn in Oxfordshire, two still life series will be on display: Photo Paintings and Roses from My Garden.

Inspired by 17th century still life paintings, the Rose Photo Paintings have been created using a new technique where Knight introduces heat and water during the printing process to encourage the inks to run across the print. This dynamic process has taken him and master-printer Allan Finamore ten years to perfect and the result is half-photograph, half-painting to reveal the fleeting beauty of a rose in full bloom.

In Roses from my Garden the images are simple; the flowers have literally been plucked from the garden and shot in daylight. There are bruised petals, broken stems and petals breaking from their buds – evidence of the beauty and fragility of nature. And what better setting for this large-scale show than contemporary gallery space, Albion Barn in the Cotswolds.

The exhibition is appointment only so you’ll need to email carolina@albionbarn.com to arrange a visit. A catalogue, with a forward by Primal Scream’s Bobbie Gillespie and interview between Nick Knight and Michael Hue-Williams, accompanies the exhibition.

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Emily and Victoria Ceraudo, founders of Ceraudo

We first encountered Ceraudo at Isabel Spearman’s Daily Dress Edit pop up where their furniture caught our eye. Chintzy and fresh all at the same time, their POME! cushions, cane chairs and skirt-wearing ottomans were so playful and uplifting. Here we meet the founders, sisters Emily and Victoria Ceraudo:

What was the idea behind Ceraudo?

We were both redecorating at the same time, and just couldn’t seem to source furniture that was both to our taste and within budget. We have quite individual and decorative tastes, and we were stuck between quite plain high street styles which we knew everyone else would have, and super high-end design stores that were out of budget.

What’s it like founding and running a business as two sisters?

It’s great – we know how each other likes to work, and the experiences of both our careers is applied accordingly. We often work remotely so we have regular phone catch ups and decide how things should be divided that week.

Do you have any style rules when it comes to decoration?
It’s all about layering and personality! We always love interiors that have been built over time and contain pieces they’ve collected while travelling, a favourite piece of art, or just general knick-knacks – there’s more texture and depth to the space and you really get an understanding for that person’s style. You can always tell when the decoration is too ‘out of the box’, so to speak.

How do you go about sourcing your antique and vintage pieces?

From all over! We have a large amount of suppliers that we have grown relationships with, and they often source abroad for us as they know our tastes. We do all the sourcing in the UK so we can often be found with a van driving up and down the M6!

Can you give any tips on how to mix old and new furniture without it looking a mess?

We always think it’s best to start with a rough colour scheme, and try to layer furniture and fabrics within this scheme. Highlights of brown furniture mixed in with a contemporary sofa and coffee table, and layered with printed or colourful fabrics is always a nice way to combine antique and modern styles. Or using vintage chairs with a contemporary marble dining table always works well. In general, brown furniture with marble tops or details is a nice way to bridge old and new as there’s so much marble in contemporary design. It’s also a fresh looking material so it makes the piece look less dark & stuffy.

What was the idea behind your POME! collection?

We wanted to design a collection that was a reflection of our favourite antique sourcing styles, and also bring a bit of chintz into a contemporary market with our upholstery styles.

With our wooden styles, the contrast of the lacquered wood against the cane makes a fun variation from plain finished or limewashed wood we see so often in the market. We wanted the pieces to appeal to customers with a creative streak that aren’t scared to use a bit of colour in their homes, and generally move on from the Scandi monochrome aesthetic.

Our upholstery is fully customisable and you can select your fabric, trim (skirt & bullion fringe) and also the type of upholstery you’d like. We offer fixed upholstery or loose covers – the loose covers are designed to be easily removable for cleaning and can also be swapped in for another cover from one of our future collections. We don’t want customers to shy away from print and colour because they’re scared they’ll get sick of it, as they can change it at a later date.

Which has been your most popular item? And why do you think that is?


Our Gaia coffee table (above) and Chiara dining chairs (below) have been the bestsellers so far. I think it’s quite difficult to find something with the unique detailing and colours of these pieces in the market, particularly at our price point.

Where’s home for the pair of you? 
Victoria: I live in a flat on an Edwardian terrace in Maida Vale. I love Maida Vale because it’s very leafy with wide roads, we also have the canals of Little Venice and some great pubs. Despite being quite central, it’s the opposite of feeling over-crowded. We’re also a 10-minute walk from Notting Hill and St. John’s Wood so we’re amongst a plethora of great restaurants.

Emily: I live in an Edwardian house in Richmond. There are amazing parks, lots of Georgian architecture, a great high street with everything from Franco Manca to Wholefoods, and of course Petersham Nurseries further along in Petersham. There’s a small town/local feel, but you can still get into central London in 15 minutes.

Where in London is your dream interior?

Leighton House is pretty dreamy! It has the most amazing display of Islamic tiles and mosaics, along with a great collection of sculptures and paintings.

The sitting room at Burns’s Kensington home. Photography by Tine Bek.

We also interviewed Emma Burns (decorator at Colefax & Fowler) at her house in Kensington which is the epitome of a home full of character and style. She also has the best tricks for interior styling! Her home is at the end of a little path off Kensington Church Street and feels so serene considering it’s just yards away from Ken High St. See all the pictures here.

Liberty is our favourite London store – it just has so much character and is so unlike the other department stores in London.

Current favourite restaurant?

Tough one! We have lots of favourites in Soho such as Xu or Palomar, but our all time favourite has got to be Clarke’s on Kensington Church St. Incredible food and always such a delightful dining experience…and they take reservations which is becoming more and more crucial to us when choosing somewhere for dinner.

Where are you off to on holiday this summer? And which 3 items will you be taking with you?

Victoria: I’m off to Corsica and Paxos in July and I’ll be taking whatever I’ve managed to grab in a last minute sweep of & Other Stories, along with my book, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, and my trusty Castener espadrilles. 

Emily: driving down to Puglia and spending a month down there with my family so there will be a lot of baby gear, my new Brinker & Eliza necklace, and the Marie-Louise Scio x Birkenstock raffia sandals.

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Festival Fashion

With fever pitch excitement at the return of Glastonbury this weekend, our attention is on the myriad of festivals this summer. This season we’re eschewing wellies and utility jackets in favour of all things metallic:

If you’re going to do heels at a festival, make them these super-comfy Penelope Chilvers Jude silver sandals, £159 at Trouva:

Sparkle in these Juju jelly shoes for grown-ups, £75 at Alexa Chung:

Made for the dance floor…Zadig gold sneakers £275 at Zadig & Voltaire:

Is there such thing as an heirloom festival fashion item? If there is these surely are they … Prada floral crepe trousers £910 at net-a-porter:

Instant cool. Metallic leather shirt £125.99 at Mango:

Alexa Chung x Poppy Delevingne’s Save the Children tee – the perfect shape and comes in navy, white and yellow, £25 at savethechildrenstore.com:

London Metal pants, £640 at Zadig & Voltaire:

Summer cowboy boots, £99 at Mint Velvet:

Glitter triangle bikini top, £12.99 at H&M:

Shimmer in this Dolly sequin catsuit, £285 at Rock the Jumpsuit:

Beaded embroidered backpack, £222 at Ganni:

 

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Roksanda Ilincic’s fantasy penthouse at Gasholders in Kings Cross

We’re poring over the pictures of the penthouse at the newly renovated Gasholders in Kings Cross. The trio of cast-iron gasholder frames have – you guessed it – been turned into luxury flats but these ones are so beautiful we’re queuing up to visit. Fashion designer Roksanda Ilinčić (in collaboration with Nick Vinson) has turned her hand to interiors’ to design the fantasy penthouse apartment that is now open for viewings.

Women makers’ are the focus – there are murals by Parisian artist Caroline Denervaud, furniture by Lina Bo Bardi and Charlotte Perriand, objet and ceramics include works by Australian ceramicist Alana Wilson, Berlin-based potter Christine Roland and Londoner Annette Lantsoght. Old pieces are used in fresh ways – the Pierre Jeanneret chairs from the 1950s contrast with a graphic Francois Châtain Floor Lamp. On the bedside table there are books by Patti Smith and Joan Didion.

There are 9 penthouses in total, each with its own roof garden – created by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winning landscape architecture practice, Dan Pearson Studio with views over Coal Drops Yard and beyond. The apartment is available to buy fully-furnished for £7,750,000 – dreaming is free.

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Bastille Day at Brasserie Zedel

No such thing as a free lunch? Not so at Brasserie Zedel, where anyone wearing a beret and a stripy breton top will receive a complimentary Formule Menu on Bastille Day, Sunday 14th July. Running all day from 11.30am-11pm, there will be an accordionist playing a medley of French classics in the afternoon and London-based band, Boom La Tete, performing French gypsy classics from 8.30pm onwards. This jolly affair has proved so popular since its inception in 2013, that this year for the first time tables are being released by ballot. The fairer system has been devised in line with the motto of the French Republic – “manger pour la liberté, l’égalité et la fraternity!” Feast on the Formule Menu (£19.75) that includes 3-courses and a glass of wine for free – so long as you’re in the beret and stripes. The ballot closes at 5pm on Friday 21st June so enter here now.

One ballot entry per person and you will be able to select a preference for either lunch or dinner. A maximum table size of 6 people applies. Successful applicants will be contacted to confirm their tables by Friday 28th June.

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Book now for Tim Walker at the V&A, Jake Gyllenhaal on stage, Clare Foy and more

You’ll regret it if you don’t – book ahead for these brilliant shows.

Opening on 21st September 2019, tickets have just been released this week for Tim Walker: Wonderful Show at the V&A (from £15). After their success with the Dior show, the V&A have been riding high recently with their fashion-related exhibitions and we expect this Tim Walker one to be no different.  One of the nicest photographers in the fashion industry (we used to work with him at Vogue), Tim has an amazing vision.  Often working with set designer Shona Heath, together they create incredible images that bring in influences from the art world and beyond.    (If you caught the Tim Walker show at Somerset House a few years a back, you’ll know how immersive Tim’s imaginative work and sets can be.) On show at the V&A exhibition will be pictures, films, photographic sets and special installations.  There will also be talks by Tim Walker with special guests – the first two have sold out but there will be more scheduled so keep your eyes peeled.

 

Also just released this week are tickets to see Jake Gyllenhaal in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical Sunday In the Park with George.  Running for 12 weeks only from 11th June 2020 at The Savoy Theatre, the play first appeared on Broadway and was one of the fastest selling musicals ever. Written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, the musical follows painter Georges Seurat (Gyllenhaal) in the months leading up to the completion of his most famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Consumed by his need to ‘finish the hat,’ Seurat offends the French bourgeoisie, alienates his fellow artists, and neglects his lover Dot (Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford). Tickets start from £25 and you can buy them here.

Photo credit: Matthew Murphy

Ian McKellen is set to bring his one-man show to the West End next year following a UK tour celebrating his 80th birthday.  Called Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others and You, McKellen will performing 80 shows at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 20th September 2019 to 5th January 2020.   McKellen will be telling anecdotes from his career on screen and on stage, while also reciting passages and monologues from some of his biggest roles – from King Lear and Hamlet to The Lord of the Rings and X-Men.  His fees and all profits from the tour have been given to each theatre’s charity or restoration projects and is expected to raise over £3 million by the end of the run. Tickets are on sale here and don’t miss also the 80 tickets for £10 available at each performance.

 

Adam Cooper is reviving his role in Chichester Festival Theatre’s critically-acclaimed production of Singin’ in the Rain when it transfers to London’s Sadler’s Wells next summer.  Directed by Jonathan Church, the production premiered in Chichester in 2011 and will now be running for a short five-week run at Sadler’s Wells running from 24th July 2020. Based on the screenplay of the original 1952 film by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, the musical features songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, with a score that includes the songs Make ‘Em Laugh and Singin’ In the Rain.  Tickets go on sale to members from 5 July at 9am and to members of the public on 8 July at 9am from Sadler’s Wells Theatre, starting from £15.

 

Elena Ferrante’s two-part adaptation of My Brilliant Friend about two friends’ 60 year friendship in post-war Naples, will transfer to the Olivier at the National Theatre from 12th November 2019. Previously at the Rose Theatre Kingston, All cast members will reprise their roles, including Niamh Cusack and Catherine McCormack. Tickets are already available to members of the National Theatre and will go on sale to the general public at 8.30am on 5 July.

 

Written by Duncan Macmillan, Lungs follows a couple as they consider the environmental impact of having a baby. The play was first performed in Britain in 2013, winning best new play at the Off West End Awards.  Starring Clare Foy and Matt Smith (who appeared together in the television series The Crown), it will open at the Old Vic on 14th October and run until 9th November.  Tickets are available for the general public on 25th June at midday, costing from £12 (they are available from 21st June to Friends of the Old Vic). Also, limited tickets are already available to another play coming up at the Old Vic: Endgame by Samuel Beckett starring Alan Cumming and Daniel Radcliffe which starts on January 27th 2020.

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The perfect bottled Negroni

We like an excellent cocktail but tend to be fusspots about it. (We know someone who has gone a step further and even carries a card in her wallet with the exact proportions for a Sidecar, as she was fed up of bartenders making it incorrectly). The founders of Scarpetta, a trio of relaxed Italian restaurants, obviously felt the same as they have developed perfectly blended bottled Negronis. They have said “We decided to make our bottled Negroni because we saw too many times bartenders in a hurry messing up the proportions.” Their elegant one litre bottles contain enough for ten Negronis and are ready to be simply poured over ice. They would be a lovely house-warming present or something to have on standby in one’s own home for whenever the occasion demands an instant, perfect cocktail. Pick one up at their restaurants in the City, or by emailing info@scarpetta.london.

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25% off at the heavenly Bibury Farm Barns

Bibury Farm Barns are a collection of 5 Cotswold stone barns that have just been converted into the most beautiful holiday lets, think Heckfield Place meets Soho Farmhouse. They might sit in the prettiest patch of countryside – nestled close to the quintessential Cotswolds surroundings of Burford and Bourton on the Water – but there’s nothing mud-splattered or crumbling here. Instead traditional features like ancient beams and exposed brick walls meet polished marble and huge freestanding bathtubs – a look designed by award-winning Pippa Paton Design. Arrive to find botanical bath products in the shower and a breakfast hamper laid out in the kitchen.

The barns can be rented separately, or as a collection sleeping up to 38 (the ultimate birthday party venue?) and dogs are welcome.

A stay in the Bull Pen barn pictured here sleeps six and a 2-night weekend stay costs £1750 in low season, £2150 high season. A Little Bird readers will receive 25% off all bookings made before 1st August, for any stay date. Having literally just opened the barns don’t have a proper website yet, so you just need to email stay@biburyfarm.com to enquire. Two barns sleep 6, two sleep 8 and one sleeps 10.

 

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Maremma – our new favourite Italian

It turns out Maremma travels well. Very well.  Thanks to chef, Alice Staple, and her partner Dickie Bielenberg, this small, unsung region in Southern Tuscany is having a moment. A stone’s throw from Effra Road, Maremma the restaurant has just opened in Brixton and we’re hooked.

Maremma hugs its corner spot, painted a no-nonsense shade of green – a proud nod to the pine and juniper palette of its namesake.  The green and softly industrial style continues inside: burnished brass pendant lights, distressed, exposed plaster, open shelving; the kitchen/dining area is presided over by a large black and white boar. It’s a small, snug and very friendly space.

If you want to feel the heat of the kitchen – quite literally (and it wasn’t warm out) – opt for chef’s table, a quartz-topped bar bordering the cooking area.  Otherwise, small oak tables – a wood native to Maremma – dot the room, each with its own bottle of award-winning Maremma olive oil. Gratifyingly, almost everything here is either sourced directly from, or in homage to, the Maremma region. 

Dinner was bookended elegantly with a notable Rosemary Old Fashioned – a fresh, rosemary- infused gin cocktail – and an exceptional gelato of neatly layered pear sorbet and ice cream, flecked with delicate shards of salty parmesan. The menu offers many well-loved Tuscan classics, including grilled octopus on velvety fava bean puree, charcuterie, squid ink risotto, tagliata – all excellently turned out. It’s the ingredients that really sing here: the buffalo mozzarella has distinctive density and cheesiness, simply adorned with a primavera of peas, asparagus and broad beans. The wild bear ragu – cooked overnight – packed a bold fennel punch and the wood-baked hake with clams and samphire united under a glossy blanket of perfectly balanced aioli. 

The star of the Dolci was the aforementioned gelato, although the Grappa panna cotta with strawberries came a close second. Dessert wines, coffee and Liquori – Grappa and Limoncino – provide the last hurrah. 

As with almost every item on the menu, the wine list is committed to provenance. The majority of the whites, roses and reds on offer are sourced directly from small Maremma winemakers – prices are low and the choice wide – and are all available by the glass. The Elban blend, Alicante Rosso Delle Ripalte, deserves the whole bottle.

Brixton offers some of London’s most exciting and eclectic food scenes. It has a new star. 

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The prettiest floral summer dresses

Is it us or are there are lot of gorgeous summer dresses around this season?  Here are our favourites.

Zita in Pink Cornflower, £245 from Daydress (was sold out but they’ve just added more sizes)

Ruby tiered cotton-voile maxi dress, £310 from DÔEN at Net-A-Porter

Kaiya floral-print midi dress, £767 (reduced from £1,095) from Erdem at Net-A-Porter

Lea polka-dot silk dress, £507 (reduced from £725) from Saloni at MatchesFashion

Devon tie-waist cotton dress, £220 from D’Ascoli at MatchesFashion

Goldie floral-print linen dress, £495 from Zimmermann

Maxi Brigitte Dress in linen, $290 at Sleeper (delivers to the UK)

Lea silk floral dress, £279 (reduced from £465) from Saloni at Net-A-Porter

Allia floral cross-stitch linen dress, £775 from Zimmermann

Siena Pink Floral Tea Dress, £125 from Kitri

Giovana dress, £150 from Sezane

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Annee de Mamiel, founder of de Mamiel beauty

Aromatherapist, Holistic Facialist and expert in Chinese medicine, Annee de Mamiel is the woman behind some of our very favourite beauty products. A leading authority on natural skincare and wellbeing – so popular that clients have been known to wait years to get an appointment at her clinic – she created de Mamiel so that a wider audience could benefit from her products, giving people the tools to deal with the impact of stress on the skin. Here we asked some of our burning questions:

What are the biggest challenges to modern skincare? (pollution? screens?) 

I think the biggest challenge is sorting through the nonsense and listening to what you need and not what people are telling you they need, there is so much chatter and people sharing what works for them, pausing and understanding how stress and daily life are playing out on our skin and understanding what we need individually, would make a big difference.

How can stress affect our complexion? 

Long term stress plays a big role in the condition of our skin – there are 4 metabolic pathways in which we respond to the cascade of stress hormones in our bodies each playing out in a different way. Until we work on that root problem the effects on our skin will always be there – what we see are things like dehydration and dryness that never seems to be quenched, inflammation and redness that sits under the skin, increased sebum levels, acne and premature skin ageing with glycation.

What can we do about the two above issues?

I love teaching my patients to multitask – which is why I created the range to perform in the way that it does. Breathe, Pause, Reset is the best way to begin your skincare routine, through engaging the parasympathetic nervous system with the breathe we begin to slow everything down and help with stress. Followed by a skin ritual brings results not only on the surface of the skin but the way we are feeling and looking.

How important is it to have a skincare routine?

A routine brings sustained results as you can feed the skin and have a better understanding of what makes a difference. You increase your understanding of where you are holding tension in the muscles and releasing that tension with facial massage.

How can we take care of our skin in summer? 

Hydration and protection are the key! In order for the skin to thrive we need to balance water and oil hydration – oil in the summer is sometimes difficult to grasp but a well balanced lighter oil really helps. I often see people avoiding oils in the summer, thinking they are too heavy – accentuating the humidity. In actual fact, after a deep cleanse to remove the sticky excess, a light, tailored oil is a much-needed tonic. I created the Summer Facial Oil as an up-lifting blend to nourish and protect our skin, balance our emotions and help sustain that sunny spirit so we can enjoy long days and the joy and celebration this season evokes.

What made you decide to produce seasonal facial oils, and what makes de Mamiel’s oil different?

The Seasonal Facial Oils were one of the first products I developed, our skin has differing needs as we go through the year. We eat different foods and wear different clothes in the summer so it seemed obvious to me that we need to adjust our skincare for each new season. A facial oil is key stone to replenishing the skin and repairing damage.

As an aromatherapist could you share some of your own favourite aromas/essential oils?

I think this changes with where I am in life and what I need  – at the moment I am loving Palo Santo, Persian Rose and Balsamic pine.

Where are you off to on holiday this year?

We are hoping to mix a bit of time off with work in The Hamptons. We lived in NY for a while and so an affinity with that part of the world – with some sailing and surfing and catching up with friends.

Which 3 items do you never travel without?

Altitude oil, Crystal necklace, Cashmere blanket

Where’s home?

Harpenden in Hertfordshire – I love the openness and that it is surrounded by fields and green. Our office is on a farm so we have a short commute and look out on chickens running around!

Quickfire Round: 

Mint tea or Builders? Builders

Lipstick or lip balm? Lipbalm

Cinema or Theatre? Theatre

Bubble bath or hot shower? Hot Shower

Paperback or Kindle? Paperback

You can find De Mamiel products online, or at selected stockists in London including Fortnum’s, Space NK, Josh Wood Colour etc. 

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Primrose Hill Designer Sale

Andrew Wilkie hats, Fliff Carr ceramics, Justine Tabak dresses, Wilder Botanics beauty…just some of the treats you can expect to find at the Primrose Hill designer sale this weekend. The bi-annual fair is a firm fixture in our diaries – now into it’s 20th edition. As well as tempting stalls there’s food from Primrose Tearooms – soups, sandwiches, Neal’s Yard cheeses and cakes. Get there early for the best selection.

It’s goodbye for now…

The team at A Little Bird are taking a break to recharge and make some exciting changes behind-the-scenes. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

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