The White House Interiors

Welcome to The White House!

I want you to be amongst the first to know about The White House Interiors - a carefully curated online boutique dedicated to showcasing the best designers and makers of homeware.

Launching in spring 2012, The White House Interiors website will provide our chosen suppliers with a shopfront and the opportunity to make sales without any administrative hassle.

If your an exceptional homware product designer with a unique product range and would like to become one of the founding members of The White House Interiors then get in contact: thewhitehouseinteriors@hotmail.co.uk

     

       

Decorex International 2011

Theme for this year’s event was “Love Design” and I had VIP entry to the London Design Festival’s most exclusive event!

Here are some of the things I LOVED at this year’s show……

AACDD Exhibition @ The Bargehouse

I am back in London and it looks as if the French Rivera weather has followed me home.  Before I went away I visited a number of shows and exhibitions as part of the London Design Festival and I would like to continue sharing with you my amazing finds and experiences.

So my next visit after 100% Design was the African & African-Caribbean Design Diaspora Festival which was held @ Bargehouse in the South Bank.  “A magnificent showcase of black creativity throughout the creative disciplines.” 

When I arrived at the neglected building I had absolutely no idea what to expect.  Let me tell you now, i was totally blown away! 

I am ashamed to say that I was not at all prepared for the abundance of talented and gifted black textile designers, fashion designers, artists, photographers, architects and so on.  To quote this really was “A point of celebration of Black Creative Talent.”

Not only am I bursting with pride to have discovered the AACDD, but it also given me the renewed energy I needed to start designing again myself.  I have discovered a plethora of designers I absolutely have to feature on my forthcoming e-boutique. 

I simply don’t know how to express in words the standard of work on display here but they say a picture is worth a thousand words so here goes………….

 

Michael Mapp - Very talented Graphic Designer.  Check out the cool products.

Julie Kauomo - Textile Designer.  I really wanted to sit on this chair lol.

Chijokie Augh -  Product and Furniture Designer.  Who knew you could do this with a paper clip. Wow! 

Carol Sorhaindo -  Visual Artist

Next floor……..

 

“Below the Surface” was a photographic project shedding light on the real life of young people in African and African-Caribbean communities in London by giving disposable cameras to different people in various areas.  Llife below the surface of public perception.  Ingenious and some very funny snap shots too!

Natalie Keymist - Photographer.  My mum had a type writer just like that! 

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100% Design

This week has been an extremely busy one for me.  While i am writing this from a sun lounger in my villa in the beautiful cote d’azure, Thursday saw the start of 100% Design at Earls Court.  One of the London Design Festival’s major events. 

I made a bee line straight for 100% Futures, a section devoted to up and and coming designers to showcase the wares.  Also for me it was the perfect opportunity to network and source potential products for the new on-line boutique which you will here more about in the coming weeks!

I would like to share with you some interesting things that caught my design eye.

If I had 60k I would definitely own this concrete kitchen island…….

Speakers for your living room anyone?

Classic chairs in contemporary colours………..

Anything encased in glass? 

Here are some of the new Designers im am hoping to feature on the e-boutique?

Notting Hill Project

So as part of my internship I have been working on the refurbishment of a ground floor and first floor flat in Notting Hill Gate. Although I am writing this from the gorgeous St Tropez, last Wednesday saw the completion of the Notting Hill Project.  The five month development is finally complete and I am sooooo pleased with the result.  

Having been involved with the project from the very beginning, my role was that of Junior Designer and in some instances Project Manager.  I was in charge of ordering all the furniture, fixtures and fittings, everything down to installing the final light bulb.  This has given me a real sense of pride and I have got to share it with all of you. 

I have added some before and after photos however I will be adding a new page for my full portfolio.

Enjoy!

Ground Floor Flat - Before

Ground Floor Flat - After

First Floor Flat - Before

First Floor Flat - After

Kelly Hoppen Furniture Launch

Hey guys welcome to my first blog!  For those of you who don’t already know my name is Charmaine White, an interior design student currently working as a design assistant in Central London.  This blog is to document my work, adventures and unique discoveries.

So September marks the start of a brand new season in the interior design world. 

Aptly named London Design Festival, it encompasses a number of shows and events in different locations around London showcasing new furniture, fabrics, lighting and accessories. 

The first on my list of events was the Kelly Hoppen Furniture launch at Selfridges.  

I arrived early as not to miss out on any of the action and was greeted by an especially cool jazz band, champagne and canapés, which were provided by Honestly Healthy, a company run by Kelly’s daughter Natasha.  Honestly…….delicious!   The staffs were very friendly and attentive and I was given  the opportunity to be introduced to the lady of the hour Kelly Hoppen herself.   Needless to say I was extremely overjoyed and nervous to be meeting my absolute favourite designer in person.  I’m pleased to say she was very charming and tremendously gracious.  

The room gradually filled with chic designistas, industry bods and PR reps - the celebration began.  Fellow fashion and homewares designer Ben de Lisi also arrived to offer his support. 

The pieces are in Kelly’s signature colours, black, white, beige and taupe which are incredibly glamorous yet affordable.  For anyone like me who admires her designs and wishes to have a piece of Kelly in their home, the range of furniture, blinds and accessories hits the mark. 

It was an amazing experience meeting Kelly and having my copy of her new book “Kelly Hoppen -Ideas” signed,  which was definitely the highlight of my evening.

I came away feeling totally inspired and I cannot wait for the new television series  “Superior Interiors with Kelly Hoppen”  which starts on Channel 5 later this month.