Susi Bellamy x Laura La Gambina
Influences from across the globe come together to create this luxurious living scheme! The Persian carpet, Italian inspired modernist chaise longue and low scandi coffee table look effortlessly cosmopolitan and our shell-adorned designs remind us that summer is just around the corner...
There is little in this industry that gives me as much pleasure as working with creative talent - particularly other lovers of collage!
When the lockdown was first imposed, I think it is fair to say that many of us felt things 'ground to a halt' and a lot of us experienced a period of creative confusion. We were at home more but stimulated less. Unable to escape to a studio or a museum, we felt ourselves frantically looking for new ways to keep business going as usual (or at least, as 'usual' as things could be!)
My Fantasy Tapestry Shells and Coral Tapestry Bird cushions balance out midcentury design and a bold black and white graphic carpet. The marbled backdrop is classic enough to be at home beside ruffles, marbled details and more traditional textiles like gingham but the collaged element rescues them from seeming old fashioned.
Laura felt no such fear. She is an interior stylist based in Manchester and her motto is 'styling the brave' so it is easy to imagine why we hit it off with my colourful eclectic range and her tendency towards the bold and bright! We met on Instagram a few months back and we decided to collaborate on a project whereby she would showcase my new linen collection.
Working with mood boards is a dynamic way to think about how you can incorporate pieces into a wider scheme. Laura explains that "As an interior stylist I’ve always worked with moodboards and collage to communicate a concept, conveying the feeling of the space, colours, textures, furniture and soft furnishings, but over time the way I use and create moodboards has developed."
Was this decision to embrace this medium driven by the limitations of lockdown?
Well, sort of. She goes on "Lockdown gave me the time to experiment with different software, enabling me to create boards and collages with a sense of depth and layering. What I enjoy best is that it's such a visual way to see how items and colour palettes will work directly next to each other. Because they are digital, they can be easily edited and moved around, and this is my starting point before I order samples. I see it as ‘play’ which I think is really important when trying out new ideas and designs."
What I particularly love about Laura's design philosophy is her willingness to mix and match. Just as I have rescued many pieces of vintage furniture and given them a Susi Bellamy upholstery makeover, Laura's mood boards include items that vary in price and era. The magic is in the mix!
Laura's currently coveting a few pieces from our range. She says "A stand out fabric for me is the Peacock Bouquet Marbled Velvet because it reminds me of the beautifully crafted stationary I used to buy from trips to Italy as a child, and brings back very happy memories. I own two of the large oblong cushions in this fabric with its thick, luxe fringing, and they are very special to me. I also love the throw in this fabric with the tassel edge."
You can find out more about Laura's work on her website here and follow her on Instagram here.
Credits:
Image 1:
Circum Round Wall Mirror - Amber - AYTM Amara
Lines Ceramic Vase - Day Briger - Amara
Thomas Webb Peach Glass Bowl - Ceraudo
Aurora Footstool, Punch - Ceraudo
Lucine Table Lamp - Oka
Image 2:
'Dion' sofa - Made
Giulia Cocktail Chair - Ceraudo
All Saints Round Mirror - Kartell
Art Deco Oak Bureau - Vinterior
Turnabouts Rug - Florence Broadhurst at Amara
Image 3:
Cast Iron Roll Top Bath - Victorian Plumbing
'Kuta' pendant light - Maisons Du Monde
'Sari' chair - Swoon
'Ankhara' wardrobe and chest - Made
Large ceramic round vase - H&M
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