Jamb
wanderings: I have heard through the grapevine that Jamb is moving premises. I sincerely hope that this is just a nasty rumour as their current showroom is one of my favorite places in London. Until this year, I had only been to Jamb on quick visits - to view a specific chimneypiece or drop into the Jasper Fabrics room, but I always meant to go back for a more in-depth exploration. I finally got my chance during the Pimlico Road Summer Party in June. Champage in hand (naturally), I explored the showroom from corner to corner, and there are lots of them! It is a wonderfully atmospheric space. The lighting can be dramatic, almost moody, but it works perfectly to create an otherworldly feel. Every item is of the highest quality but with a slighly eccentric edge and even the more traditional styles are displayed in a fresh and intelligent manner. This finesse is equally evident in the design of their room-sets, which is all that I admire in contemporary appropriation of classicism. The equally sublime Tomasso Brothers gallery on the first floor is a perfect complement to the rest of the building and an experience in itself. If you haven’t had the chance to enjoy the current Jamb showroom, go while you still can!
Queen Elizabeth Room at Burghley House
Interiors: I visited the V&A several weeks ago and was utterly dazzled by the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries. Ever since I have been slightly obsessed with the rich fabrics that were used throughout this period and into the Baroque. I have secretly amassed a drawer of samples to feed my sudden hunger and I’m especially coveting fabrics by Watts of Westminster and English Home. This magnificent bedroom at Burghley House is an embodiment of everything that inspired me at the V&A. I would love to attempt a contemporary interpretation of a four poster bed and monumental tapestry combination. Less is less. More is more!
interiors: I love all the antique books. I love the unbelievably ostentatious ceiling and the worn scuffed flooring. Does anyone know where this is?
The private apartment of Olivier Kraemer
interiors: I am not usually attracted to cluttered spaces. I tend to like interiors that are just a bit stripped back so that the beauty of each individual piece can be appreciated. That being said, I am attracted to this room. It is remarkably classic in its style but is still very inviting - not overly designed or precious. The fact that the antiques are combined with impressionist (Renoir?) and contemporary art works, as well as the 80’s era TV, make it feel like a loved lived-in space. Yet the room also manages to retain a strong sense of opulence and atmosphere, all of which is inspiring.
