Watch the birdy

John Lewis is a national institution (and please let it be safe from the dreaded recession) 

From the hustle bustle of the Oxford St store to the calming, sophistication of Sloane Square's Peter Jones (hey, I am totally London-centric ) it has all the charm of an old fashioned department store while keeping it's finger firmly on the pulse. 

Which is why I was really please to find this cushion among the stock. It looks more like a art graduate's design, something you may find at Hidden Art and I think it's utterly charming. 

She's a model...

I love this cushion from Danish design company Ferm Living because it really ticks all my cushion criteria boxes: it's stylish, check; it's rather amusing, check and it's black and white, check (I do love a bit of monochrome)

In fact, I think I'm rather in love with all the cushions at Ferm. As well as the fashion design below, they also have a row of birds and a map of the world in this collection.

And then there are their beautiful silk cushions in beautiful teals, mustards and greys.

And best of all their available in the UK which means you don't have to take a trip to Copenhagen.

Best of British

A PR contact I've known pretty much since I started my career emailed me yesterday to wish me "best of British".

To be honest I didn't even know people used that expression past my Grandparents age but I kinda knew what she meant. It also reminded me of some rather attractive Union Jack cushions from The London Cushion Company

This one's my favourite, it's less about patriotism and definitely more about nostalgia, it reminds me of old post-war bunting used for street parties.

There's a whole host of designs available including a some what subtler flag cushion in whites and creams.

And now I've had a mad idea (could be a bit out there but bear with me it's quite early for a post) but how about for the next Proms everyone waves these instead of a flag...

Doing the Lambeth Walk, oi!

I've talked before about being a Londoner and a fiercely proud one at that and it's much to the amusement of my friends that I used to sing The Lambeth Walk at school instead of hymns.

I was reminded of it when I saw these cushions from brilliant interiors site Re

Inspired by Pearly Kings and Queens, these cushions are made from black velvet and just like the Cockney royalty's costumes are embellished with shell buttons.

Available in two designs: Good Luck or an anchor, I think they're a brilliant, tongue in cheek style statement.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy a couple for my kangaroo pouch...

All you need is love...

...well and peace, and that's exactly what you'll get (well not literally) if you use these cushions in your home.

These wordy offerings are from Rockett St George which (and I know I say this a lot) is one of my favourite places to shop for interiors.

I urge you to take a visit to the site as it's full of an array of delights that you're not going to find on the high street.

I'm resisting the urge to get all political about these cushions, after all this isn't a blog with an agenda for world peace, so all I'll say is this: I think they're lovely, I think they speak volumes and I think they'll be making an appearance on my sofa real soon.

Happy New Year!!

Waterloo Sunset

I first stumbled upon designer Charlene Mullen and her beautiful cushions at 100% Design but was reminded about her Drawings 1 collection when crossing Waterloo Bridge last Sunday.

Being a fiercely proud Londoner (I've been known to defend it and its ridiculously priced drinks, overcrowding and abruptness to the hilt) I love anything to do with London.

Routemasters (RIP), crossing Westminster Bridge and happening across Big Ben and the view from Waterloo Bridge, which is undoubtedly the most beautiful in London.

Turn to the left and you see St Paul's dwarfed by The Gherkin, to the right The London Eye and the golden glisten of Parliament.

So it will be no surprise I fell for Charlene's beautiful cushions depicting London at its very best.

I'm wondering if I could buy all the designs and start my very own landscape of London in my living room?

Mind The Doors

The thing about the London Underground (the Tube) is that Londoners, whether born and bred or ones with alien status, love to moan about it.

But what you won't hear them admitting often, is they also love it and particularly the fixtures and fittings, in fact Fired Earth recently launched a range of tiles named after London tube stations in homage to the original oblong, bevelled-edged tiles used on the stations walls.

Anyway, I digress, this blog is about cushions not tiles (although what a great idea for a blog, hmmm)

Anyway, a friend recently bought these cushions by Squigee from the TFL shop and I was delighted as since I started this blog, I've been looking for them everywhere.

The cushions are inspired by the seating used on tubes and buses during the 70s and 80s and are available in three colourways.