Sibella Does it Again

Yesterday was the opening of Sibella Court's new collection at her Paddington store, Society Inc. Her description of the collection reads:

"The flags that flew & tattered through strong winds, relentless storms, high seas and all the wildness of the ocean. . . A world of seashanties, sailmaking, mapping of unchartered coastlines & new lands, portlandings & pirating. . . who can resist the well-loved colours of my favourite flags: the Union Jack, Southern Cross & Tri-colour".

Regrettably, I wasn't able to be there yesterday. I had to content myself with the cover of the May 2010 Australian Country Style magazine, which Sibella styled. Sorry it's difficult to see, but it ticks all the boxes for me: pink and blue palette; beautiful blue quilt, gorgeous French furniture, rose petals, and cat:

To cheer myself up further, I pored over the eye-candy on Design Sponge's blog entry from February, which gives a sneak preview of Sibella's home above the shop. How gorgeous are this pirate flag from John Derian, the chaise and sailing-boat cushion:

The blue quilt from the Country Style shoot, and Vivienne Westwood cushion:

This amazing kitchen, with so many shapes and textures all in a neutral palette:

I want these shelves please:

This is the cabinet in the shop with, I think, the bright colours of "Seeds", her previous collection which opened in February:

I may not have been there in person yesterday, but I certainly was in spirit.

Images Courtesy of Design Sponge Blog and Australian Country Style.

Sibella Court

Yesterday I went to the launch of Sibella Court's interiors book etcetera etc. at her shop The Society Inc in Paddington, Sydney. If you haven't heard of her you can read an interview with her here. The book is gorgeous with literally a handmade feel, and I got a cool cloth bag and bookmark with it.

The aspects I admire most about her style are her attention to detail and the way she uses things which could be described as 'ordinary', like string, stamps, feathers or paper to make beautiful still life arrangements. The objects in her shop and styling shoots have a pre-loved feel and the patina of age. Her style reminds me a lot of Ann Shore, whose London shop Story I attempted to visit in London last year. She writes very eloquently on her aesthetic and where it comes from. I'd just like to share an excerpt from her book:

'[T]he patina of age gives so many things - fabric, furniture and paper, tableware and ceramics, wood and metal - unique textural and colour markings. Look at the way a silver tea set tarnishes or the linen on a hardback book fades in the sun. Feel the crumbling paint on a second-hand chair or the smooth handle on an old hammer. These imperfections are hard to mass-produce and the marks of age tell a story of a life lived'.

The book itself is an objet d'art, like her shop and her magazine shoots. To me Sibella epitomises an aesthetic which is not a 'cookie-cutter' style nor can it be found fully-formed in design magazines, but is original, heartfelt and the result of much thought. I also see it as ethical as it respects other cultures, traditions and creatures, valuing what would often otherwise be overlooked.

Images of Sibella's book are courtesy of The Design Files post.