I recently bought a new alarm clock. I was trying to find a traditional style design in standard-issue silver, with a supersized, super-loud bell. Instead I was attracted by one that, though conventional in design, suited my bedroom’s colour scheme. The problem is that, being designer-black (not just the clock-face, ... Read More...
Design
I finally got around to visiting the ArtHAUS show at Vyner Street’s Execution Room (running until 30th June). It was the second of the First Thursday private view evenings so drinks were thrown in, which eased the pain of travelling to far-flung E2 on such a filthy night. The show is ... Read More...
Judging by the queues at the Saatchi Gallery, and the liberal sprinkling of orange dots already placed on exhibits, crafty customers were out in force on the first day of the Collect craft fair (which runs until Monday). Billed as the ‘international art fair for contemporary objects’, the applied art on ... Read More...
This week, at the Milan Furniture Fair, the pieces on show will become the talk of the world. However, few people can afford the luxury of having their home interior designed as and when the whim takes them. Most people need a very good reason to buy new furniture. Usually, ... Read More...
Perhaps I should be more patriotic, but much as I love the V&A, the latest exhibition is a bit of a bulldog’s dinner. British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age has a fundamental problem with time span and size – there’s simply too much to fit in. Still, this ... Read More...
We go to hospital to get well, but does the hospital environment itself affect our wellbeing? In the mid-1980s, I had the dubious pleasure of visiting the Soho Hospital for Women. It was full-on linoleum, with Florence Nightingale style iron bedsteads, surrounded by 1950s floral curtains: A palace of white ceramic ... Read More...
To make up for the lack of time I’ve had to prepare a post this week, I thought you might like to see inside some of the rooms at London’s Corinthia Hotel. Sorry, I’m not inviting you there for a clandestine kiss and cuddle - but I do have some ... Read More...
The Ford Edsel was launched on ‘E’ Day, the 4th September, 1957. It was so big, it had its own television special on October 13th, called The Edsel Show, featuring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney and Louis Armstrong. Research and development had gone into overdrive to create the Edsel; ... Read More...
Happy New Year! I hope you had an enjoyable time over Christmas? Mine was somewhat quieter than expected… mainly due to the lack of a television signal. I’m sure there are many advantages of communal living, but sharing a satellite dish doesn’t seem to be one of them. I didn’t ... Read More...
As a Christmas treat, The Dabbler briefly goes 3D and with a very special seasonal slideshow (glasses not provided). 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse… If you ever owned a 3D View-Master, you may be familiar with this endearing ... Read More...
