Alistair Nicholls loves architecture. Alistair Nicholls loves interiors. Alistair Nicholls loves design. Alistair Nicholls loves photography and quite frankly is more than pretty bloody good. He’s fab. It’s the Brit effect. He cuts though the affected, feigned and faux. Rooms are real and their beauty is genuine. And all this revealed through a talented photographer’s eye. Enjoy!

… lot of work, dodgy and wobbly but city views… I’m jaded

WINKS – weekend links. Here we list what has come in during the week, things we’ve found and things we think you’ll want to see. If you’d like to see your blog or website featured email us and if we think it fits with our readers we’ll link you. So what’s in this week?

• Bemz have released a new line – Loose Fit Country Style. Part shabby chic, part English rose, a dash rural French. Taking IKEA in another direction. Scandinavian goes farmhouse.

• If casual beach style with layering of raw naturals, recycled timbers, rattan, corals and shells makes you quake at the knees then Kate and Emma at Island Style Living are kindred spirits. So evocative of Aussie beachside holiday living. The memories!! Online store with simply gorgeous (and simple in their beauty) pieces for your home. Shells are my weakness!

• I also have a weakness for the brutal and the natural, the rough with the smooth and furniture that is more sculpture than big box cookie cutter. Love the work of New York based John Houshmand.

• Haus Interior let me count the ways I love you. I so wish that I could walk through your doors and shop shop shop. I guess there is always online. Summer 2010 stock in store now. Wire vase you will be mine 🙂

• Award winning British textile designer Selina Rose’s new 2010 collection is a cool mix of eye popping colour, simple yet sophisticated, nature-inspired pattern and her trademark fretwork-like felt cut-outs. Love love love!

Buildings have a sense of place and time. They relate to where they are, when they are and vice versa. Buildings have a past and a future and the whole complex web winds around the inhabitants and the environment. Architect Chris Dyson and his team take pride in the sense of place of a building whether it is a Georgian reno in Spitalfields, London or a large development in China. What I love about his portfolio the most is his reworking of traditional buildings in a modern way. Taking their past into a future by understanding what they were, are and what they could become. No foisting a purpose or “persona” on them. No bowing or breaking. Just fulfilling and freeing.

I have no uncles. If I did I’d want him to be just like 3rd UNCLE. Ok that was a pretty sappy intro but you must admit it’s a memorable name for a design studio. Toronto based 3rd UNCLE Design create modern spaces that are light, bright and fun. Too many people think minimalism is cold, hard and rigid. Lighten up! Minimalism is about being resourceful, creative, clever. What I wouldn’t give for a soak in that tub!

Clean minimal lines. Beauty in simple form and enjoyment in function. Modern and fabulous. Chris Connell and his design studio are not only interior designers and architects but symbiotically are MAP International, classic contemporary Australian furniture. His spaces are elegant and at ease but as we all know less may be more but it’s also a darn sight more difficult to achieve than more. It is all about well executed details, about making everything look effortless but always about the quality of design. I’ve included some of the design studio’s commercial work too. Those of you familiar with Melbourne’s cafe scene will know and most likely already love these dining spaces.