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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!

A sponsor of ours, Kristen Devries, sent me a sample of a new product her shop (Kir Devries) is carrying and I wanted to plug it because she’s been a great sponsor to us for some time now, her product is such a great idea, and she’s going through a really rough time these days (I won’t get into the gory details because she might kill me but let’s just say that some men are scum) and it sounds like she could use a little extra help. So, this product she sent me is an all in one household & laundry cleaning ultra concentrate.

Do you know what this stuff does? It replaces 48 bottles of household cleaner or washes 95 loads of laundry. It’s such a fantastic concept because I have a zillion bottles of cleaners (why I don’t know) and every time I look under the sinks at all of them I get irritated. According to Kristen this cleaner works on carpets, shampooing pets, cleaning jewelry, making hand soap and so much more. I decided to use some to make a glass cleaner (mixed with water and vinegar) and a general household cleaner (mixed with water). I bought some water bottles at the dollar store and mixed them up in those so they’re ready to use. (I forgot to get cute labels).

Since a little of this concentrate goes a LONG way, I might even try it as a laundry detergent. It works wonders and I am stoked to try it out on everything. (P.S. It’s non-toxic, biodegradable, hypoallergenic and ph neutral). Get your own bottle of goodness here. And while you are there, check out all the other great products she carries…I just found the CUTEST bento and snack boxes! Thanks Kristen!!!

… 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 came across the portfolio of San Francisco interior designer Gary Spain the other night and was immediately smitten with his work. He’s like a less wacky version of Jonathan Adler. You may have seen him on a few blogs already (as I noticed when googling him) but I had to jump on the bandwagon because I really admire his funky spaces. A plethora of colour, pattern and furniture of different eras creating an ecelctic and modern vibe.