Bohemian Modern

Š Ryland Peters & Small 2015

Bohemian MODERN Emily Henson Photography by

Katya de Grunwald

Š Ryland Peters & Small 2015

CONTENTS Introduction

6

1 The Details Pattern and colour Textiles Contrast Bring the outdoors in Collections Styling Creativity before consumption

8 10 16 22 26 32 38 44

2 The Homes

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Sources Credits Index Acknowledgments

154 156 158 160

© Ryland Peters & Small 2015

Pattern and colour I’ve always been drawn to vibrant colours and patterns. Although I’ve toned it down

OPPOSITE ABOVE LEFT A woven plastic stair runner in red and white zigzags provides a playful contrast to the worn brick walls of this stairway.

OPPOSITE ABOVE RIGHT A plastic rug is paired with a mini plastic pouffe. These rugs are a colourful and practical addition to the Bohemian Modern home – great both indoors and out, and easily cleaned.

OPPOSITE BELOW LEFT A glossy red kitchen shelf holds a selection of eye-catching cans and packages. Frequently used items such as coffee and tea can easily be decanted into more attractive containers.

OPPOSITE BELOW RIGHT A vibrant mix of patterned pillows – some handmade, some store-bought – livens up a plain bed.

in recent years, I still tend to choose colour over neutral and print over plain. When I think of a bohemian home, this is what springs to mind. Not that every Bohemian Modern home has a vibrant colour palette – you will see in the case studies that some don’t – but very often it is a defining element. Whether they are introduced via textiles, paint, tiles or wallpaper, pattern and colour are great starting points for a room’s décor, and a foundation upon which to build a strong look.

RIGHT In this stylish open-plan living space, a feminine floral rug is the perfect contrast to the pop of yellow on the freestanding ‘wall’. Hidden within the yellow panelling are the utility pipes from the kitchen below. What could have been unsightly has been cleverly disguised and built into a stunning feature.

PAT T E R N A N D C O LO U R

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FROM THE MOMENT YOU WALK through the door, you know this is a happy home. It is bright, airy and cheerful, and you get the sense that nothing is for show; everything serves a purpose or is truly loved. Dorthe’s decorating philosophy is simple: ‘Whatever makes you happiest’. She doesn’t subscribe to the notion that a home should look like those on the glossy pages of a magazine, even though hers does. Instead, Dorthe sees her home and garden as a workshop, a playground and a laboratory – somewhere to have fun and experiment with new ideas.

What matters to Dorthe and her family is that their home is filled with things that tell a story.

So there are rugs from a trip to Marrakech, ceramics from Greece, wooden chopping boards from France, a Buddha from Vietnam and cushions from Bangkok. Dorthe’s bohemian spirit is evident in these pieces and the memories they hold for her. However, she isn’t opposed to mixing in a bit of Ikea. Nor is she above a bit of ‘dumpster diving’, as they sometimes call it in the States. Finding discarded bits of furniture at her local bulky waste drop-off gives her great pleasure, and she loves the feeling of recycling something that was destined for landfill.

When Dorthe and Jakob bought their house, it was in a terrible state. Dorthe oversaw the renovation while on maternity leave with newborn Ella, the baby in her arms. Six years on, it is a glowing example of great light, smart design and the one thing you can’t fake: 86 G R E E N E R Y G A LO R E

ABOVE In the living room, Dorthe has created a vignette that is both practical and interesting. The shelving unit is made of industrial piping and flanges and parts of old crates. It is softened by the Moroccan rug, the delicate plants and the grouping of vintage glass.

LEFT Dorthe loves cane benches.

This one is layered with a soft cotton rug and positioned in front of a bold floral painting. The yellow leather Moroccan pouffe picks out the yellow in the painting, tying the whole look together.

© Ryland Peters & Small 2015 THIS PAGE Never underestimate the power of a restricted colour palette. Black, white, wood and a pop of yellow make this room sing. A framed poster, shapely vases and even quirky speakers are elevated to the status of ‘a collection’ when they share a colour theme. The sleek Danish cabinet and the large branch add warmth to the room.

© Ryland Peters & Small 2015 OPPOSITE In the kitchen, I transformed a blank wall into a family gallery, backed with wallpaper scraps. I made some modern macramé in neon string and covered the kitchen chairs with Dutch wax fabric, easily changeable when the mood strikes.

BELOW AND RIGHT The dining room became our office with the addition of a pair of Ikea desks and two found chairs. The aqua wall came with the house and has gradually grown on me. The artwork in white frames is by the LA painter Kim West and my daughter.

Three years ago, I moved my family from my adopted

Arriving in London, we had two weeks to find a

home of Los Angeles back to London, where I was born

home, schools and, believe it or not, jobs. We are either

and raised. My husband Erick is a film editor and we have

courageous risk-takers or reckless idiots; the jury is still

two children – Ella is 15 and Johnny is 12. I had lived in

out. We rushed into one of the first rented flats we found –

America for half my life and had accumulated an obscene

all beige carpet and cheap furniture. I cried my way

amount of stuff, even for a magpie-like stylist. Rather than

through the first year, desperate to tear up the carpets,

ship it all, we sold or gave away almost all our belongings,

paint the walls and make it my own. On a weekly basis

except two pieces of furniture. At first, it was liberating –

I announced to my husband – an American thoroughly

it’s just stuff, I told myself – but later, quite traumatic.

enjoying living in London – that we should go back to LA.

U R BA N B O H E M I A N

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INTERIORS

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