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I found Val’s store on my first magical mystery tour last year and returned to see what was new and I was not disappointed. I met Christina, her assistant who was born in Denmark, went to Berkeley in the 60’s, lived in Florida, and has now taken up residence in London. We discussed amongst other things, health care systems in the US, UK , and Canada, the importance of the use of colour in design, being a non conformist and being at Berkeley in the sixties during the Vietnam war, and how liberating those days were, being a hippie and dropping out and sitting in. Needless to say, we had a great chat, and the shop was packed with beautiful things! A great mix of antique lighting, vintage glass consoles, tables, dressers, and lighting that Val has custom made. Everything in this shop has a warm glow to it and the feeling of a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie. It has a feeling of femininity and softness which I am always drawn to.  Check out her website at www.valeriewade.com

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Valeries' style has a feeling of romance and a nod to 30's glamour. The store abounds with crystal and mirrored glass furniture which had a sparkle that made my heart flutter!

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The addition of colour in glass accessories added such an incredible glow as it reflected off the glass.

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Valerie Wade In the heart of Chelsea

What defines great design? In my opinion its the ability to combine different periods, materials, modern and antique. Valerie has done this brilliantly in her shop, and in addition many of the lighting fixtures are designed by her, which is the sign of a truly creative person.

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1930's lighting fixtures, and the warmth of a feminine symbol of beauty and serenity.

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Touches of Moroccan inlaid furniture, painted glass, sparkling crystal.

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As it is just around the corner from my temporary home in London, I have walked by Ross Hamilton’s antique shop many times.  With the walls sheathed in a dark forest green fabric and its windows aglow with majestic paintings, furniture and glorious objects I, Jane Hall, was a little intimidated about ringing the bell and gaining entrance. But the sinuous shape of a chair and the gleam of a chandelier beckoned me in, so I took the chance. Mark, the proprietor, couldn’t have been more welcoming and allowed me to take these photos, so I could share his treasures with you.

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Proprietor, Ross Hamilton British Antiques


The chandelier, which once graced a medical science institute, retails for 67.000 pounds and the fab chair in the window is late 1700’s, acquired by using a backgammon set as barter. The walls in the basement were recently redone in a beautiful, lavender linen, which shows the warmth of woods of so beautifully that you can’t help but be entranced.

A superb antique chandelier graces the entrance way

Green linen walls, created in 1986
Green linen walls, created in 1986

Fab chair, acquired by using a backgammon set as barter

Fab chair, acquired by using a backgammon set as barter

It’s too much, it’s overdone, it’s in bad taste. So say the design experts whose primary task seems to be giving clients’  homes “that look”. You know the one I mean. It’s that bland, beige, stainless steel look, which is featured so prominently, over and over and over again in North American design publications. For consumers, the underlying, yet not so subtle message, is simple; play by the rules. And yet I’m convinced that people are being sold a bill of goods and that with a little guidance, most would gladly step outside that can of beige paint, create a touch of magic here and there, and transform their space into something that looks less like a hotel lobby and more like a home.

Stephen Calloway, author of Divinely Decadent, got it so right when he showed another side of the design world where more is more and it is marvelous! Reviewed on Amazon, the book  is described as a showcase of interiors sure to delight anyone who adores decorative elements; it is ” lavish, eccentric, opulent, bohemian, theatrical”.  Written with wit, photographed by renowned interior photographer Deidi von Schaewen, and printed with extravagant 5th-color gold throughout, Divinely Decadent is structured around the theme of the seven deadly sins: from slothful living rooms to bedrooms to lust after, from envious furnishings to collections to covet and materials to arouse the anger of the puritanical. This is the perfect antithesis to worthy but dull neutrals, contemporary good taste, and minimal modern lines- a veritable feast for style-conscious maximalists.

It goes without saying that I believe colour makes us FEEL! In fact, what is most important is not how our houses look, but how they make us feel. Oftentimes, we move into our homes with the boxes but never arrive emotionally. Painting our houses in colours we love helps us to take emotional possession of our home. I have consulted with people who have lived in their home for years and were ready to move as they never felt they belonged. They may have lived there for years and were ready to move and yet once I had helped them take the plunge,  they wondered why they waited so long.

Taking emotional possession of your home and making it reflect it who you are is a lot cheaper than moving. As one happy customer said, “I came in to buy a gallon of paint and spent 20,000 dollars but for the first time in 10 years we don’t feel like we were visitors in our own home. We were going to move and now we love our home!” A swath of luxurious fabric here and a touch of vibrant colour there can be life transforming and, for me, incredibly gratifying as I improve the quality of people’s lives.

Anything but bland and boring, pink and lime green rule.

This room, originally painted the colour of mud, is now fresh and airy. Although I have been using aqua for many years, just recently Pantane picked it as the colour of the year for 2010.

A home where the art work inspired the room.

This room transports the clients to another time and place and has allowed them (after 7 years!) to finally feel at home.

“Jane Hall saved our lives. After a grand move from the United States to Toronto, one marred by months of renovation disasters, we were ready to throw in the towel on this house.”

“In brilliance, the process of working with Jane was like having Michelangelo or Da Vinci design one’s home. In product, Jane’s design is lush, pleasing to the senses, and one that makes us finally happy to come home.”

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"Jane’s magic eye, and her brilliant knowledge of color, style, and design, revolutionized our house, and, consequently our lives."

"Jane’s magic eye, and her brilliant knowledge of color, style, and design, revolutionized our house, and, consequently our lives."

As I traipse about London, England, popping into the most glorious design showrooms and lingering in each, I’m truly invigorated and inspired by the rich and colourful tapestry of fabulous textiles, luscious wall coverings and shimmering lighting. Undeterred by the snow (after all I’m a Torontonian!), the smallest trace of which seems to bring the city to a complete standstill, I’m driven to scour the city in search of the finest in European design.  Never do I have to look further than the next block ahead, as each street seems home to yet another exquisite shop. Beaumont and Fletcher, located in Chelsea, an area of south-west London, England, is no exception as their furnishings are distinctive, unique, enduring in design and utterly English.  Swathed in scrumptious fabrics, their furniture is comfortable, elegant and opulent, with an attention to detail that is rare in the industry. They  specialize in creating custom made fabric panels, embroidered to the clients’ specifications. This service truly fits the English word bespoke, which means custom made.

I had a wonderful chat with John, the owner, and his lovely showroom manager, Jana. I spoke to Jana about the North Americans’ penchant for gray and beige interiors and their fear of infusing their homes with colour and pattern, lest they be considered different. She was perplexed as to why people didn’t want to differentiate themselves and I ask that same question myself. The intent of my magical mystery tour of England is to give you, my readers, a glimpse into the world of  design, with the goal of inspiring you to let loose, to think outside the box and to embrace colour and pattern, as the Europeans have done for centuries.