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The Kandalama Cushion story, and my sri lanka travel tips

30/10/2019

5 Comments

 
​"Oh that's a really nice hotel!" our guest house owner exclaimed.
“You can’t possibly get a tuk-tuk. No, no. Let me organise a driver for you.”
On our Sri Lankan adventure thus far we’d had so many “near misses” from bonkers bus drivers overtaking on the single-lane highway that runs from top to bottom of this small island that I didn’t care how I got there, as long as it was in one piece.

Which we did. And as soon as I spied the glorious hotel emerge out of the dusty, tan land, I was glad we were arriving in style.
We had treated ourselves to a couple of nights at the Heritance Kandalama, swapping humble little guesthouses for five star lux, and this jewel in star architect Geoffrey Bawa’s hotel crown, delivered everything I had hoped it would.
It's an extraordinarily harmonious fusion between the jungle and stark architecture built into a mountain. The hotel is fully covered and screened by vegetation, with a ramped ascent to the cave-like entrance. It is dramatic, sympathetic to the surrounds and simply breathtaking.

While we would’ve been more than happy to while away the afternoon in the infinity pool with its views across to the incredible rock fortress known as Sigiriya, we had it on good advice that a visit to the Golden Temple of Dambulla was a must.

The baking afternoon heat meant most of the crowds had retreated back to their hotels, which allowed us to explore the site in relative peace.
The Golden Temple is a Buddhist site that consists of a series of five cave shrines. Still inhabited by forest-dwelling Buddhist monks today as it has been since the 3rd century BCE, the natural caves have been transformed into one of the largest Buddhist complexes in the South Eastern Asian region, showcasing innovative approaches interior decoration. 

But it’s the giant golden Buddha overlooking the temple complex that is the most immediately impressive sight on the site that’s made up of caves filled with extraordinary carved Buddhas and rich, gold etched murals. Room after room was filled with incredible artistry, with geometric patterns and floral motifs interspersed with vast detailed pictorial narratives but it was a battle scene featuring snakes, leopards and other exotic animals that struck me.

I have re-used the base of the pattern and reworked the motifs to blend into a bright stylised abstract of what was a ceiling painting.  By moving elements and adding bold colours, this print is now full of energy and movement. ​
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Murals in the Dambulla caves
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Murals in the Dambulla caves
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
The giant Golden Buddha overlooking the complex
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
The Heritance Kandalama blending into the jungle
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The Kandalama Cushion
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Sri Lanka travel tips

Explore Anuradhapura:
The ruins of Anuradhapura are one of Sri Lanka’s and South East Asia most impressive sights. The enormous complex contains a rich collection of architectural and archaeological wonders: large stupas, ancient pools and crumbling temples, built during Anuradhapura’s thousand years of rule over Sri Lanka.  Well worth a few hours exploring this area.
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Stupa in Anuradhapura
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Stupa in Anuradhapura
Safari at Minnriya Tank:
Book a safari and see the Elephant gathering at Minnriya Tank. 
Large numbers of Sri Lankan elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season.  It is amazing how close you get to these majestic creatures, whilst adhering to the strict rules and conservation of this area.
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Elephant gathering at Minnriya Tank
Sigiriya:
Sigiriya (Lion Rock) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern district near the town of Dambulla, Sri Lanka.   This site was selected by King Kashyapa for his new capital. He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes, and created a grand entrance to the place.
​
​T
he capital and the royal palace was abandoned after the king's death, but still remains one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning and running fountains. When going to this site remember to take your walking shoes and plenty of water, and the last leg to the top is not for the faint hearted.
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Sigiriya
Kandy Esala Perahera:
The first six nights are relatively low-key, but on the seventh night the proceedings escalate into a impressive parade.  Thousands of fire twirlers, dancers, drummers, flag waivers and elephants parade the street in a colourful 4 hour plus procession.

​The perahera is held in Kandy to honour the sacred tooth enshrined in the The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It runs for 10 days in the month of Esala (July/August), ending on the Nikini poya (full moon).

We stayed at a local guest house who organised us our tickets, and you need to book well in advance.  It’s also a dry zone during the festival, so those inclined for a little tipple, it’s time for a detox.
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Elephants on parade
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Fire twirlers lighting up the streets
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Elephants in blue
Nuwara Eliya:
Nestled amongst the tea plantations its ‘Little England’ in the highlands and this town has a British-country-village feel to it.  With colonial-era bungalows, Tudor-style hotels, well-tended hedgerows and pretty gardens and a much cooler climate it’s a must see on your trip to Sri Lanka.  Stay a couple of days and explore the tea plantations and sample the fine quality tea.  It’s an easy and scenic train ride from Kandy.

Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
Tea picking in Nuwara Eliya
Galle:
Galle is an exotic old trading port blessed with Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Easy to explore on foot, and you will love wandering its lanes as you pass impeccably restored hotels, cafes, and quirky boutiques. In Galle you will also find amazing artists, writers, photographers and designers to pick up holiday trinkets.
Peter Daavid | Kandalama Cushion
The old trading port of Galle
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The vatican

20/10/2019

3 Comments

 
Top tip: when you visit the Vatican, organise your tickets for early morning and go for the breakfast. This means you get in before the hordes descend and means you get to see the Sistine Chapel, while not entirely alone, at least without thousands of others.  But no matter when you get to St Peters Basilica you’ll be greeted with a great queue. It was too great for me.

But the Vatican - wow. Sure the Sistine gets all the press, but the Gallery of Maps - an extraordinary hallway of more than 40 frescos of maps from around the world - was just one of the unexpected joys of visiting Catholic HQ.
​

Another was the huge fresco - The Coronation of Charlemagne - in one of the rooms of the Stanze di Raffaello. I became mesmerised by one of the bishops in the piece. Who is this chatty man? What is this jibber jabber?  What was he saying, while looking over at the other men in hats with a knowing glance?
​

While I’ll never know, I do know that he and his mates look good on my couch.
Vatican Cushion | Peter Daavid
The original fresco
Vatican Cushion | Peter Daavid
The end result
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2020 Colour trends

11/9/2019

4 Comments

 
​Well, the Dulux colour trends for 2020 have been released and wow, there are some great colours.  The whole vibe feels retro-contemporary cool, turn your back on mass-produced and travel!  Which suits me well, as that's what I'm all about.  So below is my summary of what's on offer for 2020 and how I can help you achieve the look:
Comeback:
"Vintage styles mix with contemporary pieces to create an eclectic look" - Dulux

Retro contemporary cool!  With a vintage and rich colour palette of blues, greens, azure (the lush bright blue colour) and amber alongside warm tones of grape, rust, and clay.  It's all about blending your favourite pieces, whether collected from travel or favourite finds and expressing your true self and style.  Less is more and pops of vintage colour.  Teams perfectly with the Hobart, Siena and Sydney cushion.
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Sydney Cushion | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Sydney
Siena Cushion | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Siena
Hobart Cushion | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Hobart
​
Cultivate:
"Cultivate’s nature-inspired palette combats the crush of city living with its soothing calmness." - Dulux

Homely, nurture and regeneration. Relax from the city life and be calm! Or just move to the country as I did! This palette is all about the layers of greens and moving to earthy palettes with hints of blue-grey, purple and mustard to help you reconnect to nature. Perfect pairing with Vatican and Borgia cushion.
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Borgia Cushion | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Borgia
Vatican Cushion | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Vatican

Grounded:
"Build yourself a simple, beautiful life." - Dulux
​

Simple, soft and beautiful. Removing the clutter and making mindful choices of craftsmanship and longevity (sounds like purchasing from limited edition fair trade artisans to me!). This palette is muted, calm and soft with neutral whites and greys, with hints of lavender and corals to add a feeling of luxe. This palette is perfect with the Modena cushion.
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Modena | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Modena
Indulge
"Indulge is the luxurious antidote to our busy, stressful lives" - Dulux
​

Rich, yummy, fun and not for the faint-hearted. Did someone say dramatic? Think escape, travel, time-warp and again, more retro-cool, but warm this time! ... Can we be all these things?!? 

This palette is all about rich layers of red, earthy browns, terracotta, rust purples, and coral. This palette is perfect with Pompeii and Kandalama cushion.
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Kandalama cushion | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Kandalama
Pompeii Cushion | Limited Edition | Simply Unique
Pompeii
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Pompeii - Inspiration & Recomendations

1/5/2019

3 Comments

 
I was always fascinated by the disaster of Pompeii as a child.  

I remember seeing the gold bracelets and the casts of bodies in the National Geographic.  It felt unworldly, mysterious and exciting -  I don’t think I could contemplate the devastation as such as nine year old, but it was intriguing and ever since Pompeii has been on my bucket list to visit.

We took the local train from where we were staying on the Amalfi Coast (Vietri Sul Mare, highly recommend as a base to explore the whole region) on a late spring morning, I was overwhelmed by the site, the structures, the frescos, the colours and, especially, the mosaics. 
​
This design was part of a column mosaic, found in the house of one of Pompeii’s elite (as I learned by eavesdropping on a passing tour group).

Since Pompeii was said to be a "resort" town for the Romans, I wanted to create a new resort feel to this design.  Moving away from the traditional blues and whites, I chose a dark semi-washed purple look along with greys, green and corals to reinvent this look.
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Recommendations:

Stay:
Vietri Sul Mare is a great spot to explore the region.  We stayed at this cute little Airbnb with its own terrace overlooking the sea.  It was truly amazing.  Check it out (here)

Visit:
Pompeii, of course! It's an easy train ride from Vietri Sul Mare, and be in awe of this amazing historical site. You'll need a good couple of hours to explore - but you could easily spend a half day or more.
​
Positano or Capri?  We chose Positano and did not regret it. Just catch the train or a taxi from Vietri into Salerno and hop on a ferry to Positano.  It's a great day trip for swimming, lounging, sipping, antique shopping and more. Yes, it gets busy - very - but it's still wonderfully charming, especially when all the bougainvillea are in bloom. 

Naples, if you haven't come from Naples already then it's a must.  But you will need to spend a couple of days exploring, eating/drinking and taking in the city.  It feels real compared with so many tourist towns in Italy and has a really strong creative vibe.  I really want to go back and spend more time in this interesting, gritty, alive city.

Eat:
There are plenty of places in Vietri Sul Mare to eat, whether along the foreshore at any of the outdoor restaurants or up on the hill in the centre of town, you will be spoilt for choice.  Check out the options (here)

Shop:
There are heaps of trinket and souvenir shops, but we found a local artist and potter Mirko, up in the village in Vietri Sul Mare.  His work is represented internationally and the colours he uses are extraordinary.  We just had to bring home a vase! Check out Mirko (here)
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The vibrant yellow pottery vase by local artist Mirko that we just had to have
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The seaside town of Vietri Sul Mare
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The ruins of Pompeii under the Mt Vesuvius
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The original image & inspiration, design process & the end result.
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Dinner by the sea on a balmy spring eve. Plenty to eat and enjoy in Vietri Sul Mare
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Day tripping to Positano
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Antiques at the top of the hill in Positano, best buys around!
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Autumn in daylesford

15/4/2019

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I love Daylesford in Autumn. It's a picture-perfect postcard of historical buildings and the autumnal hues. From the golden yellows, bright and burnt oranges, to the most sumptuous claret. In this little town in the heart of spa country, the trees are truely magical at this time of year.

But it's not just the idyllic landscape you come to Daylesford for. It has natural mineral springs and delicious paddock to plate fare, and there is plenty to offer those looking to spend a weekend away. Having said that, the weekends are normally packed with people, but that is a small price to pay in a town that has so much to offer.

Whether you are staying the weekend and have booked a long lunch at The Lakehouse restaurant, or a quiet pub meal at The Farmers Arms, or even a cheeky wine at Wine And The Country; Daylesford is not just about food anymore. It's now home to a small number of boutique stores opening to fulfil your every want.  

Sure, Bromley has been in Daylesford for a while and there are a number of artisan gifts that you can buy at The Convent.  But its the stores that have popped up on Howe Street that I find most exciting. Howe Street is just a short walk up from Vincent Street and is home to some great local businesses, such as DA Apothecary, The Donkey’s Tale, Sarah Conners, Bowen & Kenneth, Ruby Slippers and the new kid on the block, Buster McGee.

Buster McGee specializes in men's clothing, grooming products, and gifts. Stocking labels such as Scotch & Soda and I Love Ugly, grooming products from The Groomed Man Co, Klein's Perfumery, and more. A number of smaller gift items, from carefully-sourced suppliers, are also on offer. And of course, Buster McGee is the exclusive central Victorian stockist of Peter Daavid cushions!

So, do yourself a favour and visit Daylesford this long weekend and explore what is on offer.
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Colour and meaning

2/4/2019

2 Comments

 
​Throughout my travels around the world, I have always been drawn to and inspired by colour.  From the vibrant colours of spices and food through Asia to the incredible vibrant coloured fabrics in Sri Lanka and Peru.  And of course the depth of colour in Europe, from the colours, shades, and textures of the architecture to the depth of colour found in art.

Since I am currently designing additions to my cushion range I thought it would be a good time to re-cap on colour and meaning.  Whilst these meanings do not influence the colours I choose for each design, I thought it may be interesting.  Considering, these meanings tend to change from culture to culture.  Below are some consistent descriptions that I have found.

Red: 
Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate, sincerity, happiness (Only in Japan)

 
Pink:
Symbolizes love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance, and calm.

 
Beige and ivory:
Symbolize unification. Ivory symbolizes quiet and pleasantness. Beige symbolizes calm and simplicity.

 
Yellow:
Signifies joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.

 
Dark Blue: 
Symbolizes integrity, knowledge, power, and seriousness.

 
Blue: 
Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.

 
Turquoise:
Symbolizes calm. Teal symbolizes sophistication. Aquamarine symbolizes water. Lighter turquoise has a feminine appeal.

 
Purple: 
Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, honour, arrogance, mourning, temperance.

 
Lavender:
Symbolizes femininity, grace, and elegance.

 
Orange: 
Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.

 
Green: 
Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, service, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.

 
Brown: 
Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.

 
Gray: 
Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes calm.

 
 
White: 
Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.

 
Black: 
Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical colour, mourning, death (Western cultures), austerity, detachment.


Eastern World:

Marriage: 
White and pink are favourite just as in the western world.

Green: 
Eternity, family, harmony, health, peace, posterity

Happiness: 
Red

Helpful: 
Gray

Wealth: 
Blue, gold, and purple

White: 
Children, helpful people, marriage,
mourning, peace, purity, travel

Gold: 
Strength, wealth

Evil or sadness:
Just like in the western world- black.

Source: incredibleart.org

If you are still interested and want to read more, here are a few links of what I have found:

The symbolism of colours and colour meanings around the world:

https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/color-symbolism-and-meanings-around-the-world

Meaning of colours in colour psychology:
https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/meaning-of-colors.html

Colour and meaning:
https://www.color-meanings.com/

Colour Wheel Pro - See Colour Theory in Action:
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
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Texture and colour - inspirational colour ways from paintings
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Colours of travel. Collections and memories of travel and experiences
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Magazines, fabrics and colour swatches. All part of the design process to work into new designs
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Bright and dark, colours from Sri Lanka
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Woven woollens from Peru. The colours of the rainbow, texture and joy.
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Inspirational colours from "Eat the problem", one of the amazing latest editions from Mona
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Inspirational colours from "Eat the problem", one of the amazing latest editions from Mona
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Inspirational colours from "Eat the problem", one of the amazing latest editions from Mona
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Inspirational colours from "Eat the problem", one of the amazing latest editions from Mona
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Inspirational colours from "Eat the problem", one of the amazing latest editions from Mona
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Texture and colour - inspirational colour ways from paintings
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Texture and colour - inspirational colour ways from paintings
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Colours of travel. Collections and memories of travel and experiences
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Hobart ... So hot right now

22/3/2019

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Hobart is so hot right now! It’s the little city that could and is the perfect weekend getaway - amazing art, incredible food and a cool craft spirit scene that makes a couple of days exploring so much fun.

After a long (long!) lunch at Franklin (I’m still dreaming of the housemade burrata *swoon*) we were wandering the streets fighting off a food coma when I happened upon this little antique shop with a wonderful piece of West German pottery in the window (I’m a bit obsessed). Unfortunately the “closed” sign on the door meant it wasn’t to be.
​​
I was peering into the window, looking longingly at its unique lush green, orange and white colourings, ruing that we hadn’t walked by 10 minutes earlier when the shop was still open, when, luckily, the owner spied me - and my hangdog expression - in the window and opened the store.
The vase was mine! And its gorgeous gradient and colours are now yours, too!
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The piece of west german pottery that I had to have. The inspiration for the Hobart cushion.
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Parts of the incredible long, long, long, lunch at Franklin in Hobart. We did have more to eat than just this and maybe a "few" extra glasses of wine. Love a long lunch.
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Walking off said long lunch and taking in the views of the waterfront.
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The finished product with some minor colour adjustments
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The finished product, from pottery to 100% cotton velvet
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Eating, eating and more eating. This time at Fico. Another long lunch and highly recommended.
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Some incredible sights in MONA, Australia's best Art Museum. Another reason to go to Hobart!
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Borgia! .... The cover story

27/2/2019

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“But Lucrezia, you are a BORGIA!”

Jeremy Irons earwormed his way into my brain as soon as I walked into the extraordinary Borgia apartments in The Vatican.

​Was I still in Italy?  Or had I been transported to Spain? With frescoes of the Borgia bull, these apartments show the Spanish roots of the new Pope at that time, Rodrigo de Borgia, who became Pope Alexander in 1492. 

Apparently, the entire space was created to reflect the pride he felt in his family name, his Spanish origins and the huge ambition that he had for himself and his family, as portrayed by Irons with his inimitable ruthless charm in the brilliant bingeworthy series, The Borgias. 

On this tour, everyone else was looking around at the walls and the ornate gilded stucco frames and frescos, but I was drawn to 
the floor tiles (imported from Spain), that gave the rooms a completely Spanish look.

​One set of tiles stood out to me - this wonderful diamond repeat that had an incredible pattern and texture.

​While the Borgias were said to be of dubious character and accused of a roll call of crimes during the reign of Pope Alexander - lasciviousness! nepotism! adultery! simony! murder! - least they had good taste in decorating!
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Borgia, Peter Daavid, Australian, Designer, Cushion, Covers, Cushion Covers
The original image of the floor tiles in the Borgia apartments in Rome.
Borgia, Peter Daavid, Australian, Designer, Cushion, Covers, Cushion Covers
Stencil reworking of the design
Borgia, Peter Daavid, Australian, Designer, Cushion, Covers, Cushion Covers
The design process: choosing colour-ways, sampling different colours on different materials
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Siena .... My Under The Tuscan Sun moment

14/2/2019

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​I couldn’t believe my eyes. One of my favourite movies come to life right in front of me!

Before she shone as MI5 officer in the excellent Killing Eve (if you haven’t seen it, run don’t walk, it’s amazing), Sandra Oh was helping Diane Lane live the dream in Under The Tuscan Sun, and here, on the steps of the Duomo di Siena, I was doing the same.

Hundreds of young men, dressed in colourful pantaloons and peaked caps, were performing a spectacular flag-throwing ceremony to the beat of a marching band.

Wandering the streets of this gloriously preserved Medieval city was a highlight of this trip to Italy, history seemed visceral, vibrant and very much alive.

For flag-throwing is serious business in Siena and heralds the running of Il Palio, a horserace that’s been held for hundreds of years around the city’s central square. Dressed in the colours of their contrade - or city ward - 10 jockeys ride bareback at astonishing speeds around the square cheered on by the entire population.

Today the flag-throwing preceded not the race, but the drawing of the city wards that would be in the race - an event that also brought out thousands of Sienese to witness and celebrate if their flag was drawn.

Celebrate in such a joyously uninhibited and exuberant way that it was impossible not to get caught up in the excitement.

It was while watching the flags flying through the air that I turned my gaze to the heavens - well, the earthly incarnation of heaven - and saw the magnificent details of the cathedral’s columns that were supporting the equally beautiful archways shining in pink and gleaming white.
​
The craftsmanship, the detail, the texture are simply breathtaking and have been captured in this design.

​I still dream of doing a Diane Lane and moving to the Tuscan countryside, but for now, this cushion is a little slice of Siena that sends me there from here.

​
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The food, the architecture ... and the wine
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The image that inspired the Siena Cushion Cover
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Siena, the magnificent medieval city
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The design process, colours, stencil work & fabric samples
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The drawing of the city wards that would be in the race. The crowd and electricity in the air was truly amazing.
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Modena Cushion Cover .... The Cover Story & More

7/2/2019

1 Comment

 
Bells pealing across a clean, crisp, Modena morning.

Meditative sketching of a floor tile while the city slumbers.

A thunderstorm on a warm spring day.

Dressed to impress for a long lunch.

A glass of champagne, a warm welcome.

Lunch at Osteria Francescana, treated like royalty.

The tiniest tortellini eaten out of the pan.

A celebration of parmesan; the famous lemon tart.

Art on the walls, jazz in the air, a meal of extraordinary finesse and flair.

Content and fulfilled, in the late afternoon sun I saw the pastels of this prettiest of cities in new light.

Yellows, hints of green, reds and smoky pinks and coral.

This is my Modena.

​My favourite city in Italy.
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The delights of Osteria Francescana & the famous lemon tart.
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This goes with that. Team the stylish Modena cushion cover with any of these couches, colours or fabrics. Give your home a striking update and buy this designer cushion cover today. Stock is limited, you don't want to miss out.
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Meditative sketching of a floor tile while the city slumbers.
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The colours of Modena
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The design process: sampling, experimenting with colour-ways & refining
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