Category Archives: DESIGN

Vintage John Donne book

Posted on January 23, 2013 by kuriosas

I came across this handsome edition of John Donne’s love poems recently in a Highgate charity shop. A choice example of mid-century book graphics, it was printed right on the half-century mark in 1950. The points and diamond shapes made … Continue reading →

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Romanian Insect Orchestra

Posted on January 22, 2013 by kuriosas

Yes, that is a beetle playing a cello… a snail playing a saxophone….. ……and a locust playing a xylophone I found this insane little item on my trip to Cluj Napoca in Transylvania, Romania I talked about in an earlier … Continue reading →

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Portugese Vintage Book Covers & Serralves Art Deco Villa

Posted on January 9, 2013 by kuriosas

I spent a week skipping around Porto in Portugal a while back and was cheered to find some playful book graphics lurking at flea markets and in musty back street shops. Some colourful 1960’s and 70’s psychedelic numbers here: I … Continue reading →

Posted in ARCHITECTURE, BOOK COVERS, DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION, MUSEUMS, TRAVEL | Leave a comment

Art Deco hand painted graphics

Posted on April 20, 2012 by kuriosas

Recently picked up this dazzlingly Art Deco jewellery box from Kempton Antique Market I love the dynamic hand painted graphics – design depicting movement and vitality was typical of that era, in part perhaps because people were trying to … Continue reading →

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London Fashion Week

Posted on February 27, 2012 by kuriosas

I’ve recently been working photographing Street Style at London Fashion Week for The Guardian Fashion Blog. I don’t often feature clothes on here, but I thought some of these offbeat individuals offered some pretty super colour and pattern inspiration, as … Continue reading →

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1950’s interiors article

Posted on January 11, 2012 by kuriosas

Some colourful mid-century inspiration here using a classic 50’s palette of reds, yellows and greens. Nice ‘indoor gardening’ tips for transforming your window into a den of foliage Found by my Dad, a useful creature who spends a lot of … Continue reading →

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Hungarian Book Covers

Posted on December 15, 2011 by kuriosas

Just got back from adventuring in Transylvania and Hungary. Found all of these titles by chance in a backstreet bookshop in Budapest. Some fairly unhinged imagery similar to the covers I featured last year from Lviv in the Ukraine. My … Continue reading →