Interiors Little Black Book: Alice Palmer
If I could only buy homeware from one place (and money wasn’t an issue) it would be Robert Kime – he does the most timeless fabrics and antiques.
Guinevere Antiques is such an interesting antiques shop on the King’s Road. It’s an Aladdin’s cave of lighting, rugs, ceramics, artwork and textiles. I always leave feeling so inspired.
The best interiors department store in the world is Liberty. The team orchestrates and arranges everything so beautifully, it feels like a very inspiring home from home.
The coolest independent interiors brand is Malaika Linen – it makes beautiful embroidered linens, but I especially love its ceramics. All of the products are made by artisans in Egypt. I have the Palm Tree bowl on my kitchen wall; it’s such a statement.
Margate is home to some of the best independent designers working in the UK. One of my closest friends lives there and it’s such an inspiring hub of artists, makers and designers.
Bellamy Jean is a brand I only discovered in the last couple of years. It makes stunning one-of-a-kind embroidered and appliquéd cushions in an array of mythical designs. I did a collaboration with the brand and have been a fan ever since.
My perfect shopping day would include a browse at all the interiors shops on Pimlico Road. There are so many great stores there, including Robert Kime, Rose Uniacke, Ramsay Prints, Soane and Partnership Editions. My favourite place for lunch is my parent’s restaurant Brinkley’s on Hollywood Road, so I would definitely stop there for tuna tartare and a bellini. Then, in the afternoon, I would visit the antiques and fabric shops on Edgware Road; Alfie’s Antiques and Joel & Sons are personal favourites – I also bought my wedding dress fabric from Joel & Sons so it brings back happy memories. I would then pop home for an outfit change and go to Casa Cruz for dinner and a lychee sour.
You can’t beat vintage shopping in America. The prices are expensive but the selection is brilliant. My favourite vintage pieces are a couple of Mexican wedding dresses dyed different colours – one pale yellow and one pale pink. They’re really flattering and so fun to wear to a summer wedding.
The best sustainable brand is Mini Rodini – it is my go-to for everyday children’s clothes. Apart from the clothes being colourful, fun and comfortable, the brand ethos is 100% organic and sustainable.
When I want something special for the house I go to the flower shop Scarlet & Violet at the end of my road – all of its arrangements have the wow factor. At the other end of the scale, a Vampire’s Wife dress never fails to put a smile on my face.
The best interiors gift I’ve ever given was when my first daughter was six months old. I commissioned the artist Leonie Gibbs to paint a portrait of her and my husband for his 30th birthday. The best interiors gift I’ve ever received was a huge Moroccan tiled table for my 30th from my husband.
My most recent interiors purchase was a couple of traditional Andalucian Lebrillo bowls from El Pepito. I’ve been looking for similar ones for a while, so I was thrilled with them.
The most expensive investment I’ve made in my home was probably the fitted joinery – I love the cane cupboards in my children’s room, which I designed with my builder. You can’t beat extra storage space.
The biggest inspiration behind my own brand has come from not finding what I want at a reasonable price. My husband’s granny has lamps with covered lampshades all over her home and the lighting they give off is so warm and cosy. It’s a very English country aesthetic.
I buy a lot of tableware from Penny Morrison. She has such a fab collection of ceramic plates and colourful tablecloths; it explains why her tablespaces are a perfect mix of eclectic and chic.
When I’m searching for bedlinen, I always end up at Cologne & Cotton – nothing is nicer than crisp new sheets and this brand has everything from scalloped sheets to pretty candy-striped bedlinen that I use on my children’s beds.
I love the traditional Moroccan green glasses that you get in the souks in Marrakesh. I usually pick up a few extra every time I go back. I also love the Star Wine Glasses from Wild By Tart, which are in between a wine glass and a tumbler – perfect because I hate using a big wine glass at home.
For soft furnishings I love my Suzani cushions from Susan De Liss. They’re a pretty combination of deep red, pale blue and cream silk, which is so flattering and can instantly glam up a room. Most of my furniture I have inherited or sourced on eBay and usually painted, but Alfred Newall’s handmade furniture is always high on my wish list.
Charles Edwards Antiques is an English institution for lighting. One of its glass lanterns is definitely in my dream home. Next on my shopping list is a larger dining table. I am yet to find the perfect one, but I’m on the hunt…
The item I regret not buying is a huge Danny Fox painting I was tempted by. It’s probably worth a small fortune now!
If my house was burning down, the items I’d try to save would be my family photo albums and my favourite paintings.
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