WHERE DO I PUT MY DRINK DOWN? WHY A DRINKS TABLE OF COURSE!

You often hear interior designers talk about drinks tables. These are easy to access at the ready chair - side spots that serve as the perfect place to plant a drink, book or reading glasses. Here is a round up of diverse drinks tables that serve a purpose and look great while doing it.

Photo courtesy of Century
The influence of horns, be it antlers hung from the wall or horn inlay, seems to be sticking around. Warm antique brass and creative use of the antlers in the Chairside Table from Century makes the popular motif seem fresh again.

Rich complex glazes and unique garden stool forms keep Emissary ahead of the curve. This new ovoid silhouette with a raised top is a nice new addition.

Photo courtesy of Arteriors
A brass tabouret table that resembles a drum with x-detailing looks incredibly chic, like an antique find.

Photo courtesy of Arteriors
The three legged Sanibel table with a slim gold leaf base and beveled black marble top has sleek French 1940 lines. From Arteriors.

Based on an 18th century naturalized rocaille style table with a tree base, Beeline Home's Albero Drinks Table is the perfect perch for a cold one. Williams is known for her drinks tables and has an appreciation for their functional qualities.

Available in a zingy green lacquer or (fire engine red), this ribbed Column Drinks Table is a diminutive darling from Beeline Home.

I always love anything wrapped in lacquered linen, so no wonder this coral Festoni zig zag table grabbed my attention!

Currey and Company debuted their highly anticipated Marjorie Skouras collection at market with these sexy shell inlay Bix side tables in a blue green mother of pearl with silverleaf legs. Ooh lala.

Global Views introduced a round marble side table called the Arabesque with Moorish cut out details.

Artesia was feeling the same thing, with their hand carved sandstone version called Soraya. It seems this is the sincerest form of flattery, since both these pieces were influenced by Stephanie Odegard's marble classic in the same vein.

Like a slick of shiny red lipstick, this red laquer Flip side table from Currey and Company is all dressed up, ready for any occasion.

Taking it's cue from 1950's bamboo outdoor furniture, this small cerused side table with a glass top from Gabby has an interesting circular composition.

Photo courtesy of Made Goods
The Enzo side table is a solid companion from Made Goods that is available in a chic tortoise looking Penn shell or lighter Kabibe shell finish.

Photo courtesy of Made Goods
With a lot of shimmer, the Bea ceramic side table in a glazed gold finish from Made Goods adds quiet glamour.

Through Space and Time

This is one of my favourite works that I made back in March and it's been in HAAS and I was about to go and take it home because I realised that I actually want it and now it's sold.  So if you have it and stumble across this post please do enjoy it.  LOTS.

But it has reminded me to work more on the flat covers and add more abstract folded bits.

The Bull and the ducks

MURIEL'S WORLD: AN EXOTIC JOURNEY

It has been Muriel's month this October in New York. From a Barneys pop-up shop dedicated to her exclusive limited edition collection of hand-beaded home-furnishings and custom Taffin Candle to a highly successful special auction of 120 pieces at Phillips on October 21st, to her book launch, Muriel Brandolini's special brand of glamorous exotic creations has made a splash here. Exquisitely sophisticated and dreamy, her interiors are luscious eye candy.

Photos courtesy of Rizzoli
Muriel Brandolini lives in a technicolor world. Her interiors pulsate with vibrant color, and transport her clients to a fantasy world where rich textiles, vibrant prints, patchwork woven fabrics, modern accents, striking antiques and unexpected colors collide. These surreal interiors, collected in Rizzoli's The World of Muriel Brandolini Interiors, are truly amazing. Her French Vietnamese multicultural upbringing, with time spent in Vietnam to Venice, give her customized environments a highly unique point of view. It is a treat to have this visionary designer's interiors under one cover, as well as learn her personal journey. The pages will draw you into her fantastically bold world, one you will not want to leave.

Brandolini used the Chinese opium bed and the eclectic combo of hot pink and red years before it became a thing. Shown here with her children, she created a transporting haven in her New York apartment.

Painted candy colored steps relate the color palette back to the rest of her home. A large Vietnamese lantern is a great foil for the poppy colors.

Two black patent leather banquettes with patchwork pillows ground the painted celadon with grey and red floral walls. As unexpected as this combination is, it works.

The canvas of her New York living room is ever evolving. This is her second incarnation of the space, with two long sofas, an art deco table, horsehair covered stools and a round kelly green velvet settee creating a focal point in the long room.

To think that this interior was done in the 1990's, before coral was everywhere, really shows Brandolini's independent design spirit. In a New York foyer, a chocolate brown felt wall with giant coral applique is a statement if there ever was one. An oxblood console ties the colors together creating a wonderful moment.

BARNEYS POP UP:

A special Taffin candle is available in store and online at Barneys. The signature Fleur D'Oranger scent wafts through Brandolini's interiors, providing an exotic, transporting experience in her client's homes.

The shop, in Chelsea Passage, offers custom beaded pillows, beaded and embroidered tables, sling chairs, pendant lights and ornate rugs, set against her signature patchwork fabric backdrop. Step into her world for a sensory escape. Also available online at Barneys.

The pillows are incredibly detailed with wild patterns in unexpected color combinations.

A round puce rug with an abstracted pattern and surrealist tables is Jetson's- meets- Venice.

Rusty colour

Taken of stuff on the Joubert Tradouw wine farm with Deli (yes good food) on route 62 just outside Barrydale on the way to Montague.

IT GETS BETTER WITH AGE: LEATHER UPHOLSTERY

As I walked around High Point Market over the past few days, I was taken by how many great leather pieces I saw. Color is infiltrating upholstery, and when it comes to leather, the patina gets better with age. From sleek black to on trend peacock blue, there is a gorgeous leather to add some zing to your rooms. A few scratches and spills give leather lived-in personality, making it well worth the investment.

Regina Andrews had a deep seated Chesterfield-inspired sofa with tufted back and loose seat cushion.

A classic Chesterfield in black leather with a smaller footprint from Century makes this an ideal piece for apartment dwellers.

An arts and crafts Eliza settee from Thomas O'Brien for Hickory Chair, upholstered in a rich brown leather.

A cream leather sofa, The Brigitte, from Global Views in a slightly midcentury modern silhouette.

Wesley Hall's tufted leather sofa with high back and sides and bolster pillows for a more tailored look.

Chic! Instead of an antique, try a tortoise finished side chair with woven rattan back, chocolate brown leather seat and personality from Century.

A lush natural suede - covered chair with tight seat and tight back from Century.

Cherry red leather on an English reading chair with button tufting from Wesley Hall.

Global Views gets into color with vivid orange leather on a Louis XVI chair, The Marilyn.

A caramel hued leather on a modified French 1930's silhouette in The 9th Street Chair from Hickory Chair.

Lee Industries diminutive chair with small wings in a gorgeous french blue leather.

Andres Arbus designed the now iconic French 1930's furniture being reproduced by Baker. Here, the Paquebot Chair with sleek lines and reclining pitch brings sexy back.

Cherry red leather is cheery as well as chic on Baker's Plymouth side chair.

More rescued animals painted and these guys got pearls too

Magpies - what a wonderful little world
Look at that bulldog - I know Charles and friends would love it here
That little guy has inspired me to crack out the collection of weird dog figurines I have hiding in the garage.  Or just go look at them again.

Bits of Barrydale

Warmwaterberg

Simple and clean and full of old Ooms talking loudly while hanging onto their pool noodles  - just great really. But there are private bath houses with walk in swimming pool sized tubs. And those caravans... go visit... It's only 3.5 hours away or so www.warmwaterbergspa.co.za/

Seweweekspoort and a bit of the Groot Karoo

And some photos from the Laingsburg side.   I just like to drive around and see what is down that road.

The Old Post Office - Carlitzdorp

So this made me very jealous - he owns the old Post Office and got all the furniture with it. He has 467 pigeon holes or thereabouts.  But Derek Mckenzie has a collection of old Karoo wires found in the veldt (I don't have as many as him) and he is very nice and very handsome, so it's OK if he owns the Post Office and uses it as his home and gallery.  And he has a collection of tumbleweed and dried branches hanging out front... unlike mine which live in the garage. To see his photography and exhibition called wiroglyphics have a look at the link.  Unfortunately there is no photo of the actual wires laid out on the floor of the Post Office on his website and I didn't take a pic.