At chocolate creative, we work alongside some very nice architect and design/interior firms. Over the years, we have created some bespoke orders for various nurseries, schools, hotels, and have worked closely with clients to make on demand colours and sizes wooden knobs for their kitchens.

We will be soon launching a wider bespoke service. I am developing together with Gassy some very nice big format wooden handles and knobs, to be used in wardrobes, fitted cabinets, etc…One of my favourites firms to work with is the creative studio, Nochintz, up in Manchester. They have been using our wooden wall hooks and knobs for different projects. I like their approach to design, using and supporting UK based independent designers/makers and keeping their interiors fresh, contemporary and functional.

Their portfolio is diverse and impressive, here are some images of the work they did for the Natural retreats company and a recent Hotel exhibition in London, on both you can see chocolate creative wall hooks being used in a very practical and creative way.

Photos supplied by NoChintz

BACK TO BASICS – LA CASA EN RUINAS

Lanzarote is the land of wind, sun and volcanos, rough, simple, peaceful and incredibly beautiful. Yesterday I was browsing AD online, and I came across this house "Esta casa es una ruina" (this is house is in ruins), and I immediately thought it was in Lanzarote, but no, its in the Azores islands, not far from us (Canary islands) though. I was so taken by its simplicity and beauty, what an amazing restoration job the architects and owners have done to this ruined forgotten house. It has always been a dream of mine to retire to my islands and get involved in a similar project. New buildings do not interest me as much as these old houses build to last and using local materials, still standing proudly after so many years…

Images above from Revista AD online, project renovations by SAMI Arquitectos

Casas cushion, lampshade, botanic print and wall hooks by chocolate creative 

Terrarium by London Terrariums

Photos of Cesar Manrique House and Foundation in Lanzarote

DECORATING A BEACH HUT

SUN is out, and all I can think of is spending some time by the beach, either here in England or back home in Gran Canaria. I fancy the idea of having a beach hut, somewhere not far from London, with an easy commute, of course this is not going to happen any time soon, but since I am free to dream, I have put together some mood boards for my future beach hut.

Paper napkins from papermash | Chopping board from John Lewis | towels by Lindsey Lang for John Lewis | wooden colourful knobs by chocolate creative available at my shop online. 

I find the colourful beach huts of the English coastline very charming, (we don't have them in Canary islands), they are like a miniature house, with very little space, so you have to be very creative to create a cosy and comfortable mini home. I like the idea of translating the outside colours into the indoors theme, using the faded pastels or sometimes bright reds, blues and yellows as the colour palette to decorate the inside space. In my beach hut, I would part away from the most obvious coastal look, and I will try some bold, pretty and colourful homewares, I will find practical solutions, like modern plastic chairs for the outdoor, plenty of wall hooks for hanging towels, kitchen-ware, clothes, etc…cosy blankets, cushions, and small and functional furniture, with plenty of storage. Do you own a beach hut? if so, where about?

Picture frame from Decorator's notebook | Wall wooden hooks from my shop online  

yellow and blue cushion from Kate Clarke London, 

Rocky beach cushion and wall hooks by chocolate creative | Pink dyed table cloth by Hazel Stark  Black and white throw from The Future Kept | 4 leggs Pink Vase from Room39
Outdoors white chair from Atlantic Shopping | Wood tray by Roddy & Ginger 

Hand dyed linens by Hazel Stark 

Photos by me 

A YEAR OF SEW MUCH FUN – SELF PUBLISHING

My background is in graphics, so as well as running chocolate creative I do work on a freelance basis for some customers. Last year I had the opportunity to work on a very nice project, a book about sewing for entrepreneur Roz Davies. She wanted to self-published her first publication. She had a very clear idea about what she wanted to achieve in terms of content and projects/ideas, but in order to make the book happen she needed to gather a small group of professionals, in this case, Roz herself was incharge of the content/drawings, Emily Ross-Joannou was the editor, Piero Pierini took the photos and myself did all the styling, design/production of the book.

I am thrilled with the final result, a gorgeous book, filled with practical and easy to follow instructions about different sewing projects, suitable for all ages. The projects run across the 12 months of the year, going from Winter/Autumn to Spring/summer themes. You can find Roz, teaching her many classes from her shop at Primrose Hill’s Chalcot Road, or at the Lake District new shop/workshop space. 

Here are some snaps of the cover and inside spreads. Styling the photos was a great fun, and designing the book a great pleasure, specially working with such a good team of professionals, which I am very grateful to for making my job easier…

We are available for work, so if you need an editor, photographer and designer, we are around!!

Photos by Piero Pierini | Images and book copyright Roz Davies | Editorial by Emily Ross-Johannou

Design and styling by Margarita Lorenzo (ME)

Here are some snaps of my recent trip to Rye, very short and indeed cold visit to this little town in East Sussex. I love the English countryside, and discovering all these little towns and villages, they are very pretty and still maintain much of the character of the period when they were created. Rye is famous for its antiques shops, Tudor architecture and Nature reserve. I enjoyed the short visit, but I wish the weather would have been warmer and sunnier and that we had a few more days to explore the area. I liked getting lost in the narrow streets, admiring the old houses and little shops.

The highlight was the very windy and chilly walk in Rye harbour, and see this little pink and black shed in the middle of nowhere.

I am planning my next escape to the countryside…A good piece of advice, research well the trains, it took us a good 3 hours to get there from London, best way is to jump on the fast train from St Pancras, or travel from Victoria Station, oh, and don't forget your scarf, hat, gloves and rain coat, you can never predict the English weather…

Photos by me | Rye