Valentine's Day is a week away so...

Again this is going to be a short and sweet post in preparation for Valentine's Day.  The first Valentine's Day I spent with my partner it was evident that he was new to the idea of giving gifts.  He says that in Ghana people don't really celebrate Valentine's Day with gifts...so it was all new to him.  Instead he bought me 3 cards, 4 boxes of chocolates and 2 little trinkets...in essence he cleaned out everything that was left in Tesco or whichever shop he went to.  The thought of it still makes me smile hence I thought I would help you out and recommend some gifts...just don't leave it until the last minute!

Enjoy

xx mefie uk

African print interiors - our favourite looks

So it has been some time since I have done an interiors post and so I thought that I would give an update of some of my favourite looks that I have posted to our website www.mefie.co.uk.  Over the past few months of speaking to customers, the one thing that I have found is that some shy away from mixing prints as they are not sure about the complement of colours and patterns in a room.  Below are some of my favourite looks and the reasons why I think they work.

Enjoy
xx mefie uk

This safari print throw pillow and Ercol vintage chair with covered African print covering work well due to the neutral colour palate.  The bold green print in the cushion and the subtle green undertones in the chair covering tie the two together.  The varying woods also provide warmth...not to mention the fireplace ;)!

These three cushions together are one of my all-time favourite combinations.  Again the neutral greens and tans tie the cushions together.  As well all three have a similar cubical print which works nicely.

This cushion combination is a bit more daring but works well because of the pinks which tie them together.  Again a great way to spruce up a neutral sofa!

Again, one of my favourites!  The blues in both cushions tie both together and the contrast of  bright yellow and the subtle greens add interest to the look.

All is available on www.mefie.co.uk

Me fie (my home) in Do-South

This week marked a momentous occasion in mefie's start-up journey...we are in our first high street shop, Do-South in Crystal Palace South London! This local interiors shop was actually the first store that I approached to carry our cushions...as a matter of fact, I approached them before even sewing my first item!

I have been an admirer of Do-South since it's opening a few years ago. I remember the first time that I drove past and I was drawn in by the vibrant colours, the mix of vintage mid-century furniture and accessories, as well as the modern design. The store reminds me of many of the pieces (now considered vintage) that I would see in my Great Aunt, Aunt Bea's house when growing up, hence, the decor makes me smile.

My love of mid-century pieces began at a young age, when I would spend hours playing with the coloured glass vases and admiring the clean lines of the furniture in my aunts house. When I enter into Do-South, I feel transported back to that time yet as I look around the space I am also intrigued by the modern furniture and accessories and I am convinced that both new and old complement one another and that accessories, such as my cushions, complete it. Do-South strikes a balance between new and old and I am thrilled that it is my first store as it really does embody my style and shows the versatility of African prints.

We hope that our addition to this Crystal Palace shop will be the beginning of a great relationship as our line has found a new home in South East London!

PS - Thanks Freddie for your feedback and support since the beginning of this journey!

xx
mefieuk

The Open House and my Afro-chic sofa

On Saturday I held my first mefieuk open house! It seems that all of my hard work paid off as it was a success! Those who attended gave me great feedback and overall the designs were well received. One of my favourite things to do was to dress the house with my inspired looks...particularly the living room which has been a labour of love.

When I purchased my home in the UK three and a half years ago I realised that there are two factions to the interiors world here...the really high prices found at The King's Road and the Chelsea Design Centre (I love the stuff but just can't afford to decorate my house in it) and the lower end Ikea etc (which I love for the colour but I crave a bit more individuality). I am somewhere in between and so my hunt for the perfect items to reflect my style began. I have been dismayed by the lack of variety in the mid-range interiors market, hence I started sewing to reflect my style. It took me nearly two years to purchase the pieces that I wanted but I am happy with the final look. The finishing touches are the scatter cushions which I love. They add a pop of colour and I can change them with the seasons.

Here is the look from my open house. I have a cushy Stepevi rug (which was a hit at the open house especially with the kids who played on it all night long). The sofa is The Morelia from Darlings of Chelsea custom sewn with Linwood Zoo II fabric, the mirror is from Dwell and I finished with cushions from www.mefie.co.uk

Enjoy!

xx
Mefieuk

Welcome to Design Wednesday!!! The little stump that could...

Welcome to my first design post! I have to admit, I had planned to write about something else but as events unravelled throughout the day, I opted for a change. Today was supposed to be about my prized Ercol chair with an afro-chic flair. Yet,as I prepared for my open house to launch my little business, I hit a snag...I needed to try and find a creative way to display my items for friends and family to see...should I buy a display unit or look for an alternative. As we all know London is not big on space so I really didn't want displays cluttering up each room. As I cleaned my living room, I sadly glanced at the remaining stump of a tree in which I had invested, the Pachira Aquatica. According to a post on ApartmentTherapy.com, these plants are supposed to be kill-proof but I reluctantly concede defeat...I tried to keep it alive but one of the pair of plants bought, has sadly died. I am not ready to part with the remaining stump (after all it may spring back)! So as I planned for my party on Saturday, I hung a tote bag on a branch then another and another and to my surprise I really like the look--the varying levels of pattern and colour against the hardening trunk provides interest and I think/I hope,it will breathe new life into the branches. Even now as I stare at the arrangement, I am still pleasantly surprised. We shall see how Saturday goes but for me the bag tree is a winner!

Let me know your thoughts!

Xx

Mefieuk

The Beginning of a Journey- Mefie UK

Welcome to the first post for mefieUK. I suppose I have been planning this for a while and now I am taking the plunge! For a long time I have tried to understand my passion-- it's art; it's fashion; it's food and it's interiors...yet the one common thread which ties them all together is my love of Africa and its profound impact on so many cultures. As those of African descent spread to different parts of the world there is a commonnality in our foods, traditions and culture. For me, I feel that I have now come full circle-my family emigrated from Jamaica to Canada--I left Canada to move to Europe and I have fallen in love with Ghana...the next stop!

Follow me in this journey of exploration--from the extrepreneurial spirit of the markets to the increasing influence of Africa on fashion and pop culture. I love it all and am happy to be a part of this conversation.

Enjoy!

xx
Mefie uk
My home is your home