Design Studio

Ideas, advice, inspirations.

CLS founder Francesca is constantly scouring the web for all beautiful things Italian and British, and our Design Findings offer a selection of the most stylish objects, ideas and design resources available out there.

And if you are considering a complete style make-over, or are just looking for some inspiration to revamp your garden, you can browse our Featured Projects, to see what the professionals have been up to lately. Lots of real houses and real ideas, which we hope will help you to create the right feel for your home.

The Age of Gold

Posted by Francesca
June 2009

A little bling is bang on trend this year, and homes are more glamorous than ever.
All that glitter is absolutely gold….

Almost Plastic

Posted by Francesca
June 2008

Essential, practical and - from today - stylish too.
The hottest tableware available now is not plastic and it certainly does look fantastic...

Glossy Digital

Posted by Francesca
April 2008

Too tired - or too rainy - to go out? Fancy some me- time at home, just relaxing?
Wheter it is a lazy Sunday afternoon or an evening in you are planning - it just wouldn't be complete without your favourite magazine, would it?
And to make things even more relaxing, now you don't even have to get to the newsagent to buy one....

A Space Your Own

Posted by Francesca
October 2007.

Our celebration of the architectural and lifestyle benefits of utilitarian buildings continue, and with Summer drawing to an end our journey naturally moves from one very British icon (beach huts) to an even-more-British obsession: garden sheds….

Seaside Living

posted by Francesca
August 2007

British seaside wouldn’t be the same without them.
Beach huts began to appear in the Edwardian era, providing basic facilities associated with beach use, but their origins go further back, to the Victorian wheeled bathing machines. Today there are around 20,000 beach huts in Britain...

Hide, Divide, Contain

Design findings, posted by Francesca
June 2007

The trend towards open-plan living has opened up our rooms and means that homes can now evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the people who inhabit them. Multi-purpose accessories like room dividers are ideal to personalize and organize the space…

Tree Living

Design findings, posted by Francesca.
May 2007

Accessories and everyday objects inspired by woodland and plants are an original way to bring nature into our living spaces. And if living forests are definetely the new décor trend, here are a coat stand and a clotheshorse you shouldn't miss...

Featured project: a Tuscan kitchen

Work by:
Architect Michelangelo Brachi
Prato, Italy

Michelangelo has been working from his own architect practice – in the countryside just outside Florence – for more that 10 years. He provides architectural and interior design services for both commercial and residential projects, and he is an expert of 3D visualization. He has great experience in sympathetic conversion of old buildings, he loves garden design and he is mostly interested in projects involving the study and the implementation of sustainable energy resources.

Here he presents the renovation of a kitchen full of character…

Prefab Green

Design resources, posted by Francesca.
March 17, 2007

Inhabitat is a blog entirely dedicated to researching and promoting 'design innovations that enhance sustainability and efficiency' and - when it comes to design with the planet in mind - it's one of the most interesting and informative resource you'll find out there. I discovered it a few months ago, and is now one of my favourite daily readings.
In particular, I love their Prefab Fridays...

Compact Comfort

Design findings, posted by Francesca
January 2007

An Englishman's home is his castle… well, at least this is how they say. The reality however is that small cottages and apartments have never been so popular. And there are many reasons for that - besides of course the spiralling high house prices! A smaller space requires less maintenance, encourages a clutter-free existence, and has a much more intimate feeling to it. Whether you are living small for necessity, or because you've decided that a small house is better suited to meet your practical, financial and personal needs, you'll be relieved to know that comfort and style are thoroughly compatible with a small space. The design industry has realized that small is better and compact homes have never been so well catered for...

Featured project: a timber deck

Work by:
Matthew Tolhurst Landscape Construction

Based in in South Oxfordshire, Matthew Tolhurst Landscape Construction have been designing, building and maintaining gardens and properties for 20 years.
With great experience in both horticulture and landscape construction, they can carry out all aspects of hard and soft landscaping for both domestic and commercial projects, and are expert in organic garden management.

A well designed decking area will extend the living area of your home and increase the overall value of your property….

Featured project: a Victorian glasshouse

Work by:
Matthew Tolhurst Landscape Construction

The client sourced a 100-year old original Foster & Pearson Victorian timber glasshouse, made of quality pitch pine, and wanted it re-built in the southeast corner of the garden, surrounded by a paved area and the vegetable garden...

Featured project: A golden bathroom

Work by:
Architect Michelangelo Brachi
Prato, Italy

Too often neglected or left to deal with the leftovers of the renovation budget, the batroom is instead a vital space of your home. It's the place where you start and finish your days, and with the clever use of bold colours and luxury materials it can become a work of art....

If you have a question, or would like to submit/suggest a site, a project or a product, we’d love to hear from you: please contact us.

These pages may contain contacts and details of third parties as well as links to external web-sites. Please be aware that they are all intended as guidance only and while we like them, we are not responsible for them. Please see our Terms and Conditions.