Quirky images add fun to home interiors

Once in a while, an image catches your eye and stops you in your track.

Such as this quirky image from Young & Battaglia that showcases a wonderful blend of colours, textures and imagery.   This is a classic Mineheart cushion design that blends classic styles of art with a quirky twist. 

"English Lady In A Jungle Blue" cushion shown above is among a new range of cushion covers from Young & Battaglia, designed to impress while adding a dash of uniqueness to interior design.
Now available at Mineheart.

Young & Battaglia design studio was founded by Anglo-Italian design duo Brendan Young and Vanessa Battaglia both trained in Industrial design.

Their body of work has included a wide variety of creative disciplines from interior design to landscapes, product design, graphics and art direction.  They are the founding partners of British interiors brand Mineheart, an online outlet for their own creative works while they also collaborate with designers from around the globe, and produce an iconic collection of art, wallpaper and accessories for extraordinary interiors. The range includes prints, wallcoverings, lighting furniture and rugs by artists including Himitsuhana, Angela Rossi, Studio Bleoh, Emanuele Pangrazi, Courtney Brims and Stefano Bonazzi.

Bubblegum Portait – 3 by Young & Battaglia in collaboration with artist Kirin Young.
The ‘Bubblegum’ series Portrait Wall artwork is printed on stretched art canvas and mounted in a painted classic wooden black box frame.

Young & Battaglia’s work often fuses old and new, combining familiar ideas to create something new, much like a music DJ creating remixes of old tracks.  Their unique playful approach to design has won them awards and international recognition. Their work has been exhibited widely in many exhibitions worldwide including New York, Milan, Tokyo, Paris, Dubai and London. Heralded as one of the top 10 design studios of the future at 100% Design London’s 10th anniversary, their work has been published in books, leading design magazines, and selected for prestigious shows and collections including the V&A museum and the MOMA. 

Images from Young & Battaglia/Mineheart.

UK's Elephant Head partners with charity Aham Bhumika of India to help rural women artisans make a self-sufficient living

'Gond deer' hand-embroidered cushion cover  in cotton with tie-back fastening from The Elephant Head.The design is inspired by gond art (a tribal art form of Central India), and hand embroidered by rural women artisans, supported by the charity Aham Bhumika, in Bhopal India.

Self sufficiency and a better future for rural women artisans.  That is the aim of  UK-based online store, The Elephant Head, which  is committed to promoting sustainable working practices in India by partnering with Indian charity, Aham Bhumika.

'The turbaned Indian man' hand embroidered cushion cover.
 It is inspired by a Kisan, a stereotypical, bidi-smoking farmer
 with a big turban and exaggerated moustache.

The homeware and artisan craft store is offering a range of cushion covers, each hand-embroidered by an artisan from a village on the outskirts of Bhopal, India, as part of The Embroidery Project, an Aham Bhumika initiative.

Based in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh in India, Aham Bhumika is a Non-Government Organisation that works to equip underprivileged women living in rural areas with the skills they need to earn a living and become self-sufficient. So far, The Embroidery Project has taught more than 30 women to create products such as saris, tote bags and cushion covers which they can then sell to generate an income, according to The Elephant Head founder Arathi.

'Sadvi- the lady monk' hand embroidered cushion.

''Our homeware blend in with contemporary homes while respecting authentic and traditional art and craft. All our products, created by independent, small-scale artisan groups, co-ops and workshops, are practical, beautiful and crafted with love using local materials and time-honoured skills. That’s certainly the case with the Aham Bhumika charity-made cushion covers. And, we believe our customers will love them. Their quality and attention to detail make them a wonderful and unique addition to any home, or business." said Aarathi.

There are ten different designs of cushion covers to choose from, each measures 16 X 16 inches, made from cotton, and has a tie-back fastening so it can be easily removed for washing.
Many of the designs on the cushion covers are inspired by Gond art, a tribal art form of Central India.