Designer Desire: Yinka Ilori

Montage of Yinka Illori designs

Here’s an uplifting riot of colour to brighten your mood! It’s all brought to you courtesy of the British Nigerian artist and designer, Yinka Ilori.

He has collaborated widely – on outdoor public art, indoor décor, fashion, sport and homeware projects; working with numerous partners including Meta, The Conran Shop, Selfridges the V&A, the Red Cross and Lick. He’s been very busy of late.

Ilori is currently the official Artist in Residence for Heart of Hale, a new mixed use property project in London. During his residency, he’ll create a range of designs from permanent street furniture to temporary wall art. He has an upcoming exhibition at the Design Museum in summer 2022. A range of Fitflop footwear decorated with his signature designs is being launched in the summer. He received an MBE in 2021.

Shop his work on his web shop and check out more of his eye-popping work on his Insta.

(Nigeria) influences my work through my colour palette, my love of patterns and traditional Nigerian embellishments. It also influences my work through my use of traditional Nigerian folklore, which turns into words of wisdom that’s embedded within my design. My British heritage is also mixed in with my use of minimalistic lines and silhouettes, which is then mixed with my very loud and expressive use of colour, which comes from my Nigerian heritage. There’s a mixture of different influences that shaped me and made me the designer I am today. via Luxury London

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by YINKA ILORI (@yinka_ilori)

Get their look: 50s-inspired kitchen

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Sawdust By The Sea (@ourcolourfulhive)

How do we know that this is a 50s-inspired kitchen? There are a few clues in the photograph; the chequerboard black & white tiled floor, the pastel colours of the wall, tiled splash-backs and cabinetry. Added to these are the accessories – vintage Bush radio, retro wall art, vintage storage tins and the wonderful mid century modern seat pad on that folding stool.

If you’re a fan of the era, it can be easy, and fun too, to transform a room in your house to reflect the style of the time. It doesn’t have to be the kitchen, you can apply changes to any room in your house. Use colour, furniture, pattern and vintage homewares to bring a 1950s vibe to your interior.

Get their look

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Wood effect Bush TR 82 radio
Wood effect Bush TR 82 radio
‘Squeeze the Day’ lemon serving tray
‘Squeeze the Day’ lemon serving tray
Cuisinart multi-temp jug kettle, Light Pistachio
Cuisinart multi-temp jug kettle, Light Pistachio
Vintage wooden folding stool
Vintage wooden folding stool
Come In for a Stiff One It’s Ladies Night Everynight metal sign
Come In for a Stiff One It’s Ladies Night Everynight metal sign
Orla Kiely ‘Ditsy Cyclamen’, orange fabric
Orla Kiely ‘Ditsy Cyclamen’, orange fabric
Wood effect Bush TR 82 radio
Wood effect Bush TR 82 radio
‘Squeeze the Day’ lemon serving tray
‘Squeeze the Day’ lemon serving tray
Cuisinart multi-temp jug kettle, Light Pistachio
Cuisinart multi-temp jug kettle, Light Pistachio
Vintage wooden folding stool
Vintage wooden folding stool
Come In for a Stiff One It’s Ladies Night Everynight metal sign
Come In for a Stiff One It’s Ladies Night Everynight metal sign
Orla Kiely ‘Ditsy Cyclamen’, orange fabric
Orla Kiely ‘Ditsy Cyclamen’, orange fabric
Wood effect Bush TR 82 radio
Wood effect Bush TR 82 radio
‘Squeeze the Day’ lemon serving tray
‘Squeeze the Day’ lemon serving tray
Cuisinart multi-temp jug kettle, Light Pistachio
Cuisinart multi-temp jug kettle, Light Pistachio
Vintage wooden folding stool
Vintage wooden folding stool
Come In for a Stiff One It’s Ladies Night Everynight metal sign
Come In for a Stiff One It’s Ladies Night Everynight metal sign
Orla Kiely ‘Ditsy Cyclamen’, orange fabric
Orla Kiely ‘Ditsy Cyclamen’, orange fabric

Get their look: Sunny, scalloped scullery

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by S A L V E S E N G R A H A M (@salvesengraham)

This bright yellow scullery is a room in a country house in Cornwall. That doesn’t mean that you can’t create something similar in a much more modest dwelling… such as our little cottage.

It’s such an uplifting space; the colour for starters, but also the playful, scalloped edge to the shelves and worktop. Even the little stepladder for reaching things on the top cupboard and shelves has been given the bright yellow treatment.

We’re definitely going to take away a certain idea from this room. It’s the novel use of the Irish linen glass cloths as little curtains to hide away all the day-to-day gubbins! The interior designers actually worked with the manufacturers to custom make the material, emblazoning the name of the house on each of the cloths. We haven’t failed to notice the clever repetition of the aforementioned scallop shapes in the hem of the custom curtains.

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Vintage copper fish mould
Vintage copper fish mould
Willow garden trug
Willow garden trug
Irish linen glass cloths
Irish linen glass cloths
Vintage wooden ladder
Vintage wooden ladder
Farrow & Ball ‘Citron’ No. 74 paint
Farrow & Ball ‘Citron’ No. 74 paint
Vintage copper fish mould
Vintage copper fish mould
Willow garden trug
Willow garden trug
Irish linen glass cloths
Irish linen glass cloths
Vintage wooden ladder
Vintage wooden ladder
Farrow & Ball ‘Citron’ No. 74 paint
Farrow & Ball ‘Citron’ No. 74 paint
Vintage copper fish mould
Vintage copper fish mould
Willow garden trug
Willow garden trug
Irish linen glass cloths
Irish linen glass cloths
Vintage wooden ladder
Vintage wooden ladder
Farrow & Ball ‘Citron’ No. 74 paint
Farrow & Ball ‘Citron’ No. 74 paint

Get their look: Scandi multi-patterned kitchen diner

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by JoS retro- & loppisresa (@retrobyjos)

Jos lives in Västerås in central Sweden. Her 1950s home is a celebration of colour and pattern and her patterned kitchen diner is eye-catching and welcoming.

The clash of Marimekko patterned walls and black & white window roller blind and chequerboard floor is just so right!

She has a marvellous collection of pottery, glass and tins – I’m often jealous of people in Scandinavia who can easily pick up all those lovely vintage cups & saucers, plates, drinking glasses and enamelware.

Have a browse of her squares (and swipe through the squares above) to see the before & after shots of her home.

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Man knife block
Man knife block
Russell Hobbs TR9150RDR retro style 2-slice toaster, red
Russell Hobbs TR9150RDR retro style 2-slice toaster, red
Red JH Fabrikerna bread bin
Red JH Fabrikerna bread bin
Erik Kold plastic food storage container
Erik Kold plastic food storage container
Al & Lena Eklund storage tin for Lorids Lonborg
Al & Lena Eklund storage tin for Lorids Lonborg
IKEA Trådig wire fruit basket, by Ehlén Johansson
IKEA Trådig wire fruit basket, by Ehlén Johansson
Marimekko Unikko wallpaper
Marimekko Unikko wallpaper
White String Pocket shelves
White String Pocket shelves
Man knife block
Man knife block
Russell Hobbs TR9150RDR retro style 2-slice toaster, red
Russell Hobbs TR9150RDR retro style 2-slice toaster, red
Red JH Fabrikerna bread bin
Red JH Fabrikerna bread bin
Erik Kold plastic food storage container
Erik Kold plastic food storage container
Al & Lena Eklund storage tin for Lorids Lonborg
Al & Lena Eklund storage tin for Lorids Lonborg
IKEA Trådig wire fruit basket, by Ehlén Johansson
IKEA Trådig wire fruit basket, by Ehlén Johansson
Marimekko Unikko wallpaper
Marimekko Unikko wallpaper
White String Pocket shelves
White String Pocket shelves