Back in July I received an email from Relyon, one of the UK’s leading bed manufacturers, asking if I was available to style a photo shoot for the launch of their range of top-end, luxury beds. Timings were tight as the shoot was booked for three weeks time and the brief was to source everything including bedding, lighting, accessories and soft furnishings etc you name it, and be on location to style all six bed sets over the course of two days.
Was I available? By George, I made myself available, I couldn’t wait to get prop sourcing!
Whilst sourcing all the necessary items, I met some fantastic suppliers who were extremely helpful as well as flexible. They provided me with an abundance of beautiful items to use for styling the photo shoot and not only was I able to grow my list of ‘very useful contacts’ but I genuinely made some friends along the way.
The shoot took place at Exeter Castle, which following nearly a thousand years of Crown occupation is now a stunning venue in the heart of Exeter city centre.
Today I would like to share with you the final photographs taken by Luke Hickman (great chap, fun and easy to work with) which are being used in Relyon’s promotional brochure and on their website. Other shots of the Montacute bed, the most luxurious bed of all, which retails at about £15,000, will be featured in forthcoming glossy magazine adverts yet tbc.
Montacute bed with Bianca Lorenne bedding
This photo although it’s great, could never do justice to the strokeability of this bed, seriously, luxurious soft petrol coloured velvet, made to be loving stroked. You can see from the number of pillows and cushions that it’s a whopping kingsize, it was great fun to add layer after layer of beautiful Bianca Lorenne robins egg bedding plus the cameonne bedspread and novella comforter. I think the model enjoyed lounging about in this bed!
I kept this beautifully elegant, soft and light adding decorative touches with lamps and tables candles from Pink String and candles and votives from Inside Out. I have to mention the rug too. Oh the rug, yes, the Jessica Loop rug from Naken Interiors, barefoot pure delight, so soft, so perfect to pad across and treat your feet to first thing in the morning!
Cranleigh bed with Bianca Lorenne & Joshua’s Dream bedding
With a grey and white patterned headboard I wanted this bed set to be modern monochrome but not too masculine. The bed was made up with simple crisp Joshuas Dream linen and dressed with the Bianca Lorenne crellini creased linen range and topped with two gorgeous Lene Bjerre bird cushions from Pink String. Original BTC Hector lamps supplied by Amos Lighting add a touch of traditional, unassuming elegance and the Louis Two bedside table and vases from Heals add curves to soften the look.
Cranleigh bed with Bianca Lorenne & Joshua’s Dream bedding
This geometric headboard definitely needed to be dressed simply. The gorgeously deep raspberry Bianca Lorenne comforter and cushions were perfect to make this bed more sumptuous and inviting. I absolutely love the Kinsale lamp table from Amos. The lamp is integral to the table, so no knocking it over in the dark of night, it’s legs are chunky solid wood and the table top is available in six different Farrow & Ball paint colours, which you can then co-ordinate your lampshade with – fab!
This room smelled amazing, can you see the diffuser reeds next to the jug of hydrangeas? They are True Grace Wild Lime reeds, which gently diffuse a citrus fragrance around the room that is stimulating but at the same time warm and comforting, perfect to complement the look and feel of the set.
Cranleigh bed with Bianca Lorenne bedding
If I had to choose one favourite set it would be this one. I think. Or would it? I don’t know, but I was so excited when I sourced a set of three leather storage trunks from Pure Lana. I used two next to the bed as side table along with an antique brass task lamp from Amos, a Newgate alarm clock and some wonderful old books from Topsham Bookshop (if ever you want to escape from it all for a few hours this shop stocks mainly out-of-print and secondhand books, it has such a special charm to it you feel like you’ve stepped back in time – I love it there!).
Cranleigh bed with Bianca Lorenne bedding
Looking at this bed has just made me think of the bit in Along Came Polly, you know the film with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston, where Ben shows Jennifer how to take all of the decorative pillows off the bed and where to put them…she says what a waste of time it is and starts stabbing at one of the cushions…Ben joins in and they have a whale of a time ripping them to shreds and Ben works out that he spends about 2 days of his life each year putting cushions on and taking cushions off his bed. (You can watch the clip here if you haven’t seen it, it’s pretty funny).
BUT that aside, this bed DOES look gorgeous, it has to be said. I admit I spend a fair bit of time decorating my bed with cushions but hey I love doing it and the bed looks all the better for it. So if you’re like me then you’ll like this too. The modern floral Bianca Lorenne eden ocean bedding in shades of green, ochre, cinnamon and blush make this bed one that you want to dive into. I accessorised with the Neptune Larsson side table and neutral glass bobble lamp from Temptation Living along with a tray of delights from True Grace; Moroccan Rose hand cream, room spray and small bowl candle. If computer had scratch and sniff capability, right now you would be smelling floral notes and woody base tones. This set smelled gorgeous!
Cranleigh bed with Bianca Lorenne bedding & Ebury cushions
Actually maybe this is my favourite. I like the messed up look I chose to go with for this set. I wanted to create a romantic, casual and relaxed feel that makes you want to snuggle up with a good book and a hot chocolate whilst the wind and rain rattle and crash against the window, see where I’m going with this?!
The big cushions are 100% linen with mother-of-pearl buttons and are from Ebury and the cutest ever little cushion right at the front of the bed is the Bianca Lorenne sorbet cushion which is adorned with tiny hand crafted silk flowers, of so pretty.
How fab is the tarnished mirrored side table? I borrowed this from Nest Interiors, a delightful shop selling mostly french furniture and accessories and the lamp is from there too.
And after all of that here are a few behind the scene shots just for nosiness’ sake!
Props, props everywhere
Luke in action setting up his photo gear
Jo and Liz from Relyon doing the very important job of ironing!
I would like to thank everyone involved on this shoot, it was a delight to work on and the two days were long and intense but also great fun and rewarding.
I hope you’ve enjoyed looking through the photos, I’d love to hear you thoughts on the shoot *smile*
List of suppliers Bianca Lorenne 01425 626147 www.biancalorenne.co.uk Naken Interiors 01986 788128 www.naken.co.uk Nest Interiors 01392 204305 www.nestinteriors.com Pink String 01392 876978 Temptation Living 01395 514851 www.temptationliving.co.uk Amos Lighting 01392 677030 www.amoslighting.co.uk Heals London 020 7896 7547 www.heals.co.uk Ebury 020 88591777 www.eburyhomeandgarden.com Pure Lana 01491 526206 www.purelana.com Neptune 01793 427427 www.neptune.com True Grace 01985 210893 www.truegrace.co.uk Joshua’s Dream 0844 800 9435 www.joshuasdream.com