by James Balston | Mar 14, 2019 | 1970s, Apartments, Crystal Palace, Design, Kitchens
In my experience, having work done on your home, is unlikely to be drama free, but I won’t go into the can of worms we opened late last summer when we started work on our new kitchen. We are delighted with the results, and the stress, noise, and dust, are but... 
by James Balston | Mar 20, 2018 | Bathrooms, Colour, Design, Heritage, Kitchens, Toilets, Travel
Returning from a recent city break in Seville, one of the things that impressed me the most, was the city’s famous tiles. They’re everywhere: in churches, in restaurants, on monuments and bridges. All are highly decorated, and have been made locally for... 
by James Balston | Jan 3, 2018 | Bedrooms, Decoration, Design, Editorial, London
I have to confess, when American publication, New York Cottages & Gardens contacted me early last year about a shoot in London for their magazine, I had no idea what lay in store. All I knew was that I was shooting a pair of houses in St. John’s Wood. I was... 
by James Balston | Sep 14, 2017 | Architecture, Contemporary, Design, Homes, Stairs
It’s only just over a year ago that I wrote a post about staircases, but thought it worth returning to the subject as I’ve shot a few interesting ones since. Straight or curvy, grand or understated, they’re always one of the most appealing parts of a... 
by James Balston | May 30, 2017 | Architecture, Bathrooms, Colour, Design, Homes, Kitchens, Lighting
Design trends come and go, and from behind the lens, I’ve noticed quite a few. Lately I’ve detected big changes in the world of metal finishes. There was a time, not that long ago, when all metal had to be of the stainless steel variety, preferably... 
by James Balston | Jul 25, 2016 | Design, Designers & Architects, Homes
Last week was exceptionally busy, with shoots every day, which meant much of the weekend was spent at the computer, editing the results. All the shoots were high end residential projects, and each gave me the opportunity to indulge in one of my favourite types of... 