Latest news with #PictureThis
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish interior designer shares her tips to make your home stand out
'Having always been interested in décor and interiors I rose to the challenge and when it was done, the flat later sold quickly and achieved a great result,' Doreen recalls. 'That paved the way for buying a house that needed to be completely refurbished … and then when commissions started coming in, I found myself studying once again and the rest, as they say, is history.' Although different disciplines, graphic design and interior design are interlinked in many ways: both rely on core design principles, such as balance, contrast, proportion and scale, unity and harmony. 'Whether arranging text for a graphic layout or furniture in a room, you are applying similar ideas to create an aesthetically pleasing composition,' Doreen explains. 'Also, as an interior designer I use graphic design software to present mood boards, layouts, and visualisations.' Doreen set up her interior and graphic design business in 1992, a decade that brought rich and vibrant colours into people's homes, most notably on walls and furniture. Walls took quite a hit: if not papered with jazzy wallpaper, then stencilled, sponged, and splatted, while voluminous curtains were puddled, fringed, swagged and tailed (and hopefully laid to rest forever). Other best forgotten trends included patterned carpets, fake plants, brass fixtures, and shabby chic, an oxymoron if ever there was one. One final reminiscence, according to in 1992 the average house price in Scotland was £39,962. 'Trends invariably come and go but the emphasis today is very different,' says Doreen. 'Perhaps because of Covid and lockdowns, our homes and gardens are increasingly being curated to reflect lifestyle, as opposed to everyday living, resulting in the dedicated home office, gym, sauna/spa bathroom, yoga space, games/play area, home cinema, and guest accommodation. And interiors nowadays are generally more relaxed and taking steps towards improving sustainability and energy efficiencies.' Undertaking both commercial and residential interior design projects, Doreen says the challenges and complexities of the job are harder nowadays, but the results still outweigh the effort. 'Having a good team behind you – including reliable contractors and trades – is a crucial part of the job. Many people find it hard to visualise what they hope to achieve whereas designers can see potential issues and opportunities which might otherwise be missed. "Using an interior designer can help avoid making costly mistakes, manage projects and budgets efficiently, and recommend the best and most suitable materials to ensure a cohesive, personalised design that not only looks beautiful but will also be highly functional.' A talented photographer who over the years has collated a sizeable portfolio of images, Doreen is now combining her finely honed graphic and interior design skills with the launch of an exciting new source book of wall art. Aptly named, Picture This is a high-quality, hard-backed book of original digital and illustrative wall art, with each of the 74 images shown individually and in the context of a furnished room setting. Better still, these images can all be resized and recoloured to suit individual preferences, thereby creating a fully bespoke artwork which is printed to order on high quality, silk-coated paper and comes ready to frame. Why is wall art important? 'Art on walls creates a focal point, introduces narratives, colour, and texture, and provides balance and scale in an environment. It adds visual and physical texture to the décor and contributes to the scale and proportion, ensuring the space feels co-ordinated, comfortable, and visually appealing,' says Doreen. However, she is quick to dismiss the popular misconception that statement wall art is only for large rooms. 'It may seem counter-intuitive to use big wall art in a small room, but it is in fact, a great way to make the most of a small space. Instead of using several small-size artworks, opting for one large piece of wall art can actually make a room feel larger and more luxurious. 'Large artwork can also help balance the scale of a room with high ceilings,' she says. A highly tactile and beautiful stand-alone coffee table book, Picture This makes choosing art a pleasure and does away with the time-consuming search to find the elusive 'right' statement piece. Walls nowadays are generally neutral and present a perfect backdrop for statement wall art – and this new hard-back source book is an inspirational aid. Picture This (Volume 1, with more to follow) costs £25 and is available from
Elle
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Simone Ashley Is Embracing Her ‘Single Era'—Get to Know Her Full Dating History
Bridgerton's Simone Ashley has become synonymous with romance since she captivated viewers with her role as Kate Sharma on the Netflix hit. Her on-screen chemistry with actor Jonathan Bailey made Kate's story one of the most popular seasons in the series. She released her rom-com Picture This in 2025, solidifying her iconic romantic heroine status. But at the moment, Ashley's private life is not about romance. The actress is currently single and loving it. In March 2025, she told People that she is 'defining [her] single era as a time that I don't wanna waste away.' 'It's about self-growth, and I am looking for someone who is so confident in themselves and is really ready to have an open heart in the same way I do. And I think that's hard to find,' the 30-year-old actress said. 'I'm not in a rush. It can be easy to jump into the next thing immediately, which is something that I am choosing not to do.' Ashley continued, 'I want to take my time to find the right person for me and to work on myself—to grow, and to focus on my work.' 'I've got such an incredible year ahead, and I'm up to such exciting things,' Ashley added. 'And I have the most amazing family and friends around me. So I'm working on my heart and on myself and on my confidence.' So, before her single era, who was Ashley romantically entangled with? Here's her complete known dating history so far. Ashley started dating Constantin Klein after she met him in May 2022 at the Grand Prix in Monaco, which she shared with Vogue in a November 2022 interview. Klein worked as a corporate lawyer until 2019, before switching careers and becoming the CEO of GP Ice Race, a winter car race that runs on an actual ice track. In the Vogue interview, Ashley didn't say who this new boyfriend was but told the outlet, 'I'm very happy. We haven't gone public yet, and we're having those conversations about how we can get there before anyone else does.' When asked about living together, she added, 'I'd like to but, you know, one day.' Before her interview, fans were pretty aware of Klein because they were seen together at a few public events over the summer. In December 2022, she posted a photo of Klein blowing out his birthday candles on Instagram, writing in the caption, 'The best birthday surprise for the best person.' He also made a discreet appearance in a carousel of pictures of a beautiful winter vacation. Things became 'official' when she shared a photo of them being affectionate and laughing at a Netflix BAFTAs after-party in London in March 2023. And in August 2023, she shared some pics of him taken by her brother while out on a hike. Klein hosted a birthday party for Ashley in March 2024. She shared pictures from the night on Instagram, writing in the caption, 'Thank you to my love for organizing the best day ever. I adore all my friends so much ❤️.' But in early 2025, Ashley revealed her relationship had ended. During her February 28 appearance on BBC's Woman Hour podcast, Ashley said, 'It's kind of ironic I'm promoting a rom-com [Picture This], and as of January this year, I've been entering my single era.' She added, 'I'm focusing on me and focusing on my work and my inner confidence. It feels like a different chapter from when Bridgerton came out, where things were just so crazy.' The former couple was last seen out together in October 2024. Ashley has not commented on why they split.
Pink Villa
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Cast: Simone Ashley Lands Role After F1 Horror; Lucy Liu, Pauline Chalamet and More Join
As production begins on The Devil Wears Prada 2, there's a lot of speculation about which TV and film stars will find a home in the fashion extravaganza. A recent report from Variety has officially confirmed the actors playing the most important roles in the film. Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, and Pauline Chalamet will be taking on major roles in the film, while Bridgerton's breakout face, Simone Ashley, will be cast alongside Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway. The Devil Wears Prada 2 Cast Latest Update Previously, it was announced that apart from the three leading ladies of the original The Devil Wears Prada, Stanley Tucci would be reprising his role as Nigel Kipling, the trusted confidante of Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly. As of the latest reports, Tracie Thoms, who played Lily, Andrea "Andy" Sachs' best friend and a major handbag lover, will also return to play her character. Another familiar face will be Tibor Feldman, who portrayed Irv Ravitz, the chairman of Runway's parent company, Elias-Clark. DEADLINE reported that Simone Ashley will be starring in the film; however, not many details have been revealed about her mysterious role. This news comes as a welcome surprise to the fans of Picture This star, following her unexpected absence from F1: The Movie. The actress has been participating in promotions for the Brad Pitt-starrer film with dedication; however, her parts in the film were ruthlessly edited out, much to the shock of viewers. Kenneth Branagh was previously confirmed to star as Miranda Priestly's husband, while Adrian Grenier, who played Nate Cooper originally, will not be returning for the sequel. It is known that the film is currently in production; however, further details of its progress have been kept under wraps. As the three fashionistas reunite once again, the excitement is through the roof for the fans of the 2006 release. It is known that the follow-up will follow Miranda Priestly's life as reigning editor-in-chief, but her standing is not the same anymore as she faces the decline of traditional magazine publishing. She will stand against her once-assistant Emily Charlton, who has now moved to a lucrative role and holds the funds that she desperately needs at Runway. The Devil Wears Prada 2 will premiere on May 1, 2026.
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Simone Ashley confirms Bridgerton return after being cut out of F1 movie
Sex Education star Simone Ashley will return to screens in the fourth season of Bridgerton, and the actress has opened up about filming intimate scenes for the hit Netflix show Bridgerton sensation Simone Ashley has opened up about feeling "very safe and comfortable" while shooting steamy scenes for the smash-hit series, Bridgerton. The star of Sex Education, who is also on the cusp of dropping her first album, labelled the Netflix sensation Bridgerton as pure "fantasy". Speaking to Harper's Bazaar, she said: "It's about, 'What if?' and how love conquers all. Bridgerton represents nudity with a sense of romance, and I felt very safe and comfortable in what I was choosing to show to the world." With the fourth instalment of the period drama set to hit screens next year, Ashley shared with the publication: "'That show just gets bigger and bigger. Everyone has gone off to do incredible things, but we come back and it's like time hasn't moved." Recounting her bold move to Los Angeles at the tender age of 18, she revealed: "I was really scrappy. Since I was little, if I wanted something, I would do anything I could to get it. So, I took some modelling jobs to pay the bills and got into acting through that." Gracing the digital cover of Harper's Bazaar, Ashley divulged that her upcoming album was born out of a recent split. She explained: "It's going to be somewhat confessional... and beautiful and messy. "Good songs don't come from times when my life is regimented and predictable. They come when I am feeling vitality, and usually you either feel that way when your heart's broken, or you're euphoric. This work has been an amazing channel to put all those feelings into." For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. This new career move comes after Ashley's recent role in rom-com Picture This. Following the release of that movie, the Bridgerton star opened up about the importance of diversity in romantic-comedies. The Sex Education icon, who was born to Tamil parents, stars as photographer Pia - who is juggling a failing business while dealing with the arrival of her ex and her parents' concern for her love life. The feel-good movie was released on Amazon Prime Video on 6 March and also stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin. She added: "I would say the younger me is kind of like, 'Oh my gosh, we did a rom com and it's an Indian girl leading it!'" Although she wishes she could have seen diverse characters when she was younger, she hopes Picture This helps with it. She said: "To put it simply... When it comes to this movie, I just want brown women to have it and to just win!" Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Picture This keep Good Vibrations going at the Marquee
The clouds were rolling in over Cork, but the vibe was all sunshine and lollipops as the crowds ambled towards the iconic Marquee tent for the first of two homecoming gigs from Picture This. Some 20 years ago, Beach Boy Brian Wilson opened the very first Live at the Marquee with his debut Cork show in 2005. On Wednesday, the Athy pop-rockers stepped into that legacy with the first of two sold-out gigs — bringing their signature mix of stadium-sized emotion and small-town charm back to a stage that's helped define their journey. It was a fitting band to keep those Good Vibrations going. Inside the tent, Gen Alpha and Gen Zs in festival fits mingled with Millennials, with a few Gen Xers dotted about — highlighting the multigenerational appeal the band has quietly cultivated since their 2015 viral debut. Picture This first headlined the Marquee in 2017, selling out both nights, and even played a Cork wedding that same summer after a bride-to-be cheekily propositioned them during a fan Q&A. You can't say they're not a band of their word. Crowds screaming as Picture This perform. Picture: Darragh Kane Another sell-out on Thursday, and the atmosphere was electric, the energy dialled up to the max. 'Are you ready for the best night of your lives, Cork?' frontman Ryan Hennessy roared, and is left in no doubt of the answer. Plus the crowd had a brand new floor to stomp their feet on — perhaps a birthday gift? With this tarmac, Mr Aiken, you are spoiling us. Though Picture This are by now regulars on Irish stages, this gig felt more reflective, more celebratory. With their 2023 album Parked Car Conversations still in rotation and rumours of new music in the pipeline, this set played like a love letter to their fans and a flex of their maturing sound. The pacing, the interaction, the stage production, it was all pitch perfect. Not even an impromptu 'Olé Olé Olé' from the crowd threw them off their beat. They kicked off with a soaring 'Act of Innocence', an arms-aloft statement of inte Margo, Jack, James, and Emma Ryan, Tipperary, at the Marquee. Picture: Darragh Kane nt, and from there, the emotional hooks kept coming. The setlist is heavy on fan favourites, with Hennessy working the crowd with his signature mix of sincerity and swagger. He reminisced about other Cork gigs, riffed with the crowd, continuously thankful for the energy in the room and — more than once — seemed genuinely moved by the raptuous reception. It was a high-energy, emotionally engaging experience that bridges the gap between stadium-scale anthems and intimate crowd connection. Ryan Hennessy's vocals were on point, his bopping stage presence magnetic, and the band leaned into the unique closeness the Marquee offers —turning the tent into a sing-along sanctuary. Picture This returns to the Marquee on Thursday night for round two — likely just as loud, loquacious and loved. A band on fire, and so in tune with their fans. Next up on the Marquee calendar: The Coronas and Christy Moore, followed by a change of pace with comedian Dara Ó Briain. It's shaping up to be a summer to sing about in Cork. Wilson would approve. Here's to the next 20.
