Kat Alderson dropped a HUMUNGOUS folder on me during the week asking me to review the items enclosed.  To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement, everything except the kitchen sink was included in it!  To be able to review the items and do them justice meant I had to remove all my existing furniture and replace with the new, which was such a hardship.. Anyways, first things first- I had never heard of Third Life Interiors until Kat contacted me, but I am very glad she did, because that means I get to tell you all about the yummy things that she makes.  If I was to describe Third Life Interior’s styling, I’d say it was classical furniture of the kind that you’d perhaps encounter in a very posh residence.  You know the kind I mean, if you were staying in a suite at the Ritz you’d probably find these kind of furnishings there.  They have a universal appeal, rather than a modern approach. That’s not to say that these goods are in any way niche, but think more ‘Country Homes and Interiors’ rather than ‘Wallpaper’. So, now that we’ve established the styling what about the quality? Here’s my best Austin Powers impression, “Texture-licious baybeee!” Zoom in on any individual piece and you’ll find seams and finishing that are  more Libertys than DFS.  I’m especially enamored with the Williamson Collection.  For starters, the sofa is the kind that I would love to have in real life.  It looks comfy, the scatter cushions and sofa textures are excellent choices and the shadow work  is perfect.  This is really easy styling that would fit in pretty much any Second Life home, and all items come with poses embedded so no ugly pose balls to annoy.  Quality stuff.  As well as the sofa, there’s a dining set and an excellent bureau/writing desk combination. The writing animation that has been employed here is superb, and the inkwell, when touched,  furnishes you with a pen to complete the scene.  I showed my Dad, Leapylee Cliffhanger, this last night and he was very impressed, and he’s a bugger for impressing is my Dad. (Bloody awkward chuff and hard work he is) I also like the fact that there are matching cupboards and bookcases, with doors that open and the furniture textures carried over with great success.  The dining table and chairs strike me as being perfect for casual dining and like the sofa the sitting animations are embedded in each chair.  You can tell that a lot of concern has been applied when  creating these pieces and they are very impressive work.  Kitty likes *very* much. More formal is the Stackpole Collection.  Now I have to be honest here, I didn’t know how well this would work UNTIL I saw the pieces in situ, and then I realised how smart these pieces were, think uber posh and classic.  If you had two rooms in your house, this is the furniture that would be in your ‘best’ room (Look, I’m a Northern lass, and that’s how we do things up here.  Any southern jessies reading this and snorting can stay behind after class..yes Shinji I am referring to you here!) Each element is  neat and uncomplicated and would appeal to a more discerning client.  In fact, there’s a hint of period styling about the Stackpole collection, and I really do like the fact that there are a  large selection of coordinating pieces, which work well in especially large rooms.  The dark wood contrasts nicely against the fabric texture on the couch and the chairs, which has a very subtle stripe.  The dining chairs and matching table look more formal than the Williamson collection and there are matching  coffee tables, end tables and bookcases to complement, but because they’re a dark texture you really need something to ‘lift’ them, and the Stackpole rug and matching screen are perfect for this.  Both are embellished with a very pretty seashell pattern, again expertly applied.   One little feature that I really rate is that both these collections have matching ceiling fans-something that I’ve never cared for until now but both are well designed and make a great finishing touch.  I’ve installed the Williamson fan and was impressed to see that it also includes a lighting option-yet another example of the thought that has gone into making these pieces.  I was also equally taken by the table lamp that radiates just the right amount of light, and actually makes a sound when you touch it! There’s something very satisfying about touching a virtual button and hearing a proper ‘click’ isn’t there?
So to sum up if you’re looking for traditional furnishings that are well made you’d be a seriously silly bugger not to consider TLI.  When I initially installed the furnishings my plan was to take my pictures and then replace them with my original items but I’ve changed my mind because they just look too darn good to replace! As regular readers will be aware I’ve spoken about numerous designers on here-all equally different but all with one common factor between them, each designer imbues their work with total quality and care.  All of the designers that I’ve been fortunate enough to review on these pages have made sure that there work oozes quality, and have taken the utmost care during production to make their designs as authentic as possible.  I’m more than happy therefore to add Third Life Interiors to my list of top-picks that I heartily recommend, and I’m certainly looking forward to see what else they come up with.  Incidentally, You HAVE to go and see the store, which is laid out in a huge castle. There are more quality furniture collections there, and some real suprises too.  I *loved* the jungle-inspired set which managed to be classic AND funky at the same time, without any hints of Bet Lynch. There’s also some really stunning Baroque and Elizabethan styled set pieces, great for kitting out a castle or old mansion. To be honest the whole store is filled with wonders- way too many to list here, but it’s certainly a location with a HUGE ‘Wow’ factor!!  Click here to visit NOW!