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Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts

4.02.2010

London Recap: Chelsea Design Centre

This was top on my list.  I had no reason to go but to wander and get ideas.  Pretty great. 
But before I reached the Design Centre, I walked from Hyde Park to the Harbour...not really knowing what the building looked like or where I was going.  After a good 45 minutes and still no sign of the Harbour, I approached this massive warehouse.  Let's just say my imagination was starting to get the best of me...
But I made it!  And everyone was getting ready for Design Week which was just the next week!  So the energy was great {and without the crowds!}.
Inside!
I just strolled in and out of several of the showrooms for a couple of hours, thinking about how things were displayed and what I liked best, and grabbing samples where I could.  My top three showrooms were Cole & Son (wallcoverings), Mulberry Home (fabrics), and JVB Furniture (furniture).  Classic, beautiful and well made.  Check out the websites -- there are tons of samples of their work on line!


London Recap: Outdoor Spaces

We had beautiful weather on our trip!  So were lucky to find a couple clutch outdoor spaces...


 
View of Shepard's Market from Hotel. 
The patio at Gipsy Moth in Greenwich.  
 
Tasty...
{Quick -- check out the chandeliers inside Gipsy Moth!}

London Recap: Lampshades

Today's Agenda:  Posting my last few posts re London...They will be short and (bitter)sweet. 

Lampshades by Lush Designs
 
I will use these in a project!  
Just one would be stunning -- in a bathroom, child's room, a fun kitchen.

4.01.2010

London Recap: Paul Smith

Today's Agenda:  Stamping + Embossing + Envelope Liner-ing (a verb??!)!  It's actually very therapeutic...Am excited too because I have found a new wrapping paper for an envelope liner for a set of Thank You notes.  And against a black envelope -- I think it will look very stunning...will post a week of stationery items soon -- am overdue!

You know that feeling when you stumble upon a beautiful garden, inspiring restaurant, a breathtaking piece of art or photograph??  Well, when we were out walking (for exercise), we happened upon the Paul Smith home store in London.  This frequently happens when we are out exercising -- I see lots of interesting things, I have to find strategic ways to pause -- drink of water, shoelace untied, falling (I haven't resorted to that yet...), husband catches on to stalling technique, I have limited time to store important notes like location and hours of interesting ____ (fill in blank, restaurant, store, museum).  I'm thinking that all this mental energy is burning more calories too?!?

Anyway, needless to say, I had no problem filing away the Paul Smith store and remembering to go back and check it out (now, finding it later on was a little bit tricky, but I'm getting better at just asking for directions especially since I was sans Iphone -- yes, very traumatic.). 

It was like being in a museum.  But not because you could touch everything.  Really like being in someone's home that had really interesting taste.  Not too stuffy.  Accessible but really special.  And everyone was so friendly that worked there.  I just wandered around.  Combed through the House Beautiful issues from the 1940s.  Flipped through books.  Lusted after jewelry.  Tried out most of the chairs.  Relished my complete high.  And the gentleman at the store was so kind to send me more information on a few of the chairs that I fell in love with.  To just have one of these chairs in a room would make it so special.  And the best part is that you can pair these amazing pieces with pieces from anywhere else -- antique store, mass retailer, your parents' attic.

Here's the description of the store from the website -- "9 Albemarle Street is situated in the heart of Mayfair, on the cormer of Albemarle street and Stafford Street, just off Bond st. The shop houses a rich and varied selection of original and unique antiques, objects art and curiosities sourced from around the world. While some are original pieces others are given a new lease of life with a Paul Smith twist."  Please, go check it out.  Read Paul Smith's blog.  And sign up for their newsletter for info re new products and projects at No. 9. 

No. 9, and some of its treasures

3.31.2010

London Recap: Liberty

Today's Agenda:  This year I have taken on a role on our condo board's social committee -- a way to get more involved in our building and meet neighbors...instead of passing them when I would come home at 11 every night!  And, tonight we are having a cupcake tasting so I'm off today setting up for that and psyched to use my new Liberty of London for Target trays for the mini vanilla and chocolate cupcakes!  We are tasting cupcakes from Bakeshop, Red Velvet and Georgetown Cupcake...we'll see what the favorite is!

While we were in London, Liberty was top on my list of places to visit.  I just wanted to see what it was about.  And, I loved it!  If I were visiting today I would bypass the dishes/kitchen section {although I did enjoy the selection of Katy Potts china and can see getting a few of these pieces to mix and match with a basic china pattern} and head straight for the middle of the store to check out the furniture selection and displays.  Really pretty patterns on large comfy sofas.  Industrial desks with interesting chairs.  And, then, if you like fabrics, I would set aside about half an hour to just flip through the fabric books they have.  I jotted down several fabrics that I would love to use one day -- let's see if I can find them...



I also loved their bathstore and linens.







I wasn't allowed to take many photos in the store so here are my photo memories of Liberty...

Liberty, the Store
 And, me @ Liberty! 

Unique styling inside of the store (this was the only picture I could take!)

 Their new Merci! line

Until I go back, I will be trolling the Liberty website {it's pretty comprehensive!} for some unique decorating ideas! 

3.30.2010

London Recap: Cheese

Today's Agenda:  One of my best friends is moving just down the street from me!! {The highlight of my day and maybe spring/summer 2010!}.  So, I'll meet her today when she gets her keys to the new place.  Other than that I'm sorting through laundry + taxes.  {Sigh.}. 

So, continuing the London recap...Our first stop after we dropped our bags off at the hotel in London was La Fromagerie.  It's not exactly a secret spot or new find -- a friend had recommended that we visit it on our last trip to London and it's listed on Design Sponge's guide to London, but, man, is it amazing.  It didn't disappoint and we were able to thoroughly enjoy our tasting plates of cheese + charcuterie and explore every nook and cranny of this usually bustling shop since we went at the perfect time -- 4:30pm on a weekday.

Cheese shop = fantastic.  But a cheese shop with a disco ball??  Amazing.
You can get a peek of the "Cheese Room"!
Yum, bread.
I can taste all of this now...
The only hope I had of remembering what we tasted was to take a picture of the menu!
These were sitting awfully close to me...
Yep, that's all chocolate.
Next visit, we are hoping to rent a flat so we can buy food here to cook at home.
I was intrigued by these...
And, loved the simple decor -- the wood of the table, the candles, the large clock.

Tempting...
The end.

But, check out the events they have!  Yes, please sign me up for "April in Paris."

3.29.2010

London Recap: The Sumner Hotel

Today's Agenda:  Uploading pictures from our London trip!  And teeing up blog posts for the week about our trip and many of the inspiring images I tried to capture.  Last week I was busy getting ready for a wedding I helped style and coordinate so I hadn't had a chance yet to look back at our London trip.  Am already ready to go back...:)

The first night in London we stayed at a boutique hotel called The Sumner Hotel.  This was a last minute booking done with about 15 minutes of research {not the usual two months in advance and full day of research!}.  And I was happily surprised.  Take a peak at the wonderful design of the dining and lobby areas.  I especially loved the lighting throughout the hotel and the use of wallpaper!  Location and price were also great {and included wifi + breakfast!}.
 



{I love this entryway!}