A Truly Modern European Experience

I have a thing about round mirrors - there's something about the shape that pleases me. Mirrors in general are excellent value; fitting in all kinds of areas; inviting  whole new worlds into darkened corners. 

That bath is on my hit list - don't you just love the balance of simplicity vs functionality ?

I love the clean blocks of colour, so understated. Gorgeous.

House HAND - 8 rue de Fleurieu - 69002 LYON 

This shop is in Lyon, France and the owners have got it right when it comes to the layering of colours, textures and lighting - great styling and gorgeous products. I see aspects of Scandinavian, Italian and British design (hello, Tom Dixon lights) and the complete look is modern and truly European and yet, it would fit in any urban environment around the globe. 

I'm off to Paris, again, this Friday (bridesmaid duties), and, sadly, I wont have time to pop down to Lyon this time, however this shop is rocking my world... Thank you Jules from the The Diversion Project for flagging this one up. Excellent find.

In case you're heading that way too; other great shops to visit in France are:

Merci

111 bd Beaumarchais,
750003

Paris

Astier de Villatte - read more here

173 rue Saint Honoré

75001

Paris

Ets Lion - read more here

7 rue des Abbesses

75018 

Paris

House HAND 

8 rue de Fleurieu

69002 

LYON 

Dear Decorex, I love you.

a small collection of my favourite things, so far

I love this chair by Tamarisk  (all pieces produced here in the UK)

Lighting

ever see anything quite like these? I love the binoculars! By Antiques By Design

I'm an immediate fan of any designer who can make wall lights sexy

Styling / Design

Cabbages & Roses had the best stand, hands down!

Fabrics

gorgeous linens and ticking popped up a few times

I love this triple warp fabric by NYC based designers Pollack 

Silk fabric wallpapers in gorgeous colour palettes - such luxury!

Product

 Dn Designs make beautiful tiebacks - I adored their presentation 

As you know, it's London Design Week, and although there are a number of good trade shows on, the Decorex show is outstanding. I have to go back on Wednesday because there are so many great stands and lovely people to chat too that it just isn't worth rushing.

A couple of highlights, so far: I was delighted to meet both Charlene Mullen (who I will be posting about, later) and Niki Jones. I'm such a fan of Niki's products and, particularly her website which I think is so well done - you get a real sense of who she is. Having met her, I was quite taken by how lovely and generously spirited she is in person.

         I love these concentric cushion covers

People who work hard and who are generous with information are going to be the stars in this newly forming share society or otherwise known as 'Collaborative Consumption' (via the brilliant Uncluttered White Spaces website). After all, transparency is a compelling show of brand confidence. 

What Niki Jones stands for (read her manifesto) instils a sense of loyalty in her customers. Her products are often on my boards; I want my clients to buy from her and visiting her site feels good. It's little wonder to me that she's doing so well. And when you take into account that she launched just a year ago...well, that's an incredible achievement by anyone's standard.

Other highlights: Emily Bond - charming doggy prints and  Barbara Coupe's Cool Britania - hand embroidery!

More to follow, soon...

Come Away With Me

Astier de Villatte

Bon voyage! 

Don't you just love that wall?

 love the sleek industrial lines of this table.

authentic details- see the nail studs? This building has lived! 

                                                              Astier de Villatte

During my most recent visit to Paris, in July of this year, I was on the hunt for something special. Time Out Paris alerted me to a (small) handful of interesting interior shops and so I walked up and down rue St. Honoré on the hunt for one particular treasure, feeling quite annoyed because I was lost (I always manage to get lost in Paris), and then, at last, I found it. It wasn't hiding, but a certain phrase came to mind: le charme discret de la bourgeoisie.

Walking in to Astier de Villatte is a thrilling experience. I hope these photographs will give you an idea of what a wonderful a place this is. Their website, although very clever, gives nothing away when it comes to the shop - why don't they give us a virtual tour?


Astier de Villatte along with my all time favourite NYC shop John Derian are the exception to the new e-commerce rule: you really do have to be there; try not to miss out on this one.

Museum of London

walking home

The Museum of London has been given a £20 million face lift and they have done an extraordinary job - if you live in London, you really must go (and if you live elsewhere, you may wish to move once you see this...). I'll be writing about this building again because that the sheer amount of ideas and carefully thought out use of space and colour and surface areas and light just blew me away. I loved it. It was spellbinding.

Being a dedicated commuting cyclist for the last ten years, I felt like a tourist walking through London on Sunday. By foot it is a very different city. There's nothing quite like London in the Summer; I think I've fallen in love with it all over again. What's your favourite city? Where would you chose to live, if money where no object?