Thursday, 26 April 2018

#ROSENDALSTRÄDGÅRD #STOCKHOLM #ORGANIC #GARDENANDCAFE

This is one of the best secret places in the city of Stockholm. Only twenty minutes walk from the city centre, in Djurgården, you will find this lovely organic garden centre with cafe and shop. Spring is late this year and always nearly a month later than the UK.

In the nursery window, lovely little vases arranged very artistically to inspire you.

From plants to pots and organic food, that is Rosendal!

More inspirational vases with plants and tulips.

Seasonal plats are arranged according to colour.
Inside one of the greenhouses is where the café and restaurant is. All organic!

Lovely open sandwiches with goats cheese, sesame seeds, wild garlic and decorated with eatable flowers.

Yummy carrot cake!

Vegan option with roasted peppers and nut paté with mustard, cucumber and pickled red onion and fresh shoots from the herb garden. Next time I will show you how their garden grows. Do not miss if you are in Stockholm!




Friday, 13 April 2018

#THECOALOFFICE NEW HOME FOR #TOMDIXON @KINGSCROSSSTPANCRAS

This Wednesday I was invited to preview the new home of Tom Dixon and his office, shop, showroom and restaurant. The new "home" is being relocated from Notting Hill to the new creative quarter of Kings Cross.
 King’s Cross is London's new creative quarter, home to 67 acres of inspiring businesses and outstanding architecture, destination restaurants and a vibrant cultural scene. The area’s industrial past has inspired the 50 new and repurposed buildings; the public spaces between them are a mix of parks, streets, squares, and gardens, with Granary Square and its fountains as a heart.

Over 12,000 people now work in the area in companies including Google, Havas, PRS for Music, Louis Vuitton, Camden Council, The Office Group, Vistaprint, Autotrader and ArtFund. A further 800,000 sq. foot of office space remains to be delivered.

King’s Cross has close to 2,000 homes – a mix of private, rental, student and affordable housing – in 18 residential buildings. All have been designed with care; the stand-out development is Gasholders London, 145 apartments built within Grade II-listed cast-iron gasholder frames.

Already known as a foodie hotspot, King’s Cross is now establishing itself as a retail destination. Nike, 18Montrose and Waitrose,
Jigsaw, & Other Stories and Carhartt WIP are already open. The retail vision will complete in late 2018 when Coal Drops Yard, London’s newest shopping street, opens in a pair of redesigned Victorian coal buildings, creating 100,000 sq ft. of boutiques, shops, bars and restaurants in the centre of King's Cross.
Tom Dixon says: 'For us it was imperative not just to find a new office or shop. It was vital to find a new home. London isn't just another city. It is where it all started. We will use these 17,500 square feet in this incredible location as a platform to broadcast our latest ideas in interior design, product innovation and experiments in food, functionality and future living.' 
Come on in with me and take a tour!




The old building must have been where a lot of coal was delivered for the area. Now the home of Tom Dixon, his team, his workshop, his shop, a restaurant and flower shop. Just by the canal at Kings Cross and next door to Granary Square with its dramatic lit fountains and the home of Central Saint Martins School of art. 

The entrance with Tom´s famous chairs and  sofa with new metal legs and lighter fabrics. The interior is "brutal" and industrial. The walls has been left undecorated  giving the place a rough feel in contrast to the gold, soft curves of the furniture and the elegant lamps.

The cafe, and waiting room, are situated just by the entrance. Tom Dixon's lamps are, of course, overused and the new candle collection and tableware are represented on the mantelpiece.

The staircases are also left with an industrial feel and simpleness in harmony with the old building.

During this press preview we were presented a black breakfast with charcoal infuses cheese, bread, meringues, jam and water. Impressingly decadent.

The meringues and in the back, the bread!

The new collection was also introduced and will not be shown in Milan this year. Cobalt blue or Klein blue are the new colour (use to be neon orange). Makes me think of the Conran Shop and sir Terence Conran himself. What gets around comes around!

The different railway arches are home to different part of the collection from lighting to office furniture.

A new collaboration has been started with the florist Wild at Heart where green plants are incorporated into the living area. Very in just now with these greens, takes me back to my youth when no home was complete without a Monstrea plant. I love the big flowerpots!

Tom himself introducing a new way of designing, with the nose! Scented candles is a new (and very commercial) range for his brand.

The railway arches seen from the Granary Square way and by following the arches you will soon find a new shopping area. More about Tom Dixon's new home and collections soon.
Opening Dates and Times
Press Preview: Wednesday 11 April, 9.30am – 11.30am. By invitation only. 
Shop Opening Date: Friday 20 April, 10am – 7pm.
Shop Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm Monday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm Sundays only.
Trade Open House Event: 10 May, 11am – 9pm. Pre-register here: rsvp@tomdixon.net Public Open House Event: 18 – 19 May, 10am – 7pm. Pre-register here: rsvp@tomdixon.net Restaurant: Opening late June 2018.
Address: Tom Dixon, The Coal Office, 1 Bagley Walk, London N1C 4PQ 

Tuesday, 10 April 2018

#TEASER #STOCKHOLM MORE TO COME

I have been to Stockholm for the weekend and saw some very interesting and excellent exhibitions etc. Here a small teaser with the view from the restaurant at the Fotografiska Muséet at Södermalm. This Photo Art Museum is genuine in its form. Do not miss it if you go to Stockholm. More later this week.

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

#YELLOW #ORANGE #PALEBLUES #PINK #FASHION AND #INTERIORS

Since I work with both fashion and interiors I can see where they walk side by side. This spring yellows and oranges mixes with pink and pale blue and turquoise. (Aside from all pastels, more about that later). Here the version by Scottish designer shown at Fashion Scout for SS18, Katie Ann McGuigan. Note the longer skirt and the footwear.

More from Katie, here a flimsy romantic dress for summer 2018.

A more 60s inspiration à la Courèges. Paul Costelloe.

Stripes are always around in interiors, at the moment more than ever, and the same goes for fashion. Note the colour scheme and the Missoni inspiration on the zig-zag cushion. Osborne & Little.

Hanging in clusters and preferably in glass. Lamps from Poliform at Chelsea Design Centre.

Terracotta/burnt orange mixed with pink and gold. The new sofa are kidney shaped and in velvet! Chelsea Design Centre. More soon.