Thursday, 17 February 2011

FOREST WALK AND THE OSTRICH INN

This Saturday we went for a birthday walk with our friends Debs and Andrew to celebrate her big day! We parked by the Boat Inn on the river Wye and walked to the village of Newland, went into the fantastic Forest Cathedral and had a lovely lunch at The Ostrich Inn, a freehouse that dates back to the 15th centuary! From there only a 20 min walk back to the car. What a perfect day!

Saturday, 12 February 2011

MINI LONDON GUIDE WITH VALENTINES DAY, NEW "W" HOTEL, COLOURFUL SHOES AND TOM DIXON AT ROYAL ACADEMY OR ART

I went into London yesterday and look what I found, lovely flowers (Paddington Station) for Valentines Days and nice jewelry from Folli Follie on Regent Street.

A girl can never have to many shoes, just look at this lovely window at Kurt Geiger, Regent Street, and the shoes are to die for! Latest spring trends with platforms and lots of colour. Mix it girls!

Rock chic...more my personal style. I love it....here from Guess, Regent Street.
Preppy and sporty look at Hilfiger.

Bride to be 29 April, Kate Middleton is said to be wanting serving Snog yogurt ice cream at her royal wedding party. Lovely shop in Soho....
New hotel in Leicester Square, "W", so new it opens on Monday (Valentines Day) and I was not let in....chic boutique hotel on 10 Wardour Street with exclusive bars and restaurant och unusual service....watch this space I will be back for more about "W"
I went to the Royal Academy of Art to look at Tom Dixons new interiors there in the restaurant and bar. Sophisticated and arty in black and red, I like it!
While I was there I took the opportunity to visit the ongoing exhibition, Modern British Sculpture, good, interesting and a very manageable exhibition....with Henry Moore, Damien Hirst etc. Well worth a visit! Until 7 April. (Piccadilly).

Friday, 4 February 2011

SOFT PASTELS THIS SPRING FROM ÅHLÉNS, KOSTA BODA AND COLE&SON

"Bilar" i.e "Cars" is a very popular and loved soft sweet in Sweden which has know become a decorative sculptor in china by Stocke Keramik (www.stockekeramik.se).
Spring at Åhléns, the biggest department store chain in Sweden. Happy colours, bright and soft at the same time...patchwork and applications...try it yourself at home if you have the time and skills
!

Like clouds or soft Asian hills. Hills, new candle holder in frosted glass from Kosta Boda.
The first ever product by Jacob Solgren who works mainly as a stylist...the look a bit like the Swedish sweets "cars" or "bilar" as we say in Sweden....see above!

To celebrate the opening of the new exhibition at the Design Museum in London Cole & Son has collaborated with DM and the dutch graphic designer Wim Crouwel. The exhibition celebrates the prolific career of the Dutch graphic designer in his first UK retrospective, runs from 30 March - 3 July! Fresh and quirky at the same time!

Monday, 31 January 2011

WEEKEND IN DARTMOUTH, DEVON

We went to Dartmouth in Devon for the weekend. Started with a lovely walk along the seafront up to the castle, climbed up to the top and returned on the higher walk into Dartmouth where we had a lovely lunch with freshly grilled fish and chips (not for me I am on a diet) at The Rockfish. Great place and lovely and simple food....
We stayed in a flat that overlooked Dartmouth and the harbour. Really nice. Just look at the stunning views below!

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

SPRING TIME AND SNOW IN STOCKHOLM and Scandic Hotel Malmen

I am in Stockholm and have just sold my/our flat....sad but good. Formex finished this Sunday and I want to show you this springlike stand....perhaps not the latest in trends but very nice inspiration for your garden. I have stayed in Scandic Hotel Malmen which is a nice hotel but the rooms are in need of some upgrading! The lobby, restaurant and bars though are of high designhotel standard. Well worth a visit!

Friday, 21 January 2011

MORE TRENDS ETC FROM FORMEX IN STOCKHOLM

One of the best stands at the Formex fair in Stockholm (finishes this Sunday) was/is Matteus (China). This year it was styled by Synnöve Mork, Interior Designer, Designer and journalist. It made me think of a painting by Matisse...the way she has used colours. Their new china had a palette of colours just like an artists palette!

Pink is the big colour according to the trend specialist? Here a project where old and abandoned items have been given new life.

More from the Swedish Fashion Council (I write trend guides etc for them). Here it is Jan Rundgren again with his lounging installation in the entrance hall at the fair. Humouristic, feminin, recycling and flower power....more is less...

GOLDEN LUXURY ETC AT FORMEX GIFT FAIR IN STOCKHOLM

Springfair at Formex. Gift- and interior design fair in Stockholm. The big themes was golden luxury and glorious mix! The press was invited for breakfast with pear mousse, chocolat mousse and mini macarones etc, to drink, pink champagne and coffee!

According to the Swedish trend "guru" Stefan Nilsson we all want luxury without having to spend to much money? The french trend "guru" Vincent Grégoire from Nelly Rodi in Paris said that chocking pink is the new big colour and that feminine values, humour and glamour are the big keywords for 2012!

Glorious mix by Jan Rundgren for the Swedish Fashion council. With lounging by the poolside etc.
Afro Art and recycled frames from Johannesburg etc. "Tous les Deux", Michaela Ahlberg and friends, new at Formex...
Inspiration from the 60-ies by Gunnel Sahlin for Reymyre Glasbruk.