I want!

It's a bit too early to be thinking about Xmas presents...and a bit too late to be thinking about birthday presents. But man how I want this house. Forget that I don't actually live in London...

Tom Ford's London digs are up for grabs at a mere £8,500,000. Semi-detached gloriousness in a seemingly fancy neighbourhood...and those walls. All of them. I must know whose work it is. I read somewhere that David Collins did a London residence for Tom Ford, but this looks more like the work of Bill Sofield to me...but who knows. It almost makes me want to be a man and take up cigar smoking and drinking whisky.

More pics here.

Singapore II

This grand old dame looks quite like the one we ate breakfast in last Sunday. So beautiful...

The owners of this home collect asian art, and as you will see in the following pictures, this house is the perfect backdrop. They've managed to keep it looking like a home, rather than a museum which is not an easy feat considering all of the amazing art they have. I'm not sure I could live in it, but I certainly wouldn't mind it as a holiday house!

So tell me, which one do you prefer - the modern version, or this one?

Originally published in Architectural Digest (US) in January 2007, for more pictures click here. Photography by Russell MacMasters.

Singapore

I had a great long weekend in Singapore - perfect weather, delicious food and wine, great shopping and even better company. One of the many things I love about Singapore is the blend of architectural styles. The city has done a great job of retaining and using its colonial architecture and mixing it with the new and modern. Something that Hong Kong sadly lacks. Amongst the lovely places we wined and dined over the weekend, our breakfast venue on our last morning was the most memorable. Set in the lush Rochester Park area in an old "Black and White" (the term for the colonial homes painted in, funnily enough, black and white), amongst what felt like a tropical paradise.

I found a few examples of colonial buildings that have been renovated and refurbed...this one is by a Singaporean architectural firm called Ong & Ong. It looks to me like a typical shop house on the outside, but the inside is a totally different story. Its been opened up and modernised in a way that is still sympathetic to the original design. Furnished with modern asian style furniture and accessories, this is definitely not what you would be expecting from the exterior.



If I have time tomorrow I'll post another colonial home I found and you can vote for your favorite!

Albano Daminato

It's been another busy week. But then, is there ever any other kind for me lately? Thankfully I have a long weekend planned in Singapore to visit some good friends. Yay! Speaking of Singapore, I thought I'd share some photos of work by Interior Architect Albano Daminato who is based there. He's done some incredible residential work, as well as the Aman resort in Bhutan, Amankora. More great pics to be found on his website...

One more Gambrel post

I'm in love with this kitchen. And I promise that'll be the last Gambrel post for at least a little while....

a resolution

So I lost a lot of sleep last night thinking how on earth I could combine rich, dark lacquered walls with my love of early-mid 20th Century design in my fictional apartment. And then it hit me.

But Steven Gambrel has already done it (and has updated his website, for all the other Gambrel stalkers out there!).

I'll sleep better tonight...

Starting all over again...

I admit it - I spend a little bit too much time day dreaming about how I would decorate my next apartment (haven't bought one, and have no plans to move, but one can dream, right?). My problem is that I like so many different styles, the challenge is to put it all together in a way that both my husband and I are comfortable with, and something I won't bore of easily (actually, truth be told, I'm not even sure that is possible). And you know what, just when I think I've figured it out, I see something that makes me want to throw away everything I own and start all over again. Like this fabulous apartment done by Spanish designer Pascua Ortega.


And so I reconcile this in my head, dream up my own fabulous apartment full of an amazing mix of vintage and contemporary pieces...and then Miles Redd goes and does this...

and I'm back to square one again...

Pascua Ortega designed apartment in AD España June 2009, Miles Redd designed apartment in House Beautiful July 2009. *sigh*

Books, books, books and more books

My darling husband hacked into my Amazon wishlist and purchased these two treasures for my birthday. I haven't read them through yet, but based on the quick flick I've had I think I can safely recommend them both. Happy reading!

Martin Brudnizki

I have some more new (to me) talent to share. Martin Brudnizki is a swedish born, but now London based designer (what is it with that place - its so full of hot designers, I think I might have to move over there!) - and a former employee of David Collins to boot! If his former employer doesn't give you an idea of the eye candy you are in store for, I'm not sure what else will. He describes his interiors as luxurious, tailored and modern. A description I think is pretty fitting. Anyway, you be the judge - check 'em out and let me know what you think - will we be seeing more of Mr Brudnizki in the not too distant future...?

These are financial times

If you’re not already reading this, then you should be. Packed with great articles on arts, culture, travel and fashion for the wealthy, and for those of us (who would like to) design for them. Check it out.

more London talent...

I fell in love with the work of Michael Anastassiades before I even knew who the creator was. In case you didn't know, he is the man responsible for creating some of the gorgeous light fittings that Ilse Crawford has been known to use from time to time. Modern, minimal, but still completely and utterly elegant, Anastassiades designs are also most definitely timeless. Here are a few of my favorites...

Tube Wall Light


Tube Chandelier

Mobile Chandelier

CFL Light

Ball Lights (available in many configurations)

Agia Sophia Chandelier

Two images at top projects by Ilse Crawford, first is the Grand Hotel in Stockholm (ball lights), and the second is the Chiswick Highroad Private Club (tube chandeliers).

Sé

Sé London - a recent discovery of mine, and an instant fave - is celebrating it's 1st anniversary by launching a few new pieces (some of which were designed by Damien Langlois-Meurinne - see previous post on French moderne) and a new online catalogue.

And its precisely because, in their own words, Sé are about the traditional meeting the contemporary, the glamorous meeting the durable, the startling meeting the reliable, that this is my kind of modernism. Here are just a few of my faves...

"Happiness" wing back chair

"Forever" armchair

"Past in present" chair

"I only have eyes for you" sculptural table


"Ooh la la" console

"Temptation" dining table

and last but definitely not least, the "Undress me now" mirror - don't you just love their names!

Vivre chic

A little birdy told me that online emporium Vivre is having a memorial day sale...no matter that we don't celebrate memorial day on this side of the globe, who needs an excuse to shop?

My picks would be:

Stone rings by Malandrino

This leather jacket and cashmere/silk wrap by Chadwick Bell

a beautiful tiger's eye necklace by Bounkit

AND, these super cute clutches by Hong Kong based Kotur. Probably not together, but all still gorgeous nonetheless.

Sale ends Monday at midnight EST. Happy shopping (and long weekend to my American friends)!

Aussie aussi

While I was back in Melbourne I enjoyed catching up on few of the decor magazines that I don't buy regularly here in Hong Kong, namely House & Garden. One spread in particular that caught my eye was the home of the Melbourne-based French interior designer, Jean-Pierre Heurteau. If you remember, he is the designer behind those glossy black floors in a previous post. He is such a character in real life, so it was so great to see a home of a designer that I've actually met. His home is so full of life, colour, and well - flamboyance, that is enough to make any minimalist sick. But I love that he has been true to his personality, and has somehow managed to blend Australian and French cultures together - not an easy task!

As you can see he's used an all white palette for the background and layered it with pieces of different eras and cultures - and so many colours. Who knew that Aboriginal art would look so fabulous with French antiques?

With all those reflective surfaces and silk damasks it would feel like you were living inside a jewellery box!


I love the contrast between the stark white walls and the super dark (black?) carpet, and all that gold gilding. So lush. Yum. It's almost enough to make me want to move back to Australia...

All photos by Shania Shegedyn for Australian House & Garden magazine, May 2009.

Hong Kong Happenings

So I've been back a few days, and it seems like my trip to Melbourne was already a million years ago. It never ceases to amaze me how busy Hong Kong always is. And now that the weather is warming up the city is abuzz with events...

Thursday night saw the launch of David Ng's new furniture collection launch at Wittgenstein Design - a gorgeous showroom in SOHO that also showcases the work of Christian Liaigre. The new collection of hand crafted contemporary Chinese designs will be in store until June 13th, so you still have time to check it out if you are in HK.

Friday night was the VIP, invitation only, launch of the 2 week event "Boutique Boulevarde: So Central, So Chic". Lots of fun and frivolity in the city with music, wine and gourmet hors d'oeuvres - I think it was the retailers way of plying us with alcohol to get the credit cards out - but in HK you never really need a excuse to shop! Check out the website for further details of some of the other events that are open to everyone, including fashion and lifestyle workshops and poetry readings.

And Saturday I went along with my VIP pass to the Hong Kong Art Fair - and was definitely not disappointed! The fair closed yesterday, so if you missed out this year, make sure you pencil it into your calender for next year - it is definitely a must see for Hong Kongers. The range of international art, and the quality is unsurpassed in this city so far.

A crowd of people around the limited edition Damien Hirst works on paper - these were quite well priced, and I wouldn't be surprised if they all sold within the first day.

People gathered in front of one of the LED pieces by Julian Opie.

One of a few pieces on display by the Lalanne's - it was a real treat for me to see this up close.

Phew, busy week for me. I'll hopefully be back to posting normally next week!