While I was in Lane Crawford on Friday on my tea mission I came across this no so little beauty, by a South African design partnership Greg and Roché Dry who make up Egg Designs. The “Rosette Armoire” as you can see in the below images, is completely covered in copper plated metal roses. The couple say on their website that they came across the roses in a metal workshop in Mauritius while on holiday and then developed the idea further when they returned home.

I’m a bit of a nut for metal anything, so its no surprise that I think this is beautiful!

I was on a mission yesterday to buy some more of my favorite tea, which is now thankfully stocked here in Hong Kong by Lane Crawford. Kusmi, short for Kousmichoff, is a 140 year old Russian Tea house that is now based in Paris. I first discovered Kusmi teas in the then recently opened Dean & Deluca store near Tokyo station when I lived there almost 8 years ago. It was like paradise for an expat in a city where “import stores” could be almost an hour away! Ever since then I’ve been hooked. My husband and I spent hours in the Paris store when we were last in Europe smelling almost every blend and walked out of there with a small fortune that might have once made the East India Company threatened. Well maybe not quite.

Anyway, flash forward to not too long ago and I was having to ship the tea via the US because nobody stocked it in Asia…until now. Thanks Lane Crawford! Our favorite blend of the lot, and trust me when I say we’ve tried almost all of them, is the Russian Morning No.24 – its the perfect morning tea. Not too strong, smooth, but with a great kick to it. Think I might go make myself a cup now!

The Bel Air Sofa

Palm Beach Chair

Toy stools – these were available in almost any colour, really fun and versatile

Tree table

Xiang Desk

So folks, if you are in Hong Kong, the next time you are in Ap Lei Chau (yes, I know, a pain to get there) head into the HC28 showroom if you like what you see!

I’ve seen these outdoor chairs by Peter Ghyczy in vintage auction catalogues a few times, but only recently found out they are still in production – and available to buy online. Very space age…(and very Mork from Ork)…but kinda cool nonetheless. Just as much sculpture as furniture, I wouldn’t mind a few myself…my only gripe is the limited range of colours! Now if only I had the outdoor space…

It’s been a while since a furniture collection has “wowed” me, but the range by London based Somerville Scott & Co. did just that. As far as I’m concerned these designs tick all the right boxes for me – they’re elegant, well made, beautifully detailed and made from quality materials.

The Sloop club chair – very versatile looking, great lines, and I’ve always been a sucker for studs 😉

The Minx sofa – so classic! The contrast coloured buttons are super cute, but I have to say I love the brass strip detail along the bottom!

The Felidae I chair is another classic, and again very versatile. Love the detailing at the top of the legs there, just enough to make it stand out from the crowd.

The Precisionist’s table is a beautiful combination of brass, walnut and leather – so luxe looking. Great as a desk or a dining table.

The Miss Helen room divider – so simple, yet so chic.

The Miss Helen buffet – ebonized walnut with marble top, with a brass plinth, hardware and interior. Stunning.

The Curiosity Cabinet I – a mix of brass, ebonized walnut, lacquer and gold leaf. A bit like what I would imagine Paul Dupre-Lafon meets Alice in Wonderland would look like…

Check out their website for images of many more great pieces!

P.S. I want to thank you all for the lovely comments and emails from my last post, but I also want to reassure you that I have no intention of turning this blog into a daily soap opera of my personal life, and will restrict news to work related topics. Speaking of which, I should have some more for you soon – so stay tuned!

I’m still on the home office train of thought…although now I’m thinking I should put myself and my laptop at a snazzy secretaire in our living room, and leave my husband to wallow in the mess he calls his study at the other end of our apartment.

Love this new one from Armani Casa – looks like its covered in Parchment. The lines are stunning – a little Karl Springer inspired perhaps?

“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!

I’m off tomorrow morning for Melbourne for about 10 days… a short break to see the family…its been over a year and I can’t wait!

As I won’t be posting while I’m away I thought I’d leave you with some pics of my latest French design crush – Aymeric Lefort – how amazing are those cabinets….think I might be in love. From what I’ve read, Mr Lefort is influenced by the work of Royere, but I also see a bit of Parzinger in there too…what do you think?

Stay tuned folks, because when I get back I’ll be posting about the HK Art Fair (for which I have VIP tickets, woo hoo!) and other exclusive events in Hong Kong. Speaking of Hong Kong, if you are here and out and about in the city, today is the last day of the Dylan’s Candy Bar pop-up store in the On Pedder Store on Icehouse Street. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it, but I’m sure my butt will thank me for it in the long run…

Ciao! x

My copy of the Christie’s catalogue of the Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Berge collection of 2o th Century Decorative Arts arrived today. Yay! No matter that its too late to bid, because I couldn’t have afforded anything in the sale anyway, unless I’d sold everything I own, including a few of my organs. I would have happily done so had I thought that my husband and I could raise a family someday inside this amazing Jean-Michel Frank cabinet…

Yum!

As promised here are the pics of Romeo Sozzi’s Milan apartment. I’ve been meaning to post and share these with you for ages now, but I’m starting to realise why people are more often stating time as their greatest luxury. Nevertheless, here they are. I’m quite in love with the colour he’s used on the majority of these walls – opposed to his Paris apartment, these are quite neutral but there is a real light and ethereal feeling about these spaces, but still warm. His use of materials is exquisite – silks, velvet, crocodile leather, ebony etc. As per his Paris apartment most the furniture is from his company Promemoria. Hope you enjoy!

All photography by Jo Pauwels, from the book “A&D Series: Urban Spaces” published in Hong Kong by Page One.

Romeo Sozzi – the head designer of one of my favorite furniture collections Promemoria – is one incredibly stylish man. I first came across the furniture line while perusing a favorite shopping spot in Singapore, MOIE a few years ago. All of their designs are incredibly elegant, refined and remind me just a little of the designs of another famous Italian, Gio Ponti. Only the best materials are used, as you would imagine of an Italian company. Here are just a few of my favorite designs…

Irene Chair

Sofia Chair

Theo Desk

Wanda Sofa

Gong Bronze Tables – love this!

Galadriel Desk – and this!

Frou Bed

Club Sofa

I was already familiar with Signor Sozzi’s Milan apartment, so you can imagine my delight to have found photos of his Paris apartment in the latest issue of the Italian Architectural Digest….just a little drool worthy.

The choice of colour throughout the apartment is an interesting one, a dusty rose I would probably call it. Not what you would normally call masculine, but I think with his mix of furniture and art its quite successful – it’s nothing if not unique!

Two different views of the living area. I think the fabulous bones of this apartment play a big part in getting away with this colour on such a large scale. Like most of the furniture in his apartment, the ‘Wanda’ sofa is from Promemoria. I think the image just above may be my favorite of all…the colours are so harmonious and look fabulous with the art selected. Very dreamy indeed.

As in his Milan apartment, Sozzi has chosen to paint the kitchen an entirely different colour. Not sure what the thinking is behind that move, but I guess its good to break it up a bit.

The ‘Kyoto’ cabinet and ‘Bamboo’ dining table in the casual eating area, adjacent to the kitchen.

‘Sofia’ dining chairs can been seen in the more formal dining room. The room in the background looks to be painted in a fabulous chocolate colour…I wish they’d included pics of it…from what I can see it looks amazing.

Last but not least, the bedroom which has a ‘Frou Frou’ bed and ‘Amacord’ armoire.

If these are your kind of eye candy, stay tuned for tomorrow when I’ll post pics of his Milan apartment which is equally as stylish.

Apartment photos from AD Italia, January 2009 by Giorgio Baroni. Furniture images from the Promemoria website.