(Things we're doing and stuff we like)
Last night, Amy and I went to the launch of Zaha Hadid’s new tap project with Triflow Concepts. The glamorous event took place at a beautiful venue in central London. Ordinarily used as an art gallery, the space was spread across 4 floors and with stylish cocktails and canapés, was the perfect setting for the event. The taps were aptly positioned on top of Zaha-designed tables on the mezzanine so as to be observed from all angles, and looked wonderfully strange and beautifully fluid, reflecting the concept behind their design.
Marcus and I popped into the new Opus Store on King Street in Covent Garden and were blown away by the gallery-like setting surrounding these magnificent books. The epic-scale books are an archival collection of images and stories covering all manner of subjects from Manchester United FC to Vivienne Westwood. Size is not just what makes these limited-edition books unique – they often contain rare and previously unpublished images and are written by the finest writers in their field. Upcoming launches this year include Prince, The Saatchi Gallery and Formula One.
There’s always something daunting about huge international art fairs. However, what struck me about the rich mix of work on offer at the London Art Fair was something sensory and almost visceral. The turpentine tang of newly finished works in oil by young artists mingled with the curiously musty aroma of lithographs, linocuts, etchings and prints by 20th century masters like Piper or Hockney. The Private View at the Business Design Centre was teeming with artists and buyers and, judging from the deals I overheard on stands, the appetite for art, old and new, is as intense as ever.
Boundary is the brilliant new venture by Sir Terence Conran. Set in the heart of edgy Shoreditch, the project includes a hotel, shop, café and restaurant. It’s a great place for a coffee and a treat or a sumptuous dinner with friends. The ground floor houses a fantastic farm-style shop and café – complete with pink and white tea cosies on Brown Betty teapots. The basement restaurant is typically Conran – über classy and quintessentially British – with dim lighting and ‘magic carpets’ on the ceiling! All in all, this is a very cool project in a very cool setting.
When I dropped into Cocomaya to see if its reputation as London’s most exquisite chocolatier was justified, I was not disappointed. From the moment I opened the door of the Connaught Street shop, I was assailed by the delicious aroma of chocolate and a visual feast of truffles, many dusted with gold and iridescent powders to resemble precious jewels. The shop is beautifully decorated in pinks and greens, with vintage cake stands and antique glass domes. Want to know what heaven might taste like? Then try the milk chocolate pomegranate dome. Or the pecans dipped in chocolate. Or anything really. It’s all delightful.
Archive
May, 2013April, 2013
March, 2013
February, 2013
January, 2013
December, 2012
November, 2012
October, 2012
September, 2012
August, 2012
July, 2012
June, 2012
May, 2012
April, 2012
March, 2012
February, 2012
January, 2012
December, 2011
November, 2011
October, 2011
September, 2011
August, 2011
July, 2011
June, 2011
May, 2011
April, 2011
March, 2011
February, 2011
January, 2011
December, 2010
November, 2010
October, 2010
September, 2010
August, 2010
July, 2010
June, 2010
May, 2010
April, 2010
March, 2010
February, 2010
January, 2010
December, 2009
November, 2009
October, 2009
September, 2009
August, 2009
July, 2009
June, 2009
May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February, 2009
January, 2009
December, 2008
November, 2008
October, 2008
September, 2008
August, 2008
July, 2008
June, 2008
May, 2008
April, 2008
March, 2008
February, 2008
January, 2008
December, 2007
November, 2007
October, 2007
September, 2007
August, 2007
July, 2007
June, 2007
May, 2007
April, 2007
March, 2007
February, 2007
January, 2007
December, 2006
November, 2006
October, 2006
September, 2006
August, 2006
July, 2006
June, 2006
May, 2006
April, 2006
Moblog
Torre Velasca, Milan
Punkt. at Spazio Rossana Orlandi #salone 13
Baccarat #salone 13
Studio Job at MOST #salone13
Wallpaper* Handmade #salone 13