Category Archives: Design

Cork Report | Obrigado

Posted on 2016-04-10 by tikichris

From ancient oak forests south of Lisbon to state-of-the-art processing facilities near Porto in the north, tracing cork’s route from the tree to the finished product turned out to be a fascinating journey across Portugal. Continue reading →

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Cork Report | Bringing It Back Home

Posted on 2016-04-08 by tikichris

So impressed were we with our cork tour of Portugal that Kemey and I wanted to bring back home with us a more substantial than usual souvenir as a keepsake. Before we knew it we were making plans to clad an entire wall of our house with cork tiles. Having now lived with the tiles in place for several months, our choice seems more and more sensible and aesthetically sound as the days go by. Continue reading →

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Easter Afternoon Tea at The Langham London

Posted on 2016-03-21 by tikichris

Hop(p)ing for a happy Easter? You’re guaranteed a delectable and playful one with the limited run Easter Afternoon Tea offering by The Langham London’s Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden. Continue reading →

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Cork Report | So Much More to Bark About

Posted on 2016-03-09 by tikichris

Obviously, cork stoppers are by and far the most likely application for cork. But – as a sustainably harvested crop that’s naturally fire retardant and insulating (thermal and acoustic), flexible, hypoallergenic, and impermeable to liquid and gas – there’s plenty more being done with it. Shall we have a quick look? Continue reading →

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Infographic: Iconic Furniture in Film and TV

Posted on 2016-02-29 by tikichris

Check out this fun infographic put together by the furniture experts at Oldrids and featuring some of the most famous furniture from the movies and on TV. Set design plays a massive role in creating the look and atmosphere of … Continue reading →

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wonder.land at the National Theatre

Posted on 2016-02-03 by tikichris

wonder.land: it’s a tale we all know well, this time reexamined through the prism of our 21st century addiction to the digital doings on our gadgets’ screens and good old fashioned teenage malaise. Continue reading →

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Holiday Inn Express Launches Next Generation

Posted on 2016-01-24 by tikichris

I enjoyed my Ealing sleepover. I got some work done in a spacious room that I was able arrange to large extent how I wished. I had some awesome pizza delivered to my room. I slept like a baby. Continue reading →

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Namibia

Posted on 2016-01-23 by tikichris

This was my first time in Namibia, but not the greater southern Africa region. I’ve been heading down to this gorgeous part of the world since the mid 90s (and even lived in Mozambique for about a year) – always encountering enthusiastic folks insistent that I get to Namibia but never quite being able to take them up on their advice. But now I’ve finally made it, and I can see what the fuss had been all about it. Continue reading →

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Wasokan, Notting Hill: Europe’s First Authentic Japanese Kimono and Matcha Shop

Posted on 2016-01-21 by tikichris

It’s not a likely occurrence that a visit to the launch of a retail space in Notting Hill turns to talk bringing more harmony to the people of Europe. But that was the sort of chat I had with Noriyuki Ikeda at his new kimono and matcha shop, Wasokan, on Westbourne Grove. Continue reading →

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Good Stuff #48

Posted on 2015-12-05 by tikichris

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Grub Edible insect innovators, Grub, … Continue reading →

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Coverture Launches Emma Greenhill: A Winning Way to Wrap Up!

Posted on 2015-10-07 by Madison Salters

Maddie Salters pays a visit to Coverture & The Garbstore in Notting Hill for the launch of Emma Greenhill’s Matchmaker line of scarves. A colourful, pop-art window greets guests at Coverture & The Garbstore, a Notting Hill transplant that has … Continue reading →

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New for Paris: Frank Gehry’s Louis Vuitton Foundation (OneTravel)

Posted on 2015-09-15 by tikichris

Opened October 2014 in the Bois de Boulogne public park on the western edge of Paris, the Fondation Louis Vuitton is the city’s newest art museum and cultural center – and is making waves more for the building itself than … Continue reading →

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Good Stuff #45

Posted on 2015-09-10 by tikichris

Good stuff? Great stuff! And so much of it I’m having trouble keeping track and sharing the best of it in a timely manner. But don’t let my inadequate ability to blog efficiently get in the way you having a wonderful time. Have a look a this list of fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading →

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Good Stuff #42

Posted on 2015-06-07 by tikichris

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the lowdown on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Jean-Pierre Braganza Limited Edition Sunglasses for … Continue reading →

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Eastern Exchanges at Manchester Art Gallery

Posted on 2015-04-02 by tikichris

I had a splendid afternoon crashing the press preview of the newly opened Eastern Exchanges: East Asia Craft and Design exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery yesterday. More than a few standout pieces – as well as a chance to peek at a couple of other shows now on and to have a look at the gallery’s impression permanent collection – made my northward daytrip well worth the time on the train. Fans of design would do well to follow suit before the show closes at the end of May.Continue reading →

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“Women Fashion Power” Menu at Blueprint Café, Design Museum

Posted on 2015-02-17 by tikichris

Blueprint Café at the Design Museum is worth consideration for its lofty views of the Thames alone (ask for a seat by the windows when you book and then duke it out with your date over who gets the view of Tower Bridge and the City and who gets the view of Canary Wharf). However, Head Chef Martyn Moody’s not-so-fussy but still very fine food is the real draw. To celebrate London Fashion Week, Moody has come up with a Women Fashion Power set menu for February. Yet another stylish reason to pay this restaurant a visit? It sure looked and tasted that way to me when I gave the menu a try last night. Continue reading →

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Fem Graff Group Show at Lollipop Gallery

Posted on 2015-01-24 by Madison Salters

Fem Graff at Commercial Street’s Lollipop Gallery, has one mission: to bring the best of London’s female street artists indoors for a transformative experience. The collection of work sits right on the cutting edge, with stimulating, colourful imagery that contests traditional ideas of art and pushes boundaries, all the while bringing the best of East London’s graffiti culture indoors. Continue reading →

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Good Stuff

Posted on 2014-12-13 by tikichris

Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading →

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Win a 600g 50 Flavour Christmas Gift Box from Jelly Belly

Posted on 2014-12-12 by tikichris

Love Jelly Belly gourmet jelly beans? They make a great gift for Christmas! Here’s your chance to win a 600g 50 Flavour Jelly Belly Gift Box featuring a special Christmas Design sleeve that’s a UK web exclusive! Continue reading →

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Good Stuff

Posted on 2014-11-30 by tikichris

Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading →

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A Model Citizen in Amsterdam (The Tiny Traveller)

Posted on 2014-11-13 by tikichris

Remember when my little ‘3D Me’ went to Amsterdam? Well here’s more on that story from my mini travel buddy – business journo, travel writer, city blogger and “model citizen” Josh Ferry Woodard, from his new blog Tiny Traveller: When … Continue reading →

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The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood

Posted on 2014-11-11 by tikichris

The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood historic home of the afternoon tea – and one of the most stylish venues I’ve yet to encounter in this town – The Langham London has collaborated with leading luxury brand Wedgwood to launch a new afternoon tea featuring a special menu of delectably dainty creations by Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden (one of my London foodie heroes!) inspired by and to be served alongside Wedgwood specialty teas in bespoke “Langham Rose” Wedgwood teaware. Launching across all The Langham and Langham Place hotels and ahead of The Langham London’s 150th anniversary in 2015, new tea offering is available now. Continue reading →

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Speed Date an Engagement Ring Designer with F&L Designer Guides

Posted on 2014-10-06 by tikichris

Here’s a first: a “Speed Date a Designer” event “to help you meet and get inspired by a collection of independent, friendly and imaginative engagement ring designers in one fun evening.” Got questions about “popping the question” and want to make sure you get everything right when you do? This unique opportunity hosted by F&L Designer Guides might be a perfect for you, potentially saving you loads of time and money. Continue reading →

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Win a £50 Voucher for Circus Cocktail Bar and Cabaret, Covent Garden

Posted on 2014-08-29 by tikichris

A cocktail bar, restaurant and cabaret, Circus offers a Pan Asian dinner menu alongside an enticing cocktail menu. Designed by British Tom Dixon, the surrealist interior is the perfect setting for wild cabarets, with actors performing on tables and vanishing in between courses. Following dinner and the performance, the West End venue turns into a dance space. Fun place, right? Thanks to a team up with online restaurant discovery guide, Zomato, I’m offering one lucky reader a free voucher worth £50 to spend at Circus. Continue reading →

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Aberlour at the Source: Speyside Cooperage

Posted on 2014-08-09 by tikichris

As important as the few raw ingredients that go into whisky is the cask in which the spirit is aged. Indeed it’s the interplay between the spirit and the cask wood that gives any whisky its flavour. And coming by the right cask is no mean feat as I found out when I got a look see inside the Speyside Cooperage near Aberlour Distillery. Continue reading →

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Christmas in July? Good Stuff!

Posted on 2014-07-26 by tikichris

Ho ho huh? Here’s a bagful of seasonally premature Good Stuff to stuff keep in mind as 2014 rolls onwards to a hopefully very festive end. With many major brands (and those wishing to be so) hosting sneak preview shows every July to highlight what’s on their nice lists for Christmas, it’s a fun if odd time to be on the consumer end of media. Anyway, I’m never one to turn down an invite to a party – even if I’m not sure if it’s half a month early or late. So, deck the hall and all that jazz as I share some of the more notable Yuletide prospects I came across this past month. Enjoy. Continue reading →

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Hyper Japan 2014, 25-27 July at Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Posted on 2014-07-25 by tikichris

Returning to London today through Sunday 27 July is Hyper Japan, the UK’s “biggest celebration of Japanese culture, cuisine and cool.” I popped round for a quickie investigation earlier this afternoon. Here are some highlights from my visit to this annual bonanza of banzai. Continue reading →

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6 Exceptional Museums in Basel (OneTravel)

Posted on 2014-07-10 by tikichris

For a city of only about 200,000 people, Basel boasts more museums than cities with more than ten times its population. From the Anatomical Museum of the University of Basel (which was founded by Professor Carl Jung – yes, the … Continue reading →

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Hello Stan Smith. Still Looking Good!

Posted on 2014-07-09 by tikichris

White on white with a touch of navy – I’m almost afraid to wear my new Adidas Originals Stan Smith trainers out on the streets as they look so nice and clean right out of the box. But that fear will subside soon, and I’m sure I’ll make good use of this new pair of trainers. Continue reading →

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See Basel: A City Artfully Designed to Please

Posted on 2014-07-04 by tikichris

Keen to take a city break that’s chock full of eye candy treats by some of the world’s greatest modern architects, designers, and artists? Go to Basel. I was blown away by all the fascinating stuff I got to behold during my few days there. Continue reading →

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Rachel Khoo and the Patisserie of Steam at Miele Gallery, Regent Street

Posted on 2014-07-02 by tikichris

Open now until 4 July at the Miele Gallery, Regent Street is a “Steam Patisserie” pop-up featuring treats by TV pastry chef Rachel Khoo made using Miele Combination Steam Appliance including the world’s first ever Doreo, an “exciting dessert hybrid of a doughnut and “the crumbly classic American cookie.” Continue reading →

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Sleep Basel: The Passage

Posted on 2014-07-02 by tikichris

During my Basel City Break, I stayed at The Passage. Only open since February of this year, the sleek and minimalist four star hotel served as a conveniently positioned base for exploring the city and a comfy HQ well worth returning to. Continue reading →

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My Basel: Taking the Make My Switzerland App for a Spin

Posted on 2014-07-01 by tikichris

Obviously you’ve heard about Switzerland’s stunning panoramas of and from its mighty Alps. But for my first of hopefully many more visits to this friendly little Alpine nation, I found the views shared via a handy Swiss app to be a real wonder to behold as well. The free to download app, called Make My Switzerland, is available via Google Play and Apple’s App Store and offers a wealth of insider knowledge about the things that savvy locals love best in seven Swiss cities – Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, and Zurich. I gave the app a whirl over an especially fun weekend in Basel, and I’m more than happy to recommend the city and the app to anybody keen to explore a delightful and compact destination that’s big on culture. Continue reading →

Posted in Apps, Art, Basel, Basel City Break, Design, Drink, Food, Freebies, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Did What in Amsterdam? It Wasn’t Me! I Swear!

Posted on 2014-06-22 by tikichris

So, here’s that little eight inch 3D print out of me hanging out in Amsterdam. It’s nice to think that “I” got to go sightseeing via British Airways’ new Last Call range of last minute flight and last minute holiday deals and that “I” apparently chose an especially sunny time to visit this fun loving Dutch city. Continue reading →

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Good Stuff

Posted on 2014-06-21 by tikichris

Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading →

Posted in Design, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, Greece, London, Shopping, Sports, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments