Category Archives: Design
Wiener Demeanour: Galleries, Art and Design
Schönbrunn Palace … St Stephen’s Cathedral … the Belvedere … the Albertina … even a cursory list of Vienna’s top attractions packs the sort of artful wallop that would delight even the pickiest of culture vultures. And by all means as many of these (and so many other) places should be included in any sightseeing itinerary of the historic Austrian capital. But that doesn’t mean visitors to Vienna must relegate themselves to an urban escape set only in the past. Continue reading
Cork Report | Obrigado
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
Cork Report | Bringing It Back Home
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
Easter Afternoon Tea at The Langham London
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
Cork Report | So Much More to Bark About
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
Infographic: Iconic Furniture in Film and TV
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
Namibia
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
Wasokan, Notting Hill: Europe’s First Authentic Japanese Kimono and Matcha Shop
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
Coverture Launches Emma Greenhill: A Winning Way to Wrap Up!
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
New for Paris: Frank Gehry’s Louis Vuitton Foundation (OneTravel)
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
Good Stuff #42
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
Eastern Exchanges at Manchester Art Gallery
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
“Women Fashion Power” Menu at Blueprint Café, Design Museum
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
Fem Graff Group Show at Lollipop Gallery
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
Good Stuff
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
Win a 600g 50 Flavour Christmas Gift Box from Jelly Belly
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
A Model Citizen in Amsterdam (The Tiny Traveller)
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
The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood
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
Christmas in July? Good Stuff!
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
Hyper Japan 2014, 25-27 July at Earls Court Exhibition Centre
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
6 Exceptional Museums in Basel (OneTravel)
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
Hello Stan Smith. Still Looking Good!
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
See Basel: A City Artfully Designed to Please
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
Rachel Khoo and the Patisserie of Steam at Miele Gallery, Regent Street
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
Sleep Basel: The Passage
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
My Basel: Taking the Make My Switzerland App for a Spin
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
I Did What in Amsterdam? It Wasn’t Me! I Swear!
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