Ham Yard Hotel London … modern British style

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Firmdale Hotels has opened another hotel in London this month with Kit Kemp the designer working her magic.  She is renowned for her confident play with fabric patterns and bold use of wallpaper and artwork.
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Kit Kemp is also incredibly clever with the detail.  I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of her other hotels in London … the Knightsbridge, Number 16 and The Pelham and can say that I have loved all that she has accomplished.  She has a signature style … however each property, very much it’s own look and feel.
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At the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, colour and pattern have been taken to a new level. Even though some of her pattern combinations I find almost too bold, they work and I can only marvel at the attention to detail.
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There are areas with schemes such as the Suite above, that for me, don’t work.  There is just one fabric too many !!! and there will be those who think it is fabulous.
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The drawing room, for reasons quoted above, falls into the same category.  However, I do feel that this room is probably a lot more appealing in reality, so will put it down to the photograph … I find it difficult to imagine the very clever Kit Kemp getting it wrong … or am I not fully appreciating modern British style.

Loving london’s boutique hôtels 2014

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The Pelham Hotel in Sth Kensington is, for me the perfect location in London.  A short stroll to the V&A or along the gorgeous Walton Street to Harrods … more specifically, their Stationary Department.
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Kit Kemp the designer has created a luxury town house style hotel, the interiors ‘a tailored version of grand English style’.  I love the idea of individually designed bedrooms, and there are 52 to choose from.
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What sets these hotels apart is the unexpected … the combination of antique and contemporary furniture … quirky lighting and modern art set within a a wood panelled drawing room or library … it is perfect.

Parisian fabric houses to peruse

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To stumble across such jewels … only in Paris.  The cobblestoned streets of the Left Bank lined with the prettiest shop windows.
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Jim Thompson … one of my all time favourites.  What a joy. These windows were a spectacle.
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Pierre Frey … always so smart and shades of colour to die for.
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Nobilis is pure elegance.
Just take the time to explore at leisure … fabric houses for more than just fabrics. Cushions, trims and throws to play with alongside antiques and designer furniture. Shop after shop … names you have only glimpsed in beautiful magazines.
And when it all gets too much, just pop into Laduree for a restorative pot of tea and delicate macaron.

Soane britain … for craftsmanship and colour extraordinaire

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I am not sure if it has anything to do with the weather, however we don’t seem to embrace colour quite like the English.  Think of those cyclamen pink dining rooms that look so fabulous.  I am not even sure it works with our sunnier climate.

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Hence, my love for English decorating magazines … probably because ‘the look’, (their look !!) is just so different to anything we do here.  There is no right or wrong … it is just different!!

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Meanwhile, enjoy looking at Soane Britain … a beautiful website with beautiful products. They do ship to anywhere in the world, if you can bear to wait.

Hotel guestrooms with a difference… the siam, bangkok

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Without doubt it is the individuality of The Siam that sets it apart.  Renowned hotel designer Bill Bensley has incorporated the old with the new and created a unique 5 star hotel, full of charm.

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This is not your typical hotel guestroom … with Thai Colonial influences, lamps hanging on black silk ribbons, travel collections … all so very personal.

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The elegance of suites with sumptuous furnishings, exquisite detailing and such interesting memorabilia.

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Memorabilia that has been collected and sourced for each of the individually themed suites.

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Always glimpses to the exotic orchid filled gardens …

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Black and white and distinctly Art Deco.  Such attention to detail.

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I ask the question again, why can’t your average hotel guestroom, or even just the expensive ones, be that little bit more exciting or individual.  It isn’t only about the finishes and furnishings … it is about creating spaces that make patrons feel at home or somewhere better than home.

Loulou’s of london … a peek into the latest members only nightclub

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Loulou’s night spot is located inside Mark Birley’s 5 Hertford Street …the very exclusive membership club in Mayfair. Opening in the second half of 2012, the wild and wonderful interiors are by the acclaimed fashion designer Rifat Ozbek … with a budget of 30 million pounds !!

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Robin Birley is not new to the aristocratic world of the private club, his late father Mark created Annabel’s, Harry’s Bar and Mark’s for the previous generation. Robin named his club ‘Loulou’s’ after his aunt Loulou de la Falaise, the fashion designer.

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Spaces for wining, dining, sitting, dancing or just quietly contemplating. The interiors are a celebration of colour and pattern, rich and exotic, vibrant … and always so elegant.

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It is this understated elegance that underpins all great design and never more so than at Loulou’s. The combinations of beautiful fabrics, stylish lighting, glamorous wallpapers and extremely interesting painted finishes … and we all thought painted finishes had had their day.

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The one colour that seems to add that touch of glitter and wit throughout is ‘lipstick pink’ … it just works. And there is plenty of wit … a bar made of shells, stuffed giraffe’s head and illuminated peacocks !!

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A.A. Gill observed of the founder members and carefully invited on opening night “These are the people who are famous to one another – legends of their own clubs – and that has always been enough.”

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images: jonathan becker

5 ways with the warmth of wood

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1.  Timber floors, walls and ceiling create a warm palette, all complimented by the stone clad wall in similar hues.

2.  The balance between the texture of timber and stone, and the crispness of the minimal white wall, porcelain freestanding bath and bedlinen, is perfect.  Note the contrasting timber shades of the furniture.

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3.  Beautifully designed timber furniture provides the warmth, texture and perfect scale in this otherwise simple white interior.

4.  The contrast between the smoothness of the timber floor and the rustic nature of the timber furniture gives this room another dimension.

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5.  If you can be bold enough to follow the warm tones of the timber and stone with soft furnishings (rather than contrast with additional colour) the end result will be extremely elegant.

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Images: wiesergut hotel, hinterglemm, austria

Loving the langham, london

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The Langham Hotel, London … just a short stroll from Oxford Street, Regent Street and Marylebone High Street … shops, shops and more shops. This is a very stylish hotel in a fabulous location.

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Classic Room

I love the warmth and attention to detail in all the rooms … from the entry level Classic Rooms to Grand Junior Suite.  There are of course larger suites, however I simply can’t imagine needing anything larger than the gorgeous Grand Junior suite … particularly when you are out and about shopping and exploring all day.

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Grand Junior Suite

I think what I love most is the interesting use of colour throughout … both elegant and adventurous, to say the least. I don’t know why all hotels don’t do doona’s/duvet’s … they are just so inviting.  Well actually I do know why.  Changing covers still remains a nightmare for housemaids. (Have to say I find it a challenge and only have a couple to do at any one time.)

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Artesian

Lovely to know there is the traditional Palm Court to return to for Tea after all that shopping … or the Artesian for a cocktail before dinner.  I do love the exotic Orientalism !!!

A stay at The Langham would not be complete without a stroll through Regent’s Park or a visit to the Wallace Collection (also fabulous Tearoom).

Christmas week in london 2012

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Regent Street in London is the benchmark for Christmas decorations as far as I am concerned … and the bar is always set extremely high !!! This is Christmas 2012 and it does not disappoint.

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I love the way the smaller street around Regent and Oxford Street have their own theme … Sth Molton, Carnaby etc.

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Oxford Street … what fun … and I haven’t even started on the ice skating in Hyde Park or at the Courtauld Gallery as yet.

Well that is London and we are here in Sydney.  I am so looking forward to my week finalising Christmas shopping, catching up with friends for some Christmas cheer and reporting on just how festive Sydney is looking Christmas week … watch this space !!

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