le marianne, paris … boutique hotel style
Beach houses .. currumbin .. my edit 2014/15
London’s boutique hotel style
Hotel guest rooms … the latest in layout
Designex14 … fabulous lighting, brilliant design
Conserving the history and cherishing the detail …
Mount Street, Mayfair is without doubt my favourite street in London. Its architecture sets it apart from the rest of Mayfair … both its homogeneity and distinctive red brick. New and edgy brands like Aesop (the Australian skincare brand), sit beside some of Mayfair’s oldest.
Aesop’s first London outlet, with interior by Ilse Crawford of Studioilse (who I have written about before), is located in a magnificent Victorian Grade II listed mansion block in Mount Street.
Original parquet floors have been left raw, fireplaces reinstated and tall ceilings exposed. The end result has been widely celebrated.
While soaking up the grandeur of Melbourne’s Block Arcade recently, I was similarly impressed … the extent to which period detailing had been incorporated as a design element in shop fitouts, rather than covered up as once would have been the case.
Very simply put … it is the challenge in the juxtapositioning of old and new … and the delicate balance of getting it right.
Container homes are all style
I first heard about container homes and the creative things people were doing with them, a few years ago. I listened with great interest … fascinated to think of the challenge and the potential !!
All they require are windows and doors…of any size or proportion and a coat of paint.
They can be joined together side by side or on top of each other ….
Somehow they suddenly become a design statement ….. minimalist and state of the art. I just love the way they seem to nestle into their environment.
French style …. hotel lancaster, paris
The Hotel Lancaster in Paris is without doubt the prettiest hotel in Paris. An extremely chic boutique hotel …. is this not just exactly what one would expect when we think of Parisian style.
I adore the simple, pared back elegance which allows the architecture to shine.
This is the most sophisticated use of colour …. so subtle, yet only for the brave. Shades of lavender, lilac and aubergine teamed with shades of grey, crisp white and hint of gold …. how divine ! Not as easy as it looks to achieve the perfect balance.
I have always loved the tile and marble combination in a bathroom … somehow it creates character. It is so much more interesting than head to toe marble which is an easier option by far. How decadent to have your own dressing table and in the bathroom… only in Paris !!
This interior is timeless … classic and contemorary all rolled into one. Their collection of artworks and antiques complimented graciously by the sumptuous colour palette and subtle attention to detail.
Having said all that, how inviting does that sofa look. Perfect for putting your feet up after a day shopping in Galeries Lafayette.
I knew I was going to fall in love with this hotel when I spotted those lavender grey striped awnings and gorgeous flower boxes.
Swedish apartments …. white on white
Scandinavian countries do white or pale interiors with great style. Both rustic and refined. Different shades of soft white, cream and grey … each used exclusively creates an elegant retreat from the chaos of colour and pattern in everyday life.
White interiors accentuate architectural detail, texture … and capture light. They have a purity …. like a crisp white shirt or a fluffy white bath towel.
There is a certain serenity to a white or pale interior. White provides the blank canvas from which to showcase beautiful furniture, artwork … even the view from the window.
images:simple blueprint