Tiffany .. Old Bond Street, London
London Christmas .. a glimpse .. No 4
Christmas in London .. a glimpse .. No 3
Our Christmas Wreath .. SW3 London
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Christmas in London .. a glimpse .. No1
Christmas in London .. the shop windows !!
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Liberty of London … Christmas windows 2014
I am spending far too much time reminiscing about this time last year in London … the Christmas windows, the shopping, the Christmas lights and catching up with friends !! I couldn’t help but take a peek at Liberty’s windows this year.
Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and Liberty excel with their window display and they simply must be seen to be believed. In Paris it is without doubt Hermes who win the prize.
They sparkle like jewels and are surrounded by crowds of admirers and adoring children, all rugged up against the winter chill.
All this is made that much more atmospheric with the shorter days … the evening closing in by around 3.30pm. This is the cue to head to somewhere smart like Claridges or Browns for High Tea or .. simply champagne.
This is without doubt my favourite time of year to be in London … they do Christmas like nowhere else and I can’t wait to give you a glimpse of London this time last year.
Christmas 2014 is the beach for us … and I can’t wait but am reminiscing !!
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London’s boutique hotel style
San Domenico House,
in my very favourite part of London, was a great find recently.
Both the architecture and orange brick are synonymous with certain areas of London and I have always loved both. This boutique hotel is tucked in behind Kings Road and Sloane Street and only a short walk to Sloane Square.
There is probably no further criteria for me on my hunt for accommodation in London, apart from of course, the style and ambiance of the interior. I have discovered that I can really only relate to classic cosy English town or country house style. Not contemporary minimalist which is prevalent and extremely uninviting !!
Even Kit Kemp with her Firmdale Hotels of which there are many in London, does classic English style with a modern edge, to perfection. If I am in London I like to feel that I am living there, not staying in a hotel .. if you know what I mean !!
The first of the boutique hotels in London to make one feel as if you were actually staying with friends was Blake’s and it remains an icon.
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Ham Yard Hotel London … modern British style
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Loulou’s of london … a peek into the latest members only nightclub
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 !!
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.
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.
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.
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 !!
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.”
images: jonathan becker
Loving the langham, london
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.
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.
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.)
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).
