As a Stark-designed hotel, you can expect some drama within the public space, and that’s really the case starting with the yellow-lit access staircase and the loft-industrialish common-room breakfast lounge with quirky a mix of utilitarian objects like the carts, cosy chesterfields and blazing fire. However, I was much less impressed by the fast-food style […]
Cesar was in great need of some TLC.. it got plenty, and flamboyantly, with a lavish refurbishment by Christian Lacroix.
The theme this year was « Toiles et Voiles » Although this scenography by Thomas Gentilini was kind of hidden at the back of the back of the garden… it is my favourite with it’s low tech gypsy feel, plenty of good ideas to gather for a summer camp in the garden at home! The fabric
Like a good girl, I went through the Elle deco list of to-go places, starting with the uber buzzy LX factory, which ended up being partly closed on sunday, but happily had a flee market running all along the main street, to the happiness of my junk addict daughter, who follows (some) of her mothers’
This serviced apartment/hotel in the centre of Lisbon ticks pretty much all the cases: discreet and friendly service, bright spaces, very nice renovation, cool vintage furniture, lovely interior design (true to all the reports seen in various deco sourcing), delicious home made breakfast delivered to your door, and very reasonable pricing… but be warned if you are
Although the name is not very glamorous, the place is absolutely perfect, and in the end, the title does describes it, partially. What it doesn’t say, is how well designed is the place, how large and cosy are the common spaces, and how glam the rooms actually are with floor to ceiling walls opening on
Of course there is an assumed nostalgia about the time when France was within the worlds leading countries…. but you can’t help being nostalgic about about a modernity that joyful and worry less… And times when women after being put to work during WWI, decided they were not going to go back to their kitchens
This years Christmas is under the sign of the olive tree… A sofa from a brocante in Provence, olive branches from our garden, a frame from Santiago’s flea market and a Mapuche bread container all come happily together for celebration, best wishes to you all!!!
A friendly, stylish and sexy place in Venice, CA Maria Adele is definitely on the list for a romantic week-end. Renovated by Milanese duo Campa&Campa, it’s full of quirky ideas, warmth, softness comfort and individuality.. Attention to detail starts with the lobby that is simply a cosy reception room where you are checked in the
Amazing how many museums are opening or reopening in Marseille, one French comic was even doing a sketch on that the other day on the radio.. Indeed there seems to be a museum opening every other month theses days, but that’s because before MP2013, Marseille was indecently poor in museal space, so thanks to all
A fascinating exhibition of Marc Held‘s work at Galerie A. Pentcheff: archives, black and white photography taken by Marc in the 50’s, vintage culbutos, designs from the 70’s for IBM, mini museum, and cherry on the cake: the limited edition of the iconic Primo culbuto, only shown once in the 70’s as a prototype, here on sale
Niched under ancient oak trees, the wood shed was a little ruin. Here brought back to life and to good use with the addition of a built-in bench. A welcome napping spot at the back of the garden. In front of the shed, the traditional lavender field…
Before: In the context of the renovation of a guest bedroom/library/tv room, this design is playing hide-and-seek: the niches allow for art book and sculpture display, while the doors enclose less decorative books, and the tv instalation. The doors hiding the tv (behind the stool on the 2nd picture) are fitted with 180d hinges
Gerald Passedat needs no introduction to gastronomy geeks. But in case you haven’t yet heard of him, he is the legendary chef of one of the most acclaimed restaurants in South of France, « Le petit Nice », set in a villa perched on Marseille’s coast line, La Corniche. He has been very wisely chosen to head
Sorry, only a few pictures, was late, had to rush as I stopped by the just opened MUCEM on my way to Aix, promise will be more thorough next year…… A pick of my favourite stands in this 2013 edition of Salon Cote Sud, with much to my liking, Marseille well represented here. Rock
A few pics from a delicious stay at the mythic hotel Nord Pinus in the heart of Arles
Just relooked by the Campana brothers, it epitomises cool and functional. Their scrap/recycling design style works marvels here in the lobby, and in the much published breakfast room with « trees » of recycled wood furniture elements dressing up the supporting columns. In the bedrooms, the Campana brothers reinterpret the traditional shadow theatre, the « Karagiozis »
A much anticipated visit to the grand master of design’s showroom. Starting with lunch (with a great wine list dixit my other half who can be trusted on this matter) in the in-house restaurant headed by young genius Stevie Parle’s, with Dixon’s design everywhere in sight, an overall wonderful experience!! The
Another hotel I always wanted to visit. Dark and handsome, it lived up to it’s reputation Graphic decoration, Anoushka Hempel’s trademark The lobby
….. or how to transform a closed ….into an office: even the chair fits in, so it closes and makes it easy to hide away the mess!