Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Chelsea Design Centre

Headed to the Chelsea Design Centre today to check out all the latest collections at a variety of showrooms. It was a grey old London day but the rain held off luckly.



Brunschwig & Fils Showroom display



Interior of Chelsea Design Centre



Zimmer & Rohde - Etamine latest collection window display



GP&J Baker

Sonia Rykiel - Missoni fabric

Monday, May 30, 2011

The streets of London

Here are a couple of snaps of the streetscapes in London, that caught my eye as I was wondering around Knightsbridge and Chelsea.




Sunday, May 29, 2011

Paris Flea Markets

Headed off to the Porte de Clignancourt flea markets while in Paris. Picked up some items for home and enjoyed looking around at all the vintage and quirky items available.

I leave my husband with the camera and end up with a photo of a planet of the apes chimp in a space suit, next to a large stainless steel shark (you can just see the tail) suspended from the ceiling. Told you there were some quirky items.

That's me shopping for vintage Chanel - lots of bags and jewellery.

Amazing stalls full of beads, trims and tassels.

Wish we had something like this closer to home.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Sweet Tooth

Laduree is a french institution -think of all the glorious cakes from the Marie Antoinette movie and look at the window displays and packaging. Who can resist?

I love macaroons and where better than to fulfill this guilty pleasure than Laduree. To many divine flavours to choose from so we settled for chocolate, lemon, coffee, licorice and orange blossom. They melted in the mouth......





Friday, May 27, 2011

Paris Showrooms

While in Paris, I visited a number of textile showrooms. I got to see some new collections before they are available here and its also great to see their window displays and get inspiration.










Thursday, May 26, 2011

Paris - Lourve





Some snaps inside and outside the Lourve - topped off with dinner at Cafe Marly, with a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower as the sun set.










The Levin

Back in London again and we are staying in Knightsbridge in a boutique hotel called The Levin. Its in a great location....maybe a bit to close to Harrods for the shopping and with lots of great restaurants within walking distance. Here are a couple of pic's of the interior:



Friday, May 20, 2011

London - Part 3











Some more images from London. Heading off to Paris for a week and then back to London.


My husband got to go to the FA Cup Final, which he said was amazing....good to keep him happy too.


Tuesday, May 17, 2011

London - Part 2












Out and about in London - horseguards, palaces and gardens.
Weather has been wonderful and my feet are tired...but plenty more to see and do.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Haymarket Hotel








We arrived in London and made our way to the lovely Haymarket Hotel - one of Kit Kemps boutique hotels in the Theatre district of London. Here are some pictures of the interior of our room - love the Kenzo floral fabric used on the sofa.




Time for a wander, food and a rest.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Bon voyage



I'm heading off on a much needed holiday...as my 40th birthday present to London and Paris for a couple of weeks. My blogging has been lacking in the last week or so as I prepared to head off.



Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Sitting here in candlelight

Since about 3pm on Monday, my power in the shop has been out. Boy has it been fun dealing with Energy companies and the agent who looks after the property. Needless to say, I'm now sitting here in the dark waiting for the Energy company to restore the power.....and they may still be one plus hours away..... and it is dark and cold.

Thank goodness for my neighbour, who has allowed me to run a powercord from his business to enable me to use my computer and do some work.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be bathed in light.....