AMMO

Every now and then in a city like Hong Kong you come across a place that makes you want to shout about it from the rooftops, or hide it away and make it top secret because its just that great you don't want to share it. AMMO is one of those places.  I was lucky enough to be invited to a launch party of sorts last night.  Having just moved house and office space the day before (more on that later), I almost didn't go.  I'm so glad I did.  

First off, AMMO is named after its location amongst the heritage ammunition storage buildings in Admiralty, now run by the Asia Society. The setting is incredible.  Lush tropical mountain side, and yet so central. The heritage buildings have been restored and preserved beautifully. Old magazines have been turned into art galleries, mini theatres, and private function rooms.  Its so nice to see heritage restoration done well in Hong Kong for a change.  

But back to AMMO. The interior, which is absolutely stunning, was designed by ridiculously young, and ridiculously nice local but international designer, Joyce Wang. Having just completed the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, she certainly is one to watch. Well, not if you want to be feeling like an under achiever, as I was after meeting her...  The interior was inspired by French Sci-Fi movie 'Alphaville' by Jean-Luc Godard which portrays what a dystopian future looked like in the 50's. Think industrial luxe with a bit of 50's futurism thrown in.  Everything was custom made for the space, and the furniture is beautiful, not to mention those fantastic chandeliers in the centre (yes, those are actually lights!)

And now, for the best and most important part....the food!  My husband and I are big fans of the sister restaurant, The Drawing Room, so if you have eaten there and liked it, you will love AMMO.  Local celebrity chef and restaurateur Tony Cheng, together with his mentor, Chef Roland Schuller from The Drawing Room had a vision to serve simple, elegant and affordable cuisine with unpretentious service. They want guests to enjoy the salubrious surroundings without the fussiness and stuffiness associated with other fine dining establishments. I think they have succeeded!  


We were served a selection from the Tapas menu and everything was amazing.  We went back for 2nds, 3rds, and after that it just got embarrassing but we went back for more anyway. I'm not normally a fan of Foie Gras, but even than was delicious. 

All I can say is, I'm glad my birthday is coming up soon so I don't have to wait too long for an occasion to go back. Its just that good.

The Urbanist

The latest edition to the Architectural Digest international stable, is the India edition.  The new May/June edition, the second ever issue, features the home of some new friends in Delhi, Brian and Puru.  We "met" some time back via this blog, and then actually met when my husband and I were in Delhi last year visiting more friends.   Their apartment, which you can see from the pages below, is beautiful.  It also happens to be filled with many pieces of their own design, produced by their company Urbanist. Congrats again guys, the spread looks fantastic, and I have to say the quality of the magazine is higher than some Hong Kong decor magazines...maybe AD China will start publishing a bilingual version? Fingers crossed.

Doorway to heaven...

OK, I know I've left you hanging for a while...things are a little crazy here at the Studio.  A few exciting things happening, which I will be able to announce soon I hope. In the meantime, keep yourself occupied with some more great stuff over at Nuevo Estilo. And, may I say, how fabulous are those doors? Seriously.

Bell tables

I think I need to get myself one of these, the low purple version preferably....

Bell tables by Sebastian Herkner for Classicon.

Perfect Paris Pad

I know this place has been blogged about a million times already, but I couldn't help myself. L'Wren, I'll take the apartment, but you can keep Mick ;)

Photographed by François Halard for Vogue

Sydney style

I've always been interested to see how other people live. I think we all have a little bit of a voyeur inside us, that's why tabloids and shelter magazines sell so well. But I think what's even more interesting is to see how peoples lives change, and how they express that within their surroundings, and seeing how their homes evolve as a stage for the drama of life.  The homes of Sydney-siders Peter Lin and John Wilson are certainly no exception.  Their apartment - published in Vogue Living back in 2010 - captivated me when I first saw it. The richness of the colour took my breath away.  It was so dramatic and unlike anything I'd seen before. So when I stumbled upon the images of their new home in the recent Inside Out magazine, I was a little surprised to say the least. They've kept a lot of their art and furnishings (which comforts me, for some reason), but its different because of its distinct lack of colour.  That is to say, its not completely white, but it almost looks it when compared to their previous home.  Not sure if I'm as captivated, but I still love the mix of stuff they have, and Iain Halliday has done a great job (again) of artfully arranging it all. 

Photographed by Petrina Tinslay for Vogue Living (Australia) March/April 2010

Photographed by Mark Roper for Inside Out (Australia) May 2012

Mulholland Drive...

Holy hell is the new Mulholland outdoor collection from Restoration Hardware sexy or what!?

Now that's my kinda centrefold...

San Francisco Fog

Its been a wonderful Easter long weekend here in Hong Kong, warm, but a little on the overcast side. If only I had a place like like this to hide out in until the good weather arrives...

The living room of a San Francisco apartment by designer Ken Fulk, from the Apr/May edition of Interiors magazine. Just stunning.

Russian Beauty

My obsession this week is an apartment by Russian Interior Designer, Marina Filippova. Although based in one of my favorite cities, St. Petersbourg, Filippova also has an office in Moscow, and seems to work on projects all over Europe. I'm not particularly skilled at describing what I like about an interior...to me the visual language is so much richer than the verbal one. What I can say is that she clearly had great bones to work with. I love the mix of furnishings and the richness of the timber walls in that first image. And how great are those brass sconces in the second last pic? Drool...

Prouvé RAW Special Edition

I've been a fan of the late Jean Prouvé's work for some time now, so its very exciting to see more of his designs being re-issued by Vitra. These designs are a special limited edition, in collaboration with G-Star, and will be on exhibition in Hong Kong in the Aluminium store in Central on March 29th. You can bet your socks I'll be there. Each and every design is an absolute classic, in my opinion. But, as limited edition suggests, there will be limited stock to buy if you're interested, so you may need to get in fast. These are just a few pieces from the collection, I have my eye on one of the Fauteuils...

Tabouret No.307, 1951

Lit Flavigny, 1945


Dactylo, 1944

Standard, 1934-50

Potence, 1947

Rampe Lumineuse, 1954

Cité, 1930

Bahut, 1951

Fauteuil Direction, 1951

Fauteuil de Salon, 1939