Awkward...not

I'm working on post about my recent trip to Thailand...in the meantime I wanted to share this little baby...the 'Awkward lamp' by South African design firm Anatomy Design is cool as a cucumber.



TTFN*

Right, I'm off (again). Yes, I know it seems like I was just away, and that's well, because I was.  This time we're headed to Bangkok for a few days and then Phuket for the rest of the week to attend another lovely wedding. We're staying here (as seen above) in Bangkok.  I'll be sure to give you all a few more Thailand travel tips upon my return.

*Ta ta for now. Ciao darlings x



What I'm reading

I've read a few interesting books lately that I thought I'd share with you...

First of all, "The Art of the Restaurateur" (note the lack of 'n' in the word), by Nicholas Lander, the food critic at the Financial Times, and former restaurateur. I had the fortune of meeting the author yesterday at a book signing and general discussion at Kelly + Walsh in Pacific Place.  Lander's book acknowledges that we live in the age of the celebrity chef, but aims to extol the virtues of the restaurateur, a person who is also sometimes the chef, but is often the person behind the chef running the show, and often the visionary who thinks of the concepts for their establishment/s.  A fascinating read for anyone involved in the food industry, and particularly illuminating for interior designers involved in the hospitality industry...especially the chapter on Adam Tihany.

The biography of British artist Francis Bacon, "Studies for a portrait", by his long time friend and confidant, Michael Peppiatt, was thoroughly enjoyable.  It was quite an illuminating look at the life of an incredibly creative and artistic soul who managed to use all of the hardships experienced in his life for the betterment of his paintings. As a longtime fan of Bacon's work I have to say I was quite captivated by the stories of his wild nights of drinking and gambling (and gambolling), and couldn't help but think that he would fit quite well into Hong Kong's society today...

I blogged about Spanish interior designer Luis Bustamante earlier this year here, and was lamenting that his book was only to be found in Spanish and not available to those of us outside of Europe.  Well, I'm happy to say I found myself an English copy at Potterton Books at their stand at Maison + Objet. The books is just as stunning as I thought, and I'm sure it will be a reference that I will turn to for inspiration time and time again.

And finally, this isn't one I've read, but one I've been looking forward to after I managed a sneak preview of a pre-release copy....Kelly Wearstler's new book "Rhapsody".  I have to say I think I enjoy her more recent work than what she was creating when she first came to the limelight. And regardless of whether you liked her work then, or now, or never have at all, she desserves praise for being constantly interesting and forever changing. I can't wait to flick through these pages at a more leisurely pace.

Casa Cor Rio

So lets take a skip and a jump up from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro...to the annual Casa Cor exhibition.  I posted the space by Juliana Vasconcellos last year here...and her space this year is no less stunning. This year her team has designed a store where merchandise will be for sale for the duration of the event.  The theme this year was fashion / decoration /architecture, and Juliana says her inspiration was the Gucci Spring/Summer collection this year.  The inspiration is evident in the richly coloured geometric carpet, and the geometry of the furniture. Love it!

A few shots from the Gucci RTW SS2012 collection, from Style.com. I would like one of each, please.

Tony Chi in Buenos Aires

Whilst looking for something else entirely, I stumbled upon these images of the Buenos Aires home of interior designer Tony Chi and his wife Tammy Chou.  I've never seen any of his residential projects before, as he and his firm specialise in hospitality projects, let alone any of his own homes...so it was a bit of a treat.

I quite like the colour combinations he's used and the earthy, rustic yet minimal chicness of it. And that art on the Living room wall (2nd image) is amazing...have no idea if its actually applied directly to the wall, which is what it looks like.  Even if you don't like the art, its certainly a talking point.

From Departures magazine.