Monday 25 February 2013

Nutcracker suite

Wow. Where did February go? I didn't mean to leave you hanging for so long...

I discovered the work of Korean artist/designer, Lee Sang-min over the weekend at the latest Asia Hotel Art Fair in Hong Kong. Delicate, beautifully made, and most impressive of all, totally functional. I would quite like any of these, but was most impressed with the nut-crackers in particular.













Friday 8 February 2013

Year of the Ssssssnake


Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous year of the ssssssnake!


Photgraph by Guido Mocafico

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Chalet Chic - part II

My fantasy of a mountain-top retreat has been fuelled this week by more discoveries...


A cottage in Gstaad, Switzerland designed by Thierry Lemaire, from AD France










A family home in Colorado by Studio Sofield, photographed by Scott Frances for AD USA











And yet another Aspen beauty, a home by Atelier AM, photgraphed by Pieter Estersohn for AD USA.






  

  


And, a post on mountain retreats would not be replete without the inclusion of Aerin Lauder's uber cool Aspen home...Love, Love, Love. Photographed by François Halard for Vogue.






Tuesday 5 February 2013

Chalet Chic

We're experiencing a very mild winter here in Hong Kong. 24 oC is not bad for the middle of January, right? I wish I could say it was the cold weather that has me fantasizing about an alpine retreat, but perhaps its because its not that cold.  I've seen friends posting photos on Facebook of their skiing holidays, and even though I don't ski, I'm a tad jealous. I think I'd quite like to be snuggled up inside some luxe chalet somewhere catching up on my reading and drinking countless cups of tea, and mulled wine.  Perhaps a bit strange for someone like me who group up next to the sunny beaches in Australia, the snowy mountain tops are polar opposite (pun intended).  But you know what they say about opposites...

This Aspen retreat by one of my favorite designers, Peter Marino, could be just the place for me to do that reading and snuggling.  Despite its rather stark, austere architecture, I rather love how minimalistic it is compared to the typical mountain retreat.  And the view from the bedroom...to die for!