Coveting this today...

...the 'Solaris Kinetic table' by Lara Bohinc.

LOVE.

weekend discoveries

a couple of exciting discoveries...

Jinbao Street chair, designed by Yabu Pushelburg 

for Avenue Road

Transmission ceiling pendant by studio deform

LOVE!

Oliver Gustav

Through my internet travels I just discovered the studio of Oliver Gustav in Copenhagen. To die for! I am especially loving his curated mix of art, design, furniture and lighting. He clearly has a very honed eye. I'm particularly in love with the last 2 images...very much my colours...very much wanting to redecorate the apartment now...

Bo Concept - Danish design in HK

Bo Concept, the celebrated Danish design retailer opened its doors in Hong Kong officially yesterday. Situated on busy Wyndham Street, in an airy two storey space, Bo Concept brings a selection of much needed well priced furnishings to Hong Kong. They have a range of timeless Scandinavian designs that also cleverly cater to space challenged apartments. Perfect for this city!

These were a few of my faves....

The Hamilton Armchair, show in leather with oak legs, also available in a range of fabrics or with stainless steel legs. I prefer this combination though, its a classic Scandinavian look.

The Granada extendable dining table. Extendable tables are a great option for small spaces, and I don't think I've ever seen a round extendable table before, certainly not one with such a smooth mechanism. Its easily done by one person.


So next time you are wandering down Wyndham Street heading out for a drink, duck into Bo Concept. Its definitely worth a look.

Nissler table

Love the new "Nissler" table by Caste. Love.

FBC

I am very excited to be able to share these images with you this morning...the new furniture collection from FBC London. The range is designed by FBC founder, interior designer Fiona Barratt-Campbell, and produced by craftsmen in the North of England. The range of finishes is really quite something (check out the hand applied chipped oak on the City Chest, and the mix of bronze, limestone and oak on the Isabella cabinet!) The range is quite extensive, here are just a few of my quick picks. You can head on over to their website for the rest of the collection and more information.

Byethorne Cabinet

Cheyne Bed

City Chest

Corbridge Chair

Hadrian Console

Isabella Cabinet

London Sofa

Teres Bench

here are a few of my favorite things....

I don't normally do gift guides...so lets just call this a few of my favorite things...now, hubby dear, if you did want to get me something for Xmas...any or all of these would do ;)

And yes, I'm still obsessed with brass.

Habibi brass tray tables, from E15

Thin brass frame lounge chair, from Lawson Fenning

Serving utensils, from Schoolhouse Electric

Roule' 37cm brass tray, from Discipline

Brass pie serving set, from West Elm

Cheese knife set, also from West Elm

Waterford Ice Bucket, from Horchow

"Gormam" gold luster 5 piece cutlery set, also from Horchow

Ilse Crawford bowl for Georg Jensen

MOOI SHOP SALE

Mooi shop is having a farewell sale because they are leaving their current premises (boo hoo!) ...BUT with any luck are relocating to my neighbourhood (yay!). So, for the next few months they have 50% off everything instore. A nice range of vintage furniture, lighting, accessories and luggage. Head on down and check it out!

Authentiques

Regular readers of this blog will know my issue with buying vintage and antiques in Hong Kong, and will be equally familiar with my love for mixing furnishings and art from various eras and styles.  Well, I've met a kindred spirit in Authentiques founder, Kate Davies. Not only do we love to mix and antique and modern, but we also share the same maiden name, and we're both from Melbourne!

Kate started out as a TV news reporter in Australia before making her way to Hong Kong and transitioning to public relations and events in the banking world. 16 years later, Kate is now embarking on a new venture, although the passion and experience with antiques is hardly new at all.

Raised in a home decorated by parents with an innate sense of style and a genuine passion for antiques and history, Kate says she is never happier than when in their home, and tries to find a similar ambiance wherever she is in the world.

The Authentiques gallery space in the colourful neighbourhood of Sheung Wan opened earlier this year after years of Kate offering a personalised antique shopping service and a successful pop-up store at the beginning of the year.

By specialising in one of a kind pieces of furniture and decorative arts from the 18th and 19th Century from the UK and Europe, the gallery is also a one of a kind in Hong Kong.

Kate plans to host educational discussions about valuing antiques and collectables, antique appreciation, restoring antiques, the furniture of Kings and Queens and their servants, plus in-depth conversations with well-known collectors and experts. Made-to-measure personal purchasing services, unique overseas trips, buying at auction or from dealers are all topics on the agenda as well.  

The gallery is open on Sundays or by appointment, or head over on a Wednesday evening like I did, for a naughty mid-week drink (or two).

Gresham's

If proof were needed that Hong Kong is well and truly on the art, antique and design map, then Gresham's would be it. Gresham's is Hong Kong's only mid-market auction house - a welcome addition, or alternative, to Sotheby's and Christie's.

Gresham's was founded by long-time Hong Kong resident, Steve Freeman, (you may recognise his name from his profile as co-founder of the HK magazine that we all know and love) and opened its doors on June 22 this year.

“In recent years, Hong Kong has become the world's third centre of arts and antiques—after New York and London—attracting thousands of collectors every year. As a part of that scene, Gresham's aims to offer the best quality arts and antiques at prices that are affordable to a wider audience,” says founder Steve Freeman.

Categories sold at Gresham’s include contemporary art, western and Asian furniture, ceramics, Asian art, Chinese painting, mid-century and modern design, fine silver, watches and jewellery, carpets, maps, prints, posters and much more. Gresham’s is scheduled to hold Saturday afternoon auctions at least three times a month. Each auction aims to showcase 200+ lots with pre-auction website listings and public viewings available. With two successful auctions already under their belt, the third - scheduled for tomorrow - will focus on Arts of China and Asia.

Doors will open this Saturday 12 noon, with the auction commencing at 3pm at Gresham’s lovely 6,000 ft2 saleroom in Ap Lei Chau.

I have my eye on these lovely silver Chinese miniature teapots. Super cute.

Gresham’s is open for consignments and bidders, and provides free and confidential valuations.

Tabourets de verre

Today I'm totally in love with these hand blown glass (with cork bottom) wave stools by Dan Yeffet & Lucie Koldova. I love how they look almost metallic. They'd make cute side tables too I think.

Dan Yeffet & Lucie Koldova's collection is distributed worldwide by Haymann Editions.

WANG The Rare Collection

Who would have thought that marble and meat had so much in common? Well according to local interior designer Joyce Wang, "Marble is the flesh of the earth". Inspired by the remarkable similarity of marble and meat, Wang presents thirty three cuts, taken from two blocks of Turkish marble like slices and dices of raw red meat.

Each unique piece has been designed to showcase this marbled flesh in a way that highlights the material’s natural physical qualities, slicing through layers of vein patterns, fatty content and pinky, blood red hues. Every cut was then carefully hand-crafted and moulded by artisanal masonry workers in South West China, into individual gems. Much like a precious stone, each item has been set within Corten steel ‘claws’, celebrating the marbles value and rarity. At the base of each pedestal a mirrored rose-gold base reflects the elegant, minimal geometry of the designs allowing the viewer to appreciate the form from every angle.

I was lucky enough to attend the inaugural presentation of this limited edition table collection during the week of Art Basel Hong Kong 2013. What I loved about the pieces was the contrast and tension created by the solidity of each block, and the delicate base it is set in.

The collection will remain in Wang's studio until the middle of this month (about now!, so if you're interested and in HK I'd get on it quickly), after which time it will be placed in and sold through galleries in the USA.  Contact WANG studio for further details.