Long weekend...

Happy mid Autumn festival to my Hong Kong readers! I'm quite looking forward to 3 days of chilling out at home and doing a bit of baking.

I thought I'd leave you with these images as I'm finding them very inspiring at the moment, and they feel a bit autumnal. Sorry for the bad scan quality, they were torn out from a magazine ages ago...

Year of the Ssssssnake

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

Photgraph by Guido Mocafico

Happy Festivus for the rest of us!

I'll be taking a few weeks break over the festive season to enjoy the cooler weather, some mulled wine, lots of cooking at home with friends, and perhaps more mulled wine. Enjoy folks, and see you in 2013!

take me back to Thailand...

If after my last post about Thailand you still need some tips, these are for you!

Bangkok:

This trip we stayed at The Eugenia. It's charming, and a little bit quirky, and we loved it.  Only 12 rooms, all with their own unique mix of antiques and artworks, so its always fairly quiet (a good thing in this bustling city), and the pool is surrounded by palm trees and feels like your own private oasis. We ate at the hotel restaurant the first night and the food was fantastic. I highly recommend it.



One of the charming suites at The Eugenia Hotel, Bangkok

We ate at Gaggan the second night. We were recommended the tasting menu, being first timers, and were not disappointed. We had a 12 course tasting menu and loved every single course...honestly, it may well be in the top 10 of the best meals of my life. I have to say I think the fact the chef is Indian, and the fact they call their food "progressive indian", may be slightly misleading...I think even non-curry lovers will love this place.  Oh, and did I mention the building and interior? Super cute.


On the third night we ate at Issaya. Also located in a charming building, this place is much more colourful, which happens to be a great back drop to wonderful Thai food, a mix of traditional and more modern style dishes. Everything we had was amazing...especially the Passionfruit and caramel cocktails. Who knew those two flavours would work so well together!?

And I finally managed to get my husband to Agalico...a seriously cute tea house just off Sukhumvit Road. My second visit, but I think it may become a regular when we go back. Great selection of tea and cake, and the view of the garden outside is to die for.



Agalico, Bangkok



Apart from eating, we did a fair bit of shopping (I LOVE Bangkok for shopping...seriously one of the best cities in Asia...there is literally something for everyone, and it won't break the bank), and a bit of sightseeing.

We checked out Mr Kukrit's House, which is the home of an ex-priminister that has been maintained for visitors. Each of the pavilions serves a different purpose and all are still as Mr Kukrit left them. The gardens are alsoo quite amazing, and the feeling of standing amongst lush tropical greenery in the middle of a concrete jungle is quite surreal.  Still mostly untouched by the crowded bus tours, this is a nice way to spend a morning...and there's a Dean & Deluca naerby for lunch afterwards...which is exactly what we did.

Mr Kukrit's House, Bangkok



As for shopping...my favorite shopping malls in Bangkok are definitely Emporium and Siam Paragon...even though they are full of a lot of the same brands you see in every major city you still see a lot of stores with local designers.  Also, the department stores inside the malls are great, and carry a great selection of local designers which are very well priced.  I've somehow managed to visits twice during sale time and have picked up some ridiculous bargains.  As well as the malls there are lots of great shops scattered around the city and walking around back streets to find them is part of the fun and the experience of Bangkok.  My tips for furniture and home wares? The department stores I just mentioned, as well as Decor Mart in Siam Paragon (Barbara Barry, Ralph Lauren and many other big American brands not available in other major Asian cities), The Promenade (Christian Liaigre etc.), as well as my three favorite stores in the city: Incredible, Indelible and Unforgettable. Absolutely crammed full of amazing designs, each of them with their own slightly different mix, but owned by the same person. You will find them on Sukhumvit Soi 23. Take your credit card, and a few empty suitcases. They're just that good.

Phuket:

We were in Phuket for a friend's wedding, and while the actual ceremony was held elsewhere, most of the guests stayed at the Sala.  We shared a 2 bedroom pool villa with friends, and it was heavenly. This was our first resort holiday as we tend to be city people and my husband gets bored quickly, but I think this place has converted us.  There are lots of things to do if you want, otherwise they make it very easy for you to relax. We ate at the hotel almost every night and the food was great. I would definitely come back and stay here again.

Sunset on our first night over the pool at Sala, Phuket



Sunset on the beach, Phuket



The wedding itself was at the Sri Panwa resort, further south of the island, set on a cliff with THE most spectacular views. The ceremony was atop a building on the cliff, surrounding by an infinity pool. It was like something out of a James Bond movie, and I'm sure we weren't the only guests half expecting the bride to arrive by helicopter. Just stunning. A bit pricier than the Sala as you can imagine, but so secluded that I think anyone looking for a romantic secluded getaway this would be the place!

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



a working holiday

Well, I'm back. Have been for a week, but have been to busy this week to even think about my poor neglected blog. Our short, but very sweet, trip was amazing. I've had a few readers ask for tips and recommendations...so without boring you all senseless, I'll try to keep it succinct.

London: 
We had only 4 days, one of which was the wedding we attended (at the Montague on the Gardens Hotel - super cute, very small rooms, but served a great afternoon tea!).  

Hyde Park on a lovely sunny day

Some of our favorite eats were:

Daylesford Organics, Notting Hill - We had breakfast here, our first meal in London. A great way to start the trip. Everything about this place is inspiring, and a concept that is sadly lacking in Hong Kong. We bought a lot of preserves here to bring back with us.

Granger & Co. Notting Hill - possibly a silly choice as Australians to patronise the establishment of another aussie whilst in London, but it was highly recommended by a few people. We met an old friend for lunch and enjoyed the food immensely.  Our friends whose wedding we attended ate there a week later and sat next to Stella McCartney and her husband. Great food, great interior, both with a very relaxed Australian vibe.

Somewhere we didn't make it was Ottolenghi, in the same neighbourhood as these two. Also was highly recommended, and the deli style food I saw in the window when we walked past between breakfast and lunch looked amazing. I actually asked my husband at 10am if it was too early for another coffee and some cake. Needless to say it will be high on my list for next time, as will the sister establishment, Nopi in Soho.

Fortnum & Mason - the new Diamond Jubilee Tea Rooms designed by none other than David Collins are stunning. The afternoon tea set, which regrettably I did not have with the champagne that was available. Nor did I have the appetite to make the most of the endless refills of the delicious scones (best ever, which I can only say now that my Grandmother has passed away) or the cake trolley. Slightly wasted on us as we were so full from the previous 2 amazing meals we'd had that day, but amazing none the less.  I recommend you go with an empty stomach though.

Borough Markets - we wandered around for hours, on what was only our second trip here.  I would quite like the time to spend an entire day here and have 3 or more meals.  So much to taste and tempt you. We bought many varieties of saucisson, cheese and potted meats to take with us to eat on our travels, some of which actually lasted til we got home.

St.John - We had dinner here with the bride and groom to be, and I was  not disappointed. I love the space and the ambiance.  I thought the food quality, the serving sizes and quality of service was amazingly good value in a city with a reputation for being expensive.  It outclassed anything I've had in Hong Kong (although I have to say, most of our meals in London did). I was slightly underwhelmed by the main I ordered, but all in all I loved it and would definitely go back again.

Massimo - in the recently refurbished Corinthia Hotel, also designed by David Collins. We enjoyed  a very well priced set menu with the good friends we were staying with.  I enjoyed my meal, and the interior was captivating.  So many beautiful details, that Mr Collins is known for, that we could have sat for much longer and still picked up on something new. 

The Serpentine Pavillion by Ai Wei Wei and Herzog & De Meuron 

Other highlights: 

Tate Modern - Getting to see the Munch exhibit at the Tate was definitely a highlight, as I have admired his work greatly for many years.  I own a book of his work so was familiar with much of it (and was not disappointed at all that none of the versions of the famous "Scream" paintings were included), but was still pleasantly surprised by just how vivid his use of colour was. So inspiring.

Potterton Books - Definitely one of the best design bookshops anywhere handsdown, with outposts in New York and LA. I bought a couple of books, and could have spent a fortune on more had my credit card and weight limit as an economy passenger not restricted me...

The Orangery at Kensington Palace

Paris:

We were fortunate enough to here to celebrate our 11 year anniversary whilst in Paris.  Bofinger was recommended by a few people to us, and was fortunately a short walk from our charming hotel in Le Marais. We were taken to a table upstairs, which the waitress described as 'très jolie', and it was. However, the photos of the downstairs dining room with the lovely Art Nouveau detailed ceiling was what sucked me in, and I kinda wished we'd been able to sit there.  Despite this, the food was lovely, very rich in a traditional French sense, but very enjoyable.

L' oulette - this was probably the best meal of the trip, if not at least in Paris.  A charming little bistro, also a short walk from our hotel, which has a great menu of French classics.  I had Duck confit (amazing), and my husband had Cassoulet (also equally amazing). 

Our last night we dined at Chez Julien (from the stable of the Costes brothers, of Hotel Costes fame), also recommended by a friend.  The food was more of a modern French style, which I enjoyed, and the interior is also quite charming.  Luckily also walking distance from our hotel, which took us along the Seine.

Parisians enjoying a sunny Sunday in the Place des Vosges

Other highlights:

I finally made it to the Decorative Arts Museum, a place I had been dreaming about ever since I discovered its existance, shortly after my last trip to Paris six years ago.  The collection is small, but amazing.  Pieces by Royère, Arbus, Prouvé - just to name a few. The bookshop attached is also a jaw dropper if you are into rare and out of print books on French design.

A rainy Paris day, as seen from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs

And of course, Maison & Objet.  My first trip, and somehow I manage to cover most of it in a day.  A pretty mean feat, anyone who has been will tell you.  Not sure where to even start, which was pretty much my feeling when I arrived there.  The vast range and quality of product on show is overwhelming. I don't know that I will list off my faves in this post, but if I ever get around to perusing my fair catalogue I might do it in another one, another time.  Needless to say, if you're in the industry its a must see.  Now that I've checked that off, I am now aiming for Milan next year.

A good day to be inside, the Louvre in Paris

Brittany / Normandy:

We stayed at Maison Violette, a lovely 300yr old cottage in a tiny but very cute town named Bazouges la Perouse. The town itself is definitely one of the prettiest in the area, and is only a 45 min drive from Rennes, the capital city of Brittany.  We took a train down from Paris (about 2 hrs), and then hired a car and drove for the rest of the time.

Maison Violette, in Bazouges la Perouse.

Making Bazouges our base, we did a lot of driving over the next few days...and without going into excessive detail, these were the highlights of that part of the trip...

The stunning Mont St Michel, only a 30 min drive from where we were staying

 Stunning seaside walled town of St. Malo, about 40 mins from Bazouges

Coastal town, Cancale, home to the best Oysters ever!, very close to St. Malo, we did both in a day

the Château de Combourg, about 20 mins drive away

and last, but not least, the crumbling ruins in Fougères, the largest medieval castle in Europe

(only 30 mins away from Bazouges)

all photos taken by moi!

Bangkok, bring it on!

I'm off to Bangkok over the Chinese New Year weekend, for part work, part pleasure. I hope everyone in Hong Kong enjoys the long weekend, and Happy Year of the Dragon everyone!

A couple of pics of where I'll be staying...will share more with you when I get back!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I think a few groups of these lovely antiqued and mercury glass hurricanes by Skogsberg & Smart would put me in the spirit!

Unfortunately I'm not in the spirit just yet, I'm running all over the place like an idiot at the moment trying to finish of a few projects before I head home for a much needed holiday. I haven't been back to Australia for 2 years, first time for Christmas for at least 3yrs, and my little sister is getting married, so excited! So...you might not hear from me til the new year...in which case, I wish you all a fantastic 2012, I have a feeling it'll be a good one! (although I say that each year, don't I?)

Suzy x

What are you doing over the holidays..?

I'm going to be listening to this....

Pink Martini's latest release - Joy to the World

....drinking a glass or two (or maybe more) of this....

delicious Australian Sparkling Cabernet

and eating way too much....

Happy Holidays to you all and Happy New Year!! I'll be back in 2011 - I hope it will be a great year for us all!

Sayonara!

Sorry for the extended absence, I've been a busy little bee lately and have been away from my little blog for longer than intended. It maybe a while before I post again as I am off to Tokyo tomorrow for a friend's wedding, and then have a friends arrival from London over easter to look forward to on my return. Reports are out that the first cherry blossoms are out, so fingers crossed for me they stay there til I get to Tokyo! Sayonara folks!

Singapore

I had a great long weekend in Singapore - perfect weather, delicious food and wine, great shopping and even better company. One of the many things I love about Singapore is the blend of architectural styles. The city has done a great job of retaining and using its colonial architecture and mixing it with the new and modern. Something that Hong Kong sadly lacks. Amongst the lovely places we wined and dined over the weekend, our breakfast venue on our last morning was the most memorable. Set in the lush Rochester Park area in an old "Black and White" (the term for the colonial homes painted in, funnily enough, black and white), amongst what felt like a tropical paradise.

I found a few examples of colonial buildings that have been renovated and refurbed...this one is by a Singaporean architectural firm called Ong & Ong. It looks to me like a typical shop house on the outside, but the inside is a totally different story. Its been opened up and modernised in a way that is still sympathetic to the original design. Furnished with modern asian style furniture and accessories, this is definitely not what you would be expecting from the exterior.



If I have time tomorrow I'll post another colonial home I found and you can vote for your favorite!

Albano Daminato

It's been another busy week. But then, is there ever any other kind for me lately? Thankfully I have a long weekend planned in Singapore to visit some good friends. Yay! Speaking of Singapore, I thought I'd share some photos of work by Interior Architect Albano Daminato who is based there. He's done some incredible residential work, as well as the Aman resort in Bhutan, Amankora. More great pics to be found on his website...

Be right back...

I'm off tomorrow morning for Melbourne for about 10 days... a short break to see the family...its been over a year and I can't wait!

As I won't be posting while I'm away I thought I'd leave you with some pics of my latest French design crush - Aymeric Lefort - how amazing are those cabinets....think I might be in love. From what I've read, Mr Lefort is influenced by the work of Royere, but I also see a bit of Parzinger in there too...what do you think?

Stay tuned folks, because when I get back I'll be posting about the HK Art Fair (for which I have VIP tickets, woo hoo!) and other exclusive events in Hong Kong. Speaking of Hong Kong, if you are here and out and about in the city, today is the last day of the Dylan's Candy Bar pop-up store in the On Pedder Store on Icehouse Street. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it, but I'm sure my butt will thank me for it in the long run...

Ciao! x

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Or Happy Chinese New Year! This year it's the year of the Ox for anyone interested...
I am heading off to Cambodia for the week, I hope to post some wonderful photos and tips when I return. Bye for now!

My chair has arrived!

Just got word from my hubby (who is home today) that my Robsjohn-Gibbings slipper chair has been delivered. Yay! Will post a few of the current fabric choices tomorrow.

Oh, and by the way, Gong Hei Fat Choi! or Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year!

It's good to back posting again after my short hiatus. Thanks to everyone for your lovely comments while I was away. I had a lovely holiday and am feeling very rested and ready for the new year ahead. I'm now looking forward to catching up on my favorite blogs, so bear with me and my lack of comments over the last few weeks.

I have a few posts planned for the week, so stay tuned. In the meantime I thought I'd take this opportunity to mention a magazine I rediscovered during my holiday - New Zealand based urbis is an old favorite. In fact, I'm not sure why I stopped buying it (perhaps it has something to do with it not being available here in HK!), but my first resolution is to buy a subscription. The New Zealand design industry is pretty amazing for such a small country, and is producing some cutting edge architects and designers of all disciplines. Urbis features a a great range of local grown talent that is just as creative as their international counterparts. I highly recommend picking up a copy if it's available where you live, or check out their website - they post some of the articles featured in the magazine online. It may not replace House & Garden, but it might help sate my magazine addition...for a little while anyway!

Happy Holidays!!

This is where I'll be spending the festive season with my family and friends this year - Airey's Inlet - on the stunning Great Ocean Road in Australia. I'll be away without internet access until January 7th. So to all my readers - have a great festive season, and happy holidays! Thanks again for visiting my blog and for your comments, it makes it all wothwhile.

See you in 2008!