issue 2!

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of posts lately...super busy with design anthology! Speaking of which, I almost for got to tell you that issue 2 has hit the newsstands.

For a list of stockists near you, check out our website www.designanthologymag.com

Creative Mixer

Are you a creative living in HK? Want to meet a few more HK-based creatives? Then come along to the Savvy Creative Mixer next Thursday night at Tivo.

We'll be there, and we may just have a few copies of the magazine to give away...

Aberdeen Street Social

Yesterday I finally had lunch at Aberdeen Street Social. What was meant to be a catch up with a friend and ex-colleague over lunch turned into a 4hr session. Not a bad way to spend a Friday afternoon I'd say. Working for oneself has perks sometimes. 

Anyway, I think I may have found my new favorite restaurant in Hong Kong.  It seems chef Jason Atherton can do no wrong in this city, after the successful openings of 22 Ships and Ham & Sherry. Londoners will know him from Pollen Street Social, Berner's Tavern and several other establishments.

The restaurant is located in one of the out buildings in PMQ (the former Police Married Quarters) which is one of very few historical restoration projects in Hong Kong. The interiors are by Beijing-based duo Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Neri & Hu.

The designers have used a combination of smoked oak flooring and cabinetry, brass accents, black mirror and accents of green (which sounds like a disastrous combination) brilliantly to create something that's warm, inviting and equally unpretentious. The custom light fixtures were beautiful, and the shade of green on the ceiling has me dreaming of re-painting our apartment.

Big thumbs up from me!

Design Anthology

Look what arrived from the printers today...!

Design Anthology should hit newsstands around the world later this month!

New Lane Crawford home store

I'm very excited about this...the new Lane Crawford home store at 4/F IFC. And a new restaurant -  "Glass House" opening this weekend.  I'll be there for sure.

DESIGN ANTHOLOGY MAGAZINE

Hello everyone! Another exciting update about what I've been busy working away on....the magazine I mentioned just before Xmas is going full steam ahead...we have distribution set up in many countries now...just waiting on a few last minute things to come together. We are printing our inaugural issue in early April, so it should hit the news stands later that month.

You'll notice a page at the top of the blog now that links to the website (still under construction), and we ave a facebook page you can like to stay informed of news and other exciting updates (https://www.facebook.com/DesignAnthologyMag). We're also on twitter (@damag_asia).

Hopefully I'll have more news again soon!

The Pottinger

I am so excited to be able to finally share some news and an update on some of the work I've been doing!

The Pottinger, which is opening very soon, is a luxurious 68-room hotel situated in the heart of central - on the corner of Queen's Road and Pottinger Street - the first pebbled stepped street in the city, which was named after Sir Henry Pottinger, Hong Kong's very first Governor.

The design of the hotel is all about celebrating Hong Kong's heritage, and I'm very proud to have been associated with this wonderful project.

Check out the website and facebook page for activities that are happening leading up to the official opening, and check back here for more news!

Oh, and happy lunar new year everyone!

Classic lighting

Very happy to hear that someone in Hong Kong is finally stocking these lamps...

Mantis and le Lampe Gras now in Hong Kong through Homeless.

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.

L'ast minute Chirstmas shopping

Hong Kongers, do you have any last minute shopping to do? Well, head on down to L'sWhere...they have a gorgeous range of pieces, big and small, some budget options and some to splurge on.

Linen Blankets, from UK

a wide range of cushions, from the USA

Butterfly display, from France

Floor lamp, from Portugal

Table lamp, from Vienna

Bookshelf Floor lamp, from France

Bevelled mirror, from France

Glass candelabra, from Italy

R&Y Augousti chest of drawers, made in Philippines

R&Y Augousti side table, made in Philippines

Porcelain tableweare, from the UK

Coloured cut crystal whiskey glasses, from Belgium

L'sWhere

10 On Wo Lane

SOHO, Hong Kong

Zara Home HK

Finally, the famous Spanish retailer has brought their home collection to Hong Kong! I checked it out yesterday, and I love that we now have a range of reasonably priced bed linen, table linen and bathware. The Zara Home store is in Harbour City and also carries a seasonal range of small homewares items and decorative objet.

Hong Kong INDESIGN

The event for the design community that originated in Australia is now in Hong Kong. Today is the first INDESIGN event in our fair city, so head over to their website and check out the details for all the day's events!

Oenone ware sale!

Looking to get some Christmas shopping out of the way early this year? Then head down to these Oenone ware sales. This lovely lady is a friend of a friend and has some gorgeous pieces that she imports from England.

New retail in HK

Its been an exiting week for new store openings in Hong Kong this week....

First off we have Tang Tang Tang Tang, by local legend David Tang. A mix of clothing and homewares, new and antique. Located in the ground floor of the lovely old building where the Pawn is, its so nice to see someone has finally done something with that empty space. Unfortunately I was a little underwhelmed by the stock, and how the space had been designed, especially considering the $ and clout that Tang has. Still, some nice items in there, and probably still worth a visit.

amelie & tulips officially opened on Wednesday in the uber cool POHO neighbourhood. A mix of art, vintage furniture and new scandinavian designs, in a very cool space. Definitely worth a look. And you can have a wander around this ever changing area at the same time. There are plenty of cute places to grab a bite to eat or a good coffee.

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Manks sale

Manks warehouse clearance sale starts tomorrow! Get on down folks!

Ladurée

Oh joy of joys! Now I don't need to trek all the way over to Kowloon side to get my fix!

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!

Barbara Barry for Baker & Kallista

Last night I was privileged to be invited to the VIP event to celebrate the Barbara Barry collections for Baker and Kallista. Barbara's visit to Hong Kong has been long awaited. Looooong awaited, I tell you. So I schlepped my copy of her book into Central on a rainy night, and I was not disappointed. I am not at all embarrassed to admit I behaved like a star struck groupie when my turn to speak to her came. What a lovely, gracious and elegant woman she is. We had a brief chat, talked about Australia (that leg of her upcoming tour was cancelled, unfortunately), and she complimented me on my necklace (okay, I might have died and gone to heaven at that moment), and then I complimented her on her book....and I may have gushed a bit. Just a little bit...

All in all it was a fun night, I  managed to catch up some people I hadn't seen in a while, and of course thoroughly enjoyed hearing Barbara speak about her inspirations. Very inspiring indeed. What a way to start the week!

BODW 13

I was very fortunate to be invited to attend the Press conference for the upcoming Business of Design Week earlier this week. This year's partner country will be Belgium, which as we all know has a long and creative history in design. I have visited this beautiful country twice myself and loved it both times, and count myself lucky to have a few lovely friends from both the French and Flemish speaking regions.


This year, in addition to expert speakers in the fields of Fashion & Apparel, Design for Experience, Space & Design, Design for Asia, Communications & Design, Product & Design and Culture & the City there will also be a new forum called Cities driven by Design...a topic very close to my heart. 

There will be over 100 international speakers this year, some of the more well known include: Matteo Thun, Toyo Ito, Xavier Lust, and Hong Kong's own Joyce Wang and Keith Griffiths of my previous employer Aedas.

2013 will be BODW's 13th consecutive year, and myself having attended the last 8 years I can say it is a truly great event. So many inspiring speakers in town in such a short space of time gives Hong Kong an even bigger buzz (if thats possible?).  So book your tickets, hotel rooms and get yourself an early bird ticket (until Nov 10th). I'll see you there!?

be right back

I've just had a very decadent week-long staycation with some great friends from Melbourne. I might need a few days to get myself back in to work mode...but in the mean time, my Hong Kong readers can sate themselves with this feature on my friend SJ's lovely Shek-O home in the latest Home Journal, which I styled. On newstands now.