The Baroness

From the same lady who created this, from the cover of Elle Decor April 2008 (photographed by Roger Davies)...

...remember? We now also have this to drool over...

from the latest Australian Vogue Living (photographed by Richard Powers).

The Baroness de Pampelonne has created a spectacular apartment in Paris for a wealthy Russian client, who received the apartment as a present. As you do.

Its absolutely stunning, and easily one of few spaces I've ever seen I feel I could move right into without changing a single thing. The colours, the furniture, the art...the mix is perfection. I spy pieces by Hervé Van der Straeten, Gio Ponti, Eric Schmitt, Angelo Mangiarotti, Les Lalannes, Baguès, Ico Parisi, Jean Royere, Otto Wagner and Philippe Hiquily...its like a roll call of my favorite designers! I won't spoil it for you by posting all the images, even though I'm tempted. So make sure you go buy a copy, because the entire apartment is to die for.

London here I come!

I booked tickets for the hubby and I for a week-long trip to London in September. I haven't been in 6 years, so needless to say I'm quite excited! The reason for the trip is for what will most likely be the most fabulous wedding of the century, and happens to coincide with the 100% Design fair. Lucky me. There are lots of things I already have on my list of things to do and see - including the V&A and Tate Modern, but if anyone out there has any recommendations - for restaurants, bars, bookshops, or anything really, I'd love to hear from you!

Sharing the pain...

I wanted to share a little something with you all...this article was published in the South China Morning Post last week - and I finally got around to scanning and posting. Voila!

* Thanks to those of you who let me know that the image will not enlarge...don't know how to fix it, but I do have a link to the article online if you're interested - click here.

Viva Italia!

Just between you and me, I was actually an Italophile long before my obsession with France, so its not ironic that I ended up marrying an Italian-Australian. Italy's contribution to the world of design is certainly not small, and this apartment is testament to that. It's filled to the brim with masterpieces by some of my favorite artists and designers including: Ico Parisi, Gio Ponti, Maurizio Tempestini, Seguso and Lucio Fontana. Plus, I'm loving the cool calm colour palette...its soo soothing. I'm honestly not sure how long a place this minimal would look that way with me living in it, but its nice to daydream. It certainly would be a nice respite from the craziness outside in this city!

Photographed by Giorgio Baroni for AD Italia March 2010.

Speaking of Italian design, that reminds me - there is a new book on another of my favorite Italian designers, Angelo Mangiarotti, now available online from Stout Books. This one is definitely going on my wish list!

And for football fans around the world, especially supporters of the Azzurri, I'm looking forward to watching Italy's first game in the World Cup later tonight (if I can wake myself in the early hours of the morning). Either way...Viva Italia!

La Villa

While searching for inspiration during the week for a new project I'm working on I found these images of the fairly new Gilles & Boissier designed "La Villa" restaurant and bar in Paris. It was about this time 4 years ago I was last in Paris, celebrating my birthday. While I may not have immediate plans to get back there, I think I'll be quite happy doing some armchair travel while checking out the rest of the images on the website. The interior is simply breathtaking, and I'm completely in love with the colour palette! Hope you enjoy...

Weekend discoveries - part 3

The other great discovery of the weekend for me was Chahan Minassian. Not so much his work - as I have admired it from afar for a while now - my discovery was the launch of his website. The Lebanese Paris-based Minassian is not only a talented designer, he also runs a gallery representing some fabulous artists and 20th Century design. Definitely a must-see on my list for the next trip to Paris! There are several stunning homes in his online portfolio, but this is definitely one of my faves.

I brought home a new stack of magazines last night, so who knows what this weekend will reveal!

Weekend discoveries - part 2

The second great discovery of the weekend for me was Francis Sultana. I had seen his London apartment published in the European editions of AD before and fell in love with his style. As luck would have it, his apartment was also published in the Australian Belle magazine, and so now I finally know who the man is behind those funky rooms. And, not only does Sultana create wonderful rooms, he also designs furniture. These are a few of my favorites, but go check out his website for more!

Bridgehampton Sofa

Hamptons Chaise

Eurodice Ottoman

Bond Side Table

These photos are just divine...I think I could move into any of those rooms right now!

Weekend discoveries - part 1

This past weekend was the first time in a while I've had time to catch up on magazines, and I'm so glad I did. With a stack of about 8 of my favorites on Saturday morning I spent a few joyful hours pouring over images and made a few discoveries....

A new project by NYC based architect Annabelle Selldorf was one of them. Check out the May edition of the German AD for more stunning photos (by Nikolas Koenig). Another beautifully put together home by a woman who I think has perfect taste.

And, thanks to Elle Decor for bringing my attention to the recent release of this new book on one of my favorite mid 20th century designers, the Italian master Guglielmo Ulrich. I can't wait for my copy to arrive!

Murano

I just had to share some photos of a restaurant I stumbled upon while looking for something else..."Murano" is by Gordon Ramsay in Central London. Those first two images are breathtaking...I LOVE the front of that bar! Not sure exactly what it is, but a little birdy told me it was hand-blown glass, and considering the name of the place, that is more than possible. I don't even care what the food is like, I definitely have to make it here when I'm next in London!

Christophe Côme

I recently discovered the work of French designer Christophe Côme and am totally enamoured. It seems like I am preternaturally drawn to French design, modern or otherwise, however I'm sure I would have loved Côme's work regardless of his nationality. His work seems to me to be inspired by a mix of art deco and industrialism and its apparent that I am not his only fan, as Peter Marino has commissioned him for pieces in at least one Chanel store - his beautiful screens can be seen below in the new Shanghai boutique.

But a few of my favorites....

If you like what you see, check out Côme's website for more images and information.

Exciting things afoot...

...will keep you updated...

Where I want to live this week...

+

= heavenly!

If I could mix Olivier Gagniere's Parisian apartment.....with the Ritz Carlton residences in Toronto...I'd move in tomorrow. The colours are divine, and the mix of furniture (albeit polar opposites) are to die for.

Olivier Gagniere's apartment photographed by Simon Upton for Elle Decor, Ritz Carlton residences by Munge Leung.