Detour & Pecha Kucha

Saturday night was the latest Pechua Kucha night in Hong Kong, one of the Detour satellite events to the BoDW this year. I don't think I could have thought of a better venue for it myself - the old Police force married quarters. While these buildings have been gutted and are probably ready for demolition (they are on prime land after all...) - thankfully someone realised their potential as gallery space in their current state. While the Pecha Kucha speakers were doing their thing, an interesting crowd of people listened on either from the sandy "lawn" below complete with beach balls, or from the balconies of the apartments which housed a wide range of student and local artist installations. It's nights like these, organised by forward thinking individuals, that will help this city reach its full potential and set it apart from the rest of Asia.
Here a few random photos I took of the evening...

Where have HUE been?

My copy of the Kelly Wearstler book "HUE" arrived a little while ago, and it does not disappoint! I have already devoured it and am looking forward to having some more time to savour each and every drool worthy image. It's quite a departure from her past two publications. While there is still plenty of the Wearstler signature saturated colour...there are also plenty of spaces that are decorated in a more easily digested sea of neutrals. Her new home is simply stunning, and is so...well, for want of a better word, eclectic. It's definitely more modern than her previous residence, and actually looks quite European to me in the way that she has mixed sculptural pieces, bold art and lots of disparate elements against the classical architectural backdrop. I wonder how long it will take for her to be bored of it and move on? If nothing else, we can all live vicariously through her. I only hope that the next book doesn't take so long to be published...I feel like I've been waiting on this one for years! Now....go get yourself a copy!

Cover photography (top image) by Mark Edward Harris, and one of my favorite images so far (bottom image) photographed by Grey Crawford.

HK happenings...

The annual preeminent design festival in Asia, Hong Kong's Business of Design Week, starts next week and I'm excited. You may remember me jumping up and down about it last year when they announced their design partner country was France. Speakers this year include Calvin Tsao (who of course, is not French), Jean Nouvel, Toyo Ito (also, not French), Patrick Jouin, Jean-Marie Massaud, Mathieu Lehanneur, Matali Crasset, and local rising star Andre Fu - to name but a few. The festivities actually kick off today with the DETOUR satellite events happening in locations all around the city - so check out the websites for further details!

More Madrid style...

Good weather, great food and cutting edge design are all great reasons to visit Spain, but then who really needs an excuse? The next time I make it to Madrid I think I will have to try and stay at the Hotel Villa Magna. Designed by Spaniard Thomas Urquijo, the Villa Magna is beyond chic. Its contemporary, yet so classic and timeless - my kind of place.

Oh, and I am so in love with that blue sofa/bench in the lobby area I could just die.

Estilo de España!

Seriously people, if there is anyone out there still not reading the Spanish Architectural Digest, you are really missing out! Month after month it delivers gasp out loud stunning interiors. The latest issue is certainly no exception. I'm totally in love with the apartment featured by Madrid based designer Estefanía Carrero - its just so chic. Check out her website or the magazine for more pics!

All photos by Ricardo Labougle for AD España November 2009.

Just spotted

These stunning tables by Caste Designs look to me like something the über talented Tim Burton would come up with if he started designing furniture. I love them!

Brrrrrr....

The mercury has really dropped here in Hong Kong in the last few weeks. At first it was a relief from the hot sticky summer we've had, but now I'm not so sure. I know I shouldn't complain because there are much colder places in the world, but it really seems like winter has done a deal with autumn this year to do a no show. Its around about this time each year though that I start daydreaming about having an open fire. Plus, I love a good fireplace, it usually adds such visual interest to a room, and makes a great focal point. So here are a few of my recent and all time favorite more modern looking fireplaces...


A stunning apartment by Laura Kirar from the latest (and last) Metropolitan Home (so sad!) - photographed by Peter Murdock.

A luxe combination of snakeskin and onyx in the apartment of Jason Pomeranc, decorated by Steven Sclaroff. Photographed by Timothy Kolk for Elle Decor Nov '05.

Black marble in Pierre Yovanovitch's own apartment. Photographed by Marina Faust for Architectural Digest Feb '08.

In the hands of William Sofield marble is pure sex-appeal. Two examples - both for Tom Ford.

Sleek and chic by Portuguese firm Oitemponto.

Minimal by Christian Grevstad.

A bronze beauty by Christian Liaigre.

Two marble masterpieces by David Collins Studio - he always does beautiful fireplaces in my opinion.

Vintage goodness by Paul Dupre-Lafon. From the book "Meubles et décors des annees 40" by Anne Bony.

A whole wall of marble in Kelly Wearstler's Malibu beach house - so much more than just a fireplace. Photographed by François Halard for Metropolitan Home and other recent publications.

An over scaled fireplace in the Chakib Richani designed home of fashion designer Elie Saab, photographed by Fernando Bengoechea for Elle Decor Oct '04.

And last, but definitely not least, another over scaled fireplace in a home by David Kleinberg. One of my all time faves. Photographed by Pieter Estersohn for Elle Decor Jan/Feb '09.

Today I'm loving...

...the idea of faux exotic finishes on walls. I'm not sure I can think of anything more luxurious than being completely surrounded by tortoiseshell, ivory or horn. Don't you think? And the bonus is, there is absolutely no guilt attached!

A study decorated by the late Randall Ridless which was apparently inspired by Billy Baldwins library for Cole Porter. Looks like the perfect place to curl up with a pile of magazines and a cup of tea on a cold day!

Photographed by Simon Upton for the March 2005 issue of Elle Decor.

A bedroom by Miles Redd, with faux ivory (walls) and faux horn (cornices). Just stunning, and so clever.

Photographed by Thomas Loos for the July 2009 issue of House Beautiful.

A rose by any other name...

While I was in Lane Crawford on Friday on my tea mission I came across this no so little beauty, by a South African design partnership Greg and Roché Dry who make up Egg Designs. The "Rosette Armoire" as you can see in the below images, is completely covered in copper plated metal roses. The couple say on their website that they came across the roses in a metal workshop in Mauritius while on holiday and then developed the idea further when they returned home.

I'm a bit of a nut for metal anything, so its no surprise that I think this is beautiful!