The Shoe Library

I'm very excited to be able to share these images with you (especially with those of you outside of HK!) of the recently completed 'Shoe Library' in the new Lane Crawford flagship store in Tsim Sha Tsui. For those of you who don't know, Lane Crawford is to Hong Kong as Barney's or Bergdorf's would be to New York, or Harrods & Harvey Nichols to London. Simply put, its a shoppers paradise. And I've considered moving in there on several occasions. Known for their stylish modern interiors, which had previously been done by the super retail duo Yabu - Pushelberg, this time around Lane Crawford has asked local design wunderkind Andre Fu (the designer behind the uber chic Upper House Hotel) to design some of the spaces.

Stepping through the Canton Road entrance of the store you find yourself in the 'Great Room', the mainstay of the entire space, featuring a soaring 5m high ceiling, library armoires in bronze and abstract French panels. Floors are finished in Romano marble and covered with elaborate rugs from the Andre Fu Collection for Tai Ping Carpets. There are also eighty-something bespoke pieces of furniture dotted around the entire Library, among them The Salon's 5m long table with Alberto Giacometti inspired legs, and hand-embroidered silk wall panels echoing the work of French fashion illustrator Christian Berard, in warm shades of solferino and lilac.

The entire experience is somewhat surreal considering the quietude and sophistication of the space (not to mention all those shoes!) in contrast to the chaotic streetscape just outside. I would make the Shoe library my home, if only I didn’t have to leave the island to get there ;)

All images care of AFSO

A Bespoke Journey

I'm very excited to announce the recent launch of the very first book by Hong Kong's hottest designer, Andre Fu.

Entitled "A Bespoke Journey", the coffee table book features some of Fu's work with his firm, AFSO, over the last ten years. Including internationally acclaimed projects such as The Upper House hotel in Hong Kong, the Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore, his work with agnès b, and the countless stylish restaurants he's done around the world, its sure to be a winner.

If you are a fan, like I am, the book can be purchased in Hong Kong at Lane Crawford Lifestyle stores, leading book shops in the Asia Pacific region, or online through Amazon

Andre Fu + Tai Ping London launch party

I thought I'd share a few photos sent to me of the recent London launch party for the Andre Fu carpet collection for Tai Ping. The event was held in an old church in the heart of Mayfair - personally I think the carpets are just as stunning as the building. What a beautiful backdrop...wish I could have been there!

All images care of AFSO

Andre Fu for Tai Ping

I was very excited when I heard that luxury carpet maker Tai Ping had teamed up with local HK designer, Andre Fu (designer of much lauded The Upper House) to create an extensive new hand-made rug collection.

Fu’s carpets for Tai Ping display a sensitivity that remains true to his trademark design language. He describes the sumptuous new collection as ‘A re-invention of the long-established artisanship of Tai Ping’s heritage — a modern collection that is calming and sophisticated, yet highly emotional and sensuous.” Fu took inspirations from an in-depth visit he took to Tai Ping’s mill – an experience that journeyed Fu to understand Tai Ping Carpets’ intricate craftsmanship and established history. Fu amalgamates such an array of complex techniques with his design sensitivity to create his collection of surprising textures. Rooted in this deep appreciation for Tai Ping artisanship, heritage and fashion, and imbued with subtle references to traditional tweed, the resulting Andre Fu Collection bridges modern Asian luxury in a sophisticated line of “textiles for the floor.”

Using only the most luxurious fibres — wool, silk, cashmere — with accent threads such as cotton, lurex and flax, the collection combines pile heights, and yarn thicknesses with highly complex hand-tufting techniques to create a collection that is the rug equivalent to haute couture: lush, timeless, and evocative.

The seven designs developed by Fu for Tai Ping come in twenty-eight colour variations executed in soft hues and subtle colour tones that evoke the sensitivities of modern China. To complement the collection’s tweeds, dense silk pile rugs were conceived with original brush-stroke motifs inspired by Chinese calligraphy. This sensuous and poetic second line in the collection is even more velvety soft and composed of wool, cashmere, and delicate silk in subtle graduated tones of dusty plum, green teas, mustard yellow, mauve grey and mineral blue.

I don't know about you, but I think I'm in love...

Weft IV

Flagstone

Douce

Aerial

Luster

Cheviot

Intersection

Cheviot

Gabrielle

Aerial III

Aerial III

Cheviot

Gabrielle

All photos care of Tai Ping carpets