W Hotel London

I have a confession: I love disco balls. I had one in my old car for a while and it bounced the sunlight around in a way that made me very happy. My favorite burrito restaurant has one too, it totally doesn't belong but it's funny that it's there and has stayed there for years.  The fact that there are millions of disco balls all over the lobby of the W hotel in London makes me happy too.

via Flickr

via Flickr

 

via Flickr

I really love that desk chair.

via Flickr

via Flickr

via Flickr

They are auctioning off the bicycles below {see photo link for more info}.  I really like the one with the metal tires which I believe is designed by Ron Arad.

via Harpers Bazaar

The Soho Hotel, London

The Soho Hotel in London is has some amazing spaces.  There is tons of color and each room is different.  Here are some of my favorite areas, starting with the Events Reception.  I love that rug.

The Drawing Room.

Black and White Room.

A Guestroom {and my favorite, I love the colors used}.

A Junior Suite.

An Apartment.

It's interesting that the Firmdale Hotels seem to have dressmaker mannequins in the guestrooms.  It was called a "signature touch", but I'd be interested to know why.

{photos: The Soho Hotel}

Handmade Interiors

I really enjoyed the new line of fabrics and accessories from Handmade Interiors.   Their fabrics have a homey-modern feel.

My favorite item was the orange and gray quilt, I love those fabrics, the pattern below reminds me a bit of this block printed wallpaper.

{photos: jeanine}

Loafing Cafe, London

I love the design, and the name, of this cafe in Victoria Park, London. You can see more photographs here.

What I love most is that the materials are, for the most part, reclaimed. It's a rustic sort of space but the chandelier and the white walls and brick keep it from looking like a barn.

{photo: everydaylifemodern}

Kate Spade Pop-up Shop - London

I love pop-up books and cards so much that while I was in design school I tried for a while to figure out how to make a pop-up thesis presentation.  Sadly, there weren't enough hours in the semester to pull that off.

Pop-up shops are just as fun!  Kate Spade has recently opened a pop-up shop in London and it's as well-designed and cheerful as their New York shops.  I don't have plans to visit London in the next few weeks but, luckily, they have posted some photos of the space those of us on this side of the pond can have a look too.

{kate spade}

{Racked National}

{kate spade}

{Racked National}

{kate spade}

Rumor has it everything in the shop is for sale!

Vapiano Restaurant

Happy Valentines Day!  I'm not going to write much but I will leave you with some photos of Vapiano, a German-based Italian restaurant. These photos are from Stockholm and the UK.

 

 

{photos:  55935853@N00/ / CC BY-SA 2.0}

See-Through Sushi

As much as I know acrylic isn't the best choice environmentally and probably not as durable as other options, I can't stop loving it. This sushi restaurant in London is one reason why.


(photo: 98453206@N00/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Delis

I just received my new issue of Dwell and there was a fantastic deli inside, the Taylor Deli in DC. It's very modern and rustic with boards used as both a wall treatment and counter material.


Then the search led to the Story Deli in London which is a different sort of rustic modern design and has stools made of repurposed cardboard packing boxes which I absolutely love! (This picture is hard to see, but a better one is here.)


I can't imagine the boxes would be comfy to sit on long term but for a slice of pizza they would probably be fine.

{top photo: jsmjr, bottom photo: Marco Cadena}

Fluttering Wall Covering

Catherine Hammerton is a London-based textile designer. I took this picture of Catherine Hammerton's new line of wall covering at the ICFF, I think it would be great in a small entryway as it has a great texture that is best appreciated in a small area with a lot of light.

The wall covering is hand cut pieces of paper, shaped as leaves and stitched to a backing. The paper below is from her new line but you can see the previous ginkgo wall covering on her website, she has an online shop as well. What I really love about her designs is that they are produced by a cooperative offering training to local people with mental health issues, she uses FSC certified papers, reclaimed and vintage materials, and vegetable based inks.


This means it is good for the environment and the community.

{photo: jeanine}