I’ve recently found myself with a fair bit of extra time (I’ll write more on that at some stage, perhaps), but for now I don’t think I’ve ever shifted into a slower pace and a period of relative unknown with as much ease, effortlessness, and joy. Who is this person?!
Although well over 250 years old, Edinburgh’s New Town – a UNESCO Heritage Site – is a beautiful, if austere, collection of sturdy and uniform ranks of Georgian buildings. Rows of terraces and mansions clad in local grey sandstone are a physical embodiment of the Scottish Reformation. Refurbished by NYC-based architecture firm Grzywinski+Pons, Eden Locke is a new 72-room hotel with a café and bar that’s received a complete renovation and comprehensive fit-out. Celebrating its heritage details, the 18th-century Georgian mansion and its 20th-century extension was whittled down to its respective bones – and the chic new hotel created from there.
I love yellow. It’s my favourite – it’s happy, and it makes me happy. (And I’m blonde. Blondes look good in yellow.) American architect Richard Meier loves white. But in honour of the 100th anniversary of the De Stijl movement, his one and only building in the Netherlands has been painted in the style of Piet Mondrian.
I published a story for House & Garden last week about RCR Arquitectes, the winner of this year’s Pritzker Prize. Considered architecture’s highest honour, for the first time since it began in 1979 it was awarded to three winners –Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigemand and Ramon Vilalta – for the trio’s intensely collaborative way of working together.
I don’t know what rock I’ve been living under, but I’ve only just discovered Bar Luce, a Milanese café designed in 1950s Italian style by director of all directors, Wes Anderson.
In 18 months my mom and I have committed to walking the Camino. That gives me 18 months, about 547 days – and counting – to get my financial shit together. I’m a terrible spender and an even worse saver. In September 2018 that needs to be revolutionised so that I can take a sabbatical (work logistics to be arranged then, don’t ask questions) and fly to Europe for two, maybe three, months. Deviating from my obsession with everything French (Paris will naturally be on the agenda), I find myself drawn to and inspired by the dusty colours and flavours of Porto, and the bold patterns and architecture of Spain. Hence, this hotel’s exquisite renovation and striking personality caught my attention.
Founded in Paris by Luis Laplace and Christophe Comoy, Laplace is a high-end interior design and architecture studio with a focus on modern simplicity and elegance. In this Parisian apartment, an art collector’s main residence, use of space, light and structured design create a comfortable, yet infinitely chic, interior.
I’ve always been a dormant francophile, significantly less dormant in the last few weeks. In an attempt to make household chores more ‘fun’, I started playing French music, and so went down the Parisian rabbit hole – and have yet to come out. Longing for a return to Paris, I’ve been living vicariously through French design, French music, and French film. And lusting at Paris’ most beautiful French hotels.
M-3 Architectural&Construction Group is a Ukraine-based firm with a foundation in minimalist and functional design. I came across this bachelor pad whilst compiling a Design Find for House & Garden. It came in a week where I’d had numerous ‘a ha’ moments, and felt the definitive pull to become a minimalist (more on this later). It is quite possibly the most beautiful and sophisticated space I have ever seen.
Danish studio Norm Architects has taken influences from both Scandinavian and Japanese design to create this pared-back gallery and workspace for Kinfolk magazine in central Copenhagen.
