Travel : Copenhagen, DK

Last weekend, to celebrate my daughters 8th birthday and to see an old friend who moved back to Denmark a few years ago, I went with stella, her best friend and her friends mother, on a city-break to Copenhagen.  It was our first time in this beautiful city full of beautiful people and beautiful buildings!

We ate at the canal side with the children on the first night and on the second, we got a babysitter for the girls and headed to the amazing Geist which served, amongst other delicious local, seasonal fare, a giant lemon flavoured candy floss that accompanied the bill – here it has already been demolished by us!

  

We had a few post dinner cocktails at Ruby:

The next day we visited the Danish Design Museum which was has the most wonderful collection of art, textiles, mid-century danish designed furniture and lighting.

  

We took a boat tour around the city and saw some incredible architecture – not least the stunning marble clad National Bank of Denmark designed by Arne Jacobsen:

The Royal Opera House:

The old stock exchange:

I have to say that I struggled to find the nice interiors shops that sell ceramics and textiles and home accessories that I was looking for.  Most of the stores we went into had the same danish designer brands and pieces that we can see in the large interiors departments of London department stores and places like the Conran Shop (Hay etc).  It shows how easy it is to get danish design now in the UK but I’m sure there are a few little gems of original pieces that we missed the opportunity to seek out and the danish antique stores were closed when we got to them on Sunday.  So that means there is definitely an important reason to return to this charming place 🙂


   

We absolutely loved this city and will definitely be returning soon!

further reading:

the national bank here

x

Inspiration : Joseph Dirand Architecture

How much do i love this man’s work?!

Based in Paris, the architect Joseph Dirand produces Residential and Commercial spaces that are jaw-droppingly stunning.

I realised recently that all of the interior design pins that i find most achingly beautiful are of his work.

And he’s french.

Video: Joseph Dirand apartment tour | NY Times 2014

Article: Joseph Dirand article in the NY Times 2014

Images via Joseph Dirand Architecture and Pinterest.

Art : Egon Schiele – The Radical Nude

Yesterday i went to see this exhibition at The Courthauld Gallery in Somerset House:

Egon Schiele: The Radical Nude.

Some of the images i saw were disturbing, like the one of a naked sick child, but each nude had it’s own style, slender and muscular, and displayed a rawness and explicit exposure which must have shocked art society at the turn of the century Europe.

Strongly influenced and guided by Gustav Klimt, this Austrian artist died very young, at the age of 28, and never achieved his true potential.

It’s on until the 18th January.

x

Beautiful Brutalism : The National Theatre

We were here last night after a drink at the terrace over looking the Thames.

So proud to be a Londoner.

xx

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History : Hampton Court Palace

I’m taking Jack and Stella to see their baby cousin tomorrow and we’re starting off with a stroll through the beautiful gardens of this historic castle in Hampton:

As well as the beautiful house and gardens, we will be having lunch in their large cafe and doing a bit of shopping in their gift shop.  Love a gift shop!

Hampton Court Palace

Will post pictures over the weekend.

x

Books: Eat Drink Nap

After visiting another Soho House outpost – this one in New York – I had to get their new book. I’ve admired their unique blend of relaxed luxury for a long time:

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Ladies who lunch

I so rarely do this, which is why it’s special when it happens.

A little lunch with the girls at Colbert in Sloane Square.

A bit too much Chablis on this one tho…

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NYC : Tin Tiles

One design feature I will take back from this city is the patterned metal tiles featured on ceilings and walls.

They can be painted any colour and would look stunning in a hall or living room or on a feature wall.

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Goodbye NYC :(

A very sad day. We have to say goodbye to New York.

We’ve had an amazing time, hanging out with good friends, eating and drinking more than we ever thought we could, walking in the sunshine and bitter cold and taking in this wonderful city.

Until next time…. xxxx

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NYC : Schillers Liquor Bar

We ate beet salad and fries at this Downtown eaterie, owned by the same people behind Balthazar and Pastis, on Friday lunchtime.

Their metro tiled dining room is complimented by the cool industrial bathrooms downstairs with copper pipes and antiqued glass. I’m particularly taken with the metal embossed tiles on the ceiling that are so typical of New York.

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Numbered glass bottles line the shelves and wine comes with ‘cheap’ ‘decent’ and ‘good’ stamps.

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Might have to order their cocktail book to remind me of them:

Schillers Cocktail Collection