i don’t usually get sucked in the media circus surrounding h&m fashion collaborations, and i’m not even sure i’m that taken by the clothing in the new marni x h&m range, but anything by sofia coppola demands a viewing and, as always, her work does not disappoint.

her new commerical features the ever-beautiful imogen poots modeling the new collection but for me, the real beauty is in the delectable sun-drenched moroccan riad and  palm tree dotted landscape. the rich, exotic and intoxicating colours of marrakech shine through and instantly mesmorise, while the delightful clash of patterns and colours and sights and sounds all combine to create such a wonderfully evocative atmosphere that awakens my wanderlust all over again.

i might just be persuaded to check out the clothing range as well…

Share/Bookmark

| natalie kucken |

it’s hard to believe we are back here again; another year older, perhaps another year wiser…

two years ago i treated myself on my birthday by turning the tables round on you, my truly wonderful readers, and i was wondering if you would permit me to do the same again today?

were you here reading this blog two years ago? or are you a complete newcomer to fabric of my life? and, most importantly – just who are you??

because to me, you are the most important people – the people i post for, the people i connect with – and i would love for you to introduce yourselves and provide a little snapshot of your life. what are you doing right now? what is rocking your world?

go on, indulge me a little…

Share/Bookmark

 1. new york modern wall clock | 2. greetings from new york notecards | 3. new york city gps co-ordinates fine art print | 4. new york, new york a2 limited edition poster | 5. manhattan skyline at dusk  | 6. i ♥ new york indie rock tank top | 7. new york pencil set | 8. original let’s go to new york wall sticker | 9. brooklyn bridge cushion cover

you may have seen me twittering on about #blogtournyc recently, and wondered what on earth all the fuss was about?

well, i’m very excited to be one of a very lucky group of 15 bloggers who have been chosen to attend blogtour2012, the brainchild of the super talented veronika miller from american interior design platform modenus!

the first ever blogtour was held last september when a group of bloggers from the states visited london during the design festival, where i was lucky enough to meet up with the group and share the wonderful world of london design with them.

following the success of blogtour2011 further trips have been planned in 2012; to the architectural digest home design show in new york city in march, as well as to milan and paris before returning back to london in september.

the mission of blogtour is “to further the understanding and awareness of design in the us, uk and europe and support networking and information exchange between design bloggers, designers, artisans and manufacturers while providing more exposure for international design events.”

“we organised blogtour in response to the extraordinary amount of digital buzz we saw coming from the bloggers we had worked with in the past and we wanted to create an initiative that would bring bloggers to the main trade shows,” says veronika, “but also to allow enough space for them to explore the wealth of design on display at smaller venues, so they can provide their readers and social media following with a first hand look at the festival, in what is a bloggers signature style: enthusiastic, vibrant and chock full of personality.”

here are my lovely fellow new york city bound bloggers – i can’t wait to meet y’all, we are going to have so.much.fun!

 1. stacey sheppard | 2. hannah coleman | 3. arianna trapani | 4. cecy brooks | 5. will taylor |  6. david john | 7. emily peck | 8. kelly morisseau | 9. marilyn russell grant | 10. andrew dunning | 11. katie treggiden | 12. um, me! | 13. pippa jameson | 14. carole king* | 15. toma clark haines

and of course, none of this would be possible of course without the generosity of the amazing blogtour sponsors – miele usa, blanco america, poggenpohl us, modern-aire, scholtes,  duverre hardware, spirit of sports, big ass fans, samuel heath, victoria and albert baths and above all modenus – i can’t begin to express to them all how thankful and excited i am to be a part of this amazing adventure!

* with many thanks to carole king for the fabulous visual compilations of blogtour nyc bloggers and sponsors

Share/Bookmark

| me too, seletti! |

so finally here goes; the mammoth documenting of all my photos from last weekend’s trip to maison et objet…

| my lovely companions, pippa and ana |

| la maison francaise |

|  jonathan adler |

| serax maison d’être |

| cinna |

| ligne roset |

| clouds composition by ronan and erwan bouroullec |

| capo d’opera |

| goodbye edison |

| gaia & gino |

| photophore bourgies russes by stephan lanez |

| petite friture |

| red edition |

| menu |

|  delica and designer’s cut by menu |

| l’atelier d’exercises |

| baltus |

| society |

| &tradition |

| la cerise sur le gateau |

| functionals |

| hay.dk |

Share/Bookmark

i’m lucky enough to have indulged my wanderlust a little over the weekend, and whilst in paris stayed in a rather stylish little design hotel south of the city; an ideal hotel if you will.

the newly renovated (in fact, there are still renovations going on!) ideal hôtel is located in port d’orléans and offers an eclectic range of conceptual room designs, from pop art to sensual to downright kooky. staying with fellow bloggers ana and pippa, we rushed to explore as many unoccupied rooms as we could, winding up and down the steep spiral staircase that adjoins the 7 hotel floors.

i was delighted by all the neon colour pops in the décor – from the fuschia pink entranceway to the vibrant green doors on level 1 – while ana diligently installed herself in one of the best rooms in the hotel; the bright orange 1970s ‘pop’ room.

ideally – pun intended! – located next to the métro, the hotel proved to be the perfect bolthole for our whistlestop trip, and after a long weary day wandering the halls of maison, we were grateful to be surrounded by a wealth of boulangeries, brasseries and pavement cafés, allowing us to indulge in the obligatory steak frites, platter of french cheeses and copious amounts of red wine – pure bliss!

p.s. you can see some of my photos from maison et objet over on the heart home blog today, many more to follow on here soon…

Share/Bookmark

| the entranceway to the design village at interiors uk |

| the electic fare of the new english |

| surface design by lucy alice porter |

| surface design by the scin gallery and furniture by daniel scholfield |

| textile design by maud designs and sophie adamson |

| entranceway to the local by designersblock |

| kingsize by morag myerscough and luke morgan |

i’ve barely had a moment to stop and breathe since i returned from paris on sunday evening, so apologies for the radio silence!

since channel-hopping i’ve also been whisked up to birmingham for interiors uk, and i thought i’d start by sharing some images from the designersblock local and the new design britain exhibitions there, before i start on the mammoth task of documenting maison!

what do you think of the eclectic, cheery designs above – anything tickle your fancy?

Share/Bookmark

| emma hartvig, london |

Share/Bookmark

1. macaron | 2. macaron | 3. mixed macarons | 4. macarons gregory renard à la tour eiffel

i’m in paris for the weekend attending maison et objet, and hopefully indulging in a few of these delectable little treats too!

i’m looking forward to sharing all the new designs and emerging trends from maison with you next week, and hope you have a wonderful weekend too, whatever you have planned!

Share/Bookmark

when i stayed at the lloyd hotel in amsterdam last year, i was shown a little preview of their soon-to-be launched sister hotel, the exchange. now recently opened, the new hotel is located on one of the liveliest and oldest streets of amsterdam and is part of ‘the red carpet’ – an urban renewal project that is aimed at giving the damrak a more diverse and fashionable look.

developed in close collaboration with the amsterdam fashion institute, each of the rooms are dressed as if they are models on the catwalk and as diverse and inspiring as the neighborhood the hotel lies in. the romantic at heart can fall asleep in a marie antoinette-inspired room where a huge dress drapes over the walls and on to the bed, while if you prefer a more minimal look you can opt for a room that is based on the old fairy tale of the emperor’s new clothes.

i have to say, i was quite sceptical when the hotel’s directors, suzanne oxenaar and otto nan, spoke of the designs for their new concept hotel but looking at the fabulous imagery above i am almost completely sold!

although i’m not sure how comfortable i would feel sleeping underneath those upturned yet watchful eyes…

Share/Bookmark

 | clockwise from top left: | new house textiles | lindsey lang | teixidors | clare nicolson |

here are just a few of my highlights from home, london’s definitive new trade event for homewares and interior accessories which debuted at earl’s court this weekend, showcasing an inspiring selection of stylish, high quality interior accessories, lighting and occasional furniture, from hundreds of the best design companies in the uk and europe.

| falcon enamelware |

| ferm living |

| seletti |

| jansen + co. |

| phil procter |

| konstantin slawinski |

Share/Bookmark