Thakoon Tasaki Jewellery.

I love pearls and that's not a secret. When I first laid eyes on Thakoon's collection for Japanese jeweller, Tasaki, it was love at first sight. I love how simple the pieces are yet they bring upon a little funk to a classic "string of pearls". My favourite piece is the necklace.

Quoted from Thakoon:

“I really wanted to just go back to the DNA of what Tasaki’s about, which is beautiful pearls, beautiful materials and beautiful diamonds,” Panichgul said during a press presentation at the Grand Hyatt. “It’s working with the materials, making them feel a bit more sculptural as well, and modern. I wanted to put some youthful spirit into pearls.” “There’s a tradition here, and they respect that, but they want to move forward as well and make it very modern,”

His pieces can be bought online through Colette.

Emeco 111 Navy Chair.

Emeco's original 1006 Navy Chair is so iconic and not forgetting eco-friendly. It is made of 80% recycled aluminum. The new 111 Navy Chair follows in its "daddy's" footsteps being made from 111 recycled plastic Coca Cola Pet bottles to form 1 chair. The price is around half the price of the aluminum one and it comes in an array of colours. My favourite has got to be the red as well as persimmon. They make great chairs for an outdoor dining area or even in cafes.

Red.

Snow.

Persimmon.

Grass.

Flint.

Charcoal.

Inspiration for Casual Dining Room.

I've put together some pieces which I would love to have together for a casual dining room. The dining area would also have a corner for folks waiting for dinner to be ready, and also a console table that would also double as a bar or buffet. I have selected vintage chairs for their simplicity and beauty. The Arne Vodders would flank both sides of the length of the table and the Grant Feathersons would be at both ends of the table. Above the Concorde table would be the Nautic Portreath pendant lamp. The reason why I picked the Concorde table was that usually the casual diner would be near the kitchen and it could also double up as an extra prep/pastry table (being marble). The decanter lamps would be hung above the console table.

I think that a casual diner should always fun and different without all the chi chi stuffiness that is usually in a formal dining space. It should be a space that people want to hang out in, sometimes even do work in. Something to think about. Enjoy.

Nautic Portreath Pendant Lamp.

Poliform Concorde Table by Emmanuel Gallina.

Arne Vodder Dining Chair in Teak.

The Arne Vodders to be re-upholstered in a purple tweed.

Grant Featherson R152 Dining Chairs.

Lee Broom Decanter Lights.

Another Country's Console.

Ercol Studio Couch.

James & Tilla Waters Ceramics.

The older I get, the more I learn to appreciate certain smaller things in life like ceramics. I especially love the grey and orange range that James and Tilla Waters has. My favourite has got to be the deep bowl. There is something so simple yet beautiful about their pottery that appeals to the senses. You just want to feel it, smell it, eat from it or even just look at it.

Lanvin for H&M: The First Wave.

The first wave for Lanvin for H&M has swept through North America. On the 18th Nov, there was a fashion show at Pierre Hotel, NY which the dresses were reworked and to be auctioned off to benefit UNICEF. Check out the auction site which also has 5 Alber Elbaz sketches up for grabs. I think that would make great art for any Lanvin fan.

On the 20th Nov, H&M opened its stores to crowds of people queuing to get their hands on the much hyped designs. Check out the video.

Edition Hotels.

You must be kidding if you think that Hotelier and Real Estate Developer, Ian Schrager (co-founder of the legendary Studio 54) could ever sit around and not be busy with yet another ambitious project. In 2006, he reopened the iconic Gramercy Park Hotel, NY to much fanfare and excitement. The hotel with its bohemian charm and distinct character has earned its place in New York as one of the coolest hotels around.

So the man understands what hip is. Maybe he got bored with the whole boutique hotel thing (100 or less number of rooms), so he is reinventing the industry. After all he is the father of boutique hotels and everyone in the industry over the last decade have tried to replicate his success, interpret their own style in the many boutique hotels that have sprung up.

This time, he has teamed up with Marriot to come up with a new hotel brand named, Edition. Its target market are the young, hip who are understated, love art and the finer things in life. No more very trying, pretentiously hip and self-conscious hotels. Their first hotel in Waikiki, The Waikiki Edition (353 rooms) opened its doors on 15th of October 2010. Most of the rooms have terraces, the hotel has also a very famous chef, Morimoto as its resident chef, its own exclusive beach, an outdoor movie theatre and also its own surf and bikini boot camp. It can't get more cool than this.

The next few hotels will open in London (the old Berners Hotel), Istanbul, Barcelona, Bangkok, Mexico City and South Beach, USA. So look out for them.

The Reception of The Waikiki Edition.

Lobby of The Waikiki Edition.

One of the Rooms at The Waikiki Edition.

View of the Hotel and Swimming Pool of The Waikiki Edition.

The Artist's Impression of The Mexico City Edition.

Lanvin Loves Hennes And Mauritz (H&M)

It's no secret. I love Lanvin. I want to eat in, live in, dream in, marry in and die in Lanvin. Alber Elbaz is a genius. He designed clothes for the today women to be strong yet fragile in. The Lanvin for H&M collection will be for sale at shops around the world on the 23rd of Nov. Apart from the dresses, accessories, there is also a lipstick and fishnets. Personally some of the dresses are a rehash of some of the most iconic pieces that he has done, I have nothing against that (or will I ever against Lanvin) because it is affordable and who says style has to be expensive. Even the rich sometimes can't buy grace or style. Will I be getting any? But of course. With much trouble, I managed to streamline the pieces that I want really badly. Fingers crossed that the buyer manages to get her hands on them and I just might have something Lanvin for Christmas.

The mens collection is also very desirable. I love his tuxedo shirts and suits. My favourite piece from the mens wear is the old-school blazer.

See the entire collection here.

Check out the ad. Enjoy!