- There are a few different Alexander McQueen designs available, mostly with skulls on them, but this Hummingbird cushion by The Rug Company is our favourite – POA, from The Rug Company.
- The Oxygene lamp from Armani Casa will fit into a variety of interiors – POA, from Armani Casa, Dubai Mall.
- So you’ve got a few pieces from House of Holland with a similar design, why not bring the same print into your bedroom? This DVF Spotted Cat bed linen will not only brighten up any interior, but is on trend for 2012 – $250-$350 from DVF or Bloomingdales, Dubai Mall.
- As always, we can’t resist a bit of Vivienne Westwood, and the VW Flag Rug, Mouth and Scribble Orb cushions are no exception. Add these pieces to a bland interior to infuse a bit of Cool Britannia punk – POA, from The Rug Company.
- Fine bone china from Paul Smith by Thomas Goode – the collection includes a coffee jug, tea pot, and breakfast cup and saucer – perfect for an afternoon tea (or coffee) – collection prices start at $62, Coffee Jug $500, from Paul Smith.
Category Archives: Design
#LFW – Autumn 2012
London Fashion Week Autumn 2012 …
#LFW – Spring 2012
London Fashion Week Spring 2012 …
#NYFW – Autumn 2012
New York Fashion Week Autumn 2012 …
#NYFW – Spring 2012
New York Fashion Week Spring 2012 …
WishList February 2012
- I love this Alexander McQueen Black Cotton Canvas Edwardian Jacket $2,500 black cotton canvas hipped fitted with draped hip detail. Visit Alexander McQueen.
- The famous Bourgie lamp, created by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell, is presented in limited edition for Christmas 2011 in three new versions: titanium, fuchsia and sky blue. The fuchsia lamp, priced at Dhs2,440, is available at Kartell, 746 Jumeirah Beach Road. Hurry though, the Dubai store only had two sent to them and I’ve already purchased one for myself! Visit KartFurniture.
- Quirky and fun Coco Clock by Enrico Azzimonti for Diamantini & Domeniconi, prices start at $390. Visit Diamantini & Dominiconi.
- Who isn’t lusting over Karl Largerfeld’s new collection KARL? KARL Sless denim biker vest $540 and interlock collared stretch-jersey dress $270 both available at Net-A-Porter.
- The Fluoro Cambridge Satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Company start at around Dhs500. The Satchel bags are available at Symphony Boutique or Bloomingdales Dubai Mall, or you can order online and your satchel can be personalised. Visit The Cambridge Satchel Company.
- This wallpaper, created by Black Crow Studios who specialise in custom wall murals & treatments, is uniquely designed to fit your specific size requirements and can be customized to your choice of colour. Prices are available upon request. Visit Black Crow Studios.
- Rug Maker has officially been granted a licence by Royal Mail to manufacture this exclusive Stamp Rug Collection which fully captures the iconic design of Machin’s Royal Mail Stamps. Prices start from £765, excluding shipping, available at Stamp Rugs.
Altstadt Vienna: A Must-See Art Hotel
When you step into the Altstadt Vienna you immediately feel the impact of its unique vibrance. Simply, it is stunning.
Built in 1902, the hotel building was the palace of an industrialist from the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy who originally used it to showcase his products.
Over the years factory halls were built into the court of the Patrician house, which were eventually reconstructed into lofts and, during the 1950’s, the building was used as a boarding house.
In 1991 the current owner, Otto E. Wiesenthal, bought the house and converted it into what is now the Altstadt Vienna offering 42 rooms and suites in addition to long stay apartments spread across five storeys. Wiesenthal’s personal art collection is displayed throughout the hotel. Each hallway differs in style and each room has been individually designed.
Located in the 7th Viennese district, the Spittelberg area which is famous for its artistic flair, the hotel is made special by its daring interior design and the huge art collection that can be admired throughout. With each corridor you turn down, or room you walk into, you are accosted with spectacular design: a dark, sensuous hallway punctuated with retro photography on the way to the cozy salon with an open fireplace; or original parquet floors contrasted with candy-colored walls and furniture.
Original wrought iron balustrades with brightly coloured, geometric stair runner
And there have been quite a few big names that have contributed to the interior of this truly unique hotel: one guest room has a Philippe Starck designed bathroom; there is an original Helnwein along the staircase, and a Prachensky at the front desk. Some of Vienna’s numerous museums even enrich the collection by lending artwork to the Altstadt, and Otto E. Wiesenthal himself lives in a suite in the hotel – you may see him straightening the edges of the Alstadt’s Warhol-to-Gilbert & George art collection.
As if this was not enough, there are nine new neo-baroque style rooms designed by Italian architect Matteo Thun. With massive chandeliers, dark damask wallpaper, and a framed soft-focus nude pin-up on the ceiling above some of the beds, the Altstadt’s website describes these rooms as having a ‘touch of the erotic’ and they are not wrong.
After spending the day wandering around the museums, art galleries and antiques shops of Vienna all you will want to do is get back to your suite and enjoy a soak in a large freestanding bath while enjoying beautiful contemporary art, well that is, if like us you are staying in Junior Suite 15. With original oak herringbone parquet floors, bright red walls, and dark wooden furniture brought together with accents of olive-green and burgundy, the space has a dramatic impact that still feels warm and cosy.
Leaving the room for breakfast in the morning you are awoken by a lively yellow corridor covered with contemporary art – paintings, photography and sculpture. Actually, it takes you a while to get down to breakfast as it feels more like wandering around a well decorated art gallery as oppose to a hotel. One thing the Alstadt does not have is that ‘chain hotel’ feel.
One of my favourite design aspects of this hotel is that it purposely contrasts its many original decorative features – the parquet floors, the ceiling mouldings, the wrought iron stair balustrades, for example – with a bright, pop-art colour scheme, contemporary art and modern patterns.
Each piece of art, each carpet runner and each room you walk into has been specifically placed or designed to create a different mood, yet the culmination of this is an interior that is relaxing, while inspiring, and a space you just don’t want to leave.
Altstadt Vienna – http://www.hotel-altstadt-vienna.com/
Photography © Yasemin Richie, 2011
Interior Style Trend: Monochromatic Colour Scheme
A look that is in all the interior design magazines at the moment is the monochromatic colour scheme and, don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. A monochromatic colour scheme simply uses variations in shade of a single colour to create a clean and elegant look.
Monochromatic colours go well together, producing a soothing effect, which is fantastic to come home to after a stressful day. The monochromatic scheme is very easy on the eyes, especially with blue or green hues and can be used to establish an overall mood. The main colour can be integrated with neutral colours such as black, white, or grey. One thing to be aware of is that it can be difficult when using this scheme to highlight the most important elements of your room. The space can also end up looking a bit boring and bland if you haven’t planned it properly.
So how do you do it? Firstly you have to choose your main colour. Personally I like beige for this colour scheme, but blues and greens also work well. Choose a soothing soft shade of your main colour and use this throughout, for example on the walls. If you are going to paint all the walls of a room with colour be careful to choose a light shade to avoid overkill, and to make sure you don’t close in the space by making it too dark. With this as your base colour, choose furniture in different shades. For example, if you have a beige colour scheme the obvious choice would be wooden furniture.
Small colour accents will add interest to the scheme
If you are using a blue, white or grey furniture would work well. Always remember neutrals – black, white, or grey – can be added to the main colour. Once you have your base you have to choose textiles, and additional items to finish the space that are different shades of the main colour. Make sure not to make everything ‘match’ – that is not the aim of this look – you want to use as many shades of the main colour as possible
Again, if you are using beige, the colours in your room can range from a dark brown to an almost off-white beige, in addition to neutral colours. An easy way of doing this is to get a few paint colour charts from a local hardware store and carry these with you when you’re shopping for items. To add interest to the space, you can add one or two pieces of a contrasting colour, but do this cautiously as you don’t want to ruin the overall scheme.
And that’s it! Remember to have fun with it, and make sure you always keep the overall mood in mind when choosing different colours/pieces for your room.
