Dragon Muck

I promised myself I would not go back to Dragon Mart the first time I visited there and I broke that promise today.  Two reasons, first I need some really cheap bamboo blinds, the simple kind, no frills just bamboo blinds, secondly I like to double check when I suspect other people are talking crap.  You see everyone raves on about Dragon Mart, you can find anything and everything they say.  Yes you can, anything fake, cheap, vulgar, badly made and probably toxic.

Don't get me wrong it is the perfect place for downlighters, sinks, loos, pipes, screws and washers and if you look hard, very hard maybe a mao costume.  You will not however find a repro emperor chair or lacquered wedding chest, pretty chinese lanterns, chinatown bowls and chop sticks, or anything charmingly chinese nor will you find bog standard bamboo blinds.

Above images from www.easterncurio.com and definitely not available at Dragon Muck

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas

Let's face it Christmas is not a desert thing is it?  Christmas is mountains and skiing for me. 

Having said that Paris does do Christmas very well

In haste, because it wouldn't be Christmas without a little panic, here is my pick of the more charming and sometimes unusual Christmas decorations around

Fortnum and Mason

Crate and Barrel

Pantone from jonnycampbell.com

Crate and Barrel

The White Company (sold out of course!)

Tiffany

 And of course let's not forget the crackers

Asprey

I always buy a few new ones every year, my favourite purchase of 2011, surprisingly, is from Debenhams, who would have guessed it?!

Christmas cheer to one and all!!

Shipping Container Hermes Style

Researching converted shipping containers at the moment.  Of course no one does it in quite as much style and seemingly effortlessly as Hermes.  Even the finish of the 'Hermes Orange' paint looks beautifully applied.

The mobile Hermes Silk Bar was in place for a Fall 2009-2010 promotion in Hong Kong showcasing their latest scarf designs, not so much a sales venture but  beautifully executed marketing complete with healthy drink concoctions and DJ's

Nice Knockers You've Got There - part 2

Here are more images from Beardmore of the very beautiful Deco inspired lever handles.  I usually much prefer knobs to lever handles, however I feel converted to these for next time

 

Nice Knockers You've Got There

Excited to see the Farmer Brothers in H&G this month, they are 1) really nice guys 2) really hard workers and 3) rescued Beardmores which in itself deserves them a medal.

I first came across them whilst working on Park Walk, just around the corner from their shop, during my time at Veere Grenney Associates.  They always had everything, if in doubt go to Farmer Bros, and we did.

Some years later I found out they bought Beardmores, at the time in liquidation, and it seems their venture has gone from strength to strength.  Well done them we need more of adventurers to rescue and keep beautiful, well made things alive and well, and if at all possible more of it out here!  Oh how I miss good craftsmanship and beautiful objects.

I have specified these knobs from the Anthologie collection for a project out here 

 

Anth 1008