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LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL

23/9/2014

The London Design Festival 13 -21 September. A week of perpetual installations, gatherings, shows and previews. I gently sampled it every day, working my way through streets, zones, galleries and buildings. How do I summarise such a stimulating and varied week?

Of the 6 main areas, I spent most of my time in the Clerkenwell, Chelsea, Islington and Shoreditch, and the first nights at the after hours shop parties in the Shoreditch Design Triangle, meeting talented people, sipping wine and nibbling on cheese. Thanks to Deborah's open wardrobe policy I stepped out one night in a electric orange / red shirt and gold jacket and was told I looked like Jerry Hall. Sorry what did you say? "You look like Jerry Hall but a tiny one!" Haha. Yes it's definitely been a lot of laughs, and very stimulating in the best possible way. I'm a buzz with possibility. Thank you London Design Festival.

LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL / www.londondesignfestival.com
Images: ℅ Google images

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PAXTON CHOCOLATE

22/9/2014

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Ok who doesn't like chocolate? And how about these? They are all hand made by Caitlin Paxton. She has a background in fashion design and architecture, but decided to follow in her grandfathers footsteps, and train as a patisserie chef. She creates these chocolate "thins" with unique designs and flavours… You can buy various size boxes, custom select or have her signature box, plus select from her "giant" thin range (Paxton version of a "bar"), plus three hot chocolate options.

White chocolate, clementine. lemongrass and lime
White chocolate, raspberry and rose
Milk chocolate, chestnut and vanilla
Milk chocolate, orange and earl grey tea
Dark chocolate and lavender
Dark chocolate and candied chilli
Dark chocolate, apple and ginger
Dark chocolate, mango and paprika
Dark chocolate, raspberry and mint
Dark chocolate, strawberry and black pepper

PAXTON CHOCOLATE / 38 Cheshire Street, Shoreditch, London / +44 208 127 8807 / www.paxtonchocolate.com
Images: ℅ Google images

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THE HOXTON

19/9/2014

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I fell in love at first sight last night…

…with The Hoxton Hotel…

It is heaving, what a buzz, what a place! It has it all. Large lounge areas filled with comfy lounges, an edgy restaurant, meeting rooms, and all were a buzz with activity. Such an up vibe. It was rocking, and let me tell you, there were a LOT of people there! Every room was a party and this was just part of it. Unique spaces roll into each other, I don't even know how to describe it…contemporary, industrial meets eclectic?

They opened in 2006, they were labelled the "no bullshit hotel" because they took away everything that pissed people off in traditional hotels; the expensive mini bars, phone calls and internet. They started their "no rip off" policy. They provide a place for people to EAT, DRINK, WORK and PLAY, and from what I saw each of these things are very much in play and thriving. They curate an events programme inspired by the local area, that showcases the city they are very much a part of. They provide a platform for guests to hang alongside the locals.

In a matter of days their second hotel will open in Holborn, and I have absolutely no doubt that it will be a killer too!

THE HOXTON / 81 Great Eastern Street, London / +44 207 550 1000 / www.thehoxton.com
Images: ℅ Google images

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GILBERT & GEORGE

18/9/2014

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Gilbert and George, artists and self named "human sculptors."

The backdrop and inspiration for much of their work is the East End of London where Gilbert & George have lived and worked for over 40 years. I don't blame them. I'm staying literally minutes away from their house, and I can't get enough of the area either! How do I know where they live? Well by chance my friend Maurice told me. "Oh I see them wandering around all the time, they just live down there you know!" Of course I couldn't resist and insisted he show me. It's a two storey Victorian house. All the shutters were closed bar one with a golden glow coming from a dim light, and Maurice said "Oh they'd be out eating somewhere, they didn't see the point in having a kitchen at home, so are out for every meal!"

I went to their current exhibition at White Cube in South East London. Wow talk about statement pieces. They are all absolutely enormous and pack quite a punch. Their trademark format is the large grid, a square or rectangular picture broken into sections that becomes a unified field of signs and images. They believe that everything is potential subject matter for their work, and they have always addressed social issues, taboos and artistic conventions.

‘Our subject matter is the world. It is pain. Pain. Just to hear the world turning is pain, isn’t it? Totally, every day, every second. Our inspiration is all those people alive today on the planet, the desert, the jungle, the cities. We are interested in the human person, the complexity of life.’
Gilbert & George

WE ARE ONLY HUMAN SCULPTORS
We are only human sculptors in that we get up every day, walking sometimes, reading rarely, eating often, thinking always, smoking moderately, enjoying enjoyment, looking, relaxing to see, loving nightly, finding amusement, encouraging life, fighting boredom, being natural, daydreaming, travelling along, drawing occasionally,
talking lightly, tea drinking, feeling tired, dancing sometimes, philosophising a lot, criticising never, whistling tunefully, dying very slowly, laughing nervously, greeting politely an waiting till the day breaks.
Gilbert & George 1970

GILBERT & GEORGE / currently - White Cube Bermondsey 144 - 152 Bermondsey Street, London / +44 207 930 5373
Images: ℅ White Cube website, Google images

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LEE BROOM

17/9/2014

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Look what I found. Lee Broom. He's just 38 years old and one of the UK’s leading product and interior designers. His meteoric rise has seen him dubbed “the pin up of British manufacturing” by The Times.

Lee Broom founded his own label in 2007 and designs, manufactures and retails his own collections, collaborates with other brands and designs unique interiors. The importance of the manufacturing process is integral to Broom’s philosophy. A supporter of British manufacturing techniques, Broom works closely with specialist traditional craftsman from the initial concept to final production runs. All of this is very evident when you view his product range.

He has won more than 20 awards including the ELLE Decoration British Design Award for Crystal Bulb in October 2012 and ‘Designer of the Year 2011/ 2012’ at the British Design Awards in November 2011. Lee Broom products are now retailed in stores in over 30 countries. Following the launch of his collection ‘Salon’ ,The Guardian said that “Lee Broom is to furniture what Marc Jacobs or Tom Ford are to fashion”