Kew neighbourhood Melbourne

CHARLENE MULLENS

30/10/2014

Charlene Mullens the brand is uniquely her and exists as beautiful hand designed textiles and drawings, but her brand now has many a collaboration including one with Royal Doulton, and many interior designers and architects in both the UK and worldwide. What a talent and so down to earth, she is a warm, soft and charming person, and as I now look at her many designs I see her in them. A whimsical look at her home town, and the world around her, all created from whirling patterns, drawn lines and needle work.

CHARLENE MULLEN / 7 Calvert Avenue, Shoreditch, London / +44 (0) 207 739 6987 / www.charlenemullen.com
Images: ℅ Charlene Mullens website & Google images

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LUNA & CURIOUS

28/10/2014

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I am a bit of a fan of Calvert Avenue, and returned many times. Besides being drawn to the unique boutiques oozing with inspiring goodies, I must confess to enjoying the little park at one end which is essentially a roundabout "circus" where a number of streets join. It has a fabulous rotunda with table tennis set up for the public to enjoy, as well as lush foliage, and places to sit and ponder. It's great at night too, well it was during London Design week! Each of the shops had a little wine and nibbles party going on, and the relaxed vibe and interesting people made it a real pleasure.

As for Luna & Curious, it is run by 3 designers (Kaoru Parry, Polly George and Rheanna Lingham) and it shows. The range is cleverly curated, and includes clothing, homewares, jewellery, accessories and a small selection of beauty products. They are passionate about great British design and proudly support a large number of new, upcoming designers in their shop. It's a fun, upbeat, fresh space packed with punch.

LUNA & CURIOUS / 24 - 26 Calvert Avenue, London / +44 (0) 203 222 0034 / www.lunaandcurious.com
Images: ℅ Luna & Curious website

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LIVE ICONIC

24/10/2014

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LIVE ICONIC.
CRAFTED. MODERN. DESIGN.
"We believe in simplicity, form and function, and this is found in each product within our collection"

They look like playhouse furniture don't that? They sit somewhere between building blocks and cardboard cutouts to look at, yet they are fully fledged, bonafide Scandinavian inspired furniture hand finished in London. Light, fresh, and colourful!

Live Iconic was launched 2012, is based in London, and is the work of a very small team. Daniel and Sam are the designers, Martin the project manager, and Gus the head of production. Materials are sustainably sourced in the UK, cut with precision, and expertly finished by hand. Each piece is checked for quality before being delivered "quickly and safely." All so simple. The more I learn about this brand and its operation, the more I like it.

LIVE ICONIC / [email protected] / +44 (0)203 290 9137 / www.live-iconic.com
Images: ℅ Live Iconic website & Facebook page

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HOXLEY & PORTER

23/10/2014

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HOXLEY & PORTER. We popped in here for a late dinner after a wine tasting, and I've got to say I loved it. Hard to pinpoint exactly why. It is a crazy mix of old school charm, with a more than subtle 'Caribbean meets English South African colony' feel about it. Layers of interior decoration give a cosy feel to the space, which we had almost entirely to ourselves. The staff were super attentive, and we definitely got the best of service. In fact at one point we had the barman and waiter tripping over each other to look after us. We had the 2 x course special and it was delicious. I had the chèvre salad and grilled fish main, adding a French twist to this already eclectic mix. Definitely worth a visit. It just happens to be in Islington, jump off at Angel station and enjoy the dynamic vibe along the way.

HOXLEY & PORTER / 153 Upper Street, London / +44 (0)207 7226 1375 / www.hoxleyandporter.co.uk
Images: ℅ Hoxley & Porter website

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HOTEL MONACO & GRAND CANAL

19/10/2014

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Ok. So this isn't something typically "Treasure Seeka". This taps into my childhood fantasy of being married in a palace. This isn't even a place I would necessarily choose to stay on any other occasion, but when I wandered in and snuck up the side stairs into the reception rooms I really felt the magic. The hand painted walls in soft delicate tones and patterns were soothing, sophisticated, and of another world and another time. For all of you who are looking for a wedding fantasy this may just be the place, and for any of you thinking that this is motivated by George Clooney think again. Can't believe he took my perfect wedding scenario, couldn't he have come up with his own ideas!