News & Blog
The problem with Top Secret projects May 12 2013
A fantastic energy is unleashed with 'top secret' projects. It's the spontaneity of bespoke design; an unexpected new style to research, a new space to plan, new furniture to design, new colours and materials to combine...
Inside the 'Eclectic' Lookbook May 03 2013
If you mention the words design, food and travel in the same sentence, I
am liable to spontaneously combust. There is little on this earth that
floats my boat more than the sweep of sensory overload where these
interests overlap...
The Mighty Chevron May 01 2013
Simple and unchanging, the mighty chevron speaks of moving boldly
forward in a single graphic shape. (Unless of course it's going up. Then
it's moving boldly up, etc.)...
Kickstarting a Concept - Modern Industrial April 27 2013
I'm a designer in conflict. Sometimes less is more, sometimes more is more. I am
equally excited by an achingly minimal graphic as an eye-busting pattern
clash. Deco stylisation almost hurts with its beautiful streamlined symmetry, and quirky contemporary - shabby or sleek - warms my heart...
This Day in History: we learned and loved the Alessi Story April 21 2013
This day last year saw us at a significant event - ‘The Alessi Design
Story’, presented by an actual Alessi (we were a little starstruck,
until we remembered he puts his trousers on one leg at a time like the
rest of us) - which represented a 'eureka' moment for us...
A foodie tour of Amsterdam’s The Nine Streets April 06 2013
'Gezellig’ is a word we’d like to adopt. It’s Dutch, and without any
direct English translation, it’s probably easier to describe visually
than verbally, but we’ll give it a go - ‘Gezellig’ is basically
everything that gives you the warm fuzzies...
Beautiful Breaggboxes from The Thoughtful Bread Co April 06 2013
We love this cute ‘Breaggbox’, a very neat little idea from The Thoughtful Bread Company, an eco-artisan bakery based in Bath...
No brand is an island: Creative design collaborations in food, drink and hospitality April 06 2013
Collaboration creates opportunities. For creatives like us it
symbolises a step into the unknown - when clever minds from different
fields of expertise put their heads together, it opens up a world of
unexpected and compelling ways to make brands, spaces and products stand
out...
Speakeasy 101 – a peek into Prohibition style April 06 2013
Some people might wonder why the ‘Speakeasy’ concept – originating during Prohibition in the 1920s and early 1930s – remains such a mainstay in the commercial design world. After all, it’s not a recent revival...
The Show Must Go On – why we love Avoca April 06 2013
As creative folk we love a good rags to riches story. But we don’t
mean ‘rags’ in the literal sense, as however utilitarian and workaday
Avoca’s tweeds and blankets were back in the 1700s, they were quality,
if a bit on the drab side...
Recap: A five star approach to Pop Up Dining by Belfast’s Merchant Hotel April 06 2013
On 21st June 2012, The Merchant Hotel held
their second Pop Up restaurant, a follow-up to their outstanding debut
in Harland & Wolff’s infamous Drawing Offices. Following their
intriguing format of identifying an upmarket secret venue, two hundred diners
gathered for one night only in the awe-inspiring surprise location of St
Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast...
Advent at Andaz April 06 2013
A gorgeous installation by Eyal Burstein of
Beta Tank for Andaz Liverpool Street launched the Hyatt’s first Christmas in the
lifestyle arena. Andaz chose Advent as the
platform to provide an ongoing warm and festive welcome in the run-up to
the big day; reaching out to its guests and the local community with
charm, generosity and indulgent treats...
The day we went to Paris des Chefs April 06 2013
The little sister of the internationally renowned Maison et Objets,
Paris des Chefs was an unmissable event for us as it embodies perfectly
our approach to creativity; a collaborative, multi-disciplinary way of
combining skills from different fields to create amazing and unique
results...
Beautiful books: Eat London 2 – All About Food April 06 2013
Am finding this guide very hard to put down at the moment as it is
the absolute embodiment of everything I love in one book. Markets, cafés, delis, bars, restaurants, hotels, food, wine, service and experience; the list goes on...
Coffee with Soul on the Canal Saint-Martin, Paris April 06 2013
Last week saw us in Paris once again,
and with a little time to explore I decided to have a look around the
10th arrondissement, specifically the Canal Saint-Martin, as it’s one of
the best places in Paris to go for a little tranquillity and some café
action after inspiration overload...
First ever Jamie’s Deli opens in Bath and we’re in love April 01 2013
Just happened to stumble across the fifteen-minute-old Jamie’s deli
while out for a coffee in Bath – a secret opening, but already rammed to
the rafters and a total buzz, so just had to grab a stool and a latte
and watch the scene unfold. It won’t be the last time; in fact I’m not
sure I can hold out for the rest of the afternoon...
Porto: A feast for the eyes March 28 2013
Portugal is all about the feast. Family and friends coming together
noisily and enthusiastically over fresh seafood, roast chicken and
handed-down recipes, tomato rice, rustic breads, cheese in piri-piri,
all served with wine - lots of wine...