I was invited by my friend Tina Foo to Mopalpa Kitchen in Islington on Sat 10 October 2015. I have always loved Islington so I was looking forward to meeting her aunt Vivien Yau, the manager, and the family. CLICK to see the film here Mobalpa Kitchens were …
Easy Livin’ Houzz event @Loaf Shack Thursday 12 November 2015
Loaf is cosy (US= cozy). That to me is the word that describes Loaf. The lifestyle showroom is a “shack”, in their own terms. The tiled external brick facade and neon sign hides the cavernous space beyond with bold and brightly lit window furniture displays (I believe these windows must be providing the only illumination …
Houzz University @Surface Tiles 20 October 2015
I have only just figured out how to use my phone. Being technologically-challenged, I naturally have no clue about social media. Houzz University was a good place to start. More recently, I learnt how to blog, and hence this post. Beginnings I first joined Houzz in January 2013 when it was all American. This tied in …
Tom Dixon OBE evening at London Design Festival in MULTIPLEX Old Selfridges Hall
Being a long time Habitat fan, I was keen to hear Tom Dixon speak. His designs are always identifiable. They are perforated metal or twisted and welded metal, in the modernist tradition. His pendant lights which are rather more like geometric lanterns or upturned burnished copper urns, have formed the ‘look’ of Habitat lighting as …
Habitat “Momo” living room sofa armchair set
Very tempted by this petite set.
Memories of China: British Chinese Workforce Heritage exhibition, Horniman Museum
On a bitterly cold evening of Thursday 15 January I attended this elegant event and ate some dim sum provided by the Good Earth restaurant. They could not have chosen a prettier and more apt venue than the Horniman, where we are members. A little disappointed at the display as there was not quite enough …
Is Pasar Bella, the ‘beautiful market’, more ‘beautiful’ than ‘market’?
I love getting ideas when I am travelling. There is nothing like experience for experience. Pasar Bella in Turf Road, Singapore, is an interesting concept, albeit all fake. As I am not a foodie, I don’t mind that: it is a bit like being in a theatre, entering a world. Here the world is the …
Hammersmith Apollo – Where David Bowie brought the curtain down on Ziggy
…in 1973… on Rock’n’Roll Suicide. I had a wonderful opportunity of visiting this great Art Deco monument on Wed 11 June 2014 for a gig. It has only been reopened since September last year as it had gone through a £5m face lift and had been shut for nine weeks (only nine weeks! It looked …
2013 London Open House Weekend
I actually went for a job interview at Foster + Partners 17 years ago. Hester Road = memory lane. Luckily I have not been to Battersea Police Station for any reason except Open House. A handsome Victorian building, it is being shut down permanently, and to be demolished to make way for a block of …
Nicky Haslam for OKA launch of new collection
I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of this most whimsical and delightful collection by the multi-talented Nicky Haslam (should be knighted, shouldn’t he?), the high priest of interior design whom I’d always wanted to meet. Born 1939, he is also a writer of two interior design books and an autobiography, a recording …