London in Colour - my favourite trees

You don't need to look much further than nature for amazing colour inspiration. That's why i love my walk to the station so much...

Apple Store Covent Garden

Stepping into any Apple Store is always a great experience, but when the man and me popped into the Covent Garden store the other day (their 300th and largest store - Grade II listed) we got more than we imagined. Whilst admiring the MacBook Airs, we got to talking to one of the many helpful members of staff (big shout out to Adam) who gave us a guided tour of all four floors - including the business briefing room which has a stunning 17th Century fireplace. Like all of Apple's stores, Covent Garden  has beautiful design features - befitting of the brand -  with numerous examples of structural brilliance (see spiral glass staircase below). Glass being a main feature material in all of their stores. What i love about Apple (and no, they're not paying me for this) is that the design process is followed through the whole experience...from stepping into one of their stores, through the products, packaging and user experience. That's good business.

The 17th Century fireplace in the Business briefing Room - a private area used to acclimatise business to the brand and it's products.

If you can prize your eyes away from the glossy ipads and look up you will see where all the natural light is streaming from. Apparently each one of these glass panes can support a baby elephant! I love these kind of facts, would be cool (if maybe a little cruel) to look up and actually see baby elephants lounging on the roof.

a sunny day in London town...

...always brings out the comedians...

Dates for the diary...

You need good prioritising skills to live in London and lots of energy. There's always a million and one things going on and it's just not possible to do it all - but i am trying! Here are a few of the biggy's over the next few weeks...

Festival of Britain 22nd April - 4th September

As you have probably gathered through my numerous posts on the subject, i am a big fan of the Southbank. So i am well chuffed that to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, the Southbank Centre will be hosting a 'summer long celebration' by the river. There is so much cool stuff going on that it hurts my head, so you will have to visit their site for more details. There is this next thing though...

Festival of Britain wallpaper by Lizzie Allen...i'm in love!

Vintage at Southbank Centre 29th - 31st July

The award winning festival (remember Goodwood last year?), from the ever inspirational Wayne and Geradine Hemingway is back and it's in the centre of town! Another celebration of music, fashion, film, art, design (you name it, they will celebrate it), is to be expected again this year, with the line-up gradually being announced in the run-up.The Royal Festival Hall is set to get a vintage make-over, with its 6 levels transformed into a 'multi - venue playground' of fun and frolics. All the fun from 2010 will be there from bands, films, shops, dance lessons, makeovers, workshops plus a few surprises...a Thames boat party has been mentioned, which has sold it to me! Can't think of a better way to celebrate all that is Best of British.

love this image from the Vintage at Southbank Centre website

Royal wedding - April 29th
Love them or hate them (personally, i'm a lover!), the royals will be taking over the capital on April 29th. Now as a Londoner i have every intention of embracing this extra bank holiday in the spirit of any good wedding...to drink, dance and wear a big hat. The original plan of watching the ceremony in Hyde Park, with champagne in tea cups and crust-less sandwiches has been abandoned, as the estimated 300,000 crowd brings me out in a rash (i like my space). So instead, a civilised wedding breakfast at home is on the cards, to be followed by themed fun at the V&A Friday Late. Yes, the good old V&A have got into the spirit, by organising a wedding themed street party with the usual fun and activities of all their lates. I'm also looking forward to wandering London's streets to see the aftermath...knowing that the Queen is getting drunk and Prince Charles is dancing 'like a dad at a wedding'! Well that's how i imagine it going down!

'Her Consort' makes me chuckle!

Chelsea Flower Show - 24th - 28th May
Having been a regular at Hampton Court flower show the last few years, i have decided to give Chelsea a go...it always looks so cool on the TV! Always a good opportunity to get some good snaps, soak up inspiration and to drink champagne!

bits and bobs

i like bits and bobs...bobs more than bits really, but i collect both! As you can see, i was in my element at The Vintage Furniture Flea (that wasn't a deliberate attempt at rhyme, promise!).

The Bellinis @ The Vintage Furniture Flea

Now these girls were hot, hot, hot! With a very smooth band to match. The mash-ups they were singing were just awesome...my favourite being a rendition of New York, New York spliced with Alicia Keys Empire State of Mind  - toe tappingly brilliant! You have to hear their vibe - a real glamorous take on modern tunes. I will be seeking them out in the future...

The Vintage Furniture Flea

I am always up for a bit of vintage on a Sunday, so hearing that The Vintage Furniture Flea was back in town, i decided to pop along. York Hall in Bethnal Green provided the perfect back drop due to its old english feel, transporting me back to nights spent at my local youth club. After cooing over a great many things, i decided to be sensible and stick to some vintage martini glasses and 1920's french fashion mags (could have spent a fortune on cabinets alone - but i have nowhere to put them!). The soundtrack to the day was provided by The Bellinis, a great jazz/ swing band with a modern twist (more on which later), with 40's style tea and cakes giving a much needed energy boost. The woman behind it all is Judy Berger, a former personal shopper and stylist, who also brings us the Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair  and the Vintage kilo sale (next London stops 16th and 22nd April). The team will also be heading up Vintage at the Southbank (the new Goodwood) in August...i can't wait!

the pale blue door...

Well not this door exactly, but i like doors so i thought i would use this one to illustrate the post. So, The actual Pale Blue Door that I am talking about is the underground restaurant and entertainment feast from the set designer Tony Hornecker - so fabulous surroundings are also a given. Intrigued?? Well check out his site for more info and some pictures to whet the appetite. Only until April 10th so get booking!

Lust for lighting

I've been making regular lunch runs to Reynolds on Eastcastle St for a while and yet i only just noticed these fab light fittings last week. Think i've been distracted by all the yummy food on offer.