Bottega Veneta 2010 Design Competition

As part of its Salone del Mobile exhibition, Bottega Veneta unveiled the winners of its 2010 Design Competion which was participated by engineering graduate students of the University of Tokyo. The competition was launched in October 2009. Students who entered the competition where given the premise to design a piece of furniture that serves a function for someone seated while keeping the spirit and aesthetic of the Italian luxury house. As you can see from the group photo of the three winners above, they capture the very essence of Bottega Veneta; simple, refined and luxurious. Note that all made use of Bottega Veneta's intrecciato (woven) technique.

Below are the winning pieces on their own:

Domestic Landscape by Kentaro Fujimoto

Tube with Inner Luxury by Shima Suzuki

Origami Side table by Ayami Takada. This is the one I like the best

Are You Blue

Cerulean, robin's egg, turquoise, sky, indigo, lapis, navy etc... Blue is the hottest color this summer judging from the fashion and home collections.

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Clockwise from top left: Smythson stationery set; Junior Lampert Sofa by Jonathan Adler; Lanvin asymmetrical dress; Kotur Renna dark denim clutch; John Derian Faience Bluebird plate; Ralph Lauren Jamaica bed linens; Vivre.com blue coral; Manolo Blahnik sandal at Bergdorf Goodman; and Dransfield & Ross Willow Ware pillows

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Clockwise from top left: Salvatore Ferragamo loafers; Barney's New York Backgammon set; Calvin Klein turquoise suit; Neiman Marcus bed linens; Calypso Home Cochin Dhurrie area rug; Ellsworth Kelly Blue 2001 artwork; Parsons coffee table in lacquered navy at www.bungalow5.com; Benjamin Moore blue paint; Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Quincy chair; Hermes silk tie

Chic Images: Bruce Weber for Dedon

These new ad campaigns from Dedon photographed by Bruce Weber have me wishing for outdoor space. The downside of living in a city like Hong Kong is that very rarely can you have a balcony or a pool, unless you have loads of money. I miss waking up in the morning and jumping straight into the swimming pool.

The campaign is entitled Coming Home and centers around a tree house. According to the press release, Weber had always wanted a tree house when he was a child but was never allowed to. Decades later and with the help of Dedon, he's wish was granted.

Chic Shop: Roger Vivier Hong Kong

I meant to post these images before I went on holiday. This is the new Roger Vivier store at the Landmark in Central. Above is the VIP room filled with furnishings and accents handpicked by Bruno Frisoni and Ines de la Fressange. Both creative visionaries were present at the store opening. The VIP room is filled with haute couture Roger Vivier pieces which would make any woman salivate with lust.

This is the entrance to the shop. The mobile is by a contemporary French artist.

I love this display case in the VIP room. It's very chic and glamorous.

This is an antique French commode which Ines de la Fressange sourced herself.

On the walls of the store are original collages done by Roger Vivier, inventor of the stiletto heel. I am sure these pieces are worth a lot of money.

Back From The Maldives

Monocle Shop: Yay or Nay

Readers of Monocle magazine and fans of Tyler Brule would be happy to know that a section of Lane Crawford Home at Pacific Place has been temporarily devoted to a Monocle Shop. It opens today until May 23 and carries a lot of utilitarian merchandise from totes to furniture to notebooks to briefcases to a small selection of Monocle-approved literature. Of course, complete issues of the magazine are also for sale.

I've bought Monocle several times but I never really enjoyed it. I found it too cerebral, and frankly quite boring for my taste. I also used to read Tyler Brule's column in the Financial Times Weekend edition but grew tired of it when all he ever wrote about almost every week was Japan this and Japan that. It felt like he was being paid by the Japanese government to say that all the best things are in Japan.

I've seen Tyler Brule in person couple of times in Milan during men's fashion week, at the shows or at the lobby restaurant of the Park Hyatt Hotel during breakfast. In fact, a couple of his invitations were accidentally sent to my room. He is a very good looking man and has great style and vision, I just wished there was more gloss to his new magazine.

Chic Gift from Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier

I've always wanted a sketch from Bruno Frisoni ever since I met him several years ago. Yesterday, I met the designer once again at the fabulous new store of Roger Vivier at The Landmark and after our interview, Bruno grabbed his sketchbook and his markers and started doing this sketch for me right on the spot!! I would have been happy with one of his doodles that didn't make the shoe production. But this one that he specially drew for me is completely amazing and it will have pride of place in our apartment! Thank you, Bruno and to Catherine Ku of Roger Vivier.

My interview with Bruno wasn't until 4pm yesterday. But after lunch at 2, crossing the bridge from Chater House to Exchange Square on my way to gym, I bumped into Bruno which I thought was so surreal. You often see designers out and about in New York, Paris and Milan but never in Hong Kong.

I will post photos of the Roger Vivier store later, including a very candid photo of me and one of my style icons Ines de la Fressange. Meanwhile, I have to pack for the Maldives.

A Single Stroke

One of the first things we ever bought for our Hong Kong apartment was this James Nares artwork. We were still living in Singapore when we ordered it from a gallery in the US. This was a couple of months before our actual relocation. We wanted the gallery to ship it straight to Hong Kong and so the art had to stay with them until we moved. Waiting for two months for an artwork was rather difficult as I wanted to see it hanging on my wall right away. I have have wanted a piece from James Nares for the longest time and I was over the moon when my wish finally came true.

How Nares work, according to literature I have read of him, is that he suspends himself from the ceiling and using a brush, he creates one single stroke across the canvas as seen below. What I like about his work is that you can feel the energy, passion and even emotion in that singular fluid brushstroke. It's as if every curve and stray ink has a meaning, a story to tell. Plus of course whatever symbolism you associate with the color. We chose green for our Nares because it's calming and draws you in. I quite like the purple and the fuchsia too (below). Maybe for a birthday gift?

Photo: Sebastian Guinness Gallery

Photo: www.amk.ch

Photo: www.suzannerandolphfinearts.com

Photo: www.karenmann.com

Photo: House & Garden

Photo: Elle Decor. Josie Natori's apartment

Photo: www.lendrumfineart.com

Chic Escapes: Maldives

It's been gray and wet and miserable in Hong Kong and we haven't seen the sun since Friday. It's very depressing and I can't wait until we leave for the Maldives next Thursday. I am excited to try both the Four Seasons Resorts in Kuda Haraa and Landaa Giraavaru. We haven't had a beach holiday since Bali last February 2009, so I am looking forward to a relaxing and massage-filled vacation.

While I wait for Thursday to come, I hope to survive the gloomy Hong Kong weather by planning the perfect Maldives outfits. Here are my inspirations.

I love this look from Michael Bastian. Beach party chic. Although I would change the black shirt to white or something lighter.

An unlined powder blue blazer from Burberry Prorsum would be perfect especially when paired with linen trousers.

I love all the prints in this Hermes outfit. I love the shorts. Must go to Hermes. I already have the early version of the sandals.

This ombre-esque cardigan from Bottega Veneta reminds me of Prada's women's cardigans and skirts from 5 or 6 years ago. I love the look of it but not sure I can pull it off. It's worth swooning over nevertheless.

This straw and white leather tote from Gucci would be the ultimate beach bag. It's roomy and great for stuffing magazines, books, a beach towel, sunblock, sunglasses and iPod.

Now I have to find pieces in my closet to substitute with given that the prices of these pieces would cost more than our trip to the Madives.

Chic Finds: Waylande Gregory at Vivre.com

I first saw these ceramic trays by Waylande Gregory at Vivre.com one mindless afternoon of wishful online shopping. I liked the patterns and the color combinations. I've never been much a fan of gold but I am discovering its glamorous appeal.

At Bergdorf's I chanced upon a display of the exact same trays as well as vases from the designer. I snapped up the one above and below and I am loving them.

According to Vivre.com, they are reissues of Waylande's old design which his nephew discovered in his uncle's basement. The tray are glazed with 22k gold.

Turquoise and gold combination has a retro-glam feel to it.

Photos: Vivre.com