How rubbish am I?…It has been nearly six months since I posted something, how very naughty of me?!
Hope all are well. I am currently working on the refurbishment of some suites in a hotel in Central London. Shall post some pics once it is completed – hopefully you will be impressed.
Other than design….
Super busy with weddings…glad the season is now nearly over, I had two this weekend just gone.
Eaten some great food recently, apart from wedding food!
Potty over POTTER…
Not so sure of Groupon and the like – offers seem good, but overall experiences aren’t too fab – will report in due course.

Will be back soon, I hope.
Until then, keep well…xx

So Little Time...

So much to write and tell…yet so little time! So a VERY quick update:

• Running – going very well indeed. We completed a 10.5mile run this Sunday – felt very exhausted, but a great feeling having completed it in 2 hours!
• Eating – Went to Inamo St James a few weeks ago – uber cool Japanese
• Music – went to watch Fela, the show – about a Nigerian activist who conveyed his message though music; was very entertaining
• Arts – went to the Gaugin exhibiton at Tate Modern – was good, but I did not feel overwhelmed by anything…
• Work – busy with refurbishment works, hence so little time!!

So a fair bit going on…will have to sit down and write about each in more detail and share my thoughts…you know I have so many!

Stay savvy…

So 2011 is now upon us and I have already been for a run twice…one of them being on New Year’s Day! I am quite determined to keep this up for as long as I can. I am quite surprised that I am not feeling the cold as much as I thought I would be…bones of steel me…yeah right!!

The run on New Year’s day was completed on my lonesome…I was the lone wolf, running the fields…or rather, the roads…on her own. I suppose running alone is fine, but having a running buddy is quite important I think, especially as things get tougher. This morning was not as tough as I had imagined it to be,  it was the getting up and out of bed that I was dreading most! Once I was up and ready, I was out of the door. Today’s run was actually quite good for me, as I had no need to stop in between whereas on previous runs I have stopped at least once! (maybe more?!) So, I already feel that I am achieving something to better myself. The best thing about this morning’s run was that I was a lonesome wolf no more!! I found two others, and so my wolfpack grew… (if you’ve seen movie, “The Hangover”, you’ll know what I’m going on about..I’m not mad!)

Main point of today – regular running is good and running with friends is better…quite obvious I know! More from my pack and I very soon…

The Lone Wolf...finally found his pack!!

I will be running in April for a charity, Scope, which helps children and adults with cerebal palsy. There are quite a few of us running together as a centipede, hoping to break the record which is currently held by Princess Beatrice and her friends who ran earlier this year.

Hopefully I'll be looking a bit better!!

So let’s begin…

I went for my second run, this week, yesterday evening. Although it was a short run (about 25 minutes) I was most definitely glad that I ventured out. It felt good to be running and much better than the first run on Sunday, when it was cold and icy…and to top things off I had not been for a run in about a month?! So yesterday was much more positive. I dragged along my younger sister who is also taking part in the London Marathon and will be a part of the centipede! It’s definitely a great idea to have somebody to run with. My official training plan begins next week so this is a warm up for me, as I appear to be the weakest link but I’ll show them! Yes, I know… “That’s the spirit!”

Okay, so when is the next run?…I am thinking this evening or tomorrow morning? Will keep you all updated…

Maybe a New Year’s resolution…but then I am not really one for making resolutions…want to do something?…do it anytime, I believe. New Year is just an excuse…

However, I will be trying to incorporate writing into my new regime…am training for the London Marathon…so will have to become super fit; hopefully more energised and organised! Although, this morning, I must say that I changed my alarm to an hour later – to skip my run – I know, I really am not helping my case here…

Let’s just see what happens from today…no commitments, so no real pressure?! *am laughing already*

Needless to say, I hope you have all had an enjoyable Christmas break and are getting ready to start a most prosperous new decade.

Wishing you all the best…

Keep savvy!!

Have begun to write something already, so WATCH this SPACE (so cliche, I know!)

Wishing you all good things!!

Savvy

I did not actually venture into the Palais itself as a ticket to enter was around €1500. (I did not have enough spare change lying around!!) However, I did research what would be going on outside the Palais and also searched Twitter for other attendees and made myself a schedule from there. This event did further enhance the power of having a presence online, as if it were not for Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. I probably would have been there without a clue! An article which helped me (found at bdonline) gave pointers on how to make the most from MIPIM.

Anyway, my main meeting, which pretty much set me up for the rest of the trip, was meeting Bradley from Vast Constructions. He was extremely helpful and gave good advice about the event; it was his 7th/8th time at MIPIM!! From there I attended a few parties with him and met many more people, some of which I was already following on Twitter…@martinskinner and @design4D to name a few!! Great to see and meet people, rather than just communicate through the interface of a computer/mobile phone screen.

At a boules party where I met Steven

Talking to people and telling them about myself was a brilliant opportunity as opposed to sending my profile out electronically. However, I did feel I was little prepared as many people asked me about my work and where they could view it and I had no website to lead them to. I do have this blog space, but did not feel that it held enough information for them. Despite this lack, people were still interested on how we could help each other and those that knew they could not help directly were trying to think of ways they could put me in touch with others. Although I did feel that I had dived straight into the deep end, I was beginning to feel that there was a surface somewhere there.

So now having been back for a few weeks, I have begun designs for my website showcasing what it is I do and am capable of, which should be up soon! And I also have a few post MIPIM meetings lined up over the next few weeks. So now, even though I am still nowhere near the surface to even begin swimming, I am eager to see what is in store and if the trip was a worthwhile “investment” or just another great experience and a beautiful place I have now visited!!

Yachts, yachts and more yachts...

Over the last month or so I have increasingly come across articles and been posed questions such as this. Can luxurious things really be sustainable? What is sustainability?

When I typed sustainability into Google search the first result was Wikipedia, giving me the definition that “Sustainability is the capacity to endure.”

So can luxury or luxurious design endure? Thinking about this from the top of my head…I immediately think no. In terms of luxury, I think about the handbag I bought from Mr. Vuitton a few years ago and think how it has been tucked away in its dust bag and replaced by the one from Mr. Gucci! So not really enduring, but I do try to “invest” in pieces that will withstand the fashion trends, or so I hope. Thus leading me to trends and luxurious design. In my opinion, sustainable design in general has to somehow think of a way to get past the current trend. I think some designers have definitely achieved this endured – Charles and Ray Eames with the Eames chair and ottoman and also the Barcelona chair from Mies van der Rohe. These pieces have now become classics and well sought after. But then you question whether this was just iconic and great design or sustainable? Most likely the former. Either way we definitely have to look forward and look as to how we can make our designs more environmentally friendly and slow down the constant process of change, or refurbishment! I’m probably putting myself out of a job as I write this, but it is definitely some food for thought. I know some of the hotels that I have reviewed on this blog have used some novel ideas of being friendlier to the environment; this is all a great start. If we all begin somewhere – using recycled wallpaper, eco-friendly paints, companies that a more eco-friendly – it most certainly will be a step in the right direction…don’t you think?

There’s an influx of new hotels opening, hence the talk and consequently this blog piece.

Firstly we have a new hotel in Cornwall, The Scarlet. Designed by Max Bentheim, London, who also worked on the Blanford and the Hempel hotels in London. Recently opened, I have not paid a visit myself, but if the website and reviews are anything to go by I am quite sure I will be visiting soon. The spaces seem to be retro in style with a definite focus on relaxation. There seem to be two types of rooms for relaxation, attached to the spa no doubt, which look very calming and peaceful; all having a feeling of Zen.

You could just drift away!

The lobby looks inviting with colourful pieces of furniture and what looks to be limed oak and slate tiles are very fitting by the sea. The bedrooms look colourful and all appear to again have a contemporary retro feel. I think the best feature of not only the rooms, but also what seems to be throughout the hotel is the windows. They are floor to ceiling, letting all that wonderful light in and creating a sense of bringing the outside in. This can really be said for the swimming pool; looking at that image, really makes you want to jump right in!! Lovely to really let your senses wonder and connect with nature (do I sound like I’m advertising for it; I don’t mean to!!).

Jump in...!

The great thing about this hotel is that it is eco friendly, from their website they definitely seem to be doing their part for the environment. I think I will definitely be going there this summer; hopefully the food will be good too…will tell you all in due course. Let me know if you get there before me! … www.scarlethotel.co.uk

Another eco friendly hotel popping up is Hotel Rafayel on the Left Bank, in Battersea. It opened just last month and has quite a few measures in place to ensure it’s aiding the environment; no plastic bottles, electronic newspapers, rainwater harvesting, recycled doors and even recycled beds all of which are clean, I hope!!!

Recycled, but clean beds!

The interior of this hotel seems to be very sleek and all very natural. The colours used are neutral and calming, probably needed in bustling London! The brown wood, against the almost white floor definitely gives a feel of being vast and sometimes stark. So not quite so sure about this selection, but definitely a plus for being environmentally friendly. … www.hotelrafayel.com

Stark and vast, but eco friendly.

So another that’s opened is Lime Wood in the New Forest designed by the great David Collins. With its location in a national park, makes it extremely picturesque and definitely a place to relax. Being designed by David Collins it has all his traits; the luxurious fabrics, manly leathers, the beautiful furniture – each piece carefully considered and placed. Beautiful. Also the spa will be opening this coming summer, can’t wait, with its pool, hammam, steam and sauna it’s sure to be a delight.

No more to say on this really…only, see for yourselves! … www.limewoodhotel.co.uk

Cornwall seems to be buzzing at the moment, especially as holiday makers are considering staying within the UK. The Cornwall Hotel, Spa & Estate is due to open next month. It is located near the Eden Project with the setting of an old 19^th century manor house within 43 acres of Victorian parkland. The “piece de résistance” for this hotel is its infinity pool with glass doors opening up to the sub tropical walled garden. Who needs to go abroad?! The rooms seem to look fairly standard, but the setting is spot on; definitely a relaxing weekend break needed here. … www.thecornwall.com

In London this summer, look forward to the opening of the W Hotel. Another chain hotel I say; I didn’t have the greatest stay in the W New York, so am rather sceptical about this opening especially as it’s part of a large group; Starwood. But let’s see, they may surprise us and have a few tricks up their sleeves or in their hats! It will definitely be eye catching in Leicester Square as it’s to have a white stucco and filigree exterior that will be lit up at night with different colours. Bright…

Without doubt there are a few reasons to holiday in and around the UK, if not then certainly reason to have a weekend away in a nice hotel. I hope you enjoy and do let me know what you think.

Surely the financial world of Dubai and the Emirates knew this would happen, as I would hope all ‘worlds’ of major financial cities. It’s basic economics, I think?! …When things are going well the economy BOOMS, but as the saying goes all that goes up must come down, so there is now a situation of BUST. Alongside which, there is a halt in construction, job losses, workers going back to their home countries and general desertion of this once popular emirate; sad I think. As people flocked to this destination like flies to ice cream, so what now happens to the newly built hotels, offices, malls, as well as those being built? Will they just sit there and gather dust? And what about those that can’t escape so easily?

In my opinion Dubai was much too hyped after it first came on to the scene and I cannot really think of a country where this has occurred. It was almost like that new club that opens in the West End, everyone talks about it and wants to get on the list to take a peek, and then over time another opens and it fizzles into the background, but the owners keep trying new things to retain its popularity. Unfortunately Annabel’s or even the Groucho it is not!! However, as Dubai is not just that club it has not fizzled into the background and when signs of relapse were present the government tried to cover the cracks by building the tallest building, the largest mall and the indoor ski slope (in a desert…come on!) just to name a few distractions. Maybe, when they should have been toning things down slightly, they always tried to go one better whilst apparently unaware of how deep their pockets were not! Should the Makhtoums, Dubai’s ruling family, have taken a leaf out the book of their neighbour, Abu Dhabi, who appears to be the less “social” state yet still in tact and apparently doing quite okay?

Admittedly I frequented Dubai a few times, for what reasons now I cannot even think of; surely it was the youth in me wanting a bit of glamour and sun! In hindsight, one trip really would have been enough. But it was interesting to see how drastically the country had changed each time I visited. Crazy really. Always a few new malls, definitely new hotels and the cranes…everywhere on my last visit. Maybe all the pretence was needed to hide a state that was really in trouble? I remember reading an article over a year ago about the Dubai government wanting to build a creative city where top architects were collaborating, bringing a version of the Louvre, maybe even an opera house. However, what about cultivating the culture that is in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. I understand that tourists somehow need to be lured in, but surely these publicity stunts will wear off after a while, haven’t they already?

How many millions did the opening party cost???

Gimmicks and fancy hotels aside, I think we do need to stop, take a moment to gain perspective and go back to basics for a while and stop being such consumers, take some time to absorb reality. Something I think Dubai and maybe even other countries and cities may need to do. (Dubai, I don’t hate you!) Sometimes it’s a harsh reality and quite often we are unprepared to face up to it and take it for what it is…life! So maybe instead to having to pick up so many pieces and trying to cover those cracks we should aim to be more aware and be more real, financially or not, even if it’s only for a while…something’s got to be better than nothing!