LONDON’S BEST OF SPRING — Elegant Mayhem

This spring was a whirlwind in London - complete with discovering amazing nooks and crannies in this huge city….& some definite bouts of losing my mind as I had to find a new apartment by July. SO - I’m finally back & want to show you all the good stuff I found - including a new place to live!

While not an undiscovered area, the design district of Pimlico Road continues to reveal more gems every time I explore there. Such was the case on a beautiful Spring day when I stumbled into the shop of Hilary Batstone…

It is a small boite of a store, perfectly edited and calm, with the loveliest woman seated in the back with her adorable dog. Turns out she is the eponymous owner, Hilary Batstone herself, & could not have been more generous in showing me around.

She reminds me so much of a combo of my grandmother, English antiques dealer Ruth Hubbell and my late great mom who was an interior designer…they would have LOVED her & her collection so much!

I guess the design bug really is hereditary — Hilary’s daughter is design luminary, Rose Uniacke, who has a cult following with her design store around the corner and a major (AD 100) interior design practice. Her gorgeous new coffee table book from Rizzoli, “Rose Uniacke at Home” sold out immediately.

Another spot in the area I’d never been to before is Pinch (200 Ebury Street, & 46 Bourne Street) - well worth a visit for bespoke cabinetry especially which is SO key in small urban living spaces.

Founded by husband & wife team, Russell Pinch & Oona Bannon, you’ll find imaginative & stylish handcrafted furniture of all kinds. I’m particularly obsessed with the “floating tables” below they designed based on lobster buoys they saw in Devon…

These speak to the native New Englander in me!!

Favorite new restaurant: Kutir (10 Lincoln Street) - light Indian food set in private Chelsea townhouse

New favorite designer/entrepreneur: Anya Hindmarch & her amazing village of stores on Pont Street!

New favorite theater: Royal Drury Lane (saw Van Morrison, he was amazing even at 78 yrs old!)

New favorite specialty shops: tie between Native & Co. and Labour & Wait

New favorite neighborhood: Marylebone — moving there in July!!

Speaking of Marylebone….ta-da! I looked at a bajillion apartments (or “flats”) all over London & this tiny “mews” house right in Marylebone Village is the winner. Five weeks to pack up and move AGAIN — I’m getting good at it & can’t wait to live in area with so many great cafes, theaters etc….but moving is still a big hassle!

Thankfully my dog Mory is no worse for wear, despite all these shifts:)

More soon & thanks again for following along! Hope you had a nice Spring??

Look forward to keeping in touch this summer, while I’m back & forth from London to the U.S. You can see more updates on Insta @elegant.mayhem…

Cheers & be well!!

Lee