Destination: London - Decor, Style & More!
My head is still swimming with style ideas & itinerary suggestions from my recent trip to London which I’ve been dying to share with you! Even if you’re not thinking of a London trip anytime soon, you can stalk a lot of this right from your cozy couch - so grab some tea & let’s dig in…
First stop - my dreamy hotel, Number Sixteen (16 Sumner Pl, South Kensington, London SW7 3EG), a Firmdale hotel designed by the incredibly talented Kit Kemp.
This townhouse hotel, located in South Kensington (see map below), is a master class in the art of layering pattern & color in ways that are surprisingly easy to live with….
Our room (below) was sunny & cheerful - & of course included Kit Kemp’s signature headboard (each room has a different shape headboard & original fabrics).
Another room from Number Sixteen:
One of the best things about this boutique hotel’s location is that it is right around the corner from the V & A Museum, my favorite place! It is sort of like the British version of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in NYC, focusing on decorative arts and applied arts including fashion, pottery, ironwork, etc.
Next stop - my idea of design heaven: a quick taxi ride over to Colefax & Fowler, Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam, Fermoie & Soane Britain. Each shop has such flair, original window design, bespoke accessories & mix of modern pieces with antiques…
The Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam shop (12-14 Holbein Pl, Belgravia, London SW1W 8NL), above & below, has fine antiques that are tempered with casual seagrass rugs and very unfussy flower arrangements everywhere.
Soane Britain (below) is another must see shop (& fun to stalk their website or Insta too!) — original wallpapers & pattern on pattern, humble accessories that look like high art in their capable stylists’ hands!
Another fun diversion — Notting Hill. Loved visiting the Sezane/ L’Appartement London (233 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SE) shop as I’ve been a devoted fan of their site/catalogue since they launched a couple years ago. It did not disappoint!
The Goop shop across the street is surprisingly charming with amazing service. It’s small but has sampling of best of their various categories: clothes, jewelry, books, cookware. Their controversial new candle had yet to make its appearance when I was there :)
Finally, famished, I hit Daylesford Organic’s market & cafe next door — I could live in there! And thanks to their amazing take-out meals, I would never have to cook (not that I do now anyway:)
Well, that’s a wrap for my London trip! In coming weeks, I’m sure I’ll be referencing more of the specific take-aways from what I learned/saw there. Do you have any particular style spots in London you love & think I should share with other Elegant Mayhem readers? Do tell! (DM me @elegant.mayhem)
SHOP THE LOOK
One Kings Lane “Leila” pillow
