Balinese ladies

My friend Terry just got back from Bali and sent me through some photos, I really love the costumes in these photos, why don't we have occasions to dress up like this?He also visited a market in Nusa Dia full of beautiful fabrics, I really love this photo of the old lady carrying her beautiful fabrics, it makes the experience seem more real when you see the people behind the market stands for one captured moment.

Atlantis

Last weekend I stayed in the famous Atlantis hotel, which the week before threw a star studded party and held a firework display that lit up the entire palm and could be seen from space!!!! What can I say, the Emiratis want to have the biggest and the best of everything and they are keen to show the world how its done. The hotel is nice, it quite like a Las Vegas hotel inside and all fish themed throughout, they have an amazing aquarium complete with sharks for your viewing pleasure on the way to the restaurants. We ate in Nobu, it was my first experience there and the food lived up to its reputation, the chocolate bento box for dessert is highly recommended to a taste bud sensation. It costs around £300 per night but its definetely worth the experience once and is located at the top end of the palm so looks spectacular as the sun sets and becomes an Arabian night.
www.atlantisthepalm.com

Home sweet home

I just got back from Abu Dhabi and it's really lovely to be home at Christmas, I walked along Oxford and Regent st admiring the lights and there is a great buzz in the air despite the constant talk about economic doom and gloom!!! I am determined to enjoy this time and have been continuing to work on my parent's conservatory, it will be my very first design project and is almost finished so there will be photos appearing very soon. However, unfortunately I lost my camera last week at the Dubai rugby sevens so there has been a lack of blogging due to this I'm afraid. I have just dressed our Christmas tree in blue and silver which now looks really pretty and I've been drinking mulled wine - how lovely is that drink, I adore sangria so its the winter version for me.

Danish Design - Lene Bjerre

Scandinavians are known for their love of design, they have a unique style, most people will immediately think of IKEA but this is just the tip of the iceberg, I have recently started to discover what the Danish have to offer, there is a wonderful Christmas catalogue to get you inspired for Christmas decorating.....

Lenje Bjerre Christmas catalogue

"Lene Bjerre Design was founded by the creative Lene Bjerre, who saw the possibillities in a strong concept for the home. The trademark Lene Bjerre was founded in the mid 70’s and Lene Bjerre Design is today one of the leading companies within home and lifestyle products in Denmark.
Lene Bjerre started out making hand-pleated lampshades from beautiful, classical wallpaper remnants and gift paper. The quality and originality of the lampshades made them very saleable and hereby the foundation for the company was laid – unique products of high quality.
To preserve the dynamics and continuity of the company’s development, Lene Bjerre Design has through the years expanded the concept to cover table textiles and soft furnishings, bed and bath, decorative items and lighting. "

http://www.lenebjerre.dk/uk/

Designer's Guild Cushions

Designers Guild has some beautiful cushions to brighten up your home, I have picked out three of my favourite ones to brighten up your day. If you are interested in seeing the full collections please see the website:

http://www.designersguild.com/

New shoes

Ok so this is totally for the girls out there, I just bought a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes on ebay and I had to share them. I have always wanted a pair as I love the signature red sole and 4 inch heels. As I am working somewhere warm I decided to go for an open toed tan pair rather than the traditional black stiletto style but I love them! For the guys - these shoes are just another name for you to learn along with Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks!

watch out boys!

Burj Dubai

I've just been out to lunch and I wanted to share this view of the Dubai skyline which displays the prominent Burj Dubai tower in the centre of the photo, it currently stands at 688 m and is still being built. The first night we arrived in Dubai the moon was really low and as we stood on the terrace it actually appeared to be slightly taller than the moon!!
The official website has some really interesting photos of the construction phase and a comparison to other well know tall structures around the world. Once complete it will contain offices, luxury apartments and an Armani hotel amongst other facilities.
http://www.burjdubai.com/

My see through bathroom

I just wanted to share this photo of my current hotel room which contains a see through bathroom - oh la la! There is of course a blind which comes down to preserve your privacy if you don't want to feel like you are on display in a gold fish bowl!

Bubble Chairs

Last night walking through the Intercontinental hotel, Dubai Festival City I stumbled across this lovely bubble chair, they are so comfy and you feel like you are sitting in your own cocoon. I first saw one in Kelly Hoppen's Home book earlier this year, she has one hanging in her beautiful London loft apartment where it suits the high ceilings and open space perfectly. The bubble chair was designed in 1968 by Eero Arnio and the idea was to make a chair that allowed in the light, but swallows the sound so you still feel isolated from the outside world - hence the cocoon feeling! They seem to retail for around £400 but I saw one on ebay for £300.

"The Finnish designer Eero Aarnio (b.1932) is one of the great innovators of modern furniture design. In the 1960s, Eero Aarnio began experimenting with plastics, vivid colors and organic forms, breaking away from traditional design conventions. His now iconic plastic creations include the Ball (1963), the Pastil (1968), and the Bubble (1968) chairs which echo the pop culture and spirit of their time. Many of Aarnio's works are included in the world's most prestigious museums, including Victoria and Albert Museum in London, MoMA in New York and Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein." (http://www.eeroaarnio.com)

Chilling in a bubble chair

Welcome and afternoon tea at the Burj al Arab

I have decided to start this blog to share inspirational design ideas from around the world. I am currently working as a Management Consultant in Dubai studying for an interior design diploma in my spare time and I want to share my inspiration whilst working away from England on my interior design journey.

I have been in Dubai for about 2 weeks now and it seems to be a crazy mix of modernism, futurism and excitement. The place is buzzing with new projects, a city which is evolving daily and the sheer scale and speed at which things are built is unprecendented anywhere else in the world at this time. So with the rest of the world slowing down with a Global recession around the corner it seems Dubai is still charging ahead with all the kind of plans every architect dreams about. I recently heard that as soon as the architect's ink is dry they have started building!! No waiting around for planning persmission like the UK.

So last weekend we went to visit the infamous Burj Al Arab, the famous seven star hotel with the price tag to match at a mere £1, 400 per night and a royal suite on the top floor demanding around £12, 000 a night. It is frequented by Russian billionaires and even has a murder story from 2006 when a Syrian was murdered selling diamonds in one of the rooms. My friend and I indulged in the 7 course afternoon tea which was lovely and I have attached some pictures of the cakes and sandwiches which we paid £60 for the pleasure of enjoying.

My friend Abby and I enjoying our pre tea champagne

5th course - Berries and cream

The interior itself was a complete surprise, I felt like I had stepped onto the Starship enterprise, it makes a statement but is lacking taste in many ways. I have posted some pictures so you can see the free reign the designer was given for using gold paint!! A favourite colour out here so I need to get used to it......

Burj al Arab Interior view from 1st floor