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He might not be a well-known designer, but Mike Warren has managed to come up with a pretty striking design. 

By filling the naturally-occurring pits and troughs in pecky cypress wood with a mixture of clear resin and photoluminescent powder, Warren has made a table that literally glows.  The powder suspended in the resin absorbs sunlight during the day and produces a cool blue light after dark. 


The Mastro Table created for Italian manufacturer DeCastelli by Viareggio-based Gumdesign is engineered for strength.

Consisting of an acid-etched sheet of iron, the edges of the table are bent over twice making for an extra-strong and rigid table top.  The top is supported by trestle legs made of fir wood which are slotted into the channels created by the bent edges.  The Mastro Table comes with a bench made using the same principles and design.
Anelise Shroeder blends Norwegian folk art and new technology with the Kubbe Chair, a contemporary take on a kubbestol carved using a CNC router.
This fairly new establishment on Burnaby Hill in Hamilton gets full marks from us for design and ambiance, as well as its food and service.

The owners of the Devil's Isle Kaffe House have a passion for coffee and have been producing a locally roasted and packaged coffee under the 'Devil's Isle' brand for some time, so we guess a dedicated home for the coffee seemed like the next logical step.  There are specialist baristas on staff who will personality recommend and brew your coffee for you but if you're not into the beans, more than just coffee is available.  The restaurant's menu offers modern and healthy options without sacrificing taste and locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients are incorporated into dishes as often as possible.  All breads are made in-house using organic, stone-ground flour and several vegetarian and gluten-fee options are included.  If none of the above tempts you, be sure to check out their Friday night happy hour with oyster bar which is becoming legendary.

Note Design Studio has designed the Rise sofa for manufacturer Fogia. 

Its rounded, upholstered surface rests upon a wooden base, hinting at its Scandinavian roots. The sofa comes with an integrated side table or separate footstool and, as seems to be the trend at the moment, it has a high back which wraps around thereby offering the sitter a modicum of privacy. This feature ensures that the sofa is perfect for open plan spaces be they public or private.

We are loving the new Bobo Choses' Spring/Summer 2015 Collection entitled 'Guess Who’s Coming for Breakfast' which mixes monster stories with bright, tropical prints and colours.
This coffee table from Scot Sardinha is the perfect embodiment of simplicity and elegance.  The table consists of two freestanding bases made up of multiple layers of high grade maple plywood in a walnut finish topped by a slice of smoked bronze glass. 

Sandra García and Sergio Mendoza of WAO, launched this contemporary bike stand for the Barcelona Design Museum in November of last year.  The simple but striking stand is handmade in Valencia, Spain from steel and mediterranean pine and comes in a variety of colours. 

Jeweller Rachel Perry opened Baubelles, her first bricks and mortar shop, in the historic town of St George's last year with an expanded portfolio.  In addition to its signature statement gold, silver and costume jewellery, Baubelles carries ladies fashion with a bohemian flair, footwear, candles and other household items.  This unique little boutique is well worth a trip to the East.

We have been trying to psyche ourselves up to exercise more so perhaps the designs in this eight-piece capsule collection between NikeLab and sacai's Chitose Abe may prove to be just the right incentive.

Bringing a feminine edge to traditional sportswear, Abe transforms classic performance icons into functional sport hybrids.  Abe scoured Nike's archives and reinterpreted its heritage sportswear silhouettes through a feminine and modern lens.  The resulting collection is a bold expression of style and a celebration of the body in motion.  The women’s collection features sacai’s signature pleats and exaggerated shapes executed in innovative, high-tech materials and new fabrications.  The collection is designed around two different weights of Nike's Tech Fleece which has been reimagined into five signature sacai styles including the crew sweatshirt, crew hooded sweatshirt, crew top, crew knee-length dress and sweatpants.  Other new fabric innovations include a special mesh lace hem that was specifically developed by Nike and Abe to trim the hems of graphic t-shirts and paneling which was attached to several of the garments emphasising the fluidity of movement.  In addition to the development of new fabrications, the design of certain classics was re-imagined: the classic Nike Windrunner was reinterpreted as a skirt featuring plissé-style pleating and a hooded sweatshirt now features a peplum detail.

The full collection also includes a brand new interpretation of the iconic Air Max silhouette.  The sneaker has been reworked into a unique slip-on style, honouring the theme of expression and freedom of movement that is prevalent in the collection.  Co-ordinating with the main the collection, the Air Max is available in shades of obsidian and black with volt lining, volt and obsidian with volt lining and wolf grey with volt lining.

Unlike recent less-than-successful high-profile attempts at merging high fashion with sportswear, this NikeLab x sacai collaboration proves that when done properly, it can truly be a thing of beauty.  The collection debuts today, March 19 and the NikeLab x sacai summer collection, which will introduce new colorways and additional pieces, will go on sale in June.

During one of the storms that hit the island late last year, our letterbox - which had been affixed to a stone pillar in front of the house - was dislodged and blown away. Thereafter followed weeks of scouring the island for a stylish replacement, only to find a proliferation of plastic US mail offerings.  Something like this box from Javi Design would have been perfect. 

The letterbox features a front panel precision machined from Accoya wood which is manufactured from sustainable sources mounted on a metal box and attached with stainless steel hinges and fasteners. Three finishes are offered: clear, oiled or black stained and the letterbox can be engraved with their custom font. The box can stand alone or be incorporated into walls, fences and apartment buildings. The Javi Letterbox is also secured by a stainless steel visor and lockable magnetic door, which keeps personal correspondence in your hands only.

& Other Stories x Clare Vivier's second collaboration features comfy, perforated slip-ons and colourful leather cross-body and bucket bags, wallets and accessories modelled by the Gummer sisters.  
The limited edition Tall Fellow lamp by Y.S Collective was originally designed as a customised version of its little brother the popular Fellow Lamp.  The Tall Fellow has tripod legs which allow it to fit easily in the corner of a room or against furniture. The metal lampshade can be moved 360 degrees and adjusted vertically and so the lamp can be easily manoeuvred to spotlight or illuminate as needed. The legs are made of hand turned American ash and the shade from hand spun aluminium.  All components of the lamp are produced in New Zealand and assembled in-house by Y.S Collective.
These amazing portraits made by children form part of the display by the students of Elliot Primary School.  That school, along with most of the other primary schools on the island, is a part of the 50th Annual Bermuda Primary Schools Exhibition currently being held at the Bermuda Society of Arts until March 17.
Image  |  Dokter and Misses

The strong, modernist lines of this bench from South African design brand Dokter and Misses ensures that the spare piece of furniture will fit easily into any room. 

The brand was started in 2007 by husband and wife team Adriaan Hugo and Katy Taplin who currently produce a line of tables, lighting, storage solutions and mirrors in addition to their bespoke and commissioned work.  The Lazy Bench is made from powder-coated steel and ash and comes with an upholstered cushion.

Most reviewers wax on about the properties and taste of Greek tea and herb company Daphnis and Chloe's The Office Blend, but we simply love the packaging: a cylindrical carton which is covered in a Mondrian-like pattern designed by Nathalie du Pasquier.  For those of you who are interested though, the tea is a hand-picked herbal blend of thyme flowers, rose hips and mountain tea.

We are obsessed with star prints at the moment, so it should come as no surprise that we are coveting most of the items from this line of sweet - but not saccharine - girls' clothes from La Petite Princesse d'Annika out of Korea. From head to toe, the celestial bodies can be found on shoes, tracksuits and  even accessories.

We were struck by the smooth, undulating lines of this elegant chair from Paco Camús which has an almost skeletal look.  From Camús' Private Collection, the rounded arms and back of the chair are smooth to the touch and the seat of is made from cattail fibres which achieves a natural elasticity.  The shape of the chair was inspired by natural curves moving from thin to thick where the pieces are assembled. 
Norwegian product designer Aud Julie Befring has created a stool from birch and felted wool which is inspired by lambs and meadows and springtime. The felted tufts are interchangeable, so the user can personalise the look of the stool by creating their own colour combinations. 

Image  |  WGSN
Calf- and thigh-high vinyl boots with resin heel from Dior.

After the success of New York City-based chef Marcus Samuelsson's two month pop-up restaurant which ran from June to August last year at the Hamilton Princess Hotel, plans are currently underway to construct a permanent restaurant on the property which will open in May of this year.  From the pictures we have seen of the work being done, it looks like the new restaurant will be amazing.

In the meantime, let's have a look back at the intimate 42-seat pop-up restaurant which also included an outdoor seating area with a bar, lounge and terrace. The food was tasty and innovative as the menu chosen as a celebration of Bermuda's culture and history.  Although temporary, the space was thoughtfully decorated in an eclectic manner with nautical and industrial elements.  Old sails were re-purposed as wall coverings, vintage Bermuda travel posters were hung on the walls and maritime signal flags were referenced on cushion covers. Local design company Urban Cottage helped to source some of the unique finishes found in the restaurant.


Margherita Maccapani Missoni Amos continues in her family's footsteps with the debut of the Margherita Kids Collection, her new contemporary collection of clothes for babies and girls aged up to 7. 

Missoni Amos mixes colours, textures and - of course - prints to produce an easy and fun collection with a whimsical and child-friendly take on the 60’s.  The clothes include shift and flutter-sleeve pinafore dresses with back wrap detailing made from washed linen, quilted jerseys and colour-blocked sweaters in soft cotton.  The fabrics were chosen for comfort and include classic prints such as seersucker, stripes and dots and Balinese-Batik inspired prints which are combined with brightly coloured contrast piping, braided tassel trims.   Missoni Amos' namesake flower makes an appearance as a daisy print in different colour treatments for boys and girls and on screen printed t-shirts.  

The collection is available as of today, March 7 in the US at select Nordstrom stores and nordstrom.com, worldwide on yoox.com and also at Margheritakids.com.
Nikari has completed its '5 Studies for Nature' series with this faceted stool called Stockholm Study. Organised as a competition by Konstfack University, the stool was designed by student Jari Devad who adapted the expression of traditional sculpture mastered by Axl Robert Petersson.  Devad used 3-D modelling to explore techniques that mimic the making of items by hand.  The stool is made of dark walnut which helps to focus on the planes and shadows created by the faceting on its surface.

Image  |  Converse
It doesn't get much better than the iconic Converse Jack Purcell, but in rainy conditions the shoes have just never cut it.  The mustard.  

Now, with this the second collaboration between Converse and Hancock Vulcanised Articles, the Converse Jack Purcell x Hancock Wetland Sneaker goes beyond the earlier version to keep your feet dry by adding a partial rubber cover in Hancock's signature Mastic Grey.

The pussy bow was the unifying factor in this heritage collection from Rochas which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.  The clothes were uniformly drab: dark browns and blacks dominated the runway, with only a few bright yellow pieces to inject some colour.  Swallows, usually a harbinger of Spring, appeared on beautifully sheer dresses, skirts, belts and even coats.  As a whole, it was a strong collection (with the exception of the peplum breast frill that appeared on several dresses) with impeccably cut coats, belted shift dresses and separates.  

The Turn coffee table from Blu Dot, is inspired by, and reminiscent of, wooden industrial spools used in the textile industry.  The four-piece collection is crafted from acacia wood.

'Shallow Waters'
Bermuda-based, South African born portrait painter Jacqueline Alma creates breathtaking works of art in oil.  Alma's last solo show was held in 2013 at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.  Entitled 'The Red Thread', the exhibit was intended to celebrate everyday Bermudians and to celebrate the Bermudian spirit.   

Alma paints from life and this intimate, time-consuming method allows the artist to form a particular bond with her subjects which is translated into her art.  She is fond of using dark, saturated colours from which her subjects often gaze directly out at the viewer.  Her work is also rife with symbolism and may include for example geographic coordinates, a poem written by the subject or a favourite childhood toy.  

Alma also received an Honourable Mention at The Charman Prize in 2011 and was a Category Winner in 2012.


Bally dresses the woman who is unapologetically sophisticated with this sleek and luxurious ready-to-wear collection.  Striking colour combinations such as eggplant and aubergine brighten a largely black-and-white palette which saw creative director Pablo Coppola drawing inspiration from Francoise Hardy and Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in Wes Anderson’s 'The Royal Tenenbaums'.   As usual, accessories were strong and featured the new Bally B bag which is sure to become a classic.

Image  |   Henrik Blomqvist
Sleek, silver pieces that looked like liquid metal, smart tailoring and interesting colour-blocking, added up to a strong presentation from Austrian Arthur Arbesser, a finalists in the LVMH Prize for up-and-coming designers.  The setting and clothes were rife with references to his native land including a beautiful coat and wide-legged trousers that featured a bright, graphic pattern inspired by the works of Vienna-based artists from the 1920s.  Mock-utilitarian pieces such as sailor collars on jackets, the use of aprons and several jumpsuits added to the masculine aesthetic for which Arbesser is known.  Textured knits and turtlenecks all combined with trainers for a sportier styling.  

Somewhat evocative of Saran Yen Panya’s range of furniture called Cheap Ass Elites that we wrote about here, the Basket Chair is a seat designed by Alessandro Busana for Gaber. 

The armchair is a study in negative and positive space. It is inspired by the traditional wicker container from which the designer extrapolated the principal structural lines to create a new decorative object.  The seat is versatile as it can be mounted on different types of bases.  It can be used both indoors and out and is easily stacked to save space.  The design of the chair also allows the seat to be upholstered offering an interesting contrast between two types of materials.

One of the things we loved about attending fashion week in New York, was the many random, fashion-related happenings going on. Take for instance one day we were wandering around the contemporary section on the fifth floor of Bergdorf Goodman and noticed some activity in the shoe section.  It turned out that New Balance were celebrating the launch of their NB Grey line which will be released nationwide at select retailers on March 14 complete with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres served by gorgeous waiters in black t-shirts and jeans.  It seems as though everyone is wearing either New Balance or Stan Smiths at the moment, so this collaboration is pretty timely.  New Balance have also been collaborating quite prolifically, having recently also done lines exclusive to Kate Spade Saturday and J.Crew.  This premium women’s collection features iconic New Balance classics recreated in sophisticated and unique materials and colours.  All styles are constructed of top-quality leathers with pigskin linings and include two lace options.  

The celebration was open to the public so of course we partook and were able to mingle with top bloggers such as Camille Charriere, Jane Aldridge, Tamu Mcpherson, Anh Sundstrom and Blair Eadie.  Each blogger was assigned one pair of shoes and asked to style them in their own inimitable fashion. 


Many of the shows in Milan are overtly sexy, so it's good to have the clean, graphic lines of Jil Sander as a counterbalance.  Here the maxi silhouette ruled and the verticality of the shape was emphasised by the use of diagonal, graphic lines and stripes on sweaters and wrap dresses. Trousers were tailored, cut wide and cropped.  There was some restrained use of colour - yellow, pinks and oranges - which lifted the largely navy and black colour scheme.  


We've never met a sequin we didn't like and Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi of Aquilano e Rimondi pandered straight to our desires with this collection aptly entitled 'Minimal to the Maximum'.  Inspired by the 20th-century Dutch art movement De Stijl, the mix of business-like pinstripes, double-breasted coats and jackets with sparkle via sequin embroidery and grommet trim created the perfect mix of masculine and feminine.