DESIGN SHOP - ORIENT 499 BEIRUT

I've visited Orient 499 during my first trip to Beirut in 2010 and I believe it's still one of the most astonishing shops I've ever entered (in the most extraordinary city I've ever visited). I am so enthusiastic that I've placed it within the top 5 things to see on my personal Beirut Guide for traveler friends... and actually Ilaria and Andrea loved it, hadn't you guys? :)

Orient 499 is a boutique featuring exclusive, original handicrafts and designer's creations. The founders are Middle-Eastern art lovers with an amazing taste for tradition and beyond belief sense for modernity.

DESIGN EVENT - MADE LONDON

In the next couple of months London will host most of its highest quality contemporary craft and design fairs.

Last week Made London run for 5 days in Canary Wharf showcasing about 100 exhibitors.

What is interesting is that during this event the makers themselves meet the public to discuss inspirations, design processes and future projects, enabling maker/consumer relationships.

The next interesting ones are the London Craft Week (9-13 May) and the Clerckenwell Design Week (22-24 May). www.londoncraftweek.com | www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

Please see here below what I found interesting at Made London:

Alex McCarthy Ceramics

mccarthyceramics.com

DESIGN SHOP - BECARA MADRID

I've noticed the brand Becara 1964 at Madrid Barajas Airport few years ago and it stuck to my mind because in a way, that would be kind of my dream business. It has been founded by Begona Zunzunegui when she saw an opportunity in the wholesale business of furniture, decoration and gift in the Spain of the 60's.

She was also a passionate traveler and she sought suppliers in China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and many other Asian countries. From that moment on, she consolidated the business in a chain of interior shops that offer the craft of the design.

Now, the taste is a bit too baroque for me, but have a look at the selected pieces below and to some of the shops' interiors. It's not cheap. Could you imagine that as a chain of shops?

All images @Becara1964 - www.becara.com

CITY GUIDE - AMMAN, JORDAN

Amazing trip to the magic Jordan... the city of Amman gives you plenty of occasions to buy very high quality handicrafts such as painted pottery, candlesticks and handmade textiles.

In my opinion the best places to buy quirky home decor are the Jordan River Foundation (Rainbow Street) for handmade baskets, rugs and traditional Bedouin weaving products, and Wild Jordan, (Othman Ben Affan St. - also very close to Rainbow Street) an eco-tourism spot that sells hand made jewellery, beautifully decorated ostrich eggs and organic goods like olive-oil soap. Special mention for Dare to Dream, also off Rainbow Street.

JORDAN RIVER FOUNDATION

www.jordanriverdesigns.com

INTERIOR SHOP - VERANDAH LONDON

Walking around residential neighborhoods in London you can bump into little interior shops that sell interesting goods from all over the world. This is the case of VERANDAH in Kensal Green, 116 College Rd, London NW10 5HD.

Here below some pics of the shop's interior and their selected products.

Enjoy!

WHAT TO BUY NOW - WEST ELM DISCOUNTS!

CITY GUIDE - LISBON

Shopping in Lisbon is a great experience. Portugal was one of the European nations hardest hit by the economic crisis, but the economy has now grown for 13 successive quarters. And it shows. (No alternative to austerity eh?)

Just walk around the narrow streets of the old city quarters and you'll come across dozens of sumptuously ornamented shops that sell some of the most carefully packaged goods you've ever seen. At reasonable prices. If you are going for vacation, you'll return with a suitcase stuffed with treasures.

A VIDA PORTUGHESA

www.avidaportuguesa.com

PARIS FLEA MARKET - MARCHE' AUX PUCES DE ST-OUEN

If you are planning to travel to Paris, you must go to one of its flea markets. Forget about broken picture frames, faded cushions and chipped glasses: the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen looks more like a well organized museum... where you can buy everything you see!

Off the main street rue des Rosiers, you can find Marché Malassis (toys, vintage cameras and furniture), Marché Dauphine (furniture, ceramics), Marché Biron (lighting, furniture and objets) and Marché Vernaison (more varied, with fashion, books, prints and kitchenware). 

Marché Paul Bert is owned by the Duke of Westminster and has some beautiful 19th- and 20th-century furniture. Let's have a look of it first...

Enjoy your bargain, in french!

CITY GUIDE - PARIS, BEST CONCEPT STORES

If you are traveling to Paris and you're thinking about shopping for your home, you have two great opportunities: Parisian amazing flea markets for second hand special pieces or the unique concept stores for contemporary latests.

Hereby we are recommending you the unmissable best Parisian concept stores:

- FLEUX, 39 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris
Around 350sq meters of great design selection varying from minimal sofas to colorful iPad sleeves, as well as unique bed throws and sophisticated terrariums. Have a look below to get an idea of what you can find there.

- MERCI, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris
Merci concept store is located in an old wallpaper factory. Visiting Merci is really an experience on its own: within its 1500sq meters of store you can find one restaurant and two cafés, all surrounded by the most eclectic variety of goods including fashion and accessorizes.

- SENTOU, 29 Rue François Miron, 75004 Paris

Sentou is a design gallery but has also its trade mark of furniture, objects and lighting. Being one of the oldest Parisian interior design boutique and manufacture, it nowadays represents a destination for design lovers and keen buyers.

FLEUX

BOUTIQUE HOTEL - ACE LONDON SHOREDITCH

More hipster than the hipsters.

The Ace Hotel based in Shoreditch perfectly embodies the creative and alternative character of this London area. Black metal frames, dark wooden floor and scandinavian style furniture contribute to the hip industrial atmosphere.

The lobby is a public space where to work, socialize or just hang around at the coffe/juice bar. But the ACE Hotel Shoreditch is mainly an über-trendy place for design and fashion lovers where to get inspired, to see and to be seen: everybody here look effortlessly cool, including the staff.

Designed by London practice Universal Design Studio. Photos: TAC and Ace Hotel.

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ZIMBABWE 02

Here we are talking about buying art in Africa.

Mutapo is a pottery gallery run by the ceramic artist Marjorie Wallace. Her fine porcelain objects are scratched, pressed and incised with the most modern linear designs and decoration. The result resembles often the traditional baskets. Her products are also sold at Conrad Shop in London.

Mutapo Pottery - 2 Gelfand Hse, Speke Ave, Harare - Mutapo Pottery

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ZIMBABWE 01

Who think that in Africa you can only buy old style ethnic goods can't be more mistaken.

In Zimbabwe for example you can fine the most contemporary, refined and hand made objects you can dream about. From the finest ceramics to the impressive stone sculptures and beautiful hand printed textiles.

Below you can find 3 very different examples: a sofisticated design gallery run by a lady with impacable taste in Harare, a little shop with hand made products produced by the local women in Vic Falls, and a production of local stone sculptures again in Harare.

Check them out!

Kiki's Gallery - 34 Haslemere Lane Umwinsidale, Harare kikisgallery.com

 

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ISTANBUL 02

Here come other suggestions on what to buy when you visit Istanbul. Like the previous post, it's actually more a photo gallery on findings, that hopefully can inspire your tour. This time I've covered the area around Pera Tower and the Grand Bazar.

What can I say, Turkey is well recognized as an amazing producer of so many exceptional goods: fabrics, leather goods, ceramics... a real joy for an interior designer/home lover! Enjoy!

Shops on Yuksek Kaldirim street:

DESIGN SHOPPING TOUR - ISTANBUL 01

Are you planning to visit Istanbul? You shouldn't miss the opportunity to go shopping for some of the most amazing design products I've seen around. Most of them are hand made and the prices... well, the best surprise!

Below you find a sort of photo gallery of my findings, that hopefully can inspire your tour. The shops are mainly in Tophane and Karaköy, the new trendy area. Enjoy!

Atölye 11 - Karaköy - Mumhane Caddesi 47, atolye11.com