Founded in 2008, by Céline Leterme and Jon Dowling, CounterPrint is a wonderful online bookstore, specialising in art and design books. I’ve used them several times for gifts; their collections range from collectable or out of print originals, to luscious new art tomes and some deliciously designed cookbooks like ‘Salad for President’.
Jasper Morrison has updated his design for the Punkt phone in the form of the MP02, a mobile phone which focussed a lot on form but with very minimal function. What’s interesting with this new iteration is that it features 4G LTE and hotspot capabilities. These can’t be used from the phone itself, but, rather for tethering a second phone or tablet. That would seem a bit strange on the surface, but seems like a perfect use case for travel. Simply buy a foreign pay-as-you-go SIM card on arrival in a foreign country, use the Punkt phone for local calls and tether your smartphone (which is likely locked to your domestic network) or tablet for web, maps etc.
Punkt MP02 | Image Jasper Morrison
Punkt MP02 | Image Jasper Morrison
There are a lot of water bottles on the market but this is probably my favourite. The Sowden Water Bottle from Hay comes in a range of colours and starts at £29.99.
Hay Sowden Water Bottle | Image Copyright Hay
Monokel Shiro Sunrise | Image Copyright Monokel
Monokel Shiro Sunrise | Image Copyright Monokel
Monokel Shiro Sunrise | Image Copyright Monokel
Orsokov Glasses | Image Copyright Orsokov
I travel a lot and appreciate a great travel bag. Mismo’s M/S Suitcase is a beautifully made trolly top, that is both spacious and stylish, and should conform to almost every airline’s second carry on policy. It’s design harkens back to the days of traditional suitcases (I can’t quite bring myself to remember the horror of the non-roller checked bag) and it blends vegetable tanned bridle leather with rugged canvas in the perfect 48 hour case.
Mismo M/S Suitcase | Photo Copyright of Mismo
Mismo M/S Suitcase | Photo Copyright of Mismo
This minimal wall light from Danish firm Vipp popped into my feed recently. I love the perforated shade and the luxury-industrial styling. A family-owned business for three generations, Vipp are famous for their bins and their 'functional tools' philosophy. Now being run by the third generation of the family, I really like their desire to "fill the world with fewer, better products."
Wall Light | Photo Copyright of Vipp
The Ready Made Curtain from textile company Kvadrat brings together simple installation and a range of beautiful, interchangeable colours. This interesting new design format makes it easy and inexpensive to add a splash of colour to any room.
Ready Made Curtain | Photo Copyright of Kvadrat
Ready Made Curtain | Photo Copyright of Kvadrat
These natty rectangular plant boxes from Ferm Living are available in seven muted tones. I must get one (or several) immediately.
Plant Box | Photo Copyright of Ferm Living
Plant Box | Photo Copyright of Ferm Living
Bloomsbury is my local neighbourhood in London.
Known for its literary roots (it was home to Charles Dickens and, later, the 'Bloomsbury Set') and for the imposing and fantastic British Museum, it has also established a reputation for its mix of wonderful neighbourhood restaurants, independent shops and social spaces.
When I tell people I live in Bloomsbury their eyes tend to glaze over as they try and picture where it actually is. Bounded by Kings Cross to the North, Fitzrovia to the West, Clerkenwell to the East and Holborn to the South, Bloomsbury is a sort of half-way place, somewhere you would pass through, or under, on your way somewhere else. It's this very fact that makes it so special to me.
In my five years living here I've grown fond of a number of local places.
Bloomsbury's La Fromagerie is the third location of Patricia Michelson's cheese dynasty in London, and a welcome, recent, addition to the neighbourhood. Along with the excellent cheese selection, the store is also a cafe and restaurant and serves a delicious Sunday brunch of cheese-fuelled Benedict's, French Toast and Soufflés. If you're just there for the cheese I would recommend twinning with the Comte D'Estive and a Beaufort Chalet D'Alpage.
Nicola Beauman founded this publisher and bookshop, dedicated to out of print female authors, in the late 90s. All the book covers feature Persephone's trademark grey design (the same colour as the building exterior), along with beautiful prints on the inside cover. It is a truly unique place and a must-see if you're in the hood.
Started as a wine magazine by Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew in 2013, the Noble Rot brand now extends to a busy restaurant on Lamb's Conduit Street. Reaching from the wine bar in the front, deep into what once would have been the garden of the Georgian building, it's a cosy, dark space. The food is Modern British and the wine menu is, as you would imagine, rather good.
North African and Spanish flavours collide at this wonderful restaurant. Founded in 1997 by Sam(antha) and Sam Clark, not married and no relation. Her maiden name was Clarke, with an 'e'. You couldn't make it up. Protégés of the River Cafe they have created a modern classic in the neighbourhood. Always packed but very flexible for walk ins who are happy to eat at the bar, Moro is one of my favourite local restaurants.
It's little sister Morito, sits next door and serves North African Spanish tapas, my favourite of which is the sumac dusted fried mini squid with alioli.
Founded by Montse Prats and Marc Valli, Magma is one of my favourite bookshops in London. They specialise in art and design books and magazines, but also sell designy products, posters and some apparel. Their first shop was in Covent Garden and I was a frequent customer during the founding of my business, seeking out inspiration for MOO.
A restaurant for over 130 years, the Quality Chop House now boasts a butcher, deli and off licence. I prefer the cafe part of the restaurant, which serves the same menu as the more formal dining rooms next door, but is a far more comfortable setting. Food-wise I would recommend the artery-clogging combo of the mince on dripping toast, with a side of confit potatoes: the perfect winter dish. The butcher next door is excellent, probably the poshest I've ever been to, and my dedicated place for expertly cut steaks of aged beef.
Run by Daniel Morgenthau and Will Lander, also of Clipstone and Portland fame, The Quality Chop House is a delicious slice of Britishness and probably my favourite local place for walk-up, slap-up supper.
Raphael Ickler is the young designer behind minimalist German watch company Defakto. He personally oversees the manufacture of their small range of beautifully-made watches.
A few years ago I bought the Eins Incognito, a one-handed watch that does about the least a watch can do: simply telling you the approximate time, to the closest quarter hour. It's my second watch, one which I use mostly for holidays. Matched with Defakto's rubber strap (they have several other strap options), it's ideal for a holiday that combines pool or beach in the day, where it is waterproof to 5 atmospheres (50m), and more formal events in the evening. It's a notable but unassuming timepiece that's far more refined than a Braun, and considerably less-expensive than a Nomos.
Eins Inkognito | Photo Copyright of Defakto
The watch is unique not least for the fact that it can be worn 'properly' by lefties and righties alike, by rotating the strap accordingly. The lack of logo and simple facia accommodate this feature beautifully. It also sports sapphire crystal both front and back, with its automatic motion exposed on the wrist side.
In an era where your Smart Watch requires daily charging, and is constantly reminding you to go to meetings or get more exercise, this achingly minimal timepiece provides a blissful moment of precisely engineered calm.
Eins Inkognito | Photo Copyright of Defakto
