London in the spring is a feast for the eyes: magnolias are in full blossom, and there are seas of daffodils and narcissi in parks, shop displays, and on the windowsills of immaculate stuccoed townhouses.
It was a fun-packed week, including exploring the latest fabric collections at London Design Week, a lovely walk in Hyde Park with a friend and her dogs, a little shopping, spending time with my son, having dinner with his girlfriend, and attending the launch of Kit Kemp’s latest book.
Who can spot the plane?
While having a quick browse at Harrods, I fell in love with this lovely little dress by La Double J, and was glad I had taken my Double Annau necklace with me, as it works so well with the dress.
Embroidery inspiration at GP & J Baker.
Terraced stuccoed houses and magnolia trees—the essence of London in springtime.
Tea time
One of the details I love most about La Double J is the placement of patterns. They call it Placée, and it makes all the difference. I wore the dress with black skinny jeans and ankle boots.
Back home and while putting this post together, I realised how well the dress’s colours match one of my latest embroidered flower pictures.
As always, I stayed at Number Sixteen in South Kensington, which has been my absolute favourite place in London for more than a decade. Each room is a delightful, and the attention to detail never fails to impress. The rooms are frequently redecorated, and while I’m sure I’ve stayed in this one before, it was such a lovely surprise to see it in shades of blue and red this time.
Details of the headboard and wallpaper (left), and armchair with curtain detail (right)
A hearty breakfast to see me through a busy day!
The London Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour, I could spend hours in the showrooms.
I explored the latest collections with my friend Melissa White (wearing her scarf expertly in the Chemisier knot), and it was so much fun to spot her work in so many of the showrooms we visited. Here at Andrew Martin, with her Lantern Parade wallpaper for Kit Kemp.
During Design Week, there are talks, tours, and demonstrations you can join. Here, a lampshade painting demonstration by Bloomsbury Revisited.
New Kit Kemp wallpaper collection for GP & J Baker (the green one on the right reminds me of the Hermès Carré Kantha scarf from the SS2008 collection).
Melissa and her Songbird wallpaper in Mist.
Tea time
In the evening, we met up at the Soho Hotel for the launch of Kit Kemp’s latest Design Stories book. The walls of the drawing room were covered in Rufus, a fantastical landscape Melissa had painted for Kit Kemp. Although the design exists as a wallpaper, a fabric version was used to cover the walls.
Here’s a detail of Rufus, next to the curtain in an Orange Puff fabric with a leading edge in a Pop Art border trim by Kit Kemp for Christopher Farr. It all works so beautifully together.
The beautiful drawing room is decorated entirely in Kit Kemp’s new Harvest Moon collection for Andrew Martin. The armchair on the left is upholstered in Meadow Hill, a scaled-down and spliced-together version of the Rufus design covering the wall.
The new Design Stories book
Another magnificent Magnolia tree!
I also went to Liberty of London to source new fabrics for the MaiTai Collection bag inserts. So many beautiful displays across the entire floor, and so many gorgeous designs to choose from.
Back home and while putting this post together, I realised how well the dress’s colours match one of my latest embroidered flower pictures.
I always start with a little painting, and then add embroidery for a three-dimensional effect.
Another brilliant find while in London: the Hydrobalm tinted lipstick by Westman Atelier. It feels like a lip balm and looks like a lipstick. Highly recommended (I chose the colour Juice, a sheer coral flush, perfect for summer).
This year, my little lemon trees produced over 50 fruits combined, more than double last year’s harvest! The picture below is from February; since then, the lemons have almost doubled in size.
I spotted these wild narcissi while walking the dogs. They looked so delicate and sweet, so I didn’t have the heart to pick them.
Links to all places, events and people mentioned above. No affiliations, as always. Just sharing what I admire, love and enjoy!
Chelsea Harbour Design Centre
WALLPAPERS AND FABRICS
What a feast for the eyes! Thank you for sharing your lovely photos and stories about your trip to London
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coming along! So happy to know you enjoyed the stories and pictures 🇬🇧
DeleteAh Tai what a wonderful newsletter full of glorious observations as ever, and what lovely memories of your visit to London. Thank you so much for including me with my work. It was an absolute joy to spend a lovely day with you. And didn't we have a hoot at the Soho Hotel for Kit's book launch? Looking through that book on my journey home, I was absolutely blown away by yet another volume full of inspiring ideas. I'm also so tickled that your fabulous new dress matches your embroidered flower pictures. Can't wait to see you again soon.
ReplyDeleteThe fun we had, Mel! Chelsea Harbour was so great and inspirational, and I was thrilled to have met everyone you knew. The book launch party was such great fun and simply fabulous, with Firmdale's magnificence fully unleashed, and it was so great to see the venue's walls lined with your work. I had the book signed the next day, btw (at Ham Yard), which made it all the more special. Like you, I am blown away looking through it! See you soon, can't wait xxx
DeleteMaiTai, Thank you for sharing your lovely Spring trip. Still three feet of snow on the ground where I live. Enjoying the warm tones in your photographs might make this cold snow melt faster. Always love your posts. Laura
ReplyDeleteDear Laura, Thank you so much for taking the time to say hello! It's been so many years, and I always love it when you comment. Sending you tons of spring sunshine to help that snow melt faster!
DeleteTake care and have a beautiful spring ahead, Tai
What a fun posting! Love the beautiful colors in every photo. Spring at its best!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lively content. I’m in Connecticut USA, watching it snow!🤨❄️😟
London must be one of the prettiest cities in springtime, and I was so lucky with the weather. Thank you so much for the lovely comment, and I hope the sun melts the snow in no time!
DeleteDear MaiTai, I was going to write to you today and ask after you since it has been ages since you have posted anything. What a relief and delight to receive an email with a link to this latest post. It is always lovely to see the photos and to read your descriptions about what you are observing. Thank you for adding some sunshine to my day. Don't hold back; post some more, soon! Kind regards, Carolyn
ReplyDeleteDear Carolyn, What a coincidence! Time was just flying by, and it was only when I started working on this blog that I realised I hadn’t posted anything since Christmas. I am so glad you enjoyed the post—thanks so much for the lovely words. Hope you are enjoying a beautiful spring!
DeleteBeautiful! Thank you for sharing!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!! So glad you enjoyed the post!
DeleteSuch a lovely post. Looks like you had a wonderful trip, with so much to do! Your new dress is so colorful and gorgeous! Thank you for sharing with us.💕
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the lovely comment! A London visit is always a whirlwind and such wonderful fun. The dress was a truly lucky find, as La Double J only has a limited presence in London’s big department stores. One day I'd love to go to their Milan store!
DeleteAll the wallpapers were so well done! Pleasant to see them. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI know, so gorgeous! I'm such a fan of wallpaper, too.
DeleteLiebe Taina, Deine Posts sind jedes Mal ein Fest für die Sinne! Danke, dass Du Dir immer wieder die Mühe machst und Zeit nimmst, uns mit auf Deine Reisen zu nehmen! Herzlichst Bettina
ReplyDeleteLiebe Bettina, wie schön, dass wir uns hier ab und an wieder treffen! Ich hoffe, es geht Dir gut und dass auch in Deutschland bereits die ersten Frühlingsboten zu spüren sind. Ich freue mich immer, wenn Du mich auf meinen Reisen begleitest, einen ganz lieben Dank! Herzlichst, Taina
DeleteAs one of your subscribers who lives in the UK, it was lovely to see someone enjoying London. London has been getting a lot of negative press lately, some deserved, but it still has much to offer, as you show so beautifully. I love the dress too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the lovely and thoughtful comment. London has always been one of my favourite cities. I still very much love visiting, and am always having a wonderful time. But it has definitely changed. I lived there for a few years in the late 90's/early 2000's and it was so carefree back then. In recent years, I've become cautious when using my phone and am no longer carrying an expensive bag. Chelsea and South Ken feel still feel safe. I hope some other parts of London will turn around one day.
DeleteWhat a pleasure to see your post this morning! Many thanks for sharing the beauty of London and London Design Week. Last week the V&A had an interview with Kit Kemp discussing her new book and it was a pleasure to "meet" her over Zoom. Such an inspiring person! I love seeing your embroidered flower pictures and getting a peak at your process. They are absolutely beautiful! Happy Spring to you. Lucia
ReplyDeleteDear Lucia, - you are right, Kit is such an inspirational women. I truly admire her vision, taste and execution. The V&A talk must have been wonderful to listen to, and I wish there would be a way to still access it. I'm so happy you like my flowers, thank you so much! Wishing you a wonderful spring, too!
DeleteSuch a delightful post, darling Tai!
ReplyDeleteDesign Week, get togethers with DS and dear friends, I am sure, put a “Spring “ in your step and will provide inspiration for days to come.
Noticed your lipstick was in perfect harmony with your new dress! I will check out both.
Happy Easter and happy Spring, T xx
Happy Spring to you, Darling T!
DeleteThe trip was so much fun indeed, and the inspirations will last for weeks and beyond!
The lipstick is truly wonderful, and I love the simple packaging with the magnetic closure (similar to Hermès' lipstick cases, only with a stronger magnet). I bought one of their blushes too, it is highly effective as you only need a minimal amount.
Wishing you a very happy Easter, too!
xxx