I love velours. My next home will be adorned with at least one piece of furniture of velours. It´s that old fashion cover for furniture which give any chair or couch elegance and coolness at the same time. Just don´t overdo it and end up with a home that remind you of your grand- grandparents house. If you want some good ideas, check out shops like GUBI , THE APARTMENT and 1STDIBS
Wood, marble, black and nature.
Lovely design by Alain Carle at " Le Phenix Residence, Quebec. So simple, classic and stylish. Super modern, yet warm and cozy. I love it ! The great mix of different types of wood, makes the interior interesting and warm. At the same time as the black marble also heats up the interior.
Black counter in marble used in the kitchen.
Smoked oak used as floor and oiled oak on wall´s and ceiling.
Black is powerful.
Black is usually a color associated with mystique, something negativ and many times even something frightening and evil. But still it´s the most popular color around. It makes such a strong statement whether it´s in fashion, architecture or design. Using black adds a lot of character, but you need quit the psyche to surround yourself in it. Take a look and see just how great it is.
Privat house with black exterior. It strengthen the look of the house.
E-type Jaguar 4.2 .A dream !
Arne Jacobsen The ´7 special edition in black with black legs. So much more amazing than the traditional one with steel legs.
Great mix of black and color in privat home. It gives a lot of character and collects the room.
Black tiles and brass in bathroom. Uber cool !
Laurent couch in black and brass from 1stdibs.com
Linnen in black from AIAYA. Sleep well IF you dare.
Black Spinning light BH2 from &Tradition.
Staircase in black lacquer finished with gold metal strip. A very exclusive look.
Fridge from SMEG in black.
Home wall in black marble. WAUW!
Amazing kitchen in black lacquer. Specially when mixed with raw stone. Great contrast.
Special edition EAMES chair in black and brass. I want !
Me on a really good day :-)
It´s impossible to mention black without showing my sisters swimsuit and lingerie brand North.dk which has got only things in black.
And of course my black baby, Caesar.
The 10 best places in South of France.
We ended our great holiday in France. To me South of France is something very familiar. We have been coming there since I remember and will come again and again. The South of France has that special feeling of soft color, lavender, soft pink houses, small antique markets, great food, olive trees, lovely smelling baguette, Boeuf Tartare, super cheeses, Moule Mariniere and amazing wine. But it´s also like a circus for grown up´s with great shopping, vild cars and super crazy wealth which is fun to be a part of for a shorter while.
OUR FAMILY HOME IN FRANCE.
We are so lucky to have a family home in the mountainside behind Cannes. Up here we can enjoy and relax and just see beauty all around fare away from all the crowds. My parents bought the house 17 years ago just in time for me and Luca to have our wedding in this amazing place. We visit the house 2-3 times yearly and during summer we invite friends and family to stay with us. And the house is full of happy loud children and funny parents.
COLOMBE D´OR.
It´s always been a great wish of mine to visit Colombe dÓr the amazing art filled restaurant in St. Paul. It is a restaurant so full of history of the worlds greatest artists. BUT you must book a table a long time in advance, which I have done now for next summer.
The Colombe d’Or started life in 1920 as “Chez Robinson”, a café bar with an open air-terrace where people would dance at weekends. It soon attracted characters from the neighbourhood, which gave the idea to Paul with the support of his wife Baptistine “Titine”, to extend and reopen as the Colombe d’Or, an inn of 3 rooms. The friendly atmosphere together with Paul’s deep interest in the arts brought the visit of many artists and the walls were soon covered by paintings, which often were exchanged for a stay or a few meals.The end of the war saw the arrival of the international crowd and the new friendships between Paul’s son Francis and new visitors: Yves Montand, Lino Ventura, Serge Reggiani. Francis married Yvonne a young women of Danish origin and together they followed in Paul’s steps, commissioning amongst other things a colourful ceramic by Fernand Leger for the terrace. The fifties were the time of Miro, Braque, Chagall, followed by the time of Calder, Cesar and all the others, it is also, in 1951, the story of Montand and Simone Signoret and their wedding in Saint-Paul.
LOCAL MARKETS
All over France, in every little village, you will find a cute market on week-ends. Big or small it´s never boring to look around for the perfect sun hat, an antique fireplace or the best home produced goat cheese.
L´ AUBERGE DU VIEUX CHATEAU.
L´auberge du Vieux Chateau is a lovely intimate restaurant and hotel in Cabris. We usually go there a couple of times during summer to have a lovely, elegant and affordable dinner with an amazing view point of all of the South of France. On a hot night you sit outside on this tiny little square next to an knight´s castle otherwise you sit inside the lovely and light restaurant enjoying enjoy light 3-4 dishes. You can even stay at there small hotel which is super french and cute.
VILLA MARIE
We stayed in Villa Marie last summer on a small trip to St. Tropez. It´s an old wine yard, very rustic and charming with a great pool build into the mountain. Obviously they have an amazing kitchen here and even the breakfast is to die for. The villa is situated 5 minutes outside the center of St.Tropez in the direction of the beaches on the north side and you are out of the craziness of St.Tropez. Every corner of this hotel is made with such details and cure, and its great to go around exploring.
MOUGINS.
Arts Arts Arts and Food. Mougins is full of small gallaries and restaurants. You walk around the beautiful small narrow streets and find the nicest pieces of art, modern or old. And you find some restaurants which are absolutely great. And shops with cute things for the house.
CLUB 55
´55 for me is absolutely the best to come back to. I am totally a traditionalist and return to places I love all the time. This is one of my favourites and will always be. I have great memories from here and I love the ambiance and to observe great looking families and be amazed about the people coming from boats to sit at the lovely lavender coloured tables drinking Rose´, eating great grilled fish and the famous vegetable plate they do.
Their shop is another favourite of mine. I could buy absolutely EVERYTHING they have from towels to beach dresses to hats to sharong to bracelets to carpets to to to......... Great style and colours. Ones, many years ago I went to try on a swimsuit and when I came out to see myself in the mirror, my biggest idol, Jack Nicholson, was observing me and said I looked real good in it !!! I bought it on the spot and wore it for toooo many years!!!
BYBLOS
Byblos is something to try just to have been in the same place where Mick Jagger wanted to marry Bianca, but ended up leaving because of the big commotion. The hotel is build from many small houses the owner has bought through time and there is something special about this place. La Cave downstairs is great for dancing until the early morning and the good thing is that you will loose a few pounds just by being there from the exaggerated number of people and the crazy heat.
CARLTON.
When we have been a couples of days too long in our home up the hill, we go for the coats to do a little shopping, eating, bathing, observing people, enjoying cool cars and much more. The Carlton Beach Club is great for a light lunch and a little breeze . You sit out on the pier and follow whats going on at sea, on land and on the beach all in ones. I like observing! All 3 of us likes good food, great cars and a few shops so a quick trip to Cannes works for all 3 of us.
LA BASTIDE SAINT-ANTOINE.
La Bastide Saint-Antoine is this amazing Michelin restaurant in Grasse, in land from Cannes. Remember your wallet, it´s going to cost you. But you must try at least ones. You will be served the most delicious dishes in amazing surroundings from a very pleasent staff. The hotel itself is beautiful situated in the most lovely olive grove as fare as the eye can see.
VIVA LA FRANCE, Christina
The 8 best places in Panarea, Isole Eolie, Sicily
I was in doubt if I should make this newsletter or keep it to myself. Because I love the fact that Panarea is so unspoiled and I have had it to myself for so long,... but here I go. Panarea is for me the absolute best place in Europe to stay for the summer. It´s one of 8 tiny islands called ´Isole Eolie´, on the north side of Sicily and we have been coming here for the past 9 years. Here you find the clearest waters and will go by boat all day long to visit other islands (preferably with the cutest captain you can find ), best restaurants, great nature, volcanoes, kind and beautiful people, super hotels and great bars. A mix of Ibiza, Portofino, Capri and St.tropez, but much more low key. No gold and diamonds. Everything here is magical. And you will be hooked for life.
Lisca Bianca is a beautiful little hotel down at the port, owned by one of the 3 sisters who basically own the whole island. The hotel is with sweet small rooms and amazing interior. A great bar for Aperitivo and lounge music and even DJ and dancing during week-ends. Everything is kept in blue, turquoise and white which makes it a joy for the eye.
Right across from Lisca Bianca you find The Bridge, a super nice and trendy sushi place which have been lucky to attract one of the best original sushi chefs to the island. Everybody meet up here after a long day on the boats and get a few aperitivi before going home to change into something more sexy for the evening. Great music and great atmosphere in relaxed surroundings where you can keep an eye on whats going on on the pier from the balcony, at the same time.
If you are interested in Michelin restaurants in a truly beautiful, balanced and harmonic setting with a hostess who are so delicious and "in gamba" that you can't take you eyes off of her, then you must try Hycesia. In this place you eat the most amazing and delicate plates and have a wine list bigger than The Bible. The owner also has a cute little hotel next to the restaurant which is lovely and simple.
The Crown Jewel of the island is Raya. Raya is situated at the highest point of the island and seems the have the power on Panarea. It´s an ecological hotel, with an enormous pure saltwater pool. The rooms are decorated with delicacy and the whole hotel througout is made in a style of a mix of Bali, Italy and luxury hippy. Down at the port Raya has one of my favourite shops with clothes made by hand in the most delicious materials, pattens and colours. Beach/sailing/party wear in a very luxury hippy way. At Raya you usually arrive barefood. To top it all off, Raya has the best Aperitivo place on top of the roof of their restaurant in the port. From here you see the sun going down on LiscaBianca, the magic cliff in the water just infront of Panarea. After your aperitivo, you go to the restaurant downstairs where later there will be music and dancing till the early morning.
Hotel and restaurant Sirena is actually situated on Filicudi, the island on the right of Panarea. This great little colourful place is yet another must see in the seas of The Eolie. Great food in another lovely island with black amazing volcanic beaches.
Quartara is another small lux hotel on the Panarea, definitely a place for couples. High in the mountain and romantic, with a great restaurant. From up here you have a very nice view of the island and the ocean and are able to stay a little apart from the rest of the crowd.
You want authentic Sicilian, you have to visit Da Pina where you will dine on original Sicilian ceramic and eat original Sicilian food. Some heavy.... some light. But lots of fresh fish, wine and melanzane will be on the menu.
If you are at Banacal Sushi you will dine right under the stars. You are basically on top of the roof of Lisca Bianca and across from Bridge and seldom have I seen something so amazing. You eat the best sushi which is served in a lovely way and enjoy the atmosphere from all sides. It´s just great to sit with great food, great wine and great family and live life to the fullest in these surroundings.
I must go back as soon as possible, Christina
12 amazing pool´s I would love to swim in some day. Even better if it´s in my own front yard.
I can´t help but day dream, when looking at these amazing pools. One day, if lucky, I dream to design, build and swim in one similar to these in front of my wonderful home, Casa Christina, in Sicily which I designed and build 10 years ago.
I crave light and clear waters, and will for sure choose a white based or very light green coloured stone to have the effect of sand-layered crystal clear waters.
One day very soon I hope to swim in a beautiful pool designed and build by me in front of this great home of mine in Sicily.
DENVER UNION STATION.
If you need a great reason to go to Denver, here is one. DENVER UNION STATION. If you’ve ever stood inside an Avroko-designed space, then you are fully aware of the visual feast of trinkets, vintage one-offs and authentic storytelling that ensues. The firm's principal designers, Greg Bradshaw, Adam Farmerie, Kristina O'Neal, and William Harris have an enticing way of transporting you into their world in a meals time.
It only makes sense that the New York based design firm would be selected to restore Denver Union Station, one of the city’s oldest establishments. The relic originally opened it’s doors back in the summer of 1881 and underwent a series of renovations over the following century. Fast forward 134 years, the 22-gate underground bus facility and light rail station is now a multi-functional space, that includes a hotel, several restaurants and shops — many of which, designed by Avroko.
Inspired by the idea of luxury train travel and the American industrial era, the designers created an eclectic social hub and two bars in this one of a kind historical preservation project. Beige and brown architectural elements and original textures were enhanced by painting everything white and focus was placed on custom lighting and furniture to bring life and a richness to each space.
The wooden benches, free standing lamp posts and shuffleboard tables create a fun-loving spirit in the Great Hall, the drinks menu in the Terminal Bar harken back to nostalgic days of train travel in the style of an old departure board, and the lush fabrics found through The Cooper Lounge are reminiscent of Pullman car drinking booths. Here's to the next 100 years.
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Bring back wood inside.
A perfect way to give warmth to a home, is to decorate wall´s and other surface´s with wood panels. Use wood as the organic contrast to soften up a modern concrete house. The choises are many now, fortunately not only pine and birch like in the ´70. I remember some horrific examples from back then. Stickwood has a great variety of planks made from natural wood which can easily be attached to your wall´s.
Arne Jacobsen, a true pride for Denmark.
Arguably Denmark’s most famous 20thcentury furniture designer, Arne Jacobsen was also a highly accomplished architect. Shortly after graduating in 1927 he opened his own design office, which he ran with driven determination until his death in 1971. Through his long and productive career, Jacobsen worked in architecture, furniture, product and textile design, and was a professor of architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen for many years.
AJ himself
Being a Dane in Italy obviously I had to have as many danish icons in my house as possible, when I designed and build it 10 years ago. It´s a great mix of Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, George Jensen, PH and Luis Poulsen, when it comes to chairs and light. Børsen Pleasure made a very nice article about me when the house was ready back then. Now it´s time for a change, after more than 300-400 lunches with a minimum of 18 people at the time, I am going to reupholster all my beautiful, but much worn chairs, and I am thinking to go for leather this time.
Its all about gold and marble at Saint Laurent´s, Paris.
Something great to see next time you are in Paris. Saint Laurent reopens in Paris. In years past, everybody fell in love with the sharp and sleek design of Saint Laurent’s pace on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore in Paris. Outfitted in marble, complemented with mirror walls and glossy black interior accents, the space was a visual feast. Today, the fashion label has re-opened the 390-square-meter retail charm with the addition of tribal sculptures, gold coffee tables and creamy velvet loungers.
Designed by Hedi Slimane, French photographer, fashion designer and current creative director for Saint Laurent, the boutique features pieces by Jacques Adnet, Jean Besnard, Edith Borger, Théo Ruth, Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann by Alfred Porteneuve and André Sornay.
This time around, the space is so much more than a visual feast. It’s a museum of sculpture and fashion, a true reflection of the brand’s timeless presence in the ever-changing fashion realm.
Berlin.
I just had a great trip to Berlin with good friends. And in the few day´s we spend in the city I have visited a couple of nice places. Berlin is a great mix of many different architectural styles from classic to fascist to modern. Newly "started" ca. 25 years ago and with it´s ca. 3.5 million habitants it has a little cozy-ness like Copenhagen, the large boulevards of Paris and some of the modern vibe of N.Y. But it feels like it has not found it´s own character just yet. We started with a lunch in the studio of Olafur Eliasson, where LittleSun has one of their offices. Here you are meet with a fantastic energi of a large staff of architects, designers and artist. Amazing !
In the evenings we had the best cocktails at SAGE, a great place with young and older, smart and families, trendy and classic. Super loung music, cigar room and the coolest bathrooms. We visited BIKINI, great hotel and club, Kimchiprincess a fun korean place, Sale e Tabacchi a great typical milanese restaurant and the sky lounge bar at Hotel de Roma. Sadly I missed out on the famous Kaefer Restaurant on top of the Reichstag building in the very heart of Berlin, but fortunately on Saturday we were lucky to have a privat showing of a bunker which has been turned into a large gallery. The bunker was bought by an advertising mogul, Christian Boros, to be able to build his own penthouse on top of the 5 story bunker. And off course we saw Memorial to the murdered Jews, a breathtaking place. Beautiful and so sad at the same time. The rest of the time we would walk and walk the streets of Berlin and take it all in.
Our Queen is turning 75 today.......HURRA HURRA HURRA.
Today it is the 75 th. birthday of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. I went in front of her palace at Amalienborg with my son Oliver last year, and it´s so sweet to see young and old with thousands of flags waiting for her to come out on the balcony and greet everyone. I was watching a program about her the other day, and I was again reminded and amazed of how skilled she is. The Queen is intelligent, has a lot of knowledge on a great variety of subjects, she is strong, creative , artistic and a great Ambassador to Denmark. She has been able to bring The Danish Royal Family into the 20th. century in a modern way, which makes people love and respect her even more. It´s such a joy to see so many people from all over Denmark who travels to Copenhagen to celebrate her on her special day. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Queen Margrethe and Prince Henri. She always has great style with colourful dresses and fur.
A Grandma with her grandchildren , children and all of Denmark who comes to pay their respect, on her birthday. Even if reality hits us sometimes, Denmark is still one of the best countries to live in, modern, great and save. Long live The Queen.
Christina
Copenhagen Radio City Hall.
Radio City Hall ´Radiohuset´ in Copenhagen was created by the Danish functionalist architect, Vilhelm Lauritzen, in the years from 1937-45. With help from his dear colleague, architect Finn Juhl who designed most of the furniture in the building. Being build during the war, with very few resources, Vilhelm Lauritzen found that instead of using rubber, he would use cheap soft Finnish birch mixed with teak, to create the right conditions for sound throughout the building. All wall´s are covered with maple, which over the years has turned reddish because of the exposure of the light. The building was conserved in 1994 for being a masterpiece of danish modernism.
During ´Danish Fashion Week´14 ´ I was asked, by Goldmind, to be responsible for the interior for their ´Jewellery Room ´ event in the beautiful ceramic room which is located on the second floor of Radiohuset. Carl Hansen & Son was very kind to lend us their incredible classic designer furniture for the purpose.
The Tower.
I went for lunch with Luca the other day in the newly opened restaurant, The Tower, which is the tower of the Danish Parliament. The view from the tower of Christiansborg Palace is unique and magnificent – Copenhagen’s highest tower, which is now open to the public, for the very first time. The tower is the property of the Danish Parliament, whose Members took the initiative to open it – for the pleasure of all those who live in or are visiting Copenhagen. Bojesen is your host at the restaurant, and you will be served classic danish open sandwiches and great desserts with a twist. If you are lucky you could be sitting across the present Danish Prime Minister, ´Selfie Helle´ and other MP´s. Great interior, good service and nice light food. Definitely worth trying.
View of The Tower at Christiansborg Palace.
Great simple interior at The Tower.
Amazing presentation of traditional Danish open sandwiches.
70´s Marble has really come back and it´s great.
I love the fact that for the past couple of years it´s been allowed to use marble again. Back in the ´70 my father imported marble from Italy and we had marble and brass tables everywhere. Now it´s back and you can use it all over the house in many ways.
The Corner on the corner, Il Angolo.
Just before flying to Mexico on vacation, we made a small stop over in Sicily. And obviously had to visit our favourite restaurant for lunch. Located just around the corner from our home in Sicily, you find this fantastic little exclusive restaurant called, AIl´ Angolo. My favourite place away from home. We have been coming there since Sig. Perni opened it 13 years ago. They have followed our lives since forever, and takes us in, like family. Oliver, our son, who started coming there 9 month before even being born, is perhaps one of the only children, who is really welcome at the restaurant. A little strange for an italian, BUT sig. Peri is a perfectionist. It´s usually only open for dinner, but anytime we call and ask if we can please please please come for lunch, sig. Perni, will turn his boat around in the Mediterranean sea, where he is usually spending whatever little sparetime he has, and het up the Volcano Etna, and start cooking his amazing food for us. The restaurant which is approximately 50m2 all included is full of great small cozy classic Sicilian ornaments and he does everything himself ! From bread, pasta, sotto olio to ice creme. Wine, ham, delicacies, vegetable and Grappa he will spend all of his holidays finding. My absolute favourite is "Tagliatelle con Tatufo" , his fantastic homemade pasta with truffle . It´s a MUST to visit if you should ever find your self on the escarpment of Mount Etna.
In love with the latest AJ 2015.
The 7 is now available as a special edition to celebrate it´s 60 year anniversary in a cool black with black or rose with brass. I love both, and would definitely get them again even efter promising myself never having to look at another 7 in my life. Being danish you are basically born sitting on a 7 and it can get a bit old. Great idea to give it renaissance in this way.
Royal Smushi Cafe.
If you feel like a good piece of cake and a hot coffee or chocolate, you MUST swing by Royal Smushi Cafe near the pedestrian street "Strøget" of Copenhagen. This magnificent place feels like jumping strait into a H.C.Andersen-Candy-Floss- Sugar-Tivoli-cave. So great for both adults and children. Inside you will also find sweet decorations and books for the house.
Nice lunch with a good old friend.
What I love most about being back home in Wonderful Copenhagen, after 20 years in Italy, is that I can call any old friend or family member on a spare of a moment and arrange for a coffee or a lunch. I have my favourite places, I am super traditional ! But I have sworn to see new things here from now on. Almanak, was the choice for the day. With it´s great setting by the waterfront of Copenhagen it give you that nice feeling of air and space. And it´s simplicity in decor and food, you feel light and full on energi to take on the rest of the day. Thanks for a great lunch, Old friend ;-)
Maximalism in 2015 in a more affordable manner.
I love the English way of overdoing things, in a stylish way. Mix and match colours, materials, stripes and shapes. And lot´s of it.
If it´s a little too much for your taste, you can build it up slowly and in an affordable way. Start with one key piece and quietly find smaller objects which suits you, to build further.
As an example you can get fantastic things for a good price in all the bigger comercial stores. A really good way is to go to the lesser costly places, in this case ILVA, where you can find great things for a reasonable price. And if you can´t manage by yourself, I can definitely offer my services as a personal shopper, read more....