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The talented and dear Dorthe Zangenberg is having a lovely exhibition until 15th. of November in Chapelle Sainte-Elisabeth in Villefranche sur Mer, if you should find yourself in or around this area you should definitely go and see the paintings made by hand on her iPad, David Hockney-style.
Lovely Bernard and his shirt :-)
Get inspired and enjoy, Christina.
For me Halloween has always been something frightening since, my best friend and I, went alone to see the movie ´Halloween` at the age of 10 in Vester Vov Vov ( if you have my age you remember Michael Myers and Jamie Lee Curtis really well, ........because you won´t be able to forget ) and then 10 years later attending a Halloween party in London which also scared the living ....... out of me ( the English like the American´s go all in when it comes to Halloween !! )
These day´s it´s a different story and I know my own limits better, for which reason I only get involved with kids stuff during Halloween. Since we went back to Copenhagen we are all in 31th of October in our neighbourhood. I was surprised the first year to see how many kids turned up. I usually don´t buy too little of anything, but that night I stood up from the couch and answered the door close to 99 times, really !!!! In the end I had to give the rest of the kids small exclusive Olive Olie bottle samples because I has out of candy. I have now learned my lesson and buy plenty :-) Another super important thing during Halloween are the right tools and you will not be standing like I did the first year with you heart up your throat while trying to carve and decorate 10 pumpkin with 9 small boys with each their butcher knife :-/ I hope their mothers won´t read this newsletter. Here is a little inspiration for next week.
Decorations of the house is important. Some go all the way with gimmick´s and scary stuff others are more simple like me.
Cakes and Candy are the main ingredient for a good Halloween. Make scary cup cakes with bleeding scares, meringue ghost´s, blood-like alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks and to serve kids "dirty-finger-free" candy insert lollipop´s in a pumpkin.
Make cute decorations and maybe not all in orange, if you are not a big fan like me, ......unless it involves Hermes ;-)
As for costumes you can do whatever you like. Cute, smart , sexy, scary, even simply through a sheet over you head and make 2 holes to peep through.
This is how it ended up this year, with Olivers good friends, great pumpkins, red wine for the parents, a beautiful decorated house and a little sickness after all the candy.
Boooo and enjoy, Christina
Sharifi-ha House by Nextoffice is this fascinating designed turning house in Darrous, Tehran, Iran. I am crazy about it.
Uncertainty and flexibility lie at the heart of the design concept in Sharifi-ha House. The sensational, spatial qualities of the interiors, as well as the formal configuration of its exterior, directly respond to the displacement of turning boxes that lead the building volume to become open or closed, obtaining introverted or extroverted character. These changes may occur according to changing seasons or functional scenarios of floor plans.
Architecture is an amazing thing, Christina
I have never been considered a `Sporty Spice´....... actually the contrary ! I am more a horseback riding, Alpine skiing, motorcycle riding, cake eating - type of girl.
But everybody is saying ......you should, you need, you must, you have to ! And so I have had to give in for the group pressure. And started, ones again , this morning at the WELL-COME gym in my hood. I am sure with time, I will learn to appreciate it, but for now I am more appreciative of the place and interior. It´s certainly a great gym, clean, well done and with everything you could wish from types of training to machines to the great AMAZING SPACE spa.
Get in shape ..... I will try, Christina.
We were supposed to fly out to NY today, but that ain´t happening :-( At least I am well prepared for next time. Originality, interior and location are the most important thing for me, here are the 6 hotels I would have gone for.
This New York City hotel is located in the city’s elite Tribeca neighborhood. It features an underground pool and fitness center, as well as an on-site restaurant and spa.
Views of New York City or the atrium are featured in each room at The Nomad Hotel. Mahogany work desks along with an iHome docking station and an in-room safe are also included. Nightly turn down service is provided for guests.
Nestled in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, this boutique hotel is 10 minutes’ walk from the New York University campus and Washington Square Park.
Boasting elegant 1920s-inspired décor, guest rooms at The Jade Hotel feature luxurious leather chairs and rich fabrics. Guests are pampered with a designer bathrobe, slippers and spa quality toiletries.
Situated in the upscale SoHo neighborhood, this luxury hotel is close to art galleries, designer shops and popular restaurants. This modern hotel features an outdoor restaurant and all rooms have city views.
Boasting an outdoor rooftop pool in the summer which turns intimate lounge in the winter, 2 gourmet restaurants and modern rooms with city views is this 4-star hotel. It is centrally located in the heart of the Chelsea Riviera between the High Line and the Hudson River.
Featuring an interior lobby garden with trees and ivy walls, this boutique hotel is within 5 minutes' walk to Central Park and the Columbus Circle Subway Station.
Have a safe trip and enjoy, Christina.
My mother and I just went to see , The Danish Cabinet Makers autumn exhibition, which runs til the 18.th of Oct. 2015 at Øregaard Museum in Hellerup. Young, older, famous and not so know cabinet makers were asked a specific job and the outcome was beautiful and skilled. The exhibition itself was very interesting and the surroundings at Øregaard museum are amazing thanks to a generous donation from A.P. Møller and wife Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond and the Commune of Gentofte which made it possible to make a ´true to history´ beautiful renovation of the main house. All colours in the house has been selected carefully in line with the past in delicate soft colours which will not disturb any kind of exhibition in the museum. You should visit and get inspired from both the exhibition and surroundings.
I just could´t help myself. I know it´s a " bit out there ", but these amazing children´s room are to die for. Can you imagine the smile on you baby´s face if they would open up the door for the first time and see something like this :-) I am sure you would be MOM or DAD of the year.
If you have ever been to MONZA for a real F1 this is what you would build for your boy or girl, everybody likes a fast car.
For your little girl who love space and air.
If they are dreamers and want to fly the world this could be the start.
Since Denmark has it´s first person in SPACE at the moment, properly this will be the choice for quite some time.
Are you having a dream of creating a great sailer maybe this could help.
And of course there is always The Princess.
It´s my birthday today, HURRAH for me... ;-) and as the most natural thing I have invited my whole family for lunch at Cafe Victor in the center of Copenhagen, because it feels like home.
Are you are planing a trip to Copenhagen you should definitely try some of these restaurants below. Copenhagen has a great variety of foods and restaurants to visit, this is 5 of many of my favourites within a radius of less than 200 m from each other.
CAFE´ VICTOR, ..............I have a soft spot for Cafe´Victor. I have been coming here all my life with friends and family. Since the early 90-ties, dancing to great music untill late and then meeting up with the whole Clan ( my family ) at least a couple of times during the week for coffee or lunch . It´s kind of a home away from home to me, not to mention restaurant Manager, Carsten, who has been one of the most important, funny and gentle ingredients at Cafe Victor since ´The dawn of Time´. It´s like a typical cozy french bistro and you will find everything from traditional danish open sandwiches to Moules marinières, oysters or a great steak.
FIAT, ..............Having lived in Italy for the past 22 years I have become just a tiny bit critical about Italian food outside Italy. But FIAT is definitely an Italian restaurant where I have dared to invited my Sicilian in-laws for lunch and dinner and getting out of it alive !!!!!!! FIAT create lovely non-pretensious simple plates, .......just the way Italian food should be.
TAARNET ( 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 ex-Danish Prime Minister, ´Selfie Helle´ and other MP´s. Great interior, good service and nice light food. Definitely worth trying.
PLUTO, ........Really cozy place in great atmosphere, with lots of young people in great spirit. It´s a mix of international cuisine, with great spanish tapas, italian pasta´s, beef and much more. Great young waiters and a guaranty of a fun evening.
MARCHAL, ......... This beautiful and elegant Michelin restaurant which is in connection with the great Hotel D´angleterre is the place to go for a special night out if you want to be impressed or impress.
Have a great night out, Christina
The Apartment re-opens this month. I can´t wait to see it, better and greater that before, if that´s even possible ??? If I could ....... I would buy most things here. The Apartment have only very carefully selected items which are different, colourful and interesting.
Ceramic tiles are usually used for interior in bathrooms or kitchens, and often only in warmer countries like in the south, because the ceramic tiles take the temperatur of the surroundings and keeps the cool that is needed there . But for wall´s and in modern isolated houses like we have it here, ceramic tiles are easily used without problems . My 4 favourite tiles companies are ...MADE A MANO ........ FIRED EARTH ........ DAHL STUDIO ....... CASA CHRISTINA . Ceramic tiles are great to give a room that little extra to make it delicate and interesting.
Simple tiles kept in white on wall´s and black vucanic tiles for the floor.
Silver mirror-like ceramic tiles make a simple kitchen wall like this much more interesting.
Beautiful glazed tiles in white gives the feel of a room warmth in the bathroom.
Dark green glazed tiles gives an amazing effect in a simple bathroom.
Very chick and elegant with a mix of tiles, marble and brass.
Made a mano´s amazing light green floor tiles put in a herringbone effect is a new and beautiful way of using ceramic tiles.
Countertops costume made from Made a mano made for kitchens, bathrooms, bars and other.
Special mirror effect tiles are a great way to create a different kind of decor in a room.
The more traditional way to use ceramic tiles with colored decorated classic tiles like these or hand made tiles from CASA CHRISTINA.
Mini tiles to create you own costume made sink for kitchen or bathroom.
New "antique" rustic tiles in beautiful shapes gives this classic look in a modern way.
Beautiful, simple and light at the same time.
Let it go all the way through from ceiling to floor .
Super dramatic effect with the glazed black tiles on wall´s and the beautiful decorated floor.
A classic and beautiful way to use tiles in diamond shape in hallways.
I am in love with these crazy, lovely and magical lamps by french HERVE´ MATEJEWSKI who is not just a designer, but a cook, a decorator, a tailer and a craftsman. In Copenhagen you find his lamps at SPOTLIGHT in St. Kongensgade. Go there and go crazy :-) Each lamp is a piece of art. I would love to use them in a interior decoration some day. Each and one of them should have as much light and air around them to bring forward their uniqueness in a room. I am also loving the small detail like the coloured cords in each lamp.
POMME D'AMOUR
MUSHROOM
BOULE
We were for dinner at Llama the other day, and its such a joy for the eye. The South American inspired restaurant in the center of Copenhagen, has just been nominated for the very prestigious " The Restaurant and Bar Design Awards" for its amazing interior and concept, which amongst others has been created by Torben Klitbo, August Lund og Christian Lytje from Cofoco, Jakob Lange, Lars Larsen and world renowned architect Bjarke Ingels. Definitely a place to try when you are in Copenhagen.
Less is more........., BUT a little Leo is always great!
I can´t help but being fascinated whenever I see a nice leo print, whether it´s on a shoe, a bag or a coat. Since the first time I tried on one of my Grandma´s leopard printed shirt 40 years ago, I have been loving the animal print. Just make sure to mix it with something very simple, whether it´s in interior or fashion, and you will be able to get away with it, without making it look eccentric. The keyword here is SIMPLE !
Me, on a lovely autumn day in Paris wearing one of my favourite coats, .....keeping it simple. Other than my MAXMARA coat I am wearing Golden Goose sneakers, Chanel bag, Jitrois leather pants and North.dk T-shirt.
Mix and match with leo print in your interior.
Custom made chairs put in a "simple" environment, watch out and don´t overdo it !
Amazing cape from KARSTEN BACH
D&G underwear, sorry last years, so sad I didn´t get it myself :-(
About last night. Most of the day I went from event to event. First ARPER with great showrooms, designs and speeches in Parkhus 48, then my sisters pop up shop for North.dk, with mega marshmallow in the center of Copenhagen and last but not least Design Awards 2015 which was hosted at Paustian. BO BEDRE, Bolig Magasinet and Costume Living, arranged ´Design Awards 2015´again this year , a lovely event to celebrate and choose the best designers, up commers, comebacker´s and many more. I enjoyed myself with great food, wine, and in company of old and new friends, and one of my big idols, former education minister, Bertel Haarder.
Best designers 2015 ´GAMFRATESI´
Bertel Haarder presenting best designers 2015.
Food, sweets, wine, old and new friends.
Copenhagen by night.
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
Little Sun Charge is a high-performance solar phone charger and light designed by artist Olafur Eliasson and my dear long time friend engineer Frederik Ottesen.
Little Sun is a social business and global project addressing the need for light in a sustainable way that benefits communities without electricity, creates local jobs, and generates local profits.
Little Sun is currently distributing in more than 10 African countries, including Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, and Ghana – as well as in Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Launched in July 2012 at London’s Tate Modern, the Little Sun project has since distributed over 300,000 Little Sun lamps worldwide – and that number is quickly growing. When you buy a Little Sun, you receive a high-quality solar-powered lamp – but that’s not all. With each purchase you are investing in the delivery of Little Sun light to off-grid areas......... So what are you waiting for ?
Artist Olafur Eliasson
Little Sun Charge is a high-performance solar phone charger
Little Sun puts the power of the sun in the palm of your hand – creating safe, convenient, sustainable light you can take with you wherever you go.
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 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.
After a long and lovely vacation enjoying amazing food and wine in Italy and France, I thought it was a good idea to get a "jump start" to a more healthy living through a juice detox from Sundhedsværkstedet . I tried it ones before and I loved and felt good about it. Camilla who has Sundhedsværkstedet prepare these great juices, smoothies and soups of fruit and vegetables which cleans your system really well. The detox makes you less bloated and makes you feel better and ready to take on everyday life with much more energy. All you have to do is pay and pick up. You should really try it!
Enjoy, Christina
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