Last two weeks ago I was in Bangkok for some personal R&R or as I’d like to call it: Eat, Pray, Shop. What made this trip extra special is that it was my first time to travel abroad without any relatives and I was with the happy company of friends. Well technically, a friend since we were suppose to be a trio of girls but the other one had to cancel due to unavoidable circumstances.
This trip was almost a year in the making (and saving), but every bit was oh so worth it! It was my second time visiting Bangkok, the first time being around 6 or 7 years ago so it was quite a long time. Lots of changes apparently, such as having more western establishments than what we’ve seen during my previous visit. We stayed at Novotel Hotel in Siam Square and it was a very good location as it was walking distance to a lot of nice shopping areas.
If you’re familiar with Cubao X, then the parameters of Siam Square has a similar vibe to it, only make it much bigger. It’s like a place where most of the trendy slash hipster kids go out to play. I wasn’t sure what these army of cloned zebras are for or if they’re actually for sale, but they do make a good subject for a photo haha!
My friend, Jo and I also took a tour to the Royal Palace. During my first time in Bangkok, my family and I took the temple tour and it was okay. It’s just that I’ve reached my quota of temples from when we visited Shanghai and Beijing the previous year and wanted to see more of the Thai architecture, which is why I coerced Jo to pick this tour haha :) Was worth it more though, if you ask me :P
Somewhere inside we got lost on our way so we just took the liberty to do our own tour as oppose to being able to join our group. At the end of the gate when our tour guide saw us again, she was pretty much ecstatic to see us and semi-reprimanded us (in a humorous way) because she got really worried, which was both funny and touching.
The Thai’s have an amazing and somewhat distinct architecture. It’s almost like a good mix of Chinese and Indian, a clear reflection of their cultural roots.
Amazing details!
If you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time or you haven’t tried going to the palace tours, I do recommend it. Even if you’re not fond of architecture, I’m sure you’ll love the photogenic scenery that goes along with it :)
Philippe Starck is one of those people whom it’s considered simple blasphemy not to know, especially if you’re in any part of design field or just mingling and schmoozing around with the folks at the upper crust of our society. And no, he is not Ironman that’s Tony Stark right there and the one I’m talking about here is a French product designer whose designed headphones to toothbrushes, and more notably chairs (although I must say the robot suits would have been cool as well).
Posted above is an almost catalogue-like biased version of what I think to be are Starck’s commonly used chairs in Interiors. The chairs I’ve picked are based on my observations that aside from them being more than widely used, it has also been very much widely reproduced, copied and morphed into several variants of its originally produced design. Can’t say I blame them other designers/decorators/frustrated decorators slash homeowners out there for using these popular kids repeatedly because let’s face it, they’re really awesome.
So take note people and get schooled by these cool babies of Philippe Starck :)
One of my recent TV guilty pleasures would have to be ABC’s Revenge. I know, the title itself can seem a bit…off, nevertheless it’s one of those shows that makes me want to keep on tuning back for more. The constant drama, daily back stabbing and manipulation veiled up in a posh suburb-like setting of The Hamptons can make the Upper East Siders’ stiletto scheming look like child’s play.
(via 7th House on the Left)
Majority of the set is shot within the Grayson Manor and even if in actuality it’s located in North Carolina, it still has that traditional charm without being too “stuffy” for my taste. If I’m going to go for a traditional big ass home, then I’d definitely go Hamptons Style.
(via 7th House on the Left)
Here are some other Hamptons-inspired interiors I’ve scoured (not part of the Revenge set):
by Alexa Hampton (via Asmara)
by David Lawrence (via Habitually Chic)
(via Lamps Plus)
From Elle Decor (via Barn Light Electric)
by Jenny Dyer (via Harpers Bazaar)
by Shope Reno Wharton (via The Foo Dog Ate My Homework)
P.S.
New layout (or rather, color scheme) inspired by Cielito Querido Cafe as featured here :)
I’ve stumbled upon some of these photos recently and I realized that it’s been quite awhile since I did a Typography-related post. So yeah, I’ll try to do my best and make this topic a weekly segment entry as a lot of people are slowly becoming more conscious of the importance and beauty of Typography in actual spaces :)
by Thomas Quinn (via Interior Design Photo Magazine)
Similar to the parking lot directional signage I’ve featured here before, this seeming optical illusion or distortion of the following string of words of wisdom, “Face Reality As It Is” looked like a semi mind-f*ck against the stark white angled walls.
by Studio XAG for Christian Louboutin (via Denzeen)
An awesome window display of vintage-like neon signs and typography for a Christian Louboutin store in London.
You Rotten Prick artwork by Jack Pierson (L: via Danielle Darby; R: via Apartment Therapy)
I have to say this piece by Jack Pierson would make me smile instead of feeling insulted if I had this installed at my home.
Romance by Jack Pierson (via Define and Conquer)
(Photo by Tricia Will Go Places)
Love this idea of labeling the pastries! It’s simple, cute and feels personalized. If you must know (or you have no choice actually as I’d say it anyway) I’ve had this insane dream of owning a bakeshop similar to this one. I won’t do the baking of course (gawd knows that could end up in a disaster), but I would like to design/co-own the shop :) Someday Mikka, someday (haha).
Cielito Querido Cafe by Esrawe (via Sienna Inspired)
The exterior view of another Cielito Querido Cafe (also featured here). This is still one of my favorite finds in terms of applied Typography when it comes to Interiors/Architecture.
Enjoy :)
One of my favorite movies of all time would have to be Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film, Marie Antoinette, not because of the script (sorry) but because of its visual extravaganza. I remembered watching this film while I was still a design student and I just sat there in the theatre completely wide-eyed and goggly over the amazingness of its cinematography and grandness of production. It was one of those movies that left me in awe and dream-like slash surreal kind of state when the credits at the end started rolling.
Since this was a story about the life of Marie Antoinette, the setting is during the French Rococo period. In architectural history, the Rococo style is known for its light, dainty and feminine themes. Shells were a famous motif during this period. Curvilinear and S-shapes took the place of the then stiff and rigid outlines of its manly predecessor style.
So enough about the history lesson and let’s talk about the yumminess of colors that helped create the overall “ambiance” of the film. Since this was an age ruled by feminine taste, pastels, florals and toile were abundant.
COLOR PALETTE
Here are a few color suggestions of mine if you want to have a similar feel of the film. I based these colors using my own copy of the Pantone Fashion+Home color guide, but instead of placing the Pantone code I placed the HTML counterpart for easier reference instead.
FOOD
Ladurée provided the luscious and drool-worthy pastries in the film. I’ll just shut up now and just let these photos do the enticing, shall we?
SET DESIGN
I think you can never go wrong with the Rococo style. It’s a “tamer” version of the Baroque style, in my opinion. Most of these scenes were taken in the actual Palace of Versailles (hello!). The details are simply impeccable. Amazing.
The intricate costumes and shoes (Manolo Blahnik anyone?) are also duly noted (and awarded) in this film. If you haven’t seen this yet, here’s the trailer to lure you into watching:
