We had the opportunity to visit our customer Lord Rumi Verjee, who owns and operates Thomas Goode & Co., purveyor of dishware for the Queen of England. He gave us a behind the scenes tour of his shop, and I really regret not photographing the old catalogs, with their hand painted patterns.

Very cool, an old timey automatic door. Step on the platform and counter weights open the doors.

Another stop was The New Craftsmen. It was nice to see new British design and craft.

We passed by Marble Arch station every day, and I couldn’t help but really enjoy these designs on the tube walls.

We visited the Victoria and Albert Museum. Love these David Kirkness chairs.

Lucie Rie ceramics.

Lucie Rie’s studio

So much marble.

John was on a hat buying mission.

Visited Another Country.

A cute little street, a nice family and lovely evening.

On this beautiful Tuesday morning we wanted to share some photos of the Jasper Morrison Shop which we finally had a chance to visit during our trip to London.

The shop is tucked away in a courtyard behind a big black door that you have to buzz to gain access to. Once you’re in the courtyard you can see a warm wood space frame with an industrial galvanized steel door frame and windows.

A little seating alcove in the courtyard.

An amazing collection of everyday utility design from around the world. I purchased the perfect ice cream scoop.

The studio entrance with buzzer.

The path from the entrance heading towards the studio.

Right after the Jasper Morrison shop visit we walked down the street to visit another iconic London based shop Labour and Wait. A place we have always wanted to visit, and they did not disappoint. The facade is beautiful with its rich glossy green tiles. Inside, it’s what a true neighbourhood home goods store should be. We picked up a nice white oak twine holder to be used in the shop.

A little more from our trip later…

In London we stayed at The Laslett hotel in Notting Hill. Would definitely stay here again. Mid-price range and a fantastic location right by Notting Hill tube station. We found it very easy to get around from this vantage point.

They upgraded our room so I am not sure what it would have been like in a smaller room, but it was clean and comfortable and well put together. Because we didn’t have time to run around looking for breakfast we had it in our room and it was actually reasonable (and not ridiculous, like the platter of 7 pastries I received for like $45 at one hotel…I mean, I love pastries, but can really only eat one or two at most).

Inga Sempé w103c Clamp Table Light in the library.

More shots of the library. There is also a little eating space and bar on the other side of the entrance.

Naturally our first stop in London was to visit Margaret Howell, unattainable up to this point, since her clothing is not readily available in Toronto and we are wary online clothing shopper. Let’s just say we did some shopping.

R: A gorgeous wall hanging (or rug?) by Mourne Textiles

Margaret Howell seamlessly incorporates lifestyle and homestyle in one space, with a focus on British design.

We asked for a lunch recommendation and ended up at Fishworks on Marylebone High Street. From the outside it just looks like a fishmonger but there is a restaurant nestled in the back. Although we felt a bit unadventurous ordering the Fish & Chips, it was the BEST decision.

Then some wandering around and a lovely dinner at Fera at Claridge’s with a customer of ours.

Hey! It’s our first visit (in a long time) to someplace other than Scandinavia or Japan! Off to London with a three day stay in Kent for our friends Hollie & Pete’s wedding.

After a slightly terrifying taxi ride from the airport (did you know you can prebook a taxi that will meet you at the airport with a sign? Much better than traipsing through London with luggage on the tube and train after no sleep) we took a walk in the nearby village of Bearsted to grab a bite at a pub and take in the spring scenery.

Hi! We’re terrible at selfies and we’re ok with that.

Day two meant a hen spa day for me, and a trip over to Whitstable for John. Windy Corner Stores is a cute cafe.

When John has an idea in his head…vintage trench coat shopping…

Lunch was full at the highly recommended Wheelers Oyster Bar. Next time!

A perfect intimate wedding at The Secret Garden. Probably my last turn at bridesmaid.

Had to share this photo of the bride and groom, in front of this super rad Bluebird Coach. Coolest. I missed out on getting some inside detail shots, like the milk glass electric lights.

Kent was a nice easygoing start to our trip.

As we mentioned previously, Spark Design Space closed at the end of March. We were thankful that we had one last opportunity to check it out and to speak with owner Sigríður Sigurjónsdóttir.

We picked up one of the candleholders from Spark’s last show 1+1+1, whereby three design studios reimagine and collaborate on a variety of objects. This candlestick is comprised of elements designed separately by each group, and then put together to make about 30+ unique combinations.

I also attempted to impulse purchase the book Questions of Travel: William Morris in Iceland but ended up receiving it as a gift from Sigríður (thanks again!!!).

Also pictured: A sculpture by Paul Wackers and a vintage Alvar Aalto door handle.

Although these pretty Hafod Grange Paperweights hail from the UK (our next trip!), John has been obsessing over them for awhile. One for John.

Also pictured: Tapio Wirkkala copper bowl

One for Elodie.

Howell got this gorgeous sweater by As We Grow. Based out of Reykjavik, the company is trying to bring back a sense of value to children’s clothing, with the idea that it can be passed on. Really beautiful quality. I wanted to get the kids Icelandic sweaters but most of them can be a bit scratchy. This one is so soft. Howell hates when we put it on him but then we can’t take it off him. I have to hover by him while he eats so he doesn’t get food on it (he also refuses a bib). So I’d say he loves it.

[photo of Howell by Gaby]

During our last visit to Copenhagen, Denmark we had the pleasure to finally visit one of our favourite homes in the world. The home of iconic Danish furniture designer and architect Finn Juhl. The house has been profiled and photographed so many times, it already felt incredibly familiar to us, as if we know every detail in the house.  Of course seeing the home in person is like switching on a light, something inside of us just gets turned on and during that visit we understood how important Finn Juhl as a designer, architect and artist was. You start to see all of the incredible nuances that you might not notice in photographs. For example in different rooms the ceilings are painted different colours, like a warm beige in the living room and a cool teal in the guest bedroom.

I think the interesting thing about Finn Juhl’s house is that he designed it when he was quite young, and as a work of architecture it is functional and simple. I think when people see images of his home we are struck by the Vilhelm Lundstrom painting of his wife above the Poet sofa, the soft patination on the cognac leather of his Chieftains chair, the Vibeke Klint runner, the Japanese textiles and African stools. It is his personal details that we are struck with, his masterful way of bringing warmth and texture into his home. The building itself is a perfect shell to be inhabited with many smaller rooms,  various seating arrangements and compositions of art mostly by his friends and various collections.

Red bricks marking the entrance to the home, with a stool by Alvar Aalto peeking at us. Visitors are also immediately introduced to Juhl’s study in colour.

One of Finn Juhl’s most famous lounge chairs, the 45 chair.

Fireplace detail.

Finn Juhl was on a mission to design everything in his home, including the porcelain service in the kitchen.

The Silver markings on this table indicate the placement for dishes and cutlery.

“One cannot create happiness with beautiful objects, but one can spoil quite a lot of happiness with bad ones.”

– Finn Juhl

The Reading chair sitting next to a wood sculpture by Erik Thommesen.

A Japanese duvet and pillow rest on Finn Juhl’s bed.

In my opinion Finn Juhl’s most beautiful dining chair, the 109 chair which was designed in 1946.

“It is so obvious that furniture should be used. If not, I have been seriously wrong. To me, it is so obvious that it also needs an artistic dimension, which makes it exciting and in harmony with its surroundings. However, furniture was not created only to be looked at. Furniture is an applied art, which is necessary for people in a home, and office of public spaces.”

– Finn Juhl

The Poet sofa was originally designed for Finn Juhl’s own home in 1941, and it looks perfect underneath the Lundstrom painting of Finn Juhl’s wife Hanne Wilhelm.

Great shapes.

There was a great Matisse show at the Ordrupgaard Museum (which owns the Finn Juhl house).

A coffee break and walk through the sculpture garden.

Zaha Hadid extension.

We dropped by the Muuto headquarters to have lunch at their lovely rooftop patio, complete with nice planted flowers, herbs, and vegetables. We’d like to get something like this going on our back roof.

Grabbed dinner at Almanak in The Standard.

Lunch at Øl & Brød